Ask The Pilot

[Mr H]

There's nothing in the coughpit that doesn't need to be there.

The first officer - hopefully.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

AV - do you think you’ll be flying the Max anytime soon?

 

[jb747]

The first officer - hopefully.

In 5,000 hours of flying the A380, the FO would have been with me in the coughpit for a small fraction of the time.

 

[D747]

In 5,000 hours of flying the A380, the FO would have been with me in the coughpit for a small fraction of the time.

Mainly FO for take off and landing? The vast majority of the time with the SO in cruise?

 

[AviatorInsight]

AV - do you think you’ll be flying the Max anytime soon?

Mid next year apparently is when we're getting the first -10 version. I've had a quick 1.5hr run in the Max simulator with a proper differences course to follow and also a cyclic check to be done in the sim before we can fully operate it. So still a little bit of time to get ready for it.

 

[jb747]

Mainly FO for take off and landing? The vast majority of the time with the SO in cruise?

FO in the seat for the take off, and below 20,000' on the descent. Much of the time I operated in 4 man crews, so A and B team, so not much time with the FOs on those trips (LAX and Dubai).

I only ever landed twice with SOs still in the seat. Once each on the 767 and 380. And in the case of the 380, the SO had been an FO until one of the periodic downsizes, so probably didn't count anyway.

 

[D747]

I only ever landed twice with SOs still in the seat. Once each on the 767 and 380. And in the case of the 380, the SO had been an FO until one of the periodic downsizes, so probably didn't count anyway.

Were those two times due to a medical emergency or other reasons JB?

 

[jb747]

Were those two times due to a medical emergency or other reasons JB?

Not an emergency, but FO became ill and I preferred to have a heathy SO, rather than an ill FO, in the seat.

 

[FrustratedQP]

Are there any legal ramifications in having the FO in the seat during the landing phase? Is it covered in the ops manual?

 

[jb747]

Are there any legal ramifications in having the FO in the seat during the landing phase? Is it covered in the ops manual?

It requires a report. Discussion in the manuals deals with having nobody in a seat. The SOs are perfectly well qualified to support in Cat I or better conditions.

 

[mjt57]

There's nothing in the coughpit that doesn't need to be there. So, no fridge. Or BBQ.

so, no full service buffet lunch or dinners, either, then? Crikey, things are tough...

 

[747sp]

JB if the illness had occurred with only 2 crew, ie no second officer, would you have diverted or what action would you take ?

 

[jb747]

JB if the illness had occurred with only 2 crew, ie no second officer, would you have diverted or what action would you take ?

In many ways, there's no hard and fast answer. How sick is he? Do you need to be considering getting him to medical attention, or is it just a dud first class prawn, the effects of which should wear off over a few hours. What is the benefit of a diversion? What's the weather like at any possible diversion field? How do you feel about going there solo? Is there any real reason to expose the flight to any extra risk, and which course of action has least risk. It's a calculation that will be ongoing until you do land.

 

[Saab34]

Gentlemen, what’s the policy around tattoos and pilots? I noticed a Domestic Jet FO the other week, seemed to have a bicep tattoo, however the short sleeve shirt didn’t cover it all up and was fairly noticeable. Probably about 5cm exposed. It got me thinking as I’ve never seen a Pilot with tattoo exposed in uniform.

I know it’s pretty much the norm now across many industries, I was also shocked the other year to see a TigerAir Cabin crew with a tattoo under the arm not covered.

I assume long sleeve shirts are given as an option to those who have sleeve tattoos, or who attempt to ‘push the boundaries’ if you know what I mean.

 

[Mr H]

Gentlemen, what’s the policy around tattoos and pilots? I noticed a Domestic Jet FO the other week, seemed to have a bicep tattoo, however the short sleeve shirt didn’t cover it all up and was fairly noticeable. Probably about 5cm exposed. It got me thinking as I’ve never seen a Pilot with tattoo exposed in uniform.

I know it’s pretty much the norm now across many industries, I was also shocked the other year to see a TigerAir Cabin crew with a tattoo under the arm not covered.

I assume long sleeve shirts are given as an option to those who have sleeve tattoos, or who attempt to ‘push the boundaries’ if you know what I mean.

TBH you’d struggle to recruit anyone these days in Australia if you banned tattoos.

 

[jb747]

Gentlemen, what’s the policy around tattoos and pilots? I noticed a Domestic Jet FO the other week, seemed to have a bicep tattoo, however the short sleeve shirt didn’t cover it all up and was fairly noticeable. Probably about 5cm exposed. It got me thinking as I’ve never seen a Pilot with tattoo exposed in uniform.

I don't know any pilots with tattoos. They may have them in places I don't look. I'm not sure that it's something that appeals to pilots, as a group, though perhaps I led a sheltered life.

I assume long sleeve shirts are given as an option to those who have sleeve tattoos, or who attempt to ‘push the boundaries’ if you know what I mean.

Long sleeves were optional in the QF uniform. The take up was very low, but that was just personal choice.

TBH you’d struggle to recruit anyone these days in Australia if you banned tattoos.

You might be surprised. Pilots would cut off an arm to get an airline job. Having a tattoo removed, or ever better, never having them in the first place, is a minor step.

 

[Saab34]

You might be surprised. Pilots would cut off an arm to get an airline job. Having a tattoo removed, or ever better, never having them in the first place, is a minor step.

That’s what I thought. I assumed Pilots getting tattoos was sort of danger territory with Management. I mean we all try to stay out of those offices and discussions let alone testing the waters.

I think it would be a younger generation thing perhaps. The pilot that I was talking about looked about 30. AV is that seen on your outfit? New, younger pilots with Tattoos? I recall Virgin was always pretty ruthless around appearance, even been court cases over the rules they had

 

[kelvedon]

That’s what I thought. I assumed Pilots getting tattoos was sort of danger territory with Management. I mean we all try to stay out of those offices and discussions let alone testing the waters.

I think it would be a younger generation thing perhaps. The pilot that I was talking about looked about 30. AV is that seen on your outfit? New, younger pilots with Tattoos? I recall Virgin was always pretty ruthless around appearance, even been court cases over the rules they had

There’s a thread on the PPRunE forums which suggests tattoos should not be visible when wearing the uniform.

Can Emirates or British Airways Pilots have tattoos on the forearm? - PPRuNe Forums

Interviews, jobs & sponsorship - Can Emirates or British Airways Pilots have tattoos on the forearm? - I've been wanting to get this small tattoo for the longest time on my forearm, which by the way it would be covered totally with a long sleeved shirt, but in the future I want to be a pilot and...

www.pprune.org

 

[AviatorInsight]

That’s what I thought. I assumed Pilots getting tattoos was sort of danger territory with Management. I mean we all try to stay out of those offices and discussions let alone testing the waters.

I think it would be a younger generation thing perhaps. The pilot that I was talking about looked about 30. AV is that seen on your outfit? New, younger pilots with Tattoos? I recall Virgin was always pretty ruthless around appearance, even been court cases over the rules they had

Yes. No visible tattoos. Same goes for the cabin crew although usually theirs can be covered up with bandaids as they’re usually around their ankles or feet.

 

[Flashback]

Yes. No visible tattoos. Same goes for the cabin crew although usually theirs can be covered up with bandaids as they’re usually around their ankles or feet.

Plus the tramp stamp is usually hidden by the shirt.