Smoking in cockpit......and journos exaggerations
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Smoking in cockpit......and journos exaggerations
Saudi airline urged to investigate smoking captain
by ASC Staff on Jun 19, 2011
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Allegations that the captain of a recent Saudi Arabian Airlines flights was caught smoking in the middle of a journey between Jeddah and Paris must be investigated, an eyewitness has urged.
According to a report on the Emirates 24/7 website, which in turn quoted an Arabic daily newspaper, passengers feared the worst after noticing that smoke was billowing from the cockpit in the middle of their flight.
Following complaints to a stewardess, the passengers were assured that the smoke was not caused by an aircraft problem, but due to the captain having a cigarette.
“When they yelled to the stewardess and told her about the smoke, she simply replied that the captain was smoking and that she could not do anything about it,” the original report has stated.
“A Saudi university professor who was among those passengers called on the Saudi Airlines to investigate the issue and punish the pilot since smoking is strictly banned on all Saudi flights.”
by ASC Staff on Jun 19, 2011
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Allegations that the captain of a recent Saudi Arabian Airlines flights was caught smoking in the middle of a journey between Jeddah and Paris must be investigated, an eyewitness has urged.
According to a report on the Emirates 24/7 website, which in turn quoted an Arabic daily newspaper, passengers feared the worst after noticing that smoke was billowing from the cockpit in the middle of their flight.
Following complaints to a stewardess, the passengers were assured that the smoke was not caused by an aircraft problem, but due to the captain having a cigarette.
“When they yelled to the stewardess and told her about the smoke, she simply replied that the captain was smoking and that she could not do anything about it,” the original report has stated.
“A Saudi university professor who was among those passengers called on the Saudi Airlines to investigate the issue and punish the pilot since smoking is strictly banned on all Saudi flights.”
I am not in favour of smoking in the cockpit, however what sort of reporting is this? "passengers feared the worst" and "smoke billowing out of the cockpit". These are exaggerations that can cost someone's career and there should be some responsibilities borne by journos.
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On the other hand, I have witnessed both the Captain and FO chain smoking on an Air India flight....
Indeed when the cockpit door opened the smoke did indeed billow out.
Indeed when the cockpit door opened the smoke did indeed billow out.
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Smoking in the cockpit
Always remember years ago whilst waiting to travel as a passenger on a Peach Air 1011 at Gatwick the captain was having a smoke from a large crooked pipe in the cockpit filling up the cockpit with bright blue smoke it was rather funny to see but I felt for the rest of em on the flightdeck,will never forget that sight.
To be fair, under EU-OPS at least:
(a) The commander shall ensure that no person on board is allowed to smoke:
1. whenever deemed necessary in the interest of safety;
2. while the aeroplane is on the ground unless specifically permitted in accordance with procedures defined in the
Operations Manual;
3. outside designated smoking areas, in the aisle(s) and in the toilet(s);
4. in cargo compartments and/or other areas where cargo is carried which is not stored in flame resistant containers or covered by flame resistant canvas; and
5. in those areas of the cabin where oxygen is being supplied.
Smoking is also prohibited where the "No Smoking" signs are on ... so - there is actually nothing in the regs to stop a Captain smoking on the flight deck. There may be something in an Operations Manual, or indeed in workplace Health & Safety regulations (although aviation is often exempt.)
OPS 1.335
Smoking on board (a) The commander shall ensure that no person on board is allowed to smoke:
1. whenever deemed necessary in the interest of safety;
2. while the aeroplane is on the ground unless specifically permitted in accordance with procedures defined in the
Operations Manual;
3. outside designated smoking areas, in the aisle(s) and in the toilet(s);
4. in cargo compartments and/or other areas where cargo is carried which is not stored in flame resistant containers or covered by flame resistant canvas; and
5. in those areas of the cabin where oxygen is being supplied.
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Does EU-OPS state the cockpit is a designated smoking area then? Or else you would be in breach of point number 3, smoking outside of a designated area.....
Psychophysiological entity
Cough, cough. Weeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzz. Cough cough.
The Dak was placarded in red, upon a nicotine stained background. The rain drain gutter under the DV panel was often filled to overflowing with nearly extinguished butts.
One ex Over the Hump in Burma fella, called for wheels on a tight base-leg, then with one hand, lit up, dragged until he'd got a loooooong red point glowing, then stub it out as the wheels peeped on. The other dog-ends usually scattered onto his lap.
This is in the days when CRM was dodging the captain's fist.
The Dak was placarded in red, upon a nicotine stained background. The rain drain gutter under the DV panel was often filled to overflowing with nearly extinguished butts.
One ex Over the Hump in Burma fella, called for wheels on a tight base-leg, then with one hand, lit up, dragged until he'd got a loooooong red point glowing, then stub it out as the wheels peeped on. The other dog-ends usually scattered onto his lap.
This is in the days when CRM was dodging the captain's fist.
Buttonpusher
Ahh the days of using alcohol swabs to the clean all the buttons (I was going to say knobs, but decided against it) of nicotine layered on year after year of smoking on the DC-10 Flight Engineer panel......Halcyon days !!! 
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Where I work, in Asia, we are allowed to smoke if the Commander smokes. In some companies in Asia I have heard of that they actually write "smoking is allowed at a rate of XXX per XXX Hours...!"
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The late (I think), great Alan Bodger of Gulf Aviation/Gulf Air would leave his office to fly the occasional sector, DC3 or F27, as Captain when needed; lighting up a fresh cigar was one of his taxying checks, so as to have it going properly for the take-off. Most FOIs (CAA) ignored it if they knew what was good for them, but one was bold enough to comment, whereupon Alan offered him one too.
I thought, all flights worldwide are non-smoking ( at least for pax )
Am I wrong?
Am I wrong?
One useless peice of information I still remember from the Argosy makers course at Baginton almost fifty years ago was the eye watering price of the flight deck ashtrays, which were £75 each, due mainly to the high cost of CAA certification. 
I made sure the RAF got it's moneys worth!
I made sure the RAF got it's moneys worth!
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brakedwell
So did I. When I flew Shacks, after take-off, as soon as the Flight Engineer had completed his fumes check, the PNF lit two ciggies and passed one to the PF. We survived.
So did I. When I flew Shacks, after take-off, as soon as the Flight Engineer had completed his fumes check, the PNF lit two ciggies and passed one to the PF. We survived.
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Quite a number of Arab countries pilots smoke in the cockpit.
A number of 1st world countries pilots would not smoke unless in the designated area. That sort of discipline makes their countries strong and powerful and respectful.
New generation aircraft re-circulates approx. 20% your FART and smoke back to your cabin. So, enjoy the smoke of others (passive smoking).
A number of 1st world countries pilots would not smoke unless in the designated area. That sort of discipline makes their countries strong and powerful and respectful.
New generation aircraft re-circulates approx. 20% your FART and smoke back to your cabin. So, enjoy the smoke of others (passive smoking).
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This is why freight is great!
Most crew members did not care so much if I stuck a plastic spoon in the door seal on DC10 type aircraft, pretty much sucked all smoke and odour outside. I used to get a kick out of non aviation type jumpseaters grasping the fact that they could see light from outside at 38k.
And then there's the top managers of certain airlines, who come to the flight deck for a couple of minutes. Not for socialising with the minions, but just to have a smoke.