Ask The Pilot

[Flying Fox]

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....

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

I love how you can simply change the displays to show whatever info or live video is most appropriate for your needs at the time.

Stupid question time, do aircraft like the A380 have a hand-brake or such that is applied when you stop at the gate?

 

[darrend]

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.

I do fly "real" aircraft and I concur. Horses for courses though. I have in the past used FS for a bit of fun with STAR, SID and the array of radio nav stuff including arrivals, departues and enroute tracking, NDB, VOR, VOR NDB/DME, ILS, DME arcs etc etc and in honesty for that purpose I find the FS and X-Plane flight dynamics to be perfectly adequate. Put the thing into zero visibility with a cloud base just above minima and go for it. The experience is real enough for me and, in my view, a pilot doing an instrument rating would benefit from the experience (and perhaps leading up to renewals depending on recency). You of course have none of the real world considerations in this mode of operation so can be somewhat less taxing but nonetheless beneficial.

That said without experience in high performance turbine aircraft you'd have Buckley’s of getting one off the ground (and remaining airborne) and even less chance of getting it on the ground in one piece. Any FS rated pilot (without aforementioned experience) is kidding him/her self if he/she thinks otherwise. I can just imagine someone trying to do an approach back at flight idle as if they were in a light piston ... well those that know just would not do that - guaranteed to end in tears.

It is true that simulators based on the likes of MS Flight Sim and X-Plane exist and are approved as synthetic simulators by relevant aviation bodies for the purposes of gaining renewals or credits towards ratings but they are not approved for an individual to achieve a pilot's licence based solely on that type of simulator experience and that is so for a good reason. People using simulators in that situation already have a licence and can already fly an actual physical plane and are able to benefit from the convenience and financial benefits such a simulator can bring.

 

[reductionist]

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....

Absolutely awesome. Thanks JB.

 

[alieninperth]

Is there any reason why a pilot would come out of the coughpit to talk to pax?

I had my first J flight recently and the Captain (4 stripes on the shoulder) had a chat with my wife and I. Is this a normal occurance or was he just popping to the lav and stopped off.

BTW the captn was very good, keeping us informed before take-off and landing that it would be bumpy but that there was noting to worry about. He was right in both cases.

 

[jb747]

Stupid question time, do aircraft like the A380 have a hand-brake or such that is applied when you stop at the gate?

Firstly there are really no stupid questions. And you can always guarantee that anything you ask was also on a lot of other minds too.

The aircraft do have a parking brake. It's small lift up handle in the Boeing, and and a twist handle in the Airbus (both on the centre pedestal). Basically it traps some pressure within the main braking system....

 

[jb747]

Is there any reason why a pilot would come out of the coughpit to talk to pax?

Lots of reasons. I often do it.

Firstly they're paying your wage, so anything you can do to make their trip better seems like a good idea. Secondly, you get to meet a lot of interesting people.

 

[bossreggie]

Lots of reasons. I often do it.

Firstly they're paying your wage, so anything you can do to make their trip better seems like a good idea. Secondly, you get to meet a lot of interesting people.

In F, especially in the past, the captain used to quite often introduce himself to the pax. One captain said to me once that "the company likes them to do that to F pax". Was that the case? Has it changed at all. It doesn't seem to happen that often any more.


Sent from my iPad using AustFreqFly App

 

[Princess Fiona]

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...

I'm on that flight ( QF 32 LHR-SIN on Mar 20)
I'll be in 11A ( unless the Points upgrade goes through)
Say Hi if you see me

 

[jb747]

I'm on that flight ( QF 32 LHR-SIN on Mar 20)
I'll be in 11A ( unless the Points upgrade goes through)
Say Hi if you see me

Wrong month Fiona. You're flying in March, and I've just done those sectors....

 

[Princess Fiona]

Wrong month Fiona. You're flying in March, and I've just done those sectors....

