| Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations |
Long-Haul Flights |
DVA12662
First Officer, B737-800
Joined on July 25 2008
Simsbury, CT
21 legs, 29.8 hours
21 legs,
29.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
July 07 2015 23:20 ET by Charlie Olson
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As a fairly new pilot here, I've found that even short, 2 hour flights can get a bit boring. So when I look at the live ACARS map and see some of you brave souls flying legs from LAX to Sydney, I ask, how? Do you honestly sit in front of your computer for up to 12 hours at one time? Or do you let the autopilot fly for you while taking extended breaks?
Charlie OlsonFirst Officer, B737-800
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DVA10641
Assistant Chief Pilot, B757-200
OLP
Joined on March 29 2012
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Million Mile Club
US Mountaineer Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Flying Colonel
Online Fifteen Century
Everett 1500 Club
Events Quintuple Century Club
Rosemount, MN USA
1,987 legs, 4,456.2 hours
1,865 legs,
3,929.2 hours online
1,967 legs,
4,422.4 hours ACARS
638 legs,
1,290.5 hours event
18 legs dispatched, 157.2
hours
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Posted onPost created on
July 08 2015 00:11 ET by Jason Boche
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If I'm flying online (VATSIM) which is usually the case, then I'm at the computer because VATSIM more or less requires pilot responsiveness in controlled airspace. In uncontrolled airspace, other pilots would also appreciate collision avoidance. While online, I can still multi-task. ie. pay bills, respond to email, review PIREPs, author documentation or slides for work, etc.
For longer offline flights, it's not uncommon to need to step away for things like dinner, family, chores, yard work, sleep. In those cases, First Officer Otto takes over the controls during cruise.
Jason BocheAssistant Chief Pilot, B757-200
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DVA1651
Senior Captain, MD-11
Joined on April 25 2004
Everett 250 Club
50 State Club
Globetrotter
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Million Mile Club
Eight Century Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
White Pearl Accomplishment
"DAL1651 heavy is type MD-11, ready for blastoff"
Nashville, TN
879 legs, 3,275.4 hours
436 legs,
1,621.5 hours online
626 legs,
2,413.4 hours ACARS
28 legs,
89.5 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 08 2015 00:28 ET by James Marshall
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Jason Boche wrote:
If I'm flying online (VATSIM) which is usually the case, then I'm at the computer because VATSIM more or less requires pilot responsiveness in controlled airspace. In uncontrolled airspace, other pilots would also appreciate collision avoidance. While online, I can still multi-task. ie. pay bills, respond to email, review PIREPs, author documentation or slides for work, etc.
For longer offline flights, it's not uncommon to need to step away for things like dinner, family, chores, yard work, sleep. In those cases, First Officer Otto takes over the controls during cruise.
Same here. Sometimes I'll start a flight overnight, sleep, and land the next morning/day. I usually fly VATSIM as well, and in instances when I'm away for long periods, I'll just disconnect from the network and fly offline until I can return. Usually, I'll do the same as Jason and just check on everything every so often or so, usually just to see if any ATC is online, check my fuel, and make sure my altitude and airspeed's right where I left it lol
James MarshallSenior Captain, MD-11
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DVA12216
Senior Captain, MD-88
OLP
Joined on July 25 2013
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Tin Dispatcher
White Knuckles Club
Online Triple Century Club
Million Mile Club
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
US Coastal Club
DVA Fleet Master
Everett 500 Club
Flying Colonel
"Speed is life, altitude is life insurance."
Alexandria, VA
1,798 legs, 4,339.1 hours
378 legs,
681.8 hours online
1,718 legs,
4,088.0 hours ACARS
14 legs,
36.8 hours event
311 legs dispatched, 224.4
hours
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Posted onPost created on
July 08 2015 06:24 ET by Matthew Murray
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Jason Boche wrote:
If I'm flying online (VATSIM) which is usually the case, then I'm at the computer because VATSIM more or less requires pilot responsiveness in controlled airspace. In uncontrolled airspace, other pilots would also appreciate collision avoidance. While online, I can still multi-task. ie. pay bills, respond to email, review PIREPs, author documentation or slides for work, etc.
For longer offline flights, it's not uncommon to need to step away for things like dinner, family, chores, yard work, sleep. In those cases, First Officer Otto takes over the controls during cruise.
+1 mostly, I enjoy beginning long haul flights right before I go to bed, then wake up either a few hundred miles out from the destination or with it paused. Some aircraft have a pause at top of descent feature, which is super nice to have. I normally fly long flights offline regardless of time, but of course you never should leave the pc for an extended period of time online. 
