As someone who is interested and fascinated by flight since a young age, my senses seems to be heightened when I go on-board a commercial airline flight. It all starts during my commute to the airport. I invite you to follow my thought process on every flight I take; that is, if I’ve not fallen asleep before taking off.
| Timeline | Thoughts |
| Commute to Airport | Is it a hot day or a breezy, stormy day? How this might affect the performance of the aircraft when it takes off from the runway and initial climb out. There are usually flagpoles outside the terminal and I will take note of the wind direction and think about which runway will be in use. |
| Check-in | Is my bag tagged correctly by the check-in agent? The tag is not crumbled or tag incorrectly. (I was a check-in agent once and I forgot to tag a bag and sent it down the bag room) How’s the attitude of the check-in agent? It he/she an airline staff or a contracted ground handling staff? |
| Security | Put everything in my pockets in my carry on. Phone, wallet. I don’t have any liquids. |
| Walking to the Gate | I check out every aircraft parked at each gate. I mentally note what type it is and get especially excited when I am at a new airport with aircraft and livery that I do not see often. My phone on my hand ready to snap any aircraft that interests me. I will note which runway is in use which I can usually see in the terminal and thinking about what the winds are doing at the terminal flagpoles I saw earlier. |
| Arrive at the Gate | If the aircraft is here already, I will see which phase during the turnaround it is at. Are they loading the ULDs, Cargo, fueling, catering, etc. If the aircraft is not here, I will think about where it might be, being towed from the outer bay, haven’t arrived yet from the previous sector and mentally noted my flight’s ETD, will there be delay? |
| Walking on the bridge | The smell of the conditioned air coming out from the cabin or the smell of the lavatory. The cabin crew usually at door L2 for a widebody. Are they smiling? |
| Sitting Down on the seat | Where is the emergency exit. Where is the life jacket. Fasten seat belt. |
| Push Back | Sometimes after door closed, I wonder why push back is taking so long to commence. If I am sitting at a window seat, I will look back and see if there are other aircraft pushing back or in the way. (usually I can’t see much) Brakes release usually I feel a little nudge. Pushing back I usually check out the other aircraft parked around. I hear the nice turbine in the engine starting to spool up. |
| APU/Engine Power | Depending on the aircraft, I can feel when the engine giving the power and air to the PACK/air con to produce conditioned air in the cabin. |
| Push Back complete | Sitting on the front left window, I will see the ground mechanics waving the gear pin to the Captain. |
| Announcement on doors cross check. | Now, doors should be armed and slide will deploy when doors are opened… |
| Safety Video | Safety Video should be playing and I will pay specific attention if it is on an airline or aircraft that I have not flown on before. |
| Commencement of taxi | If I am sitting on the window seat, I will look at the flight control surfaces and if if I can catch the pre-takeoff checklist. Takeoff flaps and slats should be set and usually a control surfaces check as well which I can see. |
| Taxiing | I will note the runway in use and think about which taxi route it will take. I will look for the windsock when we are taxiing parallel the runway and see how the winds are doing. Strength/Crosswind etc. There is 1 in the middle of the runway and by the 2 ends. |
| Taxiing into position for takeoff | If there is a lineup, I usually hope the flight deck crew will tell the passengers which number in line we are but unfortunately most airlines’ crew do not do this. If there is a lineup, once we taxi into position, I will think about the separation needed and look at the watch and see how long for us to commence the takeoff run. Mentally, I will think of the ATC “Airline XXX clear for takeoff RWY XXX” then we are rolling. |
| Aircraft rolling | I just enjoy the immense power from the turbine engines pushing my back toward the seat. I am quite aware of the initial thrust to spool up the engine and then the full takeoff thrust in position. I mentally think about the V1 speed and if there is any failure warning/ ECAM messages etc. the take off will be aborted with enough runway left to stop the aircraft. Maybe about 5 secs into the roll depending on the aircraft, I am thinking V1 is past and no matter what we will be flying. I usually sit properly and have a good posture in case something happens. |
| Climb out | If I am sitting by the window and the wings, I will admire what the wings are doing aerodynamically to create lift and the shear power created by the engines. I am also very sensitive to hearing the engine sounds changing from takeoff thrust to climb thrust. The slight reduce in thrust is very noticeable in many aircraft. While this happens, the nose of the aircraft will drop a little to maintain speed with a lower thrust setting. If I am sitting by the window, I will see and hear the flaps retracting in various stages/speeds as the aircraft gets cleaned up. |
| SID / Standard Instrument Departure | If I am familiar to the airport, I will mentally think about which departure route we are taking. Those aerodrome with noise abatement and quick turns after takeoff excites me. The Airshow will be turned on in my PTV for sure. |
| Out of window | Most of the time during initial climb, my face will be stuck to the window. |
| Cabin Crew out and about | Usually chimes or cycling the seat belts signs and will see crew start to do their service |
| Drink/Food | I usually think about where the catering is from if the food is good or bad. How’s the attitude of the cabin crew? |
