10 things that annoy you in aviation.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. Students who don't show up;
2. Students who show up late;
3. Students who are not-prepared (didn't read up on exercise/no equipment etc);
4. Spanish ATC who let aircraft in ahead of you - as long as they are Iberia and in the Northern Hemisphere;
5. French ATC who let every Air France aircraft take-off ahead of you, provided they have their engines running;
6. The stewardesses who ran a poll for 'sexiest pilot in the airline' and when asked told me I wasn't even on the list!;
7. Refuellers who think the World revolves around them;
8. Trial lesson candidates who don't tell you they feel unwell until they splurt it all out;
9. BA strikers - especially when the country is in recession, airlines are on their knees and vast numbers of people out of work why should they complain about their already preferential terms and conditions? (I don't like to criticise but it all seems very badly considered); and finally
10. Security procedures and personnel (how do you permanently remove someone's sense of humour - and be consistently good at it everywhere in the World?!)
KR
FOK
2. Students who show up late;
3. Students who are not-prepared (didn't read up on exercise/no equipment etc);
4. Spanish ATC who let aircraft in ahead of you - as long as they are Iberia and in the Northern Hemisphere;
5. French ATC who let every Air France aircraft take-off ahead of you, provided they have their engines running;
6. The stewardesses who ran a poll for 'sexiest pilot in the airline' and when asked told me I wasn't even on the list!;
7. Refuellers who think the World revolves around them;
8. Trial lesson candidates who don't tell you they feel unwell until they splurt it all out;
9. BA strikers - especially when the country is in recession, airlines are on their knees and vast numbers of people out of work why should they complain about their already preferential terms and conditions? (I don't like to criticise but it all seems very badly considered); and finally
10. Security procedures and personnel (how do you permanently remove someone's sense of humour - and be consistently good at it everywhere in the World?!)
KR
FOK
Guest
Posts: n/a
10 things that annoy you in aviation.
I have always felt privileged to be able to fly, and recognise how fragile (financial, medical, etc) that privilege is. I've never quite been able to get over the fact that every time I line up I'm being 'allowed' to commit aviation.
A cantankerous and sometimes cruel mistress but never an annoying one
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why is it that in every aircraft I have flown I do not have an accurate or RELIABLE way of knowing how much fuel I have in the tanks? Im not talking about fuel planning, but how has technology moved on so far and left fuel gauges in the past.
I say "fuel sufficient" only because I know that I am flying around with 4/5 times more fuel than I actually need because the gauges cannot be used and no matter how well you try and calculate fuel burn, the actual will always be different.
Put a fuel gauge in aircraft that works and I can use please.
I say "fuel sufficient" only because I know that I am flying around with 4/5 times more fuel than I actually need because the gauges cannot be used and no matter how well you try and calculate fuel burn, the actual will always be different.
Put a fuel gauge in aircraft that works and I can use please.
GA aircraft electrics are not yet at the 1972 Vauxhall Viva stage, for the most part.
must have been a serious bout of bad weather in the UK!
Mind you, today I did some ILS receiver testing... very satisfying to compare the tracking with a GPS in the OBS mode, set to 0.3nm FSD
Ignorant management at airports who choose not to answer e-mails.
TBH, emails are not the method of choice for reliable comms anyway. The majority of published emails don't work for businesses generally, not just airports.
people who claim to have flown everything
people who claim to be qualified flying instructors but actually are CRI's
people who claim to run legitimate AOC charters
People who claim to have a professional licence ( CPL or ATPL)
People who lie about there total hours experience
people who spend too much time on these forums and dont actually fly very much
people who claim to be qualified flying instructors but actually are CRI's
people who claim to run legitimate AOC charters
People who claim to have a professional licence ( CPL or ATPL)
People who lie about there total hours experience
people who spend too much time on these forums and dont actually fly very much
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Age: 52
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Navigating" the LA Basin and the SF Valley is straight forward at night.
As for SMO traffic... If you check the Airport Facilities Guide
http://naco.faa.gov/pdfs/sw_156_11FEB2010.pdf
SMO has a very strict noise abatement policy - it is not called the 'little republic of Santa Monica' for no reason.
03 has a right traffic pattern and 21 is left. No touch and go's pattern work is permitted after dusk for the same reason.
http://naco.faa.gov/pdfs/sw_156_11FEB2010.pdf
SMO has a very strict noise abatement policy - it is not called the 'little republic of Santa Monica' for no reason.
03 has a right traffic pattern and 21 is left. No touch and go's pattern work is permitted after dusk for the same reason.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: .
Age: 37
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another thing I grow somewhat tired of is the inevitable comparisons, nay cliches, mostly from non-aviation folks, drawn from a certain Hollywood movie of 1980s vintage about a group of US Navy pilots. Many references when talking about anything/anyone aviation-related are made to said film and its prat actor, fancy sunglasses, flying jackets with badges all over, chatting up females, pratting about on motorbikes and F-14s etc. The sound track was decent but that's about it 
There again like most things in life I just laugh them off. Hope I didn't come across as being some cantankerous git in my previous (flippant) post
Aviation is great. Some minor irritances, mostly from outside quarters, but great nonetheless.
Smithy
There again like most things in life I just laugh them off. Hope I didn't come across as being some cantankerous git in my previous (flippant) post
Aviation is great. Some minor irritances, mostly from outside quarters, but great nonetheless.
Smithy
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ...back of the drag curve
Age: 61
Posts: 558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
- People who suggest "the 10 best/worst things" lists.
