Pinnacle CA suspended
#161
I'm not sure exactly what the deal is with the Minneapolis FSDO except apparently they worship at the altar of automation, basically their viewpoint is that you should operate at the highest level of automation available at all times. Or so I'm told, I didn't ever go to the FSDO to ask them.
xjcaptain; I know you CAN handfly at XJ, I was just observing that most don't. I found that odd based on my previous airline experience. Also I know that the RNAV departure autopilot requirement is an XJ op spec, previously I hand flew RNAV departures with the FD. None of that is an indictment of XJ, I love it. Just pointing out my experience.
xjcaptain; I know you CAN handfly at XJ, I was just observing that most don't. I found that odd based on my previous airline experience. Also I know that the RNAV departure autopilot requirement is an XJ op spec, previously I hand flew RNAV departures with the FD. None of that is an indictment of XJ, I love it. Just pointing out my experience.
On an aside, I believe the reason our FSDO used to be so hardcore about automation usage was their concern for the level of experience of many (not all) of our new hires when we hired so much a couple of years back. Now that hiring has stopped, and the lower time pilots have had some time to gain experience (sometimes at our passengers expense) they have loosened the guidance, to allow more hand-flying.
Last edited by xjcaptain; 02-05-2010 at 09:39 AM. Reason: .
#162
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2010
Position: Representing the REAL Delta
Posts: 857
WRONG. This is NOT simply the case. Do you really think that something being legally allowed to be MELed must mean it's safe? I've seen plenty of MELs that are just plain dumb or dumb in wx situations and MELs don't always state stipulations either - necessitating the crew to judge potential threats for themselves. The rules did not say he could go, the rules say captain ultimately has authority to decide to go or not. Why cant you people accept this so simple fact???????????
If you don't like the way an MEL item is executed, change it.
##-##-##
Inopertive Autopilot
1) Operational Requirements
1)Day operations only
2)Ceiling greater then 1000'
3)Blah blah blah........
The reason these were not stated on the MEL??? Because in the opinion of the FAA and the company, these restrictions are not required for safe operations.
If you don't think the MEL is written with safety in mind......Write an ASAP report, write a NASA report, consult your director of safety, address your union safety committee. If you believe something is unsafe, be proactive before the situation presents itself. Just don't leave the passangers and the company in a bind. Have you done any of these things? Are you going too?....By the way, IMO I think many of the people that refuse to fly without an opertive autopilot are plain lazy. I'm not saying this was the case in this situation, but in many I have witnessed.
#163
Just because something is legal, doesn't mean it's safe.
#165
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: Student Pilot
Posts: 849
uhm yeah, that's precisely the problem. we are talking the same FAA that allows 16 hr duty days and 8 hr reduced "rest" right? and as for our employer, this is pinnacle mgmt we are talking about... the same mgmt that I work under, the same mgmt that still does things like giving me a warning for being too sick to fly a few weeks ago. rely on my employer to make aviation safe, yeah GOOD ONE!
#166
I only fly a old beat up BE1900 , NO AUTO PILOT , And Blocked 8.2 hours yesterday with 3 approaches down to minimums. 2 ILS's and one sh*t old off set VOR no DME approach.
Dont get me wrong the day sucked and I hope to aviod days like this in the future. And sure I am not flying a RJ , but man I dont think I would refuse the flight and get caught up on managments sh*t side only to get susspended.
Good luck to that captain, Hope ALPA can come through for you.
Dont get me wrong the day sucked and I hope to aviod days like this in the future. And sure I am not flying a RJ , but man I dont think I would refuse the flight and get caught up on managments sh*t side only to get susspended.
Good luck to that captain, Hope ALPA can come through for you.
#167
You are safer hand-flying your 1900 than any RJ pilot hand-flying his/her airplane because of PROFICIENCY. You do it every leg every day - jet pilots might, on average, hand-fly 20 minutes per leg.
It may not be a matter of can or cannot perform, but rather one of prudence and safety - after all, "A man's gotta know his limitations".
#168
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Blue fifi flogger
Posts: 739
Bingo, BoilerUp. My last day hauling checks came with 4 approaches (raw data, 2 non-precision, all to minimums) single pilot with no FD or HSI (cross-checking a precessing DG with a tiny CDI is REAL raw-data, you sissies!). I did it all without blinking, but would seriously think twice about the same now.
I'm one of the guys who loves to turn off the toys and fly the E-Jet like a big 172, but my proficiency level at raw-data hand flying is far different now than when I did it several legs every day. Kudos to the CA here for actually exercising that authority.
I'm one of the guys who loves to turn off the toys and fly the E-Jet like a big 172, but my proficiency level at raw-data hand flying is far different now than when I did it several legs every day. Kudos to the CA here for actually exercising that authority.
#169
This reminds me of the packs and apu dilema. There are a good majority of the days that at an outstation there is no need for an apu or air conditioning packs running, some days where it's very comfy to have an apu with air on the ground, and then there are days where the temp is 98 and with no apu or a single pack the cabin is 130F and you are transporting 50 people (15 of which are senior citizens going to a 50th wedding anniversary). Is the plane airworthy? SURE! Is in smart= NO. A 121 CA is a risk manager. I flew the same raw data approaches, and with 3k hours in a crj I have no problem handflying every leg. Is it smart? Not always. Automation is used as a resource- not a convenience. Until you are a 121 CA with mom, grandma, and sis in the back you can play macho man- or you can deal with each flight in the interest of safety and only safety.
And yes, the beer made me say it.
And yes, the beer made me say it.
#170
On Reserve
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: B737 CA
Posts: 14
Freight dogs do it every night, they might not be able to program an FMS but they can hand fly a 20 series LearJet all night to a hand flown approach to 100 and 1/2...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Past V1
Regional
61
01-22-2009 07:17 AM