Ohh Defecto.....
How you have come to your conclusions from what brief explanation to my query I have given is beyond me!
Let me try to explain!
It is my companies SOP to do a full brief prior to TOD. I adhere to this SOP (and some!), as do my FO's. On the day a full brief was given encompassing all eventualities regarding AC serviceability/Fuel for Holding/MSA/Approach(and published hold)/Landing/GA's/Diversions. My FO on the day (an exemplary example and about to upgrade) did a splendid job of briefing. We covered all bases!, so in answer to your comments - we did!
I agree using Lnav holding above Msa under radar will reduce workload,however you did enter a non standard hold albeit agreed upon by ATC and then started to work out how much holding fuel you had...
We entered the hold with approx 15 min of holding fuel. We entered the standard published hold at DAYNE which was crosschecked in the FMC and backed up with raw data. Do you really think we didn't assess the fuel situation? Of course I did, as I said it was briefed and deduced from the Fuel on Board how much time we had before we either committed to MAN or diverted......this is standard practice, so no we weren't having a bad day - more a standard one!
On entering the hold it soon became obvious we were flying a longer than expected 4 min hold which was quickly conveyed to ATC, who were happy for us to continue - which in turn lessened the workload enabling me to concentrate on the big picture. At no point was either Pilot 'out of the loop' or transfixed on Nav Displays.
So you were both concentrating on the same things? How about one flies and the other(captain) makes those last minute decisions?
I dont want to seem too harsh but it seems some just didnt work out well on that flight...dont you think?
No we were not both concentrating on the same things, I was PNF/PM my FO was flying the aircraft. There were no last minute decisions, we had a plan, its covered in the brief! The only anomaly was the longer than expected hold which was quickly resolved via ATC - and a mute de-brief point on the ground - but did get me asking the question why the aircraft held for that time over standard expectations - hence this thread about the holding timing of the boeing 737-800......
So please, can you stop trying to read into my query as a bad day at the office - it wasn't, it was a very nice day out with a query at the end - no drama - QUEEN!!!
Again, many thanks for the constructive stuff
