Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

Which airline(s) do that?

QF.

The problem is, if QF still operates B744s MEL-LAX then what's the chance that I'd end up on one of them rather than the A380?

Melbourne LA is totally 380.

 

[jb747]

So, operation of either stick will control the aircraft despite who's flying it? What happens if you bank left and he banks right, for example?

Well, in a Boeing, as both control columns are interconnected, you can't actually do that.

In the Airbus, if you both put in full, but opposite, roll input, the system will average it out, and (more or less) nothing will happen. The aircraft will issue a warning about dual control inputs (though if that's going on, you might have something else on your mind, and not notice). If I take over, and simultaneously press the override button on the joystick, it locks out any inputs from the other side.

I don't know how true this story is, but supposedly, in the early days of the A320 with Ansett, they had a go around in Sydney, and the FO never let go of the controls after the captain took over. The result was the average input, and (again supposedly) it was a bit of a near thing. Presumably the dual input warning either didn't exist then, or hadn't been ordered.

It's extremely important, in any aircraft, that handing over and taking over is done correctly....it's one of the first things students are taught, and it needs to stay with them for their whole career.

 

[JohnM]

I just bought the Kindle edition and it downloaded OK as far as I can see.

I have just finished reading QF32. I could hardly put it down all day. Extraordinary story, well-written and highly emotional. I'd be surprised if just about every subscriber to this thread didn't share my views. Can't recommend it highly enough. It extends way beyond the actual event of the QF32 engine failure in all sorts of ways. Great read.

Nice to see a reference to JB and his great Quotable Quote: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

 

[mjt57]

Nice to see a reference to JB and his great Quotable Quote: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

And so true. I remember Dick Johnson saying it about Bathurst when he won it, once...

 

[harvyk]

How formal \ informal are pilots pre-flight briefings? Is it a case of the two ( \ three \ four or more) pilots have a quick chat about the flight coming up (either standing around in a office or once in the coughpit), or is it a formal affair which is more like a sit down meeting, or would it depend on the length and complexity of the flight?

Also how much detail would you go into in a briefing? Is it just a quick "we're taking off from runway..., flying along route..., our diversions are..., our fuel is..., the weather is... done" or would you go into some detail even if it could change along a flight esp for a long haul flight.

 

[harvyk]

Would I be right in thinking that in terms of measurements, the US is the only country which gives airpresure in inHg, with the rest of the world (as far as you would know) giving it in mbar / kPa?
Am I also right in thinking that the world tends to use feet, with Russia and a couple of countries around there using meters instead?

 

[tuppaware]

Which airline(s) do that?

The problem is, if QF still operates B744s MEL-LAX then what's the chance that I'd end up on one of them rather than the A380?

QF 107 Goes SYD-LAX-JFK

Get a A380 flight to LAX Change to QF107 to JFK?
I'm not sure you can book that on the site.

 

[mjt57]

QF 107 Goes SYD-LAX-JFK

Get a A380 flight to LAX Change to QF107 to JFK?
I'm not sure you can book that on the site.

Ok, thanks for that.

I s'pose that whichever way we do it we'll still have to transfer from the international to the domestic (Bradley?) terminal.

And we'll probably organise it through our travel agent who's doing the rest of the trip for us.

 

[jb747]

How formal \ informal are pilots pre-flight briefings? Is it a case of the two ( \ three \ four or more) pilots have a quick chat about the flight coming up (either standing around in a office or once in the coughpit), or is it a formal affair which is more like a sit down meeting, or would it depend on the length and complexity of the flight?

I expect that briefings vary with the culture of the company. Our briefings are quite formalised, covering very specific items. You don't brief for an entire trip, unless it happens to be something like London Heathrow to London Stansted. On the ground, towards the end of the preflight, the departure briefing is done. Descent is covered about 30 minutes prior to ToD.

I use a cheat sheet for mine, and work through every item, no matter how many times I've been there. Something like 'standard XYZ arrival' is not acceptable.

Also how much detail would you go into in a briefing? Is it just a quick "we're taking off from runway..., flying along route..., our diversions are..., our fuel is..., the weather is... done" or would you go into some detail even if it could change along a flight esp for a long haul flight.

The brief will cover any specific problems, or threats. There may be none, or it perhaps the weather in the area is poor. It bends to fit whatever is needed. Performance calculations are checked, and the entries into the FMC cross checked. The departure route, and any restrictions will be checked from the paper (or iPad) charts against the FMC. Climb power levels, and any points of change will be discussed.

