Ask The Pilot

[Himeno]

JB, was watching one of the episodes of Dubai Airport (from season 2) where they'd just re-opened the south runway and had just closed the north runway to rip it up. In the middle of the footage (which was supposed to be mid-morning) there was a Qantas A388 shown going through the shot a couple of times - I thought they only arrived / departed DXB in the very early hours.

Do you remember what the flight schedule was back then?

Around the time of that seasons filming, there were also some long delays and at least one flight cancelled at DXB. Another ep has EK ground crew doing some maintenance work at the gate for an A380 for "another carrier" with a red and white aircraft and any name/logos blurred out. Was quite clear who the "other carrier" was.

 

[747sp]

Back in the day Qantas leased a 747-400 from BA and purchased 3 some second hand 747 -400s.Was there any difference between these planes in coughpit and/or to fly these planes and the Qantas purchased planes ? I would be interested to know if it was similar with the BA 767's and the Qantas 767's.

 

[jb747]

Back in the day Qantas leased a 747-400 from BA and purchased 3 some second hand 747 -400s.Was there any difference between these planes in coughpit and/or to fly these planes and the Qantas purchased planes ? I would be interested to know if it was similar with the BA 767's and the Qantas 767's.

I never flew the BA 747-400. It was registered NLH...which apparently meant "never leaves home/hangar".

There were 6 or 7 of the ex BA 767s. They had RR engines instead of the QF 767s GEs, so there were some different numbers to remember, but as pretty well everyone had flown the 747, we just had to dig them out of long term memory. They behaved differently in the flare, so most of us planted an aircraft or two before we got that right. Radar was originally different, but was replaced, as it wasn't as good as the other systems. They were quite decent aircraft, although I think most preferred the GE machines.

 

[clazman]

What are there major differences between RR and GE engines?

Wow does this impact a flight?

 

[defurax]

The next couple of months (subject to change as usual)....

20/10 QF009 MEL-DXB
23/10 QF009 DXB-LHR

Hi JB,
Any last minute changes to your roster by any chance? I'm on QF9 MEL-DXB this Wednesday 21 and I can't believe I will again be missing you by 1 day!

 

[hummel]

Question for JB & Co, do you remember your first flight in a big bird? I.e 777/A380 etc How was it?

Best mate did his first hand flying of a 777 HKG-FCO today hence the question, spoke to him before and he was pretty excited understandably!

 

[jb747]

What are there major differences between RR and GE engines?

Wow does this impact a flight?

Physically, the RR is a more complex 3 spool design compared to the 2 spool GE. They were of similar power, though, if I recall correctly, the RR was both heavier, and slightly thirstier.

The power delivery seemed a bit different. In particular, when reducing power in the flare, it seemed to come off the GE slower than the RR. Perhaps that was just a case of more residual thrust at idle. In any event though, if you snapped the power shut (as you did in the GE), the RR engined aircraft tended to land pretty instantly. In contrast, if you used the slow reduction that worked best on the RRs on a GE aircraft, you'd tend to float. The -400s didn't seem to show as much difference in flare behaviour.

 

[jb747]

Hi JB,
Any last minute changes to your roster by any chance? I'm on QF9 MEL-DXB this Wednesday 21 and I can't believe I will again be missing you by 1 day!

No change....

 

[jb747]

Question for JB & Co, do you remember your first flight in a big bird? I.e 777/A380 etc How was it?

Best mate did his first hand flying of a 777 HKG-FCO today hence the question, spoke to him before and he was pretty excited understandably!

There are always a lot of firsts. The first time anyone let me have a fly of a 747 Classic, was in 1985, between Melbourne and Sydney. First landing, also a Classic was in 1988, at Avalon. .

 

[mjt57]

There are always a lot of firsts. The first time anyone let me have a fly of a 747 Classic, was in 1985, between Melbourne and Sydney. First landing, also a Classic was in 1988, at Avalon. .

Ah, that must've been you that we saw, then...



Remember driving back from Geelong, 747 taking off from Avalon, crossing over the Princes Highway, did a turn and landed again. Amazing to watch.

 

[jb747]

Ah, that must've been you that we saw, then...



Remember driving back from Geelong, 747 taking off from Avalon, crossing over the Princes Highway, did a turn and landed again. Amazing to watch.

There used to be a lot of base training (circuits, etc) at Avalon (and a few other places), but the amount has decreased dramatically over the years, as the simulators have gotten better....and the bean counters have counted.

