Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

just bumping this as I'd be interested in an answer on this as well

No change that I know of.

 

[jb747]

I was reading about a recent "incident" which happened recently in the Canadian Far North: First Air pilots suspended after flying 100s of km off course - North - CBC News

While reading this I was thinking about the Korean Air flight that was shot down by the Russians for flying off course. My question relates to the true north vs magnetic north, is it still possible to have a modern aircraft using the "wrong" north as a reference? Apparently the pilots were able to "reset" something and then fly straight to Iqaluit without further incidents. The article refers to navigation by GPS, but I thought even GPS is far from perfect at very high latitudes.

If I recall correctly, one theory regarding the Korean flight was that the error was an intentional cutting of a corner. In any event, in those days the waypoints all had to be loaded manually into the nav system, so there was plenty of potential for error.

The 737-200 mentioned in the article isn't what I'd call a particularly modern aircraft. Even though the article mentions GPS, I doubt that there is an integrated GPS based navigation system (having GPS and integrating it are two different animals). Above a latitude of 60º the heading display should be switched to 'true'. Some aircraft do that automatically, whilst others will give a warning when it's necessary. And some are old and do nothing.

 

[jb747]

Backing up a week or so...the engine shutdown out of Dubai was apparently caused by an accessory gearbox drive failure. The engine just cleanly turned itself off. Engine was changed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No change that I know of.

...thanks...

 

[mjt57]

Backing up a week or so...the engine shutdown out of Dubai was apparently caused by an accessory gearbox drive failure. The engine just cleanly turned itself off. Engine was changed.

How long does it take to swap out an engine? And where would they have gotten the spare from?

I'm guessing that DXB being a hub for lots of A380s that there would be spares held by Emirates' maintenance?

 

[zainman]

How long does it take to swap out an engine? And where would they have gotten the spare from?

I'm guessing that DXB being a hub for lots of A380s that there would be spares held by Emirates' maintenance?

Don't EK and QF use different engines for their A380s? (different manufacturers?)

 

[mannej]

Don't EK and QF use different engines for their A380s? (different manufacturers?)

You are correct - EK don't use RR engines on their 380 fleet

 

[petercr]

Did I read somewhere (maybe related to the QF32 story) that RR provided the engines on a 'power by the hour' basis which included supply / maintenance? ( and would then put the onus on RR to do what needed to be done)

 

[mjt57]

JB, just watched the segment on one of your B767 colleagues retirement on Nein News tonight.

Started as an "apprentice engineer" and finished as a QF captain, aged 66. Not a bad run. Thought retirement was 60 or 65?

 

[jb747]

How long does it take to swap out an engine? And where would they have gotten the spare from?

I'm guessing that DXB being a hub for lots of A380s that there would be spares held by Emirates' maintenance?

Timing, I'm not sure of, but reasonably fast. I'd expect well less than half a day. Emirates use a different engine. I don't know where this one was before it was called upon. I think it was carried in by an Emirates freighter. That's one of the losses from the 747...the ability to 5th pod.

 

[jb747]

Did I read somewhere (maybe related to the QF32 story) that RR provided the engines on a 'power by the hour' basis which included supply / maintenance? ( and would then put the onus on RR to do what needed to be done)

They do, but exactly how that translates into who does what, and who pays, isn't something that comes to the pilot world.

 

[jb747]

JB, just watched the segment on one of your B767 colleagues retirement on Nein News tonight.

Started as an "apprentice engineer" and finished as a QF captain, aged 66. Not a bad run. Thought retirement was 60 or 65?

When I first joined, retirement was at 57. Then it moved to 60. And it stretched out to 65 back around 2005 or so. But, beyond 65, you cannot operate in command internationally, and I think there is also then a limit imposed upon the age of the FO (coughulative age of captain and FO less than 120). Domestically, there are a couple of blokes who are closer to 70 than anything else.

Sadly one of the problems of getting a bit older is that you don't necessarily see that your skills are degrading...I intend leaving well before any FOs start talking about 'that' old guy.

You don't recall his surname do you?

 

[legroom]

Sadly one of the problems of getting a bit older is that you don't necessarily see that your skills are degrading...I intend leaving well before any FOs start talking about 'that' old guy ...

