09nov05

A VIRGIN Blue flight has returned to Melbourne for a safety check soon after take-off following reports of an unusual smell in the cockpit.

Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said flight DJ 809 from Melbourne to Sydney took off at 7am (AEDT), but returned to Melbourne Airport soon after.
"Just after take-off the captain noticed what he said was an unusual smell in the cockpit," Ms Bolger said.

"As a precaution, he returned to Melbourne for an engineering check.

"Our aircraft can return at the discretion of our pilots, who are encouraged to err on the side of caution where the circumstances are appropriate."

A Metropolitan Ambulance Service spokeswoman said paramedics were sent to the airport following reports of smoke in the cabin of the aircraft, but the call was cancelled before they arrived.

Ms Bolger said there was no smoke in the cabin or cockpit. No one was injured.

The plane was still being examined by aircraft engineers, Ms Bolger said.

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/fart.gif Can't you mob sort it out in the air? "Pardon me" is all you have to say...

They could have turned the bleeds off to get rid of the stinky smell.......................oops, they tried that once before and forgot about turning them back on. Second thoughts, go with Busters suggestion...............:ok:

Chicken Vindaloo perhaps?

:D

Yep!!..like I keep saying, VB Stinks...:E

Bit like the Tulla VB terminal thing, seems to have been a "mass hysteria" event as suggested here.

New CASA reg to be appended to the alcohol/flight one, NPRM being issued soon, regarding comsumption of "vindaloo" and other Indian dishes to be proscribed within 24 hours prior to flight. :rolleyes:
On the grounds that it is both an Occ Health AND Safety issue in regards to flight crew incapacitation.:}

Might have been Vindaloo with a Baked Beans chaser

:uhoh:

I think that was just a good train. capt setting a scenario for the trainee Jimee ( all planned ) :hmm: :confused: :}

...yeah, "Cop this junior! PHHZZZZTZTT!!":ugh:

When a QF 747 diverts and lands in India with 400 pax on board thats a good decision hey. Then when a VB 737 with 150 pax returns to ML thats over reacting ?

Get a grip you VB bashers.

We will, but you might want to release your grip a little.:p

Are the VB crew meals crap - yes.

Do the crew meals stink - yes.

Your comments may be funny unless YOU were the Captain that had to make a quick decision.

Lets move on.

I agree jetblues,
Move on.
Both the Qf and VB pilots have all done extremely well to get where they are. If the 737 had of crashed due to fire or something then you all would be quick to give condolances. Perhaps the flight could of continued without incidence, however the Captain decided against that, his airplane his decision. Your airplane, your decision! Get my drift.

Move on, Fly safe and stop turning against one another. We are all Pilots and the only way to voice opinions and get ahead is to stick together, ie the RFDS EBA. One day the people slagging a pilot for turning back might find that their next EBA say's," turn back and your fired"! Then your really up $%^&'s creek when it turns to crap for real.

Yorick Hunt ...thats right you may call us all " Yorick Hunts " but we make " Per Ricks " like you stand up...and your doing a good job at it.

Buster ,Im suprised that a man with your background would be so quick to judge, but then again brainwashing is only a psych test,a sim and an induction. :D

Lighten up chaps.:ok:

It's not even the foreword to the beginning of the end of the world.:p

Man?uel Normally, I wouldn't respond to a person that admits they are from Collingwood:yuk: and today is no exception.http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/hmm.gif

The fall will definately hurt from that far up, Buster. Guess not everyone is perfect like you?

I'm with Gaunty on this one.

The VB captain made the right command decision and should be applauded. All turned out OK, so no harm in a little fun, surely?

Lighten up.

Woomera

Well, that saves me having to type it Microhard!:E

Geez, some of you Branson Disciples ought to take Woomeras advice & lighten up. :rolleyes:

Hey Buster I actually enjoy flying the shiny red jet around at 41000 ft.

How's your PC Aviator program going then ?

