advise pax re using spoilers
 

I think the spoilers allow the plane to lose height on landing approach without increasing speed

some pilots apply them without any warning to pax, causing alarm down the back as this part of the plane shakes, Is it the disturbed air from the main wings hitting the tailwings ? several times Ive had to reasure people around me that its only the spoilers and all is OK

apparently on the 727, there was no shaking due to the tailwings being up higher

:ugh::mad::eek:

As you whack them out full on an A320 doing 340kts - the howl is ace :ok:

Lynn has a point.....am I the only airline pilot who gives a running commentary of what I'm doing over the PA?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am just about to extend the flaps, that is the slight lift you'll feel. Now, the loud noise you're about to hear is the sound of the wheels being lowered for landing and if you can hear a slight slurping noise, I did tell you at the beginning of the flight that our cabin crew really are here to make the flight as enjoyable as possible. Thank you for flying with us today."

Thanks DHC for dash 8. No speedbrakes and gear is visible from cabin, sparing me two items on PA.

What, the gear on a dash8 is not visible from the cabin? What? :bored:

Erm... that would be my level 3 English. Should have written: a) there are no speedbrakes b) gear is visible from cabin. So I a) don't warn the pax before I use speedbrakes as I don't have them anyway b) don't tell the pax that gear is coming down, they should be able to see it themselves.

It may be news to some but most pax want to sleep, read, or do any number of things BUT listen to some verbose P2F "ace" rambling on about every little sound/ vibration from the pointy end, for those twitched about flying no amount of PA drivel will help, and the rest dont care! Recentley when deadheading home we {all the pax that is}were forced to listen to the flight deck ramble on about min time tracks and God knows what else, all at 3am body time! ETA,weather, thanks for flying with us, then shut up!

None of the above for me but, our company does make the cc do a PA when approaching LCY on the E190 that there will be a noticable buffet due to the spoilers being extended on the steep approach. (no PA though on the E170 as you hardly feel it)

717 rumbles with speedbrake, high tail wings & all.

There is way to much talk over the PA as it is in my opinion. Would you like to donate spare change?....this is a non smoking flight.... the cabin crew will now move through the cabin....are you sure you don't want to donate spare change?... blah blah blah....just let the pax be.

Yup, our customer service surveys do show that passengers only want very short comments if at all, there is a marked difference between business flights and tourist flights though, on the latter they like a bit more chatter. If someone is really worried about any sound or vibration on board they can book some training with the company for those that are afraid of flying, everything will be explained there.

I used to present a talk at a "Fear of Flying" course a previous company ran.

Often, one of the attendees would have some horror story of something (probably perfectly normal) happening and "The Pilots didn't say anything!!"

I'd try and put the point across, "Well, we are probably quite busy at that time and, if it is actually an emergency, we would DEFIANTLY be busy. Would you rather we dealt with the problem or spoke to you?"

Funny thing was, reaction to this seemingly rhetorical question was pretty much split!! Half the people would actually prefer us to tell them what's happening, rather than waste our time saving their lives!

Well said...some (most) at the pointy end just don't know when to shut up.

I don't know if you are the only one, but you are in a very small minority and for a very good reason.

Carrying out a manouever in an aircraft should warrant your full attention. The monitoring requirements also require that you listen to what is happening on the radio as well as what the other pilot is doing. Electing to play a running commentary to your passengers may be interesting and entertaining but in normal circumstances it shows what most pilots and most authorities would regard as a serious inversion of priorities.

If you think I am wrong, try doing this on your next line check and report back.

The normal and smooth application of speedbrakes shouldn't be any different than the similar application of ailerons, elevators, brakes or any other control.

I am a strong advocate of communication in all aspects of commercial aviation and that particularly includes considered, timely and sensible communication with the passengers. However that should never be at the cost of the safe and routine functioning of the flight.

There are specific flights (fear of flying has already been highlighted) where the passengers often are given a running commentary of the proceedings. However, that is by a supernumary pilot employed specifically for the purpose, not somebody charged with the piloting of that flight.

If it is a joke, then ho ho ho!

As far as I am concerned, I could be speaking Mongolian and explaining how a Yak cow gives birth and nurses it's calfs. This would have the same effect as making the PA in English and trying to explain what we are doing in the cockpit. Most of the PAX I fly do not speak English nor do I speak their native language. Waste of efforts really. My Father did long PA's in Finnish , Swedish and in English explaining PAX what was happening.

Also I have bad experiences on trying to explain something technical to the people in the back. So many misunderstandings it is not even funny. Birdstrike equals a strike of workers now does it not?

SharpClassic...
 

time to reel Bealzebub in I think :)

I would say however that I was taught on the B757 to gently "crack" the speedbrakes, before smoothly deploying them. The odd skipper I fly with just yanks them out, but by and large, most people try and deploy them smoothly.

Would you advise a passeger in a car that you're about to brake / change gears / indicate? :ugh:



If you don't like flying....don't fly!:suspect:

Some pilots apply them without any warning to pax, causing alarm down the back as this part of the plane shakes, Is it the disturbed air from the main wings hitting the tailwings ? several times Ive had to reasure people around me that its only the spoilers and all is OK.

What a load of tosh!

Elf and safety at its worst.

:}
the mongolian spoken explanation of the yak and its calfs is one of the most hilarious things I have read lately.:ok: