Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

That's actually changed a bit. I swapped an entire trip for one that started in Melbourne, and I'll most likely also swap the last sector from the 32 to the 10 to get me back to there too.

Right now I'm planned for:
QF 32 LHR-SIN 20/2
QF 32 SIN-SYD 23/2

But that's almost certain to change to QF 10 SIN-MEL 22/2.

Basically swaps will be approved by the company, if it doesn't cost them anything, and as long as they have appropriate coverage for the flights. I generally find that the Sydney based guys don't like doing the 10, so most are quite happy to swap it for the daylight 32 (and I don't like the 32, as it gives me very few options for getting back to Melbourne that night).

My remaining trips both start and finish in Melbourne, so they're perfect for me...

 

[jb747]

I always try to imagine where the V1, rotate and V2 points are on the tarmac, but I'm probably waaaay out.

Takeoffs like that aren't even slightly limiting. We're back on the maximum derate (about 67% total thrust), and the performance and lift off points aren't all that dissimilar to what you'd see at max weight.

In the Boeings, it was a limitation that you did not use a take off thrust setting that was less than the climb power setting that you were going to use...which was designed to ensure that the thrust did not increase when climb power was selected. The end result of that was that at lighter weights, the takeoff started to become rocket like. The 380 didn't have that limit, and an increase in power after take off is very common. The aircraft is still able to meet all of the regulatory requirements at the very reduced thrust levels that are used. The 747 has since had the limit removed, and now operates to the same system. It's much easier on the engines, and I suspect, has the effect of moving any likely failure to a point in the climb instead of on the runway...which I'd see as a better outcome.

 

[simongr]

Does it work in the same way as for the cabin crews?

I was interested in the comment that pilots fly in F - again slightly controversial (like my comment re working 10 days our of a possible 20 ) this would further entrench the view that pilots seem to live the life of the privileged. Is that part of the award agreement? Given that the A380 (and soon most of the 744) fleet has a lie flat bed in J is this something that will possibly change?

 

[777]

I'm still fiddling with the camera trying to work out the best way to use it (and at this stage I'm a million miles from having the post processing sorted), but the aim by the end of the trip is to get a night take off and landing, and perhaps the departure from London.

Does it have a time lapse function? A full LHR-SIN or MEL-SIN at 10/20/30 sec intervals (not sure what's realistic) would be pretty impressive.

 

[Wannabee]

I was a little surprised that there was much audio at all. The little camera sits within a waterproof housing, which isn't all that conducive to sound recording.

JB, is it a GoPro by chance? Try the open back case (versus the waterproof) if so. The Go Pro can also do a time lapse.

 

[jb747]

Does it work in the same way as for the cabin crews?

No.

I was interested in the comment that pilots fly in F - again slightly controversial. Is that part of the award agreement? Given that the A380 (and soon most of the 744) fleet has a lie flat bed in J is this something that will possibly change?

It is part of an award. As I said at the time, it also isn't locked in stone. It may change, but most likely only in as much as the booking will become business, with an upgrade if possible. I find paxing in any class to be time out of my life...I'd much rather be up front...it also doesn't pay all that well.

 

[jb747]

Does it have a time lapse function? A full LHR-SIN or MEL-SIN at 10/20/30 sec intervals (not sure what's realistic) would be pretty impressive.

Yes, it can do time lapse. Probably work better on a sector like the SIN-SYD on the 32 though, as most of the others have extremely long periods of 'black'.

To make a 3 minute video of (say) LHR-SIN, I'd need about 4500 frames...so what's that...about a shot every 10 seconds. Possible, but I expect I'd need an external battery. I was looking at them in Singapore the other day...

I think I'll stick to video on this trip, and perhaps explore time lapse next time.

Is it a GoPro by chance? Try the open back case (versus the waterproof) if so. The Go Pro can also do a time lapse.

Well, perhaps I don't want every word that is said in the coughpit recorded too accurately...

 

[Wannabee]

Well, perhaps I don't want every word that is said in the coughpit recorded too accurately...

Yeah of course, especially in the public domain. But yes, I too am surprised in the quality of the audio when in the waterproof housing. I usually have mine mounted to my helmet but the A380 is a little bit quieter than a BK117

 

[jb747]

I usually have mine mounted to my helmet but the A380 is a little bit quieter than a BK117

Ah, a helicopter. Good reason to leave it in the waterproof housing then.

I expect your cabin noise level is pretty high. I once slipped my helmet off in an A4, just to see what it was like..noisy is an understatement.

