The great big "ask an airline pilot" thread!

martinsvi · 29-12-2015 4:08pm

eatmyshorts wrote: »

We're banned from the use of any camera equipment in the flight deck. It doesn't even stipulate between on ground or in the air. So, unfortunately, the days of letting kids have their photo taken in my seat when parked on stand are gone.

that's pretty sad. I'm going to hazard guess from your other posts, you work for a certain UAE carrier? Just a year or two ago I asked the crew can I go to the flight deck to get a picture (it was an A380) and was greeted with a positive answer. In fact I have a quite a few flight deck shots from my travels, I have never been refused the opportunity as a pax. How do you inspire the next generation of pilots if everything is to happen behind closed doors?

Lustrum · 29-12-2015 9:36pm

eatmyshorts wrote: »

We're banned from the use of any camera equipment in the flight deck. It doesn't even stipulate between on ground or in the air. So, unfortunately, the days of letting kids have their photo taken in my seat when parked on stand are gone.

That's a real pity, all that's going to do is disappoint some young kids and probably some older kids too!

On of our captains a couple of weeks ago had a 2hr slot due weather at destination, so once everyone was on and doors were closed he made an announcement to let the pax know what was happening, and then proceeded to invite anyone who wanted up to the flight deck for photos or a chat or whatever. A nice gesture I thought, and apparently not one complaint about a 2 hour delay!

pepe the prawn · 30-12-2015 12:15am

pepe the prawn wrote: »

Just curious, a question for the airline pros on here, do many of you do any general aviation flying anymore?

Is it something that doesn't remotely interest you anymore?

Or maybe you look forward to letting the commercial environment behind you and doing some stick and rudder flying in a 172 or a Cherokee?

Bump...

I think this question may have got lost in the kerfuffle caused by a recent topic in this thread...

Anybody want to take a stab at it? :pac:

smurfjed · 30-12-2015 5:54pm

Last time that i flew a GA aircraft was in 2008, we were in Scottsdale Arizona attending training. I wanted to fly a Cirrus, but after visiting 3 schools i found that they were all U/S, so ended up in a Cessna 182. Prior to that it was a Diamond 42 on a demo flight.

I would love to have a go in Sean Bennetts Stearman, but apart from that there are no other aircraft in Ireland that i would crave to fly.

pepe the prawn · 05-01-2016 9:57pm

smurfjed wrote: »

Last time that i flew a GA aircraft was in 2008, we were in Scottsdale Arizona attending training. I wanted to fly a Cirrus, but after visiting 3 schools i found that they were all U/S, so ended up in a Cessna 182. Prior to that it was a Diamond 42 on a demo flight.

I would love to have a go in Sean Bennetts Stearman, but apart from that there are no other aircraft in Ireland that i would crave to fly.

Not even an exhilarating low level scenic trip alongside the cliffs of moher or along the Dingle peninsula in a whistly old 150 or Cherokee!? :pac:

amen · 12-01-2016 5:07pm

More a question for an Airbus pilot (but everyone feel free to answer) when entering a bank does the flight management computer restrict the angle of bank to ensure that a collision with the ground cannot occur i.e. the wing span of an A300 is 60m so if the plane was in flight at 20m above the ground (level, no obstacles etc ) would the flight management computer prevent you banking the plane so much that the wings would hit the ground ?

smurfjed · 13-01-2016 5:56am

No one else answered, so I will have a guess..

The A300 wasnt fly-by-wire so I would say that the answer is no, the aircraft wouldn't protect you from overbanking into the ground.

As for the newer aircraft, I would guess that they have low level bank angle protection, but I still dont think that it would protect you from overbanking into the ground.

martinsvi · 13-01-2016 10:52am

according to Nat Geo, A320/1 series reduces your side stick input by 50% as soon as the wheel touches the ground to prevent "jerking movements". This was not documented and caught an unsuspected lufthansa pilot off-guard when she tried to put ailerons into wind during a crosswind landing, causing plane to roll after touch down and clipping the wing tip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYiLaK5bIJo

JCX BXC · 15-01-2016 8:44pm

What would passenger loads be like this time of year?

