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Oxford Dictionary:
about prep. & adv. 1 concerning. 2 approximately. 3 surrounding. 4 in circulation.
1. Concerning
Concerning me, I am a freelance aviation journalist / author for SP’s Airbuz, the only exclusive civil aviation magazine in India. I also am an aerospace designer, and a flight simulator instructor. I was formerly employed with Honeywell, but now completely on my own.
In 2011, I developed and installed 5 Boeing 767-type fixed base flight simulators, intended for systems training for its designers / developers working on aerospace products. I was also part of a program which attempts to bridge the gap between engineers and modern avionics and airliner systems.
My focus of more than a decade has seen me at airline dispatch, airport facilities (NDB, VOR, ILS, Radars, and ATC), aircraft maintenance, airline training (simulator centres using CAE and Thompson Level-C FFS), avionics system development, teaching (aircraft systems), and aircraft system design.
Previously used to blog at http://theflyingengineer.blogspot.com/. For want of my own space a professional formatting, I have moved here.
2. Approximately
Everything technical in aviation. But strong focus on:
- Aircraft Performance and Economy
- Flight Deck Design & Technology
- Human factors (Crew Resource Management)
- Avionics and Systems.
- Airline Training & Operations.
3. Surrounding
Surrounded by pilots rated on the Airbus A300/A320/A321/A330, ATR 42/72, Boeing 727/737-ORG-CL-NG/757/767/777, Bombardier Q400, and more. Most of everyone I know are in aviation, be it pilots, engineers, designers, manufacturers, directors, Air Traffic Controllers or…just anyone.
Always surrounded by airplanes.
4. In Circulation
In circulation are my videos, my articles, & my training material.
Published Articles:
Instrument Landing System
My first, detailed, technical article on the ILS and its use. Took the inputs of many pilots, while also capitalizing on my first hand experience on the system. From the radio waves to the approach plates, very comprehensive. Read Here, on page 14
Beach Landing
Imagine landing airplanes on the soft sands of a beach! That too in India. By actively participating and helping with the NAL sponsored event, here is a first hand description of an unusual general aviation event in India. Read Here, on page 28
Airbus A320
Experienced first hand a flight in the cockpit of an A320 from Jakarta to Surabaya. I even switched on my Garmin GPS to cross check the accuracy of the on-board navigation systems. Ofcourse, only the serious experience was published. Read Here, on page 24
Very High Frequency Omnirange
No article ever can deliver to you in lucid language the intimate details of a VOR. First hand experience and an eye for technical detail gives you the much needed details in one single article. Ready to understand this marvelous technical aid? Read Here, on page 27
Simulator Training
My first hand experience in an Airbus A320 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) Line Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) session with Kingfisher Airlines reveals much about training in an airline. There is a reason and history behind every emergency scenario. What are they? This juicy article will keep you hooked. Read Here, on page 13
Flight School : IGRUA
On an invitation to IGRUA by the Director, Air Marshal (retd) Verma, I set out from Banglore to Rae Barelli to see what I had heard so much about. Through these portals truly pass some of the finest in the world. Why? Read Here, on page 20
Interview, Marcel Hungerbuehler
In an interview of the then CEO of Bangalore International Airport, a German with rich aviation experience, I explore some of his, and his team’s thought processes that have made BIAL what it is today. Read Here, on page 18
Flying a Turboprop
My best research article ever. The most comprehensive comparison of the ATR72 and the Q400, the two best selling turboprop aircraft in the world. With inputs from the manufacturers, and six pilots who fly the type, no other article can be as comprehensive and as unbiased. The conclusion is left to the reader, but the simple take away: One aircraft is all about economy, while the other about performance. Want to know more about these marvelous air chopping birds? Read Here, on page 24
A320’s Sharklets
An article that analyses Airbus’ winglets:”Sharklets”. Despite mired in a legal battle regarding the design, this wintip addition can save airlines loads of fuel. This article also descrivbes the evolution of winglets, and the major players. Read Here, on page 15
Iran Air 727: Nose gear up landing
An Iran Air 727 landed without the nose wheel extended. The landing was a piece of art, and is a reflection of great CRM and good training. Read more to understand the pilot’s perspective: written after interviewing the very captain who pulled off the feat!. Read Here, on page 21
NFTI: A flight school that promises flying jobs
An article on the newly founded CAE-National Flying Training Institute, NFTI, located at Gondia, Maharastra. This school came under flak from its students, for low flying hours and apparently being “kicked” out of the hostels when the 17 month hostel contract came to an end. Despite this, the Indigo-cadet pilot program that is offered gives a student pilot the greatest chance of landing wit a flying job, that too, with one of India’s best managed airlines. Read Here, on page 35
Videos of mine worth a mention:
General Aviation Flight Simulator
A flight simulator which was developed by myself, and few very skilled people.
IGRUA
The first ever video on IGRUA. It was an honor to make this.
