Ask The Pilot

[hummel]

Not so much a question for JB but for others as well.

Do airport get closed often for weather?

Was in CAN on Thursday morning and was 2nd in que to take off. A CZ aircraft landed and then the Captain announced that the airport had been closed by ATC due to weather (It was a pretty crazy storm, but winds weren't huge). We ended up waiting on the taxiway for an hour then back to gate for another 45 minutes and then back to runway - A different one assuming due to the weather.

 

[bass_ke]

I ride a motorbike. As some of you may be aware, it's always a gripe of ours that car drivers don't see us (SMIDSY - Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You).

I am not surprised that there are dolts out there which could miss a mobile block of flats, but given where such movements occur you'd think that those authorised to drive around airports would be smart enough. Obviously not.

You'd think they'd be smart enough! In my experience I've found it far tougher to gain an airside drivers authority at smaller ports like OOL as opposed to somewhere like BNE. Going on the same logic almost anyone could get one at DXB or LAX

 

[jb747]

Do airport get closed often for weather?

Not often.

Was in CAN on Thursday morning and was 2nd in que to take off. A CZ aircraft landed and then the Captain announced that the airport had been closed by ATC due to weather (It was a pretty crazy storm, but winds weren't huge). We ended up waiting on the taxiway for an hour then back to gate for another 45 minutes and then back to runway - A different one assuming due to the weather.

Crazy storm...doesn't sound like something to operate in.

The winds you saw are no real indication of what is airborne, or just down the track. Benign where you are...could well be windshear beyond the performance of the aircraft at the other end of the runway. It sounds like a really good time to be on the ground.

 

[legroom]

Hi JB,

Leaving aside the geopolitical aspects of the situation, just the aeronautics of the recently reported incidence of Japanese & Chinese planes flying very close to each other "30m" at one stage.

That involved SU-27, a fighter plane I believe.

How easy would that turn into a real accident that the pilot could not control, assuming it was a scare tactic to start with ?

As a layman, I'd have thought 30m is zero margin safety up there.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks, as always.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Hi JB,

Leaving aside the geopolitical aspects of the situation, just the aeronautics of the recently reported incidence of Japanese & Chinese planes flying very close to each other "30m" at one stage.

That involved SU-27, a fighter plane I believe.

How easy would that turn into a real accident that the pilot could not control, assuming it was a scare tactic to start with ?

As a layman, I'd have thought 30m is zero margin safety up there.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks, as always.

I'll let the resident pilots make the comments, although what you said has happened before.
Hainan Island incident - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[jb747]

Leaving aside the geopolitical aspects of the situation, just the aeronautics of the recently reported incidence of Japanese & Chinese planes flying very close to each other "30m" at one stage.

That involved SU-27, a fighter plane I believe.

How easy would that turn into a real accident that the pilot could not control, assuming it was a scare tactic to start with ?

As a layman, I'd have thought 30m is zero margin safety up there.

I all depends upon how it was done. From a head on pass, 30m is close enough to zero, but same direction, it's a very loose formation position.

 

[legroom]

I all depends upon how it was done. From a head on pass, 30m is close enough to zero, but same direction, it's a very loose formation position.

Thanks, JB

With Blue Angels etc...., would they fly that close ?

Or, closer ??

PS: Awsom Andy, thanks for jogging my memory.

 

[Orca]

With Blue Angels etc...., would they fly that close ?

Or, closer ??

Much, much closer.

 

[jb747]

With Blue Angels etc...., would they fly that close ?

Or, closer ??

Much, much closer.

Formation flying is close. Within 5m. People like the Angels occasionally swap some paint... I'd expect they're targeting within a metre.

 

[Orca]

That's not a bad pic

 

[Hvr]

Formation flying is close. Within 5m. People like the Angels occasionally swap some paint... I'd expect they're targeting within a metre.

On my flights today (SFO-LAX-DEN) the AA magazine The American Way has a story about the Blue Angels resuming flying after a year on the sidelines.squadron | pilots | F18 | military :: American Way Magazine

This quote might be relevant to this discussion:

but those of the plane as they fly in perfect formation at hundreds of miles an hour, their F-18s as close as 18 inches apart

 

[Fruitcake]

This might be a markis10/ATC question, but I'll try anyway because I keep forgetting to ask a flying instructor.

The above comments on fast jets in formation reminded me of flying at YSCN when the local jet joyflight operator's L-39 Albatros are out and about, often flying as a two-ship formation. ATC usually asks the L-39s to "check wheels down" when they are on final.

Why does this call occur? I have not heard any other RG type asked to check wheels.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Most military aircraft have a 'beep back' system that can only be pressed when the gear is down and locked. Military aircraft are asked to 'Check wheels' on final approach by tower after stating 'three greens (wheel indications)' and once cleared to land, they press the beepback button which transmits a high pitched beep to ATC.

I guess that the L39 has a beepback too, and because it is fitted and the tower knows the operator, they use it as an additional safeguard.

 

[Fruitcake]

I guess that the L39 has a beepback too, and because it is fitted and the tower knows the operator, they use it as an additional safeguard.

Thanks Boris. That would also explain why the longer-serving controller almost always asks the formation for gear check whilst I have never heard the newer controller ask. Haven't heard the "beep" but that's probably because I don't know what to listen for.

 

[markis10]

Thanks Boris. That would also explain why the longer-serving controller almost always asks the formation for gear check whilst I have never heard the newer controller ask. Haven't heard the "beep" but that's probably because I don't know what to listen for.

The check wheels beep is UHF from memory, which is not normally re-transmitted.

I know someone who gave the command to a CT4, the resulting beep sounded remarkably human :shock:. I also met a controller who had given a glider a go around command

 

[Boris spatsky]

The check wheels beep is UHF from memory, which is not normally re-transmitted.

I know someone who gave the command to a CT4, the resulting beep sounded remarkably human :shock:. I also met a controller who had given a glider a go around command

Most of the current generation of mil only aircraft have the beepback, and it can be VHF and is re-transmitted. PC9 definitely has it. Those mil aircraft without it reply to the ATC challenge with 'three greens/wheels' verbally (my last RAAF aircraft type didn't have one and it is still around today).

 

[Flying Fox]

In this age of saving fuel, why aren't aircraft towed to the end of the runways by tugs instead of using their own engines?

I know it would be a significant change to ground ops but I'm sure that the fuel savings would be significant.

Thanks

 

[jb747]

In this age of saving fuel, why aren't aircraft towed to the end of the runways by tugs instead of using their own engines?

I know it would be a significant change to ground ops but I'm sure that the fuel savings would be significant.

Cost of the tugs and crew to operate them would a very significant number, and I'm sure would offset any fuel savings. Plus the effect on airport movements would be dramatic (i.e. bad).

I think the idea of using electric motors on the wheels is being explored, but it adds weight/complexity to the aircraft, and may not be cost effective.

 

[petercr]

I read an article about a year back in Air International where I think it was Airbus in conjunction with some equipment manufacturer were looking at a magnetic 'cart' system as a potential launch system. It would use regenerative braking to charge the device to allow for the plane to go right from the gate to take-off speed. They apparently still had conventional landing gear though. (sounds similar to the magnetic launch system talked about in future US aircraft carriers)

EDIT: EMALS system... Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Awesom Andy]

And so another QF 744 heads to Victorville... but how do the pilots go home after dropping the plane off at the desert? They can't really fly out of there...