Locker10a · 15-01-2016 9:06pm

Carnacalla wrote: »

What would passenger loads be like this time of year?

Depends entirely on the route ! Ski flights would be getting busy ! Other routes not so much !! I'd say these few weeks are among the quietest in the year for passenger numbers

lord lucan · 15-01-2016 10:26pm

Locker10a wrote: »

Depends entirely on the route ! Ski flights would be getting busy ! Other routes not so much !! I'd say these few weeks are among the quietest in the year for passenger numbers

They are very quiet,its great,there's a lovely serenity about the place after the madness of Xmas and a mental summer season. It'll remain pretty quiet for January and most of February with the exception of the 6 nations and valentines. It'll all kick off properly in march with paddy's day and Easter in close proximity and the kids being off for 3 weeks.

highlydebased · 15-01-2016 11:25pm

The real giveaway is when you see Stobart up at FL250 or Ryanair at FL400 coming from London, they're very light

Growler!!! · 15-01-2016 11:35pm

highlydebased wrote: »

The real giveaway is when you see Stobart up at FL250 or Ryanair at FL400 coming from London, they're very light

Not true, with the lower temperature and an ISA difference between -6 and -13 aircraft performance is much much better than is the norm. For instance on two sectors today one with a 40% load and another with an 85% load we were filed and cruising at the same flight level.

highlydebased · 15-01-2016 11:37pm

Growler!!! wrote:

Not true, with the lower temperature and an ISA difference between -6 and -13 aircraft performance is much much better than is the norm. For instance on two sectors today one with a 40% load and another with an 85% load we were filed and cruising at the same flight level.

Interesting! Load must have something to do with it sometimes though?

bkehoe · 16-01-2016 1:18pm

highlydebased wrote: »

The real giveaway is when you see Stobart up at FL250 or Ryanair at FL400 coming from London, they're very light

A 737 with good (almost full) passenger load on a short sector like London-Dublin wouldn't have a problem going to FL400.
Its the division of the airspace and the volume of traffic in higher/lower sectors that means ATC often don't want an aircraft on a short sector going all the way up to FL410 only to immediately request descent. Therefore flights are often planned at lower levels. Its the same with domestic flights within the UK; eg Scotland to London.
So if you're seeing more aircraft at FL400/410 on short sectors like London to Dublin then I'd suggest that its ATC that's being more accommodating due to less traffic.

basill · 18-01-2016 11:24am

The Atlantic tracks on the day will also play a significant part in what levels ATC can facilitate.

Lustrum · 29-01-2016 10:10pm

One for eatmyshorts:

Just thought of this from your posts on the Qatar thread, what kind of attrition rate is there for new joiners to your place who are coming from say the lo-cos where they are doing 2/3/4hr sectors, to doing 12/13hr sectors? Do many of them find the transition to long haul difficult?

smurfjed · 30-01-2016 4:13pm

I think that you might find that he is based a little bit further south than Doha!

Attrition rates are easily covered up with bonds forcing people to stay, and not all of the flights operated by the ME airlines are long haul, they do lots of short haul.

Lustrum · 30-01-2016 10:11pm

Sorry, it was the Doha thread that put the idea in my head, from what I can gather he's in Dubai alright or there abouts.

I'm my place we do sectors between 35mins-2hrs, and even the 2hr flights are a drag! Obviously I havent done anything longer, but even the thought of it at the moment wears me out

martinsvi · 30-01-2016 10:33pm

Lustrum wrote: »

Sorry, it was the Doha thread that put the idea in my head, from what I can gather he's in Dubai alright or there abouts.

I'm my place we do sectors between 35mins-2hrs, and even the 2hr flights are a drag! Obviously I havent done anything longer, but even the thought of it at the moment wears me out

obviously no names, but is it jets/props you're working with and what region?

smurfjed · 31-01-2016 6:53am

I thought that you started flying commercially a couple of years ago?

