Long-haul flights are radically different from short-haul flights, which last three hours or less and are routine for both passengers and pilots. For the majority of passengers, long haul flights are an exercise in endurance made easier by a few beers, a movie or TV show, and an attempt to sleep between meals.
For the pilots, it is a completely different situation because there is still a tonne of work to be done even after takeoff. Despite having the autopilot activated, the plane is still moving at a speed of more than 500 mph when it approaches cruising altitude. The outside air temperature is between negative forty and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, because the air is so thin, the pilots must be prepared to quickly descend the aircraft to 8,000 feet in order to provide adequate oxygen for passengers to breathe properly in the event that the cabin loses pressure for any reason.
Long flights are typically something that must be managed with the aid of sleep masks, movies, and complimentary little bottles of wine. However, as passengers try to unwind and mentally disengage, pilots are doing the exact opposite. Plenty of work remains to be done even after launch.
Things Pilots Do On Long Flights
Communication is one of the most crucial aspects of an airline pilot’s work.
Whether it be during takeoff, cruising, or landing, pilots will use and communicate via a variety of radio systems, frequently at the same time.
For instance, one pilot might be speaking with air traffic control to reroute the aircraft because of an approaching thunderstorm, while the other pilot is speaking with other aircraft that are travelling in the same direction.
- Monitor the temperature and fuel levels.
To ensure that the aircraft has adequate fuel to land, pilots must perform fuel estimates throughout the flight.
A plane needs to burn more gasoline to carry more fuel, hence airlines really do not want their planes to transport or land with surplus fuel. That is to say, it isn’t very cost-effective.
The fuel temperature must be checked by the pilots as well. At 35,000 feet, it can get quite cold, which can cause the fuel tanks to become dangerously cold and limit flow.
Pilots will keep an eye on the fuel temperature gauges and, if necessary, will transfer cold gasoline to inner, warmer tanks.
- The pilots constantly monitor the weather
Although flight paths are chosen before takeoff, pilots must choose whether or not to change them while in the air. Long-haul flights may pass through three or four different weather systems as a result of the shifting weather conditions. The severity of these systems can range from light turbulence to potentially deadly thunderstorms. A change in the weather can occur quickly when travelling at over 500 mph, thus pilots must always be ready to change their flight route if necessary. For instance, they must first receive permission from air traffic control (ATC) to alter their course if they spot a thunderstorm on the radar.
Pilot fatigue is a substantial problem and has been implicated in 4-7% of civil aviation issues and accidents, therefore managing it is a big component of long-haul flying, not actually piloting the aircraft.
In fact, a study by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that 60% of long-haul captains had mild to severe weariness on their most recent flight.The pilots will alternate sleeping, but they will exit the cabin and go to a more pleasant sleeping space with a bed, beautiful linen, lighting control, and possibly temperature control where they can get a decent slumber.
Because it’s tough to fly through terrain like mountains, it’s part of my duty to make sure the plane doesn’t try to make that kind of change. This is rarely a problem when travelling at cruise altitude, but leaving from and arriving at an airport require heights that are close to the airport’s altitude. During these times, it is especially crucial to be vigilant.
The majority of airlines only permit the pilot to access information that is specifically linked to the flight or further studies that are pertinent, but some airlines permit the use of personal laptops while others do not. Therefore, if you are a pilot, visiting your Facebook profile probably won’t be permitted.
Flights they are flying with, a pilot may or may not be permitted to read while flying. Most aircraft will be permitted to read a newspaper because the contents are brief, quick to read, and don’t need much concentration.
Longer textbooks and novels are often not allowed since the pilot is more likely to lose focus while reading one than they are while reading a newspaper, failing to check the flight deck as frequently as they should.
The internet is available to pilots, which gives them many options to increase the overall security of a flight. Wi-Fi on aeroplanes has completely changed the game and benefits pilots in a variety of ways. Pilots will be able to access current and pertinent communications and information thanks to onboard internet.
These are only a few of the tasks that must be completed throughout the flight, as a pilot must always be attentive to make sure they are ready in case something goes wrong. They are allowed to do a few other things if they aren’t performing all the required checks.
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