Category: The Points Guy

As an airline pilot, I’m fortunate to have one of the best office views in the world. Looking down from 43,000 feet gives you an appreciation of just how vast some countries are and how densely populated some cities have become. Traversing the expanses of northern Canada or the far reaches of Russia, you can go hours without … Continue reading The 10 most spectacular airport approaches from the cockpit →

Last year was tough for everyone, and it was especially tough for the aviation industry. Despite the fact that there were drastically fewer flights, aircraft accidents claimed more lives in 2020 than in 2019. Of the 40 reported accidents, five proved to be fatal. Tragically, 176 people were lost when a Ukrainian International Airlines Boeing … Continue reading How pilots keep their skills sharp during COVID-19 downtime →

“A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill.” This famous quote by aviation hero Frank Borman epitomises exactly what the job of an airline pilot is all about. It’s our job to use our knowledge and experience to assess the conditions around and ahead of … Continue reading Can pilots predict turbulence? →

Recent reports have highlighted the occurrence of “fume events” in aircraft. In the most extreme cases, pilots became disorientated and had to don emergency oxygen masks. Cabin crew and passengers reported feeling nauseous and dizzy. Between January 2018 and December 2019, 362 fume events were reported to NASA, with 400 crew and passengers requiring post-flight … Continue reading A pilot’s perspective on the ‘toxic fume events’ controversy →

This week, the Met Office has forecasted that there could be up to 25cm of snowfall across the U.K. in the days leading up to Christmas. Whilst the idea of a white Christmas would put a shine on what has been a thoroughly depressing year, for those of us flying aircraft, the snow provides a … Continue reading How pilots change their takeoff preparation when it snows →

For those of you who travel regularly, I get it. You’ve seen that safety video a million times. It’s not as funny as the airline thinks it is, you know where the doors are and you know how to put your mask on. You’d really rather be reading a magazine or sending an email and … Continue reading ‘Jump and slide!’ — 11 instructions you need to follow to survive an emergency →

As pilots, your safety is our first, second and third priority. Come to think of it, it’s probably our fourth priority, too. With that in mind, we take the physical condition of the aircraft extremely seriously. Before each flight, in addition to the checks the engineers complete, one of the pilots will always conduct an … Continue reading All you need to know about the pre-flight ‘walk-around’ →

Where would we be without apps on our phones and tablets? How would we stay in touch with people? When would we know what time it is to get up? How would we take photos? Admittedly these are somewhat tongue in cheek, but we can’t deny that having so much information available to us at the … Continue reading 7 apps airline pilots use to help with the job →

Last week saw Singapore Airlines resume its record-breaking flight between Singapore and New York. The 15,337-kilometre journey takes just over 18 hours on an A350-900, flying a route that can take it close to the North Pole. With such a long flight comes a number of challenges for the crew of four pilots. A heavyweight takeoff, some serious … Continue reading Singapore to New York: How pilots fly this epic 18-hour journey →

It’s universally accepted that wearing a mask reduces the spread of viruses. As I continue to visit countries around the world, it has become an anomaly when you see people not wearing masks. On an aircraft, the ventilation and airflow are better than any other enclosed spaces, on a par with an operating theatre. This, as … Continue reading Why pilots don’t have to wear masks when flying →