bantios
26th Sep 2005, 11:45
Any Aussie pilots on the 737, 320, 330 out there?
How long does it take to convert from the 737 to the A320/A330?
If you have flown both what do you prefer?
I have flown both in the sim and after time on the 737NG i find
the 320 a much easier aircraft to fly but at the same time a bit boring as most things are done automatically.
bantios
26th Sep 2005, 12:00
Jumping ship?
Mate... There's not trimming required on the Bus.
100% auto trim.. There goes half my work load! haha.
ndegepilot
26th Sep 2005, 15:52
The conversion from the the B737-3/4/500 to the Airbus A320 took about two weeks in the classroom. (death by VACBI!)
Then about 2-3 weeks in the SIM, but that was in Toulouse and the French are not too keen to work weekends, so I daresay you could cut that down a fair bit if you wanted too.
Then 20 sectors to complete the conversion. As I was working for an outfit that did 4 sectors a day that didn't take too long.
I never flew the A330 but would have liked to.
I now fly an NG and have flown the BBJs as well.
My preference is for the A321. Nice flightdeck, uncluttered after the calssics, slightly faster than the NG and much quieter. All in all I found it very capable after the classics, an APU that was up to the job. Performance (at least on paper) was never a problem, that all said after 13 years on various versions of the 737, it is like a comfortable pair of old shoes, but I would go back to the 'bus in a heartbeat.