Qantas pilots making errors after long periods without flying

[PPRuNeUser0198]

Qantas is finding that pilots who have not flown for long periods due to the COVID-19 pandemic are making errors such as commencing take-off with the park brake on, and need more time for routine procedures.

https://amp-smh-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw/qantas-pilots-making-errors-after-long-periods-without-flying-20211228-p59kib.html

[Torukmacto]

Can’t get into too much trouble with the park brake on !

[Slugga]

A Boeing 787 aircraft was diverted back to Sydney 40 minutes into the flight after crew noticed that the landing gear had not been retracted prior to take off.

And you wonder why people question the whole C19 narravtive and 'facts'

[Capt Fathom]

A Boeing 787 aircraft was diverted back to Sydney 40 minutes into the flight after crew noticed that the landing gear had not been retracted prior to take off.'

Classic. Where is that quote from Slugga?

[Octane]

Wouldn't they notice the extra drag/thrust required to taxi with the park brake on?

[TWT]

Classic. Where is that quote from Slugga?

The quote in the article linked to in the OP is this :

Last June, pilots of a Qantas 787 were unable to retract the plane’s landing gear (https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2021/aair/ao-2021-026/) shortly after taking off from Sydney because two gear pins had not been removed before departure.

[Mr Proach]

Wouldn't they notice the extra drag/thrust required to taxi with the park brake on?
If you are not being humorous, I offer a brief scenario. The aircraft is at the runway holding point (park brake ON), is then cleared to line up on runway and hold, park brake OFF taxies into and holds in the lined up position (park brake ON), sometime thereafter the aircraft is cleared for take off, power is applied the pilot realises the park brake is ON which is released to OFF and the aircraft commences take off roll. (this recognition process takes @ 2 seconds). The article is really just starting the obvious, if you are not frequently operating a complex piece of machinery in a complex environment then you become "rusty" (less proficient). How quickly you regain proficiency depends on a number of factors e.g. the number of sectors you perform over a X period of time and what is your overall level of experience and your experience on the aircraft type.
Highly experienced pilots can make rookie errors purely because they are not current. There are rules set by the regulator regarding recency, operators may set additional requirements above the regulator's standard, it just depends on the calibre of the operator. (and the level of liability to the travelling public).

[Foxxster]

Can’t get into too much trouble with the park brake on !


Did they leave it on after practicing hill starts.

[Kennytheking]

making errors such as commencing take-off with the park brake on

Geez, I did this in the simulator a couple of weeks back. Didn't realize it was such a gross error that it justified getting making the news.......

[Lead Balloon]

I know of at least one crew that forgot to lower the arrestor hook last week. Had to select afterburner for the go around.

[PW1830]

No doubt there were more complex errors identified, rightly so and shared with those who understand in the interest of safety! - but all the poor journos could recognise was leaving the park brake on and beating up a story - serious waste of space.

[gordonfvckingramsay]

I thought these things flew themselves! Turns out we are integral to the operation….hoooooo knew?

[kev2002]

Moral of the story?

Don’t put the park brake on when on the runway or don’t read the SMH?

I can’t decide

[Buster Hyman]

Look, it happens all over the Universe...no biggie!
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/245x172/07b9efd43ed99a3f620eeb11413af73b_d670f567c806f226dc9529be871 ec6e97a346455.gif

[Gearupandorrf]

If the crew let the clutch out too quickly, the Aircraft is at risk of stalling and dropping onto a school.


https://amp-smh-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw/qantas-pilots-making-errors-after-long-periods-without-flying-20211228-p59kib.html

[Ascend Charlie]

Tonight on the regional Ch 9 news, the reader said it was a case of "Forgetting to take off with the park brake on."

Work-experience journalism at its best.

[OMAAbound]

Lets be honest with ourselves, at some point during everyone's career, we have all done this, its not big deal. Just makes for a more exciting ride for the PAX!

OMAA

[ACMS]

It’s landing with the park brake on that causes some issues, just ask the Chinese A340 crew in SYD 16R years ago…….very short landing roll….

[43Inches]

Who teaches to set the park brake on when on the runway during a normal take-off? I learnt a big lesson once watching an aircraft cause several go-rounds because they set the park brake and then the bugger got stuck on, tower loves that call when an aircraft is now lodged on the threshold of the main runway because x-factor pilot is stuck with the park brake jammed. And if this is in the sim, most likely after an unrealistic reset/reposition where a pilot may make this mistake which has no bearing on real operations. The other thing is what modern airplane will not scream at you if you even tried to attempt to apply moderate thrust with the park brake on, unless QF has un-bunged some DC-8s from the bone yard for use.

