Ask The Pilot

[por930]

Thanks for all the replies. Didn't realise so many here could help me crew my aircraft.

With regards to sim time, do the pilots call up private sim centres (is there such a beast?) and book a session or do they call someone like QF and ask for available time in their sims? In that case, can anyone simply book a session for a bit of fun (assuming that I'm willing to pay the fee)?

As for my time frame, I'm still talking to Boeing about options and paint scheme for my B747-8. Will keep everyone informed

Better get your order in soon. I was standing in the Boeing factory last week and they said 747 -800 build was down to one cargo every two months, and other than the 2 presidential aircraft, the end of production is nigh..They must have forgotten to mention your pre order.

 

[jb747]

Thanks for all the replies. Didn't realise so many here could help me crew my aircraft.

With regards to sim time, do the pilots call up private sim centres (is there such a beast?) and book a session or do they call someone like QF and ask for available time in their sims? In that case, can anyone simply book a session for a bit of fun (assuming that I'm willing to pay the fee)?

As for my time frame, I'm still talking to Boeing about options and paint scheme for my B747-8. Will keep everyone informed

I'd have thought you could get a better deal on one of Malaysians A380s. Then you could take a couple of hundred of your best friends with you.

There are generic sim centres around the world. A mate who flies the Global goes to one in the UK every now and then. You could ring QF, but unless you were doing one of their courses, I doubt you'd be able to book the sim on an ad hoc basis. Rides have been made available by marketing every now and then, but I'd expect the motion is off any time it gets near the 'ground'.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I'd have thought you could get a better deal on one of Malaysians A380s. Then you could take a couple of hundred of your best friends with you.

There are generic sim centres around the world. A mate who flies the Global goes to one in the UK every now and then. You could ring QF, but unless you were doing one of their courses, I doubt you'd be able to book the sim on an ad hoc basis. Rides have been made available by marketing every now and then, but I'd expect the motion is off any time it gets near the 'ground'.

I asked about the sim we use at a commercial sim centre owned by a large aviation company. They said most sims are booked out until early next year - and most of them run 24/7.

 

[Captain Halliday]

In that case, can anyone simply book a session for a bit of fun (assuming that I'm willing to pay the fee)?

I'm not a pilot, so please forgive the minor infraction of thread rules. Yes Flying Fox you sure can: Qantas Flight Simulator Experience Sydney
Once upon a time you could pay with points. Much better value than a toaster.

 

[jb747]

I'm not a pilot, so please forgive the minor infraction of thread rules. Yes Flying Fox you sure can: Qantas Flight Simulator Experience Sydney
Once upon a time you could pay with points. Much better value than a toaster.

The 744 sims are being wound back. At least one has been decommissioned, and the fleet size no longer needs whatever remains 24/7. Good use of an otherwise under-utilised asset. Might be a tad harder to get into some of the others...although, as long as you pass, you can do my next sim. The notes look pretty horrid.

 

[mjt57]

. Rides have been made available by marketing every now and then, but I'd expect the motion is off any time it gets near the 'ground'.

Why's that? The motion effects would be the best part, I reckon.

When I did Flight Experience (Melbourne) and its B737-800 it was a static sim (it doesn't have any motion facilities) it was OK, but felt more like I was sitting in front of a super elaborate computer running MS Flight Simulator but with all the good gear. (the instructor made me do up a lap seat belt).

I would've thought that as Qantas's B744 fleet is wound down, the selling off of the simulators would've been a good money earner for them, and a better one for the likes of Flight Experience and their Fathers Day gift vouchers...

 

[jb747]

Why's that? The motion effects would be the best part, I reckon.

When I did Flight Experience (Melbourne) and its B737-800 it was a static sim (it doesn't have any motion facilities) it was OK, but felt more like I was sitting in front of a super elaborate computer running MS Flight Simulator but with all the good gear. (the instructor made me do up a lap seat belt).

You've never wondered why so many people who do get a fly of one of the flight simulators claim that their landings were greasers, even though they aren't pilots? The pilots land them solidly lots of the time.

Really harsh landings can cause mechanical issues with the sims. You can break them... Selecting the motion off at a couple of hundred feet isn't noticeable to someone who's just there for a ride, and it protects the machinery.

I would've thought that as Qantas's B744 fleet is wound down, the selling off of the simulators would've been a good money earner for them, and a better one for the likes of Flight Experience and their Fathers Day gift vouchers...

It costs a lot of money to keep the sims going. Selling off the occasional ride isn't going to pay for the overall upkeep. If you don't need them yourselves, then they're retired. And, whilst you do need them, having too many sessions out of the hands of training reduces their planning flexibility immensely.

 

[Flying Fox]

I asked about the sim we use at a commercial sim centre owned by a large aviation company. They said most sims are booked out until early next year - and most of them run 24/7.

Better availability than most QF J & F reward seats

 

[Boris spatsky]

Better availability than most QF J & F reward seats

But the sim seat per hour costs a lot more than an award seat

 

[Quickstatus]

Food question:

In another thread pilots describe tech crew catering.

Is it practical to BYO
How is a coffee run done between sectors on domestic flights where there is tight turnarounds

 

[mjt57]

Really harsh landings can cause mechanical issues with the sims. You can break them... Selecting the motion off at a couple of hundred feet isn't noticeable to someone who's just there for a ride, and it protects the machinery.

