Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

I currently live under the flight path aircraft use on approach to runway 25 in SYD. Just had a Qantas A380 fly over. I wasn't aware that A380s were capable of landing on this runway? (And it's not even that windy outside right now.)

25 is doable, especially if there is some wind. I've landed on it once in the 380, but I generally prefer to accept the crosswind for the longer runway.

 

[Mattg]

25 is doable, especially if there is some wind. I've landed on it once in the 380, but I generally prefer to accept the crosswind for the longer runway.

Makes sense, thanks JB747 and serfty.

 

[Mattg]

A completely unrelated follow-up question. I notice that Air New Zealand will launch a direct AKL-EZE flight later this year using Boeing 777-200 aircraft. What role might ETOPS play? Not much to land on down in the south of the Pacific Ocean.

 

[jb747]

horrible crash in the French Alps this morning. Black box recovered. it will be interesting to find out what went wrong. how long before the info from the recorders will be available???

The authorities will have the data quickly. How long before it is released is anyone's guess. The media certainly don't know...they're in the gibberish phase.

 

[jb747]

A completely unrelated follow-up question. I notice that Air New Zealand will launch a direct AKL-EZE flight later this year using Boeing 777-200 aircraft. What role might ETOPS play? Not much to land on down in the south of the Pacific Ocean.

ETOPS will affect it, but I don't know what the NZ authorities have approved the 777 for. The approvals are so long on some of the aircraft that there aren't many places they can't go.

 

[Himeno]

horrible crash in the French Alps this morning. Black box recovered. it will be interesting to find out what went wrong. how long before the info from the recorders will be available???

With a German operated, French built aircraft crashing in France, I'd expect the boxes to be analyzed by the BEA in Paris. They'd have to see if there was any damage and if the recordings are even readable before they get any data off.
If the boxes worked fine and weren't damaged in the crash, the BEA should already have the data.

 

[jb747]

With a German operated, French built aircraft crashing in France, I'd expect the boxes to be analyzed by the BEA in Paris. They'd have to see if there was any damage and if the recordings are even readable before they get any data off.
If the boxes worked fine and weren't damaged in the crash, the BEA should already have the data.

What makes you say that? The BEA will investigate as allowed by the judiciary. I expect the boxes would be in police/legal custody at the moment. Remember, France is one of the places in which fault/blame is the reason for investigations, not safety.

 

[Himeno]

What makes you say that? The BEA will investigate as allowed by the judiciary. I expect the boxes would be in police/legal custody at the moment. Remember, France is one of the places in which fault/blame is the reason for investigations, not safety.

oh right. I was thinking that was Italy. (it's both isn't it)

 

[jb747]

oh right. I was thinking that was Italy. (it's both isn't it)

Why would the Italians have any involvement....though they would probably be worse. My hope would be the the German involvement would keep it on the straight and narrow.

 

[amaroo]

Why would the Italians have any involvement....though they would probably be worse. My hope would be the the German involvement would keep it on the straight and narrow.

Wonder if the Malaysians feel the same about us?

 

[jb747]

Wonder if the Malaysians feel the same about us?

Quite some time ago now, we discussed the various investigative bodies, and the involvement of the legal profession. Some countries place blame over safety. France and Italy are high on that list. I know of one crew involved in a minor ground event in Italy (in which blame was totally mechanical) who had guns pointed at them by the police. Terrible criminals all...obviously.

I know nothing about the Malaysian ATSB, and don't understand why you have brought them up.

 

[amaroo]

Quite some time ago now, we discussed the various investigative bodies, and the involvement of the legal profession. Some countries place blame over safety. France and Italy are high on that list. I know of one crew involved in a minor ground event in Italy (in which blame was totally mechanical) who had guns pointed at them by the police. Terrible criminals all...obviously.

I know nothing about the Malaysian ATSB, and don't understand why you have brought them up.

Hmm, any opinion/point/view based on race ... can come across as racists! BTW, I'm not Italian....

 

[jb747]

Hmm, any opinion/point/view based on race ... can come across as racists! BTW, I'm not Italian....

Oh dear. So you're accusing me of being racist because I don't like the way some safety authorities are subject to management by the judiciary.

 

[amaroo]

Oh dear. So you're accusing me of being racist because I don't like the way some safety authorities are subject to management by the judiciary.

I'm afraid that is how things work these days! An inconvenient truth.

 

[jb747]

It may be an inconvenient truth, but it's also destructive of the reporting culture that has been built up in aviation over decades.

Interesting reading here: http://eala.aero/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Mildred-Trîgeler-EALA-prize.pdf

 

[knasty]

I'm yet to see a culture, in aviation or other enterprise, which rightfully holds individuals accountable for their actions whilst fostering a culture of openness.

 

[amaroo]

It may be an inconvenient truth, but it's also destructive of the reporting culture that has been built up in aviation over decades.

Interesting reading here: http://eala.aero/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Mildred-Trîgeler-EALA-prize.pdf

Defaming the French and Italians can seem like fun ... does it make a depressing situation better?

You're a wonderful asset to AFF - however, that doesn't give you, me or anyone else the right to denigrate.

 

[mannej]

Defaming the French and Italians can seem like fun ... does it make a depressing situation better?

You're a wonderful asset to AFF - however, that doesn't give you, me or anyone else the right to denigrate.

Is it defaming, or making comments based on previous investigations?

FWIW, I come from an Italian background and do not see the comments as racist.

 

[por930]

It may be an inconvenient truth, but it's also destructive of the reporting culture that has been built up in aviation over decades.

Interesting reading here: http://eala.aero/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Mildred-Trîgeler-EALA-prize.pdf

Interesting read JB, if not a tad heavy going. It would seem the country the airframe comes to rest in after the accident decides on due process. It's human nature, we have to blame some one or some thing for such an occurrence.

Sort of back on topic....

It seems though some airframe manufacturers could be more open to suggestions by the professionals who drive them.
JB, Is it because the French think the Airbus design is 'perfect' and the only reason issues happen, is due to pilot error, that they don't simply put in a system whereby the automatic protection laws can be overridden with one switch, without having to resort to popping circuit breakers in the heat of battle.

 

[jb747]

Defaming the French and Italians can seem like fun ... does it make a depressing situation better?

You're a wonderful asset to AFF - however, that doesn't give you, me or anyone else the right to denigrate.

To denigrate is to criticise unfairly. I don't consider anything I've said about their investigative process to be unfair. Basically I think they are wrong. They certainly are not the only countries with similar systems. Now, if thinking someone is wrong is to denigrate/defame them, well, it would seem to stifle all forms of criticism. It certainly isn't fun.