Preparing the airplane and crew for flight

People who are familiar with aviation only as passengers often imagine the beginning of a flight in a very simplistic way: pilots get into the airplane, start the engine and the ship soars into the sky. In reality, everything is much more complicated. Preparing for a flight is a multi-stage and responsible process that involves more people than are directly on board. Not only crew members, but also the airplane itself is prepared for the flight.

At Centrum Air, this process is strictly regulated: every detail - from technical condition checks to route preparation - is under the control of specialists who ensure the safety and accuracy of each flight.

Preparing the airplane

The work starts when passengers are just arriving at the airport to check-in. Several services are responsible for preparation - airfield, technical, security and catering.

Aerodrome Service

One of the main tasks of this unit is to inspect the runway and tidy it up:

• clear the snow in winter;

• thoroughly dry in the off-season;

• remove stones and other foreign objects.

The airplane is refueled with fuel, which is cleaned, prepared in advance and undergoes a special check, as well as nitrogen and oxygen mixture, water - both potable and technical. Upon completion of these activities, the airliner, which is parked, is towed to the runway.

Technical Service

There are quite a lot of specialists in the technical division, each of them has their own duties, because the tasks of this service are many:

• remove all covers from the aircraft and stow them in the airplane;

• inspect the wings, fuselage, plumage to make sure there are no breaks and damage;

• inspect and check the engine, landing gear, hatches, doors and other parts;

• test the operation of all on-board equipment systems.

If any damage or malfunctions are found, the airplane is removed from the flight and the flight is either canceled or replaced by another machine. The inspection of the aircraft involves members of not only the technical service, but also the security service. The crew commander is also involved.

Security service

All pre-flight activities, including engine inspection, runway preparation, etc., are supervised by the security unit.

The most important task is to make sure that no dangerous items are brought on board. Security personnel inspect an empty airplane to make sure that no foreign objects are on board. Equally scrutinized is anything that comes on board:

• cargo;

• mail;

• in-flight meals;

• magazines, plaids, and other items necessary to serve the passengers.

Of course, the security unit also inspects passengers, their luggage and hand luggage, but this is a separate task that goes beyond the preparation of the airplane as such.

Catering

Catering on board is an important component of comfort during the flight, especially if the journey takes several hours. On Centrum Air flights, beverages are always available to passengers: water, carbonated drinks, tea or coffee are offered. A full hot meal is served on all flights, except local flights. And when departing from any city of Uzbekistan, traditional Uzbek pilaf awaits guests.

In-flight catering services work round the clock. Just before the flight the food is loaded, which is delivered with the help of a special elevator. Then it is reloaded onto special carts and delivered on board through a special door. When loading is completed, the food is checked for various parameters, including completeness, quantity and expiration dates.

Crew preparation

Parallel to the preparation of the aircraft for flight is the work of the crew - a process no less complex and multifaceted. Pre-flight training begins long before arrival at the airport. According to the established norms, the crew must have at least 12 hours of rest. This is a necessary condition for the flight to be performed in conditions of maximum concentration and attention.

Receipt of documentation

Approximately three hours before departure, while still at home, pilots and flight attendants receive a full package of documents for the upcoming flight via a special iPad app. This includes the flight assignment, general declarations (for international flights), flight plan, up-to-date weather reports and NOTAMs.

NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) are official operational messages that contain information that can directly affect the safety and planning of a flight. They provide information about temporary or permanent changes in airfield and airspace operations: runway closures or repairs, navigation equipment malfunctions, route restrictions, military exercises, new drone flight zones or changes in airspace crossing rules.

These notifications help pilots adjust flight plans in advance and be prepared for potential changes. For example, if a part of an air route is temporarily closed, the crew should choose a bypass route, and if the landing system is restricted - calculate spare fuel and clarify the possibility of using an alternative airfield. In this way, NOTAM plays a key role in ensuring the safety and accuracy of the flight.

Crew briefing

Two and a half hours before departure, the crew gathers in the briefing room at the airline's office. The pilots jointly determine the required amount of fuel, study weather forecasts at departure, destination and alternate airports, and analyze the NOTAM along the route. Based on this data, a decision is made whether to perform the flight or to postpone it.

At the same time, a senior flight attendant holds a separate briefing with the crew, assigns jobs, reminds them of the tasks for the upcoming flight and checks their knowledge of safety rules. After that, the aircraft commander holds a general briefing with the senior flight attendant, briefs him/her on the key information about the flight, and checks the personal documents and security clearances of the entire crew.

Personal inspection

Once the briefing is complete, the crew proceeds to the airport. Here they undergo a mandatory security check, customs clearance and border crossing. This procedure applies not only to passengers, but also to all crew members, including pilots and flight attendants. Such checks are particularly important when crews rotate or when changing onboard personnel, as they ensure that aviation security requirements are met without exception.

Departure to the field

Approximately 1-1.5 hours before departure, the crew arrives at the airplane. While the ship is being refueled and luggage is being loaded, the commander and co-pilot conduct a technical inspection: one checks the onboard equipment systems and cockpit, the other checks the appearance and technical condition of the aircraft, after which they switch duties. At this time, the flight attendants prepare to greet the passengers.

Upon completion of all the above procedures, a gangway is delivered to the airplane and boarding begins. Such comprehensive and detailed preparation makes the flight as safe as possible for both passengers and crew.