Qantas and John Travolta

[coconut99]

After reading about how Oprah Winfrey is shouting her audience of 300 people a trip to Australia on a Qantas A380, the article states that John Travolta will be 'piloting' the aircraft...I read a while ago that he holds an Australian pilot license and is rated on the B747-400 occasionally doing the odd Qantas RPT flight.

Does he actually fly the odd QF flight? If so, is it in a Pilot Flying position? I assume he acts as an 'S/O' whilst occupying a first class seat. Is he A380 rated now? I take it he keeps current in SYD with base checks and the like...

Whats the story with his piloting role for Qantas?

Oprah Winfrey asks John Travolta to fly her audience to Australia - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8001043/Oprah-Winfrey-asks-John-Travolta-to-fly-her-audience-to-Australia.html)

coco99

[Dreamflyer1000]

I believe somebody said that he has some 744 sim time (which does not always mean 'rated'), and for this particular trip, some other significant event was happening and he wouldn't be attending...

could be wrong..

[Taildragger67]

Are you sure it's on a Dugong?

[Capt Fathom]

Coconut!

Have a read of this! Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/cost-of-oprah-and-300-of-her-fans-priceless-says-tourism-australia-20100914-15azs.html)

The whole thing is a huge advertising campaign (publicity stunt) being paid for by Tourism Australia! And it will no doubt work a treat!

I doubt Winfrey even knew where Australia was until approached with the idea!

Her audience probably think they are going to Europe!

[KRUSTY 34]

They'll be disappointed when they see the "Austrian" Alps! :sad:

[Heavy Cargo]

OH dear how will the 707 get into Australia hushkits are banned ?

[Mr. Hat]

Its all a bit strange the whole getting around in the Qantas uniform I think. But I think it'll make Australia some serious tourist dollars. The kady has some serious following.

Personally i prefer Bingle but thats not with the countries tourism in mind:E:E.

[aveng]

I can confirm that JT is very much a hands on pilot. I arrived his 707 very late one night. After chocking the nose gear I looked up to give the chocks in signal only to find the man himself in the left seat. i believe he is type rated on the 744. The Oprah show mentioned 450pax which definately translate to dugong.:ok:

[Peter Fanelli]

Get a grip you people.
As much as I admire Mr Travolta for his dedication to furthering aviation he only has a Private certificate in the US and Second in Command privileges only on the 707.

I really do not think he is acting as a crew member on QF flights AT ALL.

(From the FAA database this morning)

[Clearedtoreenter]

Peter,

Who cares what the silly FAA database says? The British daily telegraph, which we all know cannot be wrong, says

'Later John Travolta emerged from the jet and it was revealed he will be the pilot.
The actor is a part-time pilot for the Australian airline Qantas.
Winfrey and Travolta have been planning the trip for a year to mark the end of the chat show queen's hugely popular show.'

Oprah Winfrey asks John Travolta to fly her audience to Australia - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8001043/Oprah-Winfrey-asks-John-Travolta-to-fly-her-audience-to-Australia.html)


Sadly, John cannot come now due to his wife giving birth around then. Qantas being such a great EEO employer, have obvioulsy given him paternity leave. Oh well, they'll just have to find some other random pilot with a private certificate to fly the damn plane.:rolleyes::ugh:

.

[Mr. Hat]

So can any QF confirm if he has worked with him or is it just a PR job.

[Aerozepplin]

Times really are tough when even JT gets his hours cut to a point where he's only part time. :(

[Peter Fanelli]

Oprah will probably invoke the name of the almighty obummer and it will fly itself.

[Unhinged]

A PPL holder as part of the tech crew on a QF flight ??

Now that would be a PR job !

Good grief ...

[Skynews]

QF maybe trying to set a precedent!

Part time private pilots crewing their flights.

I will have to re-read the regs, particularly regarding private pilots advertising for fare paying passengers, (hire and reward). :=

[neville_nobody]

I think it is an insult to all QF pilots who have busted their arses to get where they are to have this clown in a Qantas uniform and parade around in it. He is just an actor he is not a professional pilot.

That said good on him for restoring the 707 and keeping it flying and whatever PR he brings QF well good luck to them. I somehow don't think that QF will risk an airframe with JT at the helm.