I think that in time you will realise that it isn't what you fly or who you fly for, but it really comes down to Quality of Life. Flying big shiny airliners may be great fun, but when you are doing 100 hours (in the seat) per month, it can get very tiring. Looking around my friends who all fly 100 hours per month, the short haul A320 guys are much more relaxed and appear to be less fatigued than B777 guys. We also account for all the flight time rather than the in seat time, so for an LAX flight which is 17 hours and 15 hours, the crew would get 32 hours block time towards their monthly limit. In some of the other ME airlines, they would only get half of that time, so basically our crews can go to LAX 3 times a month, for the others they can go 6 times.

Gone are the days when long haul flying meant flying to exotic destinations and staying for a week to enjoy them

The grass isnt always greener

Lustrum · 31-01-2016 9:29pm

I'm on a jet here in Europe.

Interesting that you should say that smurfjed about the tiredness, I've heard the same thing from lads who moved from our place into BA long haul and they find that they're wrecked a lot.of the time now. Since I was little I've been aiming to get onto a 747, but as you pointed out, the grass may always not be greener

eatmyshorts · 31-01-2016 9:31pm

Lustrum wrote: »

I'm on a jet here in Europe.

Interesting that you should say that smurfjed about the tiredness, I've heard the same thing from lads who moved from our place into BA long haul and they find that they're wrecked a lot.of the time now. Since I was little I've been aiming to get onto a 747, but as you pointed out, the grass may always not be greener

BA long haul rosters are like a holiday compared to ours.

faceman · 03-02-2016 2:39pm

Flying to JFK today. Foolishly has a look at the Turbulence Forecast website which paints a grim picture of flying today pretty much from door to door!

Red boxes and bars everywhere. How gloomy a trip ahoy should I expect?

Pat Dunne · 04-02-2016 8:54am

faceman wrote: »

Flying to JFK today. Foolishly has a look at the Turbulence Forecast website which paints a grim picture of flying today pretty much from door to door!

Red boxes and bars everywhere. How gloomy a trip ahoy should I expect?

Memo to self, delete Turbulence Forecast website from bookmarks!
Hope you flight wasn't to bad.

faceman · 07-02-2016 6:51pm

Pat Dunne wrote: »

Memo to self, delete Turbulence Forecast website from bookmarks!
Hope you flight wasn't to bad.

Flight had a couple of rough moments but nothing as bad as I was expecting.

Of course flying back to Dublin today and it looks like the forecast is even worse I'll delete that website the next time!!

Shannon757 · 07-02-2016 6:54pm

faceman wrote: »

Flight had a couple of rough moments but nothing as bad as I was expecting.

Of course flying back to Dublin today and it looks like the forecast is even worse I'll delete that website the next time!!

How's your website btw?

JCX BXC · 07-02-2016 6:56pm

faceman wrote: »

Flight had a couple of rough moments but nothing as bad as I was expecting.

Of course flying back to Dublin today and it looks like the forecast is even worse I'll delete that website the next time!!

Nothing too bad tbh, just be thankful its not ORK

faceman · 08-02-2016 12:05am

Shannon757 wrote: »

How's your website btw?

Ugh. Don't know what's up with it. Flattered to be hacked. Probably going to have to pay someone to fix it.

faceman · 08-02-2016 12:08am

Carnacalla wrote: »

Nothing too bad tbh, just be thankful its not ORK

Thanks. It's been seatbelt sign on since take off and we're 90 minutes into the flight. It's bumpy from time to time although pilot says we *should* be grand once we start oceanic crossing.

I think he's fibbing. He told us originally seat belt sign and turbulence would only last 20 minutes. :eek:

TopTec · 08-02-2016 9:41am

My daughter flew from LHR to Chennai yesterday afternoon. The flight departed LHR 45 mins late, due to congestion I think, but it still managed to arrive 10 mins early.

Is there that much elbow room on fight times or did the flight likely pick up a big tail wind? It was doing 530+ knots most of the way according to FR24

Just curious.

TT

Growler!!! · 08-02-2016 11:07am

TopTec wrote: »

My daughter flew from LHR to Chennai yesterday afternoon. The flight departed LHR 45 mins late, due to congestion I think, but it still managed to arrive 10 mins early.

