Ask The Pilot

[NM]

Would this qualify as a decompression event (not sure if it just a crack, or there was a breach).

Here is another report of this incident, which suggests there was no depressurisation event. It flew back to Warsaw before the window was replaced.

The Aviation Herald

Aviation Herald - News, Incidents and Accidents in Aviation

avherald.com

 

[QF WP]

Seems that this is the second incident of the same type this year, with this aircraft. I'm sure Boeing will take more than a passing interest in the repair.

 

[jb747]

Would this qualify as a decompression event (not sure if it just a crack, or there was a breach).

It would be classified as the dreaded non event. The windows are all multi layer, and damage to a section that isn't holding the pressurisation simply isn't an event of any sort. You'll note that the aircraft was flown again before the window was repaired. As for Boeing's level of interest...I doubt that there would be all that much, given that it wasn't a structural component.

 

[Mattg]

When taxiing into the gate, the cabin crew normally make an announcement along the lines of "please keep your seatbelt fastened until we've arrived at the gate and the captain has switched off the fasten seatbelt sign".

Is setting the seatbelt sign specifically the captain's responsibility, or is this just something flight attendants say out of habit?

 

[jb747]

When taxiing into the gate, the cabin crew normally make an announcement along the lines of "please keep your seatbelt fastened until we've arrived at the gate and the captain has switched off the fasten seatbelt sign".

Is setting the seatbelt sign specifically the captain's responsibility, or is this just something flight attendants say out of habit?

You cannot really tell when we've 'arrived' from the cabin. There were many times when engine shutdown was delayed because the APU wasn't running. And there are times when the aircraft will need to be towed that last few feet. And sometimes we'll move it again under it's own power. The seat belt sign won't be turned off until all of the engines are shut down, and the aircraft is parked. It's almost the first switch to be turned off after the engines, so you're not losing anything by waiting for it.

 

[Mattg]

You cannot really tell when we've 'arrived' from the cabin. There were many times when engine shutdown was delayed because the APU wasn't running. And there are times when the aircraft will need to be towed that last few feet. And sometimes we'll move it again under it's own power. The seat belt sign won't be turned off until all of the engines are shut down, and the aircraft is parked. It's almost the first switch to be turned off after the engines, so you're not losing anything by waiting for it.

Oh I get that; I was referring more to the fact that the cabin crew always announce that the "captain" will switch off the seatbelt sign. Is the first officer unable to do this?

 

[jb747]

Oh I get that; I was referring more to the fact that the cabin crew always announce that the "captain" will switch off the seatbelt sign. Is the first officer unable to do this?

Ah…no, it isn’t always the Captain. It’s a maker thing. It will always be the captain in an Airbus, but it’s the FO in a Boeing (or at least the 747/767). It just depends who they’ve allocated the switch to in the shut down procedures.

 

[QF WP]

This one should be a little bit more concerning (coughpit window cracked) but the FO is laughing whilst taking the video and even includes the Captain. I’m be thinking of the pilot on BA5390 and pushing the nose down hard









Have any of the pilots here ever had a cracked windscreen?

 

[jb747]

This one should be a little bit more concerning (coughpit window cracked) but the FO is laughing whilst taking the video and even includes the Captain.

Well, perhaps the FO is thinking of the seniority list.

All jokes aside, it isn’t dangerous, even though it looks scary. The coughpit windows are massively laminated things, with many layers. Cracking of the outer layer isn’t common, but it happens. It has zero structural effect, and the flight can be continued from any stage. The biggest consideration is probably the effect upon visibility out of the window. Large scale delamination is also possible, and that’s probably more common. Most aircraft show some evidence of it around the edges the windows.

I’m be thinking of the pilot on BA5390 and pushing the nose down hard.

Well, in his case the window glass did not fail at all. The window frame was not properly secured, and the complete window (glass and frame) departed the aircraft.

As for pushing the nose down hard. Interesting comment. I hope that by hard you mean somewhere between zero response, and about 5º (which is all QF 30 needed for an emergency descent).

Have any of the pilots here ever had a cracked windscreen?

I’ve had a couple, both in the 767. Quite a loud ‘crack’ in one case, whilst the other was totally silent. Turn the window heat off and continue.

 

[QF WP]

As for pushing the nose down hard. Interesting comment. I hope that by hard you mean somewhere between zero response, and about 5º (which is all QF 30 needed for an emergency descent).

I’ve had a couple, both in the 767. Quite a loud ‘crack’ in one case, whilst the other was totally silent. Turn the window heat off and continue.

That's why you were a crack pilot and I'm an avgeek, your knowledge (lack thereof for me) . I was thinking about the risk of an explosive decompression event (and the need to get down to FL10).

