Mount Redoubt approaching climax

by Mike Barish on

Things in south-central Alaska just got a bit more interesting (and south-central Alaska was already a pretty tough neighborhood). Mount Redoubt has seen a dramatic uptick in seismic activity over the last several days and seismologists fear that an eruption may be imminent.

Located about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, Mount Redoubt hasn’t had a release in over 20 years, so you can bet that it’s frustrated. Peter Cervelli, a research geophysicist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory said, “we expect based on the past behavior of this volcano that this activity is going to culminate in an eruption.” And what a release it will be!

Cervelli went on to add that while an eruption would pose little threat to residents of Anchorage, it certainly has the potential to disrupt air traffic. During the last eruption, ash plumes hindered air traffic and caused one jet engine to fail. Ash plumes are the the new bird strikes!

The observatory has set up two webcams to monitor the situation and get footage of an eruption, which should be one hell of a money shot.

[Via CNN]

The Monitor’s guide to understanding Alaska

by Jerry Guo on

Only in America will you find need a “guide” to understanding one of our own states. But Alaska is weird.

In this insightful Monitor story, the reporter opens with some peculiar relics of life in the 50th state: “The Alaskan Independence Party? Sourdoughs and cheechakos? Boomers and greenies facing off in the “Mad-Zoo?” A moon at noon?”

Now that Sarah Palin is the Republican vice-presidential candidate, I bet a lot more people are googling Alaska, and in particular, Wasilla, her hometown, an exurb of Anchorage.

While much has been said about the bizarre politics and lifestyle of this state, I’ve yet to come across any great travel pieces or dispatches. In fact, I’m tempted to jet up there myself and do the gig. Where should I go though? (Yes, I’ll be the first to admit I need a guide to Alaska).

Alaska Airlines cancels flights because of volcanic ash

by Anna Brones on

Canceled flights aren’t really anything to get overly excited about — they happen pretty often — but I think its worth noting today’s cancelations on Alaska Airlines. 44 flights were canceled today between Alaska and several West Coast cities on account of a rising ash cloud from the Kasatochi volcano that erupted last week in the Aleutian islands.

Obviously volcanic ash in the air can lead to visibility problems for pilots. Even worse, debris can be ingested into the engines. Not really what you want happening in the midst of your in-flight entertainment. Travelers are obviously encouraged to check their flight status; volcanoes aren’t always predictable. As airline spokesman Marianne Lindsey said, “you never know, the volcano could erupt again.”

Gadling Take FIVE July 25– August 1

by Jamie Rhein on

Since I missed last week’s Gadling Take FIVE, I am including posts from before last Friday and including more than five. As usual, it’s hard to pick.

  • Start off with Iva’s post about her trip to the Community Baboon Sanctuary in Belize. Like she said, don’t let the mosquitoes stop you.
  • Scott personally tested Travelon toiletry sheets. After reading what he wrote, I think these would work great in a pinch.
  • Josh sniffed out airfare deals to get you to Asia and the hotel room bargains to be found in Las Vegas.
  • After reading Jerry’s Talking Travel interview with Adelle and Ron Milavsky, authors of Take Your RV to Europe, you might find yourself considering this interesting travel option, particularly if you have a few months at hand.
  • If busy airports are not your thing, check out Jeffrey’s post on the busiest to know which ones to avoid. Atlanta’s Hartfield’s International Airport is first on the list.
  • Anna passed on the news that TSA shoe scanners are being tested at LAX so that passengers may not have to remove their shoes anymore.
  • And, in case this slipped past your radar, even though it was just posted today, Discovery Channel has a casting call for an Alaskan adventure TV show. You might have to beat out Aaron, though. He wrote up the post, and I think he should totally go for it.

Plane Answers: How pilots pick an airline, choose their ‘legs’ and avoid DVT.

by Kent Wien on

Welcome to Gadling’s feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

Julie asks:

Hi Kent, I love your blog! You have mentioned before the importance of a pilot staying with one airline throughout his career because seniority is everything. Recently, you also noted that some airlines like Air France will even pay for a pilot’s training, which sounds like a nice incentive to try to become their employee.

It seems like there are many different factors to seriously consider before joining an airline, especially since you are hoping to be with the airline for several years.

With all of these factors to think about, how did you choose which airline you wanted to work for when you were just starting out?
Thanks Julie,

It’s nice to be able to target the airline that you want to work for and land that job, but often we don’t usually have that luxury. Generally, you take the first offer you get.

I was incredibly fortunate to get noticed and successfully navigate the interview process with the airline that I most wanted to work for.

Often the airline of choice will vary and today, the freight operators like FedEx and UPS are at the top of most pilots list. Southwest and Alaska have always been favorites of applicants as well.

For me, I wanted the opportunity to fly internationally and to fly more than one type of airplane. I might not be typical of most pilots, but I actually enjoy going to school to learn a new aircraft.

Since we don’t have any large airlines in the U.S. that do the ab initio training (where they take a person and provide all the flight training, from zero time to line pilot), it’s really your flight experience and ratings, along with your work history and education, that the airlines scrutinize.

Fred asks:

Kent,
I know that on long flights there are relief pilots. Who determines who flies first, who lands the aircraft and are the relief crews required to get shut eye? Also do the flight attendants have relief people?

The captain will occasionally ask the co-pilot which ‘leg’ they’d like, but more often than not, he’ll take the first leg of the trip and we’ll alternate legs after that.


Who’s leg is this?

On flights requiring a relief pilot, unless that pilot hasn’t had a landing in a few months, there are usually just two legs to share, so the relief pilot doesn’t get to fly a leg. When flying as a relief pilot all month, it’s possible to trade for a co-pilot trip every now and then to maintain the requirement for three landings in 90 days.

With regards to the breaks, it’s usually the relief pilot who goes back for the first break. The flying pilot will take the second break so they’re prepared and not rushed to prepare for the approach. The non-flying pilot will then take the last leg, arriving back in the cockpit at least thirty minutes prior.

We’re not required to get some sleep, but the option to sleep if we’re tired is at least provided. Occasionally, when I’ve had a good night’s sleep, I’ll do a little blogging or in the past–before writing for Gadling–I’d catch a movie.

That’s why the FB and the FC, the second relief pilot used on the flights over 12 hours, are known as the “Food Boy” and the “Film Critic.”

The flight attendants don’t have relief crews per se, but after the meal service is complete, and before the second service, they’ll divide up their breaks which may be as little as thirty minutes for a 7 hour flight.

Hey Kent, Regarding DVT, or Deep Vein Thrombosis, is it a concern for pilots? Do you guys have much room to move around up front? Are there measures you take to avoid DVT? Do you really need to?

Thanks,

Ben

Hi Ben,

After this became such a public issue, we did give some thought to the ramifications to sitting in an airplane for so many hours at a time.

Most pilots try to drink enough water during the flight, and we occasionally stand up in the cockpit for a moment at cruise and stretch. All of our airplanes have enough room for us to at least stand up.

After September 11th, it’s become a bit of a hassle to use the lavatory, so we try not to overdo it on the water.

Since we have three pilots on the flights scheduled to be 8 hours or more, we’re lucky to get a two hour break in the cabin, which probably helps curb the DVT potential. It’s the transcons that have the potential for pilots to sit for extended periods at a time.

Do you have a question about something related to the pointy end of an airplane? Ask Kent and maybe he’ll use it for next Friday’s Plane Answers