Ask The Pilot

[el_rooto]

JB,

Where do you think QFi should fly to?

 

[jb747]

no,, the pilot was Ltcdr Vines and the Melbourne had just come out of refit with new arrestor wires. Vines ejected just as the front wheel went over the side... 2 hours later we lost a sea king when the drive shaft snapped.. the video? we saw it 30 times sailing between JB and New Castle before we returned to GI..

The name I put up is correct. I knew him quite well at the time. Here's a reference from a kiwi site discussing it, with some pictures. Wings Over New Zealand - Superdetailed 32nd TA-4K Skyhawk

It doesn't matter whether the wires were new or not if the hook catches it, and splits it. The hooks tended to be sharpened as they were used and so became more likely to do so. They were also very strongly 'lifed', and were painted either black/white or red/white, depending upon whether they were allowed to be used on the ship, or only ashore.

The Seaking was, if I recall correctly a tail rotor drive failure (yes, I just looked it up...the Observer was a course mate of mine from O's course...and I was away on Pilots' course at the time).

 

[jb747]

Welcome to ADF Serials

Interesting reading. Quite a few aircraft on that list that I've flown, or flown in, have bitten the dust....

 

[sutho58]

sorry jb,, i stand corrected. for some reason I have always thought that his name was "vines". I remember a mate of mine asking for his autograph and the 3 word reply.. do you also know the DiPietro brothers??
if the report went a bit further it would say that the sar help was the one we lost that day.. a mate of mine that I went through recruit school with was the photog on duty that day who shot the video of the ditching.. but as our capt said "the Melbourne isn't jinxed"

 

[Sifor]

I love reading those old tales, thanks for the links JB.

 

[jb747]

sorry jb,, i stand corrected. for some reason I have always thought that his name was "vines". I remember a mate of mine asking for his autograph and the 3 word reply.. do you also know the DiPietro brothers??

Tony and Vince. Colourful characters both.

 

[jb747]

Dear JB747,
I've just returned from India where I flew into/out of Delhi, Jaipur and Changidarh about 20 times on A319's, 737-700's and ATR72's. One thing I noticed was the Indian pilots seem to land much faster than the QF/DJ pilots in similar conditions. Naturally, I'm sure there are many variables, but my question is, have you noticed pilots from other carriers/countries landing at faster speeds? Finally, I'm wondering if you'll be my pilot on QF51/QF009 on June 18th? Going off to the Olympics!

I really don't believe that you can assess speed from the cabin. I certainly can't. I would be very surprised if other nationalities have a habit of flying numbers other than presented by the makers.

On the 18th of June, I think we'll pass over (roughly) Afghanistan, headed in opposite directions.

 

[Happy Trails]

....everyone will pass if you set the bar low enough.

Not if they're limbo dancing.

 

[markis10]

JB,

Where do you think QFi should fly to?

Just a reminder about the rules of this thread, questions should be kept to those directly related to pilot activities, some companies restrict participation of their employees in social networks where there is a chance it may be seen to be a comment that does not reflect in a positive way on their employer, even if there is no intent as such for that to occur. I don't expect questions about a companies commercial intentions or aspirations will receive an answer, nor do I expect questions about company procedures will be answered that might have security or safety implications, such as what hotels do staff stay at etc etc.

Please be aware that all members of AFF are voluntary members of the community and nobody is expected or required to comment or answer any specific question. Also note that some of the qualified flying members are regularly performing their duties and may not be in a position to read AFF and respond immediately, so please be patient.

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We greatly respect and appreciate the input provided by the professional pilots in our community and I look forward to some interesting questions and answers.

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[markis10]

Interesting blog about engine loss in cruise and why it's no big deal, at least compared to what happened to NBW!

Losing an engine in cruise « Flight Training

 

[SeatBackForward]

Jb, i've been listening to a BBC radio play series called CABIN PRESSURE as recommened by drMikki here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ound/a-bit-of-humour-6330-180.html#post605264 , its very humourous about a charter airline company and the antics of its crew. Have you come across this? or would it be too close to "shop talk" ?

 

[straitman]

If someone is prone to panic and hesitation, what types of course components would they not be able to complete? I presume they'd struggle in the sim sessions? Your description of them sounds thoroughly gruelling.

I'm sure trick cyclists have a name for our personalities....but, you cannot be subject to panic (or anything like that). You simply have to do. Now. Not say "what"?. My initial background was military...flying an A4 if someone yelled "break right" at you, the control column would have hit the right roll stop before you'd really assimilated the words. Every military pilot will have lost control of the aircraft...you don't sit there thinking of your mum. You have to fix it immediately, without any hesitation.

