Ask The Pilot

[Dmac6345]

jb, will you be doing any of the 127 /128 rotations over the January/Feb period when the A380's are being used on the Syd-Hkg routes?
I hope so

 

[mjt57]

It's not a show I'm likely to watch...just not into reality TV of any sort. Actually, broadcast TV of any sort.

I record WIN News and Media Watch from FTA. Everything else comes from either Netflix or Hulu+ or whatever shows take our fancy on Foxtel. I saw the Qantas ads during the news break. But no, I detest "reality" shows and that name, given that it's as far as it can go from actual reality. After all, whoever has done real rennos, for example, such as us, have had tradespeople on hand to do their bidding?

In any case, I'll watch this show as for us plebs it may give us an insight into the ops of an airline, and a world leader to boot.

 

[RAM]

I would rather the pilots concentrate on keeping the takeoff to landing ratio 1.00

Anything else is superfluous. Let's not create an expectation or another entitlement. If the pilot is having to do greetings he or she is not resting or preparing for the flight or flying the plane. That's not good.

I understand where you were heading but, thanks to gravity, the take-off to landing ratio is ALWAYs equal to 1.0000

It's exactly how you land that makes the difference. Falling out of control vs mostly controlled.

I prefer the ratio of safe landings/takeoffs = 1

 

[knasty]

I did a 737 flight sim yesterday; 90 mins and loved every one of them. I've already booked round 2 for my birthday.

Try as I might I could never get the throttles to exactly match each other during takeoff roll; they were a bit sticky and there was always slight difference of say .5% but I was a bit busy to be able to try and match them perfectly... I know autothrottle/autopilot does away with a lot of the manual throttle control during the flight but where you use manual throttles does this ever occur, or are my hands just not very flat? Thanks.

 

[Hvr]

We had a go around this morning on QF24 coming into SYD. Nothing to write home about or even be aware of except that there was a PA announcement advising us that it had occurred and we would take a few more minutes to land.

However, later on the FO made another announcement explaining that a go around is a normal procedure and there was absolutely nothing to worry about, no safety issues etc. Apparently there was the potential for a slight spacing issue and this resolved it. And if we had any further questions we could go up to the flight deck after landing to discuss it with the flight crew.

Why the extra comments? Are pax really that flighty (pun always intended) that they need constant reassurance?

 

[Flying Fox]

JB, would you have any concerns being captain of the newly released Chinese made C919?

In my mind, would there be build quality questions?

 

[Boris spatsky]

We had a go around this morning on QF24 coming into SYD. Nothing to write home about or even be aware of except that there was a PA announcement advising us that it had occurred and we would take a few more minutes to land.

However, later on the FO made another announcement explaining that a go around is a normal procedure and there was absolutely nothing to worry about, no safety issues etc. Apparently there was the potential for a slight spacing issue and this resolved it. And if we had any further questions we could go up to the flight deck after landing to discuss it with the flight crew.

Why the extra comments? Are pax really that flighty (pun always intended) that they need constant reassurance?

Yes, even constant reassurance cannot appease some people's anxiety with flying. The initial PA is limited in most cases because that is a busy period in the flightdeck, so an expanded explanation is often helpful once on the ground.

 

[Boris spatsky]

JB, would you have any concerns being captain of the newly released Chinese made C919?

In my mind, would there be build quality questions?

I will wait to see what standard the aircraft is certified to. If it meets FAR25 standards and the US approve it (which is the US airliner certification standard, basically), then it should be fine. If it doesn't get certified to that level, then i would be questioning it.

I wouldn't personally fly an airliner that is not certified to FAR25 or equivalent (so nothing that is not of Western design basically).

 

[kelvedon]

I will wait to see what standard the aircraft is certified to. If it meets FAR25 standards and the US approve it (which is the US airliner certification standard, basically), then it should be fine. If it doesn't get certified to that level, then i would be questioning it.

I wouldn't personally fly an airliner that is not certified to FAR25 or equivalent (so nothing that is not of Western design basically).

Do all commercial aircraft have to have FAR25 certification to fly in EU/US airspace?

 

[Boris spatsky]

No, the certification standard alone does not affect access, to my knowledge, but the airworthiness standard of the aircraft may (and certification is a subset of airworthiness)

 

[clazman]

JB, would you have any concerns being captain of the newly released Chinese made C919?

In my mind, would there be build quality questions?

When i read the article I thought the same thing, mate of mine who works for RR told me a story that they have found "non genuine" parts in their engines that have gone over the border on a few occasions

 

[jb747]

jb, will you be doing any of the 127 /128 rotations over the January/Feb period when the A380's are being used on the Syd-Hkg routes?
I hope so

I'm Melbourne based now. It's quite possible that I could do the rest of my career without ever operating to/from Sydney again.

 

[jb747]

I did a 737 flight sim yesterday; 90 mins and loved every one of them. I've already booked round 2 for my birthday.

Try as I might I could never get the throttles to exactly match each other during takeoff roll; they were a bit sticky and there was always slight difference of say .5% but I was a bit busy to be able to try and match them perfectly... I know autothrottle/autopilot does away with a lot of the manual throttle control during the flight but where you use manual throttles does this ever occur, or are my hands just not very flat? Thanks.

