Ask The Pilot

[mjt57]

An article on apps that pilots use.

Singapore Airlines explains how iPads are 'the ultimate coughpit companion' for pilots — 9to5Mac

What do you folks use?

 

[jb747]

An article on apps that pilots use.

Singapore Airlines explains how iPads are 'the ultimate coughpit companion' for pilots — 9to5Mac

What do you folks use?

iPads. We originally had iPad 3s, then Air 2s, and soon to be replaced by the smaller Pro.

 

[lastrow]

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.

Having shepherded A380s around airports you will be very aware of the way wheels try to take a short cut when tracking into corners. Having towed a caravan for many kilometres around Australia I can vouch for the fact that the wheels often have a mind of their own, (especially tandem set ups) when negotiating roundabouts or left hand corners. Scuffing against a kerb can be very damaging to tyre walls.
jb have you had a chance to tow a caravan yet?

 

[Himeno]

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

I can't recall a QF NRT A380 flight.
There was a one off EK A380 to HND when they started a route there.
With how busy HND is, the size of the airport, the separation required for A380s (both in the air and on the ground) and the additional requirements for A380 ground handing, HND can't take A380 traffic during the day slot hours. A380s can only use HND during the night hours between 11pm and 6am. Other airports also have limits on A380 operations, such as MNL only being able to have 1 on the ground at a time.

How old is that article? It mentions "the QR terminal at JFK", but QR operates from 2 terminals at JFK. Their morning flight uses T7 and the evening flight T8.

 

[jb747]

jb have you had a chance to tow a caravan yet?

I towed a hired one around Oz in 2007. Our van was delivered back around March, but it has only done one trip to Port Macquarie so far. Plan is a run to WA just after I retire.

 

[D747]

I towed a hired one around Oz in 2007. Our van was delivered back around March, but it has only done one trip to Port Macquarie so far. Plan is a run to WA just after I retire.

Hi JB. I have both flown a 747-400 simulator at the Qantas jet base, and attempted to reverse park a caravan into a tight spot at a caravan park. I found the simulator to be a much more enjoyable experience, although no one was making my life difficult in the simulator, like they try to do to you! Your thoughts?

 

[jb747]

Hi JB. I have both flown a 747-400 simulator at the Qantas jet base, and attempted to reverse park a caravan into a tight spot at a caravan park. I found the simulator to be a much more enjoyable experience, although no one was making my life difficult in the simulator, like they try to do to you! Your thoughts?

Sims can be quite fun, if you're doing something that isn't assessed, or for whatever reason, is just a low key event.

As for backing...I don't have any trouble with that, but don't ask me to describe it to someone else.

 

[mjt57]

Hey, if you can back a 6x4 trailer which has a tendancy to jackknife before it appears in the mirrors, then backing a caravan is easy peasy...

My issue with backing up a plane is that you're relying on the tug driver to not hit anything...

 

[jb747]

My issue with backing up a plane is that you're relying on the tug driver to not hit anything...

We don't have any control over it when being backed, other than getting the clearance in the first place. If something untoward were to happen, we have the brakes, but you have to be extremely careful applying them if going backwards.

 

[D747]

We don't have any control over it when being backed, other than getting the clearance in the first place. If something untoward were to happen, we have the brakes, but you have to be extremely careful applying them if going backwards.

Is it SOP to have your feet on the brake pedals or on the floor when being pushed?

 

[flyer89]

Just noticed QF11 departed RWY 25. Wouldn’t have thought it could do it. Looks like about 30+ kt headwind.

 

[Flying Fox]

We don't have any control over it when being backed, other than getting the clearance in the first place. If something untoward were to happen, we have the brakes, but you have to be extremely careful applying them if going backwards.

Excuse my ignorance; does this mean that if you hit the brakes hard the aircraft could end up on its tail with the nose in the air?

 

[SeatBackForward]

When there are extensive delays at airports, like happening in SYD today, how to the ATC prioritise who gets the landing/takeoff slots? Is it based on aircraft's original scheduled times, ie those not being delayed are let go on time ? International vs domestic? Company A vs Comapny B? (I doubt that..)

