Ask The Pilot

[AviatorInsight]

On a virgin fight the other day and the landing was absolute buttterrrrrr. ** Chefs kiss **

Wanted to acknowledge this fact with the pilots when disembarking with their door open but what is protocols? Ask FA first if okay to pop head in? Do pilots actually care about this?

Definitely ask the Cabin Supervisor first, just to make sure all of our post flight formalities are complete but yes by all means pop your head in and say g’day.

 

[markis10]

Unless your at gate 82 in BNE where the aerobridge operator will still be trying to find the plane.

 

[Rabs97]

If find 4 years hard to believe, unless the contract is terrible, and the base is nowhereville. Or are you not talking about mainline?

No.

In 2026. Mainline command 321 SYD base (the only 321 base so far) is 4 years. SH EA (which has improved markedly).

Times have changed

 

[jb747]

In 2026. Mainline command 321 SYD base (the only 321 base so far) is 4 years. SH EA (which has improved markedly).

As you say, times have changed, but to be honest, it must be an incredibly unattractive package, given that 737 commands in Sydney were much longer waits. Beyond that though, the entire promotion cycle is very accordian like. It might be shorter for some, but then it blows out again.

Edit: Some feedback is that the contract is appalling, but no details. That sounds about right for QF. Sadly.

 

[Saab34]

Gents what is the most severe turbulence you have experienced in Australia, and what part of the country was it?

 

[SeatBackForward]

There's a post on another discussion board, suggesting that a passengers Qantas flight was delayed, and that the pilot was in the First Class lounge speaking directly with affected passengers, even contacting support and getting connecting flights changed.

Have any of the pilots on this thread done that? or know of other pilots who do this?

 

[jb747]

Gents what is the most severe turbulence you have experienced in Australia, and what part of the country was it?

Worst consistent turbulence is around the jet streams between WA and the east. It can be rough, but I don't remember anything terrible.

There's a post on another discussion board, suggesting that a passengers Qantas flight was delayed, and that the pilot was in the First Class lounge speaking directly with affected passengers, even contacting support and getting connecting flights changed.

Have any of the pilots on this thread done that? or know of other pilots who do this?

Going to the lounge was pretty common, but we don't have some magic phone number that would get flights changed.

 

[Rabs97]

As you say, times have changed, but to be honest, it must be an incredibly unattractive package, given that 737 commands in Sydney were much longer waits. Beyond that though, the entire promotion cycle is very accordian like. It might be shorter for some, but then it blows out again.

Edit: Some feedback is that the contract is appalling, but no details. That sounds about right for QF. Sadly.

737 and 321 is the exact same contract. Several dozen VA F/Os jumping ship to come to QF on that “appalling” contract (which from their feedback is 10-30% more pay) and some 737/321 pilots making as much as A330 pilots.

There’s a lot of misconceptions about nature of the SH contract, and the intricacies of such probably go far beyond the scope of this thread, but there’s at least one pilot here who doesn’t think it’s “appalling”.

Of course cycles can change (hopefully recent world events don’t contribute to that) but at the moment time to command overall is much lower than the historical time to command. Indications this will remain so whilst the Sunrise introduction program is implemented

 

[jb747]

737 and 321 is the exact same contract. Several dozen VA F/Os jumping ship to come to QF on that “appalling” contract (which from their feedback is 10-30% more pay) and some 737/321 pilots making as much as A330 pilots.

Aren’t you comparing the VA and QF contracts here. Not QF to QF.

There’s a lot of misconceptions about nature of the SH contract, and the intricacies of such probably go far beyond the scope of this thread, but there’s at least one pilot here who doesn’t think it’s “appalling”.

It’s not as if the LH side of QF is unfamiliar with the SH contract. A very large percentage of pilots would now have worked under both. In any event, if they are the same, I find it hard to believe lots wouldn’t have jumped at it. It’s not as if they have lack of takers for the 737.

Of course cycles can change (hopefully recent world events don’t contribute to that) but at the moment time to command overall is much lower than the historical time to command. Indications this will remain so whilst the Sunrise introduction program is implemented

As Sunrise appears, presumably other components will disappear. I’m sure that it will more or less balance out. But, with regard to promotion times, if we average everything out over careers, the amount of time spent in each rank should be more or less equal to the proportions of people (Capt, FO, SO) in each rank. If it’s shorter for some, then it will be longer for others. I was lucky enough to ride a “short” wave, but that didn’t take long to change.

 

[Major]

AV
I flew back from NAN last Sat. on a MAX. I found the cabin to be less noisy than the standard 738.
Are there obvious differences up at the pointy end ?

 

[AviatorInsight]

AV
I flew back from NAN last Sat. on a MAX. I found the cabin to be less noisy than the standard 738.
Are there obvious differences up at the pointy end ?

Yep, same effect up front too. Nice new seals and Dreamliner screens with a better cooling fan system will do that. On a 738 there's no way you would take your headset off in the cruise. On the Max though, some guys opt to take their headset off because of how much quieter it is.

In the cabin though, the higher bypass engines and chevons at the rear of the nacelle fitted, makes up the bulk of the noise reduction.

 

[Saab34]

What do you prefer to fly. -700, -800 or MAX?

 

[AviatorInsight]

What do you prefer to fly. -700, -800 or MAX?

They’ve all got their good points to be honest.

The -700 is like a sports car. Probably my most favourite to fly. It’s got the performance and can slow down really well. It’s great as well that pax get on and off quicker so it’s easier to stay on schedule with 35min turns.