Dear Captain Lim,

 

Why the flight deck of an airplane is called a "cockpit"?

 

Regards,

 

Masuma.

 

Hi Masuma,

 

Since the day I started to fly an airplane, the area where the pilots sit in front to control the plane has always being referred to as the “cockpit”.  Why it is often referred to as such is probably due to the fascination and uniqueness of this term. There are neither “cocks” nor “pits” around in the first place and yet the term is stuck to mean the flight deck of an airliner.

 

Hey Sir,

 

Awesome website you have here.

Anyway, I'm currently studying aviation somewhere in Australia at Basair Aviation College and I am from Malaysia by the way. My target is to fly for MAS in the near future. I'll be completing my CPL and IR here and most probably ATPL here as well. But I'll be earning myself an Australian License, no?

 

I was wondering, after I complete my course and IF there is a cadet intake program for MAS soon after I finish my course, will they somehow accept me since that I have my CPL and ATPL frozen and just sponsor me for my conversion?

 

I am not trying to act all smart nor be a show off here but I'm sure I'll have more aeronautical knowledge and more flying experience than other candidates that are trying to get chosen for the cadet program.

 

Do you, sir, think that it is possible for me to do that?

Or could you give me some advice that'll help me to achieve my dream of becoming an airline pilot for MAS?

My last resort is to get an Flight Instructor Rating and become an instructor here in Australia and apply for an Airline after I've collected about 1500 hours of flying experience. I am only 18 this year and I am not in a rush to be an airline pilot but I am giving myself 6 more years before I fly for an airline.

So what do you think?

Regards,

 

Dear Captain Lim,

I am currently at University in the UK, studying for my backup career in the finance industry. But yet again I my eyes are pulling me into the sky.

I have been interested in aviation now for many years, self funding as much flying as I can while maintaining my education. I have tried everything to hide my desire to become a pilot, trying to keep it as a hobby, ignoring it, studying Maths to give me more options. But I just cannot escape every time I leave the house I see an aircraft and want to be in it. Every time I have some spare cash it’s gone on flying lessons.

I have decided that I cannot go on any longer attempting to ignore it, and have applied to Cathay Pacific. However after around a week of searching, I am finding it very difficult to find any other airlines that recruit cadets from anywhere but their own country. And with many pilots already trained and out of work I can see why airlines can place such limits.

With many reasons to put me off following flying, I am not deterred and am ready to leave Uni early for the correct cadet scheme or chance to follow my ambition; I just can’t see any of these opportunities to get into other airlines.

 

 

Dear Captain Lim,

 

Yours is the best site I have ever come across!

I admire your patience and hard work, Sir.

Just a small question: Have you or any of your colleagues (thus fulfilling the requisites of Qualified Witnesses) ever seen a UFO during your long flying career?

I do understand that some people tend to take UFO-believers as Quacks!
 

Best Regards,

 

 

Dear Captain Lim,

I recently read that airlines have the option to not install fuel dump mechanisms on their A330 aircraft.

Isn't that dangerous? I mean, say an A330 takes off with way more than the maximum landing weight, suffers a critical failure after takeoff and have to turn around immediately. How would it get rid of the excess weight in order to make a safe landing quickly?

This article shows what I mean: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/qantas-jet-makes-emergency-landing-in-sydney/story-e6frfq80-1225831858246

What if the Qantas jet had a gear problem and an engine malfunction? I doubt that it would have been able to circle for all that period.

Thank you for your time