Safety and stupidity. Kudos Qantas, take a good look at yourself others...

[LiamR]

Oh one interesting thing was they had 5 FA's on the flight instead of the usual 4. Wonder if that's getting ready for the full separation of J class to have a dedicated FA and 4 in the back, or if they were just getting an FA back up to Melbourne?

I'm good friends with a couple of VA crew, and have heard nothing about having 5 FA's on the 737.... Maybe it just hasen't come up, but I don't see it happening. They are proabley just paxing somewhere getting ready to operate the next sector.

On the other hand, I have heard that Virgin are putting 4 FAs on the E190, up from the three they have now.

 

[mannej]

I agree, DJ are running sub FL200 flights, while JQ30 just did a normal profile approach from FL360 through the forecast ash cloud and QF993 is on normal climb passing FL230, one gets the feeling commercial considerations of flying aircraft at sub FL200 where a factor in QF's "safety" decisions!

ADL might be an issue tomorrow morning!

Looks like DJ are back up there with XFA at FL410 and VUJ at FL300 atm.
It would be interesting to see the operations department in the airlines currently and their work load.
FWIW, is QF63 going to stop in PER until this is over, or is it a more unplanned stop?

 

[markis10]

I'm good friends with a couple of VA crew, and have heard nothing about having 5 FA's on the 737.... Maybe it just hasen't come up, but I don't see it happening. They are proabley just paxing somewhere getting ready to operate the next sector.

On the other hand, I have heard that Virgin are putting 4 FAs on the E190, up from the three they have now.

My flight tonight had 5 FAs as well.

 

[LiamR]

My flight tonight had 5 FAs as well.

Interesting.... I'll ask around and report back what the deal is.

 

[markis10]

For what its worth the sunset was awesome coming into MEL at 6PM, and the crew were great despite a full plane!

 

[jb747]

For what its worth the sunset was awesome coming into MEL at 6PM, and the crew were great despite a full plane!

What flight? The 1630 departure?

I've done that flight twice in the last couple of days. On the way down yesterday, I wasn't actually looking out for volocanoes, but it did look very much like a hazy summer's day, at all levels. Today, on descent, the same haze was visible, and it did not seem to be layered at all.

Flying at 18,000 feet for a couple of days is a miniscule cost compared to mass flight cancellations. I just wonder where a reliable measure of the 18,000 foot number came from, especially last evening.

 

[gumpy]

I have a NAN run coming up next weekend =( =((((

I really hope the clouds are ok then...

 

[markis10]

What flight? The 1630 departure?

I've done that flight twice in the last couple of days. On the way down yesterday, I wasn't actually looking out for volocanoes, but it did look very much like a hazy summer's day, at all levels. Today, on descent, the same haze was visible, and it did not seem to be layered at all.

Flying at 18,000 feet for a couple of days is a miniscule cost compared to mass flight cancellations. I just wonder where a reliable measure of the 18,000 foot number came from, especially last evening.

I was on a DJ 1555 departure, the red glow of the sunset reminded me of quite a few aborigine rock paintings/body art in its tone.

Some interesting QF flight numbers tonight with QF1122 operated by VH-OJT and QF8838 heading north operated by VZM staying at FL260 (JQ970 has had a normal climb profile on a similar track), things are pretty dynamic it seems, those ops folks are earning their pay I suspect, not to mention the crews!

 

[jb747]

..and having been booted from an exit row on the last long haul QF flight I took - to provide more seatroom for a grossly obese old chap (who couldn't even get out of the seat without assistance) I'll suggest they are not necessarily the "poster boys" for best safety practice...

I'll leave it to your imagination how well he would have performed the "duties" of the exit row....

But in the vast majority QF long haul flights, aren't the exit doors actually doors? Passengers aren't supposed to be touching them in any circumstances.

Or are you talking 737-800 or 767-338 overwing escape exits.

Not actually dangerous you say? Yep.. I actually agree... just as I think NZ's (and others) decision to fly at "clear" altitudes does not mark them as "unsafe"....

I think that if you back up you will find that I said it's quite viable to fly over or under the stuff, as long as you have a reliable measure of where it is. But I'm not sure how you do that at night.

And 'outside controlled airspace' is just that. It's not dramatically unsafe, but it's not a place to be intentionally either, unless you need to be (in a big aircraft...I know some of you live there).

 

[jb747]

Some interesting QF flight numbers tonight with QF1122 operated by VH-OJT and QF8838 heading north operated by VZM staying at FL260 (JQ970 has had a normal climb profile on a similar track), things are pretty dynamic it seems, those ops folks are earning their pay I suspect, not to mention the crews!

When I passed through scheduling this afternoon I heard that there was to be a 747 operating three sectors this afternoon. I managed to get a seat on a 767 a bit ahead of it.

Not sure about today, but yesterday, the winds were very light at all levels (less than 10 knots). If you want to maximize ground speed, you run at max mach at around F260 to F290.

BTW, it took me 2:15 Sydney Melbourne yesterday, which would be one of the longest ones I've ever done. First holding pattern came up whilst we were still in the climb.

 

[markis10]

QF are now running lower flight levels with 696 pegged at FL260 ADL to MEL with QATAR30 200 miles behind at FL370, JQ949 ex CNS for MEL has descended early and is FL180 over Echuca .

BTW, it took me 2:15 Sydney Melbourne yesterday, which would be one of the longest ones I've ever done. First holding pattern came up whilst we were still in the climb.

Damn Air Traffic Controllers , worst I have seen is 7 holding stocks on the old T17, must admit never had to hold traffic at WOL when I worked that sector in the old Syd AACC.!

 

[LiamR]

My flight tonight had 5 FAs as well.

4 crew on a 737 is here to stay.

There is currently a batch of new crew. For the first two sectors they do, they have a 'buddy' to help them along. That would explain why several people saw it happen today.

Rough day to start. :shock: