[simpits-tech] Jetstream Update

[Bubba]

Roy Coates wrote:
>
> Yeah - I'm not sure if the system is very smart, or pretty weird. I
> guess
> only a real pilot can tell me that.

It's a good idea, but can cause problems if you aren't paying attention. On
some plane out there, and I don't remember what it was (the 146, maybe?) the
disconnects were in a bad spot and every 3rd brand new FO would pull the
handle moving the seat up. Instant 1 hour delay at the gate and a horrible
way to start a career ;)

> Interesting. I'd love to hear his comments on the 41.

Next time I talk to him I'll see what I can get out of him.

> I won't call you a bastard steve - I'll call you a lucky bastard! ;)

Right place, right time, right parent ;)

> Its always been a liability issue, and since 9/11 its justified
> paranoia

Yup. Even airline employees have gotten pissed on with all the new rules.
When I worked for American Eagle a few years ago we got real close to a
situation where we needed to balast a Saab to get it back to Dallas due to
having 3 passengers on the plane. Unfortunately there were only 5 the day
before, so all the sandbags were in Dallas already. We almost had to send
some breathing balast up there, namely me, in the aft cargo bay. If that had
happened I would have likely gotten to ride the jumpseat back down on the
next flight. Unfortunately we managed to talk some people that showed up
very early into taking the early flight and got 8 people on the plane in the
last 2 rows.

ATRs were even more fun. To get to the cockpit you go through a door in the
forward cabin bulkhead which leads to a bridge through the forward cargo bay
ending at the cockpit door. That plane scared the hell out of me on a
regular basis. The forward cargo door, a HUGE clamshell, was entirely too
close to the #1 prop for my comfort, the ground AC duct was too close to #2
and had to be left connected until the engine was running (and they never,
ever used the prop brake for us), and it took an act of God to get the aft
cargo bay loaded since it had to go through a door on the right side of the
galley then through an interior door into the bay. What the hell were they
smoking when they came up with that arrangement?!? The good part was that
with 64 seats there had to be 2 FAs which meant better chances of the hot
ones showing up ;) It was also fun driving the jetway, though a bit cold at
5 am in December with the rain and yuck and everything.

My 0345 to 1215 shift sucked goat nether regions, but until 0700 I was THE
guy in charge of the base. No one got on or off a plane until I said they
could :) It was also fun getting to escort the famous people (usually from
the Astros) down the back way so no one would bug them. Occasionally I even
rode the brakes when the ramp rats were moving the overnights at the crack
of dawn. It required my people to actually be there on time, which took
another act of God, but it was fun. I got to do it since I was the only
person at the base with Saab time in my logbook :)

> I'm not a big fan of the 41 - I'm just having fun getting to play with
> one.

How many times have you tripped over the spar? Fortunately the 41 was phased
out long before I worked there, nothing but SF340A/Bs and ATR72s, with the
occasional 42, but when I was flying around the southeast US for fun I
probably set a record for tripping over that bloody thing. Oh yeah, does
yours have the belly pod? If so, there's a good place to pack in computers
that don't need much attention. If I remember right there's a ~12" square
access panel just in front of the spar that goes down there and enough room
between the floor and subfloor for all the wiring you'll ever need. On the
yokes, doesn't the 41 have full mechanical backups on the controls? As in
power isn't needed to move 'em. If so, you planning on leaving it all
connected so everything moves when it's supposed to?
--
Steve
mysticz28@swbell.net
The only difference in 40 and 140 is the sirens and flashing lights
behind you.