Musings from the Flight Deck Old Timer.
How do you win the Pauwels Flying Scholarship?
Of all the Flying Scholarships available in New Zealand , none is so generous as the Pauwels Flying Scholarship. Just what do you need to prepare for if you are nominated for consideration? Or are shortlisted via the Hillmorton pathway?
Remote Controlled Space Vehicles Right Here in NZ!
Today, we interview Tim Dutton from Dawn Aerospace about the programme and vehicle they are developing to have remote controlled space vehicles come and go from current civilian airports to retrieve space debris and aid satellites in orbit.
Qualified pilots should not be expected to fly for free
There has been a long standing expectation that newly qualified pilots should work for no pay in their first roles - often as Flight Instructors. The theory being that the young pilots are desperately trying to gain flight hours so they can get into an airline position as soon as possible.
I’d like to introduce guest commentator Gavin Weir, CFI for the Auckland Aero Club
Where are all the female pilots?
For this blog, I welcome my partner, Melissa Heath as guest commentator. Feminism and social equality are close to her heart, and I feel it is only appropriate that she write this essential post.
Most of your crew are invisible – don’t forget about them.
As Tech Crew on an aircraft, you are part of a larger crew - each as important as you. Turbulence can be a life changer. It happens, and it is the cabin crew who cop it the worse as they are not strapped in.
Here is a story about a flight when the captain chose to ignore his cabin crews injuries after severe turbulence.
Tech Crew Decision Making.
The below article is a great exercise in learning about the responsibilities of crew decision making. Each airline and respective CAA has required fuel policies. Flight Despatchers must comply with these when building a Flight Plan and the crew may add fuel upon deciding if contingencies justify.
Values Based Selection.
Alongside our push to diversify the pilot ranks, we are also mindful of good citizenship, particularly when the role of commercial pilot is so well paid.
Pandemic Impacts and Pilot Demands.
We are all growing weary of the global pandemic which has waged a war on all aspects of our lives. Potentially, more than 15 million people have lost their lives because of Covid in the last two and half years when you examine all excess deaths - those above historical averages. That is a mind numbing number. The grief, and family disruption, is just devastating.
Diversity drives the engine of the Scholarship.
Only 4.7% of airline pilots are women.
Only 7% of airline pilots are not white.
That really sucks!