Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

I think this may be a totally subjective observation but do the smaller planes ie 737 taxi faster than say a 747 ?

I expect that mostly it just looks that way. The bigger aircraft can taxi at up to 30 knots, but we don't do it until well away from any buildings, and on the straight only.

 

[jb747]

Presumably they could still pax down a SYD A380 pilot if the local coverage isn't sufficient?

Actually they can't. The problem is that all of the sectors flow by the A380 out of Melbourne are very long. If you add in the time taken for a pilot to come from Sydney (his duty period starts up there), the overall time will exceed the maximum allowed to be planned.

Whilst there is a grey area of time beyond the planning limits, it's only allowed to be used by the crew, not the company, once an already commenced tour of duty has started, to cover unforeseen delays. Moving someone from Sydney would mean that their duty started there, and the overall limits would have to remain inside the planning limits.

You could grab someone from Melbourne to do a Sydney - Hong Kong trip, but not LA, DXB, or DFW.

Since the MEL A380 flight crew base was set up, has there been any times where crew from the other base has ended up operating a flight to/from the other? (eg, has someone from MEL been called up to work a QF1/7/11 etc)

Most of the Melbourne-Dubai-London trips are done by Sydney based crews. The Melbourne based mostly do LA. Occasionally you'll end up in the wrong city on the way home, after an up-line change.

 

[Quickstatus]

Most of the Melbourne-Dubai-London trips are done by Sydney based crews. The Melbourne based mostly do LA. Occasionally you'll end up in the wrong city on the way home, after an up-line change.

how long must the casa clock stop for before it can be restarted for a Sydney crew to operate a MEL-DXB/LAX, if they paxed from SYD?

 

[TomVexille]

No. I'm currently at home on a 'blank line' waiting for the phone to ring....!

Bummer, fingers crossed for next time.

 

[jb747]

how long must the casa clock stop for before it can be restarted for a Sydney crew to operate a MEL-DXB/LAX, if they paxed from SYD?

Required rest time can vary between 12 to 24 hours depending upon what you've been doing, and what you are planned to do. It's also affected by the actual time that the stand down starts. As a stand alone event, you'd be looking at a minimum of 12 hours to crew the Melbourne flight out of Sydney.

As a practical issue, you'll want to bring them down sufficiently early that any delays to their flights don't ripple into the planned long haul operations.

 

[JessicaTam]

If a main door is opened and slides deployed, is it possible to close the door again? In case there is too much smoke/flame at that exit for example?

 

[jb747]

If a main door is opened and slides deployed, is it possible to close the door again? In case there is too much smoke/flame at that exit for example?

That would vary with the door and aircraft type.

When the slides are armed, the slide is grabbed within a girt bar at the base of the door, and is pulled out of the enclosure as the door opens. So, that would stop the door being closed again. It might partially close, but not all the way. Some doors have the slide contained externally, and it might be possible to close them.

 

[Skyring]

When the slides are armed, the slide is grabbed within a girt bar at the base of the door, and is pulled out of the enclosure as the door opens. So, that would stop the door being closed again. It might partially close, but not all the way. Some doors have the slide contained externally, and it might be possible to close them.

I read "girt bar", and thought, "Uh-oh."

Is this just a random bit of jargon, or does "girt bar" have some meaning?

 

[747sp]

Do the flight crew have the same training as cabin crew when it comes to arming doors and deploying slides? . How often is that training ? Did you enjoy the swim ☺☺

 

[por930]

I read "girt bar", and thought, "Uh-oh."

Is this just a random bit of jargon, or does "girt bar" have some meaning?

It seems the term Girt bar latching system was provided from a patent by Lockheed aircraft corp. See...Patent US3852854 - Girt bar latching system - Google Patents

 

[Boris spatsky]

Do the flight crew have the same training as cabin crew when it comes to arming doors and deploying slides? . How often is that training ? Did you enjoy the swim ☺☺

Yes, we do it all once a year. The swim is less frequent - bit chilly!

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes, we do it all once a year. The swim is less frequent - bit chi

What's your technique to prevent self going T over A at the bottom of the slide. Seems like the linear velocity gets converted into angular when sliders plant their feet on the ground at the bottom of the slide.

 

[Boris spatsky]

What's your technique to prevent self going T over A at the bottom of the slide. Seems like the linear velocity gets converted into angular when sliders plant their feet on the ground at the bottom of the slide.

We don't get to pop the slides anymore - costs too much. I think the cabin crew get to do it though.

 

[Hvr]

It seems the term Girt bar latching system was provided from a patent by Lockheed aircraft corp. See...Patent US3852854 - Girt bar latching system - Google Patents

Well our home is girt by sea so it is only fitting the aeroplane door is girt by bar.

 

[Franky]

Well our home is girt by sea so it is only fitting the aeroplane door is girt by bar.

I thought that response would come eventually.

 

[jb747]

What's your technique to prevent self going T over A at the bottom of the slide. Seems like the linear velocity gets converted into angular when sliders plant their feet on the ground at the bottom of the slide.

I think the cabin crew still do this on initial training, but it's not done each year. When I joined it was offered, but was not mandatory. You had a couple of 747 slides that you could use. I did the main deck, but I don't think anyone even thought about the upper. The story, and I don't know whether it's true or not, was that it had once been mandatory, until someone broke their leg and sued them. I put it in the same category as doing a practice parachute jump, so that you can fly an ejection seat. No value, and if you're going to hurt yourself, it may as well be on the day you have no choice.

As for braking on the slide....if you're sitting upright, with legs out in front, put your hands on your knees. Leaning forward transfers weight to the front, and slows you. Long time ago, but I seem to recall that most were able to just about stop themselves using that method.

 

[Quickstatus]

As for braking on the slide....if you're sitting upright, with legs out in front, put your hands on your knees. Leaning forward transfers weight to the front, and slows you. Long time ago, but I seem to recall that most were able to just about stop themselves using that method.

Wouldnt the upper body with leaning forward continue at evac velocity and with the planting of feet on solid ground with a bending of knees cause a forward somersault of sorts when there is no more slide at the bottom?

 

[lastrow]

Have you ever experienced St Elmos fire? Is it very common?

 

[jb747]

Wouldnt the upper body with leaning forward continue at evac velocity and with the planting of feet on solid ground with a bending of knees cause a forward somersault of sorts when there is no more slide at the bottom?

At the bottom of the slide there are friction pads that try to slow you down. And the technique I mentioned above, does have an effect. But, if you arrive at the bottom at full pelt, then start running. Which could be a good idea anyway....

There is a certain amount of wariness with regard to ordering the slides to be used. We do expect some injuries.

 

[jb747]

Have you ever experienced St Elmos fire? Is it very common?

It's very common. I keep meaning to take a camera and tripod just to try to get some decent pictures of it. The most common is a display that looks like your own personal lightning right on the windscreen glass. I've only once seen it strong enough to start projecting off the aircraft (departing Taipei in some very nasty weather). Then it seemed as if the landing lights were on...but they weren't.