 

[lastrow]

As a pilot you live by your check lists. In my caravan travels, I found that a detailed check list is essential especially when departing. My FO did the inside and I did the outside and then we cross checked. Hopefully this will save you taking off with the TV antenna still up. Have you done a session in the caravan SIM yet?

 

[mjt57]

Must’ve been a wild and woolly day in Sydney. Like the video of the A380.

'Absolutely disgusting': Passengers sleep in terminal as winds sparks delays at Sydney Airport — ABC News

 

[AviatorInsight]

When there are extensive delays at airports, like happening in SYD today, how to the ATC prioritise who gets the landing/takeoff slots? Is it based on aircraft's original scheduled times, ie those not being delayed are let go on time ? International vs domestic? Company A vs Comapny B? (I doubt that..)

It is governed by Airservices. They will distribute slot times to the company based on our departure time. Sometimes it's a couple of minutes late, sometimes it's a couple of minutes early. They then pass this time onto us and we have a -5min +15min window in which to depart. If we are outside that, then we go 'non compliant' (with the slot) and expect airborne delays.

On a day like today however, we still get slot times (if you're going to BNE, MEL or PER). But everyone will get a pushback time/engine start time to minimise taxiway congestion (on taxiway G). This is done by Sydney Co-ordinator (127.6), we call them up tell them we're ready for pushback, they'll come back with "time is compliant monitor ground" and then ground will call us when a pushback is available.

 

[jb747]

Is it SOP to have your feet on the brake pedals or on the floor when being pushed?

We have them off the brakes. Any need for them won’t be so rapid that you can’t just raise your feet, and leaning on them accidentally would cause issues...and could easily break the draw bar.

Just noticed QF11 departed RWY 25. Wouldn’t have thought it could do it. Looks like about 30+ kt headwind.

We worked the numbers out for that some time ago. It can...if there’s enough wind. I’ll look at it when I get back to my hotel, and work it out on the company iPad.

Excuse my ignorance; does this mean that if you hit the brakes hard the aircraft could end up on its tail with the nose in the air?

If not on its tail, you could easily lift the nose gear off the ground. I seem to recall hearing that there’s only about 10 tonnes of weight on the nose, so given the long moment arms involved it wouldn’t be all that hard to lift it.

As a pilot you live by your check lists. In my caravan travels, I found that a detailed check list is essential especially when departing. My FO did the inside and I did the outside and then we cross checked. Hopefully this will save you taking off with the TV antenna still up. Have you done a session in the caravan SIM yet?

Sim session no...but we do have a checklist, and we both do it separately. It’s still a bit of work in progress though.

 

[jb747]

The weather was interesting in both Sydney and Melbourne. Totally screwed my day up, but I was only one of very many.

I was supposed to pax from Albury to Sydney this morning for the first of two sims. When I got to the airport, I found that my flight had been cancelled...which meant I wouldn’t make the sim in time. But, I’d been booked on the next flight. I spoke to scheduling in Sydney, which is when I first got an idea of the magnitude of the problems. They said to come up anyway, and they’d sort something out with the sim. I then found that the next flight was now also cancelled...but I was given a boarding pass for a flight on Saturday. Not much use, so after another chat to Sydney, decided to drive to Melbourne, and catch a flight from there. They booked me on one...

But, when I arrived in Melbourne I found that it too had been cancelled. And so was the next one they’d slid me to. Ultimately given a boarding pass, for a flight over 24 hours away. Also no use, as I need to be back in Melbourne to operate the 35 on Sunday. As luck would have it, I’d been chatting to one of the 737 pilots in the crew room, and he’d offered a jump seat if needed..and in the end that got me to Sydney.

So, I’ll get one sim done tomorrow, but whether I can actually get back to Melbourne afterwards remains to be seen.

 

[JessicaTam]

How much discretion does a pilot have to offer a jump seat? Assuming the person is permitted to travel in the coughpit of course.

 

[JessicaTam]

Oh, follow up question - what was it like watching the 737 being piloted cf the A380? Or were you in pax mode and reading a book?