Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

Does the 737 have a camera beneath the fuselage to help the crew keep the nose wheel on the line like some of the larger types?

It’s worth noting that the camera isn’t necessarily to keep the nose wheel on the line. Sometimes the lines have arcs to allow for the turn geometry of (some) aircraft, but just as often they’re simply centreline markings, so you have to judge just where to put the nose gear yourself. Even on the biggest jets, it’s quite simple to stay on the centreline, even without a camera.

As for this incident, I think AV has hit it right on the head. They’ve followed the wrong lead in line, but equally I don’t think they’ve really been watching outside. I don’t know whether you can see the wingtip from the coughpit of the 737, but it should have looked closer than normal, and so should have been checked with the ground. I wouldn’t like to be the one trying to explain it to the boss

Has anyone been able to work out just which bays are involved. Looking at the satellite view and it’s pretty simple…not multiple confusing lines.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

It’s worth noting that the camera isn’t necessarily to keep the nose wheel on the line. Sometimes the lines have arcs to allow for the turn geometry of (some) aircraft, but just as often they’re simply centreline markings, so you have to judge just where to put the nose gear yourself. Even on the biggest jets, it’s quite simple to stay on the centreline, even without a camera.

As for this incident, I think AV has hit it right on the head. They’ve followed the wrong lead in line, but equally I don’t think they’ve really been watching outside. I don’t know whether you can see the wingtip from the coughpit of the 737, but it should have looked closer than normal, and so should have been checked with the ground. I wouldn’t like to be the one trying to explain it to the boss.

At some of the airports I've been to in the US (LAX, JFK) you need to shutdown prior to the gate and then be towed in. They also have ground crew walking in/out with the aircraft as it taxi's to/from the gate. I've often wondered whether these ground crew fulfil a useful role. Would the incident in PER have been averted with a suitable ground crew that could communicate with the flight deck?

 

[JohnM]

Not a question to the pilots, but given periodic references to the B757, the latest from Petter on the Mentour Now! channel may be of interest:

Comments are also worth reading.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Sources tell me they were bound for 18, but instead took the line for 18A which is for wide bodies AND only when bay 19 is vacant. Turns out, 19 was not vacant.

And you can clearly see the wing from the coughpit.

 

[RSD]

And you can clearly see the wing from the coughpit.

Probably a bit like a car - only when you bother to turn your head and look for it?

 

[Quickstatus]

What is the indicated area. Thx

 

[jb747]

At some of the airports I've been to in the US (LAX, JFK) you need to shutdown prior to the gate and then be towed in. They also have ground crew walking in/out with the aircraft as it taxi's to/from the gate. I've often wondered whether these ground crew fulfil a useful role. Would the incident in PER have been averted with a suitable ground crew that could communicate with the flight deck?

Some of those gates have less than normal separation from adjacent aircraft, but others are slightly uphill, and the jet blast of parking aircraft can damage aircraft on the other side of the parking area. There were a couple at LAX like that.

Wing walkers were common anywhere the separate is reduced from the normal. They aren’t a perfect solution by any means though.

Not a question to the pilots, but given periodic references to the B757, the latest from Petter on the Mentour Now! channel may be of interest:

Comments are also worth reading.

Realistically the 757 is both old and too heavy, by modern standards. But, it would still be a decent point to start any new build. And it had a fully digital coughpit, with EICAS, way back when Noah was a lad.

Probably a bit like a car - only when you bother to turn your head and look for it?

And I find it hard to believe that anyone is parking near others without very specifically looking. But…. It will be interesting to find out if the parking guidance was turned on, and if so, for which alignment.

What is the indicated area. Thx

ACM inlet doors. Air cycle machines…basically the cold air inlets for the a/c.

 

[Quickstatus]

y the cold air inlets for the a/c.

Pack inlet part of the ACM?. Where are the outlet?

Does the hot air comes from the bleed air and is cooled via heat exchanges in the packs by the ACM air?.

Does bleed air from engines/APU normally supply all of the cabin air? Or can the proportion be set : bleed air+pack air?

Where does the water from dehumidification go. I don't remember ever seeing water dripping from aircraft while it's on the ground. (Ground air would also be a reason)

 

[Captain Halliday]

View attachment 373281What is the indicated area. Thx

USB charging port.

 

[RooFlyer]

Perth: Sealed with a kiss ( The Oz)

 

[jb747]

Pack inlet part of the ACM?. Where are the outlet?

Does the hot air comes from the bleed air and is cooled via heat exchanges in the packs by the ACM air?.

Does bleed air from engines/APU normally supply all of the cabin air? Or can the proportion be set : bleed air+pack air?

Where does the water from dehumidification go. I don't remember ever seeing water dripping from aircraft while it's on the ground. (Ground air would also be a reason)

https://www.smartcockpit.com/docs/A380_Briefing_For_Pilots_Part%202.pdf

 

[jb747]

Pack inlet part of the ACM?. Where are the outlet?

