Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

It's from a stack of 5 shots. F2.8, ISO 3200, 10 seconds. Nikon D850 and Nikkor 70-200 lens @ 200mm. Camera mounted on a tracker.

Tried again last night, and the comet has changed appreciably. This is a Photoshop merge of two shots from 24 hours apart. The relative positions are not correct, but exposure is the same. Lots of difference in the trail.

 

[mjt57]

Thanks JB. Nice shots.
When are you going mirrorless? That seems to be all the rage right now. I don't dare mention it lest I end up in the doghouse...

 

[jb747]

Thanks JB. Nice shots.
When are you going mirrorless? That seems to be all the rage right now. I don't dare mention it lest I end up in the doghouse...

I don't see any reason to do so. I've got a nice collection of lenses, and moving to another mount, for no great benefit doesn't sound like good plan. I'm much more likely to buy a second D850, to replace our well worn D800.

 

[Saab34]

Gents if you could do it all again, would you go down the same path again, in becoming a airline pilot? Or would you pick another industry? I’ve spoken to a few pilots recently, some not even pandemic impacted, who said they wish they did a trade or something else. Is the Profession ‘not what it once was’?

 

[jb747]

Gents if you could do it all again, would you go down the same path again, in becoming a airline pilot? Or would you pick another industry? I’ve spoken to a few pilots recently, some not even pandemic impacted, who said they wish they did a trade or something else. Is the Profession ‘not what it once was’?

I had a dream career, basically managing to do everything that I ever wanted. I certainly wouldn't change anything.

The future? Either join the RAAF or do it as a hobby.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Gents if you could do it all again, would you go down the same path again, in becoming a airline pilot? Or would you pick another industry? I’ve spoken to a few pilots recently, some not even pandemic impacted, who said they wish they did a trade or something else. Is the Profession ‘not what it once was’?

I certainly haven’t regretted going into aviation despite the constant battle with management driving down our conditions, seniority with getting pushed further and further down the list. It certainly beats other jobs out there which Covid has reignited that fire.

Having said that, I do feel my generation of pilots are in that transition phase. If my kids told me they wanted to become pilots I’ll be telling them exactly what JB has said. Join the ADF or fly on the weekends.

Even in my relatively short commercial career it has changed significantly. Doesn’t seem to matter which airline you fly for, it definitely is not as glamorous as it once was.

 

[Saab34]

Having said that, I do feel my generation of pilots are in that transition phase.

I assume the generation after you will probably be non existent then. Is it just me or is there sort of a age where the profession clearly starts to taper off a bit. Ie those aged today 20-40, doesn’t appear to be a lot of them.

 

[flyer89]

I am in an interesting position where I was forced to walk away from it in the height of COVID and now can look to return to it because some investments of mine have paid off handsomely (how life can change in a heartbeat hey?). In essence, I wouldn’t be doing it for the money because I wouldn’t need it so I would be free to pursue it as a ‘hobby’ as far as I wished to push it.

Given that that I would like to achieve certain goals and feel a sense of unfinished business I think that’s what is psychologically pushing me to entertain the idea of re entering the industry. It would no longer be financially irresponsible but it could well be seen as a selfish pursuit. I suppose ultimately I would ask myself the question “just because you can, does that mean you should?”.

 

[kookaburra75]

The future? Either join the RAAF or do it as a hobby.

Strangely enough, at the moment the RAAF has a shortage of applicants for pilots - it seems being a fighter pilot doesn't have the attraction it used to. Although pick Air Lift or Maritime if you want to transition to airlines.

 

[Franky]

Strangely enough, at the moment the RAAF has a shortage of applicants for pilots - it seems being a fighter pilot doesn't have the attraction it used to. Although pick Air Lift or Maritime if you want to transition to airlines.

In my past life, I was privileged to be able to award one of the Graduation Prizes (Best Instrument Pilot) at the Pilot Graduations at RAAF Pearce. There were about 8 awards in all, and it seemed that the Dux of the course and a number of others were posted to the Hornet squadrons, then there was another group who were posted to the lead-in fighter squadrons, and the remainder were posted to the transport squadrons. I always felt for the latter group, as I assumed that all of them really wanted to be Top Guns. But from what you say above, they may have had the best career path in the end?

 

[jb747]

Strangely enough, at the moment the RAAF has a shortage of applicants for pilots - it seems being a fighter pilot doesn't have the attraction it used to. Although pick Air Lift or Maritime if you want to transition to airlines.

The airlines don’t care what you flew. It will make virtually zero difference.

In my past life, I was privileged to be able to award one of the Graduation Prizes (Best Instrument Pilot) at the Pilot Graduations at RAAF Pearce. There were about 8 awards in all, and it seemed that the Dux of the course and a number of others were posted to the Hornet squadrons, then there was another group who were posted to the lead-in fighter squadrons, and the remainder were posted to the transport squadrons. I always felt for the latter group, as I assumed that all of them really wanted to be Top Guns. But from what you say above, they may have had the best career path in the end?

The prizes have changed over the years. In my day, it was Leadership, Most Improved, Best Pilot, Best Academics, and Dux. It was pretty common for the Dux, to take a number of the others too. It could go the other way too, as on my course, the bloke who got Leadership, Best Pilot, and Best Academics, did not take Dux.

Generally, the highest scoring graduates would get to choose where they went, but you might be surprised to know that not all wanted fighters…not even most. I don’t think anyone from the bottom half was posted to them, though it was quite possible to get a posting a few years down the road, when they had some experience under their belts.

 

[justinbrett]

Strangely enough, at the moment the RAAF has a shortage of applicants for pilots - it seems being a fighter pilot doesn't have the attraction it used to. Although pick Air Lift or Maritime if you want to transition to airlines.

