Comair Lexington Crash CVR
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: flyover country USA
Age: 82
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If crew are boarding a jetway from the front end, the registration (or tail #) is probably not visible. So there's often a fleet # somewhere on the nose, in smaller characters, but readily visible to boarding crew.
Most ID numbers for an airplane at most companies are simply the first 3 digits of the registration number which of course is on the tail, but also usually on the nose gear doors. The mistake can happen as easily as any, you check a sheet and it says plane "701" and you go out in the cold and see "601" and mess it up and get in. Trust me after a couple minutes you realize the mistake or someone points it out to you, it never gets to the point you go off flying the wrong airplane, nor is it a sign of a bad pilot. Imagine you are a cop and get assigned a different car each day... someday in the lot you will try to climb in the wrong one, it is just bound to happen.
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: washington,dc
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our fleet has the "N" number on the instrument panel...sometimes with a lovely little plaque, sometimes with a laundry marker ...gear door also and tail of course
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Hey 3-mile - just for information...
FAA Handbook 7110.65 Air Traffic Control:
a. When authorizing a vehicle to proceed on the movement area, or an aircraft to taxi to any point other than an assigned takeoff runway, absence of holding instructions authorizes an aircraft/vehicle to cross all taxiways and runways that intersect the taxi route. If it is the intent to hold the aircraft/vehicle short of any given point along the taxi route, issue the route, if necessary, then state the holding instructions.
b. When authorizing an aircraft to taxi to an assigned takeoff runway and hold short instructions are not issued, specify the runway preceded by “taxi to,” and issue taxi instructions if necessary. This authorizes the aircraft to “cross” all runways/taxiways which the taxi route intersects except the assigned takeoff runway. This does not authorize the aircraft to “enter” or “cross” the assigned takeoff runway at any point.
a. When authorizing a vehicle to proceed on the movement area, or an aircraft to taxi to any point other than an assigned takeoff runway, absence of holding instructions authorizes an aircraft/vehicle to cross all taxiways and runways that intersect the taxi route. If it is the intent to hold the aircraft/vehicle short of any given point along the taxi route, issue the route, if necessary, then state the holding instructions.
b. When authorizing an aircraft to taxi to an assigned takeoff runway and hold short instructions are not issued, specify the runway preceded by “taxi to,” and issue taxi instructions if necessary. This authorizes the aircraft to “cross” all runways/taxiways which the taxi route intersects except the assigned takeoff runway. This does not authorize the aircraft to “enter” or “cross” the assigned takeoff runway at any point.