George

continues.... The flight From Hong Kong to Changmai takes approximately 2 1/2 hours and you pass through 5 countries and many FIRs to get there. Changmai is one of Thailand's tourist destinations, and is quite a tranquil place to take the family for a ride on the elephants. The different accents from the controllers on each of these FIR's sure takes some time getting used to. Is an interesting trip, as each transfer requires something different, passing from one FIR to the Next usually involves a change in flight levels, as flying through Chinese Airspace requires cruising at a level in Meters, and the rest of the FIRs are in feet. Some of the FIR's have RVSM levels, and others don't. So it can keep you busy. As we cross into Vietnam Airspace, we begin to notice we have some work ahead of us. Coming into range on the Radar are many blotches of flashing red, indicating some quite impressive thunderstorm activity. This is usual this time of year, and the FO is quite adept at picking a smooth path between these towering beauties. Finally we are transferred onto Thailand Control frequency and cleared for a descent into Changmai. The FO initiates the descent, and I wait for the ATIS to come into range so that I can copy it down. Changmai has one airstrip that runs alongside quite a large hill, very similar to the hill that resides next to the International Airport in Cairns. It has one ILS approach and a VOR. Most approaches to the airfield are made from the south due to the high terrain to the north. It also supports a radar facility and the controllers seem quite comfortable in guiding you to the IAF for the approach under radar vector. This particular day, the ILS aid has been NOTAMed as being under maintenance, and can be made operational upon request. After writing down all the particulars from the ATIS, it appears that the weather is actually quite marginal for a VOR approach, with the cloud base being reported at the minima. So upon first contact with Changmai Approach, a request is made for the ILS. But of Course..... "Negative, make VOR approach" is given. A briefing is made for the approach with particular emphasis made on the possibility of conducting a missed approach.

Thanks for the Encouragement Uncle.....more to come

No time to waste, climb aboard, into the cockpit and begin powering up the Embraer E170. (Part computer part plane, Embraer's term E-jet is true) Batteries 1 and 2 selected to on, and then wait approximately 1 minute, whilst the aircraft boots up (yes, just like windows - modern day aircraft!!). Messages start displaying on the EICAS, great, time to start the APU. Its the First Officers Sector, so time to run outside do the walk around, remove the pins from the undercarriage, and set the fuel bugs, to begin refueling. Meanwhile, back in the cockpit a spurious caution message appears on the EICAS "TRU 1 Fail" mmm never seen that one before, calls for the QRH. Turn off associated TRU, wait one minute, then cycle back to on. After three resets, its time to call for the engineers. So the TRU 1 switch position is set to off. Now is probably a good time as any, to highlight the point that the Embraer E-Jet is very much an electrical aircraft. It has many electrical systems and backups in place, and all switchings in the event of failure are automated. It relies on DC and AC power, and has 3 TRU's (Transformer Rectifier Units - AC to DC) Everything is computer controlled, even the light dimmer switches pass through the computer before it affects the light. If you move the switch fast enough, you can see the lag. 15 minutes later the engineer arrives at the aircraft. Inquires as to the nature of the problem in his best asian to english translations, and promptly informs the captain, the reason why the TRU 1 has failed, is because it has been selected to the off position. No matter how many words and gestation's are passed to indicate the fact that it had been deliberately selected to that position for a reason, the Tech Log is signed off, and airship is good to go. 20 minutes later, passengers have boarded and aircraft is taxiing on its way to the departure runway. All the pre-takeoff checks complete, cleared to line up behind the Cathay 747 line up behind. A nice uneventful take off and departure, as soon as we pass 12000 feet, we pop out of the thick grey smog blanket, into a nice sunny blue day. Yep, shall be calling for that nice warm coffee in no time.

What a nice looking plane the E-Jet is..... The Chep Lap Kok airport terminal is truly a site to behold, one of the worlds largest enclosed spaces. Never fails to impress as one walks through the doors down towards the immigration offices, strip down for security, put oneself back together, and on towards the Gate. The aircraft today is parked on a remote bay, and requires passengers and crew to be ferried to the plane via car and bus. Sitting at gate 13 waiting for menzies to come collect the crew is becoming a little annoying as fifteen minutes of preparation time is being wasted away. Finally after many phone calls, a vehicle arrives to take us to the Aircraft.

