Ask The Pilot

[Awesom Andy]

I would rather be late than have a problem passenger on a long flight.

Q: What's worse than missing an Afghan slot?
A: Being able to use only half of your allocated slot.

 

[harvyk]

Yesterday, coming into SYD, the pilots turned on the seat belt sign. Whilst the pilots and the CSM said over the PA that all pax and crew should now be seated, it was a good couple of minutes before the FA in my area was actually seated, and I noticed that they all finally sat down probably 15 seconds before we actually hit turbulence.

When a pilot turns on the seat belt sign, is it deliberately done early enough so that FA's can secure things before turbulence hits? If so is there some method that the pilot (eg some keyword in the message over the PA) which the pilot can say "sit down now, we really mean it".

I've noticed this on other flights as well, that FA's are usually always seated when we hit turbulence, but are not always the fastest in actually sitting down when the seat belt sign comes on.

Or is this a question more appropriate for the "Ask the FA" thread?

 

[jb747]

Yesterday, coming into SYD, the pilots turned on the seat belt sign. Whilst the pilots and the CSM said over the PA that all pax and crew should now be seated, it was a good couple of minutes before the FA in my area was actually seated, and I noticed that they all finally sat down probably 15 seconds before we actually hit turbulence.

When a pilot turns on the seat belt sign, is it deliberately done early enough so that FA's can secure things before turbulence hits? If so is there some method that the pilot (eg some keyword in the message over the PA) which the pilot can say "sit down now, we really mean it".

I've noticed this on other flights as well, that FA's are usually always seated when we hit turbulence, but are not always the fastest in actually sitting down when the seat belt sign comes on.

Or is this a question more appropriate for the "Ask the FA" thread?

When we turn the seat belt sign on, we do so with the knowledge that a period of time will pass before everyone is seated. Carts will need to be removed from the aisles. If possible, we reduce that time period by pre-warning the cabin crew. So, we may have told the CSM that we expect it to be rough during a descent, or that we can see weather ahead, and that the signs will be on in 5 minutes.

Keyword? How about a PA that includes the word IMMEDIATELY....

 

[Awesom Andy]

Keyword? How about a PA that includes the word IMMEDIATELY....

Had something to a similar effect on a 3K flight. There were 4 FAs in the front "galley" (if it can be called that), and with only 2 jump seats available, 1 FA took the empty seat next to me in row 1, while another borrowed an empty seat in row 2. They certainly know where and how to find a strap pretty quickly.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas is the only airline i have travelled on where the seat-belt sign applies equally to passengers and crew. On other airlines, the seat belt sign seems to be primarily aimed at passengers only, hence the announcement that 'while the seat-belt sign is on we cannot serve hot drinks' - everything else just continues on as normal.

It is also common on other airlines for the seat-belt sign to be recycled after take-off allowing the crew to commence duties, but for pax to be required to remain in their seats. QF is pretty much one of the only carriers to switch off their signs so early (and switch them on so late before arrival).

Of course if severe turbulence is expected then there is an announcement that passengers and crew should be seated.

 

[simongr]

(and switch them on so late before arrival).

I find that on DOM routes the seat belt sign still goes on pretty early...

 

[jb747]

The signs go on when needed. I recently flew on another airline, and the cabin crew were trying to serve, whilst being thrown around by the turbulence. It wasn't good service, but outright unsafe. Having cabin crew wandering around also teaches the passengers that the signs don't mean business.

 

[anat0l]

The signs go on when needed. I recently flew on another airline, and the cabin crew were trying to serve, whilst being thrown around by the turbulence. It wasn't good service, but outright unsafe. Having cabin crew wandering around also teaches the passengers that the signs don't mean business.

Some people here have commended airlines (Singapore Airlines comes to mind) who actually manage to do a meal service whilst the seat belt signs are on. They say this is what separates an average FA (e.g. Qantas) from a good one (because they can stably do the service).

Unfortunately, the safety message is lost amongst most pax, and even some here. For this, I feel sorry for what pilots (and broadly, airline staff) have to go through.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The signs go on when needed. I recently flew on another airline, and the cabin crew were trying to serve, whilst being thrown around by the turbulence. It wasn't good service, but outright unsafe. Having cabin crew wandering around also teaches the passengers that the signs don't mean business.

agree... but... too many airlines illuminate the sign at the merest hint of a bump, and leave it on for extended periods. US carriers are well known for this. other airlines I guess are more used to serving in light turbulence... china to Japan, or china to hong kong or Bangkok for example... often turbulence but service has to go on. while qf wouldn't normally illuminate the sign in the same circumstances as cx would, maybe cx and US airlines just want to protect themselves.

