12 01 PILOT’S PERSPECTIVE 2011 2012 www.airasia.com/travel360
A FLIGHT PRIMER
Flying from Point A to Point B, passengers undergo various experiences from the moment they get into the aircraft right up to disembarkation. Captain Lim Khoy Hing guides us through a typical flight and explains some of the more interesting aspects of the flying experience.
Over the years, I have received many questions about flying in general. In this month’s article, I’d like to focus on some of the queries based on a typical flight from one airport to another. In this instance, LCC Terminal in Kuala Lumpur to Orly Airport in Paris. This flight covers a distance of 5,800 nautical miles or around 10,800 kilometres. If the plane could fly a straight line (not always possible due to airspace restrictions), it would shorten the flight by 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres).
GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES Does the captain use a key to start the jet engines? The answer is an obvious ‘No’. Keys are generally used to start light, piston-powered planes, and not commercial jet aircraft. Jet engines are ignited by powerful compressed air from an internal or external ground power source. In a car, you turn the key that fires up the starter motor, turning the crankshaft, which then, turns the pistons. Eventually the engine reaches a speed that disconnects the starter motor and the engine roars to life. With a jet engine, the pilot selects the ‘ON’ switch. This turns the engine turbines using high pressure air. At a particular speed, the igniters (similar to car sparkplugs) will be activated. When the engine reaches a certain speed, the starter will disconnect but the engine will keep on accelerating until it reaches the target RPM (or what is commonly called the idle RPM – revolutions per minute), with the aircraft ready to move when the parking brake is released. 96
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