- Student pilots who slag off the CAA 'cos it's trendy and makes you sound like one of the guys. Get some experience first.
- Student pilots who get their licenses and then have to buy a set of Raybans, a square box pilot case and a headset "to look like a pilot".
- Pilots who can't navigate and expect a GPS to do it for them.
- CRIs who think they know everything, but who couldnt quite make FI.
- Panshanger.
- Retired pilots who insist on calling themselves "Captain"
- Baby Instructors with 300hrs who wear epaulettes and captains bars. Also Flying schools who insist on it..
- Pilots who havent got a clue about propwash and it's effects at a crowded parking area.
- Guardian reading NIMBYs who move next door to an airfield and then expect it to close "because it's against our human rights" !
- People who waste time and sound like a miserable git completing lists like this
Moderator
My life in aviation is amazing. I spend my days listing the things that make flying, and it's people great.
I count on appreciating those aviators who try to avoid fulfilling Chuffer's list!
I count on appreciating those aviators who try to avoid fulfilling Chuffer's list!
1. The cost.
2. The dire state of the 1960s fleet of GA training aircraft.
3. The cost.
4. The CAA.
5. The cost.
6. The British weather.
7. The cost.
8. Flying club coffee.
9 The cost.
10. The resident flying club expert who has to regail you of his anecdotes and advice without bothering to find out who you are or what experience you have. All clubs have one and you can usually spot him because he's wearing a flying jacket with badges of aircraft of which he has never flown.
2. The dire state of the 1960s fleet of GA training aircraft.
3. The cost.
4. The CAA.
5. The cost.
6. The British weather.
7. The cost.
8. Flying club coffee.
9 The cost.
10. The resident flying club expert who has to regail you of his anecdotes and advice without bothering to find out who you are or what experience you have. All clubs have one and you can usually spot him because he's wearing a flying jacket with badges of aircraft of which he has never flown.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As my Dad used to say, "There's no bad beer. Only beer and good beer".
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. The moment of advancing the throttle(s) as you begin t/o
2. Braking out of the clouds just at minimums and seeing the rwy in front of you
3. When a student finally learns shomething after doing it wrong for a million times
4. Flying a single engine piston in uncontrolled airspace on a beautiful summer evening
5. The smell of JetA/100LL
6. The camaradery among pilots
7. Pulling 6G
8. Taking someone up for the first time and seeing them smile and remembeing that what is normal and everyday to you is still special for most.
9. The rush of performing a very complicated task at the very edge of your capability and getting it right.
10. The view
Rubbish...hate it, everything about it...
2. Braking out of the clouds just at minimums and seeing the rwy in front of you
3. When a student finally learns shomething after doing it wrong for a million times
4. Flying a single engine piston in uncontrolled airspace on a beautiful summer evening
5. The smell of JetA/100LL
6. The camaradery among pilots
7. Pulling 6G
8. Taking someone up for the first time and seeing them smile and remembeing that what is normal and everyday to you is still special for most.
9. The rush of performing a very complicated task at the very edge of your capability and getting it right.
10. The view
Rubbish...hate it, everything about it...
Moderator
Yeah Northrider, you've got it...
I'd like to add:
Having to slightly roll the ailerons during a landing, to see if you're on the runway, 'cause you cold not feel yourself touch,
Feeling the slight acceleration as the second float comes out of the water during a glassy water takeoff,
Doing a helicopter toe in landing in a rocky mountian river confined area, so small that after you flew over it the first time, you lost it,
Having the tower controller ask you if the plane you just landed is STOL equipped, when it's not,
Finally getting the gear down after an hour of flying around with a landing gear failure,
Finding a lost boater in the middle of the lake at night, and leading rescue teams to them,
I could go on.... even past 11!
I'd like to add:
Having to slightly roll the ailerons during a landing, to see if you're on the runway, 'cause you cold not feel yourself touch,
Feeling the slight acceleration as the second float comes out of the water during a glassy water takeoff,
Doing a helicopter toe in landing in a rocky mountian river confined area, so small that after you flew over it the first time, you lost it,
Having the tower controller ask you if the plane you just landed is STOL equipped, when it's not,
Finally getting the gear down after an hour of flying around with a landing gear failure,
Finding a lost boater in the middle of the lake at night, and leading rescue teams to them,
I could go on.... even past 11!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Yorkshire
Age: 41
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some good suggestions you bring up.
The thing that annoys me overall is just how dated most things to do with flying are. Similar to your comments about telex and tafs etc
I also like your idea of different modes for landing/cruise/takeoff etc
The thing that annoys me overall is just how dated most things to do with flying are. Similar to your comments about telex and tafs etc
I also like your idea of different modes for landing/cruise/takeoff etc
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PilotDAR is right that there are many joys in flying, which no doubt is why we hang in there despite all the crap we European have to put up with.
However I think it is useful (in a perverse kind of way) to focus on the crap with a view to developing procedures to minimise its effects, for that makes flying (especially going places) a lot easier.
However I think it is useful (in a perverse kind of way) to focus on the crap with a view to developing procedures to minimise its effects, for that makes flying (especially going places) a lot easier.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Age: 52
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I actually think EASAs JAR, when fully implemented, could clarify and be beneficial to European aviation. Most of the problems today stem from differences between the Euro countries (but under the veil of JAR). Once one rule fits all, then everything will become a lot clearer. Even if that means that maybe a loved national rating or procedure falls by the wayside.
Flying is great and wonderful. It's just the crap around it that sometimes gets you down.
Flying is great and wonderful. It's just the crap around it that sometimes gets you down.