Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

This happened earlier today. There’s not much in the way of rational discussion, but the motions are quite extraordinary.

Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker!

Air Astana 1388 out of Lisbon....

 

[VPS]

What an interesting flight pattern (I wonder what it was like for the passengers)

 

[flyer89]

This happened earlier today. There’s not much in the way of rational discussion, but the motions are quite extraordinary.

Someone has translated the ATC transcript. Interesting to say the least...

 

[p--and--t]

No Passengers. Transfer flight from maintenance depot in Lisbon to Egypt with only pilots on board.

 

[QF WP]

This happened earlier today. There’s not much in the way of rational discussion, but the motions are quite extraordinary.

Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker!

Air Astana 1388 out of Lisbon....

Someone has translated the ATC transcript. Interesting to say the least...

Freakishly, I listened to it this morning on YouTube:

Another (full version) here:

The pilots seemed to be very insistent that they ditch, yet they had such significant control issues that they weren't able to navigate towards the coast as ATC kept giving vectors. I felt that they were so focused on it, rather than the river ditch or even look for vectors to a close by airport.

 

[jb747]

The pilots seemed to be very insistent that they ditch, yet they had such significant control issues that they weren't able to navigate towards the coast as ATC kept giving vectors. I felt that they were so focused on it, rather than the river ditch or even look for vectors to a close by airport.

They weren't actually able to follow any vectors. I expect they felt they could not even guarantee to hit a river, whilst the sea is a much bigger target. Some of those turns were basically done in the vertical...this was not an aircraft that was under control.

It's perhaps an interesting contrast with the Lion flight, in which the aircraft was basically under control, but that control was suddenly lost. This is pretty much the reverse.

 

[QF WP]

Another one I listened to this morning was:

Las Vegas controller suffers a stroke while on duty

It happened on or before 8 November. I found the United pilot action was spot on - he felt there was an issue (as well as the pilots that remained holding because they weren't certain about the instructions being issued).

To the pilots, has any ATC related medical issues ever impacted any of your journeys.

 

[QF WP]

They weren't actually able to follow any vectors. I expect they felt they could not even guarantee to hit a river, whilst the sea is a much bigger target. Some of those turns were basically done in the vertical...this was not an aircraft that was under control.

But with 36 to 40 miles to the target (coastline), with an uncontrollable aircraft, was that likely? Still, I'm no pilot and I wasn't in the coughpit...I can't wait to hear what was wrong with the controls

 

[jb747]

But with 36 to 40 miles to the target (coastline), with an uncontrollable aircraft, was that likely?

Who knows. I don't even have any idea of what their actual problem was. If you'd been watching FR24 as this played out, you wouldn't have expected a successful landing, but there you go...

 

[Dale Eastham]

This article made me think:
Listen As Multiple Airline Pilots Report Very High-Speed Unidentified Objects Over Ireland

The speculation in that article about what the light was is a bit pointless to debate at this stage I think; no-one knows, or is telling if they do. The comment about seeing meteors, etc. made me curious though; do the pilots in this thread seen much in the way of meteors during their flights? Do you get good views of satellites passing over from time to time?

Obviously you see a very similar view a lot of the time, but hopefully from time to time you get to see a view that is truly awesome

 

[tuppaware]

Hi jb747..

Just listening to the air traffic control transcripts of several pilots seeing bright flying lights near the UK this morning.
Listen As Multiple Airline Pilots Report Very High-Speed Unidentified Objects Over Ireland

Just wondering beyond the normal phenomena that pilots see at altitudes, have you seen anything that has warranted a report ?
I dont know what would of caused this particular account beyond a possible test aircraft that was unreported.

 

[tuppaware]

This article made me think:
Listen As Multiple Airline Pilots Report Very High-Speed Unidentified Objects Over Ireland

Jinx... posted at the same time

 

[jb747]

.... The comment about seeing meteors, etc. made me curious though; do the pilots in this thread seen much in the way of meteors during their flights? Do you get good views of satellites passing over from time to time?

Obviously you see a very similar view a lot of the time, but hopefully from time to time you get to see a view that is truly awesome

You get excellent views of satellites and meteors. Sadly I find a lot of pilots don't actually look, but that applies to most people.

The ISS can be very spectacular, as can Iridium satellites. I've never seen them, but I've been told about launches out of Vandenburg.

I'd love to see something I can't explain, but thus far it's all been quite normal.

 

[mjt57]

At what speed does the 380 rotate? Just watched a QF take off. It rotated opposite T4 MEL. I said to my wife that while it looked like it was doing a hundred kays or so, it was probably doing 3 times that.

Such a huge aircraft which makes it look like it’s lumbering into the sky.

Very impressive.

 

[jb747]

At what speed does the 380 rotate? Just watched a QF take off. It rotated opposite T4 MEL. I said to my wife that while it looked like it was doing a hundred kays or so, it was probably doing 3 times that.

Using Melbourne 34, full length. Calm, 15º, 1013mb. Flex power. Max weight (569 tonnes)
Flap 2
V1 133k
Vr 157k
V2 163k

TOGA only makes a trivial difference to the numbers.

But if I use TOGA, and flap 3 the numbers become
V1 128
Vr 151
V2 158

If we now reduce the weight to 450 tonnes (as for a Singapore flight), and use optimum (i.e. automatic) settings..

We now end up at Flap 1, Flex power
V1 131
Vr 149
V2 154

 

[mjt57]

Thanks JB. Yeah, over 300 kays ground speed. Amazingly deceptive.

 

[flyer89]

How’s the Brake To Vacate setting going since you’ve been using it JB?

 

[lastrow]

Thanks JB. Yeah, over 300 kays ground speed. Amazingly deceptive.

I am a bit confused here. jb you mention a Vr speed of 157k what does this number represent? is the k kilometers/hr, if so how does this equate to 300 kays?

 

[jb747]

I am a bit confused here. jb you mention a Vr speed of 157k what does this number represent? is the k kilometers/hr, if so how does this equate to 300 kays?

Aviation does not use km/hr. When we say k, we mean knots, as in nautical miles per hour. So, basically double any speed in knots to get km/hr.

 

[mikenz]

Do pilots have favourite airports, runways and approaches? Are they popular because they're interesting / easy / challenging?