Post by luftwulf on Feb 21, 2011 2:17:17 GMT -5
Lufthansa
A320
Flight: 3796
Departing: EDDH
Arriving: LSZH
Alternate: EDNY
This was my first flight with company and I was assigned to fly from Hamburg (EDDH) to Zurich (LSZH). My passenger manifest had us with 101 passengers on this flight. It was a pretty clear day in Hamburg so I did not think too much about weather as I began prepping the plane while the passengers boarded.
As I was working through the checklists, I go a message from company alerting me to the weather at Zurich. The weather called for moderate snow with low visibility. I acknowledged and continued. Soon after the passengers boarded and the doors were shut we began the push back checklist and another message came through from company. This time they said the weather was below company minimums so we were not cleared to take off. I cursed under my breath, however I pressed company for a release and finally they allowed us to get under way.
The first leg of the trip went on without incident. We climbed and leveled off at cruise alt of FL300 and as we got closer to Zurich, company sent me a message to divert to EDNY. I went over the weather and I figured it was more borderline so I pressed again to be allowed to continue, and eventually they agreed to release us.
As we got closer the cloud coverage increased as well as some mild turbulence. Eventually I was vectored around and descended not on moderate snow, but heavy snow fall with visibility well - 1500m. So since we were committed we decided to attempt a CAT III approach. As we glided to the runway I enabled a full auto-land and waited and monitored the instruments. I was hoping my first company flight was not my last :- / and all the while thinking maybe EDNY was not such a bad idea.....
As we got closer, I could make out the runway at around 60 ~ 100m, so weather had worsened for sure. We finally touched down (hard) to shaken but applauding passengers and quickly taxied to gate E20.
I have to say it was a blast flying and landing, especially for a first flight. It really got sticky on approach with such poor visibility and not seeing the mountains/terrain and once I committed, I felt there was no turning around. Great program that made me think, react, and challenged me. All in all, a fun flight..... at least for us up front :- P
LW
A320
Flight: 3796
Departing: EDDH
Arriving: LSZH
Alternate: EDNY
This was my first flight with company and I was assigned to fly from Hamburg (EDDH) to Zurich (LSZH). My passenger manifest had us with 101 passengers on this flight. It was a pretty clear day in Hamburg so I did not think too much about weather as I began prepping the plane while the passengers boarded.
As I was working through the checklists, I go a message from company alerting me to the weather at Zurich. The weather called for moderate snow with low visibility. I acknowledged and continued. Soon after the passengers boarded and the doors were shut we began the push back checklist and another message came through from company. This time they said the weather was below company minimums so we were not cleared to take off. I cursed under my breath, however I pressed company for a release and finally they allowed us to get under way.
The first leg of the trip went on without incident. We climbed and leveled off at cruise alt of FL300 and as we got closer to Zurich, company sent me a message to divert to EDNY. I went over the weather and I figured it was more borderline so I pressed again to be allowed to continue, and eventually they agreed to release us.
As we got closer the cloud coverage increased as well as some mild turbulence. Eventually I was vectored around and descended not on moderate snow, but heavy snow fall with visibility well - 1500m. So since we were committed we decided to attempt a CAT III approach. As we glided to the runway I enabled a full auto-land and waited and monitored the instruments. I was hoping my first company flight was not my last :- / and all the while thinking maybe EDNY was not such a bad idea.....
As we got closer, I could make out the runway at around 60 ~ 100m, so weather had worsened for sure. We finally touched down (hard) to shaken but applauding passengers and quickly taxied to gate E20.
I have to say it was a blast flying and landing, especially for a first flight. It really got sticky on approach with such poor visibility and not seeing the mountains/terrain and once I committed, I felt there was no turning around. Great program that made me think, react, and challenged me. All in all, a fun flight..... at least for us up front :- P
LW