PMDG Boeing 747 V3 Released

[Ian Warren]

Steve , After anything other than Radio Rhema CRIPES! ... ya better make that "time for a glass or 2 of red " better make that two Magnums !

[NZ255]

When I moved from the 767 to the 777 I used the PMDG 777 as a sort of "trainer". It was great for learning panel locations and some of the systems.

Oh - when did you move to the 777? How long did you end up on the 767 for?

I moved to the 777 at the beginning of last October. I did 3 years on the "Cougar". I also spent 6 years on it in the 90's as an F/O.

I have also managed to achieve a few milestones.
In August 2016 I had my 30yr anniversary flying with Air NZ.
This month, 40 years ago, I commenced an aircraft engineering apprenticeship.
I have now just gained 20,000 hrs in my logbook(s).

Not long after finishing our basic engineering training we were then farmed out to various workshops within the engineering facility. We would spend either 1 or 2 months in each before moving onto the next. For example it might be 2 months in the Undercarriage workshop, a month in Hydraulic components, 2 in composites and 2 on the JT3 (DC8) engine line. My first workshop was aircraft interiors, specifically the seat shop. Back then it was a place that they put old engineers out to pasture. Most were whinging poms that had been in the company for over 30 years. To change the radio station from anything other than Radio Rhema would be met with howls of protest and a sharp rebuke. I mentioned to my fellow course mates words to the effect that: "What loser would work for the same company for 30 years?"

Good grief 40 years in aviation.....I feel old.....time for a glass or 2 of red.

Congratulations on 30 years

Am I correct in thinking that if you move airlines you go down the ladder? So it's best to stay at the same place?

Why did you move from fixing them to flying 'em? Did ANZ help with it?

[cowpatz]

Congratulations on 30 years

Am I correct in thinking that if you move airlines you go down the ladder? So it's best to stay at the same place?

Why did you move from fixing them to flying 'em? Did ANZ help with it?

Thanks.
Yes most airlines have a strict seniority system. It has advantages and disadvantages but is by far the fairest system. In general terms if I moved to another airline I would start at the bottom unles it was for some sort of short term contract.
Originally I wanted to be an architect. My uncle had his PPL and I would go up with him from time to time. My best mates dad was the district senior pilot for NAC at the time and his brother had just started his PPL training. More importantly a local guy used to fly radio controlled gliders on Mangere mountain which we lived at the base of. He was a draughtsman/technical engineer at Air NZ. He took us young chaps under his wing and taught us how to design, build and fly them. It was a great way to learn about aerodynamics and construction techniques. Nearly all of us ended up with aviation careers. I took my RC glider (6ft wing span) to my engineering interview which was on the 15th floor of the Air NZ building which back was located at the bottom of Queen St. Trying to wrestle that thing in and out of the lifts was a bit of an act and I got a lot of stares.
My father was an english fitter and turner and I think he expected me to do something similar in the traditional trades. When I told him I wanted to fly I think he thought of that as the equivalent of a young boy wanting to be a train driver or to drive a fire engine. Fortunately he didn't burst my bubble but said "Ok so how are you going to pay for it and what happens if you lose your medical?". Of course at 16 I had not considered either of those issues. So aircraft engineering was the closest I could think of as a way to get into flying or at least to be close to aircraft and at the same time earn some money to pay for flying. Back then ground engineers could apply for flight engineering on the DC8, DC10 and eventually the 747-200. Some also eventually moved on to become pilots. So that was my progression all sorted. In the meantime I started learning to fly and used part of my meagre $42 a week (with overtime) to pay for my lessons. Back then an Airtourer was $13 an hr dual. Board of $15 also had to be deducted. Unfortunately not long after I started the progression of FE's to pilots positions ceased and even the requirement for FE's slowed. I missed that boat. I took voluntary redundancy in 1983 and used the money to further my flying qualifications (CPL and C cat instructor rating). My best mate pipped me at the post for the line boys job at Auckland Aero club (Basically you gassed up the aircraft and cleaned windshields for the club members hiring the aircraft. You also got to do the odd charter and eventually do the Barrier run in a Cherokee 6). It was a much prized position. At the time Air NZ wasn't employing so the whole industry was stagnant. It meant that no one moved on from the 3rd level airlines so there where few options to progress onto the all important multi engine flying. Eventually the "pilot conveyer belt" cranked up again and I rejoined Air NZ in 1986. Unfortunately previous service is not recognised if you leave the company and subsequently rejoin. This meant I had to earn all my travel privileges again.
In the late 70's 3/4 of my family worked for Air NZ. My brother joined 2 years after me as a sheetmetal engineer (Moved to Aussie and now working for Qantas) and my mother worked in Air NZ engineering administration. After Dad died she moved to air NZ Cargo and later remarried another Cargo worker. Before I started flying for Air NZ I encouraged my then girlfriend to apply for a flight attendants position. She got in and did a few years before stopping in 1991 to have our first born. Before moving to Aussie my brother married a young lady who worked for United Airlines in traffic (check in etc). So you could imagine what dinner talk mostly consisted of. My poor father was out of it and to make matters worse he worked at the Mangere sewerage ponds so not much dinner time goss there.......although he did have one or two very interesting stories.
None of our 5 kids (blended family) has expressed any interest in flying. My eldest did a brief stint as a Air Traing cadet with the Air Force but something happened that put him off and he ceased going.