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DVA12568
Assistant Chief Pilot, CRJ-200
Joined on March 20 2015
50 State Club
Everett 250 Club
Seven Century Club
Eurocap Club
Online Seven Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Atlanta, GA
769 legs, 1,968.6 hours
704 legs,
1,838.9 hours online
695 legs,
1,825.3 hours ACARS
19 legs,
89.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 08 2015 07:01 ET by Christian Samuels
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When I fly Long Hauls during the day, I calculate 2 hours before I will land to check my app, fuel, etc. I also fly on VATSIM as well and luckly, if you have nothing to do that day (staying at your CPU) then the pilots in ACARS will talk to you! At night I do the same thing but I sleep. I wake up around 2 hours before I am to land, but winds change so I will check about every 2-3 hours so I multi-task. Welcome to DVA!
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DVA12617
Chief Pilot, A350-900
OLP, VFRADV
DISPATCHER
E-MAIL
Joined on April 23 2015
B757 100 Club
Eurocap Club
Millennium Club
Toulouse 500 Club
Online Triple Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"Go Utes!"
Herriman, UT
1,288 legs, 2,994.7 hours
398 legs,
833.6 hours online
1,269 legs,
2,952.5 hours ACARS
25 legs,
78.6 hours event
39 legs dispatched, 174.2
hours
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Posted onPost created on
July 08 2015 11:35 ET by Joe Burner
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I for one sometimes stay at the computer even if for a two hour flight. There have been instances on longer flights where I had to step away but mostly it was for 20-25 mins max. Now if you have to go take care of personal business (bathroom) i step out of the cockpit to the nearest bathroom lol. Mostly I fly 2 hour flights although I'm looking forward to expanding into longer flights say flying from Katl to EGLL.  Then I will sleep or whatever the case may be. I also am able to take care of personal things on the side as well, on longer flights, such as bills, dinner etc. honestly it is totally up to you if you want to sit there for however many hours or what not.
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DVA2533
Senior Captain, EMB-120
OLP, COMM
Joined on July 27 2005
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Commuter Conquest
Dorval 500 Club
US Coastal Club
Online Fifteen Century
US Mountaineer Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Bi-Millennium Club
Winter Springs, FL USA
2,087 legs, 2,752.1 hours
1,762 legs,
2,302.1 hours online
1,905 legs,
2,467.0 hours ACARS
29 legs,
31.6 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 08 2015 20:35 ET by Jim Warner
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Being an old guy, 2 hours is a real stretch in the Captain's chair. I usually fly flights of less than 1 hour to 1.5 hrs in realtime and any flights over that, I fly with 4X acceleration in FSX and on VATSIM (Options, Simulation Rate, 4X) . Vatsim doesn't allow acceleration over 4x so that's what I use. It cuts a 4 hour flight to about 1.5 hours (with takeoff and landing at normal speed).
Jim WarnerSenior Captain, EMB-120
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DVA12104
Senior Captain, B727-200
Joined on January 24 2013
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Tri-Jet Triumph
US Coastal Club
US Mountaineer Club
Everett Bi-Millennium Club
Two Million Mile Club
Tri-Millennium Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
""The white zone has always been for loading or unloading..""
Las Cruces, NM
3,338 legs, 6,583.0 hours
3,269 legs,
6,426.5 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
July 09 2015 09:04 ET by Brian Donaldson
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I myself like to plan the long distance flight to occur in the background while running multiple applications during my work time.
I take off in the morning and do simple check in's of my FSX screen throughout the day, then complete my flight in the evenings
after the work day is completed. I haven't done any acceleration for my flights.
Brian DonaldsonSenior Captain, B727-200
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DVA11021
Captain, B757-200
OLP
Joined on September 13 2012
B757 100 Club
Everett 250 Club
Triple Century Club
Online Triple Century Club
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
Milford, NH
375 legs, 620.5 hours
365 legs,
604.5 hours online
374 legs,
618.9 hours ACARS
21 legs,
51.4 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 09 2015 11:04 ET by Sean Zarella
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some pilots here are not as hardcore as some others, some do offline with time acceleration, some as said before go to bed wake up 7 hours later and continue the flight,
Myself as a Hardcore simmer always flies on Vatsim and no matter what I am always at the computer doing things pilots do, Such as checking for GNE gross navigation errors, checking Fuel per waypoint, and checking eicas for messages,
My longest flight was the CTP CROSS THE POND 2013 fall whereI woke up @ 6am for my 7:10 Departure out of KBOS,
First time doing an oceanic crossing, had to rechart my route for the non signups, KBOS was backed up didnt leave till 830am. flight was around 6 hours, plus landing taxi, all in all was about 9 hours all sitting on my chair infront of the
computer. Of course made it easier with complete ATC the whole way there and the learning curve.
Now my average flights are around ~ 2.5 hours. - 4. hrs.
