PILOT'S SON

When he was born, I was at the last 2 years of my tenure in TUDM, teaching young boys how to fly, at   Alor Setar Flying School. So he missed all the actions, watching his dad flying the only supersonic jet in TUDM inventory at that time. By the way, he grew up as an airliner's son so his interest was narrowed down to becoming one. This picture was taken when he was 7 years old, keeping his dad's seat warm for a while. Well, obviously before the 9/11 incident, the cockpit visit regulation was a bit relaxed.

At 14, he followed his father's footstep, joining Royal Military College, Boys Wing, from form 2 till form 5, solid 4 years of hell and fun as I myself experienced it, but a good place to grow up for stubborn, energetic,quick thinking and full of surprises boy like him. Managed to complete 4 years in RMC, man !! its something to be proud of.

Without wasting any time, at the same time avoiding from turning him into a mat rempit or whatever not good for society, I enrolled him into a flying school, learning to fly from the scratch, keep his mind busy with all the flying syllabus and the high discipline fly boy environment.

Graduated with Airline Transport Pilot Licence .

Visiting me at Abu Dhabi, almost like father like son.. 

And now, doing his training as a First Officer on Boeing 737, the same type that he took a picture as above. Hopefully everything will be ok, and soon will be hearing his voice over the radio requesting for  air traffic clearance, take off and landing etc etc. Sincerely I wanted him to join the Air Force, flying those Migs, Sukhoi, F18 or the Typhoon, Rafale, whatever next fighter planes Malaysia will buy, but he made his own choice . Being a fighter pilot before, I know his ability, attitude and aptitude, he could be an ace. Welcome to airline world, all the best to you son.

BONJOUR.....

Lama tak terbang ke Paris, asyik terbang jauh jauh jer. Hari ni berpeluang buat penerbangan dari Abu Dhabi ke Paris CDG , berlepas jam 0400 pagi dan selamat mendarat jam 0840 pagi waktu tempatan di Paris. Sebelum memulakan penerbangan turun, sempat bersarapan pagi, menu, telur mata lembu dengan sekeping roti, atau sunny side up and a toast.. disediakan oleh chef penerbangan. Oh ya, kalau kapalterbang ada first class seats, chef will be onboard, masak dan sediakan makanan didalam pesawat dengan menggunakan oven.

Banjaran Alps, dalam musim panas, kelihatan dengan jelas, tetapi kalau dalam musim sejuk, samada dilindungi awan atau di liputi salji. Memang indah pemandangan, awan kelihatan seperti air yang memenuhi lembah lembah dan mengalir ke kawasan yang lebih rendah.

Sebelum mendarat , sempat mengambil gambar lapangan terbang Paris, Charles De Gualle. Selalunya sampai sini pada waktu subuh, tetapi sebab flight dah kena delayed masa kat Abu dhabi, dapat la pemandangan yang jelas.

Sempat juga mengambil gambar bandaraya Paris, agak jauh dari airport jadi gambar tidak berapa elas, tapi kalau perhati betul betul, boleh nampak Eiffel Tower di tengah tengah gambar ini.

Selamat mendarat, parking di Terminal A of Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport.

HANDPHONE IN FLIGHT

Siapa kata handphone tak boleh guna semasa dalam flight  ? Well, masa berubah, teknologi bertambah. Gambar ni masa saya terbang dari Abu Dhabi ke London pagi tadi, sambil terbang pada paras 36000 kaki, boleh lagi ber SMS dengan isteri yg berada di Malaysia. Saya guna samsung yang boleh letak 2 SIM, satu Celcom Malaysia dan satu lagi Etisalat UAE, dua dua dapat signal full bar. Bukan itu sahaja, kalau nak log on ke internet pun boleh dengan onboard wifi. Ada alat khas, berupa antena yang boleh menerima signal dari satelit. Untuk keselamatan, fungsi ini hanya dibenarkan bila ketinggian sudah mencapai atas 20000 kaki, dan apabila turun semula, di bawah paras 20000 kaki, alat ini akan disable secara automatik. Tapi semasa berlepas dan mendarat , anda semua masih lagi diperlukan mematikan telefon bimbit dan juga alat alat elektronik yang lain..

ABU DHABI TO NEW YORK

Flying close to North Pole. The best route on that day, avoiding the head wind, cut the flight time, reduce the fuel burnt, most economical. This route is not always the same, planner , after analising the weather especially the upper air wind, will choose the best route.

Satellite picture of the JFK, New York Airport.



DUSSELDORF

Another new destination for Etihad Airways. Dusseldorf , in German, situated North of Cologne and Southwest of Hannover. Could not resist myself from snapping pictures of the beautiful country side of the city.

AIRBUS A340-600

Woke up early morning, around 4 am in Sydney, 10 pm at Abu Dhabi, my home time and 2 am Malaysian time. For sure I was sleeping for good 4 hours after the tiring 14 hours flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney. I flew this plane, A340-600, F1 livery, still the longest passenger plane in the world, until  the arrival of the 747-800  which is a few feet longer than this plane.

On ground, during refuelling, cargo loading, the activity around the plane can be observed using the birdseye view camera. I was using my Primary Flight Display for the video screen, which can only be selected whilst on ground, once airborne, this screen is only for the flight instrumentation presentation. If you notice the magenta colour box, it is the indication of the main wheels, for my guide during ground manouvering towrads the runway from parking position vice versa. Very long plane, needed this aid to avoid taxing over the grass or out of the pavement.



Up in the air, I still can view the birdseye view using the centre screen, normally used for the systems display.

The dimensions of this A340-600. Longer than Airbus 380 and B777.