Legendary Captain

On the runway, Star Tour 6533 aligned with the center line, and Zhu Jia reported to the control tower: "Star Tour 6533, ready."

"Star Travel 6533, ground wind 250/03, runway 21 cleared for takeoff." The control tower then issued takeoff clearance.

"Runway 21, ready for takeoff, Star Travel 6533!" Zhu Jia repeated.

After replying to the control tower, Zhu Jia confirmed the takeoff order with Fang Ying: "Takeoff is complete!"

"Takeoff clearance in!" Fang Ying said, his right hand scanning the speed brake handle, parking brake, flap handle, and pressurization panel. After confirming everything was correct, he said, "Configuration is fine! Let's go!"

Xu Xian didn't sit idle either; he tried to understand the meaning behind each of the captain's actions, so that he could truly improve.

Fang Ying double-checked the speed brake handle, the parking brake, and the flap handle positions. These actions were all to prevent takeoff configuration errors that could trigger a takeoff status warning. If a takeoff status warning sounded, he would lose a stripe on his epaulettes, so Fang Ying was quite cautious about these crucial steps.

As for the pressurization configuration, it should be related to the altitude of Dianyungang Airport. Dianyungang Airport is nearly 7,000 feet high, which means that if the pressurization panel is not set correctly, the crew only has a reaction time of 3,000 feet.

At an altitude of 3,000 feet, the high climb rate during takeoff doesn't actually take long.

When operating at high-altitude airports like Yunnan Airport, extra attention must be paid to pressurization. Unlike airports on flat ground where there is often a margin of 10,000 feet, the time available for the crew to handle pressurization issues at high-altitude airports is very short.

It was based on this consideration that Fang Ying conducted a second check before takeoff.

It must be said that Fang Ying's character is not very good, but his attitude towards flying is quite rigorous.

Fang Ying pushed the accelerator to 40% N1 and waited for the thrust to slowly increase. After a few seconds, the thrust finally stabilized at 40%.

"Stable!" Zhu Jia began his standard announcement.

Fang Ying pressed the TO/GA switch and shouted, "Adjust takeoff thrust!"

With the TO/GA switch pressed, the aircraft thrust automatically increases to takeoff thrust, up to a value of 90.6.

Once N1 stabilized at takeoff thrust, Zhu Jia reported: "Takeoff thrust set, 90.6!"

"examine!"

The plane began to gradually accelerate until it reached the crucial decision speed of eighty knots, at which point Zhu Jia shouted again, "Eighty!"

Shortly after the aircraft's speed exceeded 80 knots, the autothrottle mode on the FMA was switched to THR HLD.

Noticing this change, Zhu Jia reported the change in FMA mode: "Maintain thrust!"

Fang Ying responded, "Cross-check!"

As the aircraft continued to increase its speed, with only two to three knots remaining before reaching V1 speed, Zhu Jia shouted, "V1!"

After reaching V1 speed, Fang Ying replied, "Take off!"

At the same time, Fang Ying released his right hand from the accelerator lever, maintaining a two-handed grip on the steering wheel.

V1 speed is the decision speed. Once it exceeds V1, even if problems such as a fire alarm or engine failure occur, the pilot must still take off. This is because the remaining runway length may not guarantee the aircraft's braking distance.

"Speed ​​Vr!" Zhu Jia shouted softly, "Lift the wheels!"

The moment Zhu Jia shouted "Raise the wheel!", Fang Ying quickly and steadily completed the initial pitching maneuver, and then maintained a relatively uniform speed to raise the aircraft's attitude to fifteen degrees.

This initial pitch-up maneuver is the most challenging for a pilot's dexterity. Pitching up too quickly can trigger a high pitch rate warning, while pitching up too slowly can result in a high initial climb rate warning. Pilots must find a balance between the speed and deliberation required for the pitch-up.

Moreover, this balance point is not fixed; it changes depending on the wind direction and speed, as well as the runway conditions. Therefore, "one minute on stage requires ten years of practice off stage." A large part of the co-pilot training involves mastering the levers for lifting the wheels and leveling the ground.

For someone of Xu Xian's caliber, the difference between "quick wheel lift" and "slow wheel lift" is not even a precise distinction; he only has a general impression. Therefore, it's understandable that the co-pilot's wheel lift level fluctuates.

This skill requires practice to improve gradually; there are no shortcuts. Of course, nothing is absolute, and there might be some exceptionally gifted individuals who can achieve this.

After the aircraft took off, the altitude indicator showed a positive rate of ascent, and Zhu Jia immediately reported, "Positive ascent!"

"Retract the wheel!" After Fang Ying gave the command, and Zhu Jia shouted "400 feet", he activated the A channel for automatic driving.

The moment the autopilot was engaged, Fang Ying selected the roll mode of the heading selection and turned right at a heading of 235 degrees.

"Not a standard departure?" Xu Xian wondered. If it were a standard departure, the roll should be in a horizontal navigation mode.

According to the position chart, at this point, the course should be maintained at track 235, not heading 235! Because of the wind, track and heading are two completely different concepts. The stronger the crosswind, the greater the deviation between track and heading.

Previously on the ground, Xu Xian was unaware of the departure procedures because he was supervising refueling. And because of Zhu Jia's warning, Xu Xian didn't specifically inquire about the departure procedures.

However, the departure procedure had been cross-checked by Zhu Jia and Fang Ying, so there shouldn't be any errors. Xu Xian was just curious about exactly what kind of departure would be granted.

"Star Travel 6533, contact number 124.05, goodbye!"

Zhu Jia replied: "Approaching 124.05, Star Travel 6533, Goodbye!"

After VHF 124.05, Zhu Jia did not immediately contact the approach team. Instead, after realizing the altitude had exceeded one thousand feet, he first reminded Fang Ying: "One thousand feet!"

"Alright! One thousand feet, N1 mode!" Fang Ying pressed the N1 button on the MCP board, and immediately, the automatic throttle mode displayed in FMA mode changed to N1.

After verifying that the automatic throttle mode had changed to N1, Zhu Jia confirmed, "N1 mode is available, check!"

After that, the plane turned to heading 235. Fang Ying did not leave it alone, but began to refine the track. Later, at heading 238, the track was fixed at 235.

As expected! We still have to fly track 235!

While Fang Ying was making these moves, Zhu Jia calmly contacted the approaching officer: "Approaching officer, Star Travel 6533, takeoff on the 21st."

"Star Travel 6533, radar detected. Maintain track 235 and ascend to 2100 meters!" the approach commander ordered.

"Ascend to altitude 2100 meters, maintain track 235, Star Travel 6533!"

After responding to the approach instructions, Zhu Jia did not immediately relay the approach instructions, but instead stated another altitude: "1500 feet!"