jb747's last operational flight

[jb747]

Are planes always girls?

I don't know. Probably it depends upon the gender of the pilot.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Had to get a few shots of the girl....

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@jb747 Maybe aviation photography is your next calling? you'd certainly have the experience to justify the shots!

 

[por930]

JB, Some questions regarding the last series of flights.

I noticed that the QF36 was not often on the airways and sometimes, e.g. L895, you seem to deliberately move off to the left side by 20kms or so. The pic shows you travelling abeam L895 and steadily rejoining.

It was interesting seeing QF82 (A330) behind you, but it remained on L895 compared to your offset.

Did you find the different flight planners had different ways of setting out the flight plan to same locations, or is it more what the 'computer' decides with the winds and weather?

It seems on long haul flights many aircraft have 'their' routes, often not on airways.

When on airways, at times you seem to move off the airways, cutting corners between waypoints. I guess to save distance, which of course equals savings in time and fuel costs?

Some times the same airline, and same equipment, seem to have their own routes to a destination compared to similar departure/arrival ports.

That was an interesting hold and exit at BIG when flying QF1 to LHR. I notice pretty well all approaching aircraft were made to hold somewhere..Maybe too early before curfew?

It seemed while in QF2 at Singapore, you were made to turn away from approach because QF81 arrived sooner. Do the A380 aircraft get any approach preferences due to their size? or is It first in best dressed? I suppose speed and wake turbulence issues are more important to the ATC people, so they need to slot every one in a safe distance apart?

 

[jb747]

I noticed that the QF36 was not often on the airways and sometimes, e.g. L895, you seem to deliberately move off to the left side by 20kms or so. The pic shows you travelling abeam L895 and steadily rejoining.

It was interesting seeing QF82 (A330) behind you, but it remained on L895 compared to your offset.

That's a weather offset. We've chosen to go around something that the 82 hasn't worried about. Different radar sets, sometimes give very different pictures.

Did you find the different flight planners had different ways of setting out the flight plan to same locations, or is it more what the 'computer' decides with the winds and weather?

Whilst the flight planners can force a route, generally the system will find the least cost routing, after testing a whole swag of variations. Some of the things they/it comes up with, we simply ignore, as they might look good on paper, but in practice don't work. In particular descents in the middle of a flight.....

It seems on long haul flights many aircraft have 'their' routes, often not on airways.

Across the Pacific there are areas in which 'free' tracks are used. They are still planned normally, so ATC know exactly where the aircraft will be.

When on airways, at times you seem to move off the airways, cutting corners between waypoints. I guess to save distance, which of course equals savings in time and fuel costs?

We'll cut the corners if ATC will allow it. Often they simply tell us to track direct to a waypoint well down the road. In Europe you're rarely on the planned track for long.

Some times the same airline, and same equipment, seem to have their own routes to a destination compared to similar departure/arrival ports.

Different routes are occasionally planned to keep aircraft away from each other. A whole swag of QF aircraft depart LAX at approximately the same time, and if all on the same route will proceed to block each other from climbing for the entire night.

That was an interesting hold and exit at BIG when flying QF1 to LHR. I notice pretty well all approaching aircraft were made to hold somewhere..Maybe too early before curfew?

No, the curfew wasn't an issue. London ATC use the holding patterns, and those S turns to set up the spacing for the aircraft. We were actually told to join the hold at Biggin (which was itself unusual, as we almost always use Lamborne). As we started to enter the pattern it was amended to an orbit and we were given headings into the S.

It seemed while in QF2 at Singapore, you were made to turn away from approach because QF81 arrived sooner. Do the A380 aircraft get any approach preferences due to their size? or is It first in best dressed? I suppose speed and wake turbulence issues are more important to the ATC people, so they need to slot every one in a safe distance apart?

The 81 was a long way away from us, and the was quite a bit of other traffic between us and the airport. I think we actually landed behind one of the Chinese carriers. Again, we never actually entered the hold...just started to, and were then given headings to get to finals.

The Singapore spacing is a pretty constant 5 miles at touchdown. That gives just enough time for the preceding aircraft to vacate the runway, before the next one arrives.

 

[kermatu]

Are planes always girls?

They can't all be girls. Otherwise where would little A318s come from?

 

[por930]

Thanks for the reply JB. My pics give a very empty air space look. I had a filter installed to limit a/c to only QFA. With the filter not active, some times hard to find you. And yes, you were slotted after other approaching aircraft so fluidly. The ATC guys do a marvelous job.

I recall looking at the weather while you were off-setting L895, and did see a large rain cell near you and wondered if that was the issue.

When you are given approval for a direct to waypoint, what would be a common long distance between waypoints, as it seems looking on FR24, there is a long distance between waypoints. I noticed on the pic you supplied showing the later part of the flight back to YMML, the distance was 110nm from your current position and WENDY, some 204 kms. Does the A380 have a maximum distance between fixes before it gets upset?

I noticed you landed on runway 34, when did you take over and complete that last flare and touchdown?

