ABC News Now

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/getline/2004-10-25-ask-the-captain_x.htm Above is the link to this week’s edition of “Ask The Captain” brought to you by USAToday.com. The “fan” mail I’m getting is just enormous. The interest in this column continues to astound me and I can’t begin to tell you how gratifying it is to know it’s being read by so many people around the world. As always, I want to thank the many of you who have written to say how much you’ve enjoyed my book. If you haven’t yet ordered “The World At My Feet” and want to, see the home page of www.fromthecockpit.com and look at the bottom, or just call 1-800-345-6665. Depending upon where you order it the book may have to be back-ordered. The quickest way to receive it is through my website or toll-free number above. Yesterday, October 25, I appeared on ABC’s new cable show ABC NEWS NOW and went to New York for the live appearance. It was a fifteen minute interview which took place just a few feet from where Peter Jennings broadcasts every evening and was really fun. This was a very last-minute booking so I didn’t have time to get the date out to folks who might have wanted to tune it. I’m anticipating appearing on a national TV show next month, also on ABC and will let my readers know in advance for anyone interested in watching. Tomorrow I’ll enter my third week of B-777 training. We’re well into the simulated flying part now. In the simulator last week we departed Newark, had an engine fire and diverted into Gander, Newfoundland. On another drill we departed Denver and landed in Honolulu. An engine failed on the way in but the weather went down and we had to “miss” the approach, meaning we never saw the runway. We then came back and landed successfully using an approach to a different runway with better visibility—all on one engine. Please keep your questions coming, either through my own website www.fromthecockpit.com or through my column at USAToday.com/travel where a link is provided for you. Until next time, Maintain Airspeed Cap’n Meryl

777 School

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/getline/2004-10-11-ask-the-captain_x.htmAbove is the link to this week’s edition of “Ask The Captain”, brought to you by USAToday.com. Now in its third week, response continues to be heavy.
My editors expressed their desire to publish names and towns along with questions, so if you do NOT want your name mentioned, be sure to specify this when you ask your question. Your privacy will be respected.
I want to thank the many of you who have written to say how much you’ve enjoyed my book. If you haven’t yet ordered “The World At My Feet” and want to, see the home page of www.fromthecockpit.com and look at the bottom, or just call 1-800-345-6665.
I’ve now been in school for a week to learn to fly the B-777. One question I’ve been asked a few times is why pilots have to go to school at all for an airplane new to them. Isn’t a plane a plane? I plan on including this possibly in an upcoming column, but here’s a basic answer:
If any pilot were thrust into just about any aircraft in flight, he or she could probably bring that plane in for a safe landing.
Actually flying the plane is only one piece of learning a new airplane. In my first week of ground school, my first officer and I snuggled up to our computers in the Learning Center, located at our training facility here in Denver. Over three days, we did the “CBT” (Computer Based Training) course which educated us about the various systems, like fuel, hydraulic, electric, emergency equipment, pressurization, anti-icing, limits (how much the airplane can weigh for takeoff, landing, etc.) and on and on.
We also spent two days with an A/I (Academic Instructor) who is himself a pilot. One day was in an FBS – a $5M stationary or Fixed Base Simulator. This is so we could learn the “flows” each pilot does, where we check each and every switch. This is where we first become familiar with the before start setup procedures, the actual startup procedures, enroute emergency procedures, etc.
We then spent the second day in “the real thing”, the $30M simulator that is so realistic it’s scary. We “flew” from SFO to DEN, had a gear fire on the way, dumped some fuel (so we could return for landing at SFO without being overweight to do so), then continued to Denver after all. My first officer got to do a missed approach and I brought the plane back into Denver and landed the B-777 for the first time.
It’s actually a lot of fun to learn a new airplane. In a few more days we’ll take the oral examination to ensure we know our systems, and then do some more “real” flying in the simulator. We won’t get to fly the actual airplane until early November, when we take trips to various points around the globe.
Until next time,Maintain Airspeed
Cap’n Meryl
Until next time,Maintain Airspeed