Tag: Pilots

My First Air Travel Experience

Anil Goyal

 “I believe that if one always looked at the skies, one would end up with wings.” Gustave Flaubert In autumn 1992, I was 20 going on 21; the “going on” part is important to emphasize for various reasons. I was sixth termer, an ordinary cadet of the prestigious National Defense Academy (NDA), Pune about to graduate in a few weeks. During the 3 years of training at National Defense Academy, we had been turned into “Jack of all trade but master of none”. It was only in the last term…

Air Shows and Display Pilot!

Anil Goyal

An air show is a public event where aircraft are exhibited. They include a static display, aerobatics demonstrations. The event is also simultaneously held as business ventures, and trade events where the aerospace and defense industry is promoted. Flying displays are some of the most popular spectator events in the world. It is estimated that flying displays and similar events attract over 10 million spectators each year. The companies use the display to entice the public and create an opinion. The display pilot plays a very important role where he/she showcases not only the aircraft profile but…

Intrepid Pilot: Test Pilot

Anil Goyal

In the case of pilots, it is a little touch of madness that drives us to go beyond all known bounds. Any search into the unknown is incomparable exploitation of oneself. Jacqueline Auriol Living on the edge, reaching his limit, seeing the world in rare angles and heights is all too often part of the test pilot job. Today we will meet Gp Capt Sharad Aneja (Retd) an intrepid test pilot who will tell us all about this fascinating world. He spent precious 24 years in the IAF, not to…

Its Time for Airlines to Go Green

Anil Goyal

Air transport connects the world, bringing people and goods together. But the benefits of aviation also have an environmental downside. Emissions, noise, industrial processes, and waste must be managed by the industry, reduced, and where possible eliminated. Reducing climate change is a serious global challenge. Commercial aviation is responsible for about 2% of global carbon emissions. In 2009 the aviation industry put in place an ambitious and robust carbon emissions strategy, with targets and a four-pillar action plan. The aviation industry recognizes the need to address the global challenge of…

When it isn’t the Safest form of Travel….

Anil Goyal

On 7 August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344, a COVID-19repatriation flight, part of the Vande Bharat Mission from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Kozhikode, India, overshot the runway during landing run at Calicut International Airport. The aircraft fell into a gorge killing 16 passengers, and both pilots. The remaining four cabin crew and 168 passengers survived, of whom over 100 were injured. A very tragic accident. The accident has rattled the nation, the aviation community, and especially all the pilots in particular. Flying is not inherently dangerous but it is terribly unforgiving. The aviation industry which was fraught with adversity and at times…

Every Job is a Self-Portrait

Anil Goyal

Safety in military/commercial aviation continues to depend on good crew performance. Good crew performance, in turn, is founded on standard operating procedures that are clear, comprehensive, and readily available to the flight crew. Development of SOPs is most effective when done by collaboration, using the best resources available including the end-users themselves, the flight crews.

How Daulat Beg Oldi Airstrip was Revived by IAF

Anil Goyal

Daulat Beg Oldi (also Oldie, DBO) is a historic campsite and current military base located in Ladakh, India on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to the Tarim Basin. It is named after Sultan Said Khan (Daulat Beg), who died here on his return journey after the invasion of Ladakh and Kashmir. The Chip Chap River flows just to the south of Daulat Beg Oldi from east to west. Daulat Beg Oldi also has one of the world’s highest airstrips which is one of India’s Advance Landing Ground (ALG), at an altitude of 5,065 meters (16,614 feet).

Critical Thinking for Pilots: Self debrief and Learning from our own mistakes…

Anil Goyal

What’s the point in thinking about what could have been  or what might have happened?   What’s done is done.   We’ve heard this.  We’ve probably thought this.  But don’t drown your sorrows or celebrate too soon,  because this self debrief is how important insights are revealed that will improve your decision quality in the air as well as on the ground. But before we start let me say that it is best to learn from others’ mistakes then make your own. However, as pilots we undertake multiple flights every day and not one flight is…

What is a blindfold check for military pilot and why is it important?

Anil Goyal

Before a military pilot goes solo, he/she has to successfully demonstrate the ability to locate switches blindfolded. It is not without reason. And this is checked periodically, generally every fortnight along with critical emergency actions. The pilot is made to sit in the cockpit as if during flight with eyes shut and instructor checks out pilots’ ability to locate and activate cockpit switches, to make sure they could find them in a nerve blinding situation (bird strike, smoke in the cockpit, electrical failure by night, etc.).  This practice remains with…