Ask The Pilot

[mjt57]

If I remember correctly, that particular bloke had a bit of an agenda......

Yes, he was somewhat dark on CASA...

It would be nice to make it to the point at which you go by choice, but, realistically, I've already had a wonderful career. I feel for the young blokes that miss out for various reasons.

And for them it must be heart breaking. and frustrating, no doubt.

When I was a teenager the RAAF knocked me back because of my eyesight and I was told that I'd struggle to pass the medical for even PPLs, so I moved on, whilst my best mate at the time made a career for himself (I believe he's a chief pilot for a large helicopter mob these days). Now that my vision is being corrected via cataract surgery for the first time in 49 years, I'm considering looking at it again. A few mates have bought Jabirus, so that may be an option. The medical requirements aren't as strict I'm told, for that class of aircraft.

As an aside, this is Page 380...

 

[userlame]

As an aside, this is Page 380...

381. Missed it by that much.

The medical requirements for flying a Jabiru under RA-Aus (Recreational Aviation) are mostly the same as for getting a driver's licence. And if you do get the chance to fly an ultralight (Jabiru, Foxbat, etc), do take it.

 

[straitman]

As you get older it must become a bit of a nerve wracking exercise when it comes to medical time, I would imagine, particularly at JB's level where a hard-to-get-into industry career is at stake.

Most people have a good idea of whether they will be OK or not. We had a guy who had to have specific medical tests each year and CASA was just as slow at processing his medical every year. We effectively lost him offline for 4-8 weeks every year.

It would be nice to make it to the point at which you go by choice, but, realistically, I've already had a wonderful career. I feel for the young blokes that miss out for various reasons.

After having an ATPL for nearly 30 years and a military medical for about 13 years before that it was nice not to have to go and visit the DAME each October. After I had Prostate cancer I did one more to prove the point and then walked away and did not look back.

 

[jb747]

The medical requirements for flying a Jabiru under RA-Aus (Recreational Aviation) are mostly the same as for getting a driver's licence. And if you do get the chance to fly an ultralight (Jabiru, Foxbat, etc), do take it.

Not even that expensive. Bit small for my taste though....

 

[AVC]

As an aside, this is Page 380...

Page 96 on my side. It's setting dependent.

 

[Tortuga]

Hey JB, when there are other planes ahead of you do they give you weather updates or is it only from the tower? I was flying out of Miami yesterday and just after we were at cruising altitude the captain told us to expect about 20 minutes of turbulence. A TAM flight had left 10 minutes before us on the same course, just wondered if they radioed the tower to let them know weather conditions up there.

 

[jb747]

Hey JB, when there are other planes ahead of you do they give you weather updates or is it only from the tower? I was flying out of Miami yesterday and just after we were at cruising altitude the captain told us to expect about 20 minutes of turbulence. A TAM flight had left 10 minutes before us on the same course, just wondered if they radioed the tower to let them know weather conditions up there.

Turbulence, especially clear air, is often reported as a "ride report". It doesn't come or go quickly, so ATC can often build up a pretty accurate picture of where it is and that will be passed along. The frequency of these reports varies around the world...ranging from very common (in the USA) to utterly non existent. To a degree they aren't necessary, as they are generally predicted on our flight plans and weather forecasts, and other than limited climbs or descents, there's not much you can do to avoid them.

Weather associated with storms, etc, isn't reported at all. It's a pretty basic assumption that you have radar and know how to use it. Generally you find a track through the weather that will work for you (normally just an offset to either side), and get ATC to approve that. In the USA, because it's a bit too busy to have aircraft sorting out their own act, ATC tend to reroute flights (via airways) to track well clear of offending storms.

Overall there is very little chatter between aircraft.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Is there a speed limit as such for taxing? I was in an incredibly fast taxi pre-take off about a week ago, on a 733, roughly 30 knots as a guess.

 

[jb747]

Is there a speed limit as such for taxing? I was in an incredibly fast taxi pre-take off about a week ago, on a 733, roughly 30 knots as a guess.

Taxi speeds are very hard to pick. I cheat and use the GPS readout.... Every time I fly domestically on the single aisle aircraft it feels like they are in a race. Perhaps they are, but mostly I think it's because I'm much closer to the ground than normal.

Some places do have specific limits (for example the south cross bridge in Singapore is 20 knots). Aircraft makers give recommendations, and in the case of Boeing, that's 30 knots.

