Ask The Pilot

[Mogul]

This thread has been a great read and learning curve.

A380 Aborted Take off.VOB - YouTube

After watching the above video, I would have though it was back to the sheds for a check up, especially on the nose gear.

 

[jb747]

A few years ago (2005 - 2007) I flew regularly in and out of Karratha in 737s. The landings there were inevitably pretty hard, and it was explained to me that the runway was "too short" hence the need for a steeper approach and heavier landing. Would there be any truth in that? What changes do you make in your approach to a shorter runway compared with a longer one?

A steeper approach will give you a higher sink rate. Most approaches are a very standard 3 degrees, but some that we use go as high as 3.45 degrees. It doesn't sound much, but it changes the entire dynamic of the approach. For instance, you won't configure as you're drifting down finals, but will be fully configured beforehand. The higher sink rate, can, in turn, make it harder to judge the entry to the flare.

But, on a short runway, the reason for solid landings is simply that hitting the touchdown point accurately becomes much more important than just how smoothly it's done. Many of the very smooth touchdowns that you'll experience are actually the result of extended 'floats' and long landings. Take that to its ultimate, and you're at naval carrier landings, in which there is no flare at all.

(Karratha runway was extended and widened in 2009, from 1850m to 2280m).

That's still pretty short....

 

[jb747]

Hey JB, just with reference to the following story re: QF1 VH-OQF turning back yesterday - Emergency landing for Qantas jet | News.com.au

Firstly, have you run into many of these types of scenarios over your RPT career?

I've been off rabbit shooting for the past few days so I've only just read about this. Quite honestly it sounds like another media beat up. We are generally very cautious/conservative with regard to things that are unusual, or that we can't identify. I'd don't know for sure, but I'd doubt there was any declaration of an emergency....because there wasn't one. The general 'rule' is simply to give it back to the engineers and let them explain it...and in that regard we are different to many other operators. It's always much better to be on the ground when you find out that the burning smell that you thought was the FO's lunch was in fact something more substantial.

Whilst I've experienced various 'smells' over the years, we've always been able to resolve them, and so I've never diverted as a result.

Secondly, if you are the next crew to fly OQF after an incident like this, are you given additional checklists or noted to do or record anything differently either for QF or ATSB etc?

The tech log will contain the entries related to whatever happened. In general, they'll have been 'written off' (i.e. fixed). I guess you might be more alert for something different, but any issues should be gone. Any paperwork belongs to the crew that 'broke' it....

 

[jb747]

This thread has been a great read and learning curve.

A380 Aborted Take off.VOB - YouTube

After watching the above video, I would have though it was back to the sheds for a check up, especially on the nose gear.

I've seen the video...a lesson that cameras are everywhere these days.

Probably best that I don't make any comment.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This thread has been a great read and learning curve.

A380 Aborted Take off.VOB - YouTube

After watching the above video, I would have though it was back to the sheds for a check up, especially on the nose gear.

lol. on my computer it plays an ad for the Emirates A380 before playing the mian video! classic!!

 

[jb747]

Flights for the next few days:
7/11 QF9 Mel-Sin
8/11 QF9 Sin-Lhr
11/11 QF10 Lhr-Sin
14/11 QF10 Sin-Mel

 

[Flashback]

Flights for the next few days:
7/11 QF9 Mel-Sin
8/11 QF9 Sin-Lhr
11/11 QF10 Lhr-Sin
14/11 QF10 Sin-Mel

You're a week too early for the AFF London drinks!

 

[mjt57]

Just watched your latest episode.

On the bottom of the right display there appears to be a graph or trend that continually updates. What's it displaying?

And I see that the media is at it again, this time about an Emirates A380 which had an engine "explosion"...

A Fairfax journalist who was on board said that it was "consistant" with an explosion. Amazing how these people suddenly become experts. From my perspective it sounds like little more than a surge, given my experiences with jet engines in the past...

 

[RobYg]

Thanks very much again, JB, for the films.
When I've flown, I've been very interested in watching the scenery. Do you do this or are you concentrating on what the instruments are showing you?

 

[Alanslegal]

This thread has been a great read and learning curve.

A380 Aborted Take off.VOB - YouTube

After watching the above video, I would have though it was back to the sheds for a check up, especially on the nose gear.

The plane appears to have taken off, see 3m 26-27seconds.

 

[harvyk]

To me an explosion would be where bits and pieces come out of the engine, both axially and laterally. Watching a stream if ignited fuel shooting out the exhaust is hardly that.
But, if people want to call it that, who am I to argue...

