Electra at CGN

[Bert Stiles]

Freightdogg

That was a bizarre reminiscence with which to resurrect this thread.

Which way did you move the trim wheel ? ( I think I know the answer because you're obviously still here), how did you analyse what you were going to do or had you rehearsed it previously ?
What was the rest of the crew's reactions when you briefed them about what you were going to do ? I presume this was all so obvious that a trip to a hold was inappropriate. Anyway I'd just like to know. Stir away.

Flight Detent

You did check the dates at the start of the thread didn't you ? I'm only replying 'cos I didn't see it first time round and can guess the identity of three or four of the contributors. Again I'm guessing but most of them would hardly remember what the fuss was about. As Jones the Steam, I think, commented - the L188 was a two crew aeroplane looking for an excuse for the third man. Whether or not this was a good idea for each particular type is an endless debate. Equally complex or even more complex types are two crew and less complex types are three crew. It was all part of continuous change - DC-4, DC-6, L1049, L188, Comet, VC9, Trident, Mercure etc, etc - evolution. Sooner or later no matter where the cbs were put, the F/E was on the way out. That is except for the bigger aircraft where they were needed for another generation. Personally I think that there maybe a good case for a third operator on the A380 but as I've never flown large, glass aircraft I'm probably wrong.

I can only say that from my experience of three crew aeroplanes that F/Es were never superfluous and prided themselves on making crap cups of coffee. I have been indebted to the sideways facing font of knowledge many times. Swipes at them being only fit for proping up bars, must have come from some strangely ingrained prejudice, but the commercial thrust to do away with waste is completely understandable. Nobody ever made an F/E fly in a company which didn't need them. Those F/Es who want to carp about young skippers invariably can't fly themselves - maybe they can do the driving but that isn't the same -- and I mean no disrespect at all to their situational awareness. Many F/Es are really good pilots when they've had their brains removed - I've had the pleasure of flying with some of them too, but most aren't interested in piloting, they just want to do a good job of what they're paid to do.

I don't think it was a shambles of an argument. There were vested interests and misunderstandings - deliberate or otherwise just like the rest of the BB. Overall, for those with first hand experience I think the two crew operation made complete and safe sense. So far it's justified. How long do you want to be a vulture ?

BS