Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

RVSM is definitely not allowed without an autopilot. Sometimes with failures what should happen (in terms of what remains available), and what actually happens aren't the same.

 

[OZDUCK]

To me this take-off looks risky. I would have been squeezing my armrest pretty tightly if I was onboard. Am I just underestimating the ability of aa aircraft to handle crosswinds or was it an 'adventurous' take-off

 

[jb747]

To me this take-off looks risky. I would have been squeezing my armrest pretty tightly if I was onboard. Am I just underestimating the ability of aa aircraft to handle crosswinds or was it an 'adventurous' take-off

Well, I’d have been squeezing something if I’d been on board. Looking through some of his other videos from that day, and it’s amazing how well most of the aircraft have been handled through the take off or landing. Gusty crosswinds are not easy, and my aim was simply to remain on the black bit, and not break anything.

In this particular case, he might need some more aileron, to keep the wings level (they try to rise on the side the wind is coming from), although he is on the edge of spoiler rise. I would expect that the conditions were very near the actual aircraft limits.

 

[I love to travel]

Well, I’d have been squeezing something if I’d been on board. Looking through some of his other videos from that day, and it’s amazing how well most of the aircraft have been handled through the take off or landing. Gusty crosswinds are not easy, and my aim was simply to remain on the black bit, and not break anything.

In this particular case, he might need some more aileron, to keep the wings level (they try to rise on the side the wind is coming from), although he is on the edge of spoiler rise. I would expect that the conditions were very near the actual aircraft limits.

Would Qantas or VA accept a pilot taking off in those conditions? As a lay person with no knowledge, but nothing your comments, that looks too dangerous for me.

 

[mjt57]

To me this take-off looks risky. I would have been squeezing my armrest pretty tightly if I was onboard. Am I just underestimating the ability of aa aircraft to handle crosswinds or was it an 'adventurous' take-off

Love to see that departure from side-on. That perspective makes it look like it took off in ten feet or so, doesn't it?

 

[AviatorInsight]

To me this take-off looks risky. I would have been squeezing my armrest pretty tightly if I was onboard. Am I just underestimating the ability of aa aircraft to handle crosswinds or was it an 'adventurous' take-off.

No way that was 25kts. Limitation for us is 25kt for take off on a wet runway and 34kts on a dry one. I wonder if they forgot?

Landing however, we can go up to 40kts dry or wet.

 

[jb747]

No way that was 25kts. Limitation for us is 25kt for take off on a wet runway and 34kts on a dry one. I wonder if they forgot?

Landing however, we can go up to 40kts dry or wet.

Boeing had a strange habit of not writing their crosswind limits as hard limits, but they’d describe them as demonstrated limits. Now that simply meant that whatever the number was was the highest that their TPs had seen during the certification program. The effect of this was that some airlines simply took them as recommendations, as their pilots are “at least good as the Boeing test pilots”.

I’m surprised that the 737 landing numbers are the same wet or dry.

 

[Saab34]

How often are simulator checks done? Why do Pilots seem to hate them so much? Is it the Sim Instructors?

 

[jb747]

How often are simulator checks done?

There were a couple of systems in use during my time in QF. Most of the time, the sims came up roughly every three months, though later they tried a system with two sessions, a day or so apart, every six months.

Why do Pilots seem to hate them so much?

Because your livelihood depends on getting a tick at the end of the session. Whilst a fail isn't likely to derail your entire life, you can't fly a scheduled service until the sim session is repeated and you correct that lack of tick. That can be quite costly as you're displaced from your planned flying.

Run properly, they're hard work, but also quite fun and rewarding.

Is it the Sim Instructors?

Not at all. The sim sessions were run by either 'sim instructors' who may not have flown the aircraft, but have done sim based conversions, or 'senior check Captains' who do fly the aircraft. Even though the sim instructors had not flown the aircraft, they often brought interesting experience from other types. They all had their own style, and that was something you had to work with (and which wasn't all that different to dealing with the people you'll be flying with). In all of my time flying, there was only one bloke whom I couldn't work out at all. Perhaps that was more him, than me.

 

[Saab34]

Hey AV
I noted in a few 737 videos pilots during the flare ‘pumping’ the yoke. It seemed a little weird. Is this a technique?

 

[AviatorInsight]

Hey AV
I noted in a few 737 videos pilots during the flare ‘pumping’ the yoke. It seemed a little weird. Is this a technique?

There should be a little check through the flare and then hold off. This ‘pumping’ or ‘Boeing push’ of the yoke thing (I wouldn’t even call it a technique) is not how you land the 737. It does nothing but make people sick down the back.

I’ve seen it more often when guys have carried a little excess speed or thrust and they’re trying to get the aircraft to touchdown smoothly while still trying to land within the touchdown zone.

 

[Scarlett]

Is this simply a ‘get some time up’ play during the walk around, or do VA not have a readily available supply of modern hi vis for their crew?

Or maybe it’s just got that really nice ‘worn in’ feel…

 

[Major]

How does the Christmas Day roster work ? Are you able to say NO if there are not enough pilots for the day ?

 

[AviatorInsight]

Is this simply a ‘get some time up’ play during the walk around, or do VA not have a readily available supply of modern hi vis for their crew?

Or maybe it’s just got that really nice ‘worn in’ feel…

View attachment 420291

Some have a hard time of letting go. Seen a few of the older guys still wear their VB wings.

 

[AviatorInsight]

How does the Christmas Day roster work ? Are you able to say NO if there are not enough pilots for the day ?

If I’m rostered the day off I don’t need to come in. I bidded to have it off and the roster gods decided it was my year this year!

So, working Christmas Eve, get Christmas Day off and then a stupid o’clock start on Boxing Day for a 2 day trip. A solid win in my eyes.

 

[jb747]

How does the Christmas Day roster work ? Are you able to say NO if there are not enough pilots for the day ?

You very funny person. In over 30 years of flying for QF, I had very few Xmas days that were free of any involvement with the airline.

Some have a hard time of letting go. Seen a few of the older guys still wear their VB wings.

I never wore the last QF wings. I despised the unform overall, but the wings were especially easy to discard. I even slid some navy wings into the mix for a while.

 

[AviatorInsight]

I never wore the last QF wings. I despised the unform overall, but the wings were especially easy to discard. I even slid some navy wings into the mix for a while.

I totally get that. I’ve got a set of those wings and definitely preferred the older style too.

Our wings have changed colour with the colours inversed on the tail. Maybe a change is coming?