Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

This is the semi-official "Ask the Pilot about MS Flight Simulator" thread.
I see that FS2024 is now out. Do any of you folks play MS FS in any of its forms or is DCS the way to go?

DCS for sure! Growling Sidewinder.

 

[jb747]

Interesting MEL-SYD flight today 30/11 on QF426... Originally scheduled to depart at 0900 it was delayed to 1201 due weather in Sydney. We took off on RWY27. I was sitting in 4C and as we rotated I noticed a change in the pitch of the engines as they spool up. As well there was a very noticeable vibration throughout the aircraft. We entered into cloud at around 1,000 feet and continued to track west at low speed and a low rate of climb. We levelled off at around 8,000ft and continued to travel west and turned to the south and tracked towards Avalon then tracked to the east over Port Phillip Bay. The Captain came on the PA and said we had lost one of our primary instruments on take off and due weather in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart we would need to divert to Adelaide to conduct a visual approach. On landing in Adelaide and walking off the plane I noticed the Captains side Pitot Tube had detached from the side of the aircraft and was hanging in place.

4ºC is within the icing range, so that's what I'd expect as the cause of the vibration. If the engine had eaten something, I suspect it would have been unmistakable. The profile for the diversion is interesting. The aircraft is lower than you'd expect, and relatively slow for the entire journey. So, sounds like it was also non RVSM. Can't see any bird remains, so probably not a bird strike.

See attached.... Not sure if this was the result of a bird strike or something similar. I would have assumed that an alternative static source would be available on the 737's to provide airspeed to the tech crew. Why the necessity to divert to an airport (Adelaide) for a visual approach....

I'm sure there's a third source, but you can't just flick to that and then fly to a place with very poor weather if you have any other alternative. The best alternative is the diversion to a VFR airfield. If they hadn't been able to take that option, then you'd probably still be in Melbourne. Backups are to keep everyone alive, not necessarily to allow business as usual.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Would all of the automatics have been available or would things have degraded- autothrottle, etc was the autopilot still available or would the workload have been significantly higher?

After takeoff and the initial cruise at 8,000 ft there felt to be an appreciable nose up attitude..Also the altitude appeared to be off by a 200ft or so. Not bang on 8,000ft but 8,200ft

 

[jb747]

Would all of the automatics have been available or would things have degraded- autothrottle, etc was the autopilot still available or would the workload have been significantly higher?

After takeoff and the initial cruise at 8,000 ft there felt to be an appreciable nose up attitude..Also the altitude appeared to be off by a 200ft or so. Not bang on 8,000ft but 8,200ft

We'll need AV for the exact details, but I'd expect the autothrottle to still work, though perhaps not in all modes. The right autopilot should have been available (does the 737 have a C?). Presumably the Captains source select would have been taken to the alternate. The altitude difference is probably explained by difference sources of data, though I'd have expected the ADSB and autopilot (flying pilot) to be using the same source. Let's see what AV has to say.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

The Captains PA specifically made mention the FO was flying the aircraft ‘perfectly’..

Would the Captain has felt / heard the Pitot Tube seperate from the airframe?

 

[jb747]

The Captains PA specifically made mention the FO was flying the aircraft ‘perfectly’..

Would the Captain has felt / heard the Pitot Tube seperate from the airframe?

Perhaps, though I wouldn't guarantee it. Airspeed disagreements have caused accidents in the past, and they're trained for a lot these days.