Good discussion-
The Howgozit is just another "tool".. depending on how you use it and which side you come from!
Case in point- I've flown with alot of LUAL guys who are now on the 756 side. They (Capt/FO/IRO) always ask for the HGT almost as soon as the plane is cleaned up! Seems the IRO (bunkie) wants it for his rest break calculations and the capt, well.. I don't know why he wants it so early?
Per the AFM (yupe, I'm referring to a manual).. "once established at Cruise and After passing a waypoint... etc). So why would you ask for it sooner?
On the (old) CAL side, the IRO had two important things to do AFTER takeoff-
Start filling out the times on the flight plan using old fashion math (after passing 10000 usually!). This was done by noting the OFF time. Either by watching the time himself, or by asking for the Times Page on the ACARS.
The other thing was.. figuring out the breaks! Again, based off the times listed above~
Then in flight, all you did was compare the time and fuel that was planned at the waypoint versus what you had showing on the Pos Report page. Simple.
Now, I see guys just copying the HGT times onto the flightplan! Some will also note the time and fuel on the HGT but isn't that what the flightplan is for?
Again, differences in cultures.
I like Sabre and think it's a great tool. Very accurate and after going to Fuel School, understand it more and follow it more. The HGT?!.. eh.
Motch
PS> What I am concerned about is the fact that new hires are probably seeing two or three different ways that things are being done out there. Case in point- IRO on an IOE trip recently. NewHire asked for Flitch after takeoff (and on descent). We joked about it at cruise but found it interesting that a newhire would use that term. On the (old) LCAL side, it's "Flight Level Change"...
Turns out, he was trained by all LUAL instructors (a few who had never flown the 757-2's across the Atlantic, and one who was a returning Mil Leave guy!) and had been taught "certain" LUAL procedures and callouts.
Again, just "differences in cultures".. but tough on the new guys~