In some aircraft (most new ones) the thrust will be automatically matched to a preset level at take off. In a Boeing you press the TO/GA switches, and the levers should just advance themselves. Airbus you just push to the TO/GA or FLEX gate. The 767 was prone to thrust mismatch, and in that case the pilot not flying would give the levers a little tweak to ensure the engines were near each other, but exact matching isn't necessary. Even in the A380, some failures can lead to significant thrust lever stagger (i.e. they're all over the place for the same power)...and again that's a good place for some help from the other pilot.

 

[jb747]

We had a go around this morning on QF24 coming into SYD. Nothing to write home about or even be aware of except that there was a PA announcement advising us that it had occurred and we would take a few more minutes to land.

However, later on the FO made another announcement explaining that a go around is a normal procedure and there was absolutely nothing to worry about, no safety issues etc. Apparently there was the potential for a slight spacing issue and this resolved it. And if we had any further questions we could go up to the flight deck after landing to discuss it with the flight crew.

Why the extra comments? Are pax really that flighty (pun always intended) that they need constant reassurance?

According to the ones who run to the media a go around is an aerobatic manoeuvre. ATC is trying to maximise their runway use, and if someone upsets the timing the only fix is a GA. Always the better option....

 

[jb747]

JB, would you have any concerns being captain of the newly released Chinese made C919?

In my mind, would there be build quality questions?

Yes...I'd want to know what happened to my A380. Let's wait and see...not everything the Western makers do is all that brilliant.

 

[jb747]

Perhaps there should be a separate thread for discussion of this matter? I only wanted to put the survey here so AFF's pilots would see what's potentially brewing at QF HQ!

From my point of view, it's basically gibberish. It forgets a rather important element of flying...time.

Domestic flights are generally planned with turnarounds of 35 minutes. If you see a pilot at the door, he's on the way outside to count the engines. The FO will already be deeply into getting the coughpit ready for the next sector.

Preflights (especially on the 380) take a lot of time. Boarding starts at around the middle of the process. So, if you want someone to welcome you on board, then you will be late, and probably miss something too.

Lounge...the work clock starts as soon as I do anything that is related to the job. So, 30 minutes in the lounge may be 30 minutes that will have to be accounted for in the case of a delay and possible crew duty issues.

Written by someone with no concept of an aircraft beyond it being a building that shakes. 2 cents worth....

 

[Himeno]

According to the ones who run to the media a go around is an aerobatic manoeuvre. ATC is trying to maximise their runway use, and if someone upsets the timing the only fix is a GA. Always the better option....

I was on AA64 JFK-ZRH yesterday with a go around at ZRH. As soon as I felt/heard the engines power up, I thought "go around, meh" while others in the cabin were voicing "wtf?" Only 2nd TOGA I've been in (that I remember). This one due to fog and visibility, the last a few years ago on CX711 into SIN when runway conditions changed (sudden thunderstorm) moments before touchdown and aircraft had to be reconfigured for the different conditions.
Both times there were PAs from the flight crew saying what happened once we were back up to a reasonable height.

When you need to do a TOGA, do you later tell the pax why/what happened?

 

[Boris spatsky]

When you need to do a TOGA, do you later tell the pax why/what happened?

Yes, it's required by our company if time allows (normally on the ground).

 

[flyingfan]

Preflights (especially on the 380) take a lot of time. Boarding starts at around the middle of the process. So, if you want someone to welcome you on board, then you will be late, and probably miss something too.

You've mentioned the lengthy preflight on an A380 before. Sorry if this has been asked (I do try to keep on top of this thread) - what could Airbus do to streamline this process and make it more efficient for the pilots? Surely they employ at least one pilot on staff to provide a reality check. Is it due to a lot of variables and there's no better way of allowing for inputs?

On a different topic - how do pilots keep on top of incidents globally so they know of technical/safety issues to be aware of (apart from informal chats with pilots you come across)? My question is not really about the mandatory directives. Are pilots given subscriptions to a journal of some sort? Basically, how do you share knowledge as a profession?

 

[joey1695]

Hi JB and other pilots. Sorry for the following onslaught of questions, however I am quite curious!
First up; What would the monthly roster of a domestic pilot based out of BNE or Gold Coast look like? (Thinking QF domestic, Jeststar, Virgin).

Second of all. I quite enjoy my Flight Simming and have just purchased Aerosoft's Airbus A320/A321 package. Its a bit of a struggle working it all out coming from PMDG's Boeing products.
How does the pilot use 'managed mode' vs HDG, ALT and SPD? I have heard that pushing the respective knob towards the (MCP?) activated managed mode and pulling the knob towards you allows the pilot to enter their values.
Would you be able to give an example of the use of the automated systems in the A380 over the course of a flight?
Are there any nifty features that pilots can utilise within the (FMC/MCDU?)?
Overall, which is the better design (FMC/MCDU) in terms of functionality and efficiency? (In your opinion).
Many thanks for your input and if the answers are too hard or cross any lines, I understand that you can't answer!!
Much appreciated, Joe.