Long hauls give you time to get to know the systems on the airplane and give you time to learn the FMC. Plus they are fun to fly on VATSIM. I have really enjoyed the NGX but I really enjoy flying the MD-11 and the 747 more.

Hi all, reading these and other flightsim-forums and seeing that PMDG is apparently planning to make a 777 next, I keep asking myself why everybody seems to be so much into heavy long-haulers? Bigger == better? I'm a real-time flyer. I don't like the idea of having to sit through >4h legs which are typical for aircraft like the 777. Plus, there seems to be quite a bunch of high-quality heavies out there already. I'd personally like to see more along the lines of the 737NGX, maybe finally a proper PMDG-quality simulation of an A320 (my personal top priority after the 737 since currently nobody seems to be able to do a proper A320 for FSX), or ERJs, CRJs or a Q400. Thoughts?

the answer of most of them is sandbagging and being happy to ever see a cockpit that comes close to the real one (PMDG quality). At least for new generation planes. If you would have a PMDG B747-200 or L1011, things would be VERY different.

I would die for a PMDG L1011, even if they had to jack up the price to $200 to justify the time in development versus market interest. Then again, I have a feeling Lockheed wouldn't give them much in terms of info. A B742 would be nice, but I'd prefer something else, though I'm not sure what.

Long hauls give you time to get to know the systems on the airplane and give you time to learn the FMC

So give several short hops in the same amount of time. Maybe even more so, because of repetition. ;)

Each his own

I fly with a group online, anything more than about an hour is a 'long haul' for us. We prefer more takeoffs and landings so we can sit on the taxiway and laugh at each other

I''m one of the few ppl who fly long hauls on a regular base actually and why i do? well even tho it can be very boring i just love the feeling after landing at some far away airport knowing that i crossed half across the globe(yeah i do flights like that as well) it''s just a feeling i can''t really explain maybe i am a lazy guy i don''t do short hops that often because it means higher workload lol i can imagine that ppl don''t understand it though i mean looking at a monitor for 8+ hours (i don''t do that as well haha)

Hi Johan,Different habit for me (very very few long haul flights) but whenever I fly long haul, I must admit I always feel the same excitement, especially when getting ready to take off in the evening, on a trip that I have done in real life : the feeling then is quite unique.Knowing that when you wake up in the morning you'll find the plane (hopefully) cruising in another part of the world, ready for descent, is also great.But the rest of the time, it's mainly short haul.Bruno

yes, everybody who says otherwise is lying ... just kidding :) But you can also short-haul with the 777 ? but you can't really long-haul with the 737 ...If the 777 is released I will also short haul with her, even if its not a real world route ... so what if it isn't ? no big thing for me ... and I can fly to nearly everywhere in the world nonstop :)

I used my MD-11 on many a short hop. It may not be economical in the real world but the planes are very capable. The length of my flight is usually determined by how much time I have to spend near the computer. I try to get up and do something constructive around the house while I'm in cruise. I've been afraid to leave the room with NGX with it's incredible failure modelling. I've never had to worry about it with others.

A very interesting topic -and good fun to read the different choices.I must admit to accelerating time in long hauls because I find thatleaving things in real time and making a drink or reading a book etc.is really just the same (in effect) as accelerating the time -that is notsitting and looking at the panel or the sea!Just my opinion of course but it is nice to read the others.David

Hi Johan,Different habit for me (very very few long haul flights) but whenever I fly long haul, I must admit I always feel the same excitement, especially when getting ready to take off in the evening, on a trip that I have done in real life : the feeling then is quite unique.Knowing that when you wake up in the morning you'll find the plane (hopefully) cruising in another part of the world, ready for descent, is also great.But the rest of the time, it's mainly short haul.Bruno

I know alot of people do that except me talking about letting it cruize in the night while sleeping reason for that is i like to keep it as real as it get's in real the co-pilot could be sleeping during let's say half of the trip and the other half by the captain but since i am alone and don't have a co-pilot i have to be there at all times not that i am doing that tho while in cruize i am like a passanger watching a movie lol for example i am flying now from Amsterdam to San Fransisco my expected arrival time(in dutch time) will be 2:21 am (call me a nutter lol) but i will stay awake untill i parked my plane at the gate i also read reply's with people who increase the simulation speed while cruizing that's something i won't do either in the real one they don''t have a button like that lol

I know alot of people do that except me talking about letting it cruize in the night while sleeping reason for that is i like to keep it as real as it get's in real the co-pilot could be sleeping during let's say half of the trip and the other half by the captain but since i am alone and don't have a co-pilot i have to be there at all times not that i am doing that tho while in cruize i am like a passanger watching a movie lol for example i am flying now from Amsterdam to San Fransisco my expected arrival time(in dutch time) will be 2:21 am (call me a nutter lol) but i will stay awake untill i parked my plane at the gate i also read reply's with people who increase the simulation speed while cruizing that's something i won't do either in the real one they don''t have a button like that lol

I like how there's not a single bit of punctuation in that entire response. I'm not trying to be the grammar police. Rather, it's near impossible to read without at least the basics, like full stops. That said, what I think you wrote isn't entirely correct. You and your FO fly, and a relief crew takes over for a while, and then you come back (depending on the airline SOP). It's not a system where the Captain can doze off and still sit in the seat, while the FO flies (legally). That's just not how it works.

