Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

You miss the point. It's not a backup in case you lose your job. It's the backup in case the entire flying idea doesn't work out. And contrary to your experience, I know of many people who remained current in their qualification, in some many cases owning their own business. For instance, the on board medical kits that QF uses, are supplied by a pharmac_ that was run by a 380 pilot.

 

[Rabs97]

You miss the point. It's not a backup in case you lose your job. It's the backup in case the entire flying idea doesn't work out.

So leave school, get a degree in another field, get established in that field and then at some point after many years when you’ve saved up money maybe have a go at a professional pilot career? I did know some who took that path, some who started initial pilot training at the same time as me but then decided to delay it and seek other jobs with an intention to come back to flying one day. Eventually they got too settled into their other career and family life that pursuing a pilot career, which does demand a lot of flexibility and moving around at the early stages, was too much of a bother.

I mean that’s like saying to a wannabe doctor, or lawyer, or any professional career to start another degree elsewhere lest the whole “medicine or law idea” “doesn’t work out”. Really doesn’t make sense TBH. If your heart is set on doing something, then straight up do it.

It’s also why the advice I give to every youngster I come across who desires to be a professional pilot is to get themselves into a major airline ASAP to take advantage of the seniority system, and to also ensure when the initial decade of their career when they have to move location more often they are usually unattached and in their 20s. This best way for this currently in Australia IMO is the QGPA.

And contrary to your experience, I know of many people who remained current in their qualification, in some many cases owning their own business. For instance, the on board medical kits that QF uses, are supplied by a pharmac_ that was run by a 380 pilot.

Great - but as I saw during Covid the vast majority of pilots I knew who were stood down (and trust me I know plenty who were stood down for a long, long time) were mostly unable to put any alternative qualifications into use. They were mostly resigned to doing unskilled jobs during that time.

 

[jb747]

Just found this podcast:

Podcast: Flying solo with Gary Criddle

Gary joins hosts Phil Tarrant and Christian “Boo” Boucousis to talk about his career flying for the RAAF, navy and commercially.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[JohnM]

I found this latest from Mentour Now very interesting:

@jb747, one comment that surprised me at about the 17min mark was that the pilots didn't notice that the aircraft had moved into direct law. Is there any reason why there would not be an aural warning to further alert the pilots to ensure they realised that this had happened?

Pilots generally: any further comments on the presentation in general?

 

[Quickstatus]

They were mostly resigned to doing unskilled jobs during that time.

One, Captain Sean (QF 787) translated his CRM skills/knowledge and application of human factors into the Medical Simulation sector. He also put his paramedic qualification to great use. I know of several QF CC who were also RNs who went back to the healthcare sector. I also would not say that a Bus or tram driver job is unskilled - these jobs also require excellent situational awareness, hand eye coordination, and respect for safety standards - my local area bus company had a few pilots and they were regarded as excellent at their job according to a piece in the local paper.

I mean that’s like saying to a wannabe doctor, or lawyer, or any professional career to start another degree elsewhere lest the whole “medicine or law idea” “doesn’t work out”. Really doesn’t make sense TBH. If your heart is set on doing something, then straight up do it.

Sometimes, it really does not work out. I know of several Drs who have transitioned into other areas. One colorectal surgeon went into Big Yacht marketing making megabucks. Another fellow dropped out early on after graduating and went into Earthmoving - also making megabucks

 

[jb747]

One, Captain Sean (QF 787) translated his CRM skills/knowledge and application of human factors into the Medical Simulation sector. He also put his paramedic qualification to great use. I know of several QF CC who were also RNs who went back to the healthcare sector. I also would not say that a Bus or tram driver job is unskilled - these jobs also require excellent situational awareness, hand eye coordination, and respect for safety standards - my local area bus company had a few pilots and they were regarded as excellent at their job according to a piece in the local paper.

The covid period was hopefully a one off, and as such not really a test of any form of job proofing. I suspect that the very worse outcomes involved people whose only qualifications were aviation related. Any form of fallback was good.

