For most passengers, long-haul flights are
a matter of endurance aided by a few drinks, inflight entertainment, and trying to get some
sleep between meal services. It is an entirely different matter for the people flying the plane
as there are still plenty of things to do even after takeoff. Let’s look at what’s happening
on the flight deck during these longer flights… Even though flight paths are decided upon
before departure, pilots have to monitor weather conditions and decide whether
or not to alter them during the flight. On long-haul flights, weather conditions are
more likely to change from initial forecasts, with aircraft often encountering multiple
weather systems. These systems can vary in intensity from slight turbulence to dangerous
thunderstorms. Traveling at high speeds, pilots must be prepared at all times
to alter the flight path if necessary. If, for example, they see a
thunderstorm on the radar, they must first get the OK from air traffic
control (ATC) to change their route. Clear air turbulence is another worry, and
because it cannot be seen on the radar, pilots rely upon the information provided by
pilots flying the same route ahead of them. When flying across oceans such as the Atlantic, one
pilot's job is to communicate with the ATC while the other monitors a common air-to-air frequency
that pilots use to communicate with each other. The entire time a flight is
in the air, the pilots monitor all kinds of gauges to ensure that the
plane performs how it is supposed to. Making sure that the temperature of the fuel
is not too cold is another thing pilots must monitor. If the fuel cools down too much,
its flow can be restricted due to waxing. If this happens, pilots can rectify
the situation by descending, or by increasing the aircraft's speed (and,
thus, its skin temperature). However, this isn't a particularly frequent occurrence,
as engine oil helps fuel to retain heat. While one of the pilots monitors all the
gauges, the other will be busy taking care of the paperwork. Before the flight, the
pilots are given a written flight plan. Anything that deviates from this
must be written down as notes. Outside of these important activities,
long-haul flying can be very boring for pilots. During cruise phases, pilots will often pass
the time by making small talk with one another, or doing some reading. Smartphone games and
good old fashioned crossword puzzles might be additional forms of entertainment
found on the flight deck. Finally, just like passengers,
enjoying inflight meals is another part of the long-haul pilot experience. The pilots typically wait until the passengers
have been served and then eat separately. They do this so that there is
always one person at the controls. For long flights over twelve hours, there
are one or two relief pilots onboard so that the two pilots who performed the
takeoff can take a break and get some rest. There are just two pilots on shorter
long-haul flights of eight or nine hours. The only opportunity they get to
leave their seats and stretch their legs is when they go to the bathroom. Did you know about these long-haul duties and
activities? Let us know by leaving a comment.
