Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

On a similar note (although im getting further away from what a pilot may know I suppose), on a recent flight I was looking out of a very scratched window that made taking photos of the scenery more futile than usual (I also couldnt get a good photo of the scratches as my phone camera didnt want to focus on them). I did wonder what actually causes those scratches on a plane window - ice crystals or dust was my best guess, but didn't seem likely?

Hard to say. Perhaps they use brooms when cleaning them.

The front windows certainly aren't scratched, and the only time I've ever seen them marked, was by a stupid habit that the some engineers developed. 737 tech logs were historically passed out the window to a receiver, and they decided to bash said device against the window if the 767 FO was too slow with the log. Resulted in the practice being banned, and them having to hoof it to the coughpit.

 

[mjt57]

JB, do you have your July roster up yet? Missus is off the NY again and looks like QF is the go this time round.

 

[Boof1]

I've had to think about this one for a couple of days....

Ops can provide some insight into options for diverts if you can get them on SATPHONE or ACARS and have the time - it's really only viable to talk to them if you have a problem that is not time (or fuel) critical.

Thank you both for answering my question, it is appreciated and the 2 hour diversion example from Boris was an eye opener!

 

[mjt57]

Hey guys, here's what I think is an alarming development...

No Cookies | Herald Sun

It's about pilotless aircraft...

 

[clazman]

From a pilot perspective, do you have any say on when a aircraft should be replaced, or is it a bean counter decision?

Interested in your thoughts on the acceptable age of a aircraft fleet?

 

[harvyk]

Hey guys, here's what I think is an alarming development...

No Cookies | Herald Sun

It's about pilotless aircraft...

You got a non paywall version?

 

[mjt57]

You got a non paywall version?

No, sorry, I don't.

 

[jb747]

From a pilot perspective, do you have any say on when a aircraft should be replaced, or is it a bean counter decision?

As long as the aircraft is safely doing its job the age is irrelevant.

Interested in your thoughts on the acceptable age of a aircraft fleet?

From what I've seen, new models of aircraft generally aren't all that reliable until they've been in service for 5-10 years. If you maintain them properly, 25 years has historically not really been an issue. But, I have my doubts about the longevity of some of the current and projected offerings.

 

[Franky]

As long as the aircraft is safely doing its job the age is irrelevant.

Same with the pilot one would think..

 

[tuppaware]

You got a non paywall version?

Google the link and the site will serve a non-paywall version.
Typical Newslimited fluff piece about pilotless automation and drones. Nothing to see here move along.

 

[jb747]

Hey guys, here's what I think is an alarming development...

No Cookies | Herald Sun

It's about pilotless aircraft...

I expect they'll be working on it for many, many, years before it ever becomes viable. Right now, they can't even keep the autopilot engaged in many events!

The biggest issue with automation is not 'complete' automation. I expect that will happen one day...but, you'll need to reach a point at which the software is perfect, and the programmers have thought of everything, or come up with an AI that can handle everything. As they can't even keep my desktop computer on line perfectly, I expect they've got some distance to go.

What I see as a problem is partial automation. Having a pilot who's supposed to take over when the system poos itself, but who otherwise does nothing. In other words he's only there for when the going gets really hard, but we won't keep him in the loop, or keep him in practice, but will still expect him to go from brain dead to aviation god instantly.

 

[jb747]

jb, do you have your july roster up yet? Missus is off the ny again and looks like qf is the go this time round.

9/7 qf93 mel-lax
10/7 qf94 lax-mel

13/7 qf93 mel-lax
14/7 qf94 lax-mel

24/7 qf93 mel-lax
25/7 qf94 lax-mel

4/8 qf9 mel-dxb
8/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
10/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
12/8 qf10 dxb-mel

20/8 qf9 mel-dxb
24/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
26/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
28/8 qf10 dxb-mel

 

[mjt57]

24/7 qf93 mel-lax

That may be her departure date. Save her a seat in Bus. if you can....