 

[jb747]

Wikipedia has a decent article on decompression (Uncontrolled decompression - Wikipedia), and it actually shows that your explosive decompression is both unlikely…and unsurvivable. Military aircraft can suffer from it though, as the loss of a canopy in a fighter aircraft would take all of the compression immediately. That’s why they are not pressurised like airliners, but more likely to about half of their actual altitude. That means that even the pressurised coughpit is likely an unsurvivable place, and is why the oxygen masks are worn at all times.

 

[mjt57]

and is why the oxygen masks are worn at all times.

Unless, of course, you're Maverick.

 

[Hvr]

Unless, of course, you're Maverick.

He sounds like a goose.

 

[flydoc]

VFR into IMC and controlled flight into terrain involving Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A, VH-OBL, 98 km west-south-west of Hobart Airport, Tasmania, on 8 December 2018 | ATSB

www.atsb.gov.au

The Tasmanian Coroner has released his report into the above 2018 crash.

Young pilot was 'trying to find a break in the weather' before crashing into mountain

A coroner examining the 2018 death of a young pilot says he cannot find anyone at fault following her fatal crash at a mountain range in remote southern Tasmania — but slammed Australia's air safety investigator for its "worthless" investigation of the tragedy.

www.abc.net.au

The article quotes him criticising the value of the ATSB report.
I thought the below 2 findings would have been seen as relevant.

“The ATSB found that the pilot was using a route through the Arthur Range due to low cloud conditions and had continued over a saddle in the range at a lower altitude than previous flights. During this, the pilot likely encountered reduced visual cues, as per the forecast conditions. This led to controlled flight into terrain while attempting to exit the range.

Specific guidance provided by Airlines of Tasmania to their pilots for the Bathurst Harbour operations was primarily given verbally and was not well documented. This resulted in the pilots having varied understanding of the expectations regarding in-flight weather-related decision-making at the Arthur Range saddle.”

Pilots, what are your thoughts on it?

 

[jb747]

VFR into IMC and controlled flight into terrain involving Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A, VH-OBL, 98 km west-south-west of Hobart Airport, Tasmania, on 8 December 2018 | ATSB

www.atsb.gov.au

The Tasmanian Coroner has released his report into the above 2018 crash.

Young pilot was 'trying to find a break in the weather' before crashing into mountain

A coroner examining the 2018 death of a young pilot says he cannot find anyone at fault following her fatal crash at a mountain range in remote southern Tasmania — but slammed Australia's air safety investigator for its "worthless" investigation of the tragedy.

www.abc.net.au

The article quotes him criticising the value of the ATSB report.
I thought the below 2 findings would have been seen as relevant.

“The ATSB found that the pilot was using a route through the Arthur Range due to low cloud conditions and had continued over a saddle in the range at a lower altitude than previous flights. During this, the pilot likely encountered reduced visual cues, as per the forecast conditions. This led to controlled flight into terrain while attempting to exit the range.

Specific guidance provided by Airlines of Tasmania to their pilots for the Bathurst Harbour operations was primarily given verbally and was not well documented. This resulted in the pilots having varied understanding of the expectations regarding in-flight weather-related decision-making at the Arthur Range saddle.”

Pilots, what are your thoughts on it?

I think the coroner is out of his depth. I saw this elsewhere, so I looked at the reports on what he'd said, and then looked up the ATSB report. There's nothing unusual about the ATSB report...it's something they've seen hundreds of times.

Being boxed in by weather in mountainous terrain, in a low performance aircraft, has been the demise of untold numbers of pilots over the years.

 

[TheRealTMA]

“The Air Force's F/A-18F Super Hornet will glide just 70 metres from Brisbane city buildings during the Brisbane Festival today.

For most the idea of doing such a thing curdles the blood.

Reserve Super Hornet Pilot Flight Lieutenant Matthew, whose last name cannot be used for security reasons, said pilots train for weeks just for the single flyover.

"They used about two weeks' worth of studying all the terrain around and then doing a simulated profile to make sure they're ready to fly it on the day," he said.”

LOL. Can’t use his last name but can publish photos.

 

[jb747]

His name is just under his wings.

Love to see it. Young me would have loved to do it.

 

[NM]

His name is just under his wings.

Love to see it. Young me would have loved to do it.

A little bit of video of the flight is included in the report by Australian Aviation:

Watch Super Hornets fly 70 metres from Brisbane skyscrapers

YouTubers posted these incredible videos showing how close the fighter jet came to the city’s buildings. At full speed, the aircraft can reach 2,000 kilometres per hour.

australianaviation.com.au

Would be nice to see the view of the entire flight from the pilot's perspective.

 

[ayebee]

Question for the pilots ...
ref this story PHOTOS: Underside Panel Ripped Off of United 767 Mid-Flight

If you heard a loud bang on departure from Newark, would you continue across the Atlantic pond to Dublin?
Would any instrumentation be sending warning signals ?

 

[Carrots]

A just “wow” snap from River Fire…

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=5914697688542233&id=1189925417686174