I once watched his doco on the QF promotional flight he did around the world.... yes he flies it from the LHS however the guy in the RHS did alot of talking. :hmm:

[Keg]

As a QF driver I can't say I'm particularly offended by this. JT knows his capabilities and the reality of what he can and can't drive in QF. QF knows his capabilities of what he can and can't drive in QF. Sure, some media have gotten it completely wrong and called him a 'part time' QF pilot but I learned a long time to not care overly much what they have to say.

However, JT performs a fantastic role for QF and that he wears a QF uniform whilst doing so doesn't bother me overly much. From the reports of those who have engaged with him during his type course/ recurrent sims, he's very humble about what he does and acknowledges that he doesn't do the job day in, day out like the rest of us.

I cherish my QF command and understand the significance of it however I just don't have a major problem with what JT is doing in this role and the uniform he wears whilst doing it.

[ROKAPE]

From the world wide Breitling advert....

Profession: Pilot
Career: Actor

[Iamsosmrt]

I was an ops guy with the flight planning company that did his around the world flight a few years ago. JT privately employs a chief pilot and full crew for his 707. I was told he is a very hands off pilot. No flt planning, heads to the rear before they are even leveled off, may make it back to the cockpit before landing, but always in the left seat for that final taxi to parking.

It's great he loves and promotes aviation and QF, but don't pretend he has any clue about being a real pilot.

[Worrals in the wilds]

I remember when the initial A380 came to Australia for the Qantas anniversary with JT on board. About 60 guys got from the back (engineers, testing geeks etc).
Someone beside me asked 'what are all those guys doing?'
Quick as a flash, a nearby LAME said 'keeping Travolta out of the cockpit':E

I understood the role was more of a PR thing, but he seemed to be a very nice guy who took the time to meet a lot of airport staff and pose for photos etc. IMHO, If he's got enough money for a 707 and the lessons to fly it (even if he usually has a crew), good luck to him. It's a greater personal achievement than a lot of Hollywood celebutards have managed.

[rivenrock]

Travolta to continue links to Qantas - People - www.theage.com.au (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/16/1082055628618.html?from=storyrhs)

This article quotes him describing his qualifications as well as the time he puts into flying to keep up those qualifications.

No idea if he'll pilot for Oprah's audience.

[coconut99]

So he doesn't fly on line for Qantas, but keeps up with the sims?

[Capt Fathom]

Travolta to continue links to Qantas - People - The Age - Business, World & Breaking News | Melbourne, Australia (http://www.theage.com.au)

This article quotes him describing his qualifications as well as the time he puts into flying to keep up those qualifications.

Hmmm... an article dated 2004!

[Keg]

When he first struck the deal there was some chatter about the possibility of him doing a line flight or two. I don't know whether it was even feesible due to his licensing and regulatory issues but it never occurred. In the early days he was coming out annually to stay current in the sim.

By all accounts JT is quite up front about his role as an ambassador and the differences between what he does and what QF drivers do day in, day out.

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Just one BIG wank! IMHO!

Dr :8

[mrdeux]

He most definitely does not line fly.

[601]

I believe somebody said that he has some 744 sim time

I have 3 circuits in Qantas 744 sim. Where is my rating?

[Dreamflyer1000]

I have 3 circuits in Qantas 744 sim. Where is my rating?

Thats picking out the pieces of info you WANT to see, not the whole story...must work for the media eh

[Capt - Chaos]

the whole thing is a wank job..... and their fearless leader oprah is leading the charge....go get em tiger...Exactly how does aus. think this will booost their tourism ? I mean, who the hell cares ?

[Clearedtoreenter]

He most definitely does not line fly.


I'm not so sure. I was sitting in the back on my way to LA when the first officer came over the PA, strong American accent. I'm sure he said he said his name was John - and they piped the BeeGees as we were about to land. Not only that but a blond bird with the initials ONJ was serving the drinks.

[Keg]

I believe somebody said that he has some 744 sim time


JT did the full type course. Full QF Ground course of 2-3 weeks and then the nine full flight sims requires for the endorsement. I don't know if they gave him circuits in the aeroplane at Avalon to finish it.