 

[clazman]

9/7 qf93 mel-lax
10/7 qf94 lax-mel

13/7 qf93 mel-lax
14/7 qf94 lax-mel

24/7 qf93 mel-lax
25/7 qf94 lax-mel

4/8 qf9 mel-dxb
8/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
10/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
12/8 qf10 dxb-mel

20/8 qf9 mel-dxb
24/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
26/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
28/8 qf10 dxb-mel

Is the work load the same on these routes?

 

[Punky]

What I see as a problem is partial automation. Having a pilot who's supposed to take over when the system poos itself, but who otherwise does nothing. In other words he's only there for when the going gets really hard, but we won't keep him in the loop, or keep him in practice, but will still expect him to go from brain dead to aviation god instantly.

Ahh, the old hours of boredom punctuated by moments of terror thing.....

 

[Boris spatsky]

Ahh, the old hours of boredom punctuated by moments of terror thing.....

Great example i have seen was on descent at the end of a maximum crew day. It had been a blue sky great weather day with not much of interest occurring.

At about 15000 ft the master warning went off with associated aural alert and fire bell (which is deliberately loud) due to a smoke sensor alarm (which in itself is a rare occurrence). The other pilot announced the warning but not the fire aspect of it (the smoke alarms set off the fire bells). It took him a while to work out what was going on. I instantly assumed it was an engine fire as 99% of the time in the sim it is. I looked at the fire panel and no fire indications then checked the smoke panel and noted the illuminated smoke alarm.

This was the classic 99% boredom and 1 % sheer terror (and confusion!)

 

[slinky123]

9/7 qf93 mel-lax
10/7 qf94 lax-mel

13/7 qf93 mel-lax
14/7 qf94 lax-mel

24/7 qf93 mel-lax
25/7 qf94 lax-mel

4/8 qf9 mel-dxb
8/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
10/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
12/8 qf10 dxb-mel

20/8 qf9 mel-dxb
24/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
26/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
28/8 qf10 dxb-mel

YAY: My daughter is on QF94 on 14 July, great to know her pilot is right here

 

[jb747]

Great example i have seen was on descent at the end of a maximum crew day. It had been a blue sky great weather day with not much of interest occurring.

Probably describes most events. There are times when you are watching for particular things (overtemp/stalling during a start, or engine issues on take off), but most of the time the flights roll along down well worn paths. Issues generally happen when you change things....they're reasonably rare in steady state cruise, even though that makes up most of any journey, but they certainly aren't unknown. And, most changes are happening at the end of the flight, when you'll be tired, and have the least fuel (which normally equates to options).

Out of the blue...well the oxy bottle was, of course, the most memorable. The dual ADR failure was an eye opener. Or the unsafe landing gear at the end of a 15 hour sector.

Sometimes you can watch things develop, over minutes, or even hours. The 767 engine that decided it liked cruise power so much that it wasn't going to go to idle for the descent. Or the fuel pumps that failed and gave a slow motion fuel shortage/imbalance.

But, there most certainly isn't any terror. That's reserved for the media. As often as not you look at events as being interesting. Our job is to make events go away....

 

[Quickstatus]

9/7 qf93 mel-lax
10/7 qf94 lax-mel

13/7 qf93 mel-lax
14/7 qf94 lax-mel

Not a lot of rest time arriving back in MEL on 12/7 then departing again 24 hours later.
Is the jet lag potential mitigated by going back east on the 13/7 rather than going west to DXB?

 

[jb747]

Correcting a mistake....

6/7 qf93 mel-lax
7/7 qf94 lax-mel

13/7 qf93 mel-lax
14/7 qf94 lax-mel

24/7 qf93 mel-lax
25/7 qf94 lax-mel

4/8 qf9 mel-dxb
8/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
10/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
12/8 qf10 dxb-mel

20/8 qf9 mel-dxb
24/8 qf1 dxb-lhr
26/8 qf10 lhr-dxb
28/8 qf10 dxb-mel