Unfortunately no photos allowed, but today I had the opportunity to head off on a B737 training sortie. I was allowed to sit in the jump seat for a departure and landing which for non-pilot was very eye opening. Taxi out was pretty straight forward with the crew monitoring ground traffic as expected, and commenting on how little thrust was required to get the thing going and keeping it going on the ground. De-rated takeoff, but the jet zipped off the deck and the autopilot worked it's magic as the crew juggled airspace and track shortening. We where heading to an airport to shoot an approach so I got to listen in on the discussions regarding the profile ended up being an ILS from overhead the airfield. As we approached TOD i switched out from the front to let another PAX get the good views.
My turn up the front came again when we returned to the departure airport after we had made a stop at another airfield, and what a difference in the coughpit workload from what I saw. We'd be informed of a current SIGMET for the area so were expecting a few bumps on the way in. Initial approach was flown by the co-pilot who is new to type so between him and the pilot there was alot of discussion and I just sat back nice and quiet. Things tracked along very smoothly but very busily until ATC cleared the jet for a visual approach and to track direct to finals. This took a bit of track length off the approach and we ended up too high and did a go around which was pretty cool as they accelerated and cleaned up the aircraft and handed over to the captain.
Then back into a left hand visual circuit as we came back around, off goes the autopilot and the captain is working his controls keeping the jet on track as we were copping some pretty strong gusting crosswinds. I must admit, I was surprised at the workload and effort the PIC had to do. I was super impressed at the job they do up front, I'm sure it was just a normal day at the office for them, but for me it was a rather exciting adventure!
My turn up the front came again when we returned to the departure airport after we had made a stop at another airfield, and what a difference in the coughpit workload from what I saw. We'd be informed of a current SIGMET for the area so were expecting a few bumps on the way in. Initial approach was flown by the co-pilot who is new to type so between him and the pilot there was alot of discussion and I just sat back nice and quiet. Things tracked along very smoothly but very busily until ATC cleared the jet for a visual approach and to track direct to finals. This took a bit of track length off the approach and we ended up too high and did a go around which was pretty cool as they accelerated and cleaned up the aircraft and handed over to the captain.
Then back into a left hand visual circuit as we came back around, off goes the autopilot and the captain is working his controls keeping the jet on track as we were copping some pretty strong gusting crosswinds. I must admit, I was surprised at the workload and effort the PIC had to do. I was super impressed at the job they do up front, I'm sure it was just a normal day at the office for them, but for me it was a rather exciting adventure!
