Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

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

Not a huge fan. It was sold on providing cooler brake temperatures, but I'm not totally convinced that it delivers. It works well on runways that have a long roll before we get to a taxiway that we can use...but then manual braking did that well too.

I've already seen it lose the plot a couple of times, and given that it's not a new technology, I think I'll just do it myself for my few remaining flights. At least I know who to blame then.

 

[jb747]

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

We certainly have favourite destinations, but sadly I don't get to fly to any of them any more. That didn't have much to do with the airport though.

The old Hong Kong was both challenging and good fun. I'm sure that there are other airports like it in the world, but the ones that we operate to are pretty all pretty straightforward.

 

[AviatorInsight]

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

I love flying into LST because of the challenges it provides especially when weather is poor and we need to join the ILS from overhead the field. It requires a bit of creative thinking with making inputs into the FMC that make sense. It also still uses old DME/GPS Arrivals when the cloud base is high enough that we can then join the circuit.

But in general, every airport has their own quirks, on a whole I prefer the manual stuff, circuits, class D aerodromes, etc.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

We certainly have favourite destinations, but sadly I don't get to fly to any of them any more. That didn't have much to do with the airport though.

The old Hong Kong was both challenging and good fun. I'm sure that there are other airports like it in the world, but the ones that we operate to are pretty all pretty straightforward.

From a passenger standpoint the Canarsie VOR / GPS Approach to JFK RWY 13L wins my vote... Sitting in a window seat on the right hand side gives you a great perspective.

 

[mjt57]

Had the pleasure of travelling to Cairns on Tiger. Well, was supposed to. Service was cancelled. Got a ticket on Deathstar. On the way home we did manage to get away with our booked Tiger flight.

The flight was delayed. As we were boarding the captain got on the horn to give us a hurry-on as he was afraid of losing his slot in MEL. And mentioned that it was also a “hefty fine”. Like we were to blame for holding him up.

I don’t know if we were late or not insofar as the slot went, but the apron was almost empty of aircraft.

And we were slowed by ATC due to a runway change.

What sort of fines are we talking about, here?

Oh, the guys on the flight deck were quite chatty, too.

 

[jb747]

The flight was delayed. As we were boarding the captain got on the horn to give us a hurry-on as he was afraid of losing his slot in MEL. And mentioned that it was also a “hefty fine”. Like we were to blame for holding him up.

Dunno. They don't send me any 'fines', so I don't care. If you lose a slot you just get onto ops and get a new one, it's not a big issue.

 

[AviatorInsight]

The flight was delayed. As we were boarding the captain got on the horn to give us a hurry-on as he was afraid of losing his slot in MEL. And mentioned that it was also a “hefty fine”. Like we were to blame for holding him up.

What sort of fines are we talking about, here?

Yeahhhhh, not sure about those “fines”. None of the blokes I’ve flown with have ever cared about that .

In fact, when we miss a slot for whatever reason and the next one is too far away, we’ll make a decision with ops to go non compliant (with the slot), ATC are obliged to tell us that airborne delays will be expected enroute, however more often than not I’ve been given max speed and track shortening, go figure.

 

[mjt57]

I wonder if it's a Tiger thing, then.

Whatever, coughpy seating and cancelations/delays aside, the ground staff and flight crews were OK. Nothing like that "reality" show which featured Tiger on the Teev sometime back.

When the missus booked the holiday (if you can call 5 days away a holiday) she said that it was with Tiger and accommodation in Port Douglas. I said, I implored, begged, even, to get us onto QF or VA, but to no avail. Nothing available.

But, I s'pose that they did what was expected of them - got us there and back, albeit losing nearly 2 days of the holiday.

 

[flychrisfly]

Hi pilots, when chatting with your respective Operations departments whilst onboard a flight is the conversation like a phone call or do you need to observe some comms formalities?

 

[jb747]

Hi pilots, when chatting with your respective Operations departments whilst onboard a flight is the conversation like a phone call or do you need to observe some comms formalities?

It's exactly a phone call. I either use my mobile, if on the ground in Oz, or I use the sat phone at any other time.

 

[flyer89]

JB,

Do you happen to know why the A380 can’t be operated into Haneda currently?

 

[jb747]

Do you happen to know why the A380 can’t be operated into Haneda currently?

Specifically, no. I don't have any paperwork for Haneda. There are many things required for 380 ops, ranging from wider taxiways and fillets, through obstacle clearance, gates, weight limits. Some airports went to great lengths, even extensive rebuilding, for 380 ops, only to find that the numbers never lived up to expectations.

 

[flyer89]

Specifically, no. I don't have any paperwork for Haneda. There are many things required for 380 ops, ranging from wider taxiways and fillets, through obstacle clearance, gates, weight limits. Some airports went to great lengths, even extensive rebuilding, for 380 ops, only to find that the numbers never lived up to expectations.

Might have an answer soon. Others are asking the same question over on the ‘other’ forum.

 

[jb747]

Might have an answer soon. Others are asking the same question over on the ‘other’ forum.

I presume Airbus would have been interested solely as a way of selling aircraft. If they're only talking about QF getting a flight in there, then why would they (the Japanese) bother doing anything.

 

[JessicaTam]

Specifically, no. I don't have any paperwork for Haneda. There are many things required for 380 ops, ranging from wider taxiways and fillets, through obstacle clearance, gates, weight limits. Some airports went to great lengths, even extensive rebuilding, for 380 ops, only to find that the numbers never lived up to expectations.

Apart from chicken of fish, what is a 'fillet'?

Ta.

 

[jb747]

Generally a junction between two objects or surfaces. In this context, it’s a widening of taxiway junctions, to allow for the way that landing gear tracks to the inside during cornering....same as your trailer or caravan.

 

[JessicaTam]

Generally a junction between two objects or surfaces. In this context, it’s a widening of taxiway junctions, to allow for the way that landing gear tracks to the inside during cornering....same as your trailer or caravan.

Thank you.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Hi pilots, when chatting with your respective Operations departments whilst onboard a flight is the conversation like a phone call or do you need to observe some comms formalities?

Yep same thing here as JB and unless we’re non ACARS equipped then it’ll have to be over the beloved HF radio.

 

[odysseus]

I presume Airbus would have been interested solely as a way of selling aircraft. If they're only talking about QF getting a flight in there, then why would they (the Japanese) bother doing anything.

ANA will also be operating it from Tokyo from next year.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

ANA will also be operating it from Tokyo from next year.

From memory there was a one off QF A380 flight into Narita some years back. I did hear somewhere that Haneda isn't able to handle A380's during the day??? See the link below.

Where the A380 flies: Japan and intra-Asia routes decline while Australia & Middle East grow