Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

Question for the pilots ...
ref this story PHOTOS: Underside Panel Ripped Off of United 767 Mid-Flight

If you heard a loud bang on departure from Newark, would you continue across the Atlantic pond to Dublin?

If “I” heard a loud bang, is somewhat different to the quote. It says crew, and by that I‘ll take it to mean the cabin crew. It’s quite unlikely that anything was heard in the coughpit.

Would any instrumentation be sending warning signals ?

Not for a missing access panel. You might get something if the system that was covered started playing up, but I expect that it was quite happy, just running slightly cooler than normal (it’s part of the a/c and normally quite hot).

The decision to continue, in the absence of any warnings or other issues is correct. Transient bangs are not uncommon, and have all sorts of causes.

 

[justinbrett]

His name is just under his wings.

Love to see it. Young me would have loved to do it.

More likely his callsign than full name.

 

[jb747]

More likely his callsign than full name.

No, we aren’t in the USA. It’s a standard RAAF format, of name, and “Royal Australian Air Force”.

Callsigns have quite limited use, generally being using at weapon ranges to ensure no confusion of scores. Beyond that, they’re actually given to pilots by their compatriots (and COs) and are just as likely insulting. There would be no Mavericks, he’d immediately get something like “W**ker”.

 

[justinbrett]

No, we aren’t in the USA. It’s a standard RAAF format, of name, and “Royal Australian Air Force”.

Callsigns have quite limited use, generally being using at weapon ranges to ensure no confusion of scores. Beyond that, they’re actually given to pilots by their compatriots (and COs) and are just as likely insulting. There would be no Mavericks, he’d immediately get something like “W**ker”.

It's changed since you got out then. Sure they will have the full name version but for every day wear it's callsign / nickname (whatever you want to call it - these days with a lot of US integration I've heard both terms used equally). These guys with a watered down form of PID (Protected Identity) will always wear the callsign version if photos are being taken. It's basically just to stop people stalking them on facebook.

And yes, you obviously don't get to pick your own.

Found a public photo to prove my point:

 

[jb747]

Perhaps, though the image needs context. If he's an RAAF pilot in the initial F35 training organisation, then that's in the USA. In any event, a search for RAAF pilot images gives plenty...the vast majority with names. I'd find it sad if they've gone the callsign route.

I've asked someone who will know for sure, so I'll let you know when I hear back.

 

[justinbrett]

Perhaps, though the image needs context. If he's an RAAF pilot in the initial F35 training organisation, then that's in the USA. In any event, a search for RAAF pilot images gives plenty...the vast majority with names. I'd find it sad if they've gone the callsign route.

I've asked someone who will know for sure, so I'll let you know when I hear back.

I've replied on DM. The image was taken on exercise in Darwin this year.

You are correct though, those who want to protect their identity (it's optional) are not supposed to appear at all in media photos.

 

[Popeinoz]

My daughter just flew in this JQ 787 from Sydney to Honolulu:
Would this qualify as an unusual amount of speedtape on the wing? Perhaps precipitated by Jetstar's reported 5 planes out of a long-haul fleet of 11 being unserviceable currently? Why would this amount of tape need to be applied - to improve the airflow over an eroded paint surface? (As an aside, that's definitely a footprint on the wrong side of "no step", as well). Whilst no doubt applied according to agreed standards ... does this raise any concerns with the pilots?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Now here's something I didn't know about. Australian pilots are able to access a US E-3 visa, which allows them to work for US carriers. The same visa also allows their spouse to work. Australians are the only ones with access to this visa. Some CEOs in Oz might find that the pilots they thought they could 'race to the bottom' might have found a much more attractive alternative. The numbers involved could totally denude Oz airlines.

I know one who has done exactly this. Gone from CX to DL at DEN.

 

[Mozza]

A little bit of video of the flight is included in the report by Australian Aviation:

Watch Super Hornets fly 70 metres from Brisbane skyscrapers

YouTubers posted these incredible videos showing how close the fighter jet came to the city’s buildings. At full speed, the aircraft can reach 2,000 kilometres per hour.

australianaviation.com.au

Would be nice to see the view of the entire flight from the pilot's perspective.

Here you go -

 

[jb747]

I've replied on DM. The image was taken on exercise in Darwin this year.

You are correct though, those who want to protect their identity (it's optional) are not supposed to appear at all in media photos.

The answer I got from the hierarchy was basically “RAAF PR”.

 

[jb747]

Here you go -

What do the RAAF call the Hornet backseaters?

Nice video. I especially like the view over the port wing, which gives a good indication of how hard the turn is. There’s an interesting ‘pitch down’ that occurs each time the aircraft is unloaded after high “g”.

 

[jb747]

My daughter just flew in this JQ 787 from Sydney to Honolulu:
Would this qualify as an unusual amount of speedtape on the wing? Perhaps precipitated by Jetstar's reported 5 planes out of a long-haul fleet of 11 being unserviceable currently? Why would this amount of tape need to be applied - to improve the airflow over an eroded paint surface? (As an aside, that's definitely a footprint on the wrong side of "no step", as well). Whilst no doubt applied according to agreed standards ... does this raise any concerns with the pilots?

Now that is an interesting picture. If it were speedtape, it would qualify as most unusual, but, the only bit of tape that I can see is at the bottom right of the frame (near the ’no step’ boot mark). I think what you’re seeing is actually the structural surface of the wing. The paint has peeled off the carbon fibre, en masse, leaving that mix of jagged and straight edges. There’s a video on YT showing an aircraft losing a couple of square feet during landing. I wouldn’t be surprised if it lost most, or perhaps even all, of this paint, in the one flight. I’ve seen similar on some cars.

Whether the issue is poor or incorrect surface preparation when the aircraft was painted, or use of an inadequate paint system, it looks like this is becoming yet another large scale issue for Boeing. It’s possibly the same issue that AB are having with the 350.

 

[QF WP]

I came across this crosswind landing at NRT in a 747. Wow, the captain was working hard the whole way down...especially at 100 and 50

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1567120737965678596

Have our captains here had similar landings?

 

[jb747]

I came across this crosswind landing at NRT in a 747. Wow, the captain was working hard the whole way down...especially at 100 and 50

Have our captains here had similar landings?

Narita was just about always like that. PITA of a place. There was an outdoor bar that had a good view of the touchdown area, and pilots from various airlines would congregate there and grade the landings. It was, of course, much easier from a bar.

 

[747sp]

Today sept 7 there may be two QF11s in the air at the same time as yesterdays flight departed very late. When there are two flights in the air at the same time I have see the second flight called something similar but different such as qf 11d or another number like qf 311. Sometime I have only seen the new flight number on sites like flightradar 24 and other times all the passengers facing information has the new number.
Is the substitute flight number something the pilots request and does it make it a little harder to communicate as you are using flight numbers you don't normally use?

 

[jb747]

Today sept 7 there may be two QF11s in the air at the same time as yesterdays flight departed very late. When there are two flights in the air at the same time I have see the second flight called something similar but different such as qf 11d or another number like qf 311. Sometime I have only seen the new flight number on sites like flightradar 24 and other times all the passengers facing information has the new number.
Is the substitute flight number something the pilots request and does it make it a little harder to communicate as you are using flight numbers you don't normally use?

Delayed flights normally have a D (delta) added at the end of their planned callsign. They might be given a different number within Australia, but overseas the overflight clearances relate to specific flight numbers so you can't just assign something new to them. The only time when there could potentially be confusion is when the two flights are reasonably close together. In that instance the ATC unit might assign a different c/s, that's valid whilst in their airspace. Having said that, I can only recall using delta.

 

[NM]

In the Natita 747 landing video just above, the captain is wearing what appear to be generic ear-bud type ear phones. Is that common for pilots or do most wear over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones for the comms? What would he be using for the microphone? An in-wire mic like basic mobile phone earphones may have?

Or is he just listening to music while landing and letting the FO manage the communications?

 

[RooFlyer]

Narita was just about always like that. PITA of a place. There was an outdoor bar that had a good view of the touchdown area, and pilots from various airlines would congregate there and grade the landings. It was, of course, much easier from a bar.

Do all the small, rapid movements made on the yoke (if I have the right word) have corresponding material effect on the aircraft trajectory ? Or are they more a consequence of the jerking around with the aircraft being buffeted? Proactive or reactive?

About 15 seconds, someone says 'A little to the left'. Second officer? Would that be strictly necessary - to correct the captain/pilot flying?

About 40 secs the captain is asked something like 'Is that normal?' and the reply is something like 'Yeah, its always .... hole ...'

 

[kookaburra75]

What do the RAAF call the Hornet backseaters?

The most polite I have heard is GIBS - guy in back seat. There other less polite, according to the ex-navigators at work.

 

[jb747]

In the Natita 747 landing video just above, the captain is wearing what appear to be generic ear-bud type ear phones. Is that common for pilots or do most wear over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones for the comms? What would he be using for the microphone? An in-wire mic like basic mobile phone earphones may have?

Or is he just listening to music while landing and letting the FO manage the communications?

I didn’t notice that. He should be wearing the normal headset. No further comment really….