Meanwhile, as words of the most awesome uni party goes in one ear and out the other..... The day started out like any other day, the clock beside the bed falls to the floor as one scrambles to tap the snooze button on that nasty excuse for an alarm clock. Have to get into work early today to attend a meeting with the DFO (Director of Flight Operations) regarding some issues before assuming command of the days scheduled flight to Changmai. The meeting goes well, though it soon starts to drag on, as the topics of discussion become more heated and colorful, the briefing room officer comes in frantically looking for one particular captain, to inform him that the transport to the airport is ready and his crew are awaiting. Great!!! ( I don't usually like attending meetings before a flight for this very reason, as it induces rushed briefings, and thoughts of the meeting tend to replace the thoughts that should be spent on the job.) A few deep breaths, clear thoughts, clear thoughts, sincere apologies to the crew, and then proceed to discuss the plan for the day in the back of the merc, as we head towards the Airport. After going through the flight plan, discussion is quickly made regarding the amount of fuel flight operations has allowed, for planning to the Alternate. Minimum fuel planning is always one area constantly fought between pilots and planning. An incident years ago has left a lasting impression on the need to carry sufficient fuel (extra fuel = extra time to make decisions). It is agreed! An extra tonne of gas is added to the fuel load to satisfy the "Mum and the Kids" factor. ......continued

Recently I attended a wedding, and is as usual at a wedding, the time is good to meet new people and catch up with old family and friends. Most of the day spent on introductions and catching up on all the latest. I started to speak with one young lass whom had just left home for the first time, and begun their first year of University, wide eyed and eager for what the world has to offer. She started to tell me all the ins ands outs of the courses she was doing and how exciting statistical mathematics is etc. When the time came to discuss what it is I do for a living, a question from which the most seasoned pilots start diving for cover, and usually begins by coming up with job descriptions which would be more suited to the occasion to keep the conversation running, ie high speed aluminum tubing, or best yet, the local garbage collector (always seems to bring more respect then coming out of the closet and declaring you spend your career as a Pilot). But in this instance, being around new family and all, one decides to own up to the truth and mention the dreaded words, "I'm a Pilot". Too quick you realize why it is you resort to ripping off your epaulets the minute you walk through those airport doors towards the car park ready to go home, in case the world spots you in your full uniform outside of work. "Mmm, a pilot hey, damn what a boring job, all you guys must do is sit there watch dials all day and drink coffee to stay awake." "ah, yeah, that's right, you got it in one, pretty boring job indeed" you hear oneself utter, as the sounds from the party drain away and the events from the week before the party start to re-run through your mind as you recall just how boring your job can be. ...... continues next post

Thanks Paul Yes, I believe that would have been the aircraft on delivery to its new owner at skyairworld

Ah, I found this, Wow, sure is funny to see it in Brisbane

thanks matt/glen Thanks Glen, I currently fly the Embraer E170 for Hong Kong Express. Have been operating the type for them since the first day they put them into operation. I used to work previously on the Embraer E120 and the E170 was my first Jet Rating. Hong Kong Express gave me and others a unique opportunity to basically enjoy a paid holiday around the world. I'll have to upload some pics. They sent us to Zurich for 3 weeks ground school, then 2 weeks in Montreal for Sim training, then to Brazil for one week to do our base training. Was truly a dream, kept having to pinch oneself to see if it were true. We got to do our base training in the prototype E170 at Embraers Flight test facility out from Sao Polo. If people are interested perhaps I shall write a thread detailing the training adventure. Whats it like to fly, well, I sure love it, took a while to get used to going from an aircraft that requires constant rudder inputs (E120) but essentially the jet was an evolution of the E120 into a more modern jetliner. Everything that used to be operated manually before, is now all automated on the Jet. Its one big flying computer.

Anyone have any news updates on the new E-Jets in Oz, I hear Skyairworld have taken delivery of their first E170 into the country, and Airnorth will be the next recipient in May. Has there been any press releases in the last few weeks from these operators?

Hi All, Nice Australian web forum, I was browsing the net looking for info on when the new Embraer E-jets come to oz and found this nice looking website. Looked great, so thought id sign up. I drive the E170 overseas, and looking at the chance to drive them back in Australia.