Browsing Tag: Cockpit

Often I am asked what some of my favorite aviation experiences has been. No question, being able to fly in a Boeing 737-700 Business Jet from Boeing Field (BFI) to Anchorage (ANC) was one of those moments.

I have previously shared in the trip in great detail on a previous story, but I haven’t yet shared my video. Although the back of the plane is quite something, I was more interested in being able to sit in the flight deck during takeoff and again during landing. I have never had that experience before in a large jet and what else can I say other than… it was amazing.

Yes, my trip was almost a year ago, but I got held up with the video – at least I get to spread the BBJ love! My only regret is not wearing the top hat in the flight deck – maybe next time.

Honeywell Aerospace has a beautiful property. Photo -  Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter.com

Honeywell Aerospace has a beautiful property – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter

After experiencing what it was like to fly on the Gulfstream G650, it was time to explore the engineering advancements Honeywell was developing at their Deer Valley lab.

What I was shown would put aviators that finished their careers even fifteen years ago in absolute awe.

Honeywell has a four-step approach to designing cockpit avionics:

  • Give the pilot what they need
  • Give the pilot only what they need
  • Give the pilot the information only when they need it
  • Give them the information in a way that is intuitive, unambiguous, and easy to understand
Primus Epic, called PlaneView on Gulfstreams is the current state of the art flight deck. Photo - Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter.com

Primus Epic, called PlaneView on Gulfstreams is the current state-of-the-art-flight-deck – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter

The Primus Epic system on the G650 was designed with those four principles in mind. The positive response from flight crews has been overwhelming. Clearly the real-world use is matching up with the testing. This positive response has allowed Honeywell to go even further in their exploration of pilot-aircraft interface.

 

It is likely that if you read our site, you will find this Air Tahiti Nui Airbus A340 video quite amusing.

The airline is based at Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti, which the area offers some pretty darn amazing views. Air Tahiti operates a fleet of five Airbus A340-300 aircraft in a unique and fun livery.

The video was made by Matthieu Courtous using different clips of videos to celebrate the airline’s 15th anniversary. Do not worry, permission was given from the airline and the owners of the other videos to make this amazing short film.

The video shows some great exterior views of the plane and of the flight deck, but the passenger cabin is pretty slick as well. Be sure to check out this tour of the colorful interior an Air Tahiti A340 by our friends over at Airchive.com.

A while back, I posted a video taken from the cockpit of an Airbus A320 to the music “Sail,” which proved to be quite popular.

This video has the same music and same concept, but quite a bit different set up. This one takes you inside a Cessna Grand Caravan with Wings of Alaska.

Wings of Alaska operates a small fleet of Cessna Grand Caravans and Cessna 207s in (can you guess it) Alaska.

The imagery is amazing and really makes me want to go flying up in Alaska.

UPDATE:
Reader Allen pointed out this other great “sail” video from inside an F/A-18.