Remember your first solo and landing..remains with you for ever. How did this final landing with the big girl compare, as I am sure the A380 would have been a tad larger than what you went solo in?

JB, thank you for the many years of your insightful and always very practical comments. The mystery and enjoyment of flight never leaves us. Enjoy your caravan travels with Mrs JB

 

[JohnM]

They can't all be girls. Otherwise where would little A318s come from?

Parthenogenetic reproduction... Boring, but real - Google it .

Mind you, the thought of a couple of A380s mating brings tears to the eyes....

 

[jb747]

When you are given approval for a direct to waypoint, what would be a common long distance between waypoints, as it seems looking on FR24, there is a long distance between waypoints. I noticed on the pic you supplied showing the later part of the flight back to YMML, the distance was 110nm from your current position and WENDY, some 204 kms. Does the A380 have a maximum distance between fixes before it gets upset?

No, I don’t recall any maximum distance. It’s normally not beyond the ATC unit’s airspace, so that tends to be a limit. In practice, even though we could be cleared to a place that’s a thousand miles away, when we put that into the FMC it offers us the choice of direct, or via the ‘abeam points’. In most cases we select the abeams. That means that the FMC generates the track to the cleared waypoint, but also makes waypoints along the way that are abeam our original waypoints. That helps us keep our fuel and time logs valid, whilst also breaking up the leg into a series of shorter ones.

I noticed you landed on runway 34, when did you take over and complete that last flare and touchdown?

I flew it the same as I normally do...disconnecting the autopilot at about 1,000’ AGL. Out of Singapore I hand flew to about 6,000’.

Remember your first solo and landing..remains with you for ever. How did this final landing with the big girl compare, as I am sure the A380 would have been a tad larger than what you went solo in?

First landing was in a Piper Cherokee, and I’ve mostly forgotten it. Pressure was on this time though, as it was a last chance to do a decent landing on 34. No going back to fix it next time.

 

[mjt57]

Had to get a few shots of the girl....

View attachment 151843

Is that a wide angle lens? Which one, in any case?

Hope that we can see some more photos of this memorable occasion.

When do you officially finish up?

And is there much paperwork to do, particularly with super? I’m so dreading this, myself.

 

[Altair]

Congratulations jb747 on the end to a very successful flying career.
Thank you for your contributions, I have enjoyed your posts here on AFF, and for a while your YouTube videos.
May you and your family enjoy a long and well deserved retirement.

 

[jb747]

Is that a wide angle lens? Which one, in any case?

Nikkor 14-24 f2.8 on a D800.

Hope that we can see some more photos of this memorable occasion.

I've been sent some lovely shots of the approach and landing, but at this stage I don't have permission to post them. I'll get back to the photographer and see....

There are videos, but I'm not going to upload to youtube again. I'll see if @Admin feels like hosting something.

When do you officially finish up?

Today is my last day. 31-1-19. Carefully chosen to more or less coincide with the expiry of my CASA medical, ID card, and US visa. Six weeks short of 34 years.

And is there much paperwork to do, particularly with super? I’m so dreading this, myself.

Very little. Super has just been a discussion with the accountant, and a couple of signatures.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

@jb747 Have you thought about writing a book about your piloting career with anecdotes of the good and the bad?

 

[jb747]

@jb747 Have you thought about writing a book about your piloting career with anecdotes of the good and the bad?

The fact that I have not written a book has generally been appreciated by my fellow pilots.

Whilst the amount that I've written on these threads probably approaches the number of words in a book, I have no desire to delve into that particular realm.

 

[jb747]

A couple of the crew (and also some passengers) from QF30 were with me on this last flight. The husband of one of the girls went out to the airport and took some lovely shots, which he's given me permission to post here.

 

[ellen10]

Great photos!

 

[Captain Halliday]

A couple of the crew (and also some passengers) from QF30 were with me on this last flight. The husband of one of the girls went out to the airport and took some lovely shots, which he's given me permission to post here.

View attachment 151993 View attachment 151995

I’ve only been on AFF for a few years, but I can’t recall any post getting 30 likes.

EDIT: Make that 40 likes.

Great photos honouring a great AFF contributor.

 

[mjt57]

These photos, JB’s and others, Really give us a true perspective on the A380’s size. The final JB landing, though. Shows how majestic and graceful it looks.

Still, my favourite from an asthetic look is the 747.

Having the flight deck still at FL300 when the rear wheels hit the deck is truly impressive.

 

[Pushka]

A couple of the crew (and also some passengers) from QF30 were with me on this last flight. The husband of one of the girls went out to the airport and took some lovely shots, which he's given me permission to post here.

View attachment 151993 View attachment 151995

Treasured memories and wonderful photos.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

JB a huge congratulations on the career and your contributions here. I am another in the club of sad group members whose 380 flights never coincided with you at the helm.

Photography, caravans and cars and a spot of going bush are obviously on the other horizon. Any other hobbies for retirement?

 

[QF WP]

Having the flight deck still at FL300 when the rear wheels hit the deck is truly impressive.

I'm pretty sure you mean 30 feet, not FL300. That would be one long runway needed...