The Beauty of Flying
My first video on my heartthrob: commercial aviation. Was originally made for India Aviation 2008 in my younger days, but later realized that business and passion are not always like alcohol and water.
Want to share something on aviation? Get in touch, at: TheFlyingEngineer[at]gmail[dot]com
Disclaimer: The views contained herein are solely the views of aviation professionals, and myself, and DO NOT represent the views of my employer in any which way. The content of this blog is base don the author’s rich personal experience and high quality private research.
The Flying Engineer 
Hello,
I am Communications Management student in Singapore. As a part of out course study, we are required to do a lot of analysis and case studies on market strategy of Boeing vs Airbus. Besides, there are a lot of other case studies related to aviation (sometimes I wonder if the course should be re-named as Aviation Management). I came across your blog during a google search and I have got hooked to it. I must say, it is very informative, the figures are well presented. Typically coming from an IT background, I had no much knowledge about planes and aviation companies. Your writings have helped me immensely to get an insight of the aviation sector. What’s more, I have quoted a couple of examples from your blog during my class lectures 🙂
Keep up with the good work!!
Thank you, Kakoli! I’m soon coming out with an Airbus vs Boeing analysis: let me know if I can help! 🙂
Would love to get your inputs. It would help me immensely. Looking forward to it.
Hello, the Flying Engineer, and thanks for the nice words.
I came upon your blog via FlightBlogger’s Twitter page. Well done on an informative, fascinating, and passionate site. A find for plane crazy people like me!
Hello TFE,
I’d posted a comment on your old blog page and then realized you’d moved, so here goes again:
I’m a 21 year old engineering student fresh out of college. I’d postponed my dream to fly straight out of school to get an engineering degree but here I am finding it difficult thanks to my eyesight.
My myopia has been at 4.75 and 5.00 for the past 4 years and although this may be on the line for the DGCA medicals most airlines won’t give me a second look. Airlines’ rules on laser surgery aren’t discussed openly either.
Flying is all I’ve known since I was a kid and I’ve been knee-deep in everything from SIDs and STARs to NDB approaches and approach plates on flight sim, so you’d probably understand when I say I’d be lost if I couldn’t fly for a living.
My humble requests to you, sir:
1. To help me find out, considering I have a valid class 1, if I could possibly fly for an airline in India with or without laser eye surgery, whichever company that may be, whichever birds they may be flying.
2. If not, to maybe give me some advice on where I could fly, because I’d fly Maule Orions out of Mozambique if thats what it came down to. (Just trying to make a point of course 🙂 )
Thanks for your advice, in advance.
P.S: Hope you can relate to the way my mind works, as far as the flying craze is concerned.
Hello Varshan,
The eye-power doesn’t matter as far as DGCA is concerned. They only need vision to be correctable to 6/6. I do have a good friend who flies as a first officer for Spicejet’s 737s, and he has -5 Diopters (or simply -5) on both eyes. It would be best if you check with the specific airline by requesting an airline pilot to ask his company doctor on your behalf.
As far as LASIK is concerned, you may wish to read this: http://dgca.nic.in/medical/med-rule-ind.htm
You definitely need not consider flying out of Mozambique, though I must say that it would land up being more exciting than flying the same airline sector many days on end!
Thanks for the timely reply, TFE!
If that is the case it may be the bit of good news I was hoping for. My class-2 examiner advised me to go get LASIK before attending the class-1’s though and I’m not sure why. Maybe he was talking about the airline’s in-house medicals. Will find out about Mozambique as well. 🙂
Thanks again!
Good work Mr.Vasuki. I enjoyed every bit of TFE. Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
dear madam/sir
thank you for advance information
am currently instructor of ATR72 with more than 10000hrs experiense
Vasuki Prasad,
I couldn’t find your contact info on the business card, but I have spent almost 2-3 hours on the website today. I loved it. The whole page is spacious, has great content to Learn, almost contain many of the crucial and vast information one can learn from the webpage. I am glad we met the other day and exchanged pleasantries. If you would want pictures from the Air Show, you can feel free to contact me on facebook.
See ya
Pulkesin K Tiiwary
Keep Up the good work mate.. Godspeed
Great work Mr. Vasuki.! your achievements and your vision of Indian Aviation. I am A320 TR DGCA CPL holder from Bangalore.
I would like to come and meet you one day. Cheers!
We must! 🙂
I came across your page and site, through FB. Impressed with your “solo” efforts & enthusiasm towards enhancing sharing aviation information.
I am based in Surat, Gujarat and am actively campaigning for domestic & international air connectivity through FB.
I feel Surat has lot of potential to offer as far as Aviation is concerned as it is at a very an infant stage. Check it out yourself and see if you find anything that appeals you or your talent can offer the city. Get in touch. Till then happy flying…!!
Sure! For one whole month I am flying with the Election Commission, across Karnataka, banner towing. See you soon once done 🙂