Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

Do RAAF have a retirement age or an age they are ‘moved on’? I note many pilots are in the 20/30s. Next stop the airlines after 40?

You probably need to have a look at the RAAF recruiting docs. I do have a number of friends who stayed in the military until 60 or so, but they were long out of flying (or submarine driving, as one did). For lots of reasons, they don't want the flying postings filled by old blokes, when they really need to be able to keep the training pipeline busy.

 

[ausfox]

On Australian airlines the window shades must be raised during takeoff and landing.
I have noticed that particularly in USA the shades are more often than not lowered to keep the sun out during these phases.
Is there some international protocol or are we just being locally difficult?

 

[MooTime]

On Australian airlines the window shades must be raised during takeoff and landing.
I have noticed that particularly in USA the shades are more often than not lowered to keep the sun out during these phases.
Is there some international protocol or are we just being locally difficult?

Well we are very woke in Aus, we like to be woken up onboard by having window shades up.

 

[Saab34]

Flying into MEL, at night, how far out can you see the city lights?

I noted flying ADL-SYD recently and could see the red strobes from the buildings, we would have been up near the border.

 

[mjt57]

Well we are very woke in Aus, we like to be woken up onboard by having window shades up.

Except on Nightmare liners where they keep the shades darkened until the last minute. Why, I don't know. When I asked the FAs they couldn't give me a valid (or coherant) reason.

For those who've worked shiftwork or odd hours you'd know what I mean. Sunlight helps you wake up, so, when, for example, flying into LAX from MEL, you've been awake for some time, they're serving breakfast but they keep the cabin darkish.

So, for me at least, I'm in a prolonged state of grogginess needlessly.

 

[jb747]

On Australian airlines the window shades must be raised during takeoff and landing.
I have noticed that particularly in USA the shades are more often than not lowered to keep the sun out during these phases.
Is there some international protocol or are we just being locally difficult?

To be honest, I don't think the USA provides a good model for just about anything. It probably infringes their rights, or that of their pet rabbit, or something similar.

Why? Various reasons. So that the cabin crew can see out of the window in the event of an evacuation. So that rescue people can see in. So that you can see your maker approaching.

Well we are very woke in Aus, we like to be woken up onboard by having window shades up.

I expect you're tongue in cheek, but woke, or not, has little to do with it.

Except on Nightmare liners where they keep the shades darkened until the last minute. Why, I don't know. When I asked the FAs they couldn't give me a valid (or coherant) reason.

There was a lengthy discussion about this recently. Whilst I don't know the procedures they follow with regard to these windows, and I'm extremely unlikely to ever fly on a 787, I suspect a lot of it has to do with the fact that even one window being kept open by a passenger, can illuminate most of a cabin.

 

[jb747]

Flying into MEL, at night, how far out can you see the city lights?

I noted flying ADL-SYD recently and could see the red strobes from the buildings, we would have been up near the border.

A very long way. From 35,000' the horizon is almost exactly 200 nm away, and you can see cities out there. The glow above a large city can be evident for about another 100 nm beyond that.

 

[Fergo747]

It probably infringes their rights, or that of their pet rabbit, or something similar

This gave me a well needed chuckle!

 

[747sp]

Hi JB . In Singapore, recently a Qantas a380 had hydraulic issues and had to return. When taxiing, some tyres failed. Can you help me understand the link that caused the tyres to fail

The Aviation Herald

Aviation Herald - News, Incidents and Accidents in Aviation

avherald.com

 

[jb747]

We've had a bit of a look at it over in this thread:

Qantas A380 reliability issues creeping up again?

VH claims in an article published by ET that QF’s final 2 A380s will return in early 2025 which will allow 787s to take over BNE - LAX and PER - AKL…...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Basically though, returning to land at a very high weight means that the approach speed will be higher plus of course the aircraft is much heavier. In rough figures, looking at the groundspeed they had and making a guess as to the weight, they would have had close to double the normal amount of energy to get rid of after landing, which means a massive amount of heat going into the brakes. Most likely the tyre failures would have been caused by the heat buildup, ultimately causing the fusible plugs to blow.