When I did my training, it was five hours per SO (doing FO training) on the 747-200 at Avalon. We used to pick up an aircraft each morning from Tullamarine, fly it over to Avalon, and then return it about 5-6 hours later. Five students and two senior check Captains. High speed at low level, engine out...all sorts of goodies. To be honest though, whilst immense fun, most of it really belonged in a sim.

Later, when going to the 767 (Command training), it was one hour per student. I don't think it's done at all now. It did serve to build confidence, but was an extremely expensive exercise. Nowadays, the first time you fly an aircraft, it will very likely be full of passengers.

 

[hummel]

There used to be a lot of base training (circuits, etc) at Avalon (and a few other places), but the amount has decreased dramatically over the years, as the simulators have gotten better....and the bean counters have counted.

When I did my training, it was five hours per SO (doing FO training) on the 747-200 at Avalon. We used to pick up an aircraft each morning from Tullamarine, fly it over to Avalon, and then return it about 5-6 hours later. Five students and two senior check Captains. High speed at low level, engine out...all sorts of goodies. To be honest though, whilst immense fun, most of it really belonged in a sim.

Later, when going to the 767 (Command training), it was one hour per student. I don't think it's done at all now. It did serve to build confidence, but was an extremely expensive exercise. Nowadays, the first time you fly an aircraft, it will very likely be full of passengers.

Pretty much this, my mate had done a couple of HKG-SIN legs in 777's observing etc but this was his first proper flight. Cue Facebook post!

 

[mjt57]

the first time you fly an aircraft, it will very likely be full of passengers.

I suppose that'd be from the right seat? If so, at least you've got the captain sitting next to you. But then again, that may also add another level of stress, perhaps.

But then, you folks are built for that sort of thing.

 

[jb747]

I suppose that'd be from the right seat? If so, at least you've got the captain sitting next to you. But then again, that may also add another level of stress, perhaps.

It will be from whatever seat you are training for. So, the first time I flew a 767 (or A380) it was from the left seat. There was, of course, a training Captain in the other. They fly from whatever seat they need to, and do sims using either seat. Any time I fly in the wrong seat, I can't find anything.

 

[747sp]

JB for the A380 how many times did the training captain fly with you ? Would you then have an experienced FO for a while or is it just straight onto the roster?

 

[Saab34]

There used to be a lot of base training (circuits, etc) at Avalon (and a few other places), but the amount has decreased dramatically over the years, as the simulators have gotten better....and the bean counters have counted.

When I did my training, it was five hours per SO (doing FO training) on the 747-200 at Avalon. We used to pick up an aircraft each morning from Tullamarine, fly it over to Avalon, and then return it about 5-6 hours later. Five students and two senior check Captains. High speed at low level, engine out...all sorts of goodies. To be honest though, whilst immense fun, most of it really belonged in a sim.

Later, when going to the 767 (Command training), it was one hour per student. I don't think it's done at all now. It did serve to build confidence, but was an extremely expensive exercise. Nowadays, the first time you fly an aircraft, it will very likely be full of passengers.

I still see the odd 738 doing circuits at Avalon, but seems to be only once every few months.

Avalon is now a ghost town. Jetstar 4 flights a day, and the odd medical flight.

 

[jb747]

JB for the A380 how many times did the training captain fly with you ?

It will vary depending upon just which course you are doing. A conversion in the same rank is generally something like 100 hours, and a minimum of 10 sectors. The checks can be as many as 12 sectors, and 60 hours (initial Command).

Would you then have an experienced FO for a while or is it just straight onto the roster?

Initial command included some limits for a short period, mainly that you don't fly an equally new FO.

 

[jb747]

I still see the odd 738 doing circuits at Avalon, but seems to be only once every few months.

Avalon is now a ghost town. Jetstar 4 flights a day, and the odd medical flight.

it was never going to be anything else unless they forced all of the LCCs to go there.....

 

[mjt57]

Initial command included some limits for a short period, mainly that you don't fly an equally new FO.

With the 380 how was this managed as everyone would've been new to the aircraft.

Or, going back, when Qantas purchased its first Airbuses, back when probably Boeing was the only thing going, how did it work out?

 

[jb747]

With the 380 how was this managed as everyone would've been new to the aircraft.

Or, going back, when Qantas purchased its first Airbuses, back when probably Boeing was the only thing going, how did it work out?

In the case of the A380, an initial batch of pilots were trained at Toulouse, and all flew the Airbus development aircraft. All of the initial batch came via the 330, and all of the Captains were from the training department. The first Boeing people were about 6 months later.

The 330 was similar, but as that aircraft was already in service with many other airlines, some line flying was organised with them (in the same way that we've done some 380 training for others).

I should add that there are no initial commands (or FO) on the 380. It's just a type conversion, you have to have the bars already.