Originally Posted by
7576FO
That is a great career. I've had numerous engine malfunc's and 2 complete failures on Boeings.
The point of the endorsement for HUD's or HGS is that they are Virtually manitenance free.
West US cities SFO, SEA, PDX and more routinely have Cat 3 wx. and on different airplanes Maint can spend 20 minutes or more on FGC confidence checks each day. That's 20 minutes those mechanics can spend doing real maint on other aircraft. That is probably why Management belives the Huds/HGS pay for themselves in two years time.
I've only seen a HUD inop on two occasions. I've seen countless a/c downgraded to Cat 1 on a weekly basis.
Yes, I certainly can't complain about my "non eventful" career, that's for sure. As far as downgrading planes, usually it's due to a thrust reverser inop or some other mechanical problem. I don't think having a working HUD would keep the airplane in a higher landing status with an inop component, would it? I don't know, but as few approaches as we fly to the really low mins, I don't know if the system would be feasible. I'm sure they're fun to fly with though.