Jobs: Andrew Gromozdin pilot "Boeing"

What do you do in your work?

I had a dream of becoming a pilot with five. Moreover, a large civil aircraft. I wanted to fly on the IL-86, rising in the sky for 300 people. The second part of that dream has come true: our Boeing 767 - 336 seats. But on the first Soviet Airbus fly could not: his flight ended a century.

But first, there was a long study, I graduated from Sasovo Flight School, and then the Ulyanovsk Higher Aviation School.

Sky inspiring!

Now I have the tolerance for two types of aircraft - Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 - and deliver passengers to different parts of the world.

Do women pilots are?

Yes. Although women have been quite difficult to get into this profession. There was some kind of chauvinistic approach, but now the situation is changing for the better.

In our country, the percentage of female pilots is much smaller than in the world, but they are almost all large companies. I know, for example, that "Aeroflot" flies commander woman in "UTair" have a female pilot.

Is it difficult to pilot to get a job today?

Today - it is very difficult. In aviation, as well as in other areas, everything develops according to a sinusoid. Another three or four years ago there was a shortage of pilots: graduate schools to easily find a job and could do vertiginously fast career, not the company chose the pilots, and pilots - Group.

Today the situation is reversed, and the number of vacancies in the market tends to zero. Cadets who have been dismissed and abbreviated agree on almost any lotnuyu work, not to lose the qualification. After a pilot in six months after the break, additional checks in a year - training, and five still need to take place again.

What qualities should a pilot?

The most important thing - it is a commitment to continuous improvement and continuous desire to study.

Occupation is very dynamic. Everything is developing rapidly: from engineering, flight rules, working methods and finishing documents regulating flights. It should relax a little, and have dropped out of the path of modern aviation.

Other qualities, I think, clear from the content of the profession: it's technical competence and ability to handle stress, and teamwork, and knowledge of foreign languages.

Do use Russian pilots demand on the world market?

Now a huge demand for pilots in the world, especially in Asia. There aviation on the rise: aircraft purchased so much that they just do not have time to train their pilots. It would seem, why those who can not get a job here, do not go there?

But abroad, too, enough challenge. For example, China has very strict medical criteria, in other countries may be in the performance of local specificity and selection of flights, which is not easy to understand. Also, not everyone is ready to go work in another country or work in shifts, spending a week at home in a month or even less.

Nevertheless, quite a few of our pilots are working abroad - from co-pilots to instructors.

Do pilots some professional fears?

There is a saying:

Bold old pilots do not happen.

Fears are common to all. But the pilot out and professional to deal with stress and guide adrenaline in a constructive direction. The passenger can fall into a stupor or a tantrum, and the pilot at any abnormal situation should make rational decisions, to safely deliver passengers from point A to point B.

This is the notorious human factor. And most of all, he has a positive effect. Otherwise I would have long been replaced by robots pilots. Due to the human factor in the face of designers, testers, engineers, ground staff, flight attendants and pilots of millions of passengers every day safely and comfortably get to your items destination.

How to affect the psychological state of the crash the pilots and other tragic accident?

Humanly, it can be hard. But we try to ignore. After all, if you take to heart every accident that you see on the road, and the car is better not to go.

In aviation, everyone, even the smallest incident has become the subject of detailed analysis. It is a daily hard work to improve the safety of air transport. Results of this work is evident. If even 40-50 years ago, the crash was an ordinary event, but now every such case - an extraordinary event, which devotes the front pages of newspapers and major news outlets.

Therefore, in spite of everything, aircraft - the safest and fastest way to travel in space. To nullify the risks of exploitation of technical means, unfortunately, is impossible. Because it is impossible to foresee everything in advance, and sometimes unpredictable environment.

The astronauts before flight watch "White Sun of the Desert". What kind of rituals and superstitions have pilots?