| Cruise | I might think about what will happen if something happens to the aircraft. This thought probably come by once in my head on every flight during cruise. The worst I could think about is a depressurization and the oxygen mask drops. I then think about the emergency descent into 10,000 ft usually and if we are flying over the Himalayas or the Pacific Ocean. I might think about having an engine failure and which airport we might divert to or if I need to spend a night somewhere.. I take note of the altitude and especially during a long haul flight when we get lighter with the fuel, we get a higher flight level. I sometimes note the Flight Level and think about which magnetic direction we are flying to/RVSM. I notice turbulence and light/medium chops and notice if cabin crew needs to take their seat and if we fly on a different altitude to get a better ride. |
| Sleep/Read/Music/Movie | What I’ll do during a flight like everyone else. I will spend some time on the IFE and see if it’s a Panasonic or Thales system. I will think if the GUI (Graphical User Interface) is user friendly. Is there a good movie/tv shows/music selection. I will play with the seat and see if I know which vendor it is from (Recaro, Weber etc.). Is there seat power/USB power etc? How the pitch etc. I will look at the in flight magazine and see if the articles and layout is good. I will look at the in flight shopping magazine and see if the selection of goods is adequate. If there pillows and blankets available, I will look at the cleanliness and quality. If it’s a long haul flight, I will see if the lavatory is regularly cleaned by the cabin crew and amenity replenished. |
| Top of descent | If it’s a short flight, the cabin crew will be very rushed. Even on a long haul flight, there is this rush. Nowadays, many airlines will make one announcement before the top of descent and to the crew as well with the minutes to landing notice. Then everyone gets into action. |
| Descent / STAR Standard Terminal Arrival | I usually have Airshow on if I am not watching a movie and watch the altitude drop and the route. Again, if I am familiar with the airport, I will take note which route it is taking into the descent and closer to the approach, I try to make out which runway is in use. |
| Approach | As a passenger, this maybe the best way to understand flying in respect to speed/attitude of the aircraft. As the aircraft slows down for approach, I notice many things that are happening. Before flaps and slats are deployed, I may see the speed brakes being used to slow down the aircraft for flaps speeds. There might be slight buffet of the airframe as the air is disrupted over the wing and sounds from the air being deflected by the speed brakes. The sound of the engine starts to change as thrust is reduced. However, when flaps are deployed, I will notice an increase of thrust and attitude of the aircraft will increase. (nose will pitch up). This is to maintain altitude while in a slow speed. I continue to think about where in the approach we are and which runway we are using. I try to anticipate when the base turn will or when the aircraft capture the localizer. |
| Final Approach | I think about what a stable approach is and keeping my eye out the window. I will hear the gears coming down and with full flaps extended. If there are clouds, I will think about the decision height and if we can land. On short final, I will see the side of the runway and feeling the aircraft starting the flare and touching down. Auto brakes, thrust reverser, and thinking which exit the aircraft is rushing to make. If the brake is significantly hard at the end, I think about if the flare is too long and overshot the landing a little to make the exit that should have been planned during approach briefing. |
| Taxi to gate | I usually notice the after landing checklist being done during taxi with the flaps being retracted and aircraft cleaned up. If at night, I might notice the landing lights off. If the gate number is displayed on the Airshow, I will think about which taxi route will be used if I am familiar with the airport. |
| Parked | Once we turn into the stand, I will think about the automatic docking system in most airports now. Once parking brake is set, I think about the mechanic putting the chock in and the bridge should start to move in. I think about the bridge operator knocking on the door and the crew will check if the pressure is OK and doors unarmed for the door to be opened with thumbs up. Doors opened, and I see people starting to move and time to go. |
| Arrival bridge and terminal | Similar to the departure, I will have my phone camera on hand and take any photos of aircraft that I rarely see if I am at a new airport. I love the sight of seeing new aircraft or aircraft and airlines that I do not see often at a new airport. I enjoy also the design of different terminals taking note if their F&B and retail spaces as non-aeronautical revenue is big in many airports now. |
| Bag carousel | I think about how I’ve checked the bag tag to be correctly tag at check-in and hope my bag will arrive in 1 piece as I think about how rough the trip was for my bags in the baggage handling system and baggage staff handling the bag onto and out of the carts/ULD/bulk hold. |
| Home/Hotel | On the arrivals hall, again, I take note of the airport design and if it’s signage is good or not in a new airport. I should be able to find where the taxi stand or train/bus station is within seconds of coming out of the arrivals hall. |
What do you think about on your flights?
in your comment on “Cabin Crew “, I usually would notice how the Cabin Crew will treat its passenger. Whether they will smile when you first board the aircraft and whether they will lead you to your seat. I think the attitude of the Cabin Crew is essential in order to enjoy the whole flight experience. A pleasant smile could go long ways and I believe that the person must have that “inside” of them in order for them to succeed in this role. I do know some cabin crews and they will share stories with me of how rude a passenger is etc. and how they do not want to work in short haul flights etc. I believe that this attitude will not go long way