2007-10-25 18:02:04 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
http://youtube.com/watch?v=viPuhhtuVv4
2007-10-26 05:55:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Patrick, stated it correctly they monitor the aircraft systems, make sure they stay on course, make any corrections needed, send weather information to control centers, monitor radios for any information pertinent to the flight plan and above all...they stay alert to properly respond to any in-flight emergency.
As one who flies in the cockpit jump seat alot besides the above in between the required stuff they talk about aircraft systems, operations, check charts for routes, discuss company policy, and plan ahead incase of an emergency. They often talk with the cabin flight crew to ensure everything is go okay and to pass on information to the passengers.
I haven’t been in a cockpit yet where the flight crew was unprofessional. Most of the other stuff you read or hear about is a bunch of bull about sleeping of goofing off.
2007-10-28 13:27:58 · answer #2 · answered by stacheair 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Adjust the thrust to stay on speed, adjust the heading to stay on course, tune and identify radio stations near the route, keep track of the fuel quantity, every now and then disconnect the autopilot's altitude hold and re-set the altitude and pitch trim, call Flight Service to get an update of the destination weather, watch for other aircraft, watch for thunderstorms, decide on a point of about 3º descent, study the published instrument approach, and brief the instument approach.
The plane I fly does well at .805 mach. As it gets lighter the thrust has to be reduced. The automatic pilot levels the wings; I have to bank the plane from time to time to change the heading to keep on course.
2007-10-27 12:33:06 · answer #3 · answered by Mark 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well years ago i wold ask the questin which aircraft as they were 3 man crews primarley, Once in the air over 10,000 an all after take off checklist are complete, The aircraft is usually on auto pilot flying a computerized course set in the aircraft computer. Usually the captn turns it over to the 2nd officer an lets him have it, montoring radios etc. I have ha captns actually fall a sleep after turning it over,,, that is kind of a hush hush thing a number 2 man does not speak about,
Your constantly scanning the horison for other aircraft that may have strayed in your aispace, checking weather reports etc... On commercial flights rvery thing is recorded so you do not holler to the captn to wake up,, you gettly shove him a bit and he will respond and wake up if he is needed,, some read the paper, etc...
On freighters with no passengers on board when it was time to have the captn wake up we would pull the boat trick. Have you ever been in a boat an it slammed hard on the water,,,
we would ride a clod bank and pull an boom like we were hitting water and they would wake up...
I wasnt on board a freight that one time both pilot an copilot fell a sleep enroute to seattle,, the plane was an hour late arriveing in seattle, when the vp of the company was onboard and just hapen to walk to the cockpit to see what the delay was,,,,they were one our over the the atlantic in a dc-9, needless to say they were fired when the plane landed,,
2007-10-26 01:16:23 · answer #4 · answered by John N 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I'm SURE those commercial pilots are religiously monitoring the instruments and radios
Now back in the mid 80's and 90's, I used to crew in a military aircraft on overwater flights... that were typically 8-12 hours in length and when we did the night-flights we were bored out of our SKULLS...
We would often play "Trivial Pursuit" with our controllers back on the ship... Listen to CD's... take a nap...
2007-10-27 14:58:20 · answer #5 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talking on the radio to ATC or Flight Following, talking on the company frequency to other aircraft, sipping coffee, reading, monitoring guages, checking weather and other info on the computer, talking to the FO, sipping more coffee, talking about tax implications of including per diem with income earned, and complaining about recent corporate policies. Just like any job, but a lot more exciting at the beginning and end of the work day.
2007-10-26 01:18:16 · answer #6 · answered by D B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well good question but when the auto pilot is in compand most of the times pilots actually keep an eye on the fuel and an other traffic in the air or talk to ground for their heading and where they are right now but most of the times they are just talking to each other.
2007-10-26 18:09:42 · answer #7 · answered by tayyab r 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since they use an auto pilots for the long parts. I'm going to say keep an eye on things and try not to be boarded silly
2007-10-26 01:08:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They monitor the aircraft systems, make sure they stay on course, make any corrections needed, send weather information to control centers, monitor radios for any information pertinent to the flight plan and above all...they stay alert to properly respond to any in-flight emergency.
2007-10-26 12:38:31 · answer #9 · answered by Otto 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
one of the two is always keeping an eye on the gauges just making sure everything is doing what it is supposed to. the other is taking a nap getting ready for when they have to turn the auto pilot off or for when its his turn to watch the gauges or just kicking back shooting the bull with the other guy
2007-10-26 01:10:15 · answer #10 · answered by bryan w 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