from Piper PA-28 to Airbus A380 | a pilot’s story
from Piper PA-28 to Airbus A380 | a pilot’s story
Another article in a planned occasional series, sharing the most memorable and treasured experiences, not only from my own career: We continue to plan to feature other, highly esteemed pilot friends and colleagues, who are only too willing to share their collective aviation experience.
This post is taken directly from a recent email, received from an Airbus 380 First Officer who commenced his professional career as an airline cadet pilot. This story, from his own logbook, speaks for itself:
‘Hi David,
I read through your treatise and app and just wanted to say a big thank you. It really made sense what you have been teaching and gave me the understanding and the skills required to actually understand why some landings were great and others not so great. My landings are much more consistent now, though I always have something new to learn.
I thought you may be interested in a video I have attached. It may help in your presentations to have an outside perspective. I was landing into Los Angeles KLAX Rwy 25L last Sunday afternoon. The temp was 38ºC, wind 160/18 at 400ft and 230/6 on landing.
Background information:
I was a cadet and vertically promoted onto the Airbus A380. This was my first window seat, with my last aircraft to land being a Piper PA-28 Warrior.
So I lacked experience and searched for any information, especially landings. So grateful to have found your book David.
Thanks once again for your time and only wish I could have flown with you and had your valuable training input.
Kind regards,
Jason McGrath
FO A380′
Comment:
This account clearly demonstrates the universality and consistency of the Jacobson Flare. Most pilots transition through a wide range of aircraft types before they are fortunate enough to achieve the position of First Officer on the iconic A380. This pilot didn’t.
He joined a major world airline as a cadet pilot and spent more than a few years as a Second Officer on the A380 – but only flying it in the cruise, as a relief pilot on long-haul international sectors. Such flights comprise the Captain, First Officer and 2 Second officers as the technical flight crew, thereby affording the crews with the necessary in-flight rest. The Second Officers land the aircraft only on initial training and during recurrent checks in the flight simulators, several time a year.
One can only imagine the stress levels in upgrading to First Officer A380, after having only having landed the Piper PA-28 Warrior as his last actual airplane. That’s an immense transition.
Clearly Jason is highly motivated and he refused to accept the ‘conventional wisdom of just ‘getting the hang of it‘. He knew he needed some extra assistance.
Fortunately, he found it.
Wishing you many safe landings, Jason and everyone!
Captain David M Jacobson FRAeS MAP
Would you care to experience that unsurpassed sense of accomplishment, derived from executing consistently beautiful landings, more often?
For starters, Download the FREE Jacobson Flare LITE pdf , our no fuss/no frills introduction. Here we demonstrate, step by step, the application of the Jacobson Flare on a typical grass airstrip at Porepunkah, YPOK.
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