Ask The Pilot

[mjt57]

most Australians however know him as the winner of Australian Survivor. He was a Helitac pilot for the NSCA.

Don't recall him (but then, I don't watch so-called reality television). I assume that he flew for Freddo back in the day. A couple of my mates were lucky enough to get their rotary wing licences through his org. Lucky buggers.

Still and all, I'm still trying to comprehend why pilots who've achieved so much in an industry where it's difficult to get past the Cessna stage, would choose another vocation. But they do, obviously.

 

[markis10]

Don't recall him (but then, I don't watch so-called reality television). I assume that he flew for Freddo back in the day. A couple of my mates were lucky enough to get their rotary wing licences through his org. Lucky buggers.

Still and all, I'm still trying to comprehend why pilots who've achieved so much in an industry where it's difficult to get past the Cessna stage, would choose another vocation. But they do, obviously.

You might enjoy Ray Doussets book Rotor In The Green: Ray Dousset: 9781602663169: Amazon.com: Books, he was one of the first pilots of LTVs Helimed service, flying the Hughes 500s and later the long ranger VH-SCV. Interesting career Army, NSCA, Army then God. I have never met anyone more a gentleman than Ray.

I feel his eventual grounding is typical of many who served in terms of the reasons behind it.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

Hi again JB,

I am wondering what the exact laws are these days regarding people entering the coughpit? I was on a domestic flight this morning that for some reason had a huge line of standby passengers. After the rest of us had boarded suddenly 20 or so folks appeared and started cramming into every last seat. Some folks were brought out of economy into business and two women (who had luggage with the airline logo so are crew of some sort) got on. I was in the front row of economy so noticed them head into the coughpit and jump seats appeared for them and there they remained the entire flight. What sort of discretion etc does a captain have over this scenario and is it even legal?

 

[N860CR]

Wouldn't be happening if it wasn't legal...

The Australian carriers all have the same policy. Employees of that particular airline with appropriate security cards can ride in the jumpseat at the discretion of the captain (who is entitled to say no).

The US has always been a little different. They allow other carriers crews in the jumpseat if required. Not sure why we are more restrictive (although the crews are treated like criminals here when it comes to "airport security")

 

[Quickstatus]

JB,

A colleague of mine ferried his single engined prop airplane from the US west coast to Sydney via HNL and some other stops along the way about 4 years ago. He is a recreational pilot. Apparently the LAX -HNL (or whatever airport he used) was the longest leg without stopping over 15 hours - well there would not be any place to stop anyway.


Im amazed he stayed awake for that time.

Question: Is there FAA/CASA rules about private pilot hours?

 

[Boris spatsky]

In days gone by, if your operation was not for 'hire or reward' (that is, commercial purposes), then CASA (and the FAA in the US) did not mandate pilot duty limitations. This meant that a 2 pilot business jet crew operating under private rules could legally fly Aus to the US non-stop (potentially 18 plus duty hours). CASA are about to change the rules - private pilots are soon going to be required to fly within duty limits unless flying for 'recreation'. This will bring all Australian registered bizjet operators under duty limits like the rest of us for the first time, but will not affect private pilots going for a fly in their 172 on the weekend.

It will be interesting to see how professional ferry pilots are treated. I expect that some will get an Instrument from CASA waiving or varying the duty limits.

 

[jb747]

A colleague of mine ferried his single engined prop airplane from the US west coast to Sydney via HNL and some other stops along the way about 4 years ago. He is a recreational pilot. Apparently the LAX -HNL (or whatever airport he used) was the longest leg without stopping over 15 hours - well there would not be any place to stop anyway.

Im amazed he stayed awake for that time.

Question: Is there FAA/CASA rules about private pilot hours?

I don't do any private flying, so I've never kept up on the rules.

 

[jb747]

The view from the office...

 

[bass_ke]

View attachment 27780

The view from the office...

Amazing JB!

I'd love to see more!

 

[CaviAck]

The view from the office...

Does this mean you're going back to uploading videos? I quite enjoyed those.

 

[jb747]

Does this mean you're going back to uploading videos? I quite enjoyed those.

When the GoPro 4 appears, I'll look at that again.

 

[harvyk]

Hi JB,
If during take-off you find there is something on the runway (like an animal), is there any sort of procedure you follow? For example would you attempt to abort the take-off or would you just hit the animal and deal with the consequences once in the air?

Last night we were sitting at the start of RWY 16L in SYD, we were the next to take off when the pilot came over the PA and told us that the previous aircraft to take off had spotted a dead animal on the runway, and that standard procedure was they needed to send a car down the runway to clear it.

 

[jb747]

Hi JB,
If during take-off you find there is something on the runway (like an animal), is there any sort of procedure you follow? For example would you attempt to abort the take-off or would you just hit the animal and deal with the consequences once in the air?

I'm just going to squash it flat. At anything other than low speeds, I'm more likely to do harm by either trying to avoid it, or by trying to stop. Basically aircraft are very bad cars....

Last night we were sitting at the start of RWY 16L in SYD, we were the next to take off when the pilot came over the PA and told us that the previous aircraft to take off had spotted a dead animal on the runway, and that standard procedure was they needed to send a car down the runway to clear it.

That's a FOD clearance. Not everything that uses Sydney is very large, and some could conceivably manage to pick up debris into an engine. The runways are always kept as clean as possible.

 

[Craigie]

Do you know if they do the same thing as Dubai where they fully inspect the runway each day?

 

[jb747]

Do you know if they do the same thing as Dubai where they fully inspect the runway each day?

Runway inspections periodically crop up everywhere. Don't know the frequency, but I expect they're both planned for the quiet times, and then ad hoc as needed.

 

[QF WP]

Just noticed this tweet which indicates this pilot is the first female A380 captain. Now I'm not sure whether that is just LH or worldwide. jb747, are there any in QF to your knowledge?

 

[bryanjones]

Sorry if this is seen as a blight on pilot skills, but when flying HKG-SYD last Sunday we were able to see the landing via the camera underneath the plane. In this config you can see the front wheel.

The pilot slotted the centre line exactly between the two wheels.

Question - is this just normal for every pilot, or is it an autoland?

 

[bryanjones]

Could an airliner really fly upside down?

Flight (2012 film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[markis10]

Runway inspections periodically crop up everywhere. Don't know the frequency, but I expect they're both planned for the quiet times, and then ad hoc as needed.

It does vary, for a continuously active runway often it's first light and then last light with lighting on, after a significant weather event or following a report of possible debris. Runways are also inspected before becoming active, or before the first RPT movement, preferably before the aircrafts departure from the other airport should it be landing at the inspection aerodrome.

 

[jb747]

Just noticed this tweet which indicates this pilot is the first female A380 captain. Now I'm not sure whether that is just LH or worldwide. jb747, are there any in QF to your knowledge?

Actually it only says she's flying the A380, and she has 3 bars...albeit rather thick ones.

QF doesn't have any female A380 Captains, although at least 3 of the girls have the seniority to have gone to it if they'd wanted. There are two FOs, and a few SOs.