I'm Confused

Oct 24, 2009

How is it possible for Northwest Flt 188 to overfly it's destination by 150 miles? I don't understand.  I'm confused.

If there's one thing I've learned from flying airliners it's that it would be functionally impossible to lose situational awareness AND communication for that long without something short of alien abduction of the pilots.  Whatever the excuse is, it's going to be a whopper. Now the news is saying the pilots weren't asleep.  But really, is there any other explanation?  I can't wait to hear this one.
 

Recently I received an invitation from the Gods of ATC to consider flying with Cape Air Virtual on the www.BostonVirtualATC.com server.  Nice!  I can't say I've ever been asked to fly for an airline before so I'LL TAKE IT!

After some fits and starts with the Virtual Airline Financial System that tracks passengers, loads, and earnings per seat (yes, it really does that.)  it appears I'm ready to fly with Cape Air.  I have to say that this is one of the cooler things that has come down the pike recently. The whole concept of being 'dispatched' - the concept of not having a choice over where to fly, but instead being handed a dispatch ticket that says in effect "you sir, go take these people in that airplane over there and fly them to that airport over yonder.  And when you're done, we'll give you a paycheck".  And yes, you are paid in virtual money.  Seriously, I'm building a virtual bank account as an airline pilot.  This adds a whole 'nother layer of intrigue that is somehow strangely even more appealing than FSX is to begin with.

I told my significant other about it... "Honey! I've been asked to fly for an airline!" She smiles sarcastically and goes back to what she is doing. She honestly doesn't get the whole virtual pilot thing.  Girls I find are not so much into it (no offense) and who can blame her.  I try to explain, and she does look at the airway charts with me from time to time, but no matter how much I try she still won't wear the Flight Attendant's uniform I bought her.

Damn.

I was also intrigued by one of the comments made about pilots having account balances with someone indicated we will soon be able to purchase virtual stock in virtual airlines yet to come.  On the one hand I say to myself "...geez someone has a whole lot of time on their hands".  On the other hand I'm busily scheming how to write virtual call options on the virtual stock for the virtual airline for which I fly as a virtual pilot.  Apparently I have too much time on my hands as well.

Though if I could put in one request for the Gods of ATC for future virtual airlines it would be can we please design some airlines that have at least turboprop aircraft? While I can certainly appreciate the rustic glamor of flying in a piston analog aircraft - along with all the chop and turbulence that comes with it - I've become something of a jet jockey. As a youngster all I ever wanted to do was to fly for a regional airline, and now I are one.  Sortof.  Cape Air is awesome and it's so hot to hear all the traffic on com each night.  But it's also hard to give up my trusty CRJ700 and if the Gods of ATC allow, I would ask to keep it that way if I can.  But a King Air or a Dash 8 would be ok too.  As a youngster I used to dream of flying the mountains of Colorado in a Dash 8, so yeah.. that works.  I guess I just like to get there fast.  Either that or I'm just plain spoiled.  Yes I am.  Go on, you can say so.  I can take it.

One last thought for today... for an awesome blog very well written by a real airline pilot about life flying the line check out http://flightlevel390.blogspot.com/.  I'm really really really enjoying it.  I'll be interested to see what Captain (big C) Dave has to say about Flight 188.

See you above Cessna Country.