777 flight deck detailed
 

That's just too cool! (comment from ex-avionics Sac-trained killer)

Fancy
 

That sure is a fancy cockpit. Too bad the only way I'll ever see one is if I do the UAL sim in DEN..."although"...LOL...as much as I fly on UAL, maybe one day I'll get H as my pilot and he'll let me have a look at it, or has the TSA outlawed that completely? :rolleyes:

Those cockpits make you pilots look really smart! :)

Feeling a bit nostalgic, so bear with me.

Oddly... (and I've never flown the 777, but I've got 4 other types in "glass" aircraft).. the truly SMART pilots were the guys flying the oceanic routes back in the 60's and 70's in those "Steam gauge" 707's, DC-8's, L1011, DC10's and 747's. Back then a high tech gizmo was a Carousel INS box with a 10 mile at best accuracy; the Flight Engineer (S/O) actually HAD to know the systems inside and out. Mechanical knowledge was critical to passing ground schools. Today, I've met pilots that don't know the difference between PSID and PSI. More over, The pilots had to have REAL positional awareness and spacial skills on instrument approaches using radials, bearings and if lucky DME to know where they are.

Today (and in a way, thank God for the technology as safety is 100% better).. we have moving RNAV maps, with GPWS, TCAS, and other spacial overlay improvements.. with 100% redundant auto-flight systems that (at least in the case of the MD-11) can take you from Takeoff, to Landing and stopping with literally a few button pushes.. The major systems are even fully automated and double redundant.

Until a major/catastrophic systems failure occurs (ala United 282), the brute piloting skills that made the men who flew jets back in the day earn their pay every day doesn't come in to our world today.

I personally think this has lead to a major re-defining of what makes for a good pilot "The Right Stuff" in todays world vs yesteryear. I'm willing to bet a months pay, the pedigree of the typical entrant into aviation today is a fraction of the typical entrant in the 60's.

Holy Hell! Well said!!!! Major kudos on that post! I try to keep most of my flying as old school as possible, safely of course. I don't use GPS and the cessnas that I fly certainly dont have TCAS or GPWS. Traditional, good old navigation is fun for me and it keeps you sharp, as far as positinal awareness is concerned. I'd like to add one more thing; BRING BACK THE FLIGHT ENGINEERS!!!

good man, keep practicing those NDB approaches while they last.. too.

You are the airman you choose to be.

It's certainly refreshing to know I'm not the only person who believes it is possible to fly without a GPS. Good ole navigation is the way to go. It keeps you on your toes.

Outstanding post CE750.

I was expecting to get flamed for my rant, but you guys have proven my suspicions wrong.. Which is a good sign that I'm not as odd as I original thought I was :D

Haha, my instructor doesn't give me a choice. I haven't been able to use GPS since my second lesson :) I'm sure I'll be thanking him for that one of these days...