Is there that much elbow room on fight times or did the flight likely pick up a big tail wind? It was doing 530+ knots most of the way according to FR24

Just curious.

TT

There will be a certain amount of leeway on block times ie. start up to shutdown. This is to cover any unexpected winds aloft or possible re route. On longer sectors such as you described with a substantial tailwind it's entirely possible to catch up with yourself and even land early.

On the flip side with a large headwind the flight time can exceed the estimated block time by quite a bit.

faceman · 08-02-2016 3:16pm

Less serious question. Do long haul pilots wear flight socks?

Gaoth Laidir · 08-02-2016 5:03pm

TopTec wrote: »

My daughter flew from LHR to Chennai yesterday afternoon. The flight departed LHR 45 mins late, due to congestion I think, but it still managed to arrive 10 mins early.

Is there that much elbow room on fight times or did the flight likely pick up a big tail wind? It was doing 530+ knots most of the way according to FR24

Just curious.

TT

Departed or took off 45 mins late? There is a difference. Departed means pushed back from the gate, and that is what is quoted in the schedule. Likewise, arrival time is when it arrives at the gate the other end.

Locker10a · 08-02-2016 5:07pm

faceman wrote: »

Less serious question. Do long haul pilots wear flight socks?

That's an interesting question actually!!
I know pilots where I work certainly don't :P the seem to struggle with having matching pairs of regular socks :pac:

TopTec · 08-02-2016 5:34pm

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

Departed or took off 45 mins late? There is a difference. Departed means pushed back from the gate, and that is what is quoted in the schedule. Likewise, arrival time is when it arrives at the gate the other end.

Took off. I watched it queue for 30 mins waiting its turn on the apron after a late push back.

TT

smurfjed · 08-02-2016 5:48pm

Do long haul pilots wear flight socks?

I do and the max range that we had was 8 hours. Only problem with them is that arent very warm, so i would end up wearing another pair of normal socks over them

Bog Man 1 · 08-02-2016 7:01pm

smurfjed wrote: »

I do and the max range that we had was 8 hours. Only problem with them is that arent very warm, so i would end up wearing another pair of normal socks over them

Great you can fly the plane but cannot understand how the heater controls work . Do you have dual climate control likes on cars if you are flying with someone that has warm feet .

smurfjed · 08-02-2016 7:18pm

You are assuming that we have foot warmers, you are also assuming that we don't operate to cold places.

eatmyshorts · 08-02-2016 8:52pm

faceman wrote: »

Less serious question. Do long haul pilots wear flight socks?

Never. I honestly don't see the benefit of them. Seem like quackery to me.

eatmyshorts · 08-02-2016 8:54pm

Bog Man 1 wrote: »

Great you can fly the plane but cannot understand how the heater controls work . Do you have dual climate control likes on cars if you are flying with someone that has warm feet .

Separate "foot heater" and "shoulder heater" controls on each side. But they're never used. In fact, I don't think they even do anything.
Although a question about them did pop up on one of our recurrent exams recently. Had to dig in the FCOM for that one.

Tenger · 09-02-2016 11:54am

TopTec wrote: »

.....
Is there that much elbow room on fight times or did the flight likely pick up a big tail wind? It was doing 530+ knots most of the way according to FR24
.....

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

Departed or took off 45 mins late? There is a difference. Departed means pushed back from the gate, and that is what is quoted in the schedule. Likewise, arrival time is when it arrives at the gate the other end.

Total journey time is referred to as 'Block time'. This block time includes taxi time, take-off, flight time, landing, and taxi to stand. Hence the industry term 'chock to chock'.
A flight may take normally 2 hours, but the airline may add 40 mins to the advertised schedule to cover taxi and common small operational delays.

My favourite example is DUB-LHR with Aer Lingus. It normally takes about 45-50 mins inflight. But with LHR being a busy airport with regular delays, they schedule the entire journey as 1 hr 20 mins.

As stated above with favourable routing and/or winds a long haul flight is capable of taking off an hour after scheduled departure and still making it to destination ahead of the schedule. In the past I had many heated discussions with passengers who thought we were going to be late and they couldn't understand how we were landing early when we left late.

