PmDg 777 you better give it to me this weekend !

[Sky Trail 13]

Hey Guys !!!!

 

 

 

I had one of my best days in my life yesterday, i am currently doing Aviation Management at Georgian College in Barrie, near Toronto , Canada. My class was taken to the Toronto Pearson Intl National airport yesterday for a full day tour of the airport.To begin with i am in the final stages of completing my Canadian Commercial Pilot License. But funding problems are keeping me away from flying for while. My hopes of finishing the rating before spring next year is pretty much next to none. I am an avid flight sim enthusiast as well, started way back in fs2002, but never really got into the FMC stuff till FSX.

 

 

 

Let me go in detail: Read on guys i saved the best for the last !!!!!

 

 

We arrived at the GTAA (Greater Toronto Airport Association -- Managing the Pearson airport) building at around 9 AM. The group of approximately 30 students were welcomed by the director (forgot his name - charming ole guy). we were handed off to the tour guide, another higher ranking guy at the airport. I was surprised by the fact that such a guy in an important position will be appointed to tour us around. I did ask my college prof., he told me these guys were on the Aviation Management Advisory Committee at our college, so it was kind of fun for them to take us around.

 

 

Sky Service

Any how we were taken to the FBO ( Fixed Base Operator ) Sky Service Head quarters, again introduced to us by the VP. We were told TOM CRUISE !!! was scheduled to arrive that afternoon, most of the girls (including some men) got excited to see him later that day. But i was like you know what i ain't waiting for no Tom when there are Triple 7's in the airport !!! I mean really why would i, i can watch MI2 again. we were instructed by the VP not to take any pictures of the damn learjets or challengers parked. Sky service is apparently the biggest FBO in Canada & Privacy matters for the rich. I did note down a few reg. codes just to look up later lol. Not to mention the 2 huge hangers. I did count and there were 3 gulf stream g600s and king air 300 in one hangar with another 4 learjets and a tiny Piaggio Avanti ( That ain't no Ferrari of the skies ). The VP ( a graduate from our college ) mentioned they were the only sellers for the new Honda jets in canada. Don't get me wrong they had probably another 20 aircrafts parked outside the FBO, mostly lears and challengers. To my odd sense i spotted 2 Delta CRJ's parked in the FBO space, the VP mentioned it was because of the last weeks storm and they parked it here !!! Also there were not Delta just the tail colors written on the aircrafts either guessing it their charter aircrafts.

 

We were then taken to the crew lounge, it was terrible. VP said they are going to upgrade, but honestly it was terrible. me as a private pilot have seen damn better ones than that. I remember my solo flight to Windsor ,ON where the FBO lounge for pilots was awesome. i mean a small airport with almost no traffic had a better lounge for pilots than a Intl airport. are you kidding me ? Don't get me wrong all the other stuff for the celebrities were extraordinary, but i am biased as a Pilot ( hopefully scrape my &@($* on those seats one day ). We met some pilots at the lounge having breakfast too. it was awkward !!!.

 

 

 

Airport Run around

 

 

We were then loaded up on an airport passenger bus and taken around the whole airport. The storm drain facility was huge , just had an outside peek , they guide did mention the whole facility cost them CAD 150 million. There were 4 huge 300 foot tanks stored underground. the guy did mention the max he has seen is half a tank of water during the worst storms. The facility also cleans the water before draining them into the creek. This creek is where the A340 of Air France crashed during a runway overrun. It was quite funny to know they found under wears in the storm drains. I mean who removes a freaking underwear and throws it in the storm drain rite ??

 

The route under RW 33L was short to reach the terminals... Its quite intresting to note that CYYZ has only 2 terminals and they are named Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Apparently Terminal 2 was removed but renaming the terminal to terminal 2 would cost GTAA CAD 3 million, as they would have to rename all the sign-age and the cable marking on each and every light fixture to fire extinguisher lol...

The bus tour was awesome, we were on the bus for almost an hour running up the airport next to jets and props taxing around. At this point we were told we would be later taken to the Air Canada Hangar with Embraer 190 and an A319 waiting for us in there. Honestly i was disappointed there were no 777 on show.

 

 

Falconer

 

Got to say this first " I respect you guys". The bird chasing or the wild life preservation group is outsourced to a company Falconer. We had a half an hour session with the guy. The guy enlightened (cant stress enough) me with the way they do the work. He had a desert Hawk named Sally perched on his hand. When i saw the guy walk up to us with the bird in shabby airport clothes, i was like that ain't no good job !! I was humbled and literally blown away when he started explaining in detail how they catch other birds. Sally the hawk was trained for the job like the airport dog .

