Women's cockpit
Joanna Vechorek, Ivana Krzhanova, Katarzyna Goyny, Joanna Skalik and Stefan Malchevsky. Photo by M. Yasinskaya
Women are doing better and better in the tough aviation market. They work at airlines, at airports, on the boards of aircraft parts companies, helping to develop the business of aviation start-ups. The Feminine Approach to Piloting – Joanna Wieczorek, a Dentons new aviation technology lawyer with the Wieczorek Flying Team, told the pilots who work daily at LOT Polish Airlines.
Katarzyna Goynin
I started my flying adventure with a Cessna 152. I got a PPL raid on this plane. Then he flew on different planes, incl. PS-28 Cruiser, Morane Rallye, Piper PA-28 Arrow, Diamond DA20 Katana, An-2, PZL-104 Wilga, Tecnam P2006T twin engine, thus acquiring various aviation experience. I had the opportunity to tow gliders and make cross-country flights from flying club airports to controlled airports. It is worth noting that general aviation aircraft are not usually equipped with an autopilot. Therefore, the pilot controls the aircraft all the time, also corresponds with the dispatcher and goes to the selected point. This may be a problem in the beginning, but during training we learn all these activities.
Joanna Skalick
In Poland, Cessna 152s are most often flown with traditional aircraft instruments, in the US I have used Glass Cockpit equipped Diamond DA-40s and DA-42s, which definitely resemble modern communications aircraft.
On one of my first flights, I heard a taunt from the instructor: do you know that women can't fly? So I had to prove to him that they could.
While spending a lot of time at the Częstochowa airport and preparing for the line exams, I met my husband, who showed me a completely different aviation - sports competitions and flying for pure pleasure. I found that flying like this makes me better and better.
I got a very valuable raid thanks to the aviation marksmanship and rally competitions where you use a map, accurate clocks and basic instruments on the plane.
And the route, which takes about an hour and a half, must be completed with an accuracy of plus or minus a second! In addition, it is technically correct to land on a line 2 m long.
Ivan Krzhanov
The raid was mainly in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. My flights with General Aviation were mostly Diamond (DA20 Katana, DA40 Star). This is a Tecnames-like aircraft used by the Lot Flight Academy. I think this is a good aircraft in terms of aviation takeoff: simple, economical, with good aerodynamic properties. I must admit that if I had to fly a Cessna, it would be my favorite aircraft. When I started training, I did not notice that my colleagues discriminated against me, on the contrary, I felt their difference and could count on camaraderie. Occasionally, at small airports, I met people who were shocked by the sight of a girl. refueling katana. Now I am an equal partner at work. I also often fly with female captains - Kasya Goyny and Asia Skalik. The female crews, however, are a big surprise.
Joanna Vechorek: You all fly the Embraer, which I personally love to fly as a passenger and if I were to become a pilot I would like it to be my first type. I have posters of his Federal Migration Service hanging in my apartment, a gift from the pilot's brother. This is a beautiful aircraft of Brazilian technological thought with a designer cockpit - you might be tempted to say that it was created with a woman in mind. What makes it especially easy to work and everyday flights?
Katarzyna Goynin
The Embraer 170/190 aircraft that I fly is distinguished primarily by the fact that it is ergonomic and highly automated. It has state-of-the-art systems such as the Fly-by-Wire System, the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and a system such as Autoland, which allows landing in difficult weather conditions with limited visibility. A high level of automation and system integration facilitates the pilot's work, but does not eliminate the so-called. "Monitoring", that is, systems management. System malfunction requires pilot intervention. circumstance we train on simulators.
Joanna Skalick
Embraer is a very thoughtful aircraft, communicates well with the crew, one might say, extremely intuitive and "friendly to the pilot." Flying on it is a pleasure! Every detail has been thought out to the smallest detail: the information is displayed very clearly; copes well in crosswind conditions, the aircraft has many useful features, takes a lot of work from the pilot. For the passenger, it is also extremely comfortable - the 2 by 2 seating system ensures a comfortable journey.
Ivan Krzhanov
Not all passengers in Europe have had the opportunity to fly Embraer, as Boeing and Airbus remain the most popular European airlines, but at LOT Embraer is a mainstay for European routes. I personally like this plane, it is both convenient for pilots and for women.
The synergy of the cockpit, the layout of the systems and their automation are at a very high level. The notion of a so-called "dark and quiet cockpit", meaning the correct operation of the systems (manifested by the absence of visual and audible warnings and the setting of the switches to the "at 12:00" position), makes the pilot's job pleasant.
