Ask The Pilot

[Montien]

Well, AV will be the master of these sectors, though we did some in the 767, and even occasionally in the 747. Singapore to KL was about 20 minutes. You'd get the arrival information before takeoff, and have the expected arrival loaded. It's easy enough to change if necessary. And you'd brief for the arrival before departure. The shortest sector with passengers that I did in the 747 was 27 miles (Heathrow to Stansted). Same deal. Just get everything done that you could before getting airborne. Remember that we all flew training circuits in these aircraft, and we had to get through all of the procedures and checklists in the few miles of a downwind leg.

27 miles in a 747! That’s a staggering stat, @jb747. I can only imagine the workload on the flight deck for a hop that short, finishing checklists before you’ve even reached cruising altitude.

Your point about training circuits and the downwind leg makes perfect sense. It’s easy to forget as a passenger that while we’re just settling in, you’re essentially running a high-speed logistical marathon. Thanks for the insight into the "behind-the-scenes" sprint!

 

[AviatorInsight]

First off, thanks to the pilots here for the incredible insights.

As a frequent traveler on the CBR-SYD hop, I’ve always been fascinated by the logistics of such a short sector. From a pilot's perspective, how do you manage the fuel planning and "warm-up" cycles for a 737 or A320 when the flight is so short that you're practically starting your descent as soon as you hit cruise altitude?

My quickest was a recovery flight in a Saab from Bankstown to Sydney (no pax). The 737 would have been CBR - SYD. Much quicker than the SYD - CBR route because jets had to go via WOL.

With any of these short flights, regardless of the aircraft type, you need to plan ahead.

Doing as much as you can on the ground before you go. Things like briefings and landing stopping solutions where all you then need to do is just fly what you have briefed.

In the 737 you get quite good at it that you know you’re doing well (and ahead of the game) when you still have time to eat something.

 

[markis10]

The 737 would have been CBR - SYD. Much quicker than the SYD - CBR route because jets had to go via WOL.

Syd-cbr used to be via Marulan direct when there was just the two runways while further south flights went via WOL, was fun trying to get a RAAF P3 down to 200AMSL at Nowra after arriving from South Australia at flight levels across all the traffic.

 

[jb747]

My wife, very sensibly, banned me from flying anything after I retired from the airline. Given some subsequent events, she was quite correct. So, to fulfill my flying needs, I got deeply into a flight sim game called DCS. One of those nice friendly ones, where you shoot others down. So, now I find myself acting as a mod on a world wide server...where you do see some interesting behaviour. But, I especially like the bit where these young aces (or "best pilot ever" according to one alias) are shot down by a bloke old enough to be their grandfather. Petty, but fun.