Ask The Pilot

[747sp]

You can see the window shape but the plug is replacing the glass.

 

[747sp]

There is a window and it is filled in. You can see it in this photo above the second a in qantas.

Aviation Photo #6099289: Boeing 747-438/ER - Qantas

Seen here getting a taxiing clearance as flight Qantas 26 for Sydney on a beautiful wet night in 2019 at Tokyo Haneda. One of the important jet planes that went down in history in this worldwide difficult time of 2020 COVID-19 crisis - This particular plane VH-OEJ, the last 747 of the airline...

www.airliners.net

And it is easer to see in this photo

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[jb747]

There is a window and it is filled in. You can see it in this photo above the second a in qantas.https://www.airliners.net/photo/Qantas/Boeing-747-438-ER/6099289/L

That window has been filled in all of the 747-ERs. I'm not sure why, but it would be to do with the internal fitment of the cabin, or perhaps some of the electronics or ducting.

Windows do tend to come and go though. Look at the other starboard side of the -400s and you'll find that the last four upper deck windows are blocked out in many images, but not in all. I think the missing windows backed onto a coat cupboard/storage area, which wasn't always there.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Are there circumstances where you’d continue a flight after a bird strike? Specifically if the bird went through an engine.

It seems highly unusual to me that the crew elected to continue to destination after this:

No doubt some nervous moment for the terrified packages.

 

[jb747]

Nice video catch for the photographer.

The crew were probably totally unaware of the event. The engine was obviously still running normally. As long as there were no changes to the engine parameters, then there’s unlikely to be any damage (of note). Unless that flash was spotted and reported to the crew by ATC, then they would have no way of knowing.

It’s a momentary disruption of the air flow, aka an engine stall. But, as often as not, they’ll clear without any pilot input or ongoing effects. The early PW engines on the 747 and 767 were very prone to it, especially in reverse.

Finding the remains of a strike during an aircraft preflight wasn’t at all uncommon. Crew would note a possible strike in the tech log, but many were unseen.

 

[seafarer]

Hi just wondering whether anyone can answer my question. I was woken by an aircraft overhead this morning around 3.30am. Curiosity got the better of me and I opened the map to learn that it was QF7334 Brisbane-Sydney operated by Nauru Airlines, about 2 hours behind schedule.
Anyway after circling Sydney a for awhile instead of landing it then returned to Brisbane. If it was curfew related then I presume it wouldn’t have departed Brisbane in the first place. Anyone able to advise the reason? Thanks.

 

[jb747]

It would have been tailwind.

Once the curfew kicks in, they end up operating with 16 for departures, and 34 for arrivals. The ATIS around the time they arrived was giving 20 knots of tailwind. The limit for the aircraft is probably 15 knots.

 

[seafarer]

It would have been tailwind.

Once the curfew kicks in, they end up operating with 16 for departures, and 34 for arrivals. The ATIS around the time they arrived was giving 20 knots of tailwind. The limit for the aircraft is probably 15 knots.

Appreciate the reply. So the aircraft didn’t land in Sydney due to excessive tailwind. And the tailwind limits change after curfew? Next question is why. Less safety response teams on duty? And air traffic control cannot change the direction of landing from north to south? Sorry just curious as I wouldn’t expect this to be a common issue at Kingsford-Smith As most aircraft seem to land as scheduled.

 

[RooFlyer]

Are there circumstances where you’d continue a flight after a bird strike? Specifically if the bird went through an engine.

I'm amazed at the size of the bit that the guy on the ground retrieved.

 

[straitman]

Appreciate the reply. So the aircraft didn’t land in Sydney due to excessive tailwind. And the tailwind limits change after curfew? Next question is why. Less safety response teams on duty? And air traffic control cannot change the direction of landing from north to south? Sorry just curious as I wouldn’t expect this to be a common issue at Kingsford-Smith As most aircraft seem to land as scheduled.

As jb747 said.

Once the curfew is operative the runways used are 16 for departures, and 34 for arrivals. Because of the curfew it is not an option to swap to a different runway. The tailwind limits are an aircraft type limit and don't change however the actual tailwind may. ie the tailwind was most likely within limits initially but went beyond the aircraft limits whilst it was enroute from BNE-SYD.

 

[seafarer]

Ok got it. Thanks very much.

 

[jb747]

Ok got it. Thanks very much.

If you have a careful look at FR24 during the approach, you can compare the aircraft IAS with the groundspeed. In the normal course of events, with a headwind, the IAS will be greater than the g/s. In this case, you can see that the groundspeed is well over the IAS, in the order of 30 knots at a couple of thousand feet. So, it's a strong tailwind. It does reduce nearer to the ground, but does not come within the aircraft limits.

Landing with a tailwind, makes runway overruns more likely. The brakes have much more energy to dissipate. Floating is more likely, which leads to long touchdowns (back to overruns), but is also more likely to push the aircraft out of company touchdown limits (most companies mandate the maximum distance in from start of the runway for touchdown to happen), which makes very late go arounds more likely.

ATC forcing of tailwinds (for any reason, curfew or otherwise) is a generally dangerous procedure. The EK crash in Dubai was precipitated by tailwind behaviour.

 

[mjt57]

JB, what are the chances of the A380 returning to service?

And how are the crews holding up during this terrible time?

 

[OATEK]

JB, what are the chances of the A380 returning to service?

And how are the crews holding up during this terrible time?

I know of one A380 pilot who was doing labouring for a while, but with the extended period he has had to lease out his home up the coast to holiday makers to cover the mortgage, and move his family to his grandmother's place near Sydney.

 

[jb747]

JB, what are the chances of the A380 returning to service?

AJ doesn’t tell me his thoughts, and I probably wouldn’t want to listen....but, my take is that the QF 380s will never return.

My understanding is that most of the Captains are permanently gone. The effort to restart the operation, just from the crewing side of things, wouldn’t be much different to introducing a new type.

And how are the crews holding up during this terrible time?

I guess they’re doing the best they can.

 

[Ansett]

Is it still a requirement to have either 2 pilots or at least 1 pilot and 1 other trusted person in the coughpit at all times with Qantas? I ask only because yesterday I witnessed on 3 separate occasions a flight from BNE to DRW where one of the pilots left the coughpit and the remaining pilot on his own.

 

[jb747]

Is it still a requirement to have either 2 pilots or at least 1 pilot and 1 other trusted person in the coughpit at all times with Qantas? I ask only because yesterday I witnessed on 3 separate occasions a flight from BNE to DRW where one of the pilots left the coughpit and the remaining pilot on his own.

The requirement was a knee jerk response, brought in solely to appear to be doing something. It has been rescinded in most parts of the world.

 

[mjt57]

AJ doesn’t tell me his thoughts, and I probably wouldn’t want to listen....but, my take is that the QF 380s will never return.

Damn. Most comfortable and quiet aircraft on which (or in which) I have travelled. In comparison the B787 should be renamed "Nightmareliner", especially down in cattle class.

 

[straitman]

Damn. Most comfortable and quiet aircraft on which (or in which) I have travelled. In comparison the B787 should be renamed "Nightmareliner", especially down in cattle class.

A lot of how noisy an aircraft is relates to the purchased fit out. Ie how much the original purchaser wants to pay for insulation.
The same applies to the seating arrangements. The manufacturer will set the seating and all of the other internal fit according to what the purchaser wants.
Many simply settle for the basics which are supplied.

 

[Flashback]

Damn. Most comfortable and quiet aircraft on which (or in which) I have travelled. In comparison the B787 should be renamed "Nightmareliner", especially down in cattle class.

The A350 is pretty quiet too.