Wouldn't the sim take care of that issue: weeding out the slow reflexes and the poor judgments ?

Thanks

 

[jb747]

Wouldn't the sim take care of that issue: weeding out the slow reflexes and the poor judgments ?

Not really. The sim looks at a small part of the entire operation. Day to day, it's the complete package that matters. It isn't all engine failures and fuel ordering. Or even approaches of various types. Sometimes it's what you're like after 8 hours in the seat.... Route checks cover that to a degree, but they only happen once per year normally.

It's much better to go whilst you still have it...

 

[legroom]

Not really. The sim looks at a small part of the entire operation. Day to day, it's the complete package that matters. It isn't all engine failures and fuel ordering. Or even approaches of various types. Sometimes it's what you're like after 8 hours in the seat.... Route checks cover that to a degree, but they only happen once per year normally.

It's much better to go whilst you still have it...

Very noble and selfless attitude, JB

Correct, if I may say so.

Assuming the over-65 pilots still want to go to work, is there anything QF or others may be able to offer?

SIM instructor, check pilot, fleet management .... ??

Or, all of those positions would require a current licence anyway and that would exclude the >65 ?


Thanks

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

Hi JB and thanks as always for the wonderful thread.

I notice in the press that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge flew Qantas First Class into Sydney before continuing on to NZ the other day. Would a VVIP like this attract any unusual rostering? Would the company publicise this internally or allow very senior captains to bid? Would they quietly roster it themselves to ensure a senior crew are in charge? Or would it just get treated as normal?

When is usually the first time you would find out about having someone like on board if you are the operating captain? And who are some of the more interesting people you have ferried over the years?

Cheers!

 

[PointyEnd]

Are pilots allowed to be smokers? I'm sure they're not allowed to smoke while at work and whether they do or not is not the question! I'm wondering if pilots on long haul would be feeling the effects of not being able to smoke which could cloud their judgement towards the end of the journey.


I remember about 18 months ago I boarded a MU flight shortly after chocking. I stuck my head into the coughpit for a peak and the smell and fumes of cigarette smoke were overwhelming lol.

I knew a pilot flying cargo for Cathay on 747 8's who said there's an extractor-vent-type-thing (very technical jargon, I know) in the coughpit which some pilots smoke under, apparently the smoke gets sucked out the coughpit...

 

[jb747]

Assuming the over-65 pilots still want to go to work, is there anything QF or others may be able to offer?

The 65 restriction doesn't apply to domestic operations. Some have transferred to the 737/767. The 767 option is basically gone now of course.

SIM instructor, check pilot, fleet management .... ??

At any given time, there aren't many sim instructors (much is done by Senior Check Captains, who are current pilots). But they've pretty well all come from retired people...many from other airlines, which gives some good alternative viewpoints. Check pilots are all current, as are management.

The other option would be to bid back to the FO rank, though so far as I know, nobody has done that.

As one retiring pilot said, "if I miss it, I'll just sit in the wardrobe all night, with a TV showing a test image".

 

[jb747]

I notice in the press that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge flew Qantas First Class into Sydney before continuing on to NZ the other day. Would a VVIP like this attract any unusual rostering? Would the company publicise this internally or allow very senior captains to bid? Would they quietly roster it themselves to ensure a senior crew are in charge? Or would it just get treated as normal?

When is usually the first time you would find out about having someone like on board if you are the operating captain? And who are some of the more interesting people you have ferried over the years?

Charters (i.e. the Papal flights) would be handed out by the fleet manager. I think the Prince and his wife were just on a normal scheduled service, so I'd expect that was randomly assigned by the rostering program. There is no need for it to be a 'senior' crew (and perhaps you could argue that a senior crew might all be past it)....and really, there is no such thing as a junior 380 crew. It's just relative seniority.

 

[jb747]

I knew a pilot flying cargo for Cathay on 747 8's who said there's an extractor-vent-type-thing (very technical jargon, I know) in the coughpit which some pilots smoke under, apparently the smoke gets sucked out the coughpit...

There was originally a sextant port in the roof of the 747s. When the -400 appeared this had been repurposed as a smoke removal vent...though it is not meant for cigarette smoke.

If you open it, then it gets very noisy. It is, after all, roughly a 1 inch hole, directly to the outside.