Ask The Pilot

[Mwenenzi]

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 .... ??

When I got my my PPL in South Africa (1983) one of the instructors (on C172 C152) was an ex KLM B707 pilot. Keep him away from the wife and away from the golf course.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

You don't recall his surname do you?

In the news in NZ today is a retiring Qantas Captain with 50 Years service. His name is Bob Bishop. Could be the same one?

 

[RobYg]

JB is your new home under a flight path? If so, when you retire and a 747 or a 380 passes overhead will you be down here wishing you were up there?

 

[ts911993]

that was the guy on the news here yesterday.

 

[jb747]

In the news in NZ today is a retiring Qantas Captain with 50 Years service. His name is Bob Bishop. Could be the same one?

Certainly could be. Bob was a flight engineer. Not sure when he changed sides, but he's been a Captain for a long time. Nice bloke.

 

[jb747]

JB is your new home under a flight path? If so, when you retire and a 747 or a 380 passes overhead will you be down here wishing you were up there?

It's couple of miles offset from the main Melbourne to Sydney route, so we see plenty of domestics, and the occasional big fellow.

Like most jobs I expect I'll miss the people, and perhaps the money, much more than anything else. I'll admit that it's pretty cool walking out to take a 380 for a fly....but rather less so trying to stay awake at some horrid time of night.

Anyway, it's not over yet....

 

[Himeno]

How far ahead do you know which flights you're flying?

 

[jb747]

How far ahead do you know which flights you're flying?

Long haul rosters cover a 56 day period, and are generally released about a week before the start of the roster period. So, somewhere between one and nine weeks of notice.

If you're on a 'blank' line, then you may not know until as close as a couple of hours, but normally two days.

All I have left on this roster (because I'm taking a lot of leave) is one trip to the USA. QF11 on the 29th, and the 12 on the 30th.

 

[bass_ke]

Enjoy the time off JB!

Once you retire would you consider putting together some kind of informal memoir of your flying days?

I'm sure a lot of is would love to hear it given the variety of types you've flown and the experiences you've had, especially QF30. I'm still amazed at the strength of the aircraft, how solid you're training must be and how cool and calmly you fellows up front dealt with it.

Once again, genuine thanks for this window into your world!

 

[jb747]

Enjoy the time off JB!

Once you retire would you consider putting together some kind of informal memoir of your flying days?

I'm sure a lot of is would love to hear it given the variety of types you've flown and the experiences you've had, especially QF30. I'm still amazed at the strength of the aircraft, how solid you're training must be and how cool and calmly you fellows up front dealt with it.

Once again, genuine thanks for this window into your world!

Most of the time off will be spent working at the new house. We've just been over to it, and it's about 99.9% finished...and that should be done tomorrow morning. Of course some things you probably should not see, like the fitters trying to start up my gas log fire for the first time. Apparently they can be temperamental, until you get them 'just' right. Problem solved (from my perspective) by leaving them to it. Yard is sadly a bog, and the driveway only half done. Fingers crossed that it's down and walkable by the time we need to move.

As for memoirs...I thought this thread was them. QF30 was really just an hour of time in a long career. I'm glad I didn't screw it up, but in reality, I think that most of my compatriots would have done an almost identical job. The aircraft did perform well though.

 

[oz74]

Hi JB,

Will you do any flying once you retire?

 

[jb747]

Will you do any flying once you retire?

At this point I don't intend to, but I've got plenty of time to change my mind. I'd probably be dangerous anyway.

 

[oz74]

At this point I don't intend to, but I've got plenty of time to change my mind. I'd probably be dangerous anyway.

Lol. Must be a little bit difficult to give something up that you have done for so long. As you said though it's not over yet.

 

[Himeno]

Once you've moved from one aircraft type to another (eg 747 > 380), can you still operate on the older type if required?

 

[jb747]

Once you've moved from one aircraft type to another (eg 747 > 380), can you still operate on the older type if required?

No.

Whilst similar types (767/747 or 330/380) will certainly feel reasonably 'at home', they're all procedurally quite different. Any time I fly in the coughpit of a 767, I find it hard to believe that my brain once worked that fast.....

A major part of any conversion is actively trying to forget what you knew about prior types. In fact, you can get yourself into severe trouble by applying knowledge from a previous type to whatever you are flying now. Kegworth comes to mind.

 

[Orca]

All I have left on this roster (because I'm taking a lot of leave) is one trip to the USA. QF11 on the 29th, and the 12 on the 30th.

In that case I might chat to you on the air on the 29th... 128.6

 

[southernfoodluva]

I'm currently housesitting in an Estate in between Bacchus Marsh & Melton called Hopetoun Park. I've noticed we seem to be under a flight path. The other day I saw what I suspect was an A380, but I see lots of planes coming and going - never ever get sick of looking up and watching them...
Anyway, it got me wondering...
By the time you get to say Bacchus Marsh, on approach to MEL, what altitude are you normally flying at? Or can it vary, depending on aircraft type, wind speed, other variables?

 

[straitman]

Hi JB,

Will you do any flying once you retire?

At this point I don't intend to, but I've got plenty of time to change my mind. I'd probably be dangerous anyway.

Lol. Must be a little bit difficult to give something up that you have done for so long. As you said though it's not over yet.

Just to add to JB's answer.

It will be 5 years on 19th April since I last flew and it is only now that I am thinking maybe...... :shock: (after 40+ years I had had enough)

I'm now finding that it's time that's doing the flying :!:

 

[jb747]

I'm currently housesitting in an Estate in between Bacchus Marsh & Melton called Hopetoun Park. I've noticed we seem to be under a flight path. The other day I saw what I suspect was an A380, but I see lots of planes coming and going - never ever get sick of looking up and watching them...
Anyway, it got me wondering...
By the time you get to say Bacchus Marsh, on approach to MEL, what altitude are you normally flying at? Or can it vary, depending on aircraft type, wind speed, other variables?

Hopetoun Park is just east of Bacchus Marsh, and about 15 nautical miles from Tullarmarine. Aircraft arriving from the west, and landing on 34 would be about the only ones that would fly closely by you on arrival. As they pass, they'd have about 25 miles to run, and would be about about 6,000 feet.

As a rough guide to heights on descent...10 miles to run, 3,000 feet (190 knots). 20 miles, 5,000 feet (250 knots). Further out...about the distance to run (in miles) times 3.2 will give the height in thousands.

 

[D747]

As a rough guide to heights on descent...10 miles to run, 3,000 feet (190 knots). 20 miles, 5,000 feet (250 knots). Further out...about the distance to run (in miles) times 3.2 will give the height in thousands.

jb, how does descent from cruise work? You have mentioned ATC in the US can leave you with "High energy offsets". Is this all part of the same thing please?