What does it mean when a pilot says they are pumpkins?

What does it mean when a pilot says they are pumpkins? It means the pilots can no longer serve as useful crewmembers any more, as they passed the point of legally dispatching a flight, hence they are now as good as pumpkins for the purpose of air transportation.

How do you say yes in pilot?

Affirm: Contrary to popular belief, pilots do not say “affirmative” when they mean yes – the correct term is affirm, pronounced “AY-firm.”

Why do pilots wear orange?

Pilots and flight crews use several colors of flight suit. NASA crews, for example, wear blue flight suits as a sort of functional dress uniform during training. The orange suits that they wear during launch and re-entry/landing are designed for high visibility, should there be an emergency recovery.

What do you say to pilots for good luck?

A common way to wish a pilot a good flight is to say Have a safe flight! or Wishing you a smooth takeoff and landing.

What does 4 lines on pilot mean?

Captain. An airline Captain always has four stripes on their sleeves and epaulets. This signals they are in charge of the flight and responsible for the passengers and crew.

How do pilots introduce themselves?

How do pilots introduce themselves? Ladies and gentlemen, good morning / afternoon / evening. Welcome on board (flight reference). This is Captain / Co-pilot (your name) speaking and I have some information about our flight.

What do pilots say when they are in trouble?

Transmit a distress or urgency message consisting of as many as necessary of the following elements, preferably in the order listed: If distress, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAY-DAY; if urgency, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN. Name of station addressed. Aircraft identification and type.

Why do pilots say 5 by 5?

The phrase five by five can be used informally to mean good signal strength or loud and clear. An early example of this phrase was in 1946, recounting a wartime conversation.

How do pilots see at night?

At night pilots will turn their gaze from outside to inside and use the artificial horizon. The artificial horizon is normally a simply globe split into two hemispheres. Using this instrument, the pilot can determine whether the aircraft is in a climb, a dive, or rolling.

Do pilots lose control during turbulence?

Severe turbulence can cause a plane to drop so suddenly that pilots temporarily lose control. But, again, that's not enough to crash the plane. That's not to say it's never happened.

Why do pilots say blue?

The callout from the pilots like LOC blue serves to remind themselves of the current flight guidance modes, and to maintain awareness of mode changes. This is also to ensure that their mental idea of what the aircraft will do next is up to date and fits to the current flight situation.

What do pilots say when there is turbulence?

When turbulence is anticipated or suddenly encountered, the Captain will turn on the FASTEN SEATBELT sign. If turbulence is severe, the Captain will make an announcement “Flight Attendants please be seated”. Immediately discontinue service and return to your jumpseat or sit in the nearest available seat.

What are some pilot sayings?

Why do planes drop suddenly?

When an aircraft experiences turbulence, the plane can drop or change altitude suddenly. This is why pilots always caution passengers to buckle up and stay seated when they are experiencing flight turbulence. The sudden movements put passengers at risk.

Can turbulence bring a plane down?

Severe turbulence can cause a plane to drop so suddenly that pilots temporarily lose control. But, again, that's not enough to crash the plane. That's not to say it's never happened. In 1966, human error and turbulence combined to bring a plane down over Mount Fuji.

Do pilots know when turbulence is coming?

While pilots can't actually see turbulence, they often know what is coming up, thanks to reports from other planes, weather reports, and radar equipment. However, clear air turbulence (severe turbulence occurring in cloudless areas) can sometimes catch pilots off guard.

Why do pilots say heavy?

The word heavy means a larger aircraft type, with a Maximum Takeoff Weight of 160 tonnes or more. These aircraft create wake turbulence from their wings and require extra separation between following aircraft, and the use of heavy reminds other pilots of that fact.