Blogger Kent Wien

by Kent Wien on

Introducing the newest member of the Gadling team… Kent Wien

Since air travel is such a significant part of most of our lives, we’re bringing on Kent to share his experiences as a commercial pilot with Gadling. Kent will be writing about each of his trips, giving you an idea of what life is like at the pointy end of an airliner. Keep an eye out for his “Cockpit Chronicles” feature, and follow along with him in the air and on the ground.

1. Where was your photo taken: 38,000 feet, on the way back from San Juan to Boston in a Boeing 757.

2. Where do you live now: Exeter, New Hampshire

3. Scariest airline flown: I was once a flight engineer (3rd pilot who sits sideways) on a 727 for a small charter/freight company that operated out of Dallas. We were contracted to fly within Alaska for a summer to haul fish and cargo throughout the state. Due to what was later blamed on improper maintenance, we landed in Kotzebue with all main tires locked up. The tires never moved while we skidded down the runway. That got my attention. I left shortly after and a few weeks after my departure the FAA shut the airline down for a month due to maintenance violations.

4. Favorite city/country/place: I suppose most people have a soft spot in their heart for their hometown. I was lucky enough to grow up in Anchorage, Alaska.

5. Most remote corner of the globe visited: A Soviet ice camp 160 miles north of Barrow, Alaska. We brought two Norwegian scientists to this huge floating complex complete with temporary buildings that had telephones between them, a cafeteria and dozens of Russians who traded with us relentlessly. I suppose I’ll have to post a feature on that experience — just in case anyone else happens to find themselves floating on a Russian ice camp.

6. Favorite guidebook series: Since I occasionally get called out at the last minute on a trip somewhere that I’ve never visited, I like to load up the Wikitravel.org page of that city on my laptop or iPhone and take it with me. I’ve found that Wikitravel cuts right to the important points of a city and it’s a good start when looking for something to do.

7. Worst hotel experience: During training in Texas I once found nearly 20 cockroaches in a florescent light fixture above my bed. I took the light apart and dumped them into the toilet. The next day there were 20 more. I did this ritual every day for the entire month I was there. We stay in some pretty nice hotels while on trips, but for some reason our training hotels rate at the bottom of the scale.

8. Leeches or mosquitoes: Mosquitoes have a new talent. They’re killing people. Even when I was living on a lake as a kid, I would’ve preferred leaches over mosquitos any day.

9. Worst place to catch a stomach bug: In the cockpit on a flight from Las Vegas to Dallas with the above mentioned charter airline. It was my one and only experience with food poisoning. I doubt it was fun for the other two pilots.

10. How did you get started traveling? I was fortunate enough to have a dad who was also an airline pilot when I was growing up. One day he got a call to deliver a 737 from Seattle to London. My sister and I convinced him to take the trip, since we knew it was our opportunity to fly in an empty jet and even get a chance to ride in the cockpit. We spent a few days in London, saw some plays and really enjoyed our first taste of international travel. I later went to France for summer exchange student program and it was these two experiences that inspired me to fly internationally for a living.

Pilot, Accused of Drinking, Just on Diet

by Willy Volk on

Last month, a pilot for Virgin Atlantic was accused by a colleague of being drunk while on the flight deck of an Airbus A340-600. Police boarded the plane and removed the pilot immediately. Since then, the pilot has been cleared of any wrong-doing, because at the time of the incident, he was on a low-carb diet.

Evidently, people on low-carb diets have smelly breath — thanks to ketosis — and the odor is what tipped off the “nosey” airport worker. Virgin released an announcement today claiming, “Subsequent blood tests later confirmed that the amount of alcohol in his blood was the equivalent to that of a non-drinker.”

Moral of the story: just because your pilot smells like booze and there are bottles littering the flight deck, that doesn’t mean he’s been drinking. His weight-loss program may just include some intensive recycling. But still…g’head and ask him if he’s okay to fly.

Ringtones Right From the Cockpit

by Jonathon Morgan on

Do you dream of piloting an aircraft? Now you can be one step closer to the cockpit — with your phone!

Seriously, this guy is selling ringtones created from real cockpit noises. “The tones I have created are actual aural warning alerts heard in the cockpits that I have access to in my line of work. They are rarely if ever heard in public. I have cleaned up the sounds where I can and they really sound great on your typical cell phone. When used as ringtones these alerts WILL definitely get your attention and of those around you.”

Yes, they “WILL,” because they’re some of the most obnoxious sounds on the planet. I’m sure they’re designed that way for a reason, and — while flying a plane — are very useful. But be warned: by choosing to put these on your phone you are willingly and deliberately alienate anyone within earshot.

That being said, if you really want to be alerted to phone calls by actual airplane noises, head over to the website where you can sample the sounds of “WHOOP WHOOP PULL UP” (what you’d hear just before impact), “Boeing 757/767 Master Caution,” “BINGO-BINGO” (the low fuel warning from an F-16) and many, many more.

At the very least, as noted on the site, “they are sure to garner attention.”

[via Neatorama]

Even “Budget” Pilots Have to be Responsible: Ryanair Pilots Face Dismissal

by Willy Volk on

Europe’s largest budget airline, Ryanair, is threatening to dismiss some of its pilots after investigations into several near-accidents during 2006 revealed “high energy approach incidents.” During one near-miss, for example, the captain realized he was too high to land safely and decided to fly in a tight circle to lose height, despite contrary advice from his co-pilot — and warning buzzers from inside the cockpit. Consequently, as the plane made its approach, it flew just feet from rooftops, prompting complaints from passengers and residents alike.

To that end, Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has issued a memo to all pilots warning them that:

  • the first time they make a a dangerous approach, they face demotion;
  • the second time they make a a dangerous approach, they face dismissal.

Although ridership has skyrocketed over the past decade, the airline has received ample criticism recently because it allows just 25 minutes to turn flights around, which has lead to complaints from unions that pilots are under pressure and are more likely to make mistakes.

Another Bird-Aircraft Conflict

by Iva Skoch on

Looks like Air France is having a problem competing for the skies with birds. During takeoff from the small town of Pau, a bird allegedly flew into an engine of a Fokker 28-100 plane today, causing it to veer off the runway into a truck. The truck driver was killed on the spot. None of the 54 passengers on board of the plane were hurt.

Apparently, between 1990 and 1998, there were an estimated 22,000 bird-aircraft collisions in the United States, which cost an annual $400 million in aircraft repairs.

Good one to “Ask The Pilot” again.

It is really disturbing to know that something as small as a bird can completely cripple an airplane. Then again, I guess it works the other way around, too.