If I recall correctly, cold air comes in through those inlets, and is used at a heat exchanger to cool the bleed air. The now warm bleed air is passed through to the ACMs. Air taken from this inlet is dumped via outlets in the wings, just inboard of the first slat. The intakes are variable. Fully open on the ground, but as required in flight.

Does the hot air comes from the bleed air and is cooled via heat exchanges in the packs by the ACM air?.

ACMs are downstream of the heat exchangers.

Does bleed air from engines/APU normally supply all of the cabin air? Or can the proportion be set : bleed air+pack air?

This air is only used for cooling. It’s not mixed into the bleed.

Where does the water from dehumidification go. I don't remember ever seeing water dripping from aircraft while it's on the ground. (Ground air would also be a reason)

Dunno. Don’t recall ever seeing it mentioned.

 

[georgiarawcut]

Hi John,

My name is Georgia and I’m a researcher at Raw Cut Television. We’re currently working on a new documentary series for Channel 5 in the UK, looking at aircraft flights where things have gone wrong and how the people involved have dealt with the challenges.

We’ll tell the story through in-depth interviews, graphics, reconstruction, and news footage from the event. Just to be clear, we’re only looking at cases where the cause has been officially established, as this is not an investigative programme so is in no way apportioning blame.

I wanted to get in touch with you about the event that took place on Qantas Flight 30 on 25 July 2008. I appreciate this was an intense event that may bring back difficult memories.

As pilot on board that day, we would really value your account of what happened and how you handled such an extreme incident. Not only that, but your expert knowledge and experience would add a unique perspective.

I would love to speak with you and discuss the show in more detail. Do you have any time for a chat? We are looking to film quite soon in April and May, so it would be great to hear from you when you have a moment. My email is [email protected]

Kind regards,

Georgia

 

[Major]

Hi John,

My name is Georgia and I’m a researcher at Raw Cut Television. We’re currently working on a new documentary series for Channel 5 in the UK, looking at aircraft flights where things have gone wrong and how the people involved have dealt with the challenges.

We’ll tell the story through in-depth interviews, graphics, reconstruction, and news footage from the event. Just to be clear, we’re only looking at cases where the cause has been officially established, as this is not an investigative programme so is in no way apportioning blame.

I wanted to get in touch with you about the event that took place on Qantas Flight 30 on 25 July 2008. I appreciate this was an intense event that may bring back difficult memories.

As pilot on board that day, we would really value your account of what happened and how you handled such an extreme incident. Not only that, but your expert knowledge and experience would add a unique perspective.

I would love to speak with you and discuss the show in more detail. Do you have any time for a chat? We are looking to film quite soon in April and May, so it would be great to hear from you when you have a moment. My email is [email protected]

Kind regards,

Georgia

That's different

 

[jb747]

I’m happy to answer written questions about QF30.

But, I’ve never accepted any of the many offers I’ve had to do anything on TV. It was a crew effort, and I'm happy that every member of the crew performed so well.

It’s long time ago, and I’d prefer to leave it at that.

 

[jb747]

Minor win yesterday. I’m a Mac person, but the Airbus manuals were on PC (the company iPads too, but that had to be returned). I had it running, but pretty badly, via emulation, on an older Mac Mini. A while back I built up a PC specifically to be able to play DCS (a combat flight sim). I thought I might be able to get the Airbus software on to that, but the installer is long gone, and the program resisted my attempts to copy it directly. After a couple of hours of fiddling, and eventually modifying some configuration files I got it to run. I need it for some of the deeper questions that crop up here… Now back to flying the F16 in DCS.

 

[D747]

In aircraft fuel systems, what are the purposes of the vent tank, the header tank and the surge tank please?

 

[jb747]

In aircraft fuel systems, what are the purposes of the vent tank, the header tank and the surge tank please?

A header tank is something you'll find in light aircraft. Basically a small tank more or less in the engine bay, that provides a 'head' of fuel. Probably also covers those inverted flight situations too.

Surge tanks are out at the extremities of the wings are there there to capture any fuel that has expanded sufficiently to overflow (through) at vent pipe from other tanks. Basically normally empty tanks that are there to ensure you don't lose fuel due to expansion or aircraft motion (especially on the ground). Fuel in these tanks drains back into the mains.

Surge and vent tanks can be the same thing.

Anyway all you ever wanted to know:

How An Aircraft's Fuel System Works

The fuel system is one of the most important systems in an aircraft.

simpleflying.com

How does the aircraft fuel system work? - AviationHunt

The aircraft fuel system stores and supplies fuel to the engines and the APU. Aviation fuel is used to convert into heat energy and then kinetic energy in the

www.aviationhunt.com

Aircraft Fuel Systems: What Is a Header Tank? | Blog- Monroe Aerospace

 

[mjt57]

Latam Airlines in the news and the dreaded "plunge" word being used.

Anyone got the good goss on what happened here? And why?

 

[jb747]

Latam Airlines in the news and the dreaded "plunge" word being used.

Anyone got the good goss on what happened here? And why?

There's no confirmed information from any of the normal sources. One extremely scary rumour. TBA.