A little over three years ago I bumped into an old friend in the crew lounge at LaGuardia. His name is Don Miller, and we have similar backgrounds: Both civilian trained, former Eastern Airlines pilots; thankful to have survived the "angry times" that permeated the airline industry during the 1980s and 1990s. Don is a couple of years senior to me at Big D, and like the Exotic Guy (UAL Captain Duncan Flett) is a second generation airline pilot. His father, Lee, was the senior Atlanta based 727 captain at Eastern Airlines when we were new hires in 1985---and possibly the nicest gentlemen I have ever shared a cockpit with. It's not surprising that Don inherited his father's disposition. I always enjoy our chance encounters.
This particular meeting took place shortly after Big D had announced it's plan to retire the "Maddog" fleet. All of the one hundred and ten MD-88s, and most of the sixty-five MD-90s, would be retired by 2020. Cincinnati was closing immediately; New York by the end of the first quarter in 2018; Minneapolis and Atlanta would follow. Don was flying the Maddog out of Atlanta. I asked what his plans were with regards to the draw down. He said, "I'm going to the ER. (Boeing 757/767) I'll be on reserve; but I live in the area, so it's not a big deal. I got the award on the last advance entitlement." When he asked about my plans, I said, "I've been trying to decide what to do for quite a while. Five years ago I would have said the ER. Now I don't want to commute to reserve. I liked flying the 737, but it's extremely noisy on the flight deck. I'm seriously considering the A320. Everyone says it's a nice retirement airplane." As we were parting Don said something that I haven't been able to put out of my mind. He said, "I turn sixty next month. In the old days I would be retiring; but instead I'm going to school on the ER. It's not how I imagined it would all shake out."
I was dreading making the call. For years I harassed the EG about flying a sissy French airplane---now I was considering joining the French Foreign Legion! Like Don, I was looking at going back to school at age sixty. The Airbus A320 was the first transport category airplane designed as a fly through computer aircraft---totally different from anything I had ever flown before. The EG was the most experienced A320 pilot I knew. Before I signed on the dotted line I wanted to know if he thought an old Maddog pilot could learn new tricks. Another concern: Did Captain Flett resent being called a sissy for the last fifteen years? It was time to take my (well deserved) lumps.
I won't lie to you. Captain Flett was amused! He was also very reassuring. Exactly what you would expect from an experienced, senior line check airman. Towards the end of our conversation he said, "I think you will really enjoy flying the airplane---you are going to love the tray table!" For those that are unfamiliar, the A320 has a side stick controller; as opposed to a control yoke on the MD-88, and other conventionally designed airplanes. Tray tables are located in storage compartments below each pilot's instrument panel. Squeezing a lever on the bottom of the panel allows the table to extend into position. Squeeze the lever again and the table retracts back into the panel. Operation is completely manual. (Allowing the table to slam shut is a serious faux pas.) Airbus pilots are always talking about the tray table. I used to think it was because they couldn't think of anything better to say about the airplane. Boeing 757 pilots will expound for hours about the performance of their sweet handling machine. My friend, Rick Maury, has this to say about the A320, and it's fly through computer system: "It's a good airplane. It will make a weak pilot look good. It will make a strong pilot look good." There you have it---everything is good.
But the flight deck is great! My hat is off to the team that designed the cockpit. It really is a nice working environment. The seats are comfortable, there is plenty of room, and the EFIS displays are well thought out. The air-conditioning system is fantastic. I flew the MD-88 for eleven years; I know what I'm talking about! After two years, and twelve hundred hours, I think I know why the Airbus folks only talk about the tray table. I think they worry that if everyone knew what they knew, everyone would want what they have, and some of those folks might be senior to them. It really is that nice.
The EG was right. I love the tray table.