 

The best i had seen at my local airport was when i reported those nasty, creepy, ruthless Sea Gulls on the runway , the airport manager came and used some blanks.I did do make a stupid decision that day , i will post it later.

 

The falconer has one hawk perching on the front seat (on the shoulder rest with the head rest removed) of the Ford F150 pick up. Interesting to note the birds are sent on duty only when they are hungry. With the front passenger window closed he then drives around the airport. When the bird notices a prey, she then spreads its wings, at this point the falconer opens the front window and lets the bird out. He just follows it. The bird makes its kill and swoops down for its treat like a dog. The kill is then collected by the falconer and frozen as food on a later day. He said the hawk isn't attached to the guy like a dog is. as long as its hungry it will hunt or else its like Brian in Family guy, sits on the couch watching TV. The birds tend to go out of range but always comes back. Did you know most airports hire only female hawks ? they are better hunters and bigger in size.

 

Sally is pretty stupid too. The desert Hawk like me(am Indian) isn't built for the harsh Canadian winter. These birds have very less sensation in their legs and wing tips. So they tend to stay out more and take the brunt of the icy cold winter. Sally and her teammates are prone to frost bite like us humans. The falconer mentioned about a huge Eagle with close to 10 foot wingspan in the hanger raring to go. The falconer has quite a load of weapons form a shotgun to literally a lot of pyros for the show.The food chain in Pearson has Coyotes, rabbits, skunks and the robber raccoons.

 

Ok, now when we were on the bus my eye caught the Falconer and his bird. The bird was above the the a 777 Air Canada on the landing run, or at least it seemed like from my angle of view. It was too late for a photo op.On a quieter note i think the GTAA should install an AVIAN Radar, although i hate the fact of people losing jobs.

 

 

 

Airport Luggage handling

 

we went inside the airport luggage handling facility, it was nothing like the ones like you see in National Geographic Channel on Mega Airports of Tokyo or anything else. It was quite small but fully automated. It was pretty cold in there, i mean around -1C, the automatic keeps opening when luggage cart comes in. The guide mentioned some huge numbers of world wide baggage mishandled or lost as compared to the ones successfully delivered.

 

Guys working in that condition is not fun when the temp is around -30C, from now own i wont care if my baggage is mis handled in winter.

 

Customs

 

This part some of the worst details, we were met another important team of officers who took us around the immigration and customs department. I am gonna skip the usual areas as most of us been there and done that. but there are some sketchy places that i will walk you through. The officer took us to the place a facility (pretty big) where they go through the luggage in case you are suspicious enough for them. They watch us from above when we retrieve our luggage. Funny enough i noticed more cameras at the Staff cafeteria and the sushi place than the luggage area. I really don't know how they do it. Anyways, Just behind the search area there are places like a prison. Dimmed lit and few officers chairs, the suspects are kept here till the Toronto Police arrives. The officers mentioned few of their tactics to break the suspects too. One odd yet interesting one was when the officer caught a guy with pills in his stomach. apparently he was around for 35 straight hours with his &@($* plunged. The Pooper in there was CAD 35,000. You got to climd a couple of steps to get on and a chemical system cleaned and separates the pills, gloves are then used to retrieve the pills. The guy had around 1 Million worth in his poop. Pretty nasty uh ??

 

Next stop the Air Canada Facility. I thought my best day turned into the worst day when me a couple of smoking friends went out for a smoke and lost the group. We did meet up just in time, to learn there was a 777 -200 waiting for us in the hangar as well. Well should i say more ? I was more like a 26 yr old kid who just tasted some P___Y for the first time. (arrogant I know its meant to be that way !!!!)

.

Air Canada Maintenance Hangar

 

The Director of Maintenance introduced us and took us for the tour. I mean really the director taking us for the tour is better than ever, he threw all those big numbers of thrust Lbs and weight Lbs in nothing less than thousands of tons. First up he told us not to touch anything, my initial disappointment was lost in milliseconds as it was a joke. Air Canada leases all the parts on their aircrafts. When they an get a new aircraft they sell all the engines and wheels to banks and leases them back.