What do you do with a BK at Nowra?

 

[straitman]

What do you do with a BK at Nowra?

What does anyone do with a BK :?:

I only ever sat in one once and was thankful that I was not going flying as I simply did not fit. :shock:

 

[Wannabee]

What do you do with a BK at Nowra?

I live in Nowra but work in Darwin. We have two BK's doing SAR/EMS there

What does anyone do with a BK :?:

I only ever sat in one once and was thankful that I was not going flying as I simply did not fit. :shock:

They certainly are small when coming from Seahawk. To be honest they are a reliable all round machine. Great for getting into that tight spot for a landing or winch but also equally good for inter hospital transfers including IFR. But as with any helicopter, it would always be nice to have more payload, especially fuel!

 

[straitman]

I live in Nowra but work in Darwin. We have two BK's doing SAR/EMS there



They certainly are small when coming from Seahawk. To be honest they are a reliable all round machine. Great for getting into that tight spot for a landing or winch but also equally good for inter hospital transfers including IFR. But as with any helicopter, it would always be nice to have more payload, especially fuel!

I have not heard of fuel being called payload for a very long time. (I agree though)

 

[jb01]

Hi jb747

Firstly (as echoed by quite a few here) thank you for taking the time to answer all our questions! This thread is a great read.

Now with all this talk about fuel - are pilots measured and assessed for their fuel efficiency?
And if so; how does the measuring work with fuel remaining at the end of a flight if a new pilot is to take over that plane for its next sector?

 

[harvyk]

Do you ever get a route discontinuity messages in the FMC? Or is that something only seen if the route is not properly coded in? (and thus is never seen)
If it does happen what is the procedure when you reach the end of the pre-programmed route? eg set a heading to connect to the next waypoint?

(There is a photo on wikimedia which shows a discontinuity message, so I imagine it does happen from time to time in real life -> http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Airbus_A380_cockpit.jpg)

 

[dfcatch]

JB - thanks for the video - awesome.

How do you have the gopro mounted? Are you just using the suction cup mount?

If you try the time lapse (very cool effects with the hero2), make sure you're using a class 10 sd card.

And the battery bacpac will fix your problem there

 

[jb747]

Now with all this talk about fuel - are pilots measured and assessed for their fuel efficiency?
And if so; how does the measuring work with fuel remaining at the end of a flight if a new pilot is to take over that plane for its next sector?

There has been a somewhat controversial system in use for quite some years, in which additional fuel (over the minimum order), and remaining fuel are compared. The problem is that it is an extremely simplistic system, and, for instance, has no real idea whether the additional fuel saved a diversion. I'm not really sure of its point. I carry the fuel I consider necessary on any given day. I don't care what some person in an office thinks of my fuel order, nor do I care if my fuel spec says I carry more fuel than 82% of the pilots, especially as this is a simple statistical analysis, and is never comparing apples with apples.

 

[jb747]

Do you ever get a route discontinuity messages in the FMC? Or is that something only seen if the route is not properly coded in? (and thus is never seen)
If it does happen what is the procedure when you reach the end of the pre-programmed route? eg set a heading to connect to the next waypoint?

They happen all of the time...and many times we intentionally program them in. Often there will be one at the end of a STAR, before the start of the approach. 99.9% of the time, we join the route up before reaching the discontinuity, or we'll already be in HDG, and it will simply be deleted. If you do reach it, the aircraft gives you the standard Airbus 3 clicks, and just maintains its track.

 

[jb747]

How do you have the gopro mounted? Are you just using the suction cup mount?

That's a bit of a work in progress. I've used the #2 window so far. We looked at using a panel on the roof behind all of the switches, but it's a rough finish, and the suction cap loses grip after a while. I'm considering using one of the fixed fittings, and some bluetack.

 

[Skyring]

That's a bit of a work in progress. I've used the #2 window so far. We looked at using a panel on the roof behind all of the switches, but it's a rough finish, and the suction cap loses grip after a while. I'm considering using one of the fixed fittings, and some bluetack.

Can Qantas help? There would be some training and promotional benefit to having footage of interesting parts of a flight. It shouldn't be too hard to weld a camera holder bracket into the coughpit ceiling, and your pilot caps must offer some protection.

 

[Flying Fox]

Question about the A380. All the pics that I have seen of the A380, I have noticed that the base of the section of the aircraft fuselage just behind where the main wing joins, there seems to be a vertical silver line. Why is this area not painted in white on the A380?