That guy has a rather strange sense of humor. If you’re going to draw a 737 and joke about the pilots falling asleep, try not to do it just days after a couple of (quite likely) fatigued pilots crash a 737-800 with 62 souls. Maybe tomorrow’s comic will be about Brussels?
Do you have any idea how long ahead of their publication date comics are created?
Anywhere from an hour or two to a couple of weeks I would imagine. Since he self publishes on-line, a simple comic like that one is probably closer to the former. Also, since he self publishes, he can rearrange things with no notice.
So, no one else thought, “panicked dives to avoid Venus”? Huh.
Unless, of course, some major in-flight problem develops and they Need Answer Fast!
This sounds to me like a euphemistic way of saying Highway Hypnosis.
Looks more like an Airbus to me. Obviously it’s really a generic airliner. Nowadays damn near everything in production has two underwing engines.
The text of what the pilot was supposedly saying did mention “Boeing”, that’s the only reason I narrowed it down to the 737. As far as I know there’s no other Boeing twin with underslung engines that looks like an impregnated guppy!
Granted, in the comic the pilot supposedly wasn’t “sure” if it was a Boeing. But even half-asleep, I think he’d notice that his yoke was missing.
By the way- (mentioned up-thread) Until I read that here, I never heard of an airline forbidding reading company/FAA materials in cruise. Those two guys that overflew MSP a few years back used the excuse that they were busy going over their bids, so obviously that was kosher with NWA at the time (R.I.P.). I think “something else” was going on in that cockpit, but that’s another matter.
I guess newspapers are out at your airline too then? Seems FOs like newspapers. Not for reading, but for placing them against the windscreen. Can’t have that glare, you know. I guess the sun prevents them from sleeping!
We have a laminated A4 card with take-off and go-around engine power settings on it that makes a good sunshield. The problem is that I’ve got a tinted visor that I can position in front of my windows to keep the sun of me, and FO Bloggs has a visor that they can position in front of their windows to keep the sun off them, but if the sun is coming through Bloggs’ windows into MY eyes then we need another solution; enter the laminated A4 card.
Reading real newspapers has become unfashionable.
Great thread and a question I’ve wondered from time to time at 30,000 feet too.
I figured the pilots weren’t up there playing Fallout Shelter on an iPad or leafing their way slowly through some doorstop of a book, but even so - when flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, there’s 12 hours of water and pretty much nothing else so it’s interesting to know what they’re doing besides looking for amusing and/or rude shapes in the clouds 
Missed this earlier.
They probably had the VHF 1 button selected instead of the PA button. Result is that what they said was transmitted to the in use ATC frequency rather than the people in the back of the aeroplane.
Sometimes a pilot does this when making their PA. Some pilots are anal about NOT saying their names in a PA just to avoid being identified if they broadcast to the world.
I can’t recall ever hearing anything but “This is your Captain speaking.”
Somewhere there must be a collection of goofy PA’s from the flight deck…
ETA: (Want to change the subject from 9/11 right quick.)
“This is your captain speaking; there is no cause for alarm. Thank you…” <end transmission>
Well, search “goofy announcements pilot airliner” and airliners.net is there: Airliners.net - Aviation Forums
They try to limit it to pilot announcements, not steward announcements, which is not what I’m looking for here…
Two I’ve heard of, but didn’t hear myself:
“If you’re traveling with a small child, or a business associate who just acts like one, please help him with his breathing mask after you’ve secured your own.”
“Aeronautical science has once again triumphed over irrational fear, and we have safely arrived at our destination.”
Depends on who you are and/or where you work. My company introduces the crew as part of the cabin crew PA but I also mention my name and my off-sider’s as part of the flight crew PA. I think most do this but I don’t get a chance to listen to many.
I heard on a WestJet flight: “Anyone caught smoking in-flight will be asked to leave the plane immediately.”
Do pilots ever mingle with the civilians for chit chat? Seems harmless enough, but I’m sure enough bad scenarios can be surmised that airline policy comes down against it.
Post-9-11, I think they’re encouraged (required?) to stay in the cockpit unless they have to use the bathroom.
I’ve always enjoyed these aircraft maintenance jokes, too: Funny.com