"Crown" in the AUA cockpit
Working above the clouds: “Seeing the sun every day”
AUA took the "Krone" on board one of its aircraft. The crew explained the procedures and training and talked about the fascination of working at lofty heights. Last year, the fleet carried out more than 113,000 flights.
At 6.50 a.m. sharp, the Embraer 195 aircraft from the Austrian Airlines (AUA) fleet will fly from Vienna to Innsbruck under flight number "OS915". It will touch down there after 42 minutes and, after a short break with new passengers on board, fly back to the capital at 8.25 a.m. as "OS916". Captain Roman Henninger, co-pilot Alexander Schönegger, purser Robert Steinmetz and flight attendants Charlotte Kres and Gloria Fila will ensure that the two flights are carried out safely.
The "Krone" is also on board and was present at the crew briefing beforehand to get an insight.
All data at hand
The two pilots meet in Office Park 2 at 5.15 a.m. to discuss the flights. All the necessary data is available to them on large monitors and tablets. One of the first decisions concerns the fuel tank. How full it has to be and how much reserve it needs is prescribed anyway. Henninger and Schönegger decide whether to fill up with more fuel anyway. Due to very good weather conditions, the experienced pilots decide not to do so.
Moving a complex machine from A to B in collaboration with an excellent team and being exposed to various environmental influences in the process is the exciting thing about being a pilot.
Kapitän Roman Henninger
"You see the world differently at an altitude of 10,000 meters"
"Moving a complex machine from A to B in collaboration with an outstanding team and being exposed to various environmental influences in the process is the exciting thing about being a pilot. When you're flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters, you have a different view of the world. Certain things that are more important on the ground become less important," says Henninger. "You have to constantly adapt to new situations and are challenged by them. A lot of things happen quite quickly here, but thanks to the routine and the rehearsed procedure in the team, everything can be handled very well," adds Schönegger.
"You never get into a rut"
Shortly after the briefing, the two AUA pilots meet with the flight attendants for a briefing. "You're always dealing with new colleagues and new passengers, different cultures and destinations. It's very varied," says Kres, revealing what she likes about her dream job. "You see the sun rise or set every day, no matter what the weather is like," Steinmetz adds, beaming, while Fila emphasizes that "no two days are the same. There's always something new. You never get into a rut".
Everything is checked before departure
After the briefing, the crew bus takes them to the plane. There, Henninger checks the outside of the aircraft for defects and checks the technical documentation. "Then we set up our flight management computers, set the flight route and then we soon take off." In the meantime, the co-pilot has checked the various sensors, doors, fire alarms, etc. for proper functioning. "We also have our lists and check, for example, whether devices have already been used and check that everything is in order with the catering," explains Fila.
The basic pilot training program lasts 22 months
The crew also outlines how to become a pilot or flight attendant. "The pilot training program lasts 22 months. This is the basic training, after which you are qualified to fly a propeller plane or a jet. Then you are trained on the respective types.
In bad weather, we may have to think about an alternative airport, the weather there and the approach procedures.
Copilot Alexander Schönegger
This so-called type rating takes around two months. In order to become a captain from co-pilot, additional training is required after several years of service. In principle, the only difference between captain and co-pilot is that the captain has final responsibility," explains Henninger.
Flight attendant training with role plays
Flight attendant training lasts eight weeks. "The first six weeks are primarily about flight safety and then about service. There is a lot of role-playing in both areas so that we are prepared for all the different scenarios. How do I deal with a guest with a fear of flying, how can I settle an argument, what should I do in a medical emergency," Fila explains.
Regularly in the simulator
Both the pilots and the flight attendants have to go to the simulator regularly, and exceptional situations are practiced four or once a year. For the pilots, the simulator for Innsbruck Airport is added every two years, for which additional training is required due to the category C classification. "Innsbruck is the most exciting airport for me. This is where you learn the most flying skills and see the most," enthuses the co-pilot.
Plan B and C always at the ready
And what are the special challenges? "We are embedded in a tight flight schedule. On the short-haul route, we sometimes have five flights a day. Managing this safely, punctually and as economically as possible is a challenge," says Henninger. However, Schönegger says: "The weather has a strong influence on our work. If the weather is bad, we may have to think about an alternative airport, the weather there and the approach procedures. The worse the weather, the more challenging the day is."
However, the crew always has "Plan B and C" for such scenarios. Just like the entire AUA fleet, which operated over 113,000 flights last year.
This article has been automatically translated,
read the original article here.
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