airline - Stephan Segraves

A Glimpse From the Pilot’s Seat

February 29, 2012 ssegraves

I love airline/airplane videos so when I came across these HD videos on NYC Aviation I couldn’t help but re-post them here. Both videos are great because they give a glimpse into an area that passengers rarely see. We take for granted that there is a workload being handled by the pilots behind that cockpit door.

In the videos you see how turbulence effects landings, other traffic in the area while cruising (notice the A380 in the one video?), and how the autopilot is adjusted during flight.

The first video is of an Airbus aircraft operated by Avianca, the flag carrier of Colombia.

The second video is a Boeing 737 operated by what appears to be Ryanair, the low-cost airline based in Dublin, Ireland.

If you the videos do not appear for you, you can watch the Ryanair video here and the Avianca one here. Both links lead directly to YouTube.

This Week’s Links | April 17, 2009

April 17, 2009 ssegraves

The dark side of Dubai – A fantastic look at the “true” Dubai and what most outsiders do not witness. From sewage problems to what amounts to slave labor, Johann Hari writes a compelling article on the Disneyland of the Desert.
Mileage Deals Spur Runs for Elite Status – I admit it, I am taking advantage of these deals. I am flying to Frankfurt, Germany the first week of May to earn 21,000 miles on Continental Airlines. There are a lot of benefits for me to have the status, so for $300, it is worth it.
Spokane to detonate squirrels tearing up parks – It sounds like a scene from Caddyshack.
Plane-side TSA searches aren’t worth the trouble – More proof that the Masterpiece Theater known as the TSA and airport security is a joke. They cannot test the liquids quickly, so they have limited the amount that you can bring on board, but now, without any evidence of a greater threat, they are searching passengers again before getting on the plane. The TSA says it cannot test liquids of vendors inside of the airport, making the plane-side searches necessary. Huh? So, they’re suggesting that terrorists have infiltrated my airport’s Starbucks and Au Bon Pain and are plotting to kill us? Maybe with calories.

Let me know what you think, leave a comment!

This Week’s Links – February 13, 2009

February 13, 2009 ssegraves

I thought I would try something different and post links that I have bookmarked during the past week. I will try to do this every Friday.

Branson: United or Delta Will Pull Out of Australia – Richard Branson seems to think that United Airlines will be forced to pull out of operations in Australia. I doubt this will happen as it is a huge moneymaker for United’s cargo business.
Sen. Stabenow wants hearings on radio ‘accountability’; talks fairness doctrine – Is this a waste of time? I seem to think so. It is a slap in the face of free speech.
For Catholics, a Door to Absolution Is Reopened – Indulgences were one facet of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Why is there no emphasis on grace?
The Once and Future E-Book: On Reading in the Digital Age – Though I am drawn to the Kindle for its portability, holding a physical book while reading is still one of my favorite things to do.
Continental Airlines Flight 3407 Crashes in Buffalo – There is a lot of speculation going on about icing and what brought down the plane. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those onboard.

Those are the links for this week, though I may find something interesting during the day and add it here.