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DVA6827
First Officer, A320
OLP
Joined on January 02 2007
50 State Club
Century Club
Everett Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"Gravity is a myth,earth just sucks"
Cleveland, OH
186 legs, 574.1 hours
72 legs,
238.7 hours online
183 legs,
552.1 hours ACARS
13 legs,
51.8 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 09 2015 17:18 ET by Russell Homan
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when I do my long hauls, I catch up on my drafting, watch a couple of movies and if not under atc I will fix a meal or two. I have multiple computers set up on the desk. so multitasking is easier. I tried that going to bed and waking up and it has never worked for me. I either oversleep or wake up and i don't want to continue.
Russell HomanFirst Officer, A320
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DVA5627
Captain, B757-200
OLP
Joined on March 01 2008
50 State Club
Globetrotter
US Capital Club
Million Mile Club
Everett 500 Club
Millennium Club
Online Six Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Northeastern United States
1,109 legs, 2,998.4 hours
652 legs,
1,569.9 hours online
1,100 legs,
2,964.1 hours ACARS
27 legs,
55.6 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 12 2015 15:20 ET by Matthew King
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Jason Boche wrote:
If I'm flying online (VATSIM) which is usually the case, then I'm at the computer because VATSIM more or less requires pilot responsiveness in controlled airspace. In uncontrolled airspace, other pilots would also appreciate collision avoidance. While online, I can still multi-task. ie. pay bills, respond to email, review PIREPs, author documentation or slides for work, etc.
For longer offline flights, it's not uncommon to need to step away for things like dinner, family, chores, yard work, sleep. In those cases, First Officer Otto takes over the controls during cruise.
+1
When flying online, I sit in front of my computer; however, i rarely embark on transatlantic flights via VATSIM. Instead, I use RC4 and turn the comms over to OTTO and go to sleep; when I wake up, I only have 500 NM or less to complete the flight. Interesting enough, even real-world captains get/required to take a naps during these prolonged flights...I'm just following protocol ;).
Matthew KingCaptain, B757-200
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DVA12236
Captain, B737-800
Joined on June 24 2014
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Black Pearl Club
White Knuckles Club
Million Mile Club
Everett 500 Club
Online Eight Century
Events Century Club
Millennium Club
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
B757 100 Club
Richardson, TX
1,008 legs, 2,730.1 hours
868 legs,
2,258.8 hours online
958 legs,
2,550.6 hours ACARS
103 legs,
229.8 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 22 2015 19:10 ET by Marcello Tamburrino
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Lots of YouTube and Hulu for me and if im not doign it on vatsim i might jump on ATC on VATSIM and work for couple of hours.
Marcello TamburrinoCaptain, B737-800
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DVA3952
Captain, MD-88
Joined on September 07 2006
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
"Airbus, Mcdonnell Douglas"
Chicago, IL USA
85 legs, 161.3 hours
51 legs,
106.0 hours online
77 legs,
141.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
July 22 2015 23:08 ET by Alex Jevdic
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If it's a 12 hour leg I take breaks and even sleep, real pilots take crew rests so sitting in front of the PC is not only inadvisable for your health it's also unrealistic. Ever since I got the 777 most of my flying has been doing American Airlines or ANA flights to and from Japan which can go up to 14 hours tops.
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DVA4176
Senior Captain, L-1011-100
OLP
Joined on March 11 2007
B757 100 Club
50 State Club
Black Pearl Club
White Knuckles Club
Events Triple Century Club
Online Forty Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Burbank Bi-Millennium Club
Four Million Mile Club
Seven Millennium Club
"In the cold Kentucky rain"
Horn Lake, MS USA
7,103 legs, 11,523.6 hours
4,673 legs,
6,709.8 hours online
5,630 legs,
8,974.5 hours ACARS
371 legs,
587.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
July 23 2015 09:45 ET by Scott D Williams
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I really prefer the short flights. My ideal flying job would be short flights around the southeast in a baby DC-9. If you are going to fly the long simulator flights you will have to find something to occupy your time as others have mentioned. Sitting in a simulated cockpit watching an FMC fly your ship hour after hour will burn you out pretty quick.
Scott D WilliamsSenior Captain, L-1011-100
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DVA3952
Captain, MD-88
Joined on September 07 2006
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
"Airbus, Mcdonnell Douglas"
Chicago, IL USA
85 legs, 161.3 hours
51 legs,
106.0 hours online
77 legs,
141.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
July 24 2015 21:34 ET by Alex Jevdic
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That's why I love doing ANA flights, they operate a ton of 777 flights that are short hops but my main attraction to long hauls is dealing with ETOPS, step climbs, and aircraft flying at extremely heavy weights that can take special considerations such as having to use the 777's APU to pack feature.
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