Yikes....... sorry I seem to have hijacked the thread.

[Ian Warren]

All 747 pilot history , nothing Hi-Jacked here .... PS: my first weekly wage was $39.45 cents as an engineer in 1977.. Look were I am today, an Aviation Artist .. much more fun

[Splitpin]

CP , first of all congratulations
Secondly , hijack the thread as often as you like ... great reading.
Have you ever considered writing a book ? What you have written here is a pro log ...i can imagine all that anecdotal stuff you must remember , filling and adding to the story . Can I pre order a copy now

Well done again , and thanks for sharing.

P.S Those couple of reds are well earned.

[NZ255]

Very interesting, thanks

Yikes....... sorry I seem to have hijacked the thread.

Eh, don't worry about that. We run this forum haha

[cowpatz]

CP , first of all congratulations
Secondly , hijack the thread as often as you like ... great reading.
Have you ever considered writing a book ? What you have written here is a pro log ...i can imagine all that anecdotal stuff you must remember , filling and adding to the story . Can I pre order a copy now

Well done again , and thanks for sharing.

P.S Those couple of reds are well earned.

Thanks SP. It would be a very thick book. Maybe one day.

[Splitpin]

No problem CP .... " Maybe one day" .... soon ?
"It would be a very thick book" Thick is good in the book world
Or , if you have a problem with that , do it in volumes .

Tell you what CP (excuse the bad gramma) but , i live very close to a person who is proof reading and editing , maybe 3 books a month , and she read your post , and saw potential straight away.
This is a flying nation, and you have been an active part of it for 30 years , no mean feat.

Sorry CP .... Dont mean to go on , I know you have a life outside aviation .... but , what a read

By the way , that proofreading editor is none other than my dear mum ... with a lifetime's experience in media , and can sniff out a good read real quick.

Anyway ... as they say these days "just saying"

[NZ255]

"It would be a very thick book")

What better time to write it than while cruising

CP, how do you actually pass the time? Is it all yarning or do you just get through a lot of novels

[emfrat]

CP, how do you actually pass the time? Is it all yarning or do you just get through a lot of novels

I have heard it said, that these days at regular intervals, the PNF asks the PF "What is it doing now?" upon which both consult the FMC.
Of course, this may just be a scurrilous rumour, amounting to a grave slander on a fine body of men...

MikeW

[Ian Warren]

Maybe I should start to right (write ) a novel .. In Ianglish all about flying the PMDG Boeing 747 V2 and my death defining experiences

[NZ255]

Maybe I should start to right (write ) a novel .. In Ianglish all about flying the PMDG Boeing 747 V2 and my death defining experiences

Haha. Chapter 5: The Dreaded Out Of Memory Error

[Ian Warren]

Haha. Chapter 5: The Dreaded Out Of Memory Error

Nah .. Think that wood ave to bee Chapter 9: its a cat thingy , script is for the movie , 'Get off my plane Uncle Donald' , traded in his PMDG 747 V3 due to the expense Boeing layed and with the experiences within real world and virtual world real life ...