Long Haul boredom
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Started longhaul operations this year with a UK charter airline on the 767.
Surprising how little time there is on a 9 hour sector to look out of the window and watch the world pass underneath.Perhaps a few mins to sit back between reporting points over the Atlantic when using UHF, but otherwise plenty to do especially obtaining your oceanic clearance beforehand. The list could go on, but the hotel at the other end would be at the top.
Surprising how little time there is on a 9 hour sector to look out of the window and watch the world pass underneath.Perhaps a few mins to sit back between reporting points over the Atlantic when using UHF, but otherwise plenty to do especially obtaining your oceanic clearance beforehand. The list could go on, but the hotel at the other end would be at the top.
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Join Date: Jan 2001
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G'day all,
Sorry if my wording didn't tickle people the right way. I was just a bit curious to see what is involved in a long haul opp. As assumed a long sector for me is 60 min with about 6 sectors a day. Anyway thanks a lot for the input.
Shnee.
Sorry if my wording didn't tickle people the right way. I was just a bit curious to see what is involved in a long haul opp. As assumed a long sector for me is 60 min with about 6 sectors a day. Anyway thanks a lot for the input.
Shnee.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: world
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Hey shnee,
as you see no-one has really answered your question, its because longhaul flying is boring as #hit and no-one who does it wants to acknowledge the fact in public.
LH is all about who you are flying with, if its a guy you know and get on with its OK, you chat,laugh,joke, read newspapers and do sidouko,s. If he is someone who you don't know with nothing in common its plain boring..no amount of ego will cover that!!
Seriously, on a 12 hour flight there are 11 fuel checks, 50 radio calls saying pretty much the same thing (over the pacific even the datalink sends postion reports automatically!!), 3 times you get area weathers from the ACARS, 1234 times you move the heading knob, 3 times you climb, and .......... er thats it.
Remember you only do half of the above cos you spend 4 hours in the bunk TRYING to sleep, at 3pm bodyclock time- great job satisfaction!!
Then you try to land the thing (and you fail badly cos you.ve only landed once in 6 weeks and you are a tad rusty),also cos you can't keep your eyes open- you are too tired.
This may seem to be a bit of a rant but LH is all about lifestyle. You put up with this moral-sapping tedious boring unsatisfying job for money and days off at home (which is a double-edged sword itself)
Personally I want out and get back to short haul where I do what I want to do with my life, fly planes and enjoy it.
JJB
as you see no-one has really answered your question, its because longhaul flying is boring as #hit and no-one who does it wants to acknowledge the fact in public.
LH is all about who you are flying with, if its a guy you know and get on with its OK, you chat,laugh,joke, read newspapers and do sidouko,s. If he is someone who you don't know with nothing in common its plain boring..no amount of ego will cover that!!
Seriously, on a 12 hour flight there are 11 fuel checks, 50 radio calls saying pretty much the same thing (over the pacific even the datalink sends postion reports automatically!!), 3 times you get area weathers from the ACARS, 1234 times you move the heading knob, 3 times you climb, and .......... er thats it.
Remember you only do half of the above cos you spend 4 hours in the bunk TRYING to sleep, at 3pm bodyclock time- great job satisfaction!!
Then you try to land the thing (and you fail badly cos you.ve only landed once in 6 weeks and you are a tad rusty),also cos you can't keep your eyes open- you are too tired.
This may seem to be a bit of a rant but LH is all about lifestyle. You put up with this moral-sapping tedious boring unsatisfying job for money and days off at home (which is a double-edged sword itself)
Personally I want out and get back to short haul where I do what I want to do with my life, fly planes and enjoy it.
JJB
Join Date: Aug 2007
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At TOM we fly a mixture of longhaul and shothaul. Indeed we fly more shorthaul and can choose the number of longhaul trips we want to do or not. Consequently almost everyone looks forward to their trips.Its the best mixture of flying i think.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Rainboe, I wonder if you noticed that is the kind of question I normally ask!?
Not giving any information, etc, etc.
I agree, though, bit of a silly question.
But come on! What DO you guys talk about at 40,000ft for 5+hours.
Do you ever just sit there in silence?
Chris
Not giving any information, etc, etc.
I agree, though, bit of a silly question.
But come on! What DO you guys talk about at 40,000ft for 5+hours.
Do you ever just sit there in silence?
Chris
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
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Company gossip, company plans, why don't they tell us anything, scheduling problems, why are rosters such short lived fiction, why is the office printer always jammed? Home discussion points -last night the copilot was talking about how the local pub now has smokers driven to smoke outside who make a variety of loud noises when he's trying to sleep. We talked about cars, kept the new young lady on her third trip and first in a 737 up on the flight deck as long as possible and showed her the sights and told her what a terrific bunch we were as opposed to those common and rough pilots on the 757 fleet. News, politics, how awful the traffic is- why are the idiots out in force at half speed on Sundays, the shocking state of education, look- I went on holiday there this year, did you know Maldives Air taxi piulots fly in bare feet and shorts? How lousy politicians are and why do we bother voting for any of them, what are house prices going to do- have you thought about renting? Another bloody politician caught with his pants down in a public loo they all seem to be into something kinky. Aren't the stars nice, that's Jupiter over there- look, you can see all of Scorpio down here, why isn't the weather radar picking up those storms, German weather crap tonight what's Amsterdam like, can you see the Alps, can we get company on the VHF yet, how's the fuel checks, you WILL do a continuous descent approach at this time of night, won't you? How much fuel shall we take for the return, why the hell is Dalaman called Mugla Airport- no wonder we couldn't find any bloody charts for it. What exactly is 'Chicken Supreme' because it was bloody revolting, why haven't we got a curry? I was annoyed because my bottle of Tabasco had run out (it gives aeroplane food flavour). I was greatly annoyed with Monarch because he slipped in front of us on the approach and slowed up 15 miles out meaning we had to put the brakes on and extend flaps at night far too early. How far you got to go to get home? Christ, I won't get home till 4 am- I'm working tomorrow/got 3 days off- where shall I go on leave?
Sometimes, silence is nice. No atmosphere, just peace and quiet at 40,000' (apart from 2 jet engines 20 feet away and 500mph wind roaring past)
Just another bloody day in the office, like anywhere else!
Sometimes, silence is nice. No atmosphere, just peace and quiet at 40,000' (apart from 2 jet engines 20 feet away and 500mph wind roaring past)
Just another bloody day in the office, like anywhere else!