Sometimes, it really does not work out. I know of several Drs who have transitioned into other areas. One colorectal surgeon went into Big Yacht marketing making megabucks. Another fellow dropped out early on after graduating and went into Earthmoving - also making megabucks

Mostly I'm looking at people who drop out of the stream along the way. I don't know the number of kids who like the idea vs those who make it happen, but I expect the percentage is very low. People fall by the wayside for all sorts of reasons. Not having all eggs in one basket seems pretty sensible. Things do change, but I had a 12 year military career before QF, and even that was divided into two different aviation streams. I know of one bloke who worked as an insurance actuary...and kept it going for his entire flying career. There are many examples. Chasing a seniority number seems a somewhat hollow goal.

 

[Quickstatus]

Even medical training these days are requiring people to have some sort of life experience before entering Medicine. That can only be a good thing.

Among my colleagues there is a Civil Engineer (now Ortho) and a Teacher (also Ortho) from another life.
There is a RN (nurse not navy) who recently qualified as an obstetrician

 

[jb747]

@jb747, one comment that surprised me at about the 17min mark was that the pilots didn't notice that the aircraft had moved into direct law. Is there any reason why there would not be an aural warning to further alert the pilots to ensure they realised that this had happened?

There is a warning...but, for something to force the aircraft to direct law, there's almost certainly multiple things going wrong, and they'll all have associated warnings. Basically things can just disappear under the weight of multiple warnings. For instance, toss an engine fire at someone, and they can actually miss that the autopilot has disconnected, even though the warning is wailing at them.

The switch to direct law will be shown on the ECAM, which will specifically tell you and also remind you of some of the limits. On the PFD, the message "USE MANUAL PITCH TRIM" appears in orange. Whilst it's not saying "direct", it is giving you a very appropriate message, and the switch to direct is the only thing that sends that message.

Pilots generally: any further comments on the presentation in general?

Whilst the thrust levers staying at whatever position they're at (almost certainly FLEX) with the actual power being at TO/GA after an ALPHA FLOOR event seems odd, it's not really an issue when practiced in the sim. The lack of feedback from the sidesticks is also a bit odd, particularly when it's not letting you know what the other pilot is inputting. But, I can see engineering/mechanical reasons for having gone this way, and I suspect that any form of artificial feel to the sticks would come with its own issues. For that reason, there is an override button on the stick, and as a Captain, if I ever had to take over, I was primed to push that button as I did so. Practiced on every visit to the sim, but never put into action on the line.

Post automatically merged: Oct 30, 2024

Even medical training these days are requiring people to have some sort of life experience before entering Medicine. That can only be a good thing.

Among my colleagues there is a Civil Engineer (now Ortho) and a Teacher (also Ortho) from another life.
There is a RN (nurse not navy) who recently qualified as an obstetrician

My GP was an army intelligence officer. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Just found this podcast:

Podcast: Flying solo with Gary Criddle

Gary joins hosts Phil Tarrant and Christian “Boo” Boucousis to talk about his career flying for the RAAF, navy and commercially.

australianaviation.com.au

Such a diverse career that created an amazing legacy. Listening to the podcast I was thinking if Gary was embarking on a career in aviation now would there be the opportunity to make a similar impact on Australian aviation as he has done over the last 50+ years.

 

[jb747]

Such a diverse career that created an amazing legacy. Listening to the podcast I was thinking if Gary was embarking on a career in aviation now would there be the opportunity to make a similar impact on Australian aviation as he has done over the last 50+ years.

He would manage to. He'd have made his mark on anything he chose to do. Just one of those, rare, people.

 

[flyingfan]

Not really an aviation question but - standoff bays at airports or whatever they’re called (as opposed to docking with an aerobridge)… why are they used when it looks like there are many vacant aerobridges?

Bit annoying to have to herd into a shuttle bus and drive to the terminal building after a flight. Is it about money and airlines having to pay the airport?

 

[jb747]

Not really an aviation question but - standoff bays at airports or whatever they’re called (as opposed to docking with an aerobridge)… why are they used when it looks like there are many vacant aerobridges?

Bit annoying to have to herd into a shuttle bus and drive to the terminal building after a flight. Is it about money and airlines having to pay the airport?

Sometimes we scratch our heads about this too. But, just because a bay is unoccupied doesn’t mean that you’d be able to use it. Depending upon the aircraft you’re travelling in, there are often restrictions on what is allowed in any adjacent bay. So, a bay might be 380 capable, but only if the bays either side have aircraft with spans of 737 (for example) or less. I’m sure you get the idea.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Today I was looking for an explanation of why an aircraft would be flying below 200feet above residential areas abeam YBBN. See here.