That said, what I think you wrote isn't entirely correct. You and your FO fly, and a relief crew takes over for a while, and then you come back (depending on the airline SOP). It's not a system where the Captain can doze off and still sit in the seat, while the FO flies (legally). That's just not how it works.

Does anyone here actually know what does happen on long haul flights when the crew need to take a break, I've always been curious as to how exactly it worked. I could never see any definite facts about it on the internet though. Any realworld pilots among us like to comment on this topic, Rónán perhaps? I know he's long-haul on the A330. Or even RSR, I hear he's rated on the B744.

I like how there's not a single bit of punctuation in that entire response. I'm not trying to be the grammar police. Rather, it's near impossible to read without at least the basics, like full stops. That said, what I think you wrote isn't entirely correct. You and your FO fly, and a relief crew takes over for a while, and then you come back (depending on the airline SOP). It's not a system where the Captain can doze off and still sit in the seat, while the FO flies (legally). That's just not how it works.

Your right i''m sorry am just a tired that causes it i will try to do it better like i use to :) A friend of mine who flies for KLM (now on the F70/100) started as a co-pilot on the 747-400. And he told me quite alot of story''s with what happends on the flightdeck during cruize and i also asked him what he was doing in that time. First answer was sleeping for a few hours he told me the only thing that''s done during cruize is radio communication check the fuel consumption according to the flightplan and checking the weather reports for there enroute alternates. That can be done by one person the only time they are doing procedures and stuff together is on the ground,takeoff, climb, descent, approach, landing, ground. I''ve also heard when both pilots are awake they watch the movie in the gally or play chess together.

Does anyone here actually know what does happen on long haul flights when the crew need to take a break, I've always been curious as to how exactly it worked. I could never see any definite facts about it on the internet though. Any realworld pilots among us like to comment on this topic, Rónán perhaps? I know he's long-haul on the A330. Or even RSR, I hear he's rated on the B744.

Well, to put it simply, on long-haul flights lasting over 8hrs, we have a thing called "Augmented Crew" which basically means we get an extra F/O up front. This entitles us to fly up to 12hrs flying non-stop. After that we need a relief crew which is basically another pair of Capt and F/O. At EIN we have augmented crews on our ORD and MCO routes. Personally I love augmented crew flights. It feels so much more natural having 3 crew members on the flight deck during the takeoff and landing phases of flight, a bit of a throw back to the days of the F/E. Much nicer on the takeoff to be able to concentrate on the runway ahead, have one member concentrate on the engine parameters and one concentrate on the speed. I'm sure any pilot who flies augmented crew will agreee with me on those points.

Your right i''m sorry am just a tired that causes it i will try to do it better like i use to :) A friend of mine who flies for KLM (now on the F70/100) started as a co-pilot on the 747-400. And he told me quite alot of story''s with what happends on the flightdeck during cruize and i also asked him what he was doing in that time. First answer was sleeping for a few hours he told me the only thing that''s done during cruize is radio communication check the fuel consumption according to the flightplan and checking the weather reports for there enroute alternates. That can be done by one person the only time they are doing procedures and stuff together is on the ground,takeoff, climb, descent, approach, landing, ground. I''ve also heard when both pilots are awake they watch the movie in the gally or play chess together.

Well you heard wrong my friend, we don't play chess or anything that takes our attention away significantly from the flight at hand. We don't look at films, per-say. We are allowed a 30 min "Relief Break" in which the flying duties are all handed over to the other crew member and we are free to; Sit in the cabin, stroll about, do the crossword, catch 40 winks, chat with the CC or eat your crew meal. This break must last no longer than 30 mins and the purser must be informed. This break can be taken on any flight during the cruise period if so desired. It is in fact encouraged to catch 40 winks sleep if you feel fatigued. If you wish to view a film during this 30 min period you are free to do so but I certainly wouldn't bother, and I don't think many would. Hope that helps,Rónán.

I''ve also heard when both pilots are awake they watch the movie in the gally or play chess together.

Johan, Don't forget that any flight longer than ...a certain duration (it's 9 hours for Air France but I don't know if this is a company rule or an international aviation rule) rates a crew of three (one captain and two FOs). Which means that it is perfectly possible (and in fact recommended) that one of the 3 pilots is sleeping in the crew rest compartment as long as the plane is above 20 000 FT (it is mandatory to have the full crew in the cockpit below this altitude). As for the two pilots on duty, my guess is 99% of the time, they sit at the controls doing the tasks you described. Bruno PS (edit) : Ronan was faster than me (and since he flies the real thing, his story his far better than mine)