[fokker1000]

If you have operated at CAI you will have needed to use hill starts on some taxyways. I'm not joking!

[Potsie Weber]

Who teaches to set the park brake on when on the runway during a normal take-off? I learnt a big lesson once watching an aircraft cause several go-rounds because they set the park brake and then the bugger got stuck on, tower loves that call when an aircraft is now lodged on the threshold of the main runway because x-factor pilot is stuck with the park brake jammed. And if this is in the sim, most likely after an unrealistic reset/reposition where a pilot may make this mistake which has no bearing on real operations. The other thing is what modern airplane will not scream at you if you even tried to attempt to apply moderate thrust with the park brake on, unless QF has un-bunged some DC-8s from the bone yard for use.

I always set the park brake when stopped for anything more than a few seconds. I would rather embarrass myself for forgetting it is on than rolling into another aircraft, rolling into an active runway, rolling off a runway or taxiway whilst distracted. It is better to be distracted with the park brake on than off!

[KABOY]

I always set the park brake when stopped for anything more than a few seconds. I would rather embarrass myself for forgetting it is on than rolling into another aircraft, rolling into an active runway, rolling off a runway or taxiway whilst distracted. It is better to be distracted with the park brake on than off!

Lining up on a 3000m runway when an imminent take off clearance could be issued and you are worried about rolling?? Every time time I have lined up, tower expects me to be rolling within a few seconds…but I digress, why is this a reportable event? I suspect ASA issued a report due to an aircraft forced to GA.

Seems to reiterate my point.

[Mr Proach]

[QUOTE=43Inches; The other thing is what modern airplane will not scream at you if you even tried to attempt to apply moderate thrust with the park brake on, unless QF has un-bunged some DC-8s from the bone yard for use.[/QUOTE]
Is that activated by a thrust lever angle switch?

[Mr Proach]

Look at that A380 in the article, the pilots left the front door open and the boarding steps attached! Are you cold bro? ...Im freezin eh!

[43Inches]

The reason I mentioned the DC-8 was because as I remember they have no park brake warning system and one crash on take-off in the 70s was a suspected park brake locked on.

I assume all modern airliners have brake system cautions that display and become louder if you try to take off with them lit. Similarly the before take-off checklist would require a check of warnings prior to departure, airmanship would dictate you would have to re run from that item if the park brake was set until the caution removed, same as you wouldn't be silly enough to re-engage control locks after doing a control check.

[metalboi69]

I bet this is happening at more companies than just Qantas.

We're all human, everyone gets rusty

[Mr Proach]

If you ask the majority of non pilot staff at an aviation organisation they will tell you pilots are not human but we are "Precious"

[oicur12.again]

It’s landing with the park brake on that causes some issues, just ask the Chinese A340 crew in SYD 16R years ago…….very short landing roll….

If its the incident I am think of - 340 sideways down 16R - then there is more to it.

It may be a separate case but the real story is way funnier than the parkbrake…….

[CaptCloudbuster]

If you ask the majority of non pilot staff at an aviation organisation they will tell you pilots are not human but we are "Precious"

Certainly after years in LH most young, fit new recruits “develop (https://abdulali.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/precious-themovie1.jpg)” into fitting that description.

Physically if not Psychologically at the very least.

[TimmyTee]

Lining up on a 3000m runway when an imminent take off clearance could be issued and you are worried about rolling?? Every time time I have lined up, tower expects me to be rolling within a few seconds…but I digress, why is this a reportable event? I suspect ASA issued a report due to an aircraft forced to GA.

Seems to reiterate my point.
Pretty sure companies like to learn why crew are triggering the takeoff config horn. Would be pretty reckless no to make that event reportable.

[cLeArIcE]

Internal Qantas Memo Flags Errors By Out-Of-Practice Pilots (https://simpleflying.com/qantas-leaked-memo-pilot-error/)

I love this bit from the Strategic Aviation Solutions Chairman: The Strategic Aviation Solutions Chairman says the errors are being picked up in training rather than on actual passenger flights. But Mr Hansford points to some ingrained cultural issues at Qantas (https://simpleflying.com/qantas-johannesburg-flights-resume/) that drive troublemaking behaviour, such as, say, leaking memo's “One of the problems at Qantas is you’ve got a group of people who believe they’re elite. They still don’t understand Qantas isn’t owned by the government (anymore), and there’s not just a bottomless pit to throw money at their avarice.“A bit more loyalty from the Qantas pilots, a bit more commitment to doing their job properly, and this story wouldn’t exist.”
Please excuse my ignorance, but who is this clown and what would he know about pilots? I'm not at QF so I wouldn't really know about any so called "cultural issues," but its a bit rich asking for more loyalty from pilots considering the distain and absolute disloyalty all QF group pilots have been shown from management in the last few years.