The Embraer is designed for short to medium haul flights and can take off and land at smaller airports. Just like Asia, you correctly noted that this is an ideal aircraft for the so-called. rating of the first type, which is the first type after entering the row.
Joanna Vechorek: How often do you train on simulators? Can you disclose what situations are being considered, practiced with instructors? Both Embraer's head of fleet, Instructor Captain Dariusz Zawłocki, and board member Stefan Malczewski say the women perform exceptionally well on the simulator because they naturally pay more attention to procedures and details.
Katarzyna Goynin
Training sessions are held twice a year. We do a line proficiency test (LPC) once a year and every time we do an operator proficiency test (OPC). During the LPC, we have an exam that extends the so-called "Type Rating" for Embraer aircraft, i.e. we are extending the rating period required by aviation regulations. The OPC is an exam conducted by the operator, i.e. the airline. For one training session, we have two sessions on the simulator for four hours each. Before each session, we also have a briefing with the instructor, which discusses the elements that we will practice during the session on the simulator. What are we practicing? Various situations, mostly emergency, such as aborted takeoff, flight and landing with one engine inoperative, missed approach procedures, and others. In addition, we also practice landing approaches and landings at airports where there are special procedures and where the crew must first undergo simulator training. After each lesson, we also conduct a debriefing, where the instructor discusses the course of the simulator session and evaluates the pilots. In addition to simulator sessions, we also have the so-called Line Check (LC) - an exam conducted by an instructor during a cruise with passengers.
Joanna Skalick
Classes on the simulator are held 2 times a year - 2 sessions of 4 hours. Thanks to this, we can teach emergency procedures that cannot be learned during everyday flight. Sessions have basic elements such as engine failure and fire or single engine approach; and malfunctions of individual aircraft systems, etc. "Pilot incapacitation". Each session is well thought out and requires the pilot to make decisions, and often allows discussions with the instructor about the best decisions (there are 3 people in the session - the captain, officer and instructor as a supervisor).
Ivan Krzhanov
This year, after joining the airline, I flew a simulator that was part of the type rating. It was 10 lessons of 4 hours on a certified flight simulator. It is during these sessions that the pilot learns all the routine and non-routine procedures on the type of aircraft he will be flying. Here we also learn cooperation in the crew, which is the basis. There is no denying that my first simulator was an amazing experience for me. Practicing all the procedures I've read about in manuals so far, testing myself in emergencies, testing if I can keep up with XNUMXD logic in practice. Most often, the pilot has to deal with the failure of one engine, emergency landing, depressurization of the cabin, failures of various systems and fire on board. For me, the most interesting thing was to work out the landing with smoke actually appearing in the cockpit. The simulator concludes with an examination during which the pilot must demonstrate his competence in real flights. The examiners are strict, but this is a guarantee of safety.
I remember my first simulator with tears in my eyes, as the experience of my life in beautiful Jordan in Amman. Now I will have more smaller machines - the standard is 2 per year. The life of a pilot is one of constant learning and learning about new procedures and their implementation in this rapidly changing industry.
Joanna Vechorek: All my interlocutors, except for the strength of character and great aviation knowledge, are also beautiful young women. How does a female pilot balance home and work? Is love possible in this profession and can a female pilot fall in love with a non-flying partner?
Joanna Skalick
Our jobs involve long hours, a few nights a month away from home, and "suitcase living," but thanks to the ability to "plan together," my husband and I spend most of our weekends together, which helps a lot. We also fly sports from April to September, which means that we are on the plane almost every day - at work or during training and competitions, preparing for the World Cup, which is taking place in South Africa this year. After all, representing Poland is a huge responsibility, we must do our best. Flying is a huge part of our lives and we don't want to give up even the slightest opportunity to take to the air. Of course, in addition to flying, we also find time to go to the gym, squash, movies or cook food, which is my next passion, but requires good time management. I believe that it is not difficult for a person who wants it and I am not looking for excuses. I do not want to confirm the stereotype that a woman does not fit the profession of a pilot. Nonsense! You can combine a happy home with a job as a pilot, all you need is a lot of enthusiasm.
When I met my husband, I was already taking line exams - thanks to the fact that he is also a pilot, he realized how important this stage is in my life. After I started working for LOT Polish Airlines, my husband, who was still a sports flyer, got an airline license and also started his career in aviation communications. Of course, the topic of aviation is the main topic of conversation at home, we can share our thoughts about work and flying in competitions. I think thanks to this we create a well-coordinated team and understand our needs.