Woomera, yes we applaud the Captain & FO. Nothing seems impossible to those that don't have to do anything (Buster ?). So why take the p#%s out of a potentially serious situation ?

Time for a little lightening up?

This reminds me of an incident years ago when I used to occupy the RH seat of an AN DC9.

Had flown the early morning flt SYD-ADL after the a/c had overnighted at Sydney.

On arrival in ADL after the pax had disembarked the Senior came into the cockpit and adv there was a bad smell in the fwd cabin near the door.

Checked it out and sure enough it smelt like something died.

Engineers were summoned and quickly found a dead cat in the front stairwell. Seems that during the previous night one of the many stray cats that made the maint hangar home found a nice warm spot in the stairwell and was nice and comfy until someone retracted the fwd stairs!

Apparently all the chains n sprockets made quite a mess.

I had 2 occasions when this happened. The second time I got a strange look from the Senior when in reply to her query re a bad smell I casually remarked it was probably a dead cat!!

Emeritus :hmm:

Good for you jetblues! You actually fly it at 41,000ft eh? No Autopilot for you guys huh?

PC Aviator? Hardly, I'm more into FPS & RTS if you don't mind.

Anyway, what happened to the cheery face of DJ? I thought you guys didn't take yourselves too seriously? You know, casual attire, no tie...(thank Christ I didn't mention the epaulettes!)

By all means, have a crack at me when it's worthwhile, but geez, I haven't even tried a wind up yet.:rolleyes:

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/bird.gif

Never mind Buster.....the rest of us know that you have a wit- well, half of one anyway! :E :} :ok:

That's more like it Keg! Half will do me any day of the week!:)

PS. I followed a big 4WD the other day with personalised plates reading: KEG...Please, telll me it wasn't you?

I've always worked on the theory that being a half wit was better than no wit at all! :}

I can't afford a 'big 4WD' Buster and even if I could, I certainly wouldn't bother with 'Keg' number plates! I may be proud of who I am but I'm not an idiot! :ok: :p

This smells more like the cost of inexperience - no reports of smoke (or fire), or abnormal engine indication.
"Returned shortly after take-off", makes one suspect a bird strike - the stench is nothing at all like KFC.
Your comments may be funny unless YOU were the Captain that had to make a quick decision. One thing you learn, as the hours build, is that quick decisions often lead you in the wrong direction.
Very quickly.

Flew this aircraft after its return...good crew decision to return for the landing. When I recieved the facts from the engineer who was working on the problem would have made same decision. Can not be bothered to type out the problem but well done to a good decision by the crew. Ronnie ..." more is lost by indecision than wrong decision ".

Bailey thanks for the excellent post, saves me the effort saying the same thing. Some comments on this thread show a severe lack of either experience or understanding.

Ronnie, I have lots of hours on lots of jets too.

Buster, I will not waste my time commenting on your rubbish any further.

Anyway ......

Thank Gawd for that JB!:rolleyes:

I'm starting to come round to the idea of the 732's...those NG's sound dangerous!http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/leb.gif

Just the very abbreviated version will do Bailey's Dad.

I suspect fowl play :suspect:

If it's something more serious than a birdstrike that caused the NG to return, then I'm certain there are other operators of the same type elsewhere who'd be interested to hear the reason for thegood crew decision to return for the landing.

Things are crook in Tullarook when Buster gets involved in serious posts!:{

Yes, my thread's been hijacked by the Paragons of Virtue!:uhoh:

If it wasn't for the prudent actions of the crew the outcome could have been a lot worse. At least, because of that we can laugh about it.

The humour involved is NOT directed at any company or decision on the part of the crew involved, as far as the impressions I get go.

Take a joke!

I have found this thread rather amusing, in a few ways.


520.

From several of the responses here - especially that of Continental-520 - this "incident" sounds as though it was indeed a lot more serious than just another birdstrike.
the outcome could have been a lot worse. You guys have REALLY whet my appetite now to try to find out what this apparently near disastrous incident, that caused a return shortly after take-off.