I know plenty of fighter pilots who went on to fly for Qantas, and even some that now fly for Qantas and still fly fighters as reservists.

RAAF will always be short of pilots, and even more short of suitable candidates.

 

[jb747]

I know plenty of fighter pilots who went on to fly for Qantas, and even some that now fly for Qantas and still fly fighters as reservists.

When I first joined QF, the RAAF was very anti the idea of reservists flying anything. There were actually desperately short of flying instructors, and I looked at the idea of doing some reserve flying at Pt Cook. The CO was keen to get some of his people back, but the RAAF itself hated the idea of someone having the best of both worlds. Eventually the shortages bit to such an extent that sanity prevailed, but long after my generation had lost interest. The Chief of the Air Force at the time was one of the main problems.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and a new CAF is at a BBQ at Williamtown. This one is a very well known and liked character. He’s talking to someone who isn’t RAAF (or ex) who just happened to be there. When it transpired that this bloke is ex RN, and flew Sea Harriers and as an instructor on Hawks, the CAF suggests that he’d be very interested in seeing him FLYING our Hawks in the reserves. And it happened.

Talking to the QF pilots in the middle of so many long nights, it was always interesting to hear what they’d flown. There wouldn’t be many western fighters that weren’t covered multiple times.

 

[flyingfan]

Do airlines get "better" (ie. safer and more able to troubleshoot) pilots by developing their own from scratch rather than taking those with military or other experience?

Reading some accident reports, seems some commercial pilots have saved the day with some skills (eg. gliding) that they wouldn't have had with airlines - but is this so rare it's not really an asset?

 

[jb747]

Do airlines get "better" (ie. safer and more able to troubleshoot) pilots by developing their own from scratch rather than taking those with military or other experience?

No. In fact, I think it's quite the opposite. As far as I'm concerned, the 'best' outcome is gained from taking a cross section of pilots. Cadets bring nothing to the fold.

Reading some accident reports, seems some commercial pilots have saved the day with some skills (eg. gliding) that they wouldn't have had with airlines - but is this so rare it's not really an asset?

Every pilot knows how to glide. As long as they've done their training in the real world, it will have included numerous glide approaches to touchdown. Forced landings are still a thing. The Macchi, that the RAAF were using in my day, was far closer to the glide performance of an airliner than any glider.

You want your pilot group to include as large a cross section of aviation experience as possible. You don't want a shallow, targeted knowledge pool, in which bad habits, and myths, are magnified.

 

[747sp]

Hi all. When leaving Dubai an Emirates 777 appears to have an issue. Can you please explain what went wrong. The Aviation Herald

 

[Captain Halliday]

Hi all. When leaving Dubai an Emirates 777 appears to have an issue. Can you please explain what went wrong. The Aviation Herald

Another take on the issue:

Emirates' (Probably) Terrifying Boeing 777 Flight To Washington

A recent Emirates Boeing 777 flight from Dubai to Washington allegedly had a serious Incident after takeoff due to pilot error.

onemileatatime.com

 

[AviatorInsight]

Hi all. When leaving Dubai an Emirates 777 appears to have an issue. Can you please explain what went wrong. The Aviation Herald

For whatever reason they set the altitude to 0ft on the mode control panel. What effect this has on the flight directors is that it will show a nose down direction. Basically it’s rubbish into the system = rubbish out.

The SOP is that once we are shut down the FO will set 100ft below the anticipated altitude for the next sector. So for a 5000ft altitude clearance I’ll set 4900 in the altitude window. It’s a good reminder that we haven’t yet gotten the clearance for the next sector. Once we do then the altitude will change to the cleared level.

It‘s obvious they are so used to ”flying the director” and will blindly follow it at all costs rather than the old pitch + power = performance. Personally, I will always go to 15° nose up after take off. From there I’ll see what the flight directors are doing (let them settle) and if its reasonable then I’ll adjust pitch slightly to follow.

This is why I also like to fly raw data (when the capt will let me) by turning off flight directors and autothrottle. I get used to the pitch attitudes and it keeps my scan rate up.

 

[jb747]

Hi all. When leaving Dubai an Emirates 777 appears to have an issue. Can you please explain what went wrong. The Aviation Herald

They were not flying the aircraft. Not even watching it by the sound of things. There is no way the attitude should have been any less than 15º or so, prior to the clean up altitude...and that certainly wasn't at runway height.

My bet is that the autopilot was engaged at whatever the minimum engagement height is...and at that point they stopped flying it.

The SOP is that once we are shut down the FO will set 100ft below the anticipated altitude for the next sector. So for a 5000ft altitude clearance I’ll set 4900 in the altitude window. It’s a good reminder that we haven’t yet gotten the clearance for the next sector. Once we do then the altitude will change to the cleared level.

We didn't. MCP was left where it was by the last crew. It was up to you to set it up. We had too many phantom switch flickers to rely on anything done by previous crews.

This is why I also like to fly raw data (when the capt will let me) by turning off flight directors and autothrottle. I get used to the pitch attitudes and it keeps my scan rate up.

Why would you turn autothrust off for the climb?

Anyway, this is the middle east. Gear up, autopilot on. You would never get to fly raw data, and to be honest, I don't think I'd want to see too many of them doing it either.

 

[Hvr]

So how do flying hours get counted if you're a flying instructor?

Are the actual hours you're instructing also counted in the instructor's log book and included in the 'count of hours flown' that is often cited when there is a story about a pilot?

And are the hours under instruction entered into the student's log book noting that they were under instruction?

Thanks to all who answer.