Ask The Pilot

[Quickstatus]

I assumed they were the holding tanks that feed the underground main tanks. I might ask a refueller!

So its delivered by trucks to holding tanks then pumped to underground tanks. And from there pumped to access points at the gates?

 

[Boris spatsky]

I believe so, but i am just a pilot, not a chemical engineer

 

[Simo]

How often does your schedule not be changed and just as it all is scheduled

 

[jb747]

How often does your schedule not be changed and just as it all is scheduled

Most individual trips play out as planned. Probably only about 5% would have you end up operating a different service. But, the overall roster itself probably only survives intact about 70% of the time. Sometimes you'll lose trips outright, or be switched to something else entirely. A standby might be a harmless way of picking up some extra work, whilst sitting at home...and it could result in you losing every trip on your line. It pays not to plan too far ahead.

 

[Boris spatsky]

How often does your schedule not be changed and just as it all is scheduled

Similarly in short haul, the planned roster is just that - planned. Standby days frequently turn into duties about 50% of the time. Even rostered days get changed, especially due to the flow on effect of a standby being activated or an aircraft issue leaving you stranded somewhere overnight.

I recently was called out on a standby for an overnight - this forced the following 4 days of planned flying to be completely changed to meet CASA duty requirements.

The roster is fairly dynamic.

 

[747sp]

So its delivered by trucks to holding tanks then pumped to underground tanks. And from there pumped to access points at the gates?

The fuel is pumped in underground from the petrol company . No trucks normally. The fuel farm at the airport is similar to a water tower in the suburbs and and is used to cover the peaks in demand and are refilled in the lows from a continuous supply.

 

[straitman]

The fuel is pumped in underground from the petrol company .

At the risk of being seen to be pedantic deleted the word petrol and replace with fuel or some such other word. Modern jets do not run on petrol.

 

[juddles]

In post #9697 I put up my latest roster. I mention that one of the trips was likely to be swapped. As it turns out, I can't swap it, as it will cause hours issues on the last LA flight. So, the roster will be as originally released...until scheduling decide to muck with it.

Excellent - I will finally be transported by an AFF pilot.

 

[lastrow]

The question of total aircraft weight is obviously vital. Do aircraft have an inbuilt mechanism to measure all up weight, like load cells over the wheels?

 

[straitman]

Just a courtesy reminder to a few people that the rules of this thread are a little different to that of most threads and that it is primarily a question and answer thread addressed at the pilots and to a lesser degree ATC people on the forum.

For those who may not know or may have forgotten the thread rules can be found in post #1.

Thanks for your indulgence.

 

[jb747]

The question of total aircraft weight is obviously vital. Do aircraft have an inbuilt mechanism to measure all up weight, like load cells over the wheels?

No, they don't. I understand that there have been various attempts to make such devices, but they are neither accurate nor reliable enough.

All of the aircraft are periodically weighed. That number is used as the empty weight to which all stores, fuel, passengers, cargo, etc, is added to generate our load sheet. An empty A380 weighs about 287,000 kgs.

 

[CaviAck]

Speaking of weight and I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but if the weight distribution inside an aircraft fore and aft is important then what did JQ do when they first started flying and what does WN do in regards to trim? Cause the weight distribution between zones would be an unknown variable due to pax being able to choose where they want to sit.

 

[jb747]

Speaking of weight and I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but if the weight distribution inside an aircraft fore and aft is important then what did JQ do when they first started flying and what does WN do in regards to trim? Cause the weight distribution between zones would be an unknown variable due to pax being able to choose where they want to sit.

No idea. Hoped for the best perhaps?

 

[legroom]

How do they 'jack up' an A380 to replace a flat tyre ?

'.... 287,000 kg empty weight...'

 

[straitman]

How do they 'jack up' an A380 to replace a flat tyre ?

'.... 287,000 kg empty weight...'

If you search around there are a few videos that include changing tyres. Short answer is very carefully using big jacks and specific hard points.

 

[Flashback]

If you search around there are a few videos that include changing tyres. Short answer is very carefully using big jacks and specific hard points.

Ultimate Airport Dubai had this once or twice if you've got a chance to watch.

 

[Himeno]

How do they 'jack up' an A380 to replace a flat tyre ?

'.... 287,000 kg empty weight...'

There are jack points around the aircraft that they can use with jacks to lift the aircraft. This is shown in an ep of ultimate airport dubai.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Speaking of weight and I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but if the weight distribution inside an aircraft fore and aft is important then what did JQ do when they first started flying and what does WN do in regards to trim? Cause the weight distribution between zones would be an unknown variable due to pax being able to choose where they want to sit.

I believe that they limited pax to the middle seats if very light ( close to the C of G) - they know the total payload, so then estimate based on zones of seats for the load sheet. Needs a bit of careful eyeballing and management to ensure the load sheet is right.

Not a process that i would endorse, personally!

 

[andmiz]

The question of total aircraft weight is obviously vital. Do aircraft have an inbuilt mechanism to measure all up weight, like load cells over the wheels?

Some do, although it isn't typical and AFAIK limited to freighters. Reasonably accurate but only used with freight loading systems, and for gross error checks. While we receive the data through the Flight Management Computer, the figure we actually use, depending on its application either comes from the loadsheet or a running total of the Zero Fuel Weight (Aircraft Empty Weight + Payload) + Fuel.

 

[jb747]

How do they 'jack up' an A380 to replace a flat tyre ?

'.... 287,000 kg empty weight...'

As has been replied to earlier...big jacks. But all of that weight is distributed, so only a fraction (albeit a large number) has to be lifted by the jack. It's a surprisingly straightforward procedure, that differs from your car only in scale.

Slight side track, but from what I've heard, the nose gear of an A380 only carries 15 or so tonnes...which probably explains why it is so much more inclined to skidding than the 747.