I've got to say that I'm quite amazed at the response this is getting now in PPRUNE world. This is not a new thing. I remember discussing this during my type conversion onto the 744 back in 2006 and JT had done his training a few years prior to that! I'm not sure if it's the tall poppy thing or just ignorance but some of the comments here on PPRUNE just defy logic.

[2b2]

I'm not sure if it's the tall poppy thing or just ignorance but some of the comments here on PPRUNE just defy logic.

I imagine the image of him on Oprah stepping off the Q mock-up in full regalia and saluting Oprah's now hysterical audience might have something to do with it! :)

[ampclamp]

Keg is right.
It is a huge PR deal they've landed.Oprah is a big big deal over there.
Who gives a toss whether JT flies the damn thing?I dont care if he jumps in and just taxis it to the terminal with the cameras rolling.It makes the news, it sells Australia as a tourism destination.
If it gets backsides on seats from the USA , that is great thing for all of our jobs that depend on just that.
He will get more airtime than anyone else here who is whinging about it.

[nomorecatering]

I say good on him. He gets to play with all the toys without the reponsibility.


How much fun would a 744 type rating be without the pressure of passing and career loss.

[henry crun]

How much is this costing the Aussie taxpayer ?

[b_sta]

How much is this costing the Aussie taxpayer ?

A lot less than it'll benefit the Aussie taxpayer in terms of the influx of tourism dollars into the Australian economy.

[Aussie]

Yeah well said mate. If only the taxpayers dollars were spent this well everytime we would be laughing!:O

[Keg]

One of the reports I read was 3 million. One of the other reports suggest that we (Australia, QF) have had gotten that much and more out of the deal thus far in free 'advertising'.

Money well spent.

[Aerozepplin]

Oprah saying the word "Australia" on her show has got to be worth 3 mil alone. "Oprah Australia" is currently the third drop down option after typing "Oprah" into google.

[7DOD]

The old tall poppy syndrome, leave him alone so what if he does not fly for qantas,he's got the loot let him be.

[Clearedtoreenter]

Who gives a toss whether JT flies the damn thing?

I'd rather like to think that it is not remotely possible that Qantas would employ a part-time person with a private certificate to fly a 744 at any stage of a revenue earning flight.

The effectivenes of such ill-informed and completely inaccurate marketing by QF is remarkable. The Dr's succint assessment of the situation is likely to be correct.

[BEACH KING]

JT did the full type course. Full QF Ground course of 2-3 weeks and then the nine full flight sims requires for the endorsement. I don't know if they gave him circuits in the aeroplane at Avalon to finish it.

I've got to say that I'm quite amazed at the response this is getting now in PPRuNe world. This is not a new thing. I remember discussing this during my type conversion onto the 744 back in 2006 and JT had done his training a few years prior to that! I'm not sure if it's the tall poppy thing or just ignorance but some of the comments here on PPRuNe just defy logic.


Wow..... Jonathon Thurston has a B744 endorsement!! How cool is that.
What a great career path after rugby league!!. He will have to give up the piss though:(:(

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Mr Travolta has a PPL with SIC privileges on the B707. As a private pilot he may not have fare paying passengers. Indeed quotes such as “he piloted his B707…” is incorrect. Typically he will have a crew flying for him, including PIC, and John himself will at most only assume SIC duties. I would assume that his 4 Captains’ stripes on his uniform indicate his status as honourary Captain for Quantas and actually has nothing to do with whether or not he is a qualified and rated 4-liner.


Like I said - "Just one BIG wank!"

Come on Mods - show a bit of consistency! You have been quick to can far less inane threads than this one!

Dr :8

PS: Good one Beachy! I don't think JT even has a driver's licence - always seems to be a passenger.

[Peter Fanelli]

Oprah is a big big deal over there.


No she isn't, the most common comment I hear about it is "Good, maybe she'll stay there"

[ampclamp]

Well peter, that maybe the case with the red necks & right wingers but even you or they cannot deny the influence she has had or audience she could command.

[Much Ado]

3 pages wasted on one of the biggest oxygen thieves the US has produced...don't you people have a life?

An Oprah thread on PPrune - D&G yet?

OMFG:ugh: