Here you go 😄

Grotty (technical term!) day at Heathrow this afternoon for my first landing of the year. Flying Airbus #A350 G-XWBA from Phoenix.
Thanks to FlightFocus365 for the capture 😄✈️

Happy New Year everyone. I hope 2025 brings you health, happiness and that we are all a little bit kinder to each other. If I’m lucky enough to fly you anywhere next year please say hello 😄Thanks to all the people at work who have looked after me and kept me laughing and safe. Come on 2025. Be good!

It has been a very difficult few days for the aviation industry and the families of all those who have lost their lives or been injured in the accidents (generic term). However, rather than speculate about the accidents please allow the real experts to investigate the causes and report on them.

Overtaking an Airbus A330 on the way to Denver a few days ago. Our A350 has a slightly higher cruising speed of Mach 0.85 compared to around Mach 0.82 of the A330. Loved the lighting here. 😄✈️

The older I get the less concerned I am about passing simulator checks and the more concerned I get about passing the CAA Class 1 Medical 😂 Thankfully I appear to still be in reasonable condition and have been signed off for another year ☺️ #relieved

There is usually another pilot also being checked in the other seat and the instructor/examiner sat behind in the control chair running things.

a group of airbus planes flying in formation ALT: a group of airbus planes flying in formation

That’s the simulator check passed and licence signed. Lots of fun on this one including engine failures, fires, smoke, radio failures, complex electrical system problems, numerous go-arounds, foggy weather, multiple computer failures and a diversion to Kangerlussuag with a fun visual approach. 😄✈️

Good point! Well made! Rectified! 😂

If @profbriancox.bsky.social can get us both seats on something going to the ISS I’d be more than happy to accompany him 😄

No! We fly complicated aircraft and the instructors dream up real world scenarios which could easily happen and the weather is something that always varies, even in the simulator. It is always possible to have a combination of problems which gives an almost endless variety of possibilities 😄

Every six months pilots have to go into the simulator for a couple of days in order to demonstrate they can still cope with anything which is thrown at them. I’ve got that coming up again on Friday and Saturday this week so it’s 2 iPads out, write some refresher notes and get the licence signed 😄✈️

(Anyone would think @profbriancox.bsky.social is busy!! 😄😉)

😂 I fly him home from Las Vegas, bring him amazing wines from South Africa and he still hasn’t followed me on here yet! 😂

Stunning view of the Aurora Borealis captured by my mate James on his flight last week. 😄

They did! But you did need a roll of film in the camera rather than computer memory! 😂

Great question! (Although I know you know the answer already!). The skills required have changed quite a bit but the basics are still the same. The 737-200 felt like driving an old, classic car whereas the A350 is like driving a Tesla in comparison. Both lots of fun but the 737-200 made me smile😄

I remember all those! 😄

My current flying machine, the amazing and beautiful Airbus A350 and my first jet from many years ago, the Boeing 737-200. As much as I loved the 737 as a starter jet it doesn’t quite have the looks of the A350 and just look at the difference in the flight deck! Almost a different job 😄✈️

Hi! Seems a bit more peaceful over here! 😄

Timelapse taken last night flying over Cairo on the way back from Nairobi.

What an absolutely amazing day! I was invited by one of our crew, Chrissie, to visit a rehab centre in Nairobi
www.mercymukuru.co.ke
The centre takes boys from a young age who have either been orphaned or left on the streets.
A privilege to meet the boys and give out donated sportswear. Humbling.

Typo!! Thanks for letting me know. I originally had it down as Airbus A350 but ran out of characters! Didn’t delete enough of the Airbus word! 🙈

Finally set up an account here. Really hoping this is like Twitter was in the good old days! I’ll keep posting over there as I’ve made lots of friends and like the interactions (most of them!) but will duplicate here and expect more ‘normal’ replies! Hello 😄😄