[megan]

Can’t get into too much trouble with the park brake onOh yes you can.

https://www.pprune.org/accidents-close-calls/642445-cessna-excel-down-farmington-ct.html?highlight=brakesThe Cessna 550 Citation Bravo corporate jet taxied at Lismore Airport for a flight to Baryulgil, New South Wales. The flight crew consisted of a captain and copilot, who were the only occupants of the aircraft.
The flight crew did not detect anything abnormal during the taxi and take-off roll, until the captain attempted to rotate the aircraft to the take-off pitch attitude. When the aircraft had achieved the required rotate speed, the captain applied the normal backpressure on the control column to achieve a standard rate of rotation, and the aircraft did not rotate. The captain then applied full backpressure and reported that the controls felt very heavy. Neither the captain nor the copilot detected any change in the aircraft's pitch attitude or any indication of pitch-up on the attitude direction indicator.
The captain rejected the take-off, applied full braking and reverse thrust, but the aircraft overran the runway. The nose landing gear detached from the aircraft about 50 m beyond the end of the sealed runway, and the aircraft came to rest in long grass and mud. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the captain and copilot were uninjured.
The aircraft did not accelerate normally as the acceleration was retarded by drag associated with rolling friction. This was indicative of partial brake pressure remaining during the take-off run. The partial brake pressure was possibly due to the parking brake being selected on at the holding point with enough pressure to retard aircraft acceleration during the take-off, but not sufficient to prevent the aircraft reaching rotate speed.
Furthermore, the nose-down moment generated by the partial brake pressure probably prevented the aircraft rotating sufficiently to become airborne, despite normal nose-up elevator deflection.
Heat in the brakes due to partial pressure during the take-off run may have reduced their effectiveness when the captain rejected the take-off, contributing to the runway overrun.

[neville_nobody]

The original article was just people who couldn't make it into an airline as a pilot telling the people who could make it how to do their job. Interestingly all the "issues" that were raised were still happening prior to covid so I don't quite understand what covid had to do with it. Maybe a bit of IR maneuvering? Leaking a few embarrassing emails to the press to show how bad QF pilots are and how some cheap contracting company could be just as good??

[Australopithecus]

I recall a Falcon 10 going for a swim off Chicago Meigs years ago. That’s why there is a take-off configuration warning horn.

(on my plane that calls for O2 masks on and confirm configuration. Or something)

[SOPS]

Internal Qantas Memo Flags Errors By Out-Of-Practice Pilots (https://simpleflying.com/qantas-leaked-memo-pilot-error/)

I love this bit from the Strategic Aviation Solutions Chairman:
Please excuse my ignorance, but who is this clown and what would he know about pilots? I'm not at QF so I wouldn't really know about any so called "cultural issues," but its a bit rich asking for more loyalty from pilots considering the distain and absolute disloyalty all QF group pilots have been shown from management in the last few years.

Looking at his web page.. he is a travel industry veteran….. I wonder if he is mates with GT?

[Alt Flieger]

“A bit more loyalty from the Qantas pilots, a bit more commitment to doing their job properly, and this story wouldn’t exist.”

What a load. There isn’t a pilot body anywhere more committed to “ doing their job properly”

Cheap sensational click bait at its worst.

What a clown.

[Mr Proach]

Internal Qantas Memo Flags Errors By Out-Of-Practice Pilots (https://simpleflying.com/qantas-leaked-memo-pilot-error/)

I love this bit from the Strategic Aviation Solutions Chairman:
Please excuse my ignorance, but who is this clown and what would he know about pilots? I'm not at QF so I wouldn't really know about any so called "cultural issues," but its a bit rich asking for more loyalty from pilots considering the distain and absolute disloyalty all QF group pilots have been shown from management in the last few years.

Nothing like an accountant providing an expert opinion on the subject of pilot recency. His statement reveals he has no understanding of the subject matter. Probably best if he confines his expertise knowledge of aviation to cost benefit analysis spreadsheets.

