Ask The Pilot

[Himeno]

Actually you can, Hainan Airlines flies from TPE directly to PRC destinations such as PEK and CAN.

Do they enter Chinese ATC via HKG airspace?

 

[jb747]

Do they enter Chinese ATC via HKG airspace?

Chinese airspace is metric, so HK ATC always handled the conversion from feet to metres.

 

[jb747]

Looking on the pprune forum at the recent round of QF pilot applications, it seems that the better at mathematics you are, the less chance of being selected. Applicants who got all or most of the mathematics questions right (and apparently, being an online exam, the question would re-ask a question depending on how you answered. If you kept getting the question correct(you had X seconds per answer), then those applicants said they were advised, "maybe a career as a mathematics or science teacher would be a better vocation where you can use your advanced mathematics skills", and were passed over. Applicants who said they did, 'ok' at the mathematics questions, and those that answered in a way that Qantas thought ok, got through to the next stage.

To be honest I have my doubts about this...and many other comments on prune.

 

[jb747]

I wish I could say that being a good mathematics teacher doesn't require super nerdy mathematics guru skills, and a lot more of actually knowing how to teach mathematics (something that not every mathematically competent person can do without training and/or experience).

Curious observation; would be interesting to know the rationale (apart from the simplistic "advice" they were given). Only thing I could think of was that maybe the pundits who set the test thought that those who happened to answer "too fast" might have been robots and may have been filtering out those who have tried to fudge or cheat this part of the process in order to slip through.

As I said earlier, I have my doubts about much that is being said on prune about the recruitment process.

Whilst I note jb747's observation of not needing more than basic algebra each day to function, in some ways do keep in mind that there are plenty of "average people on the street" who can't even do basic algebra. I would have thought a healthy competence in mental calculation and estimation would be useful, i.e. not because a computer can't do it, but because it helps you check for unusual calculations, e.g. did I slip a finger and enter the wrong number, or "that number seems unusually low/high".

I guess the maths thing comes back to how you define 'advanced' maths. You'll need to understand trigonometry, algebra, and some calculus. I don't think that's particularly advanced maths...or am I out of date with the way the schools work.

Although it was also (or more so) a function of scientific knowledge and other experience factors, when QF32 was attempting to land and they were fiddling with numbers in the computer to find a landing scenario that could work, I imagine you need some mathematics sense to be able to know what could be tweaked or what kinds of limits could affect this and so on (not being a pilot or similar myself, this is somewhat based on my reading of RdC's book).

You should read a lot less into RdC's comments about the landing calculations. The upshot is that the programs simply could not handle the multiple failures, and the answers they gave were largely gibberish. The approach speed was a simple calculation, and the answer provided was correct. The system had issues working out how much runway was required. At the end of the day though, they had to land, and a calculated requirement that fits the available is simply a nice to have. Going off the end at relatively low speed would have been something you may have had to accept. I don't think Richard was all that concerned though, as you can generate another thousand feet of runway simply by targeting an earlier than usual touchdown, which he did not do.

I'm not entirely sure if someone who is good at mathematics would necessarily be one who is a better thinker methodically or procedurally, or someone who can think properly under pressure. Those qualities are very important in good pilots, especially when things go wrong (and let's not entertain the idea that things often don't go wrong). I'd like to think that a good pilot knows and appreciates what all those numbers in the coughpit mean and doesn't necessarily fly solely "by the seat of their pants" or "by feel" (this isn't exactly like cooking without a recipe).

Maths is a methodical/procedural process. Engineering (which many pilots have qualifications in) is another. A failing that some people have though, is the inability to fly (mentally) by the seat of your pants. Sticking to the procedures works well most of the time, but there will always be times where you simply need to make it up as you go. On those days having a good overall picture, and then just picking and choosing the items you want is the way to go. People are sometimes described as "not being able to see the forest for the trees", and that's a very real failing in pilots. There's probably a particularly pilot frame of mind. Your world moves at about 1,000 feet/second. The aircraft will get there, irrespective of where your head is. There are many times when the quickest answer will do, not necessarily the most accurate.

 

[fairbasa]

Major fuel shortage at Melbourne Airport could force flight delays, diversions

JB it looks as though you may have some unanticipated stops in the near future.

Have you ever experienced this issue before?

 

[jb747]

Major fuel shortage at Melbourne Airport could force flight delays, diversions

JB it looks as though you may have some unanticipated stops in the near future.

This is very messy on long haul flights, as the planned tour of duty with a refuel may well exceed the flight time limits. Extensions are available after you start, but cannot be planned on. I'm doing the 93 tomorrow, so I guess we'll find out soon enough. At least with the easterly flight, the planned time is generally about an hour less than going the other way.

Have you ever experienced this issue before?

There was a fire in the UK about 10 years ago, that destroyed some of the storage capacity for Heathrow. Some long haul flights were able to operate normally, but others had to refuel elsewhere. I took a 744 from LHR to Stansted for fuel. About a 30 mile sector with passengers. No alternative, as you couldn't fuel up there and come back for the pax (as some though we should have done), as you'd be over landing weight, and have to dump it.

 

[Melburnian1]

In the most unusual current MEL fuel shortage situation where availability is about 30 per cent less than ought be the case, at least one international airline (CX) suggests that two flights tomorrow from MEL will be altered to operate via ADL:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ay-pacific-delays-cancellations-67199-13.html

If there is a shortage of fuel for known total requirements, is there some sort of airline 'pecking order' in that JG, JQ, QF, TT, VA and ZL, being Australian-domiciled airlines, are first, and the foreigners second, or is it simply based on scheduled time of departure - the latter more or less 'first in best dressed?'

