Ask The Pilot

[AviatorInsight]

Best of luck @AviatorInsight and to all our Aviators out there.
Hope you r OK and it all works out for you after this saga.

Thanks Quickstatus. I'm filling in my time at home at the moment. I've actually been applying for jobs where I started my career (Woolies/Coles and call centres to pay for my flying). So we'll see if something happens with that. They're expecting the administration to run for about 2 months. In which case I shall continue my pandemic beard growth, hoping there's an airline to come back to.

There's a lot of politics being thrown around in a lot of the other threads and I don't intend to start here, but I do have (need?) faith that VA will pull out of VA and I can go back to flying. I'm definitely not ready to retire yet.

 

[Quickstatus]

Im hoping that a new mob gets in and revitalises the airline and get it back in the air. We do need 2 airlines.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF have operated a few 787 into some South American cities recently.
It appears that they have been flying further north than a 747 would - uncertain whether this is just weather or local condition or a feature of whatever they are certified for . What is the max diversion time they are allowed?

BTW whats the one engine out speed for a 787?

 

[Saab34]

Thanks Quickstatus. I'm filling in my time at home at the moment. I've actually been applying for jobs where I started my career (Woolies/Coles and call centres to pay for my flying). So we'll see if something happens with that. They're expecting the administration to run for about 2 months. In which case I shall continue my pandemic beard growth, hoping there's an airline to come back to.

There's a lot of politics being thrown around in a lot of the other threads and I don't intend to start here, but I do have (need?) faith that VA will pull out of VA and I can go back to flying. I'm definitely not ready to retire yet.

What’s the general gist around the pilot body AV around other flying jobs? The Tiger guys are probably the worst off. Clearly the only flying Jet option for them is Middle East but that would still be a few years away.

Obviously it’s a challenge for many to re find employment (well same level Remuneration probably not), one guy I spoke to, all he has done for 20 years is fly a Airbus. It’s all he knows how to do, it’s the only thing he is qualified to do. He does not even know what other industries would take him on. So he decided to get his truck license.

Going overseas isn’t really ideal for the majority as many, in Jet FO and above jobs here would have a family and mortgage. Normally would cost many relationships. Unlike the GA or Prop days where you could pack up and go.

 

[jb747]

QF have operated a few 787 into some South American cities recently.
It appears that they have been flying further north than a 747 would - uncertain whether this is just weather or local condition or a feature of whatever they are certified for . What is the max diversion time they are allowed?

As far as I know, CASA hasn't given anything beyond 3 hours. AV can tell us what the 777 had, and I'll check with a mate about the status of the QF 787s.

BTW whats the one engine out speed for a 787?

The calculations will be based on a ground speed of around 430 knots.

 

[AviatorInsight]

QF have operated a few 787 into some South American cities recently.
It appears that they have been flying further north than a 747 would - uncertain whether this is just weather or local condition or a feature of whatever they are certified for . What is the max diversion time they are allowed?

BTW whats the one engine out speed for a 787?

I'd say that they were flying further north because of their EDTO requirements. The 777 was 3hrs. I believe they were still trying to get 240mins but haven't heard anything for a long time.

The engine out drift down speed is a function of current altitude, weight, with the actual speed being derived from the FMC. It'll basically command it to the top of the bottom amber band (minimum manoeuvre speed), and will slowly drift down at this speed with full maximum continuous thrust. As a very rough IAS it's around 250kts.

 

[AviatorInsight]

What’s the general gist around the pilot body AV around other flying jobs? The Tiger guys are probably the worst off. Clearly the only flying Jet option for them is Middle East but that would still be a few years away.

Obviously it’s a challenge for many to re find employment (well same level Remuneration probably not), one guy I spoke to, all he has done for 20 years is fly a Airbus. It’s all he knows how to do, it’s the only thing he is qualified to do. He does not even know what other industries would take him on. So he decided to get his truck license.

Going overseas isn’t really ideal for the majority as many, in Jet FO and above jobs here would have a family and mortgage. Normally would cost many relationships. Unlike the GA or Prop days where you could pack up and go.