I don't see the need for an early return and landing at such a high weight (assuming it was a straight forward hydraulic system loss), and I think this sort of tyre failure would almost be guaranteed.

 

[ausfox]

Can someone give me a comparison of the fuel load needed to fly nonstop east coast Australia to say London versus stopping and refueling in Singapore? My question relates to the passenger/freight load which can then be carried.

 

[jb747]

Not really. We can play with rough rules of thumb but you’d need a performance manual for the aircraft to have any degree of accuracy. I don’t imagine that it will ever carry any level of freight, so you’ll be pretty safe assuming zero for that.

 

[p--and--t]

Not really. We can play with rough rules of thumb but you’d need a performance manual for the aircraft to have any degree of accuracy. I don’t imagine that it will ever carry any level of freight, so you’ll be pretty safe assuming zero for that.

Human freight and accompanying chattels

 

[jb747]

Human freight and accompanying chattels

Well, the SLF probably, but don't be too sure about the second part.

 

[justinbrett]

Do RAAF have a retirement age or an age they are ‘moved on’? I note many pilots are in the 20/30s. Next stop the airlines after 40?

The standard age is 60 for full time and 65 for reserves, but you can apply to extend this another 5 years. This is for all personnel not just aircrew.

However most will end up flying a desk at those years, it’s very unlikely you can be a line pilot for all those years. Your best chance is to be an instructor. There is also a program called specialist aircrew where you forgo rank to keep flying, but this is invitation only and only as long as it suits the ADF.

RAAF holds the record for the oldest fighter pilot in the world. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/19/australia/australia-oldest-fighter-pilot-intl/index.html

Insanely nice guy I had the pleasure of working with.

 

[Saab34]

The standard age is 60 for full time and 65 for reserves, but you can apply to extend this another 5 years. This is for all personnel not just aircrew.

However most will end up flying a desk at those years, it’s very unlikely you can be a line pilot for all those years. Your best chance is to be an instructor. There is also a program called specialist aircrew where you forgo rank to keep flying, but this is invitation only and only as long as it suits the ADF.

RAAF holds the record for the oldest fighter pilot in the world. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/19/australia/australia-oldest-fighter-pilot-intl/index.html

Insanely nice guy I had the pleasure of working with.

Would the older folks perhaps find themselves on the 737 or A330s that RAAF has?

 

[justinbrett]

Would the older folks perhaps find themselves on the 737 or A330s that RAAF has?

Not really, you generally stay within your group (Fighters, Mobility or Maritime/Surveillance). You can move between them but it’s not common.

I knew some fighter pilots who went to mobility but not because of their age, they just weren’t going to make it as a fighter pilot (they’d already passed courses and were flying operationally as a junior pilot but just weren’t going to progress).

A lot of older pilots will go to training squadrons as it’s a way for them to keep flying.

Most of the 737/KC-30A crew are quite young.

 

[mjt57]

Most of the 737/KC-30A crew are quite young.

What about the aircrew which fly VIP aircraft? How senior would they be?

A RAAF video popped up in my YT feed the other day. There was coughpit vision of the guys flying, I think, the A330 (KC-30?). The left seat guy, presumably the PIC, looked young enough to still be in kinder.

And yet, when he moves to the airlines he'll be almost a grandpa before he gets to sit in that seat again. Must be frustrating for them, I guess.

 

[justinbrett]

What about the aircrew which fly VIP aircraft? How senior would they be?

A RAAF video popped up in my YT feed the other day. There was coughpit vision of the guys flying, I think, the A330 (KC-30?). The left seat guy, presumably the PIC, looked young enough to still be in kinder.

And yet, when he moves to the airlines he'll be almost a grandpa before he gets to sit in that seat again. Must be frustrating for them, I guess.

For 737 BBJ - Same. Quite young.

For KC-30A, that's not considered VIP even though that's one of their roles (it's only a minor role). Absolutely no different to any other pilot.

I know quite a few fighter pilots who reached WGCDR (Commanding Officer rank) and are now Second Officers on QF.

 

[Saab34]

When we say young, what is young? 20s?