Ask The Pilot

[harvyk]

I completely understand if you can't answer this one JB, but if you can I am curious on your thoughts...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/catering-issue-today-mel-per-40002.html

I know that (at least with QF) it's down to the cap't decision as to if a flight will take off or not, but is this cap't likely to have "words" from someone for not flying due to a non-technical issue? Or is this something which the cap't could refer back to higher up the food chain as a safety issue?

 

[jb747]

I completely understand if you can't answer this one JB, but if you can I am curious on your thoughts...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/catering-issue-today-mel-per-40002.html

I know that (at least with QF) it's down to the cap't decision as to if a flight will take off or not, but is this cap't likely to have "words" from someone for not flying due to a non-technical issue? Or is this something which the cap't could refer back to higher up the food chain as a safety issue?

I expect that all of this discussion about 'management' is not actually 'management' at all. Simply someone in the ops control world.

The captain could reject this for all sorts of reasons.

I'm bemused by the comment in the other thread about the captain and crew being able to 'do more'. I've tried the 'loaves and fishes' thing, but it doesn't work all that well.

 

[simongr]

I expect that all of this discussion about 'management' is not actually 'management' at all. Simply someone in the ops control world.

It is amusing that "management" get blamed for anything that isn't a tech issue - I do wonder who "management" are as they seem to be responsible for a lot.

Thanks for the info re your flights on NBW - reaffirms what I believe that I have nothing to be concerned about flying on any aircraft in the QF fleet (and by that I mean day to day operational aircraft rather than some random old bird that is in a field somewhere).

Two unrelated questions:

1 - How was the transition from a single seat GA/F aircraft to passenger jets? Did you still feel like you were really flying or in that transition period feel like you were driving a bus?

2 - Any chance you are flying Qf1 on 28 June or QF2 on 7 July?

 

[jb747]

It is amusing that "management" get blamed for anything that isn't a tech issue - I do wonder who "management" are as they seem to be responsible for a lot.

I guess generically, management is anyone who lives in an office.

Two unrelated questions:

1 - How was the transition from a single seat GA/F aircraft to passenger jets? Did you still feel like you were really flying or in that transition period feel like you were driving a bus?

There was a lot to learn, and it was a very different world from the one I had inhabited. About all I remember about the aircraft itself was that the control response was extremely slow compared to what I was used to.

2 - Any chance you are flying Qf1 on 28 June or QF2 on 7 July?

QF1 out of Sydney...yes.

 

[simongr]

I'll see you there then

 

[Flying Fox]

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

So who captains these flights (assuming not JT ) ?

I'm assuming that QF doesn't simply just let anyone fly their aircraft?

 

[markis10]

So who captains these flights (assuming not JT ) ?

I'm assuming that QF doesn't simply just let anyone fly their aircraft?

Check Captains??

 

[DeKa]

So who captains these flights (assuming not JT ) ?

I'm assuming that QF doesn't simply just let anyone fly their aircraft?

Looks like the captained named, Ossie Miller is gearing up to start posting on twitter... https://twitter.com/#!/ossiemiller
First post two days ago: "test"

 

[jb747]

Looks like the captained named, Ossie Miller is gearing up to start posting on twitter... https://twitter.com/#!/ossiemiller
First post two days ago: "test"

As far as I know, they have always been management. Ossie is the 747 fleet manager.

 

[Simo]

I always feel safest on a QF flight.

QF30 great outcome and it could have been so much worse and the same for QF32.

Let's be honest if the flight crew didn't go about there job with the highest standard there could be many lives that where cut short with out the great training and also well maintained systems.

 

[Flying Fox]

As far as I know, they have always been management. Ossie is the 747 fleet manager.

What does a 747 fleet manager do day-to-day?

What does a check captain do day-to-day?

Who needs to sign off the paperwork to take a 747 out for a tour like this?

 

[NM]

As far as I know, they have always been management. Ossie is the 747 fleet manager.

Any idea about other members of the tech crew? Is the FO position offered to a single pilot for the duration of the trip or changed/rotated? Is the FO position also likely to be filled by someone from "management" or from normal line ops? Would they carry a SO for the duration or just bring one in for any sectors long enough to require a 3-person crewing requirement or has the routing been designed to avoid sectors longer than can be operated by a 2-person tech crew?