Strangely most international carriers ex MEL appear not to have deviated flights today, but CX (ADL or CNS), JQ (SYD or elsewhere), QF (SYD) and VA (SYD) were among those that did.

 

[whatmeworry]

Where does the RAAF source its jet fuel? Does it have a strategic reverse?

 

[jb747]

If there is a shortage of fuel for known total requirements, is there some sort of airline 'pecking order' in that JG, JQ, QF, TT, VA and ZL, being Australian-domiciled airlines, are first, and the foreigners second, or is it simply based on scheduled time of departure - the latter more or less 'first in best dressed?'

I have no idea how the fuel would be allocated.

Logically, reducing the amount of fuel available for domestic flights, and any shorter international flight, makes sense, as they may have the ability to tanker some, or all, of the fuel they require.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Where does the RAAF source its jet fuel? Does it have a strategic reverse?

Yes, it has it's own supply.

 

[whatmeworry]

I found a report from last year that reported the RAAF only had 30 days of avgas in reserve.

Meanwhile, a new report by the taxpayer-funded Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) lists the lack of Avgas as a medium level threat to air force operations in its new capability snapshot of the Australian Defence Force.
Apart from having a reserve supply of just 30-days, the defence force would be forced to ship supplies north to its bare bases at RAAF Curtin near Derby in Western Australia and RAAF Scherger near Weipa in the Gulf of Carpentaria.


Both are connected by pipeline to the port but the resupply would take many days from storage depots in Perth or Brisbane.
Report author Andrew Davies said Australia had just 30 days supply of all fuels in storage and another 30 days in transit. That is well below the international norm of 90 days.
“We’d struggle after a month with avgas,” Dr Davies said.
The report says that Australia’s refinery capacity had declined in the past five years, leading to a national vulnerability to the disruption of fuel supplies, especially supplies of specialised fuels such as avgas.

RAAF jets have just 30 days fuel in reserve

 

[AviatorInsight]

In the most unusual current MEL fuel shortage situation where availability is about 30 per cent less than ought be the case, at least one international airline (CX) suggests that two flights tomorrow from MEL will be altered to operate via ADL:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ay-pacific-delays-cancellations-67199-13.html

If there is a shortage of fuel for known total requirements, is there some sort of airline 'pecking order' in that JG, JQ, QF, TT, VA and ZL, being Australian-domiciled airlines, are first, and the foreigners second, or is it simply based on scheduled time of departure - the latter more or less 'first in best dressed?'

Strangely most international carriers ex MEL appear not to have deviated flights today, but CX (ADL or CNS), JQ (SYD or elsewhere), QF (SYD) and VA (SYD) were among those that did.

From what I can gather, each airline is allocated a certain amount of fuel for the day. They are advising crews to tanker fuel, and have reduced capacity on most flights. The longer sectors such as MEL-DRW and MEL-CHC will require a fuel stop along the way.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Strangely most international carriers ex MEL appear not to have deviated flights today, but CX (ADL or CNS), JQ (SYD or elsewhere), QF (SYD) and VA (SYD) were among those that did.

I think jb has shown how quickly a pre-planned tech stop in some of the earlier posts. Given that MEL-ADL-HKG is only an extra 60 miles on the great circle, and with some CX pilots being familiar with ADL, they should be able to get this done with minimal impact on their overall schedule and rotation. At the very least, it gives them more certainty in operations, rather than the chance of playing roulette and missing out and have a plane stuck or needing to organise a tech stop at short notice.

 

[Melburnian1]

I think jb has shown how quickly a pre-planned tech stop in some of the earlier posts.

Awesom Andy, did you mean 'can be arranged' or 'can occur' after the word 'quickly', or something else?

 

[docjames]

From what I can gather, each airline is allocated a certain amount of fuel for the day. They are advising crews to tanker fuel, and have reduced capacity on most flights. The longer sectors such as MEL-DRW and MEL-CHC will require a fuel stop along the way.

//Tongue in cheek//
Where's the stopover point MEL-CHC?? :shock:


I haven't seen anything yet reported regarding how long this situation is likely to continue.

Is that because
- they don't know
- no-one asked (and they know but don't want to tell)
- they've actively avoided telling (even if asked)

 

[Melburnian1]

docjames, I am conscious that this thread is for our aviators to answer but yesterday (25 November) VA100 (MEL - CHC) apparently deviated via SYD for fuel.

 

[opusman]

//Tongue in cheek//
Where's the stopover point MEL-CHC?? :shock:

SXE maybe?

 

[docjames]

I guess i should have specifically asked (the pilot / those in the industry) - any ideas on how long this is expected to ask?

 

[AviatorInsight]

//Tongue in cheek//
Where's the stopover point MEL-CHC?? :shock:


I haven't seen anything yet reported regarding how long this situation is likely to continue.

Is that because
- they don't know
- no-one asked (and they know but don't want to tell)
- they've actively avoided telling (even if asked)

SYD was used as a fuel stop, but according to gcmap, HBA or even LST could be used? But it depends on their fuel prices I guess.

But it is my guess that no one really knows how long it is going to continue, all correspondence from the company suggests this.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I found a report from last year that reported the RAAF only had 30 days of avgas in reserve.



RAAF jets have just 30 days fuel in reserve

The RAAF only operates the CT4 with AVGAS. Everything else uses AVTUR.