Ask The Pilot

[awilcockson]

and so will be at the bottom of my preferences.

Bugger. There's always hope though. That kind of sucks that you don't have any real idea of what you are doing, not an ideal way to plan your life ...

 

[jb747]

.....not an ideal way to plan your life ...

Planning. What's that? A couple of years ago, we had an SO/FO denied leave for his own wedding.

 

[harvyk]

When you do Ad-Hoc flights do you find that you fly the same number of flights as you would fly if they where scheduled in the roster or do you find you fly less \ more hours than you otherwise would?

Also when flying to countries which require an entry visa to be pre-arranged for us mere-mortals what happens for pilots \ crew, especially those who are doing Ad-Hoc flying?

 

[awilcockson]

we had an SO/FO denied leave for his own wedding.

Wow, I though I'd seen some dodgy things in my life ...

 

[SenZubEanS]

Hi JB,
Wondering if you get many requests from pax to view the flight deck after landing? and if so, would it normally be yourself who would give a little tour or would you have other commitments that required you after landing and you'd get an FO/SO to do it?
Only ask as I flew back a week ago from HKG and asked the FA to contact the captain and ask if he'd mind letting me see in the B744 once we landed. The FA sort of gave me that "thats not something I hear very often" type look and responded with a "Oh, Um, Well, i guess I could ask?". So it got me thinking as to how often that would happen. Also once we landed and made our way up to to have a squiz, the Capt (Jack Iles was his name, not sure if you'd know him) had the SO have a chat to us and show us to the flight deck. Not that I was phased, just wondered if you would normally do this yourself?

As it just so happened, that flight crew and about 1/2 the FA's were on our outbound flight the week earlier as they had then gone on the LHR. I know you have said you don't often fly with the same people, but I am presuming that it would be fairly common that you would complete a whole journey like that with the same flight crew?

 

[smit0847]

Whats your favourite and least favourite airport/city you have ever flown to and why?

What international routes would you like to see QF fly that they don't currently?

What's your thoughts on the maximum amount of time an aircraft can lay idle in between sectors without losing too much money (if it has full pax each way)? I know the V Australia planes sit on the tarmac in LAX for over 12 hours each day (I think the QF LAX planes do about the same). This seems like a waste of money as I know planes only make money when they are flying. I guess its not quite enough time for an NYC return and there aren't any other destination 3 - 4 hours away that they could fill up a flight (from 3 planes arriving into LAX) to make it worthwhile?

Thanks for your assistance - this is a most fascinating read!

 

[Flying Fox]

Planning. What's that? A couple of years ago, we had an SO/FO denied leave for his own wedding.

That's harsh man!

Just thinking, if he got married during your flight (in international air space) and you as Captain (similar to Captain on a ship) could you perform the ceremony and marry the happy couple?

 

[jb747]

When you do Ad-Hoc flights do you find that you fly the same number of flights as you would fly if they where scheduled in the roster or do you find you fly less \ more hours than you otherwise would?

Varies enormously. I've had blank lines on which I flew well over the normal roster hours, and others where you do nothing but standby and the occasional sim. The 380 lines are generally the later.

Also when flying to countries which require an entry visa to be pre-arranged for us mere-mortals what happens for pilots \ crew, especially those who are doing Ad-Hoc flying?

There are special arrangements for crew. We all have 5 year crew visas for the USA (which is the only place that I go to, for which we require a visa).

 

[jb747]

That's harsh man!

Just thinking, if he got married during your flight (in international air space) and you as Captain (similar to Captain on a ship) could you perform the ceremony and marry the happy couple?

No..........

 

[dfcatch]

No..........

Could have been a sign

Out of interest - is he still married?

 

[casanovawa]

If they hadn't granted me leave, i think I might have called in sick that day, maybe even a couple of days...

The honeymoon might be a different story...

 

[jb747]

Out of interest - is he still married?

No idea, although it brings to mind what is described as good financial advice for pilots...a) keep your first wife and b) don't marry a hostie.

 

[QF029]

I'd place them around the Y+ area. Certainly not as good as F or J.

Well it seems that the lingo is rubbing off on JB747!

 

[QF WP]

My question relates to what you do during your downtime in between flights overseas (I'm not sure what the term is - layovers?). You hear stories and see TV shows about the antics the cabin crew get up to - partying etc and they seem to see every trip as a holiday.
...
Do you spend time with the cabin crew or are they out partying the entire down time?

Ah, taking me back to my time dating a Longhaul QF FA and spending New Years Eve in SIN at the crew hotel...what happens on tour.... Can't remember seeing any pilots during the partying - they were probably (rightly) asleep.

