Ask The Pilot

The other day was the 15th anniversary (if there is such a thing) of QF30. So, one of the aviation FB groups made a post about it. It's certainly amusing reading some of the commentary, especially the people pushing their own little theories (and not listening to any other input). To this day, I'm very thankful that I had such a good crew, from the FO, down to the newest of the cabin crew.
 
@jb747 , as a former B767 flyer, any comments on this occurrence? Specifically, how the forces of a hard landing might cause the fabric (at least) ripple observed?


AVherald:
 
One @jb747 will presumably know fairly well - interesting flight path on QF2 today (not one i've noted before) - is this a "normal" routing, or will they be more likely diverting around some other issue, or perhaps were hoping for a more direct track?

It looked ex-LHR like a relatively northerly initial track over germany, romania, then the Black Sea, over Baku, then Tajikistan before the "sharp" turns. Presumably also the non-trafficable airspace of Ukraine, and Moldova, has also affected options on UK/EU-Asia routings.

Screenshot 2023-08-02 at 13.35.41.png
 
One @jb747 will presumably know fairly well - interesting flight path on QF2 today (not one i've noted before) - is this a "normal" routing, or will they be more likely diverting around some other issue, or perhaps were hoping for a more direct track?

It looked ex-LHR like a relatively northerly initial track over germany, romania, then the Black Sea, over Baku, then Tajikistan before the "sharp" turns. Presumably also the non-trafficable airspace of Ukraine, and Moldova, has also affected options on UK/EU-Asia routings.

View attachment 338213

Looks like for the last two weeks at least, BA & QF have both been avoiding Iran & most of Afghanistan. SQ not so much.
 
One @jb747 will presumably know fairly well - interesting flight path on QF2 today (not one i've noted before) - is this a "normal" routing, or will they be more likely diverting around some other issue, or perhaps were hoping for a more direct track?

It looked ex-LHR like a relatively northerly initial track over germany, romania, then the Black Sea, over Baku, then Tajikistan before the "sharp" turns. Presumably also the non-trafficable airspace of Ukraine, and Moldova, has also affected options on UK/EU-Asia routing.
It was a route that was used occasionally, though the safety heights are extremely high (in the order of 20,000'). Mostly though it was used when going to, or coming from the airspace to the south of Moscow. I guess everyone is being constrained now, especially as it can be difficult to pay for overflights if countries are sanctioned, as that generally tries to cut them off financially.

I don't know what the story is with Afghanistan. When I was flying over it, ATC was being provided by the US. I'm not sure that I'd be all that keen these days.

ATC-wise, it was always easy to deal with the Iranians, and there were a number of routes that were used. One that was rare but especially scenic went from Tblisi in Georgia, south of Baku, and north of Tehran, then down to Zahedan. Neatly avoiding Afghan airspace entirely.
Mostly by existing.
 
Here you go. Make sure you have your tin foil hat.
Interesting comments. I wonder how many of the people realised who you are after posting some of their more questionable comments before you corrected them.

I saw Bernie's link to the podcast, too. How's he going these days?
 
So how long before the first catastrophe?
Hilarious. Reverse would never stop any aircraft, so every landing would be an overrun.
Interesting comments. I wonder how many of the people realised who you are after posting some of their more questionable comments before you corrected them.
It was doubly amusing in the aftermath. You'd see people who definitely did know, being corrected by the tin hat brigade.
I saw Bernie's link to the podcast, too. How's he going these days?
Retired about the same time I did. He's got a homebuilt aircraft that keeps him amused.
 
Note I have moved a few posts relating to Facebook links from AFF and browser tracking into a new thread in the Suggestions and Feedback forum. Please follow discussion there is interested.

 
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With the recent Russian space junk re entry above Melbourne last night, my question to JB and AV, have you seen any re entry objects in your careers?
 
In the latest Mentor Pilot crash investigation video (
) it seems one of the main triggers to the ongoing mistakes they made was the first officer saying the wrong engine had failed. In the video it is said the pilots knew each other well and the captain considered the first officer very reliable and not prone to errors.

My question is: During SIM training, how much training is done where the co-pilot purposely makes errors (such as wrong calls like this), and if so, how much of this is subtle single mistakes like this (which seems quite probable in a high-stress situation like this) rather than just a really uncooperative co-pilot that clearly needs CRM to sort out?
 
With the recent Russian space junk re entry above Melbourne last night, my question to JB and AV, have you seen any re entry objects in your careers?
I've seen a lot of meteors over the years. Some seemed spectacular at the time, but not on the scale of the space junk over Melbourne. I have seen two during the day, but no idea whether they were natural or man made.
 
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