Originally Posted by
MD80driver2day
This type of stuff does nothing but make the pilot look like a frickin moron. The airplane couldn't hold altitude at 330, huh? How heavy was the plane? What was the ISA deviation?
Skywest recently stalled a -200... I don't know how we haven't done the same with some of our rocket scientists at the controls.
The plane makes you nervous because it goes near the limit? Really? Do you return to the gate if you have a 499 degree start because it approached the limit? Jeezus people... Learn your frickin systems.
First off I wasn't there when the plane couldn't make 330, but I am friends with the pilot and have nothing but the highest respect for this individuals airmanship. The plane never made it to 330, it stopped climbing at 32.6 and airspeed started to decay. The FMS indicated 330 was doable. The crew started a descent and contacted ATC which had to issue vectors for traffic. Sound like they handled the situation as best they could to me.
Second I know my limitations, but when both engines on said aircraft push redline on nearly every take off that is cause for concern. What happened to only one red engine per plane??? What about safety is our highest core value?? I don't care that on paper this practice is "safe and legal" when in reality we ARE putting extra stress and wear and tear on these motors. It wouldn't count for two cycles if it didn't. So yes, constantly pushing an engine right up to limits that shows signs of already being weak with another engine that isn't much better gives me cause for concern.