Wow, that surprises me. Given what they cost to build, operate and maintain, You'da thunk that they'd have protections built in to prevent mechanical damage.

 

[jb747]

Wow, that surprises me. Given what they cost to build, operate and maintain, You'da thunk that they'd have protections built in to prevent mechanical damage.

They can handle some pretty rough handling...but, like everything, there are limits. They certainly are not built to handle the sink rates that will be handed out by people just having a go. Nor, most likely, are the people themselves. The sims can get pretty violent at times.

Motion is also turned off for some of the more extreme unusual attitude work.

 

[D747]

They can handle some pretty rough handling...but, like everything, there are limits. They certainly are not built to handle the sink rates that will be handed out by people just having a go. Nor, most likely, are the people themselves. The sims can get pretty violent at times.

Motion is also turned off for some of the more extreme unusual attitude work.

Can the amount of motion be varied or is it a simple on or off?

 

[AviatorInsight]

Food question:

In another thread pilots describe tech crew catering.

Is it practical to BYO
How is a coffee run done between sectors on domestic flights where there is tight turnarounds

Very practical. I even sometimes bring food with me on the international sectors. Just snacks and what not to keep me going. We usually don't eat until after the service has finished, just to not overwhelm the cabin crew as there is now a lot of components for them to do with the new business class service. This can take upwards of 2.5hrs after departure. It's not so much of a problem departing LAX as it's a night flight and most people tend to get on board and sleep and aren't really hungry at midnight, or have had something to eat in the lounge.

Flying for my previous employer doing regional sectors, one of us would stay with the aircraft and set it up, the other would go inside and do a quick coffee run and return before the pax came out.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Can the amount of motion be varied or is it a simple on or off?

Good question, and given the amount of single engine, 30kt crosswind landings I just completed in the sim, there's only an on full motion or completely off. Having said that, for me the motion usually starts once I disconnect the autopilot.

 

[por930]

Do you ever get any opportunity to land the aircraft on manual systems, such as no auto-throttles. Seems the modern large aircraft uses auto-throttles during all stages, which could become a trap of players when for what ever reason, they fail and you get left with it.

 

[jb747]

Can the amount of motion be varied or is it a simple on or off?

I don't know the answer to that. I'll ask next time I'm there.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Do you ever get any opportunity to land the aircraft on manual systems, such as no auto-throttles. Seems the modern large aircraft uses auto-throttles during all stages, which could become a trap of players when for what ever reason, they fail and you get left with it.

Do you mean in flight? If so, then the autothrottle wouldn't normally be disconnected without the autopilot also being disengaged. Our operating manual states that flying without autothrottle must only be conducted if the system is inoperative, or disarmed by previous checklist actions. The reason for this is that after a long flight (especially during a period where we would normally be asleep), this action increases the workload of the crew.

We always get a chance in the sim to practice those skills and fly on raw data (no flight directors, autopilot or autothrottle). These systems are very redundant and in the 4 years I've operated a widebody (which is not a long time in the grand scheme of things), I have never dispatched or had any kind of auto flight system failure.

 

[jb747]

Food question:

In another thread pilots describe tech crew catering.

Is it practical to BYO
How is a coffee run done between sectors on domestic flights where there is tight turnarounds

I've seen people bring something from home, but it's not all that common. Overseas we'll often grab something as we pass through the terminal on the way to the aircraft. Mostly coffee, but sometimes a sandwich. For whatever reason, the snacks that are provided in some places are inedible...though the worst ones are 50% ok, and half horrid. So, someone misses out. Actually that applies everywhere I fly, except Oz!

 

[jb747]

Do you ever get any opportunity to land the aircraft on manual systems, such as no auto-throttles. Seems the modern large aircraft uses auto-throttles during all stages, which could become a trap of players when for what ever reason, they fail and you get left with it.

It really depends on what you call 'manual systems'. 99% of landings are manual, with the autopilot being disconnected at whatever point in the approach appeals. Generally I wait until the landing checklist is complete. That means the aircraft is fully configured, and also means that any go around forced by a configuration issue will already have the autopilot engaged.

The A380 thrust can be controlled manually, but it's rarely done, and never for the fun of it. The levers are quite a reach (for me anyway), are stiff, but also sensitive. It's obvious Airbus designed them to be used following failures, not as a matter of course.

In every Boeing that I've flown, the convention was to disconnect the auto thrust at the same point you disengaged the autopilot (on approach). There is no reason to have the A/T disengaged on departure, even if manually flying.

The auto thrust is never turned off in the cruise unless you have some form of failure. Autopilot is also required to be engaged in RVSM airspace.

In many years of flying Boeings, I saw the A/T fail outright a few times. Individual autopilots could also fail, but I never saw the loss of all three (even in QF30..once some switches were thrown). The flight directors are extremely reliable, and I can't recall an individual failure (and there's three anyway).

Airbus have made design decisions that make the automatics unavailable with various failures. Generally you'll need a double failure to cause a law reversion, which is then likely to take away the automatics as well. I had one of those on my second or third trip after checking out on the 380. An odd pair of failures caused the aircraft to decide that two ADRs were unreliable, which caused a reversion to alternate law II and took away the automatics. It was a PITA, but we still flew to our destination.