 

[Conrad_S]

About 2 weeks ago we were coming into Sydney on the early flight from PQQ. The pilot suggested the pax put down the newspaper and enjoy the view as we were running along the top of the cloud cover. It did look pretty good and would have looked even better from the coughpit I'd imagine. Probably looked like a ship on the ocean.
Probably ran like this for 5 minutes or so.
Do you see this very often?

 

[jb747]

About 2 weeks ago we were coming into Sydney on the early flight from PQQ. The pilot suggested the pax put down the newspaper and enjoy the view as we were running along the top of the cloud cover. It did look pretty good and would have looked even better from the coughpit I'd imagine. Probably looked like a ship on the ocean.
Probably ran like this for 5 minutes or so.
Do you see this very often?

You see some wonderful views. Often they are very fleeting (like a 747 that slowly overtook us one evening and ran straight over the full moon). Sometimes we even pinch a glance during an approach (LA city on a recent early morning arrival comes to mind). Layers of cloud can be fun. Mostly what you describe will be accidental, but sometimes we've been known to level off exactly on the layer, accelerate, and then pitch into a real climb.

When you stop enjoying the view, you're well past it....

 

[defurax]

Hi JB,
I'm at the F1 in Melbourne today and I was wondering how does QF pick the pilot for the flyover on Sunday? Is this something pilots enjoy doing? Do you know if it's going to be a 747 or A380 this year?

 

[jb747]

Hi JB,
I'm at the F1 in Melbourne today and I was wondering how does QF pick the pilot for the flyover on Sunday? Is this something pilots enjoy doing? Do you know if it's going to be a 747 or A380 this year?

It's always a management/senior check/training pilot. It's never offered to the line pilots, and for that reason we take no interest in it. I have no idea what type will be doing it.

 

[jstewart70]

Hi jb747,

LOVE your videos on You Tube! Do you need to get clearance from Qantas before you post them? I see you are based in Melbourne. Do you ever fly the Sydney - LAX route? We are taking that in May on an A380 and can't wait. I'll be sitting during take off imagining your checks, 100 knots, V1, rotate, positive climb, gear up etc. Fantastic to get an insight into what is happening up the pointy end of the plane!

Cheers.

 

[docjames]

It's always a management/senior check/training pilot.

Is that due to
- it being high profile
- high(er) risk (low level etc)
- availability in Melbourne on a particular date
- other??

 

[mjt57]

It's always a management/senior check/training pilot.

Speaking (or rather, writing) about training, management, etc, is there a seniority list for these positions as well? If so, I am imagining that they would've trained on Comets or something, given the average age of your contemporaries...

 

[Mattg]

Turbulence, especially clear air, is often reported as a "ride report". It doesn't come or go quickly, so ATC can often build up a pretty accurate picture of where it is and that will be passed along. The frequency of these reports varies around the world...ranging from very common (in the USA) to utterly non existent. To a degree they aren't necessary, as they are generally predicted on our flight plans and weather forecasts, and other than limited climbs or descents, there's not much you can do to avoid them.

Weather associated with storms, etc, isn't reported at all. It's a pretty basic assumption that you have radar and know how to use it. Generally you find a track through the weather that will work for you (normally just an offset to either side), and get ATC to approve that. In the USA, because it's a bit too busy to have aircraft sorting out their own act, ATC tend to reroute flights (via airways) to track well clear of offending storms.

Overall there is very little chatter between aircraft.

I've noticed QF107, QF15 and QF93 to LAX (as an example) often tend to fly within close proximity of each other. Would they communicate, even if just to pass the time? Or would there be any other reason for them to communicate?

 

[Batesy]

I've noticed QF107, QF15 and QF93 to LAX (as an example) often tend to fly within close proximity of each other. Would they communicate, even if just to pass the time? Or would there be any other reason for them to communicate?

And the 12. Let the pilots answer as this thread is meant to be. I watch all of these on Flightradar often and it looks a bit crowded but my view is all of the flight crews worry about their flights and don't call each other very often.

 

[Mattg]

And the 12. Let the pilots answer as this thread is meant to be. I watch all of these on Flightradar often and it looks a bit crowded but my view is all of the flight crews worry about their flights and don't call each other very often.

Not the 12 as it flies in the opposite direction. I don't know if you meant QF11, but this one doesn't usually fly with the rest either because it leaves several hours later.

 

[markis10]

Dont know about pilots having a chat on 123.45 but a famil trip I did in the jump seat on a UA flight to LAX ex SYD, we had the radar altimeter show 4000 ft at one stage as it bounced over another LAX bound aircraft underneath us, modern navaids reduce the highway width!