AJ Goes Airbus

[3WE]

Originally Posted by brianw999

THIS.......IS.......JUST........FOR........FUN.......OK?

Sometimes a fun post goes serious.

Sometimes a serious post goes silly.

It's a sign of a healthy forum.

[3WE]

Originally Posted by brianw999

I dunno....

...you post a fun youtube video....

...and everybody comes over all defensive and starts talking technical.

----------------------

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.........

THIS.......IS.......JUST........FOR........FUN.......OK?

http://youtu.be/vdXLUstL3Io

OH yes....to AJ, Don't even 'effing THINK about it !! I know how you Aussies like a race !

It is very clear that the Boeings do not have that "envelope protection" BS. I also find the parking maneuer amazing- Gabriel at those speeds, would the tail not provide more weather-vaning and suppress the ability to do the "tail spin".

[3WE]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

No. It would happen again. The computer can override some pilots' actions that would put the plane outside the flight envelope, but they won't for example prevent a 9/11.

Cue up the circular argument...dry silicone semiconductor computer monitors the wet carbon semiconductor computer, or vice versa...and, who has the final authority and when? And do we dilute classical aerodynamics, or emulate them?

[AA 1818]

AJ, is the position with JetStar?

Also, I don't know if you can answer this here (or feel comfortable doing so), but will this help you move up the line (to other, larger aircraft), sooner?

Before long, may we well see you on A380s, seeing that you have the training, 787s (if ever they do arrive)?

Also, now that you have the training, where is there (and for what types) the greatest demand for pilots (and for what types) within the Qantas group?

[brianw999]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

No. It would happen again. The computer can override some pilots' actions that would put the plane outside the flight envelope, but they won't for example prevent a 9/11.

Gabriel...Please tell me you typed that with your tongue very firmly wedged in your cheek ? !!

PS. I'll whisper this very quietly because we don't want too many people to know do we but since 9/11 Airbus have fitted to new, and retrofitted to old aircraft a self destruct mechanism that can be remotely activated from Toulouse in the event of an Airbus being used in a 9/11 type incident.
Apparantly it can be made to look like a terrorist missile attack. Saves an awful lot on insurance payouts dont'cha know.

[brianw999]

And now...getting back to the subject in hand. Well done AJ on the promotion. I assume you're moving across to Jetstar ?

Re: the A380 ? Am I right in saying that the step up is actually not that technically hard as many Airbus systems are used across the range. Seems blase' to say it but really the A380 is just bigger and has two more engines ?
I would imagine your next promotional step up would be to the A330 ?

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by brianw999

PS. I'll whisper this very quietly because we don't want too many people to know do we but since 9/11 Airbus have fitted to new, and retrofitted to old aircraft a self destruct mechanism that can be remotely activated from Toulouse in the event of an Airbus being used in a 9/11 type incident.
Apparantly it can be made to look like a terrorist missile attack. Saves an awful lot on insurance payouts dont'cha know.

Shhhhh! But now that you mention it, since Airbus (and all) has fitted and retrofitted a reinforced cockpit door with en electronic key and strict secure protocols to open that door in flight. That, combined with the Flight Deck Officer program (where voluntarily signing pilots, and there are many of them, carry a gun and are trained to defend the cockpit), the awareness of the passengers and the flight attendants, that are willing to fight a disturbing passenger let alone a terrorist, the Air marshal program (where armed Air Marshals fly undercover in random flights, stricter check-in security, and better ATC and Air Force readiness to respond to shut down a plane if necessary, WILL very likely prevent another 9/11.

What I meant, and I'm sure that you understood, is that nothing in the A310, A320, A330, A380, B777, or B787 incorporated in the technology since that accident will prevent it if the pilots do what they did then, or if run out of fuel, or if they fly into a mountain, or if they land too long and fast and overrun, etc.

AJ,

I wish you much success.

All the best !
Erez.

[AJ]

Thanks to those who said nice things!

Foxtrot, I've actually been a pilot for 22 years!

AA 1818, yes, it's with Jetstar, there is little to no upward movement in Qantas, and this is unlikely to change.

[Alessandro]

A318 and steep approach could be interesting...

[Gabriel]

AJ, keep us posted with the news!

[LX-A343]

Congratulations, AJ. I'd love to see some comments about the differences you see a pilot, once you've riding the Airbusses.

Brian, that Bruce Dickinson testing the A320 video is great! Mainly because of Bruce himself!!

[AJ]

I'm now well into week one with plenty of CBT and FMGS training under my belt.

I'm slowly learning two new languages....Frenglish and Airbus.

Odd setup, I am employed by Qantas, undergoing Airbus A320 training which is being delivered by Boeing in the Ansett Flight Training facility so that I can go to Jetstar!

[brianw999]

Originally Posted by AJ

.........Odd setup, I am employed by Qantas, undergoing Airbus A320 training which is being delivered by Boeing in the Ansett Flight Training facility so that I can go to Jetstar!............

Is the Ansett Flight Training Facility still an Ansett run business or is it simply referred to as such because it used to be Ansett ?

Bloody shame Ansett Airlines went out of business. I recall some very pleasant flights with them.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by AJ

CBT and FMGS

... Qantas... Airbus A320... Boeing... Ansett... Jetstar

That's grate, all these names have the same soul:

Airplanes.
Aviation.
Airlines.
ATP.
Dreams.

[AJ]

'Ansett Aviation Training' rose from the liquidation of Ansett Australia as it generates profit:
http://www.ansettsimulators.com/about-us

CBT = Computer Based Training. Sitting in front of the computer as various systems are explained. It is self paced.

FMGS training = A simulated Flight Management Guidance Computer (FMGC) allows training on the Flight Management Guidance System (FMGS) via a 'real' MCDU, real 'FCU' and several monitors displaying the flight instrumentation. Like this on a desk top:

[Gabriel]

Have you found the "fly" and "land" buttons already

[brianw999]

May I suggest a meeting with Bruce Dickinson ?

If nothing else you should be able to blag some free concert tickets !!!

[AJ]

Systems exam sat today. First closed-book exam I've had in quite a while!

Two sessions in the simulator so far focussing on FMGS and procedures....one in each sim here at Ansett....both very nice!

[Evan]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

Just remember, AJ, these tricks only work in normal law.

The envelope protection is there NOT to use it, but just in case. Pulling up hard just because you know this plane can't stall is not wise. It can stall. Or ask Air France.

The key there is knowing the ramifications of the reversion modes instinctively. In Normal Law, it can't stall from excessive AoA (though it can momentarily exceed alpha max).

Congratulations AJ, and welcome to the 21st century. Now what are you going to do with all that excess airmanship?

I'm curious to know if, in your training, they emphasize a deep systems understanding of certain stealth factor issues that may have caused the misfortune of other, less informed Airbus pilots. For example:

- If the A/THR fails, always check the TLA display indications and/or move the levers manually to your desired setting. Unlike the 767, power setting may not be where the levers say it is.

- When you make a selected mode input on the FCU, remember to pull the knob to engage the new setting or it will remain on the FCU display for 45 seconds fooling you into thinking it is set and then quietly revert to the old one.

- If you lose Normal Law protections, you also lose static longitudinal stability.

- seeing as you are flying in that part of the world where strange cosmic things happen, if sudden uncommanded pitch excursions occur you can manually override this by turning off one or more ADIRU's, but you must use both the pushbuttons and the rotary selector switch to insure this.

- if you ever lose speeds and get the ECAM message: "MAX SPEED.......330/.82" it means be careful not to overspeed, not that you are actually approaching overspeed.

...a few helpful lessons fully-rated pilots have taught us the hard way...

Are they teaching these things?