 

 

Air Canada Embraer 190

 

I couldn't for the love of God wait to get to the 777, but it was the Embraer 190 and A319 first. Got in the Embraer 190 first , straight to the cockpit all the bells and whistles were lit up. I pretty much soaked it all up. Flying the PMDG NGX and watching videos on you tube on WILCO Embraer made me aware where everything was and what to look for. The reg code on this was C-FHOY. I got to hold the Ram Horns for the first time. We were allowed to throttle up as well.I went TOGA and as expected the alarms go off. My friends around me were a little worried about me.Well I gave them the look of a 16 yr olds first time !!!.

 

 

Didn't even bother going to the cabin. I am now angry at WILCO, you could have done better with that aircraft. It isn't bad, i feel its sophisticated to some level. I am begging you WILCO Pub to make a better Embraer with all the systems linked and take my money !!!!

 

 

Air Canada Airbus 319

 

Again as a dog knows where to poop, i went straight to the cockpit. This time i was taken back a little. To start with no systems were powered on. Just plain old Hyundai of the skies. Honestly i am not a Boeing fan either.I just like anything that flies. Again i was in the captains seat with the "Saitek" controller. First opinion that the joystick was stick. since no hydraulics were on, i did a steep turn both sides, a hammer head, pressed the Master Caution and the stupid auto trottle just to remind myself of the number of times i have done that in FSX just to disengage the system. The cockpit colors of the A319 are rather discomforting to me. The color reminds me of exercise balls. The cockpit was less cooler than the Embraer !!! Less screens and "RETARD RETARD". Honestly even the FMC on the Airbus looks dull comparative to the Embraer. The reg. Code was C-GITR

 

Engine Repair Shop

 

the number of APU's hanging on chains and on palletes were quite nice. I had never seen an APU till then. But as with any man who sees a girl for the first time, i knew it was the APU. different sizes from smaller embraer 170 to 777. The engine facilty had quite a few A330 Trent engines. Here's where i made my first mistake. the size of the engine made me think of it as the one the 777. I yapped it to my friend as well. but it was an A330. With my tail bend under my a__ like a dog, shamefully i moved on. Those fan blades are sharp by the way, the director was keen on saying how preciously balanced the fans were. also if one fan is unbalanced it would just tear off the compartment as well.

 

 

AIr Canada Boeing 777-200

 

Through a couple doors, we reached my dream machine (although 777 300 beggers cant be choosers here) A group of guys ran off to get some pictures, looks like i wasn't the only dog looking for the bone. I just held my breath and stood my ground. I prefer soaking it up with my eyes before my camera does. The director stoped us , obviously he knew how excited we where, he took us to the GE 777 engines being serviced on the side. Once again i felt like a dog being told to sit to get a treat. I must confess, i wasn't interested in hearing about how it worked and BLAH, BLAH BLAH....... UNTIL i asked him about the engine diffrence on the 777-200 and 777-300.They had the same engines, they are limited by the on board computers according to the aircraft !!!!!!!!!

 

Ok this time for real i could smell the bone. I approached her from behind. Taken straight to the main landing gears. The Director then flips some switches and drops both the gear doors, they were gently lowered, the space is huge. nothing much to see than the hydraulic actuators and cylinders. Notice the next time, the landing gears trail the gear doors. the gear is moved front then side ways and tucked in. He explained over 7 degree turn radius and the rear wheels turn, notice how every thing about this plane is a "7". I knew this, but i asked him anyway.

 

Moving forward he opened up the avionics bay. and let us take a peek inside. The aircraft was on ground power and the avionics was running. Everyone went and took a peek and came out quickly. I wanted to go last since i knew i would be in there a little longer. I stepped in last. Man o Man was it hot. The exhaust was running and the equipment cooling was on. If you have worked on the PMDG or IFLY NGX, notice the equipment cooling ? the switch was flipped for alternate source i belive, since the normal side would just recycle the hot air through the luggage area. The number of computers in there are just too many to count.

 

I stepped in the cockpit of a B777 for the first time in my life !!!!! I could hear " all hail the captain " in my mind of course. Went staight for the captains seat. All the systems were in amber. Early christmas.took hold of her by the control column, foot on the rudder pedal, and looked straight out. SHOCKED . That was pretty high up there. I didnt even realise my hands were on the throttles. Maybe i was born to be a pilot. those displays were just too much to handle. The distance from the captains MCP panel to the Navigation Displays were quite a lot. The limitaions of 2D in FSX hit me. There is no affordable way of making a simmer feel that distance.

