“His landing was so smooth it made the computer look like a rookie!”
After my team’s success with the 2 A310 aircraft for BCAL, we were requested to do 3 more A310 deliveries for Cyprus Airways. Because our team had gained a lot of experience with this particular model, we quickly gained a good reputation and became highly sought after. Just to add some background here, the A310 was a notoriously difficult aircraft to maintain as it was one of the first aircraft with digital instruments and systems. So, for example, when there was a fault, instead of the readout being in English, it was given to us in binary code—nothing but 0s and 1s! We would have to copy the readouts and then refer to a binary maintenance manual to decipher the code! To make matters worse, these manuals were written in Franglais, which is half English and half French and were written poorly in both languages. Because of this, an entire team was created to translate the manuals and rewrite one in proper English and French. The documentation project was completed in preparation for the arrival of the A320 in 1987. The man in charge of this project was Bob Thomas, a good friend of mine from British Caledonian.
But that was the future, and no help to us back in 1984, so because of this binary enigma issue, I actually went on a course in Rochester, where the binary computers were made. During a presentation, they had the schematics up on a projector screen. After studying it for a while, I asked the course leader, “Why is it not in English?”
He looked at me quizzically for a moment before responding, ‘We don’t have the technical capabilities currently.’
I found that hard to accept, but I nodded and let him get back to his presentation. Something bothered me, though, and unwilling to let it go, I copied the schematics, and this was when I got my idea for my own test box. I went home and drew up my design. Once I had this, I went into the workshops and got the spares I needed to put it together. I then managed to get my test box officially approved by the workshop superintendent, which meant I could use it on the aircraft. I took my new kit on board one of the Cyprus Airways A310S we were working on and decided to test the slats and flaps. These are controlled by one computer, and it would only give you binary fault messages. My test box told you exactly what the fault was via a red or green light! This was the sort of ingenuity we were very used to! My device saved hours of work, which possibly added to the reason why my team and I were highly sought after back then!
I should have patented this, but I didn’t know any of the rules of copywriting at the time. So, I just kept it a secret and secreted it in stores, telling only my guys about it so they could use it whenever they needed. At the end of the day, people and machines need each other to function. We build them, and they help us achieve either wondrous or terrible things, but regardless, we must be in synergy for us to reach our collective maximum potential. The A310 was extremely advanced at the time, but it made the maintenance aspect, the human part of it, overly and unnecessarily complex. So I had to simplify it, using a more basic machine, custom-made by human hands.
This synergy that I speak of and believe in was validated in front of my eyes when it came to our first delivery flight for Cyprus Airways. The delivery process was the same as the BCAL ones, except for the pilot. The Cyprus Airways pilot was John (Jock) Cochrane, who, as I have mentioned in a previous blog, was the first officer on Concorde’s original test flight! Jock was an exceptional pilot who demonstrated his abilities to perfection. I have been on many flights with many different pilots, who range from the good to the bad and the ugly! Jock is by far the best of the best. His flight prep was unique; he always put on his cream, calf-skin gloves like an old-school aviator. All that was missing was the cap, scarf, and goggles! From the moment we left the delivery centre till we got back after the demonstration flight, it was nothing short of art. It was mesmerising to watch, such a gifted pilot making flying such a large plane look effortless. During the demonstration flight, Jock had to perform an automatic landing, which is where the computer systems land the plane instead of the pilot. This went well then, and as we rolled down the runway, instead of applying brakes, Jock resumed control and powered up to perform a go-around. Once back in the air, he did a circle of the airport before coming back in for a manual landing. The contrast between the automatic landing and Jock’s was staggering! His landing was so smooth it made the computer look like a rookie! He was in total control all the way down the runway, and at times it looked like he was barely touching the controls. This fully summarised his talent, and to this day, I have never experienced a smoother landing or met a more gifted pilot. Jock and the aircraft were working together in complete sync and harmony, better than the computer systems. Something I will never forget.
I always believe in teamwork, respect and that people come first. This applies to every facet of my life, whether professional or personal. This also includes the machines we work with. There must be respect, and we must be aware that the machines only do what we have taught them to. It is we who must be trained to know the capabilities and limitations of the magnificent things we have built to achieve synergy and progress. With the world pushing artificial, I like to focus on a different meaning of AI – Actual Intelligence!
If you would like to know more or book our services, then please get in touch via our contact page.
