Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

I have a 4K GoPro, but I haven’t shot anything with it for ages. There’s a certain sameness to the same 3 destinations....

 

[jb747]

Just wait until we've purchased our tickets to make it a true AFF thank you. Would hate to see all cheap seats/redemptions gone too soon.

Which means there won’t be one for my wife....!

 

[Hvr]

Which means there won’t be one for my wife....!

She should get a complimentary F ticket.

 

[lastrow]

Breaking news Qantas flight QF94 LAX to MEL today had a drama with a lost phone that was thought to be burning.
Was this your flight jb?

 

[jb747]

Breaking news Qantas flight QF94 LAX to MEL today had a drama with a lost phone that was thought to be burning.
Was this your flight jb?

No. I’m currently trying to amuse myself during an overnight in hospital. Not flying for the next few weeks.

The danger of crushed batteries is well known, and it is mentioned in the safety announcements. Sadly, hardly anyone listens to them. They should emphasise that your expensive phone will be destroyed...much more likely to get some attention.

 

[Flashback]

No. I’m currently trying to amuse myself during an overnight in hospital. Not flying for the next few weeks.

The danger of crushed batteries is well known, and it is mentioned in the safety announcements. Sadly, hardly anyone listens to them. They should emphasise that your expensive phone will be destroyed...much more likely to get some attention.

Probably not even still! Easily replaceable so people don't care. Now, if they said "you might kill everyone on this plane"..... people might listen. Actually, no, they probably still wouldn't.

 

[mjt57]

No, what’ll happen is that they’ll confiscate all phones or bam their use entirely.

All because of a few dropkicks.

 

[jb747]

No, what’ll happen is that they’ll confiscate all phones or ban their use entirely.

No, that's a horse that has well and truly bolted. Quite the opposite will happen, as built in video systems are replaced by BYO and streaming. There's a huge cost saving for the airlines there.

All because of a few dropkicks.

That's a tad harsh. Whilst I wish people would actually listen to the safety briefs (when I'm in charge, there'll be a quiz!), I don't know that the act of pressing a button to move a seat is actually associated in most minds with the act of crushing their own phone. Anyway, who hasn't had a d'oh moment?

 

[mjt57]

JB, if I've ever learned anything in my 61 years is that no horse has truly bolted.

When it comes to airline travel, anything is fair game, I think.

But you're right about streaming and so on. I've used VA's ipad app to watch stuff and it's not a bad one. Certainly, the iPad screen is far better to view than the low-res screens that airlines have in their seats. Removing all that hardware would make for a huge weight saving, I'd imagine.

 

[Captain Halliday]

This isn’t a question as such, so mods feel free to move it if you wish.

However, given recent questions to our pilots about videos they’ve taken and assorted questions about separation standards, I figured I’d share this.

No doubt a common occurrence, but looks pretty cool with the contrails.

1000 foot separation at FL380, FL390, FL400 : aviation

 

[Quickstatus]

(when I'm in charge, there'll be a quiz!),

Whats the pass level?
What happens at Fail , distinction?

 

[jb747]

This isn’t a question as such, so mods feel free to move it if you wish.

However, given recent questions to our pilots about videos they’ve taken and assorted questions about separation standards, I figured I’d share this.

No doubt a common occurrence, but looks pretty cool with the contrails.

1000 foot separation at FL380, FL390, FL400 : aviation

Very much a normal view. In the 380, you can actually hear the aircraft as it passes 1,000 overhead.

 

[jb747]

Whats the pass level?
What happens at Fail , distinction?

Reading the paper during the brief would be a fail. Downgrade...or perhaps a weighing of the carry on.

 

[alieninperth]

...or perhaps a weighing of the carry on.

That's a bit harsh.

 

[mjt57]

That's a tad harsh. Whilst I wish people would actually listen to the safety briefs (when I'm in charge, there'll be a quiz!)

This reminds me of my first trip overseas in 1981. CX 747 departing SYD. Captain Pearce (I remember that clearly due to MASH being my favorite show at the time). As we were taxiing, he come on the PA, did the usual announcements and then padded them out by spouting a few stats about how much thrust the engines would be producing, takeoff speed and so on.

Then, "please remember all this, folks, I'll be coming around later to ask questions..."

If that didn't put the nervous pax at ease, then nothing would, I s'pose...

 

[lastrow]

I am reminded of my first flight in a 747 in 1976. We were climbing out of Sydney going west when the captain came on and gave us some stats on weight, power etc. The stat that sticks in my memory concerned fuel usage his words saying " these jumbos use a lot of fuel, in fact we are using a Falcon fuel tank every thirteen seconds"..

 

[mjt57]

At least he didn’t compare it to swimming pool capacities or how many tanks if if laid in a line are as long as the Eiffel Tower if stuck upside down.

 

[D747]

Whilst I wish people would actually listen to the safety briefs.........

I'm not sure about anyone else but I always listen to the safety briefs like my life depends on them!

 

[Antoallison]

I'm not sure about anyone else but I always listen to the safety briefs like my life depends on them!

Me too - apart from the fact that I want to be able to evacute the plane quickly in the case of an emergency landing, I am also taken back to my school days once on board and want to give the FA my full attention while she/he demonstrates the safety procedures.

i used to hope that if I looked earnest and listened intently then teacher would give me extra marks when marking my work...in the case of the safety message, I am just hoping the FA in economy will give me an extra icecream for dessert !

 

[albatross710]

JB I had a flash back to military aircraft, do you know if the tower still does the "Buckshot 23 cleared to land, check wheels" with the pilot then in the acknowledgement pushing a button on the radio that will beep confirming the wheels are down and locked.

What's the background to why they do that?

And did you every find yourself cleared to land and delaying the pushing of the button in order to complete the wheels check?

Alby