Glass to Steam Transition?

[brucek 38]

I'm wondering how much would be involved (how difficult) to transition from a glass 2-person cockpit into something like a B727 (old steam gauges, minimal automation, 3-person crew). I realize that this reverses the usual trend and would most likely never be applicable to real operations.Thanks,Bruce.

[Guest Tim__757]

Bruce-Well, you'd be surprised-at a Major US carrier it happens all the time as crews transition off right seat a320 into the left seat of DC 9s or from 757s into DC 10s and 747-200s....Going back to "steam guages" is an experiment in mental disipline and situational awareness. The mind has to be retrained to process and assemble the information from several different sources to create the picture. Just looking at the HSI and DME(s) to get a accurate picture where you are vs looking at a NAv Display.Crew coordination is not THAT big of an issue. The airlines (US) won't pair a rookie capt with rookie FO & FE. A new captain (say less than 100 hrs in position) knows to listen to the experience. He still has to make the final call but....System management is why you have the 3rd body up front....not a big hands-on thing of left seat/right seat occupants. We are kept aware what the systems are up to if abnormal but otherwise its more of a "how goes-it" awareness.No matter how the information is presented we still have to fly the wing.Tim__757

[brucek 38]

Thanks Tim.I know from a recently completed instrument rating in a C172/G just how hard it is to take those pieces that normally were easily onvious from visual flying and put them together in a sequence to form a mental picture :).Thanks for the info, it was just a query based on curiousity. Some very good information.Bruce.