Most guys are holding tight. I've got a mate who left Emirates and had a start date with ANA in Tokyo in May. Obviously that's now been put on hold so he's in limbo at the moment. Doesn't have a job essentially as he hasn't technically started at ANA, so he can only apply for job seeker.

Everyone is basically at a stand still. The Tiger/NZ guys and girls will unfortunately either go back to their previous employer (if they can) or source contract work overseas when this gets back to normal. The remuneration is a big key hitting a lot of people at the moment. Everyone's finances are different. But I do know a lot of people have gone to get their truck licence. Maybe the reference in Top Gun was onto something way back in the mid 80s too?

VA have told all redundant Tiger and New Zealand pilots that if there is a hiring need at VA then those pilots will be able to come back according to their spot on the seniority list with a 5 year validity period. Meaning they will be able to get a job before anyone else off the street within those 5yrs.

 

[jb747]

As a very rough IAS it's around 250kts.

250 KIAS in the FL280 area, is roughly 420 TAS. Apply wind to TAS and you get groundspeed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is there a quick way to derive TAS from IAS/CAS?

 

[AviatorInsight]

Quickest way? Look at the navigation display.

If you wanted to calculate it...(roughly)

TAS = IAS * [1 + (Altitude/1000 * .02)]

250KIAS x [1 + (36,000/1000 x 0.02)]

= 430KTAS

 

[jb747]

As far as I know, CASA hasn't given anything beyond 3 hours. AV can tell us what the 777 had, and I'll check with a mate about the status of the QF 787s.

Feedback is that it’s still 180 minutes, though the company is after 240.

The planning numbers are very fast, .85 / 290 KIAS. As a line pilot faced with a problem, you’re quite unlikely to fly the aircraft to those numbers. If you only have one engine left, you’d certainly be tempted to be conservative in your operation. But, the regulatory limits are based on time, not distance, so by picking very fast speeds companies get to maximise the size of the range rings they can use for planning. Nothing forces you to actually use them.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is there a manufacturer recommended “one engine thrust level” that minimises risk of failure while also minimises time in flight

 

[jb747]

Is there a manufacturer recommended “one engine thrust level” that minimises risk of failure while also minimises time in flight

Realistically, there is probably very little difference, over quite a large range of settings. And jet engines aren't like your car. They actually work better at high power settings.

Back in the days when I flew twins, I'm pretty certain I'd decided that I'd use long range cruise for every thing. That's not the most fuel efficient, nor is it the fastest. In the single engine case though, it probably isn't much less power, nor is it much more efficient. But I'd probably feel better.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is there a way of estimating southernmost latitude for recent QF7027?

 

[Tortuga]

jb747 it might have already been asked - can you comment on the 3 videos released by the US Navy that they said shows UFOs? I'm interested in your thoughts on likelihood of doctoring and if the values that show up are all realistic and what they mean. Thanks

 

[jb747]

Is there a way of estimating southernmost latitude for recent QF7027?

Looking at the FR24 track, I’d say about 52 degrees south.

 

[jb747]

jb747 it might have already been asked - can you comment on the 3 videos released by the US Navy that they said shows UFOs?

Who knows? Certainly not me. Perhaps the USAF don’t tell the USN everything. Or, to quote a movie, “you don’t think toilet seats really cost $10,000”?

 

[AviatorInsight]

Is there a way of estimating southernmost latitude for recent QF7027?

According to flight aware (I seriously don’t know how they get this info). 49°42‘ S.
This was the filed route. Pretty close JB!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Who knows? Certainly not me. Perhaps the USAF don’t tell the USN everything. Or, to quote a movie, “you don’t think toilet seats really cost $10,000”?

I read that the "manual" for the new Air Force One costs USD$26Million.

 

[Quickstatus]

Invercargill airport (IVC) is 46°4' deg S
So they were operating not much further south than the NZ islands.

Whats the southernmost latitude for the EDTO of 180 minutes for SYD-SCL for a 787

Looking at the FR24 track, I’d say about 52 degrees south.

According to flight aware (I seriously don’t know how they get this info). 49°42‘ S.