[kitchen bench]

When the aircraft had achieved the required rotate speed, the captain applied the normal backpressure on the control column to achieve a standard rate of rotation, and the aircraft did not rotate. The captain then applied full backpressure and reported that the controls felt very heavy

This was indicative of partial brake pressure remaining during the take-off run. The partial brake pressure was possibly due to the parking brake being selected on at the holding point with enough pressure to retard aircraft acceleration during the take-off, but not sufficient to prevent the aircraft reaching rotate speed.

Forgive me if I'm missing something but why would the controls have "felt very heavy" because of a dragging brake? They may be unresponsive but they are in free air ... and would move as designed assuming there wasn't a control issue.

I'm also sceptical that a dragging brake (and alleged nose down moment as a result) couldn't be overcome with "full back pressure" if the a/c had reached Vr (and beyond by the time full back pressure was applied).

[43Inches]

“A bit more loyalty from the Qantas pilots, a bit more commitment to doing their job properly, and this story wouldn’t exist.”

What a load. There isn’t a pilot body anywhere more committed to “ doing their job properly”

Cheap sensational click bait at its worst.

What a clown.

That's pretty insulting to just about every other pilot body out there. Most QF pilots conduct themselves in a very professional manner, a few don't, QF has had it's fair share of crew instigated 'incidents'. We are all human.

That said the original statement is far worse, saying that somehow loyalty equals better performance in the workplace. In fact could be the exact opposite if no one questions the bad parts of the system, due to 'loyalty'. Something that leadership that likes to dictate to its workforce and customers would say and do.

[Uplinker]

Nothing to see here.

Told to wait on the runway. Tedious holding the brakes on with feet for more than 20 secs or so, so park brake goes on, nothing wrong with that.
Take-off clearance given; 99.9% of the time, we release the park brake and apply thrust etc.

Once in a blue moon, we do it in the wrong order and forget the park brake....oh bugger !; park brake off, "that's better" and away we go.

A bit like in the SIM when you are setting off for the umpteenth take-off but have forgotten to input a flex value on this occasion. Engines spool up but no flex available.....huh?, oh yes, bugger! select TOGA and away we go.

[missy]

I bet this is happening at more companies than just Qantas.

We're all human, everyone gets rusty
Yep, most likely happening right across all aspects of aviation. Are airlines currently conducting LOSA? Are ANSPs currently conducting NOSS?

[JamesGBC]

Wouldn't they notice the extra drag/thrust required to taxi with the park brake on?
Not with the landing gear up prior to take off. Well as long as the tug is still there.

[Mr Proach]

"One of the problems at Qantas is you’ve got a group of people who believe they’re elite. They still don’t understand Qantas isn’t owned by the government (anymore), and there’s not just a bottomless pit to throw money at their avarice. “A bit more loyalty from the Qantas pilots, a bit more commitment to doing their job properly, and this story wouldn’t exist.”

Listen UP QF crews, that slight hesitancy you have been experiencing on the flight deck has NOTHING to do with not having operated the equipment for several hundred days. Hallelujah Hansford or "HANO" knows the cause, here is a couple of HANO's handy tips to cure that flight deck dementia;
1. Bring your own tea bags to work (or just one and use it several times but, don't store it in your shirt's breast pocket). Hold out that cap and ask for a gold coin donation as the customers exit the plane
2. Prior to the Pre-start checks, mutually commit with your co-workers to executing your respective duties more properly than you did on the previous sector (seek out this commitment prior to each subsequent flight)
3. Keep a focus on making a positive contribution to that "Spirit of Australia"
4. Do a daily ASX search on the company so you know who you are working for

I don't know the science behind why this works however, HANO advises that this technique is far more effective than any refamiliayrisation training.

[Alt Flieger]

That's pretty insulting to just about every other pilot body out there. Most QF pilots conduct themselves in a very professional manner, a few don't, QF has had it's fair share of crew instigated 'incidents'. We are all human.

That said the original statement is far worse, saying that somehow loyalty equals better performance in the workplace. In fact could be the exact opposite if no one questions the bad parts of the system, due to 'loyalty'. Something that leadership that likes to dictate to its workforce and customers would say and do.

Keep your shirt on.
No insult implied or intended.
I’m sure there are many other Pilot groups out there who are just as committed.
Its at bit rich though to have a know nothing journalist lecturing QF Pilots on commitment.