Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

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?

That strip is on all of them, not just the QF ones. Off the top of my head, I have no idea what it is. I'll try to remember to ask an engineer tomorrow.

 

[jb747]

coughpit view Singapore arrival.mp4 - YouTube

A video which takes you from about FL200 to the gate. I'll do some time lapse ones soon....

 

[Skyring]

coughpit view Singapore arrival.mp4 - YouTube

A video which takes you from about FL200 to the gate. I'll do some time lapse ones soon....

May I be forgiven, but I found that fascinating, watching it on my iPad. I really should load it up in Heathrow a couple of weeks from now and oh, about 25 minutes out from Singapore, hit the play button...

At least until some smart cookie says, "Hey hang on a minute..." and then I'd reply, "Oh, it's on a delay, so that the CSM can bleep out anything rude."

Thanks for that. I was half expecting/hoping the camera would fall off with the landing vibration, but you were smooth.

 

[ReLoad]

Another cracker of a video, thanks JB747.

A couple of questions if I may? and please excuse my flight operations ignorance

In the 380 do you ever fly as a First Officer? or is it always in command? - if so, i notice that the flight control "joystick" is in opposite hands, how do you go using opposite hands to fly, that must be quite counter intuitive?
Also, we all have parts to our job that we don't like doing, what the worst part of your job? the paperwork? the red tape? Being away from home?

 

[jb747]

In the 380 do you ever fly as a First Officer? or is it always in command? - if so, i notice that the flight control "joystick" is in opposite hands, how do you go using opposite hands to fly, that must be quite counter intuitive?

No. There was time when it was allowed, but the only people who do so now are the S/Os and the check and training Captains. There are many issues with it, the handedness of the joystick being but one.

Just an addition to my original answer....It is possible that I might not be in command, but I would always be in the left hand seat. This happened during my conversion training, but it could also happen after any long leave period or sickness, when both a sim program and some line training is required before you're released back to the line. The bloke in the right hand seat would have to be a check and training captain.

Also, we all have parts to our job that we don't like doing, what the worst part of your job? the paperwork? the red tape? Being away from home?

Jet lag is always an issue. You never 'get used to it', but do you forget what it feels like not to be lagged.

Red tape and paperwork are minimal (unless you happen to be involved in an incident). I'm long past the point of caring about being at home on certain days, but there was once a time when having a Christmas, any Christmas, off would have been nice.

 

[ReLoad]

Last silly question I promise , heaven forbid if one of the two of you became unwell in the coughpit and couldn't continue flying, is it protocol to land at the nearest safe point?

Say MEL-SIN would you land in DRW for example? - Does every flight have another crew member on board who can act as a replacement should the above happen? If they didn't, would you get another crew member (non flight trained) to sit in the empty seat and just sit there in case of something else happening?

I always laugh at the movies from years ago where the message would come over the PA "do we have anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane.

 

[harvyk]

I always laugh at the movies from years ago where the message would come over the PA "do we have anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane.

I expect the message would need to be altered to "does anyone know how to fly a plane for real, those who have played Microsoft Flight Simulator need not apply..." otherwise you know that some desktop pilot will want to give it a crack.

 

[jb747]

Last silly question I promise , heaven forbid if one of the two of you became unwell in the coughpit and couldn't continue flying, is it protocol to land at the nearest safe point?

No. The decision is left to whomever is in charge. There are lots of reasons for going past one airport in favour of another (familiarity, weather, aircraft weight, etc).

Say MEL-SIN would you land in DRW for example? - Does every flight have another crew member on board who can act as a replacement should the above happen?

At the moment, most of the 747 and 380 flights would have an S/O who could be used to replace whomever was sick. Operating two man, you'd just do without.

If they didn't, would you get another crew member (non flight trained) to sit in the empty seat and just sit there in case of something else happening?

What good would an untrained person be? The seat would just be left empty. The aircraft can be operated by one person.

 

[jb747]

I expect the message would need to be altered to "does anyone know how to fly a plane for real, those who have played Microsoft Flight Simulator need not apply..." otherwise you know that some desktop pilot will want to give it a crack.