Whilst going a little OT, I agree, I strongly suspect that all the PAX was seeing was fuel effectively doing a "dump and burn" intentionally or otherwise. However I somewhat suspect that any official investigation is going to be a bit more authoritative than speculation from someone sitting in 57E.

Back on topic, JB the websites are stating the FA's where looking out the window (I'll ignore the part about "panicking"), I take it that they would be relaying information back to the coughpit? If so what sort of information would it be, eg are they trained to identify possible faults visually or would their reports simply be "I see fire from the nacelles" in similar detail to what a pax could.

 

[NM]

[Mod Hat]
Lets leave any speculation regarding the EK A380 engine issue to its own thread. This thread is for asking questions of pilots or other aviation professionals and for their answers/responses.

If you wish to ask a pilot's perspective on the event, then this is the place. But please leave the task of answering the questions to the qualified/experienced aviation professionals in this thread.
[/Mod Hat]

 

[space_dweller]

I was wondering if you where flying that flight.

Be interesting to see the outcome as one of the paxs said the smell was like rubbish

I chanced upon this great thread while searching to see if there was any discovery for what happened on this flight.

I was on board and it really did smell bad, thought it was someone who hadn't changed their socks for a year at first!

 

[jb747]

On the bottom of the right display there appears to be a graph or trend that continually updates. What's it displaying?

It's a vertical cut along the axis of the radar display. Normally as per the centerline of the upper display, but we can slew it either side.

And I see that the media is at it again, this time about an Emirates A380 which had an engine "explosion"...

A Fairfax journalist who was on board said that it was "consistant" with an explosion. Amazing how these people suddenly become experts. From my perspective it sounds like little more than a surge, given my experiences with jet engines in the past...

I don't know anything specifically about this event, but I'd be surprised if it was really an explosion. A sudden big bang, and a flash of flame (which could be out either end of the engine) is consistent with a compressor stall. It's worth noting that jet engines are always on fire, it's just that you can't normally see it....

 

[jb747]

I chanced upon this great thread while searching to see if there was any discovery for what happened on this flight.

I was on board and it really did smell bad, thought it was someone who hadn't changed their socks for a year at first!

A good mate of mine was flying that aircraft (ex Mirage driver). Must give him some stick next time I see him. You were in very good hands.

As to the cause...I think it was some form of contamination of the one of the engine bleeds. An engine was changed afterwards, and I understand they're doing a very careful strip down of that engine.

 

[jb747]

Thanks very much again, JB, for the films.
When I've flown, I've been very interested in watching the scenery. Do you do this or are you concentrating on what the instruments are showing you?

Well, the scenery is only normally interesting when you're down low, and at that point we tend to have very tunnel vision. For instance I landed at the old HK airport many times, and though we were pretty much down amongst the buildings, I never noticed them, as my attention was locked onto the runway.

In the cruise there's lots of time to look around, but other than over Afghanistan, generally not much to look at.

 

[Must...Fly!]

What can you see over Afghanistan, it would still be night I suppose when you overfly there?

As for my own question, do you have a choice on where to exit the runway upon landing, or do ATC just tell you to get off at a particular taxiway and you can't fight it (unless perhaps you overshoot one?)

 

[jb747]

What can you see over Afghanistan, it would still be night I suppose when you overfly there?

Daylight on the 2 & 10. Quite amazing terrain. If it weren't for the obvious issues, it would be a spectacular place to see.

As for my own question, do you have a choice on where to exit the runway upon landing, or do ATC just tell you to get off at a particular taxiway and you can't fight it (unless perhaps you overshoot one?)

ATC can ask, but only the crew can decide just where they'll exit.

Whilst there is much overlap in what we do, ATC can't fly the aircraft, and we can't control the airspace. Whilst it might be convenient for a controller if we make a particular exit, it's a somewhat fluid equation. Landing today, on a wet runway, we made the earlier of the two likely exits, but I've had other days, when it was hotter, the aircraft heavier, and perhaps my touchdown not as early, when the next exit was the best we could do.

 

[Major]

A good mate of mine was flying that aircraft (ex Mirage driver). Must give him some stick next time I see him. You were in very good hands.

As to the cause...I think it was some form of contamination of the one of the engine bleeds. An engine was changed afterwards, and I understand they're doing a very careful strip down of that engine.

Does anyone know how long it takes to change an engine ? Is it a matter of undoing the wing attachments or is it a complicated procedure ?

 

[AbFF]

Hey JB, first up, you're a legend.
Secondly I've often wondered why the rudder is not straight on a lot of planes parked at the gate. I've noticed this on a couple of occasions when transiting and been meaning to post the question.