Originally Posted by
Hedley
It's old, but not hard. People get wrapped around the pneumatic panel for example and I've never understood why. They drew the schematic on the panel, so if you know your systems (like pilots used to know them when this thing was designed) it should be a nonevent. You have to manually select generators instead of them just coming online automatically, use the 6 pack instead of EICAS, etc...... Those are some first world problems. Once you look past that, it pays well and provides a good schedule.
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The APU isn't always the magic cure since some of them are weak. I write them up and maintenance says that they are within limits. One stupid limitation is that you can't run a pack if ground air is hooked up and the ground crews take their sweet time unhooking air when you call. I've started calling operations and telling them to hold off boarding until the air gets disconnected so that we can cool the cabin. That usually gets them moving.
I have been in a middle seat of an Airbus with an inop APU using high pressure start air on the packs and it’s cooler than a regular 737 max with a working APU. It’s honestly unbelievable how deficient the 737 air system is. I was in FC on a -700 sweating so bad. It’s literally unacceptable. Even if you precooled the AC the thing has such little airflow it doesn’t even matter.
Edit: I have to add the new leather seats at airlines retain heat so well that you cannot cool off unless you leave the seat and let the air blow on it. Bring back the fabric even if it’s gross and looks like the 1990s. Or put some sort of perforated leather like in cars.