|
Author
|
Topic: Low and Slow..... (and Under-powered)
|
extwacaptain
Prop Wash
Member # 381
|
posted
Captain Munro,
Thank you for your message concerning stories
about the "Old" days. There are certainly many better "story tellers" who
have frequented this board. Out of respect for them, my comments will
be rather brief.
Probably the most noticeable differences between
"then and now".......we flew lower and slower, like our mommas told
us to do when we first requested "permission" to take flying
lessons. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Most of us felt that "We" were the lucky ones to be working for an airline,
and not that the airline was lucky to have us on their property.
There was a feeling of pride for our employer, somewhat similar to that enjoyed by members of the military for their particular branch of the service during WW11. It was not too unusual to observe a few occasional physical scuffles should someone from one carrier make a derogatory remark about another's airline.
Employees were happy. Passengers liked us. Management was great. Once in a while we'd even have two cigar smokers paired together in the cockpit. Life doesn't get much better than that. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Captain Larry, you already knew all this. You were with us during some of those greatest years in TWA's history. (and some of our most difficult years)
I thank you for your contributions and friendship.
Randy
P.S. This leaves the door wide open for more "exciting flying stories"!
Posts: 892 | From: Encino, Ca. U.S.A.
| IP: Logged
|
|
DC9
Post Captain
Member # 202
|
posted
Who is Captain Larry?
Posts: 363 | From: savannah,ga.usa
| IP: Logged
|
|
Jeff I.
Post Captain
Member # 2334
|
posted
A bit off-topic but ..... maybe not. Captain Kramer --- we never discussed this at the Ambassadors Club at LAX but ---- now I'm very curious. I'm assuming you and your colleagues who enjoyed a good Cuban were at some point banned from enjoying a nice cigar in the cockpit. I have two questions on that front:
1) When were cigars 86'd from the cockpit?
and,
2) Any thoughts on whether this ban may have contributed to the further decline in TWA's fortunes ....
Of course, in these uncertain times I think back to a bit from a Marx Brothers movie when Groucho, in discussing a "nickel" cigar, went off on a diatribe on "what this country needs is a good 7-cent cigar ...." I realize we're now talking $700B bailouts but .... I can't help but think that Groucho might have been on to something .....
Jeff I.
Posts: 482 | From: New York
| IP: Logged
|
|
extwacaptain
Prop Wash
Member # 381
|
posted
Ambassador Jeff,
1) When were cigars 86'd from the cockpit?
Answer to question #1.............They were "more or less" 86'd prior to '83. (but not completely)
2) Any thoughts on whether this ban may have contributed to the further decline in TWA's fortunes ....
Answer to question #2.............Probably, Yes! ...This was quite possibly a consideration in my early retirement.
To be honest, Jeff, I don't remember the date. It was somewhere around the time of Women's Lib and just didn't get too much of my attention.
A cigar smoking friend in California
P.S. There's a fine member of management who posts on this board occasionally. I bet he can give us the answer.
Posts: 892 | From: Encino, Ca. U.S.A.
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bob Ritchie
Post Captain
Member # 1035
|
posted
Jeff,
In 1988 the FAA banned all smoking in the passenger compartment of all domestic flights under 2 hours.
In 1990 the FAA banned smoking on domestic flights under 6 hours.
In 1997 TWA banned smoking on all of it's flights.
In 1999 the FAA banned smoking on all airline flights.
As for smoking in the cockpit...
.... even after the passenger smoking ban....the FAA authorized the captain to approve smoking "IN THE COCKPIT" as a measure of safety; understanding the addictive nature of nicotine.
Long after the FAA banned smoking in the passenger compartment;I continued to smoke cigars in the cockpit(with consideration of my flying partner) until TWA banned the practice of some captains....in spite of the FAA authorization. As we aviators know our employers can always impose rules more restrictive than Federal Air Regulations.
I'll never forget former Surgeon General Edwin Koop complaining to my F/A about the cigar aroma coming from my cockpit. I happily informed him that I was exercising my authority as captain of the flight, in accordance with Federal Air Regulations.
Pehaps my favorite "Cigar" memory was long after TWA had even denied it's captains the right to authorize smoking in the cockpit.
It was 1999. My crew was ferrying a B-727 from FLL to STL. There were the three cockpit crewmembers and three mechanics on board who had been sent down to repair our 727.
We had been laying over in FLL for 2 days and had gone shopping for cigars. Enroute to STL myself, the FO, the FE and all three mechanics lit up fine Monte Crisco cigars and smoked to our heart's content.
Upon arrival at STL we opened all the cockpit windows to vent out the airplane. I came to a stop on the taxiway and under the cover of darkness....somehow the cigar butts and all ashes were whisked out a window.
Ahh....sweet memories!
Bob
p.s. I think I'll head to my cabin deep in the forest behind my house right now. It is 17 degrees, windy and snowing.
I'll start a fire in my wood burning stove to chase the cold away. Then light up a 48 ring guage Monte Cristo and open a favorite book. How better to spend the two hours or so?
[ 12-16-2008, 14:05: Message edited by: Bob Ritchie ]
Posts: 1734 | From: Warren County, Missouri
| IP: Logged
|
|
extwacaptain
Prop Wash
Member # 381
|
posted
Captain Larry Munro,
Well, Sir,
My attempt to elicit stories about "the old days" of flying has not been too successful.
Larry, you have one PM about a week old and a couple of attempts to e- mail you.
Respectfully, Randy
[ 12-21-2008, 13:00: Message edited by: extwacaptain ]
Posts: 892 | From: Encino, Ca. U.S.A.
| IP: Logged
|
|
dave carr
Post Captain
Member # 783
|
posted
Captain Kramer
Now let's see, what do I remember? Tacos on the West Mesa, rain in Indianapolis, Irish Setters and pooper scoopers, nickles in the Nickelodian, Slick holding the flight plan out the open window on the 727, signed flight plans with the LAX dispatchers, the Tennessee Waltz leading to "smooth" landings and four days of cigars that made me leave the uniform in the garage when I got home. Just joking on the cigar part.
I remember those days with great pleasure. It seems like they just happened yesterday. I always felt so lucky when we were scheduled together. What a great time that was to be an airline pilot.
Dave Carr
Posts: 232
| IP: Logged
|
|
extwacaptain
Prop Wash
Member # 381
|
posted
Thanks, Dave
What you didn't know......I would have given up that cigar just to have had YOU and a few other non-smoking professionals "a part of the crew."
Dave, you, as a F/O, improved the image of every Captain you ever flew with and during your many years as Captain made the entire company look good.
For this, and your friendship, I will forever be grateful.
Randy
Posts: 892 | From: Encino, Ca. U.S.A.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic