Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
You North guys...
Actually, I got a glimpse of it when I was the first "south" Captain to fly the DC-9 post merger. I never completely understood why it's desirable to split the flight plan document into several documents. Maybe it had to do with the format you had at NWA? I understand you had part of it that the Captain kept and another part that the F/O kept?
With the Delta format and the need to keep it in a place where it's accessible to both pilots, I don't see the benefit in separating it. It doesn't make sense to me to create several documents so when I go to look for something I have to first figure out which document I need versus just picking up one document and flipping right to the place I'm looking for.
Anyway, I guess we all have our preferences. Mine is to leave the thing in tact instead of randomizing it and make it easier to find stuff. Your mileage may vary.
For pilots, preference is just wanting to do things the way you first did it.
At Northwest, if I remember correctly, (geeze, it's been that long?) they printed three releases, a flight plan, weather & NOTAMS, and a flight attendant briefing form. One release was left at the gate, and the captain and the FO would each have their own release. Having two releases on the DC-9 was almost necessary, because we would use it to write down VOR frequencies, radials, DME's, ect. The flight plan was kept in between us, somewhere in the cockpit.
At Delta, you guys share the same release, and write down what you need on scratch paper. I know I initially thought, "Why don't they just print out two releases?" I learned the code to print out an extra one to give to my FO, but it stopped working. So, now I print out trip sheets from easy bid and give it to him/her. IMO, not quite as good, but good enough.
Today, I separate the flight plan, the NOTAMS, the WX, and the flight attendant briefing form. I find it easier for the NOTAMS and WX to be separated, so guys/gals can go right to what they want when needed.
To each his own. Different strokes for different folks.