Stress
- flying in China brought different levels of stress to a flight
- company regulation, rules, being monitored, culture, the idea that every flight should be “normal”
- TSN -> HAK …. planned for FL360…Never got above FL240…burned through extra fuel.
- WX moving in….WX also between destination and alternate. 2nd alternate was closing in about 2 hrs
- as we got closer to the distinction … lengthy vectors and deviations were further reducing our fuel load and reserve fuel.
- FO was getting nervous as “min fuel” and landing with less than 45 min of holding fuel brings high fines and punishments.
- I had my FO check the Enroute WX for our second Alt which had cleared and was only 30 mins away.
- we proceeded with our deviation to HAK and landed safely
- later my flight manager called me and told me that my FO told him about the story and commented “that I remained so calm”
Diversity
- flying around the world you run into many different cultures and backgrounds
- being able to adapt and be open to differences helps the operation run smoothly
- China opened me up to cultures I had never been introduced to before. I also had to understand that some things I encountered weren’t personal…but part of and age old culture.
CRM
CKG -> CGO … divert back to CGO
- Delayed for winds over limitation
- dispatcher added extra fuel to return to CKG
- wait for company PIREP before departing
- on final and switched to tower….wind readout was over the limitation. Confirmed a 2nd time….go around
- on the go around Departure asked for the reason.
- the we were told winds reduced…I thought it was odd, but we had enough fuel for another approach
- told my FO if we had to go around again we would deviate back to CKG. I had the 2nd FO get weather for CKG and inform the purser. FO coordinated an alternate go around procedure that would put us on course to CKG.
- short final strong shear and the aircraft wind readout was well over the restriction
- go around … Long range cruise
- Higher altitude to conserve fuel
- WX stayed constant during the flight…however on base Approach informed cloud layer was below mins. Denied other runway options. At this point closest Alt was CDU (1 hr away) FO reminded me that we had the vis for the approach. We discussed the options…continued the approach and broke out just above mins…safe landing
Mentoring
- A320 transition
- describe the process
- A320 home simulator
- help practice procedures…call outs…check lists
- E145 … TSN - TYN … FO fly without AP to feel the aircraft
Integrity
1) Landing in Beijing…realized I forgot my CAAC badge at home. We had just been warned of the ramifications of losing or leaving your ID out of the country. Worried about being fined or even fired. I had a line check scheduled in two days. The fastest I could get the ID was Monday via UPS. Company wanted me to fly home to get the ID. Big brown showed up on time
Criticism
Received: Captain TU … prior to E145 Type ride. Observations he made from my evaluation checks. Things to improve on.
Given Criticism: 320 sim partner…. I noticed he was struggling understanding the FMGC…gave him some guidance and helped him run through different scenarios
Safety/Policy/conflict - above
XIY -> KWE landing with rain showers on final.
- I was PF in the left seat … E190
- Latest memo…could not land in moderate rain shower.
- KWE terrain on both sides of the approach
- inside the final approach the instructor acted for a deviation…denied
- he then … pulled the heading bug a directed us 5 - 10 degrees off the localizer
- allowed 1/4 dot before I flew the aircraft back to the ILS
- nervous about challenging the instructor
- after safely landing I told the instructor I wasn’t comfortable deviating off the localized in an area of known terrain
- he understood and called another instructor to verify the recent memo and apologized for the confusion
- another memo was releases to clarify the policy
Conflict - Below
KWE -> HAK
- left hight on the arrival
- ATC vectored us through final
- from 8,000 about 15 miles cleared for the approach
- passing through 4,000 I told FO to ask ATC to discontinue the approach
- he hesitated
- I told him again…at 3,000’ we were approved
- I could tell the FO felt that we would be in trouble. His responses were agitated.
- on the ground I addressed the issue…I said it was safer to discontinue the approach then to force a possible unstable approach.
- we had another flight so I needed him to be focused.
- I asked him if he would feel more comfortable with input from our flight manager
- I called and the flight manager said not to worry… we made the right decision
Rules
Situation: Captain E145 BNA to ORD
- on arrival light smoke detected. FA noticed the smell as well - don O2 masks, checklist, declared Emergency with ATC - coordinated direct ORD with ORD still being the best suitable - descending through 10,000 and asked to exceed the 250 speed limitation - approved...landed 4R safely and without incident
Integrity Challenged
Situation: E190 Type ride…Captain flying
On ILS…lost everything except stand by instrument. A situation we had not screen in training or in any material we had studied. My partner and I were perplexed.
Action: Maintained aircraft control via stand bys to troubleshoot. Could hear the instructor “What is going on?”
Result: Simulator stopped…Informed that it was malfunctioning and Mx needed to be called.
Reaction: Good job on maintaining control…later passed the type ride
Had to lie
Situation: 2011 taking care of my dad who had just been diagnosed with cancer…medical bills…finances were going to be a challenge
Storage unit in LA with my dad’s belongings. Planned to sell most of everything
Action: sold some…donated most. Toys to kids
Result: told my dad everything was taken care of and we made out well…knowing he though that I had sold everything. When I returned he asked again and I told him I had to donate a lot of things
Reaction: upset at first, but then thanked me. No more overhead from the unit
Failed as a leader
Situation: EWR - IAD … delayed … 10 pax trying to make connection to FRA
What makes a good leader?
- uses ideas and actions to motivate others
- promotes teamwork
- sets a good example
- encourages participation
- creative and “thinks outside the box”
- maintains awareness of the environment and all involved
- teaches and learns
