Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

Here's an interesting concept.

As JB like to call the Airbus "the electric jets", are the brake pedals big switches or are they still "old fashioned" hydraulic (assisted naturally).

The reason I ask is that cars are getting more electric. Our latest horse has electric park brake (which is handy as the wife can't drive off with it engaged), electric throttle, electric gear shift (which irks me somewhat, I just cant get used to turning a silly knob, couldn't they have just had a little mini gearshift like the Airbus throttle?), electric seat/windows. No electric tailgate but they are not uncommon. Any sunroof these days is naturally electric.

Brakes are getting electric brake assist (in emergency braking), and electronic brakeforce distribution, so my main question is do you think that car brakes would go full FBW?

After that, the only thing left would be FBW steering. :shock:

Brakes and steering are FBW.

 

[mjt57]

Moving to the country more than anything else.

Sounds like post-flying living.

Good luck with it...

 

[Trakman]

When jet aircraft with afterburners execute a steep take off, does the jet blast damage the runway surface? Do pilots of such aircraft need to manage the angle of their take off accordingly?

 

[jb747]

When jet aircraft with afterburners execute a steep take off, does the jet blast damage the runway surface? Do pilots of such aircraft need to manage the angle of their take off accordingly?

Interesting question. All jet aircraft can create some degree of blast damage. I don't think the heat from a burner flame would be in contact for long enough to do too much. Takeoffs in which the 'burner flame does impinge upon the runway probably aren't that common anyway...most fighters stay low and accelerate rather than steeply climbing.

 

[markis10]

Interesting question. All jet aircraft can create some degree of blast damage. I don't think the heat from a burner flame would be in contact for long enough to do too much. Takeoffs in which the 'burner flame does impinge upon the runway probably aren't that common anyway...most fighters stay low and accelerate rather than steeply climbing.

I did once give a Maple (F18) a clearance ex CBR to reach FL250 within 1nm of CBR DME. He was departing CBR.

 

[jb747]

I did once give a Maple (F18) a clearance ex CBR to reach FL250 within 1nm of CBR DME. He was departing CBR.

The best I ever managed was roughly 10,000 at the end of 16 in Sydney. Take off, hold it at about 20 feet, accelerate until you reach the thousand foot markers, and pitch to the vertical. Not quite as much performance as an 18...but it wasn't too bad. Of course, coming out of maintenance at QF, it weighed nothing.

 

[phily]

JB, is there any difference between a Flight Deck and a coughpit? Which term do most QF pilots use?

 

[jb747]

JB, is there any difference between a Flight Deck and a coughpit? Which term do most QF pilots use?

The spelling? We use the terms interchangeably, though I suspect coughpit is more prevalent amongst pilots.

 

[mjt57]

The best I ever managed was roughly 10,000 at the end of 16 in Sydney. Take off, hold it at about 20 feet, accelerate until you reach the thousand foot markers, and pitch to the vertical. Not quite as much performance as an 18...but it wasn't too bad. Of course, coming out of maintenance at QF, it weighed nothing.

JB, most of us would give our eye teeth for a ride in a military aircraft, let alone whether it's an A4, F18 or whatever. The closest that I got to anything like that were some aerobatics in a Victa Air tourer near East Sale, once. God only knows what pilots are subjected to in aircraft with real performance...

 

[Kangol]

jb747, how do you organise times for breaks with you and the other pilots (FO/SO)?
Would you get enough time to get some shuteye or is it just a few mins here and there?

 

[jb747]

jb747, how do you organise times for breaks with you and the other pilots (FO/SO)?
Would you get enough time to get some shuteye or is it just a few mins here and there?

Some thought goes into the sequence, mainly to make the most of anyone who had a particularly good (or bad) sleep before the flight.

Otherwise, take two hours off the flight time (call it X), and multiply what's left by two. That's how many flight deck hours you need. Multiply X by the number of pilots that you have, and that's how many pilot hours you have available. The difference divided by the number of pilots gives the total time off per pilot.

The way it's divided up varies with every sector. On the way to the USA, it will often be three breaks, with each one longer than the previous. Sometimes the trip is just divided into two. It's all an exercise in trying to make the most of the rested, and to get breaks that are actually useful.

 

[Craigie]

I'm standing on a vantage point in Sydney watching some lightning amongst the cloud off the coast, absolutely beautiful.

Made me think though because my wife asked me what happens to a plane when it gets hit by lightning. I said a short answer that many planes have been hit by lightning but have not been brought down but it made me wonder.