No names here, but I still have fond memories:



jb747, how your last comment is true. I had that issue and I wasn't even a pilot (no, I didn't marry the one in the photo, rather a QF ground crew)

 

[Flashback]

Many of the crew have friends or family there to catch up with. Of course that only really applies for half of the year...when it's cold and wet, not much happens, other than waiting to leave.

Well if our schedules match up (I'm LON based) I'm happy to pop out for a drink or meal.

No idea, although it brings to mind what is described as good financial advice for pilots...a) keep your first wife and b) don't marry a hostie.

Or........ find the women you hate the most and just give her half your house! Problem solved

 

[The Rok]

Ah, taking me back to my time dating a Longhaul QF FA and spending New Years Eve in SIN at the crew hotel...what happens on tour.... Can't remember seeing any pilots during the partying - they were probably (rightly) asleep.

No names here, but I still have fond memories:

View attachment 4962

jb747, how your last comment is true. I had that issue and I wasn't even a pilot (no, I didn't marry the one in the photo, rather a QF ground crew)

Presumably you are both in a private hotel room on NYE after a few drinks, so just one question, which young lady (or guy) took this photo?

 

[jb747]

Hi JB,
Wondering if you get many requests from pax to view the flight deck after landing? and if so, would it normally be yourself who would give a little tour or would you have other commitments that required you after landing and you'd get an FO/SO to do it?

I normally say goodbye to the passengers, so any visitors are looked after by the FO/SO.

Only ask as I flew back a week ago from HKG and asked the FA to contact the captain and ask if he'd mind letting me see in the B744 once we landed. The FA sort of gave me that "thats not something I hear very often" type look and responded with a "Oh, Um, Well, i guess I could ask?". So it got me thinking as to how often that would happen. Also once we landed and made our way up to to have a squiz, the Capt (Jack Iles was his name, not sure if you'd know him) had the SO have a chat to us and show us to the flight deck. Not that I was phased, just wondered if you would normally do this yourself?

Know him well, nice bloke.

As it just so happened, that flight crew and about 1/2 the FA's were on our outbound flight the week earlier as they had then gone on the LHR. I know you have said you don't often fly with the same people, but I am presuming that it would be fairly common that you would complete a whole journey like that with the same flight crew?

I'm on a London trip now. The only person who has been with me the whole way is the FO. Four different cabin crews, and five different SOs. That's normal. Seeing a cabin crew twice on the one trip would be very unusual these days.

 

[jb747]

Whats your favourite and least favourite airport/city you have ever flown to and why?

Liked London, NYC, Christchurch, Paris, Rome, Athens. Hated Mumbai, LA, KL, Jakarta.

What international routes would you like to see QF fly that they don't currently?

Anywhere in Europe.

What's your thoughts on the maximum amount of time an aircraft can lay idle in between sectors without losing too much money (if it has full pax each way)? I know the V Australia planes sit on the tarmac in LAX for over 12 hours each day (I think the QF LAX planes do about the same). This seems like a waste of money as I know planes only make money when they are flying. I guess its not quite enough time for an NYC return and there aren't any other destination 3 - 4 hours away that they could fill up a flight (from 3 planes arriving into LAX) to make it worthwhile?

Having them idle never makes money, but there are all sorts of trade offs to using them too. In particular, in the USA, you have to remember that when they talk about 'open skies' they mean your open skies, not theirs.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I once heard the sign of a good pilot is one who has the same number of takeoffs as landings.
Add "ability to make someone read 98 pages of a thread" to that list Thanks JB.

 

[harvyk]

I once heard the sign of a good pilot is one who has the same number of takeoffs as landings.
Add "ability to make someone read 98 pages of a thread" to that list Thanks JB.

Actually you'll find every person in the world has had the same number of take-offs and landings (apart from those in the air right now, but lets face it, one way or another every plane in the air is going to end up on the ground at some point in the future). The real measure is

Has everyone walked away from the landing? Yes = good landing.
Can the plane be flown again? Yes = great landing.

There is a link further back (I believe in this thread) which shows a couple of AirNZ pilots doing a flight and explaining what's going on during the flight. In the final scene you see them leaving the plane saying "walked away from another one".

Whilst thinking about landings, whats the procedure for getting ATIS information? Is this something which the PNF listens to and relays the information to the PF, or does the PF tune to ATIS (and the PNF monitors ATC) or is there some other system which is used to gather ATIS information (for the big jets)?

Also how far out from the airport is ATIS information gathered, and is it only gathered only once or does one of the pilots keep continuously tuned in, in case ATIS information changes whilst on approach?

Also in ATIS information only updated at certain intervals or is it updated whenever a change happens (eg the wind increases \ decreases \ changes direction)