Undoubtedly Boeing must be in on it, being as serious as it apparently was.
You can bet the media will now also start digging deeper (yes, they DO read pprune).

"...good crew decision to return for the landing. When I recieved the facts from the engineer who was working on the problem would have made same decision."

"Bailey thanks for the excellent post, saves me the effort saying the same thing." (see above post)

"If it wasn't for the prudent actions of the crew the outcome could have been a lot worse.

What problem do VB 737NG's have?

....or is it a simple case of some people being unwilling to admit that it just a case of snafu?

Had an extended layover in Tampa a year or two ago. The other pilot and I hit the bars, ate ethnic food and had a good time. Ended up flying back empty, 100 miles out started teasing each other about last nights dinner. 150 miles out realised each of us were claiming innocence, all indications normal, getting ready to turn back. Two minutes later smoke starts filling the passenger compartment. On finals flames were visable.
No real damage done, turned out someone had used the wrong cover tape on some obscure heat duct pipe 7 years before that chose that moment to fail. I'm glad we had a very restricted climb, and I'm very glad we chose to go back when we did.

Any pilot on here questioning the pilots decision to turn back is an idiot. Right or wrong, don't you want that particular ace up your sleeve when the proverbial hits the fan?

Well there you go Ronnie,

Undoubtedly Boeing must be in on it, being as serious as it apparently was. You can bet the media will now also start digging deeper (yes, they DO read pprune).
I guess I wont need to give you information as Boeing will provide a FCOM Bulletin. Oh ,yes the media will also probably provide you with a " Bulletin " as they do read pprune.
What you need to do is make a Decision ( since you have alot of hours ) on which one to absorb. Now thats got to be a quick decision if you ask me.

In all seriousness, your engineers ( with Boeing certs. ) would give you the good "grease" on what happened on that ...... near disatrous flight ( Your Quote ).

PS. Now I know where the Media exagggerate there aviation stories .... they just read yours and plagiarize your well chosen words !

I work in the cabin for the other major player in the Oz aviation industry and having experienced the biggest thing we're trained for, i say whole heartedly, even though i'm not a fan of DJ, the Captain absolutely made the correct decision.

Oz

Any pilot on here questioning the pilots decision to turn back is an idiot. Right or wrong, don't you want that particular ace up your sleeve when the proverbial hits the fan?Harsh words there Lear driver. Because you happened to have experienced something ONCE that might have threatened the safety of your flight, that doesn't mean that EVERY time there's a "strange smell" noticed by the crew they should immediately land.
Of course I will almost always have that "ace up my sleeve" - but there will also be reasons that do NOT necessitate a return to land. A bird strike, with no evident damage is one of those.

No-one has yet posted the cause of the odour that caused this VB crew to decide to return.
But all is not lost, I see we now have cabin crew from other companies assuring us that "the Captain absolutely made the correct decision."

Swissair MD11 over Canada ignored strange cockpit odours for way too long with rather disastrous results...

Armchair aviators can speculate, and stipulate, and vascillate all they want - you weren't there, you don't know. How can you evaluate a judgement call if you were not there?

I 'spose they could have done a Deathstar and pressed-on...

Or maybe it was just Buster Hyman's rancid halitosis...

:}

Stop dodging the bullets and answer the question, please

WHAT was the cause of this "strange odour" that caused this Virgin Blue 737NG to return?

Girls Girls Girls get over yourselves. None of you were involved in the incident or had the exact knowledge of what exactly was happening at the time. So leave your uncontructive advice to yourself and :mad: off!!!!

Now, some of you could learn something from MkVIII...that's a real comeback!:ok: And suprisingly accurate I might add!:}

C-520 has also summed it up for me.
It's an unforgiving occupation you have. If you can't have a quiet respite from a moment of tension, then you'll find yourself too highly strung & possibly burn yourselves out. By the reactions on this thread, I think some of you are already under the pump!

Save your anger & vitriol for when people are really having a go at you.



:ok: