Ask The Pilot

[Melburnian1]

Following on from Thursday 29 June's diversion of the MEL - LAX QF93 to SYD, what quantity of engine oil do an A380, and, separately, smaller aircraft such as B738s and A320s typically carry at the start of their flights?

 

[jb747]

Following on from Thursday 29 June's diversion of the MEL - LAX QF93 to SYD, what quantity of engine oil do an A380, and, separately, smaller aircraft such as B738s and A320s typically carry at the start of their flights?

Normally about 17 quarts (and don't ask why it's not litres).

 

[flychrisfly]

Normally about 17 quarts (and don't ask why it's not litres).

I had to convert that because who knows what a quart is these days! It's 16 litres.

Is that per engine?

Is there a single oil reserve for the plane or is it, I'm guessing, one per engine?

 

[jb747]

I had to convert that because who knows what a quart is these days! It's 16 litres.

Is that per engine?

Is there a single oil reserve for the plane or is it, I'm guessing, one per engine?

It's per engine. Preflight, there has to be a minimum of 10, plus .5 for each hour of flight time. At the end of an LA flight, it's normally around 11.

 

[flychrisfly]

It's per engine. Preflight, there has to be a minimum of 10, plus .5 for each hour of flight time. At the end of an LA flight, it's normally around 11.

Thanks.

Does oil supply and use have the same monitoring, controls and governance as fuel?

 

[petercr]

Normally about 17 quarts (and don't ask why it's not litres).

Because Engine Alliance is American and they think the metric system is the root of all evil?

 

[jb747]

Because Engine Alliance is American and they think the metric system is the root of all evil?

It's a Rolls Royce engine.

It could actually be measured in jelly beans for all that it matters. We just need a set of numbers....

 

[petercr]

My apologies... I thought I'd read somewhere that QF had (were going to) swapped over to EA from RR... I think the Brits are half confused about metric / imperial anyway

 

[opusman]

It could actually be measured in jelly beans for all that it matters. We just need a set of numbers....

That's what the Mars Climate Orbiter people thought too!

 

[mjt57]

It's per engine. Preflight, there has to be a minimum of 10, plus .5 for each hour of flight time. At the end of an LA flight, it's normally around 11.

So, am I right in reading that the engines consume oil? If so, where does it go?

 

[andmiz]

So, am I right in reading that the engines consume oil? If so, where does it go?

Through seals, bearings, dearator and breather venting, small quantities caught up in combustion etc.
Back in the day of large radial piston engines, oil consumption was almost more limiting than fuel consumption on very long overwater flights.

 

[andmiz]

Thanks.

Does oil supply and use have the same monitoring, controls and governance as fuel?

Same as the other liquids used (hydraulic fluid & fuel), we're shown quantity, temperature and pressure. Unlike those however, pressure is typically non-regulating and will change with the engines speed.

Oil is used to clean, cool and lubricate the engine, and as a useful byproduct, the oil's heat is used to warm the fuel prior to combustion through an fuel/oil heat exchanger.

 

[Quickstatus]

Through seals, bearings, dearator and breather venting, small quantities caught up in combustion etc.
Back in the day of large radial piston engines, oil consumption was almost more limiting than fuel consumption on very long overwater flights.

And aerotoxic?

 

[mjt57]

Through seals, bearings, dearator and breather venting, small quantities caught up in combustion etc.
Back in the day of large radial piston engines, oil consumption was almost more limiting than fuel consumption on very long overwater flights.

Thanks Adminz...

I knew that there'd be some consumption, but not that much.

As for the radial engine thing, sounds like some of the old British bikes that I've ridden...

 

[Major]

According to FR24 that should be QF12. I assume the temperature difference is highlighted by the Sun's rays.

Is this a common sight ?

 

[jb747]

It's just a contrail. Depending upon the conditions they may not form at all, or may last for hours. The sun has already risen up there, so nice and bright.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
A reminder of the purpose of this thread:

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Thank you.
[/mod hat]

 

[Himeno]

With the express path and Crew lane at MEL being the same, I was talking to the flight crew of QF94 this morning to hear that the second officers bag was instead sent to BNE on QF16 and not MEL.

How often do crew have their checked items misplaced by the airline they work for?

 

[andmiz]

With the express path and Crew lane at MEL being the same, I was talking to the flight crew of QF94 this morning to hear that the second officers bag was instead sent to BNE on QF16 and not MEL.

How often do crew have their checked items misplaced by the airline they work for?

Clearly it can happen, but it's rare. The 2017 global rate of mishandled bags was .057% per passenger, and given that the biggest cause of mishandling is flight connections, the chance of it happening to crew bags is dramatically reduced from that percentage too.

 

[eric2011]

On a trip across the Tasman yesterday I noticed the SOG on the display showed a speed of 1119 kph. This is the highest I can remember as usually it is normally in the mid to high 900's. Makes me ask "what is the fastest SOG a plane can go". Would have had a good tail wing I should think