Many pilots are superstitious. Everyone has their own superstitions. For example, you can not sew anything before the flight, you can not say in advance, "We will fly there and then in so much" ( "We are planning to ..."), you need to get the plane only in a clockwise direction and so on. On this, as on the professional folklore, it is possible to protect the thesis.

But the most widespread superstition - pilots do not like to say the word "last". Use any euphemisms - "extreme", "final", but not "last". To me it is also stuck - try not to use the word in relation to work. But in ordinary life, struggle with each other and quietly say, "Who is the last in the queue?" Or "The last day of the week."

How does your workplace?

More or less like this.

With the departure of a flight engineer in the cockpit flight crew left the two pilots. More precisely, as we joke, five, two and three live autopilot. The pilots fly manually and on pre-agreed altitude include autopilot, which does all the work for the further stabilization of the flight and the implementation of the routing program tier. Then, at step approach or decrease (in which company made) pilot disengages the autopilot and again takes control in their hands.

At the stage of the flight route duties between the pilots are as follows. Before the flight is determined who will be the pilot flying and who monitoryaschim.

• The PF (pilot flying) controls all flight parameters, looking for devices, ready at any moment to intervene in the control and switch to manual piloting. In this case, all the dirty work is done by automation. We have, for example, underneath the cab there is a whole server rack with a bunch of specialized computers. They do the work of the navigator and flight engineer, leaving only the pilots control.
• Monitoryaschy Pilot (pilot monitoring) conducts radio communication, and also fills the paper following the devices.

Both pilots have almost the same qualifications, because, apart from the two of them, they are no help in the cockpit. The only difference - to the commander of more responsibility and the last word in decision making. The interaction between the pilots - the cornerstone of flight safety, it has a whole science - Crew Resource Management (CRM).

Previously operated the so-called Assigned crew technology when its membership has not changed. People are constantly flew together and, of course, have been good to know and understand each other. There was even such a thing - "slotannost crew."

Now completely different technology to work (SOP), and the planes are designed so that no matter who is sitting next to a man or a woman, Russian, Chinese or Arabic. The main thing - to strictly follow the technology. All the up to standard phrases, strictly formalized.

In most companies, there is a constant rotation of the crew. Who will fly tomorrow, it depends sometimes on the computer, which is planning to schedule crews.

What gadgets are the pilots?

For the pilot fairly standard gadget - this iPad. Typically, iPad Air and 2 above. This is due to the fact that suppliers of aviation software focused on OS X.

The tablet gives the company. For him, the cab includes a certified special attachment that allows you to use it for the entire flight. On the tablet only what you need for work: maps, software for calculation, library. Nothing extra. We can not go and something to put or remove. This deals with the administrator, in whose hands all the settings.

So I carried with me another iPad for personal use. Some people prefer a laptop, and someone just manages telephone. This is anything to read or watch, as well as to keep in touch with home. Another way to communicate with loved ones on a business trip, except on the internet, yet.

Is there a place in your paper work?

Yes, and a lot of: navigational flight calculation (the CFP), weather briefing (Current weather and forecasts), weather maps, a summary of urgent messages to Crews (NOTAMs), documents on the payload (Consolidated-loading sheet, the list of passengers on the cargo information), additional documentation. Tutu goes kilogram and a half.

Companies are moving to paperless technology, but this really is not a quick process, because all aircraft must be repeatedly tested and duplicated.

For example, chart calculation (called CFP) today carried out on a computer using special software, but in the flight we celebrate its paper version, whether it corresponds to that calculated by the computer, the actual indicators. If there is a discrepancy, you need more control. As I mentioned above, the paper work involved in the main monitoryaschy pilot.

How do you organize your time?

It all depends on the season and the airline. In the winter of work less in the summer anymore. In addition, each company is flying at a certain distance, and this is plotted.

Large aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 767, tend to perform long flights. For example, 12 hours fly from Moscow in the Dominican Republic, there sdaosh aircraft crew. They fly back to Moscow, and you have one to three days of rest. And so the circle. This is called "relay".