Obviously you try your best to avoid the worst of the weather but what does happen to an aircraft when it gets hit? Have you been hit? (By lightning, not passengers)

 

[jb747]

I'm standing on a vantage point in Sydney watching some lightning amongst the cloud off the coast, absolutely beautiful.

Made me think though because my wife asked me what happens to a plane when it gets hit by lightning. I said a short answer that many planes have been hit by lightning but have not been brought down but it made me wonder.

Obviously you try your best to avoid the worst of the weather but what does happen to an aircraft when it gets hit? Have you been hit? (By lightning, not passengers)

I've been hit many times.

The first time that I can recall, I was flying an A4G towing a target for the ships to shoot at. The storm was quite some miles away, but the temptation of 20,000 feet of steel cable was too much for it. The target was blown off the end...that was what was supposed to happen, but it was supposed to be as a result of the 5 inch guns on the DDG.

In the cruise we normally keep 20 plus miles away from the storms, and strikes are rare. They are much more common near airfields, because the aircraft are more constrained in their tracking.

If hit...the thunder is VERY loud. And that's about the worst of it. The aircraft acts as a big Faraday cage, and keeps all of the stray electrons away from everything. The aircraft electronics don't even notice. Sometimes it leaves some burn marks on the skin, and it might remove a static whip or two.

 

[AVC]

Brakes and steering are FBW.

I was referring to car steering.

But it does answer the question about the '380 brakes. I would have assumed the tiller was FBW.

 

[Skyhigh777]

Are there always two pilots in the coughpit, or is it acceptable for one pilot to fly while the other rests?

Thanks JB

 

[eric2011]

A lot of media hype regarding the simulator in the Malaysian Airlines pilots home. Is having a (what looks like a sophisticated) simulator at home a common practise amongst heavy aircraft pilots, and if it is, do you use it to pre-plan your future flights routes?

 

[legroom]

Some thought goes into the sequence, mainly to make the most of anyone who had a particularly good (or bad) sleep before the flight.

Otherwise, take two hours off the flight time (call it X), and multiply what's left by two. That's how many flight deck hours you need. Multiply X by the number of pilots that you have, and that's how many pilot hours you have available. The difference divided by the number of pilots gives the total time off per pilot.

The way it's divided up varies with every sector. On the way to the USA, it will often be three breaks, with each one longer than the previous. Sometimes the trip is just divided into two. It's all an exercise in trying to make the most of the rested, and to get breaks that are actually useful.

Slightly related to the rest issue, JB

What type of meals do you get to choose from ?

F degustation - with some red to wash it down ??

Do pilots have any alcohol restriction while on duty ?

Like 0.05 ... ?

Spartan Y sandwich with bottled water ?

Has the Q cutting affected that area yet ?

Is the rest area doubled as the dining space as well ?

Are you guys "hot bunking" that area or each has his / her own area ??

Many sincere thanks

 

[jb747]

Are there always two pilots in the coughpit, or is it acceptable for one pilot to fly while the other rests?

There can be one for the time taken for a quick visit to toilet. Otherwise, get someone else back....

In two man operations, a short doze, in the seat, may be allowed.

 

[jb747]

A lot of media hype regarding the simulator in the Malaysian Airlines pilots home. Is having a (what looks like a sophisticated) simulator at home a common practise amongst heavy aircraft pilots, and if it is, do you use it to pre-plan your future flights routes?

It's not common, but it sure looked pretty cool. Some of the boys are into that sort of thing....I think one even owns a company that does some software for it. If I had one, it would simulate something much more interesting than an airliner. But, for most, we have access to the real thing, so there are many other things to do in time off.

Very few routes require any specific preplanning, other than having a good look at the approach charts and limitations of any airfield that you may be interested in. Flying an actual route would be about as interesting as sitting in a dark wardrobe all night.

 

[jb747]

What type of meals do you get to choose from ?

A totally different set to what is otherwise offered on the aircraft.

Do pilots have any alcohol restriction while on duty ? Like 0.05 ... ?

Supposed to be zero, but I think that legally ends up at .02.

Has the Q cutting affected that area yet ?

We have to eat the container it comes in.

Is the rest area doubled as the dining space as well ?

You can eat there if you feel like it.

Are you guys "hot bunking" that area or each has his / her own area ??

On the 330 there is only one bunk, and the 380 and 747 have two. So, very much hot bunking. You don't have to share bedding though, so it isn't that bad.....