Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

I noticed that the inbound planes were flying very fast (obviously trying to make it before curfew), and this includes during the decent. At 6000 feet, VA885 was still travelling more than 325 knots. Is this normal practice and are there any risks involved in approaching this quickly?

Per se, there is no risk with the extra speed at all. The problem will arise if he doesn't get rid of it expediently. Some airlines have height/speed rules, though that's not the entire story.

Flying an airliner on approach is an exercise in energy management. Too much energy, too close, and the landing will be, well, not pretty. As long as the energy is under control, Vne might be viable. It just depends upon how high you are and how many miles to run. Of course, being up all night never helps, which is why the long haul blokes are never as flexible as the short haul, even if in the same equipment.

 

[jb747]

Need to amend something I said earlier. Not all Boeing doors are plugs. The upper deck on the 747 is a split door that opens outwards. It is very solidly mechanically locked, but in principle differs dramatically from all of the other passenger doors.

 

[Simo]

We all despise politicians. They work very hard to make flying as unsafe as possible.

The company looks after dispensations. That's pretty easy, as they aren't given.....in most cases anyway.

How many dispensations would be given in a 12 month period.

 

[Simo]

We all despise politicians. They work very hard to make flying as unsafe as possible.

The company looks after dispensations. That's pretty easy, as they aren't given.....in most cases anyway.

Who approves the dispensation when it is approved.

 

[jb747]

How many dispensations would be given in a 12 month period.

For normal services, I think the answer will be zero.

 

[markis10]

We all despise politicians. They work very hard to make flying as unsafe as possible.

The company looks after dispensations. That's pretty easy, as they aren't given.....in most cases anyway.

Thats not true at all, in fact where the requirements are met they are given with QF21 being a frequent winner, for instance in the latest report for Sydney Jetstar has 1 out of 1 approved while Qantas had two denied, in Adelaide both Qantas and Jetstar has their requests approved, the previous report has Qantas reporting 100% success at both Sydney and Adelaide. Its a common assumption in the community that dispensations are rarely given when in fact they are quite frequent and are not denied if they meet the criteria, they are only denied where they should not have been made in the first place in the view if the approving officer.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/av...ationReports/2013/files/Webreport_01_2013.pdf

 

[markis10]

How many dispensations would be given in a 12 month period.

There were 22 granted in the last calender year with the most going to QF21.

Who approves the dispensation when it is approved.

The Minister or an approved delegate, many years ago I performed the role of approved delegate when working the night shift at the Sydney Area Approach Control Centre.

 

[Mattg]

Thats not true at all, in fact where the requirements are met they are given with QF21 being a frequent winner, for instance in the latest report for Sydney Jetstar has 1 out of 1 approved while Qantas had two denied, in Adelaide both Qantas and Jetstar has their requests approved, the previous report has Qantas reporting 100% success at both Sydney and Adelaide. Its a common assumption in the community that dispensations are rarely given when in fact they are quite frequent and are not denied if they meet the criteria, they are only denied where they should not have been made in the first place in the view if the approving officer.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/av...ationReports/2013/files/Webreport_01_2013.pdf

Thanks, this was an interesting read. I think I'm missing something, though; what are the three criteria?

 

[markis10]

Thanks, this was an interesting read. I think I'm missing something, though; what are the three criteria?

Each airport has its own criteria, in Sydney's case:

General criteria


To be considered exceptional the circumstances must generally be:
of immediate origin;
of such a character that they could not reasonably have been foreseen;
and
not reasonably able to be met by alternative arrangements.

 

[ftm]

Flying Fox....doors are not 'cracked' by the cabin crew. The reason that they are opened from outside is that in the event that the door has not disarmed, the power opening will not take effect if the outside handle is raised...whereas from inside the door will be forced open and the slide will fire.

737 doors are cracked by the FAs after disarming.

 

[AVC]

And, on to my question.

Fuel. What is the formula for how much reserve capacity you carry? Is it a time thing? Or a percentage, or enough to get you to alternate airport "x"?

Ahem, or bump, whatever makes up 10 characters

 

[jb747]

There were 22 granted in the last calender year with the most going to QF21.



The Minister or an approved delegate, many years ago I performed the role of approved delegate when working the night shift at the Sydney Area Approach Control Centre.

And how many diversions were there, or flights cancelled upstream? We were only recently talking about a late go around and diversion back to Melbourne for a 767 after one of those days when Sydney had bad weather all day.

So, whilst 22 dispensation may have been granted (and I'll admit that's 22 more than I expected) it remains a lot easier to get one at Heathrow.

 

[markis10]

And how many diversions were there, or flights cancelled upstream? We were only recently talking about a late go around and diversion back to Melbourne for a 767 after one of those days when Sydney had bad weather all day.

So, whilst 22 dispensation may have been granted (and I'll admit that's 22 more than I expected) it remains a lot easier to get one at Heathrow.

Strangely enough there are no figures kept on that, I am not a supporter of the curfew myself, and being responsible for dispensation decisions is a classic no win role. The law is no doubt an cough in this case, as demonstrated by its allowance of propeller ops that can be louder and more irritating than jets as was the case with the air ambulances when they ran queen airs!

 

[ReLoad]

With Sydney and Adelaide having a curfew, is ATC staffed and able to take aircraft at odd hours? Say 2am? Likewise emergency services?

I'm thinking is it a viable divert location in an emergency?

 

[jb747]

Ahem, or bump, whatever makes up 10 characters

Legal limit has the aircraft completing the landing roll with 30 minutes of fuel (at the holding burn rate) to dry tanks.

There will have been fuel allowed for the approach, and any weather or notified ATC holding requirements....which could well all be burnt. There may be some residual from the variable fuel, though that too could mostly be consumed.

Unless specifically required by the weather forecast, there will not be fuel to any alternate.

On the other hand, as both Boeing and Airbus make fuel, not air, tanks, I prefer more...

 

[markis10]

With Sydney and Adelaide having a curfew, is ATC staffed and able to take aircraft at odd hours? Say 2am? Likewise emergency services?

I'm thinking is it a viable divert location in an emergency?

Its a common misconception that curfew = closure, when in fact operations continue throughout the night including many jets with freight, so yes it's still staffed etc.

 

[ginnypooch]

Hi JB.

Thanks for all the answers you provide. This may seem a silly one. A plane full of passengers did the harlem shake (a dance). This made the news last week - i'm unable to post a link. According to news reports it's being investigated as the reports say the plane could have depressurised as a result of all these people moving about at once. Is there something in that or is it just nonsense?

 

[jb747]

Hi JB.

Thanks for all the answers you provide. This may seem a silly one. A plane full of passengers did the harlem shake (a dance). This made the news last week - i'm unable to post a link. According to news reports it's being investigated as the reports say the plane could have depressurised as a result of all these people moving about at once. Is there something in that or is it just nonsense?

I don't see a mechanism for it depressurising, unless it's caused by the hole in the side left by those trying to get away from the horrible music.

 

[mjt57]

JB, just saw the latest episode. You've described it as an early morning arrival in LA. Visibility is poor. Silly question probably, but was that fog or smog? If the latter, it's terrible.

Like that perspective, too. Did you have one of those GoPro suction cups on the window?

 

[jb747]

JB, just saw the latest episode. You've described it as an early morning arrival in LA. Visibility is poor. Silly question probably, but was that fog or smog? If the latter, it's terrible.

Like that perspective, too. Did you have one of those GoPro suction cups on the window?

It's just some thin mist. Turned into a nice day once the sun had put some heat into it.

GoPro high on the #2 window. Their suction cap attachment is amazingly strong.