Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Every 4 to 6 hours......oh yeah about that....

Saturday morning I was feeling halfway decent. I had already planned on calling in sick upon reaching base. I felt ok to fly from the outstation, but could see myself getting worse.

We boarded up 70 people and taxied out to runway 13. This was the Captains leg. Leveling off at FL310 I was feeling much better. This was likely due to the fresh air being blown over me. If I felt okay in base I would finish the last turn.

After pulling into the gate (20 minutes early!) I tracked down some FAA approved sinus medication. Feeling much better. I figure I can do the last long turn.

I did the same turn the day prior. My landing was a thumper. Ouch. Today I was determined to make it better. The weather conditions were the same; VFR, winds 360@5 knots, landing runway 6L. I crossed the threshold on speed. At 50 feet I left the power as is. At 40 feet I began pulling it back while trimming nose up. With the 30 feet call the power was 3/4s closed. At 10 feet I idled the engines and straightened out the nose. Like butter.

After pulling into the gate and running the checklist I made a self serving PA, "Ladies and Gentleman, after that amazing landing by the First Officer, have a great day as his can only get better." Once I was done I saw the PA light illuminate again....hmmm one of the Flight Attendants was making a PA as well.

I opened the cockpit door to thank the passengers. On the way out several commented on how nice the flight and landing was, a few even shook my hand. Apparently the flight attendant made a PA about my "carrier" landing the day prior and that I redeemed myself. Ha!

Thirty-five minutes later we were being pushed out again. I was feeling decent. About an hour into the flight I started feeling worse. Stuffy head. I then remembered the medicine box, "take every 4 to 6 hours". had been 5 hours. Ugh.

Once we got back I was spent. My wife brought me home and I went to bed. The next morning I called in sick. I am just now feeling better. The doctor yesterday prescribed me an anti-biotic. Apparently I have a sinus infection. I had to be very careful about what prescriptions and injections he wanted to do. Not all are FAA approved. Some are, but only after a set amount of time.

I did take a bunch of photos during the trip.

Every now and then we go "topless" in the cockpit. Topless meaning we take of our headsets. We have to have them on below 18,000 feet. At cruise though it is normally quiet enough to take them off. When we do,  and I am the pilot not flying, I use the lamp on my side to hold the microphone. On the Captains microphone there is a nifty metal holder so he can use just about anything to hold it up.

[singlepic id=207 w=320 h=240 float=center]

I never get tired on watching a sunset, or in this case a sunrise.

[singlepic id=213 w=320 h=240 float=center]

Finally just some random photos. Can anyone name the city in the second photo or the airline in the third photo?

[singlepic id=205 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=206 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=208 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=209 w=320 h=240 float=center]

[singlepic id=211 w=320 h=240 float=center]


  1. The airline in the third photo is it a Southwest 737?

  2. Correct...pretty easy eh?

  3. Looks like MDW in the left of that second picture... (I'd recognize this city from just about any angle)

  4. I would have said american. Lol i have another question. When you are "TOPLESS" how do you know if ATC is contacting you?

  5. pic 2 = chicago, nice picture
    pic 3 = southwest

  6. How high for the chicago pic? FL360 or so?

  7. That is Chicago...think its about FL360...might be FL340....Long flight west bound.

  8. When we go "topless" in the cockpit (I can't wait to see what kind of Google search hits I get with that one), we use the cockpit speakers to listen to ATC. There is a speaker above each of our heads.