You can fly to the "ring". This is when you take off from the same town, then visit several others, then come back. For example, Ekaterinburg - Phuket - Novosibirsk - Cam Ranh - Vladivostok - Bangkok - Moscow.

If we talk about small capacity aircraft, pilots out there almost every day go to work, doing short pivots flights. Travel is very small, all flights begin and end at home.

What does the crew during the rest between voyages?

Who does what: some slept, someone watching TV, someone in the gym or in the pool goes. The presence trenazhorki, by the way, very important to us when choosing a hotel.

If you are on a "relay race", much depends on the company policy and on the situation in the country of residence. If it is prosperous, then you can go to the beach or go shopping. If you have time, visit the local attractions. But you can not drink alcohol and engage in some extreme rest.

Have you encountered ever-bullying on board?

"Hooligan" on the board always happens for one reason - alcohol. As we fly on tourist destinations across it often enough. There were even cases where the rowdies had to communicate. At the same time calming the census had flight attendants or other passengers.

Pilots in any contingency not allowed to leave the cab.

Now, due to the tightening of responsibility and through public disclosure, incidents with bullying on board smaller. But I am in any case would not advise anyone to drink on board. Flight itself load on the body (air dry, low pressure), do not dehydrate, and load yourself more. Upon arrival you will be able to catch up in a comfortable setting and without the administrative and criminal consequences.

As you struggle with jet lag?

We were a little easier than, for example, passengers. You arrive so tired, that would just get to bed and sleep.

It is more difficult to force myself to relax before the flight, particularly if previously spent some time in the "day - to stay awake at night - to sleep." Just lie down and go to sleep during the day is very difficult. As it is known, fatigue accumulates, and rest, unfortunately, no. Sleep for the future is impossible, but you can get tired with a large margin.

Hard not to with the change of sleep and schedule a ragged power. Sleep rebuilt fairly quickly, but the stomach is much slower. Therefore at night, sometimes, incredibly hungry, and vice versa, in the afternoon delights do not cause any enthusiasm.

What is in your bag?

I have three bags.

One little. I use it on topping flights. There lies a few pens, markers, ruler, all the necessary documents, iPad, warning vest, mugs and drying. They help me to deal with sleep. Someone carries seeds for this, someone - Hand expander, I drying.

If this "relay" for a day or two, then fly with me a small suitcase with two compartments: for paper and for the most essential clothing (what to go for dinner and the sea). If a long trip or through different climatic zones (there are flights from minus 35 to plus 35), then my "reversal" bag rides on top of the suitcase, which already has everything - from thermal underwear to light slippers.

What place sport occupies in your life?

Pilots annually VLEK - lotnuyu medical-expert commission. This is a fairly rigorous physical examination: five main experts plus ECG, studies and analyzes. After 40 years under further investigation, and after 55 pilots generally examined in the hospital.

VLEK to pass, you need to keep yourself in shape. Furthermore, after flights when sitting times 12 consecutive hours body simply requires physical activity. Engage in team sports, unfortunately, it does not work. For example, I love hockey, but who needs a player who is constantly on business trips? Therefore, I do fitness: jogging, swimming, walkingIf there are no other opportunities - charging with an electronic trainer in the room.

Do you pass pre-trip medical examination?

In Russia, this was an anachronism even though worldwide it is long gone.

We somehow think that without this all begin to fly drunk or on drugs. But the civil aviation pilots are well aware of its responsibility, and to the profession leave no one wants.

Is it true that ...

1. Coffee and tea on board best not to drink, because water in the plane of poor quality and is packed full of chemicals?

Water is indeed not the same as on the ground. Firstly, due to the low pressure it boils at a lower temperature. But to boiling water it will never bring security reasons. It is unlikely that you will like it, if the neighbor accidentally shed you cool boiled water.

