Oh the life of a lowly turboprop pilot

[Capt NG]

That's why I strap my boys and girls in early... Any pilot with half a brain can see where time goes in a tailwind in a circuit area where ATC can cut you in..

[tor lives]

That's why I strap my boys and girls in prior to transition...

Good to see.....the hostie in me appreciates that very much
Ray

[Capt NG]

Sounds like I'm becoming one of those middle aged cranky Captains doesn't it?

[tor lives]

Sounds like I'm becoming one of those middle aged cranky Captains doesn't it?

That's OK, cause I am about to become a middle-age grumpy Airport Duty Manager , (actually not so much grumpy, but appreciative.... cause the alternative sucked!!!)
Ray

[Capt NG]

That indeed it did..... Does.

[hrtpaul]

Great pic Eric. Ah VH-TQX. I've worked on that machine in a former life an number of times. We did all the QFlink Dash's in Tamworth and I can tell you we weren't that enthused when a Sunstate aircraft was scheduled into the hangar. Let's just say there was some "creative" maintenance that happened up there. It's great to see you guys enjoying your lives in the airlines. Myself, I'd never work for a big airlines ever again. Call it once bitten, twice shy but I won't be putting myself in that position or through that crap ever again. I guess it depends on the company but QFlink in Tamworth well and truly did it for me. Mind you 'C' checks on Dash 8's day in day out aren't the most exciting thing you can do. I much prefer a smaller outfit hence reducing the number of dipshits one has to deal with. I don't deal with stupidity very well so it works for me. Where I am now I only have 4 pilots I have to deal with and heaven forbid, they aren't too bad................ so far. Give em time though

[Nillus]

After viewing the photo and story again (after spending way too much time on ACAM last night), pilot stories the world over are much the same...

Doing a walk around in the crisp early morning air with the sun just coming up. The sound of another engine whirring into life with the associated smell of burnt kero wafting past. The feel of the cold metal whilst checking for smooth skin and the stares of inquisitive passengers looking down from their window seats. The mists rising from the nearby fields. Returning to the warmth & comfort of the cockpit with the familiar preflight and start sequence. Knowing that the feet that walked on the ground in London would next touch terra-firma in Hong Kong.

The early morning departures are the ones I remember most fondly.