Irish Steve · 09-02-2016 1:06pm

Tenger wrote: »

As stated above with favourable routing and/or winds a long haul flight is capable of taking off an hour after scheduled departure and still making it to destination ahead of the schedule. In the past I had many heated discussions with passengers who thought we were going to be late and they couldn't understand how we were landing early when we left late.

My brother flew out of Heathrow last week on Malaysian to Kuala Lumpur, they were airborne at 22:15 on a scheduled departure time of 21:35. An hour into the flight, the arrival time was showing 10 minutes before the scheduled arrival time.

The eastbound flights from the USA are another example, if you look at the arrival times into Dublin or Shannon, some of the flights can be anything up to an hour ahead of scheduled arrival time, and at Dublin it does cause problems if the early wave of departures have not left on time. There are times when if there are no pressures for the gate, they will hold the departure and leave "late" to avoid arriving this side before the handling crews on the ground are available.

highlydebased · 09-02-2016 4:16pm

Irish Steve wrote: »

The eastbound flights from the USA are another example, if you look at the arrival times into Dublin or Shannon, some of the flights can be anything up to an hour ahead of scheduled arrival time, and at Dublin it does cause problems if the early wave of departures have not left on time. There are times when if there are no pressures for the gate, they will hold the departure and leave "late" to avoid arriving this side before the handling crews on the ground are available.

Some relatives of mine flew JFK-SNN last year and arrived at Shannon at 4.40am- Some 80 minutes early. They had to wait 20 mins for ground crew to arrive to meet the flight

pepe the prawn · 23-02-2016 10:37pm

Just wondering, are datalink communications regularly used among all airlines, or is it a region/operator specific practice?

smurfjed · 23-02-2016 10:39pm

Probably more dependent on the aircrafts capabilities, followed by the airline convincing their authorities that their training is sufficient.

ceadaoin. · 24-02-2016 6:15am

I read something a while ago saying that climate change is resulting in more incidences of unexpected clear air turbulence which is impossible to predict. Have any pilots noticed that this is the case? It's the thought of turbulence that makes me very anxious, especially severe, which thankfully I've never experienced!

eatmyshorts · 24-02-2016 6:54am

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I read something a while ago saying that climate change is resulting in more incidences of unexpected clear air turbulence which is impossible to predict. Have any pilots noticed that this is the case? It's the thought of turbulence that makes me very anxious, especially severe, which thankfully I've never experienced!

Scaremongering rubbish. Turbulence has always been present, and will always continue to be.
Clear air turbulence, although not able to be detected by radar, is predictable. Forecasting these days is pretty accurate and when combined with experience and knowledge, it's easy to know where it'll be.
Of course there's always going to turbulence that no one has predicted, but that's a fact of flying through a mass of constantly moving energy packed air.

In the last 3 years I've only had one episode of severe turbulence, a few weeks ago on the North Atlantic, caused by wind shift and a severe mountain wave in the lee of Greenland. Again, it was forecast, predicted and previously reported by other aircraft. We tried to avoid it by ducking under it, but to no avail. Cue 3 minutes of roller coasting as we surfed the wave!

Tenger · 25-02-2016 11:21am

eatmyshorts wrote: »

Scaremongering rubbish...........................

In the last 3 years I've only had one episode of severe turbulence, a few weeks ago on the North Atlantic, ....We tried to avoid it by ducking under it, but to no avail. Cue 3 minutes of roller coasting as we surfed the wave!

I hope no wine was spilt.....that can be quite upsetting. (or indeed any loss of warm beverages for the operating crew)

Locker10a · 25-02-2016 6:06pm

Tenger wrote: »

I hope no wine was spilt.....that can be quite upsetting. (or indeed any loss of warm beverages for the operating crew)

Ive just done my recurrent and we discussed a scenario in which a crew member hit the ceiling on decent and broke her hip, was temporally paralysed and had to land lying in agony in the aisle, It can get very nasty at times!

The great big "ask an airline pilot" thread!

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