Southwest Airlines Community

Thanks-I meant to say autoland-having been on half a dozen flights autolanding iin CLT fog (I asked the flight deck crew to be certain each time) I really do know the difference. But to prove I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree: as a student pilot I wandered too far away one time and had to land in very dark twilight-couldn't remember how to turn on instrument lights in a 150. So I was striking matches-later found out 150's (at least at that time) had a low illum orange overhead light. So, yeah I've done many dumb things and sorry for the misstatement above ... View more

Hello Captain-a few years ago Airliner (?) magazine did an article about SWA getting the 737-700 and had some pics of a lady who was described as one of SWA's chief pilots at the controls. I could have sworn that the article said the planes were autopilot equipped, but that SWA policy was manual landing except in an emergency. Do I not remember correctly? When I was reading Captain Stark's entry a couple of months ago about being diverted to BWI and it still being dicey there I was wondering about that.............. ... View more

Hello Captain-I too feel the magic and am truly sorry for those who never even look out the window. In 1973 two friends and myself were doing day and a half presentations around the country. On this segment going to Denver we were on Eastern out of Atlanta and the same plane became Braniff in Memphis. Who can remember those days? Anyway, with a weekend to kill between Denver and San Francisco we decided to do Fri. and Sat. nites in Vegas. On Sun. afternoon the temperature posted on the Sands sign (do they still have that?) was 108. We were on a Hughes Air West (is that what those yellow planes were called?) DC9-10 and it was full. We had the longest takeoff rool I've ever experienced-I was really beginning to wonder if it would ever rotate. When we got to Frisco in about 1 1/2 hrs. it was 52 (this was in July) and we felt hypothermic. I believe that's the only time I've ever experienced that much of a temp. difference, much less than the difference in basic local culture, in such a short amount of time. It also makes me appreciate the more efficient and powerful engines we have now. ... View more

Captian Stark: Regarding your posting a couple of months ago about turbulance (how is this spelled?); anyway-if I had your email address I would relay to you my experience on the roughest flight I've ever been on (USAIrways 737 in November) and I've been on some rough flights, but nothing like this-I also have a couple of questions I believe you could do a good job of answering-would love to hear from you. ps I'm the responder who did the milage calculations-jf ... View more

It would take 34.25 SUV's-4 passengers each-driving app. 2600 miles. That would be 4452 gal. of fuel at 20 mpg. That's 32.5 gallons per passenger. The 737 w/ 137 (including crew?) would consume 3750 gal.of fuel (6.8 lbs per gallon). That's 27.37 gallons per passenger. Comparing the exact amount of fuel per mile would be interesting, but I would need to know the actual miles of the flight-not n. miles but road miles in the air. ... View more