That led me to check NOTAMs.

The flight that buzzed our place turned out to be checking instrument approaches.

But among the myriad NOTAMs was this:

C1219/24 OBST (GROUP OF TREES) ERECTED AT FLW LOCATION: 30FT AMSL BRG 305 MAG 1255M FM ARP INFRINGES TRANSITIONAL SFC BY UP TO 2.5FT 28FT AMSL BRG 293 MAG 1200M FM ARP INFRINGES TRANSITIONAL SFC BY UP TO 2FT FROM 10 272305 TO 01 260700 EST

The way it’s worded sounds like someone has deliberately erected a group of trees. Possible I suppose.

My question to our aviators: what’s the weirdest NOTAM you’ve seen?

Also, the NOTAM locates the obstruction by bearing and distance from the ARP.

Is this measured from the tower or some other point on the airfield?

 

[justinbrett]

Is this measured from the tower or some other point on the airfield?

It’s in the NOTAM - ARP, Aerodrome Reference Point.

It’s a small metal marker on the airfield and is notated on the aerodrome chart with a circle and cross hairs. Can be in front of the tower, but could be anywhere.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Sometimes we scratch our heads about this too. But, just because a bay is unoccupied doesn’t mean that you’d be able to use it. Depending upon the aircraft you’re travelling in, there are often restrictions on what is allowed in any adjacent bay. So, a bay might be 380 capable, but only if the bays either side have aircraft with spans of 737 (for example) or less. I’m sure you get the idea.

Being assigned Gate 1 for Sydney International (T1) is always a pain having to be bussed to or from the terminal. Morning QF flights into SYD from AKL, WLG or CHC will generally land you a remote stand. Sydney (T3) QF Link Dash-8 flights to/from LHI, ABX, etc will also give you sometimes a very short bus ride to the terminal.

Many years ago when QF107 and later QF11 operated as a 744 SYD-LAX-JFK remote stand operations were sometime used in LAX when TBIT was being refurbished. It typically added anything up to 45-60 minute delay to an arrival / departure time. Also had remote stand operations at LHR on a few occasions as well.

As a kid (mid 1970's - early 1980's) in the pre-aerobridge era I remember walking from the terminal across the tarmac to the aircraft steps in Singapore, KL, Auckland, Wellington, Hong Kong (Kai Tak), Papeete, etc.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Not really an aviation question but - standoff bays at airports or whatever they’re called (as opposed to docking with an aerobridge)… why are they used when it looks like there are many vacant aerobridges?

Bit annoying to have to herd into a shuttle bus and drive to the terminal building after a flight. Is it about money and airlines having to pay the airport?

Yep this annoys us as much as it does passengers too. Especially coming back from DPS lately into SYD. Had one every week for the last 3 weeks and every time we had been put on the stand off bays just near the QF Jet base.

The running joke is that it could be just a monetary thing, although I think it actually may not be a joke.

 

[RooFlyer]

The running joke is that it could be just a monetary thing, although I think it actually may not be a joke.

That's always been my assumption - that using an aerobridge costs more than a bus gate, esp if the aircraft needs to hang around a bit.

But that wouldn't explain why, at Doha, its frequently a bus gate, even though you can see very many empty aerobridge gates, and we are flying QR!

 

[Daver6]

That's always been my assumption - that using an aerobridge costs more than a bus gate, esp if the aircraft needs to hang around a bit.

But that wouldn't explain why, at Doha, its frequently a bus gate, even though you can see very many empty aerobridge gates, and we are flying QR!

What's the reason for HBA not using aerobridges....

 

[p--and--t]

That's always been my assumption - that using an aerobridge costs more than a bus gate, esp if the aircraft needs to hang around a bit.

But that wouldn't explain why, at Doha, its frequently a bus gate, even though you can see very many empty aerobridge gates, and we are flying QR!

Wondered that myself.

Only ever arrived or departed DOH once via aerobridge (arrival RJ). Every other time bussed.

Every QR flight was bussed.

 

[Warragul]

Wondered that myself.

Only ever arrived or departed DOH once via aerobridge (arrival RJ). Every other time bussed.

Every QR flight was bussed.

Maybe weather the aircraft is on a quick turn around or a longer layover?