 

[NM]

Some people here have commended airlines (Singapore Airlines comes to mind) who actually manage to do a meal service whilst the seat belt signs are on. They say this is what separates an average FA (e.g. Qantas) from a good one (because they can stably do the service).

Unfortunately, the safety message is lost amongst most pax, and even some here. For this, I feel sorry for what pilots (and broadly, airline staff) have to go through.

As the cabin crew are primarily there for our safety, how can they do their job properly if they are injured in the process of serving meals during turbulence? Crazy in my opinion.

 

[anat0l]

As the cabin crew are primarily there for our safety, how can they do their job properly if they are injured in the process of serving meals during turbulence? Crazy in my opinion.

As I alluded to, ask many people (outside AFF, obviously, but some here will say the same) what FAs are primarily there for. I would be surprised if 5% say they are there for safety first. In fact, get them to list 5 reasons why they are there and I'd be surprised to see how many will list 'safety' in that list.

I agree with your statement, but the fact is that the wider passenger contingent takes a frivolous view of safety which is depressing, especially as it undermines and makes a mockery of the crew.

To pull this all back on topic a bit, the tangent does remind me of the infamous Michael O'Leary's comment once (obviously an attention grabber, but idiotic nonetheless) of planes of the future having only one pilot, relying a lot on autopilot. I probably wouldn't be surprised if he advocated that planes of the future will be remote controlled, or "piloted" by robots / pilotless (e.g. similar to "driverless" train systems).

In fact, I think jb747 has alluded quite frequently through this topic of how airline management broadly around the world (including on our home turf) is continually trying to dumb down the role of the pilot towards an "end goal" of redundancy. That's a real shame for the next generation of pilots which we will sorely need.

 

[harvyk]

Hi JB,

Sorry if this question has already been asked, the other day I heard the FA say over the intercom that "L2 Cabin Secure" (sitting at Door 2, we where right up the front, and the FA had a loud voice). Would that have been said to the CSM who would then pass onto the pilots that the cabin (in general) was secure? Or would the FA have been talking to one of the pilots directly.

 

[jb747]

The whole logic of it escapes me. A decent bump can easily put cabin crew, and their carts, into the air....and then where they land is in the lap of the gods. If the turbulence deserves the signs, then everyone should be seated. If it doesn't then you're just misusing the sign.

 

[NM]

Note I have moved some posts regarding pilotless commercial aircraft to a new thread. Please follow the link to continue that discussion:

Will we ever see pilotless commercial aircraft?

Re: Ask The Pilot As the cabin crew are primarily there for our safety, how can they do their job properly if they are injured in the process of serving meals during turbulence? Crazy in my opinion. As I alluded to, ask many people (outside AFF, obviously, but some here will say the same) what...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[medhead]

Can I ask JB747, are you doing QF9 MEL-SIN on 1 October? Others seem to know what flights you do, but I haven't worked out the code yet.

 

[harvyk]

Can I ask JB747, are you doing QF9 MEL-SIN on 1 October? Others seem to know what flights you do, but I haven't worked out the code yet.

Personally I'm hoping for QF94 out of LAX on the 28th Oct, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[jb747]

Can I ask JB747, are you doing QF9 MEL-SIN on 1 October? Others seem to know what flights you do, but I haven't worked out the code yet.

There's no code mate, I just announce it every now and then.

22/9 QF2 ex SIN

4/10 QF1 ex SYD
5/10 QF1 ex SIN
7/10 QF10 ex LHR
10/10 QF2 ex SIN

22/10 QF9 ex MEL
23/10 QF9 ex SIN
25/10 QF10 ex LHR
28/10 QF2 ex SIN

7/11 QF9 ex MEL
8/11 QF9 ex SIN
11/11 QF10 ex LHR
14/11 QF10 ex SIN

And Harv, I don't do LA very often. Once, maybe twice a year.

 

[medhead]

There's no code mate, I just announce it every now and then.

22/9 QF2 ex SIN

4/10 QF1 ex SYD
5/10 QF1 ex SIN

Cheers. Looks like I miss you by a day (and an aircraft type) on the return. On QF82 11 October.

 

[harvyk]

And Harv, I don't do LA very often. Once, maybe twice a year.

Thus the reason I'm not holding my breath...

 

[flychrisfly]

I was wondering what the radius of a sharp turn in an A380 would be, assuming they describe an arc of a circle when turning. Can you comment at low speeds and at cruise speeds please?
Thanks in advance.