 

[jb747]

What does a 747 fleet manager do day-to-day?

Well, he's the pilots' direct boss for a start. Pretty well anything that affects the operation of his fleet, or the crews, would come through his office. I suspect it's a quite thankless job (caught between in the middle more or less). Ossie is a very decent bloke, whom I'm known since pilots' course.

What does a check captain do day-to-day?

There are a couple of levels of 'check' captain, and to a degree, it's a misnomer. Most of what they do is training, plus we all need an annual route check in the aircraft (and sometimes others if we've been away sick or on extended leave).

Who needs to sign off the paperwork to take a 747 out for a tour like this?

Once approved in principle by (probably) the deputy chief pilot, then the fleet manager would be responsible for it all.

 

[jb747]

Any idea about other members of the tech crew? Is the FO position offered to a single pilot for the duration of the trip or changed/rotated? Is the FO position also likely to be filled by someone from "management" or from normal line ops? Would they carry a SO for the duration or just bring one in for any sectors long enough to require a 3-person crewing requirement or has the routing been designed to avoid sectors longer than can be operated by a 2-person tech crew?

FO will most likely be from the line.... A likely crew would consist of two captains (one most likely a training captain) and one FO. The rationale there would allow any single sickness to be covered. Captain could double as FO in the cruise or SO. TC could double for anyone, and FO for SO.

 

[jb747]

Flying for the next couple of months.

I was just called out off standby, so this has changed a little from what was originally promulgated, and as always, is subject to change....
2/6/12 QF 9 SIN - LHR
4/6/12 QF10 LHR - SIN
7/6/12 QF 2 SIN - SYD

13/6/12 QF 1 SIN - LHR
16/6/12 QF 2 LHR - SIN
19/6/12 QF10 SIN - MEL

28/6/12 QF 1 SYD - SIN
29/6/12 QF 1 SIN - LHR
02/7/12 QF 2 LHR - SIN
05/7/12 QF10 SIN - MEL

12/7/12 QF 9 MEL - SIN
13/7/12 QF 1 SIN - LHR
15/7/12 QF10 LHR - SIN
18/7/12 QF 2 SIN - SYD

I always try to swap any SIN-SYD sectors for SIN-MEL, but that's never confirmed until the day before.

 

[nlagalle]

Flying for the next couple of months.

I was just called out off standby, so this has changed a little from what was originally promulgated, and as always, is always subject to change....
2/6/12 QF 9 SIN - LHR
4/6/12 QF10 LHR - SIN
7/6/12 QF 2 SIN - SYD

13/6/12 QF 1 SIN - LHR
16/6/12 QF 2 LHR - SIN
19/6/12 QF10 SIN - MEL

28/6/12 QF 1 SYD - SIN
29/6/12 QF 1 SIN - LHR
02/7/12 QF 2 LHR - SIN
05/7/12 QF10 SIN - MEL

12/7/12 QF 9 MEL - SIN
13/7/12 QF 1 SIN - LHR
15/7/12 QF10 LHR - SIN
18/7/12 QF 2 SIN - SYD

I always try to swap any SIN-SYD sectors for SIN-MEL, but that's never confirmed until the day before.

Bugger I miss you by a day! I'm on QF9 on the 11th July!

 

[sutho58]

"I was just called out off standby, so this has changed a little from what was originally "promulgated", and as always, is subject to change"

now,, "promulgated"... there's a word I haven't seen in a sentence for a long time..
do they also have "standing orders"??

 

[simongr]

Flying for the next couple of months.

28/6/12 QF 1 SYD - SIN

I always try to swap any SIN-SYD sectors for SIN-MEL, but that's never confirmed until the day before.

Looking forward to being able to say to the wife - don't worry about the flight - jb747 is in charge

 

[jb747]

"I was just called out off standby, so this has changed a little from what was originally "promulgated", and as always, is subject to change"

now,, "promulgated"... there's a word I haven't seen in a sentence for a long time..
do they also have "standing orders"??

Standing orders...oh yes.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Ahhh Dave Baddams. Is he still working for BAe?