Taxi routing will be looked at.

Abort briefing, down to exactly who will do what, plus also the 'go' brief, for a case where an engine fails an you continue.

 

[harvyk]

Ok, thanks for that.

I s'pose that whichever way we do it we'll still have to transfer from the international to the domestic (Bradley?) terminal.

And we'll probably organise it through our travel agent who's doing the rest of the trip for us.

Whilst now OT,
I do believe 107 \ 108 uses TBIT (Tom Bradley International Terminal) for each way. Remember that the US does not have outbound customs, so there is nothing stopping a dom flight from departing an international terminal.

 

[jb747]

I s'pose that whichever way we do it we'll still have to transfer from the international to the domestic (Bradley?) terminal.

You always need to clear customs in LAX, even if staying on the same aircraft.

 

[jb747]

Would I be right in thinking that in terms of measurements, the US is the only country which gives airpresure in inHg, with the rest of the world (as far as you would know) giving it in mbar / kPa?
Am I also right in thinking that the world tends to use feet, with Russia and a couple of countries around there using meters instead?

The US is alone with a number of its measurements. They actually use statute miles....

China has its own metric altitudes. The old Soviet block countries did until recently (different to China though), but the routes we use have changed to using ICAO RVSM (feet) levels. I assume that's the case over the entire area.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have just finished reading QF32. I could hardly put it down all day. Extraordinary story, well-written and highly emotional. I'd be surprised if just about every subscriber to this thread didn't share my views. Can't recommend it highly enough. It extends way beyond the actual event of the QF32 engine failure in all sorts of ways. Great read.

Nice to see a reference to JB and his great Quotable Quote: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

John,

where can we get a copy?

 

[JohnM]

John,

where can we get a copy?

I got mine on my Kindle from Amazon (see posts yesterday). $12.52 (AUD).

It's published by PanMacmillan:
Pan Macmillan Australia but I'm not sure when the hardcopy will hit bookshops. Apparently (again see posts yesterday) the ebook link at PanMacmillan doesn't work.

Any hardcopy books I buy, I always use BookDepository: QF32: The Captain's Extraordinary Account of How One of the World's Worst Air Disasters Was Averted : Richard de Crespigny : 9781742611174 - where I see publication date is listed as 1 August. That could explain some folks having problems.

Hope that helps.

 

[Moody]

John,

where can we get a copy?

Found a bunch of these at my local Target. They are selling it for $22 which is too rich for me, but then I picked it up to review the style and .... about 10 minutes later had to have a stern word with myself about getting back to work! For a book where the plot is completely known that is not bad going.

 

[mannej]

I got mine on my Kindle from Amazon (see posts yesterday). $12.52 (AUD).

It's published by PanMacmillan:
Pan Macmillan Australia but I'm not sure when the hardcopy will hit bookshops. Apparently (again see posts yesterday) the ebook link at PanMacmillan doesn't work.

Any hardcopy books I buy, I always use BookDepository: QF32: The Captain's Extraordinary Account of How One of the World's Worst Air Disasters Was Averted : Richard de Crespigny : 9781742611174 - where I see publication date is listed as 1 August. That could explain some folks having problems.

Hope that helps.

Buy Qf32: The Captain's Extraordinary Account Of How One Of The World's Worst Air Disasters Was Averted Book by Richard de Crespigny (9781742611174) at Angus and Robertson with free shipping

 

[Simo]

I have put the book on my Birthday list.

Am looking forward to sitting on the flight to NAN reading it.

 

[Wannabee]

Just bought QF32 from the iBooks store for $11.99 for those with an iPad.

 

[mjt57]

Just bought QF32 from the iBooks store for $11.99 for those with an iPad.

Thanks.

Reading it now, well, the first couple of pages. A bathroom and ensuite being renovated beckon, sadly...

 

[D747]

I hope you are all enjoying the new book.

Thanks jb for your answer to my previous question.

With aircraft that have fuel dumping capability, can a dump be done without engine power? Can the RAT provide power for this? I am thinking of a sceanario where all engines are out (volcano, bird strike or frozen oil coolers, etc) and you need to glide as far as possible to make a landing. Unlikely I know, but so are things that do happen. (like oxygen bottles blasting off!)