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In my opinion pitch is more important than width. Some airlines have reduced their Y pitch to just 28 inches. Jetstar has a pitch of 29 inches .Not only are these shin crushing pitches uncomfortable they raise issues in respect of ability to evacuate quickly and medical issues such as cramping...

I have just returned to SYD from DFW in a fully loaded A380 a 16 hour flight. What would be weight of fuel required for this trip and would the entire tank capacity be used?

I am reminded of my first flight in a 747 in 1976. We were climbing out of Sydney going west when the captain came on and gave us some stats on weight, power etc. The stat that sticks in my memory concerned fuel usage his words saying " these jumbos use a lot of fuel, in fact we are using a...

Breaking news Qantas flight QF94 LAX to MEL today had a drama with a lost phone that was thought to be burning. Was this your flight jb?

Question to our learned pilots - what has been your experience with uncontrollable passengers. does the FO go back to see what is going on, can he lend a hand if required given the possibility of personal injury, and if one or two passengers are called to assist what is the airline's liability...

Moderator note: copied from another thread. ---- On another thread there is quite a discussion about QF9 which had to return to Perth after 2 hours into the flight because of an unruly passenger. The discussion revolved around the effect on the other passengers due to long delayed arrivals...

Question - do the crew hours continue to tick over when stuck on the ground due to a technical issue with the aircraft?

Unfortunately these instances are not rare. Almost every week we read of a difficulty with a passenger causing either a diversion or the scheduled landing, and in either case other passengers are held on the plane until police go aboard and take the offender into custody. The delay on...

Hi jb its a little while since I posted. A good while ago I was seated next to a pilot from the same airline who flew 727 's , the same plane as we were in. I must say that in common with all pilots his conversation was of huge interest. As we were flying towards MEL airport but still with some...

I want to ask about ice conditions resulting from a very low temperature on the ground. jb, now that your routes are all in warm latitudes I guess the question of ice control is past history. When you operated out of LHR did you ever have to have the airplane de iced? What is the procedure ? At...

A while ago I watched a SIM demonstration of the ability of an airbus aircraft to correct a stall situation. The instructor deliberately put the aircraft into a stall and then asked the pilot to regain control using normal flying techniques which he failed to do. On the second try the instructor...

I find upstairs is noisy not from engines but air rushing past the fuselage at 900 Km/hr

The method I always use is to buy the max DF booze I am allowed (2 one litre bottles) at the departure DF shop, have them bag it up and store it until I return. Ok maybe I might pay more than in many places over seas but when I get home I still have what I paid for. Is GST payable on DF...

Thanks jb. The devices in a modern aircraft are mind boggling . The accumulators used seem to be the hydraulic type, is there more than one? Is the accumulator used to perform routine functions or only on standby? In the case of landing gear retraction assistance from the energy stored in the...

I assume you are talking about energy accumulators. Are these the batteries or some other device?

A question on walk around inspections by the pilot. What sort of things are you looking for given the brevity of time? If it is dark this would surely make the job more difficult, do you use a good tourch? How often do you find something of concern?

Thanks for those replies. Very good thinking - using a mouse to catch a RAT. I have often seen these turbines more like windmills.They must spin at a very high rate at aircraft speed although when loaded up the rate would be slower. These must be very old devices , I seem to remember seeing them...

Please tell me what is a RAT , sensible answers only please.

Hi wise travelers, I plan to arrive at Dallas/Fort Worth airport at 5.30 pm on Saturday Nov 3 (domestic flight) and my departure will not be until 8.00 pm the next day (Sunday) en route to SYD on QF8. I will need a nights accommodation and things to see on a Sunday morning. What are transport...

If I remember correctly you are due to retire next year. Have you thought about what you will do in retirement? You could settle in the Melbourne burbs with a new Audi in the drive and grow tomatoes or maybe still maintain a link with the Aviation industry eg training or examining. Having been...