Ask The Pilot

[Saab34]

Is their any form of relationship between QF/VA that you guys know of? I know a lot of carriers globally in the same markets have agreements in place such as engineering (spare parts) etc. If someone needs a part urgently then the competitor might be able to assist if in stock.

There was an issue recently in regards to one of the ME3 and a large carrier refusing to supply a basic part which resulted in a 2 day delay.

I know in the early days of Tiger, QF refused to offer any ground services at regional airports even know Tiger was willing to pay whatever cost. Tiger had issues at Sydney also with Qantaslink and operating from the same areas.

The QF/VA relationship is much like the BA/VS setup. Seems fairly hostile with no collaboration whatsoever.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Is their any form of relationship between QF/VA that you guys know of? I know a lot of carriers globally in the same markets have agreements in place such as engineering (spare parts) etc. If someone needs a part urgently then the competitor might be able to assist if in stock.

There was an issue recently in regards to one of the ME3 and a large carrier refusing to supply a basic part which resulted in a 2 day delay.

I know in the early days of Tiger, QF refused to offer any ground services at regional airports even know Tiger was willing to pay whatever cost. Tiger had issues at Sydney also with Qantaslink and operating from the same areas.

The QF/VA relationship is much like the BA/VS setup. Seems fairly hostile with no collaboration whatsoever.

We’ve regularly carried aircraft parts for QF I can imagine at a hefty cost however. In our airport charts, for some places that we may have a broken APU then it’ll say that the ground air cart is supplied by QF so I dare say there would have to be some sort of agreement for that.

I also can’t remember where I saw it but there was a port somewhere that we weren’t allowed to use the QF one (for whatever reason I don’t know).

 

[Quickstatus]

If a part from a competing carrier is used, it may leave that carrier in the lurch if it also needs that part. So understandable if a carrier refuses access.

 

[jb747]

If a part from a competing carrier is used, it may leave that carrier in the lurch if it also needs that part. So understandable if a carrier refuses access.

Ah, the navy storekeeper logic. If he has to have a minimum of one item in store, then you can’t have it, even if you are the ONLY potential user in the country.

There is, or at least was, a pool for engines and various other components. Being part of the pool meant you had to contribute components to the pool, and probably cost serious $ as well. As a general rule, pool items were never available to anyone outside of the pool. Consider it being insurance, and attempting to buy that insurance after the event is, of course, not going to fly.

I once refused to accept an MEL out of Dubai. It wasn’t on a whim, I’d done so in the past and it taught me to never accept that particular MEL again. EK had the part we needed, and after waiting some hours for it to be produced, during which I expect a number of people hoped I’d relent, we had it installed and set off. I was told that it was costing $five figures per day, and that EK wanted it back on the next possible flight.

Airlines can have agreements with each other, but I wouldn’t expect it to be too strong where outright competitors are concerned.

 

[Quickstatus]

Did you carry spares on those A380 long haul flights? What type of spares?

Also if a part is borrowed from a partner airline does that particular part (same serial number) need to be returned. Is there a reconciliation with regard to age difference of returned part

 

[Saab34]

Obviously if Virgin need a 777 part QF isn’t going to be much helpful.

So are there company engineers contracted to each overseas port?

I was in Hong Kong recently and noticed a Virgin Tech on the ground (eating in the food court actually) in VA engineering uniform.

 

[jb747]

Did you carry spares on those A380 long haul flights? What type of spares?

You’ll have to put that one up in the ‘ask the engineer thread’. I have no idea.

Also if a part is borrowed from a partner airline does that particular part (same serial number) need to be returned or is there a reconciliation with regard to age of returned but similar part

My understanding was that exactly the same item, not something equivalent, had to be returned.

So are there company engineers contracted to each overseas port?

I was in Hong Kong recently and noticed a Virgin Tech on the ground (eating in the food court actually) in VA engineering uniform.

For most of my career, QF had some engineers in most of the overseas ports. I don’t recall seeing one in recent years though.

 

[Altair]

My understanding was that exactly the same item, not something equivalent, had to be returned.

Depending on the part in question EK may not have actually owned it but part of leased equipment. I remember one of the issues KM had when finishing off Ansett was trying to find all the correct parts of planes that AN had leases for and the record keeping was not perfect.

Also with that Belorussian IL-76 video I thought the FO had his hands on the control yoke all the time and there was another crew member managing the throttles...or the the FO was born post-Chernobyl and had a third arm.

 

[Flying Fox]

With regards to pilot rest times, are there rules around sleeping tablet usage before, during and after flights (if allowed at all)?

 

[jb747]

There are very extensive rules about most drugs, especially sleeping pills.

Some reading here: Medication

With regard to timing...for Temazepam, 12 hours rings a bell, though I'm not sure about that.

 

[mjt57]

Not that I know of . But many airports have local rules that limit running time at the gate.

There are a lot of reasons not too though. Safety of people on the ground, noise, both externally and internally. Risk of FOD.

How much thrust is developed at idle? I'd imagine that if any, it wouldn't help the tug with pushback, would it?

 

[jb747]

How much thrust is developed at idle? I'd imagine that if any, it wouldn't help the tug with pushback, would it?

A 380 produces about 3,500 lb per engine at idle. Normally we don't even initiate the starting sequence (and remember it winds up two engine simultaneously) until the later stages of the push. If the aircraft will have to be moved forwards at all, you wait until it has stopped. It can vary a bit with the type and capability of the tug.

 

[harvyk]

Would the pilots (and cabin crew) who preform the international tag flights for SYD-CBR for SQ (so SIN-SYD-CBR-SIN) and QR (DOH-SYD-CBR-SYD-DOH) likely be preforming only the SYD-CBR sectors for that day and then returning OS the next day, or would they have likely just done an international flight (like DOH-SYD or SIN-SYD) and then continue operating the tag?

 

[jb747]

Would the pilots (and cabin crew) who preform the international tag flights for SYD-CBR for SQ (so SIN-SYD-CBR-SIN) and QR (DOH-SYD-CBR-SYD-DOH) likely be preforming only the SYD-CBR sectors for that day and then returning OS the next day, or would they have likely just done an international flight (like DOH-SYD or SIN-SYD) and then continue operating the tag?

The leg between Qatar and Sydney is pretty long, so I'd hope that the Sydney Canberra return is being flown by a separate crew. Singapore aren't looking at anywhere near as long a flight, so I would not be surprised if the crew transits Sydney in both directions.

I can't say for sure though.

 

[lastrow]

Engines out seems to be a pretty popular subject on YouTube these days with one showing a full landing without any engine power. What are the gliding capabilities of say a B747 or an A380?

 

[Mogul]

Engines out seems to be a pretty popular subject on YouTube these days with one showing a full landing without any engine power. What are the gliding capabilities of say a B747 or an A380?

I would be more worried about the gliding capabilities of a B737 OR A320.

 

[Major]

Engines out seems to be a pretty popular subject on YouTube these days with one showing a full landing without any engine power. What are the gliding capabilities of say a B747 or an A380?

How about a 767

Gimli Glider - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jb747]

Engines out seems to be a pretty popular subject on YouTube these days with one showing a full landing without any engine power. What are the gliding capabilities of say a B747 or an A380?

Well, if you lose all of the engines in any of the airliners, you're going to do a 'full' landing. Whether or not the aircraft will be used again is the real question.

All of the airliners have broadly similar glide characteristics. About 3.5 miles per thousand feet, until you start to configure. Plan on about 1.5 with gear and no flap. I'd expect less than 1 mile per thousand once fully configured....so you would not take any more than about half of the flap until you were just about at the flare. I've done it in the sim in the 767 and 747, and as best I recall, we ended up on the runway.

It's been done successfully a few times in A310, 330, 737 and 767. We don't practice it.

 

[AviatorInsight]

I would be more worried about the gliding capabilities of a B737 OR A320.

The 737 is actually quite good! In the Sim of course, while it’s not often practiced, if there’s time, I like to try it from a downwind position usually about 6000ft and I’ve always made the runway. Of course I’ve never done it at altitude all the way to a landing but you don’t fall like a rock like what most people think happens. It actually takes too long!!!

 

[flyer89]

The 737 is actually quite good! In the Sim of course, while it’s not often practiced, if there’s time, I like to try it from a downwind position usually about 6000ft and I’ve always made the runway. Of course I’ve never done it at altitude all the way to a landing but you don’t fall like a rock like what most people think happens. It actually takes too long!!!

There is a Cathay 747 checkie on Instagram who posts (mostly) educational videos. Recently he posted a video of a captain doing his last sim before retirement and flew under a bridge and then performed a deadstick landing. Looked like fun!

EDIT: The video is also on YouTube...