 

 

Looked up to the overhead panel to see what i would expect in PMDG or when i am really flying one. My eyes quickly noticed the green light on Ground Power. it was amber all around. I know how the lights looks like PMDG. you better make it a treat. Took some time to sink everything in this time. switched seats with my buddy for the FO. Pretty cool. There were some fault logs on the EICAS. It was tempting to press the Cancel and Recall Button. The radio was on speaker, i heard CYYZ ground tower. Had to get out for others to get in

 

The Air Canada 777-200 was C-FIUJ. Sleeper Bussiness and coach class no first class on this one. I have never been in any class other than coach. That dream is still not happening any time soon. I stepped into to the crew resting area. a little disappointed, while passengers sleep on beds below, pilots are on a recliner !!!

 

Came outside and stood next to the engines for some photo op. As soon i noticed the guys were getting outside, i ran back inside with my buddy again.(I changed buddies 3 times and went back in more than 5 times). This time there were 2 girls at the controls, no offence intended i joked it would be a rough landing. We all laughed, took some pictures for them at the at controls and got rid of them to sit on the seat again. It was almost time to go, i talked to a maintenance guy who told us that plane was old and how he liked working on wide body. After some more photo op, even in the baggage compartment , we were escorted out the building and sent on our way for a memory that will last as long my first Solo flight.

 

PMDG

 

ALL RITE FUNS OVER NOW, I speak for everyone (maybe not). My hopes are higher than what Felix Baumgartner could ever jump. I want that plane so badly, i know i am not going to getting in that cockpit any time soon unless a miracle makes it happen, But i have been saving money for the 777 since the day you announced it. Please dont dissapoint me. Please release it this month or my christmas cravings will take my money away. If you dont release it this month, i swear on Kingfisher Airlines that i will not buy the 777 for a week after you release it. YEAH THATS RIGHT.!!!!!!!

[EGLL77W 1,508]

Umm.. I don't really know what to say to this one lol..

[Mean Aerodynamic Chord 269]

lol. Nice pictures though, it gives a good comparison and realization of the size of those engines.

[VeryBumpy 272]

Cool story, bro.

[EGLL77W 1,508]

I mean - he got creative with the tags :LMAO: :LMAO:

[Airbusman330 300]

we went inside the airport luggage handling facility, it was nothing like the ones like you see in National Geographic Channel on Mega Airports of Tokyo or anything else. It was quite small but fully automated. It was pretty cold in there, i mean around -1C, the automatic keeps opening when luggage cart comes in. The guide mentioned some huge numbers of world wide baggage mishandled or lost as compared to the ones successfully delivered.

 

Guys working in that condition is not fun when the temp is around -30C, from now own i wont care if my baggage is mis handled in winter.

 

Our baggage room at ORD is very warm in the winter, especially with our larger mainline counterpart who has an underground facility

 

Awesome post looks like you had a great time.

[BimmerCop 332]

[Chase 304]

I opened this thread expecting to shake my head at your demand... but the informative post softened it up.

[kannwar 47]

I can't for the life of me get over just how frigging enormous those engines are! Those things must make the very ground quake when at full power. And yet they are controlled so easily by those comparatively minuscule little power levers in the cockpit LOL.

[mcbellette 145]

I was waiting to see Robert "Batman" Randazzo strike again!!! :lol:

[Sky Trail 13]

I can't for the life of me get over just how frigging enormous those engines are! Those things must make the very ground quake when at full power. And yet they are controlled so easily by those comparatively minuscule little power levers in the cockpit LOL.

 

I am 5'10, that engines are 20.9' wide.... you could fit an old 737 in there easily

 

 

That cracked me up

[William J.S.S 173]

Same as above. Every time I see a compassion shot of the engines, I am just in awe that something so large doesn't just snap the wings off and make that thing sink like a rock.

 

You have to love modern engineering.

[Sky Trail 13]

I was waiting to see Robert "Batman" Randazzo strike again!!! :lol:

 

His engines are just spooling up for the morning

[martin30 0]

Nice story well looks like you wont be buying T7 for a week or so after release then lol

[Sky Trail 13]

Nice story well looks like you wont be buying T7 for a week or so after release then lol

 

That's a tricky one.... kingfisher airlines is broke already.... they went from 66 aircrafts with 5 a380 on order to less than 10 in about 6 months lol... last week they lost their license as well. So I swore on the right airlines