Toronto ON – Pilot Dan Baz is answering your flying questions here on the Cornwall Free News. Today is a double shot from your favorite Captain!
If you have a question about flying you can email Captain Dan or post below.
Question
After my last flight the pilots let me have a look at the flight deck. There were a lot of buttons switches and dials. Do the pilots use them all and do they have to know what they all do?
Question asked by Denise.
Answer
The pilots must know the function and the use of every button, switch, control and dial in their Flight Deck. Before a pilot can qualify to fly a type of airplane he or she must satisfactorily complete training for that airplane type. This includes many hours of learning about all those switches, buttons, controls and dials, how they work and how they are used in normal and in abnormal or emergency situations.
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Before every flight, pilots get into their seats in the flight deck 45 minutes to an hour prior to scheduled departure time. In a specific flow the pilots will check the function of all those switches, buttons, controls and dials, and ensure they are in the correct position for flight. If anything is not functioning correctly, it has to be rectified prior to flight.
Question
Captain Dan Baz enrolled in Flight School at the age of 16.
He has completed studies in Aircraft Engineering and Master of Business Administration. He has been at the controls of many different types of aircraft, from single engine Cessnas to large intercontinental jets on global routes.
Over the last four decades he has flown thousands of hours up in the blue sky.
Have a question for the Captain ? Send it to Captain Dan Baz captaindanbaz@yahoo.com Every week a question from the readers will be selected and answer posted in this column.