Not really sure which would be worse to be honest. Someone who could fly any sort of real aircraft (i.e. biz jet and up) would probably be ok, but a light aircraft pilot wouldn't take long to get into trouble.

And the FS people. Not a chance..though they can't be convinced of that.

 

[spudseamus]

Not really sure which would be worse to be honest. Someone who could fly any sort of real aircraft (i.e. biz jet and up) would probably be ok, but a light aircraft pilot wouldn't take long to get into trouble.

And the FS people. Not a chance..though they can't be convinced of that.

Im convinced!!

 

[Skyring]

Someone who could fly any sort of real aircraft (i.e. biz jet and up) would probably be ok, but a light aircraft pilot wouldn't take long to get into trouble.

And the FS people. Not a chance..though they can't be convinced of that.

They'd be sunk after the first loop.

"Flying High" aside, this would have to be an extremely rare occurrence, surely? One pilot down, sure, chances are food poisoning or a heart attack or something would incapacitate an occasional pilot in flight. But two at once, well you'd have to be unlucky. Or worse.

United 93 springs to mind - the 757 hijacked on 9/11. The passengers attempted to regain control from the terrorists but failed. If they had succeeded is there no way they could have landed safely? The usual movie scenario is another pilot talking them down, possibly from some sort of chase plane.

 

[markis10]

Of course Myth Busters did cover the disabled pilot scenario, being talked down was an issue, most people could not find the PTT button!

 

[jb747]

The usual movie scenario is another pilot talking them down, possibly from some sort of chase plane.

Well, the first thing you'd have to do is find the transmit switch. Every time a cabin crew member has asked that, I always get them to find that switch, and then press it for them. Without exception, they've found the autopilot disconnect......

 

[UP4014]

Would have to use a mobile phone to get someone to tell you how to find the radio by the sound of it.

 

[alykyg]

Well, the first thing you'd have to do is find the transmit switch. Every time a cabin crew member has asked that, I always get them to find that switch, and then press it for them. Without exception, they've found the autopilot disconnect......

Sorry, this may sound really disrespectful (but really appreciate all info you have provided JB!!) but i laughed at that comment.. by the same token, why the autopilot disconnect? I am an complete layperson and have no technical knowledge of piloting at all...

 

[jb747]

Sorry, this may sound really disrespectful (but really appreciate all info you have provided JB!!) but i laughed at that comment.. by the same token, why the autopilot disconnect? I am an complete layperson and have no technical knowledge of piloting at all...

Because many know that we often talk without taking our hands off the controls, so there has to be a transmit button on the stick/column (which there is). But, when you look at the column nothing is marked PTT (push to talk). The two obvious buttons are the trim (767/747) which nobody seems to go for, and a nice large, and innocuous looking button, which everyone likes. Sadly it's the AP disconnect.

The transmit switches are hidden from view.

 

[rechoboam]

Sorry, this may sound really disrespectful (but really appreciate all info you have provided JB!!) but i laughed at that comment.. by the same token, why the autopilot disconnect? I am an complete layperson and have no technical knowledge of piloting at all...

On that token JB I am flying LAX to jFK in April, landing in the evening. What would be the likely approach to NYC? Your advice re flying into LAX was invaluable, I felt much more secure once I practiced the approach on flight simulator and knew I could take over if required in an emergency (if someone told me where the PTT was)

 

[jb747]

On that token JB I am flying LAX to jFK in April, landing in the evening. What would be the likely approach to NYC? Your advice re flying into LAX was invaluable, I felt much more secure once I practiced the approach on flight simulator and knew I could take over if required in an emergency (if someone told me where the PTT was)

I only went there five times, and I don't think we ever repeated anything.....

Most likely arrival will be a Lendy 6.

Runway...I landed on 04R, 22L, and 31R.

Most interesting would be landing off the Canarsie visual to 13L...but never did that.

Departure...most likely from 31L, into a Kennedy 1 SID.

 

[ReLoad]

Thanks for the answers JB, I have a stack more questions, but a promise to leave you alone is a promise

 

[williamsf1]

Hi JB

Great clip into SIN , I have a question with regards to your arrival at the gate . I noticed that there is no person directing you in ( unsure of the real name but they use the things like ping pong bats) how ever you see a electronic display on the wall at the end. How is this controled?