Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

No, it is just another switch. If you're gping to start password protecting things there are much more dangerous buttons. Quite honestly thst sort of interference is the last thing needed in a coughpit.

 

[Industrial]

JB, have you had any opportunity to re-upload your videos?

 

[jb747]

I assume then, that you've read the news articles on the conspiricy theories about this?

They mention PPRUNE. I thought that it was one of the more credible of aviation websites, but perhaps not. Probably aus.aviation would be a better read.

PPRUNE may have been worth reading once. Now. Not too sure. I'd give it an accuracy score of about .....30%. Most of the posters are not pilots.

They were talking about this on 3AW this morning. Some caller said that ACARS would provide a data link back to whereever. Is this possible? Or is there some other system that relays flight info (live or otherwise)?

Lots of systems talks to the ground sometimes. The only one the pilots care about is the data link. Being out of contact is not surprising....even in the Gulf of
Thailand.

 

[jb747]

JB, have you had any opportunity to re-upload your videos?

No. I must admit I haven't even looked at them since I removed them from the net. I was shown a new video the other day of someone else's approach into London....and that told me that I need an new camera. His was much cleaner than mine...

 

[petercr]

I wonder if everyone who asked JB a question (and had it answered) chipped in $1, that should cover a GoPro for the coughpit...

 

[jb747]

I wonder if everyone who asked JB a question (and had it answered) chipped in $1, that should cover a GoPro for the coughpit...

Nice thought. I must buy a new one anyway.

They do attract attention in ways that aren't always positive.

 

[legroom]

...... Lots of systems talks to the ground sometimes. The only one the pilots care about is the data link. Being out of contact is not surprising....even in the Gulf of Thailand.

Hi JB,

What's about the 'data link' that is so important to pilots ?

Would you care to expand to us, the illiterate hoi polloi here on this thread, please ?

What is transmitted on that link ?

And the consequences of losing that link would be ....?

Many thanks

 

[jb747]

What's about the 'data link' that is so important to pilots ?

There is nothing important about it, other than than not having to make voice calls to ATC....which can be be a major PITA on HF.

And the consequences of losing that link would be ....?

We'd jump back a few years and make the position call on whatever radio, and frequency happened to work.

 

[petercr]

so it's like VOIP but for pilots (or is it just data packets) ?

 

[harvyk]

I think this might have been missed...

During the cruise stages, when checking in with ATC to state that you're still all good, do you simply call them stating that everything is still all good, or do you relay certain information (like speed, altitude, heading etc...)?

 

[Orca]

I think this might have been missed...

During the cruise stages, when checking in with ATC to state that you're still all good, do you simply call them stating that everything is still all good, or do you relay certain information (like speed, altitude, heading etc...)?

When transferred to another sector/controller the pilot would say "BNE centre, Qantas 11 maintaining Flight Level 350" and the controller would acknowledge. If on radar, the controller can see speed, heading, altitude etc so no need to make mention of any of that.

Basic position report/check-in during cruise in ADS-B or non-radar airspace (think over the Ocean, or in the middle of the continent etc) would be as follows "BN centre, Qantas 11 position ABC (the waypoint) at time xx, estimating DEF (next waypoint) at time xx, maintaining FL350"

With datalink (CPDLC) the pilot simply sends a position report with that info (plus a few other bits and pieces)

Hope that helps

 

[jb747]

so it's like VOIP but for pilots (or is it just data packets) ?

It's like SMS....

 

[legroom]

Hi JB,

Probably a silly Q here

Since MH370, have you changed anything in your pre-flight prep (more SMS to +1, glance at the insurance policy, double check on comms, 2nd look at the coughpit door, etc.....) ?

This is without knowing the full story yet.

I did open and check that my life insurance policy is still in force and others know about it.

Thanks

 

[jb747]

Probably a silly Q here

Since MH370, have you changed anything in your pre-flight prep (more SMS to +1, glance at the insurance policy, double check on comms, 2nd look at the coughpit door, etc.....) ?

This is without knowing the full story yet.

I did open and check that my life insurance policy is still in force and others know about it.

Not at all. If there are any lessons to be learnt, then they'll eventually make their way into the public domain. Until then, it's just business as usual.

 

[Ewing]

The only change would be not having to change terminals. You still have to clear C&I at your first landing point. And there is the QF flight ex SYD that continues onto JFK, you should be able to connect with it at LAX.

Yes you can. Here's a booking I have in my account:

And thanks again JB for your posts - this is one of a few threads I've read where "I wish I could get that time back" has not entered my head even once. Fingers crossed you get to operate one of my A380 flights this year

-Shaun

 

[drewbles]

In relation to disabling the transponder, are there many (or any!) real world applications/situations that would require a flight crew to turn it off?

 

[bluedoggin]

I'm a student recreational pilot, and our school has transponders fitted to their aircraft. Rex flies into our airport once or twice a day, and with one of my instructors when we have been up in the air and heard them either on approach or taxiing out to the runway, he turns the transponder off then on.

What information would this be sending to the Rex coughpit, and what difference does it make to cycle it off and on? He mentioned it lets them know we are there (as well as our radio calls to let them know where we are), and I've wondered what info they receive from us.

Thanks.

Edited to add, I understand their role in our aircraft, I was curious as to what they see in theirs

 

[markis10]

I'm a student recreational pilot, and our school has transponders fitted to their aircraft. Rex flys into our airport once or twice a day, and with one of my instructors when we have been up in the air and hear them either on approach or taxiing out to the runway he turns the transponder off then on.

What information would this be sending to the Rex coughpit, and what difference does it make to cycle it off and on? He mentioned it lets them know we are there (as well as our radio calls to let them know where we are), and I've wondered what info they receive from us.

Thanks.

Edited to add, I understand their role in our aircraft, I was curious as to what they see in theirs

Do you know what mode it's is, A/C or S mode?

 

[jb747]

In relation to disabling the transponder, are there many (or any!) real world applications/situations that would require a flight crew to turn it off?

A fire in the electronics.....

 

[jb747]

I'm a student recreational pilot, and our school has transponders fitted to their aircraft. Rex flys into our airport once or twice a day, and with one of my instructors when we have been up in the air and hear them either on approach or taxiing out to the runway he turns the transponder off then on.

What information would this be sending to the Rex coughpit, and what difference does it make to cycle it off and on? He mentioned it lets them know we are there (as well as our radio calls to let them know where we are), and I've wondered what info they receive from us.

Thanks.

Edited to add, I understand their role in our aircraft, I was curious as to what they see in theirs

Their TCAS should see you as long as you have the transponder on. I don't see why turning it off and then on would make any difference.