I was getting too excited there.
Good job I'm not a pilot as my attention to dates and numbers is somewhat lacking

 

[jb747]

........ It doesn't seem to happen that often any more.

I don't know that it ever happened all that much. Some pilots always do it, some never. Firstly it's time out of your break. Secondly the security issues have made some people reluctant to leave the coughpit. Sector timing affects it too....for instance QF10 is pretty well totally night time...and whilst the 32 is often in daylight, it seems to carry a resident tse tse fly. Second part of the 9 and 31 are useless too.

 

[mad_rich]

Great thread, I've really enjoyed it.

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......

So assuming I've dragged your lifeless body out of the seat (you shouldn't have had the lasagne) and I've found that switch, pressed it, and discovered to my horror that the autopilot switched off, what do I do next? If I press it again, does the autopilot come magically back on again?

 

[jb747]

Night departure. From the gate to about 500 ft.

coughpit view A380 night departure Singapore - YouTube

I've got one more, in real time, that I'll put up, which shows an RNAV arrival into Melbourne. I'll start chopping out the boring bits (i.e. most of it) after that.....

 

[jb747]

So assuming I've dragged your lifeless body out of the seat (you shouldn't have had the lasagne) and I've found that switch, pressed it, and discovered to my horror that the autopilot switched off, what do I do next? If I press it again, does the autopilot come magically back on again?

No, but the noise will stop.

BTW, how did you get into the coughpit?

 

[nlagalle]

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.

If you are looking at solid mounts you can't go past RAM mounts:

RAM-Mounts - Your Garmin GPS and TomTom GPS shop for GPS Australia!

I have a suction mount and a dash screw mount I have for my GPS for the car and the C172. They don't move.

 

[flychrisfly]

Night departure. From the gate to about 500 ft.

coughpit view A380 night departure Singapore - YouTube

I've got one more, in real time, that I'll put up, which shows an RNAV arrival into Melbourne. I'll start chopping out the boring bits (i.e. most of it) after that.....

Thanks JB! That clip brings to mind a couple of questions:
1) In the video display in front of you there is a screen that shows the same view the passengers can see from the tail camera looking forward. From about 5:35 to 5:40 in the clip, the flashing light on top of the plane stops flashing. Why is that?
2) Are all (Australian) flight crew reasonably fit and tanned? They always seem to be!
3) What is the difference between the aircraft's pitch and the climb angle during an average takeoff?

Thanks!

 

[jb747]

coughpit view A380 night landing in Melbourne - YouTube

RNAV arrival onto 34 in Melbourne.

 

[jb747]

I have a suction mount and a dash screw mount I have for my GPS for the car and the C172. They don't move.

The GoPro suction mount is totally stable if mounted onto a smooth non porous back (i.e. glass). I've had it up to 120 kph mounted externally on a vehicle. But, most of the AB coughpit panels have textured finish that simply isn't airtight. And I'd better pass on the screw mounts (and double sided tape too)...it's not my jet.

 

[jb747]

1) In the video display in front of you there is a screen that shows the same view the passengers can see from the tail camera looking forward. From about 5:35 to 5:40 in the clip, the flashing light on top of the plane stops flashing. Why is that?

Got me there. Actually I think it has the occasional rest for a few seconds at random intervals, but no idea why. Note too, that the camera view that I have also has a extra camera position being displayed. All passengers can see the overhead view, but there is also a camera behind the nose gear, looking forward.

2) Are all (Australian) flight crew reasonably fit and tanned? They always seem to be!

All sorts are represented...just like any population, although I guess that annual medical might be a constraint.

3) What is the difference between the aircraft's pitch and the climb angle during an average takeoff?

Rotate is always to 12 degrees (on four engines), with a reduction to about 10-11 during gear retraction. I guess the flight path would be about 4 degrees less than that. Although we can display that angle, it has no relevance during take off, so nobody does.

 

[markis10]

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?

I think this question has been missed?