The S(t)imulator

 This is the A319/320/321 flight simulator; its an amazing machine. Twice a year, every airline pilot is required to demonstrate proficiency in the handling of all sorts of emergency situations. These range from simple system failures to the most complex of situations. In all cases, a safe landing is required usually in very adverse weather conditions. It can be a quite stressful place but it is also one where skills are enhanced and much is learned. Flight simulators are a key element in making airline flying as safe as it is. I was in next for my 4 hour checkride.

African Sunset

 Southbound over the Sahara on our way to Accra in A320 CS-TNP. Workload is relatively high on African night flights; the weather can be demanding in the vicinity of the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone), there is alot of traffic to be aware of which requires extensive use of the IFBP (Inflight Broadcast Procedure) and enroute alternates are few and far between. Its great! Especially when you look to the West and see images like this one. 

Virga Shower

 Cumulus Congestus showering over the Sahara. Virga is the name given to any precipitation that fails to reach the ground; it evaporates back into the surrounding air and here is a good example of it. A320 CS-TNP from Lisbon to Accra.

Tip of Europe

 A last glimpse of Europe before engaging the African continent enroute from Lisbon to Accra in A320 CS-TNP. Seen here is the Algarve in southern Portugal. Also visible is the "Cabo de São Vicente", the South-Western tip of continintal Europe.

Chasing Sunsets

 Flying west from Rome to Lisbon over a deck of clouds in A320 CS-TNI, another great sunset is slipping away from us. The morning had started flying from Funchal to Lisbon then onto Rome and back only to be greeted upon arrival at Lisbon with winds gusting from the north at 40 knots. This is when Lisbon's runway 35 comes in handy. Life on the line continues..

Anti-Crepuscular Rays

 Its a pure coincidence that I got this shot of the more elusive "anti-crepuscular rays" only a few days after posting the "Crepuscular Rays" pic. The shafts of shade result from the blockage of sunlight by these Altocumulus clouds. The rays are actually parallel to each other but have a converging effect due to perspective. A320 CS-TNR at FL360 from Lisbon to Oslo.

Global Navigation

 Just to be on the safe side and to ensure that the two onboard GPS's, the three Inertial Reference Unit's along with their laser gyro's and all of the ground based radio navigation aids didn't get it wrong, on this flight from Brussels to Lisbon in A320 CS-TNI I brought along the best great circle navigation tool I could find...

Crepuscular Rays

 Crepuscular rays beaming through the clouds over Caparica seen from A319 CS-TTP in the EKMAR hold at FL100. Upon leaving Bamako, the Lisbon forecast was for thunderstorms which led us to take on 300 kg's of extra fuel to allow for a short holding in case a CB found its way onto the airport (as they usually do). The forecast was correct and that extra fuel made the difference between happy customers at destination or not-so-happy ones at the alternate (Porto in this case) as arrival at Lisbon coincided with a runway change and 10 min of controlled chaos.

Twisting & Turning

 The Spanish Rio Ebro (Mar de Aragon) and its crooked ways seen during the descent to Barcelona inbound from Funchal in A320 CS-TNN.

Zagreb Inspection

 The preflight inspection is an important part of flight preparation. It consists of visually checking the aircraft to ensure that all is as it should be. Here I was, doing just that to A320 CS-TQD at Zagreb before the flight to Lisbon. The yellow and black assembly connected to the airplane by a cable is called a Ground Power Unit (GPU). Its purpose is to provide electricity to parked airplanes. 

Venezia

 Beautiful Venice in North-Eastern Italy seen while cruising from Lisbon to Zagreb in A320 CS-TQD.

Flying Jellyfish

 Precipitation falling from Alto Cumulus clouds and evaporating long before reaching anywhere near the ground. This kind of precipitation is called Virga. These jellyfish looking clouds were photographed while cruising at FL370 from Luxembourg to Lisbon in A320 CS-TNI.

Low Cost Above

 EasyJet Airbus A319 2000ft above while cruising at FL350 from Luxembourg to Lisbon in A320 CS-TNI.

In the turn

 Turing traffic leaving a persistent contrail due to the cold upper atmosphere. We were in A321 CS-TJG flying from Zurich to Porto with 190 passengers on board.

Peaks through the Overcast

 The Pyranees poking through the layer of Strato Cumulus and glowing in the late afternoon Sun. A320 CS-TNR from Lisbon to Zurich.

Invicta

 The Portuguese city of Porto seen from FL380 while enroute from Lisbon to Brussels in A320 CS-TMW. Porto is also known as the "unbeaten" / "unconquered" city or Invicta in portuguese. The Douro river and its bridges are clearly visible as well as Porto airport (LPPR).

Wingtip Sunset

 A319 number 2 engine and right wing seen from door 1R. We had landed at Paris Orly just in time to catch a french sunset off the wingtip.  

Google Earth?

 High altitude fly-by south of Lisbon. We were flying at FL380 from Funchal to Madrid in A319 CS-TTH.

Roissy-CDG

 Paris' massive Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport seen from A319 CS-TTQ enroute from Dusseldorf to Lisbon.

Reflections

 The Mediterranean mirroring Earth's fully lit natural satellite while cruising at FL380 in A320 CS-TNL from Lisbon to Rome.