Second, the taste perception at high altitudes in a totally different person. In another perceived salts and acids. That is why many people like to drink tomato juice on the plane. His perception is almost unchanged compared with the earth, but the taste of tea or coffee may seem wrong.

As for the cleanliness of the water on board, then for this strictly monitored. Capacity to her regularly washed and filling is done with a special machine under the watchful supervision of engineers.

2. The pilots and passengers of different foods?

As a rule, yes. Moreover, the commander and co-pilot also different food. Again, all of the security considerations. It is unacceptable that after eating the same, both drivers got indigestion or some kind of food allergy.

But do not worry, the quality and content of the food with the pilots about the same as that of the passengers. The same fish, chicken and meat.

3. If, during the long quiet flight lamp is lit "Fasten seat belts", the pilot forgot to turn it off?

Sometimes it happens. But rarely. Guides are always in the salon, be sure to notice it and ask, what's the matter.

Another thing is that drivers know in advance when to begin buffeting (possible turbulence zone marked us special cards), and can in advance, minutes for 10-20, to light a lamp in order to protect passengers.

4. Flight attendant can enter the cockpit only with a special password?

Yes. Besides, can only enter the senior flight attendant. Before each flight is coordinated procedure for entry into the cab. Without the conditional signal is not wasted.

In addition, the cabin is equipped with video surveillance, so we immediately knew who and what came.

5. The pilot must always be dressed in uniform?

Yes and no. Yes, if flying with passengers. And here everything is pretty strict. For example, in one of the companies in which I have worked hard fined for the absence of his cap. I made bypassing the ground without his cap - minus 25% of salary.

No, if the flight Ferry. Then you can fly to ordinary civilian clothes.

In addition, certain requirements for the appearance set airports. For example, in Bangkok, without the pilot form will not pass to the plane, which documents or reveal.

Even amusing incident was. One of the pilots have not brought in time form of laundry. What to do? Do not wait just until her wash and iron, tearing crash. I had to go on board the first one pilot, remove the form, give it to the pilot. He changed his clothes, and then he, too, missed.

6. Pilots do not hear the applause of passengers?

We have a security door to the cockpit, through it is almost unheard of. Guides usually tell then that the passengers clapped, transmit gratitude. (By the way, if you like flight, write a few words about it in the comment sheet or on the company's website. Those who tried to be nice to you.)

I myself have heard the applause twice. Once the plane was full of children - the most grateful passengers. And second, when we arrived in Bulgaria and two hours in the waiting area were due to bad weather. Sat down with the second call, the first time the fog has not yet definitively razosholsya. Naturally, the passengers clapped and shouted so that could be heard even through our doors.

7. Pilots constantly twist the novels with the stewardesses?

I do not know. I do not like when digging in my personal life, and the other I do not climb.

My wife - a stewardess. We met at a "relay race", and the relationship began on earth. But not at once. Interfered with the schedule: it flew away, I will. Then we met.

Layfhakerstvo from Andrew Gromozdina

1. Arrive at the airport with a comfortable lead time. Most companies, including charter, allow for the electronic filing of the house. You will just drop off your luggage and go through inspection. To a man came in three hours and more tired before sit on the plane, it is advantageous only duty free shops and restaurants.
2. With the passage of preflight inspection in advance lay all of the pockets in the bag. This significantly speed up the process and will not run in search of then left on the phone inspection or boarding pass.
3. Drink on board as possible more fluid. Air dry in a plane and deliberately not moistened so that moisture is not harmful to the aircraft structure. Therefore, the more you drink, the better. Therefore, "do not let yourself wither"!
4. During the long flight do mikrogimnastiku. Give the joints, especially joints of the feet, a little move, so that the blood does not stagnate.

But the most important advice to readers - always enjoy the flight.

There is in this kind of magic, when your body is moved from one end of the world to the other for some 8-10 hours with extraordinary speed.

More 100-150 years ago and to this was impossible. Therefore, do not take the flight as something humdrum (even if many of the summer) - have fun!