I doubt that they'd ever get as far as the sim sessions. You most certainly wouldn't survive even the basic parts of the RAAF pilots' course.

The following is from (LCDR Mark Ogden RAN (Rtd)), copilot of the Sea King that crashed on HMAS Melbourne on the same day as the A4 being discussed. I've included it as I believe it sums up this part of the discussion very well.

'I want to finish by quoting the last paragraphs of my 1979 report:
Pre-planning and constant awareness can and will save your life. However, all this can be a waste of time if you panic. Control it and you should be okay. The less you leave to Lady Luck, the better are your chances of living.'

... and just to confirm that this can happen to anyone at anytime this was Mark Ogden's first day at sea on the Melbourne.

The full report can be read here.


I'm sure jb747 can relate to this story and its consequences in his former RAN life as an Observer.

 

[jb747]

Interesting blog about engine loss in cruise and why it's no big deal, at least compared to what happened to NBW!

Losing an engine in cruise « Flight Training

Obviously an engine can fail at many points in a flight. As the blog says, intentional shutdowns are non events. The worst spot for a failure is during take off, or slightly after....you are heavy, in a fairly high drag configuration, and worst of all, near the ground. Because it's the time that the engine is most highly stressed, it's probably the most likely time too. And there aren't many sims in which there isn't at least one.

Nancy's failure happened well after takeoff, with the aircraft clean. Not really a bad spot for it to happen. It was unusual because of its severity, and because of the number and variety of the problems it generated. QF32 has had even more gibberish printed about than QF30. Again this was not the company's fault. It had nothing to do with the version of the engine. It was simply a bit of poor quality control on RR's part (and they are normally pretty damn good), which ultimately handed a crew a chance to shine ( or otherwise ).

 

[jb747]

The following is from (LCDR Mark Ogden RAN (Rtd)), copilot of the Sea King that crashed on HMAS Melbourne on the same day as the A4 being discussed. I've included it as I believe it sums up this part of the discussion very well.

'I want to finish by quoting the last paragraphs of my 1979 report:
Pre-planning and constant awareness can and will save your life. However, all this can be a waste of time if you panic. Control it and you should be okay. The less you leave to Lady Luck, the better are your chances of living.'

... and just to confirm that this can happen to anyone at anytime this was Mark Ogden's first day at sea on the Melbourne.

The full report can be read here.


I'm sure jb747 can relate to this story and its consequences in his former RAN life as an Observer.

In my time in the back of a SeaKing, I don't recall ever having any big issues. But, the Wessex, on the other hand put us onto beaches a number of times. In fact, if you wanted your own personal Wessex, all you had to do was buy some land in the Shoalhaven area.

In those days the RAN didn't have a pool with a roll over express trainer. Egress training was always taken very seriously, by all of the squadrons, as a flight could turn into a swim with very little warning. Even extricating yourself from a parachute harness after an ejection wasn't to be taken lightly, as they demonstrated by dragging you at a few knots behind a work boat, as you tried to release the harness (as could happen in a landing on a windy day) whilst wearing all of the gear...

SBLT Dave Baddams probably had one of the most frightening escapes. He ejected on the catapult after a very soft shot, and on landing in the water, his parachute snagged the aircraft, which was now keen on emulating a submarine. The combination of inflated mae-west, and harness under tension made it almost impossible to get the koch fittings to release, and his final escape came from about 15-20 feet under the water. So, from a nice comfortable coughpit, to almost drowning, in a couple of seconds...with a rocket seat ride in the middle.

 

[sutho58]

when were you at NAS jb?

 

[jb747]

when were you at NAS jb?

As an Observer from the end of '74 to mid '79. Pilot from the end of '80 to mid '83. I was on the war canoe in '76 and Rimpac '77.

 

[sutho58]

I was posted to Melbourne in 78 as cag, but as she was in refit went to nas. In 79 just before Melbourne started sea trials it was decided to switch us to sqn's and I was seconded to HS817. I actually worked with Mark Ogdens wife at nas and remember some of the chats that were held in the wr that day,, (sailors can be cruel sometime). look forward to maybe catching up 1 day for a drink and chat at some aff function..

 

[QF WP]

suth058, you need to think about attending this function then.

 

[DeKa]

jb747,
Would a "Captain's Choice" tour be something that interests you as a pilot, given the opportunity to go to different ports not on Qantas' network?
Q&A: Qantas pilot Captain Ossie Miller, Fleet Captain Qantas 747

 

[jb747]

jb747,
Would a "Captain's Choice" tour be something that interests you as a pilot, given the opportunity to go to different ports not on Qantas' network?
Q&A: Qantas pilot Captain Ossie Miller, Fleet Captain Qantas 747

Doesn't matter whether interested or not...they aren't available to the line pilots.