Preflight Actions
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 5:00 pm
I am excited to see how much flying activity there has been in SunAir lately. That's great, hope all the pilots are really enjoying each flight. That many flights have motivated me to take a break from POC programming and simply "go fly." As I was getting ready for my last flight, I started thinking how much time I really invest in the process. There's the actual cockpit time, from taxi out to taxi in, but there's also pre and post flight time. I can tell you that on average I spend about 20 to 30 minutes of pre flight time. I suppose some may just fire the old pc, don't use ATC, take off, climb straight to cruising altitude, let the ap fly the cruise phase, take over and land, taxi in, and be done. Though that accumulates hours, I just don't see what level of realism are we virtualizing. In other words, what's the enjoyment?
The FAA (though we conduct operations around the globe, we use the US Federal Aviation Administration rules) states in FAR 91.103 Preflight Actions: "Each pilot in command shall, before beginning in flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight." Notice the "all available" part. What does this mean for us that try to simulate being airline pilots? Here's what I do. Please feel free to collaborate and share your ideas.
Weather
What's the departure and arrival weather? Ground and aloft winds, altimeter setting, temperature/dew point spread, etc. What is the forecast weather for my destination since I know I won't just teleport there?
Weight & Balance
How many passengers? How much cargo? I even distribute where the passengers sit in the plane not to unrealistically have them all sit in first class or coach. Having that, how do I load the airplane?
Flight plan
Given the route of flight, what's the most optimal for fuel and time legal cruising altitude? Do I have to perform a step climb? What's my alternate airport?
Fuel
Do I have enough fuel to get there, get there and divert to my alternate, get there, divert to my alternate and still fly for 60 minutes? Should I expect any holds due to weather at the destination? If so, how much extra fuel should I add?
Charts
If ATC tells me to taxi to runway 30L via delta, hotel, do I have the airport chart to know which one is delta and hotel? Do I have the chart for departure and arrival procedures? How about the approach charts? What's the ILS frequency of my departure runway just in case I have to return to the field and perform an ILS landing?
What else?
Did I forget anything? I know that real airline pilots are usually given this information from their dispatchers. Not having those doesn't mean that I'm not responsible to know that information.
Frankly, if all I wanted was to fly without any of these details and just accumulate hours, I would join a VA that offers some sort of price for the number of hours accumulated. SAX is about becoming a better virtual pilot every day while enjoying it. What do you think?
Dave Vega
SAX702
The FAA (though we conduct operations around the globe, we use the US Federal Aviation Administration rules) states in FAR 91.103 Preflight Actions: "Each pilot in command shall, before beginning in flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight." Notice the "all available" part. What does this mean for us that try to simulate being airline pilots? Here's what I do. Please feel free to collaborate and share your ideas.
Weather
What's the departure and arrival weather? Ground and aloft winds, altimeter setting, temperature/dew point spread, etc. What is the forecast weather for my destination since I know I won't just teleport there?
Weight & Balance
How many passengers? How much cargo? I even distribute where the passengers sit in the plane not to unrealistically have them all sit in first class or coach. Having that, how do I load the airplane?
Flight plan
Given the route of flight, what's the most optimal for fuel and time legal cruising altitude? Do I have to perform a step climb? What's my alternate airport?
Fuel
Do I have enough fuel to get there, get there and divert to my alternate, get there, divert to my alternate and still fly for 60 minutes? Should I expect any holds due to weather at the destination? If so, how much extra fuel should I add?
Charts
If ATC tells me to taxi to runway 30L via delta, hotel, do I have the airport chart to know which one is delta and hotel? Do I have the chart for departure and arrival procedures? How about the approach charts? What's the ILS frequency of my departure runway just in case I have to return to the field and perform an ILS landing?
What else?
Did I forget anything? I know that real airline pilots are usually given this information from their dispatchers. Not having those doesn't mean that I'm not responsible to know that information.
Frankly, if all I wanted was to fly without any of these details and just accumulate hours, I would join a VA that offers some sort of price for the number of hours accumulated. SAX is about becoming a better virtual pilot every day while enjoying it. What do you think?
Dave Vega
SAX702