Jet Pilots Are Real Professionals
Just an observation...
QF radio calls can be pretty ordinary at times. But Virgin! Center can call them half a dozen times before they recognise their own callsign!!!
QF radio calls can be pretty ordinary at times. But Virgin! Center can call them half a dozen times before they recognise their own callsign!!!
Join Date: May 2003
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scud_runner,
At least they use the radio. The Dash-8's at Horn Island go in stealth mode. Than they get the ****s when you get close too them. And coastwatch chopper pilots, I am sure they don't have VHF radios.
At least they use the radio. The Dash-8's at Horn Island go in stealth mode. Than they get the ****s when you get close too them. And coastwatch chopper pilots, I am sure they don't have VHF radios.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Don't give us that, about Dash 8s being hard to see... especially from the flood lit "pond".
I've had no trouble seeing them, in all types of wx... looks like you've gotta turn down your newspaper-reading light ... AND actively LISTEN to ground also... oh I forgot... thats airmanship.
It's also really hard to read a newspaper and hold the NWS tiller at the same time.
Can't see the tail of a Dash 8 from behind at night. The only prominent lighting is the prop discs illuminated by its landing lights. Try it for yourself one night.
WG.
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It mightn't have been how I work the lights myself - but had it been me in the jet on approach, I can't say I would've been overly upset. Landing/taxi lights shining directly in my face? No - doesn't bother me then. Strobes on? Again, doesn't bother me, as long as the jet isn't moving past the holding point when it shouldn't.
While this job can have its moments, for the most part it's a relatively easy and pleasant way to make a living. What a shame that some people feel the need to make a bloody drama out of absolutely everything.
While this job can have its moments, for the most part it's a relatively easy and pleasant way to make a living. What a shame that some people feel the need to make a bloody drama out of absolutely everything.
PPRuNeaholic
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Somebody asked why the phraseology of the "line up" clearance changed. I'm not an ATCO but it seems to me that the reason is pretty obvious - hence probably why nobody answered it before I decided to state the (probably) bleeding obvious.
If the Tower says "Line up behind the landing...", there is a risk that the crew only hears the "line up" part. So now the emphasis is on drawing the crew's attention to the aircraft on final, or short final, or whatever. Thus, the first thing they hear is "behind the...".
I confess that, at times, I've had to request confirmation of the instruction - usually because I'm distracted by something of an operational nature - but I believe that this phraseology is better than the former phraseology. It might even have its' genesis in a rather well known prang some years ago involving a Dutch airline and a US airline... but that's strictly personal conjecture, of course.
As to when I activate strobe and landing lights, our SOPs are to do so only after we actually receive clearance to enter the runway to line up. I have no real problem with anyone else who does it differently because I'm looking beyond those lights. Can't say that I've ever even SEEN strobe and/or landing lights in use by an aircraft at the holding point - I'm sure there MUST have been times when that happened, but it has never bothered me at all.
Nose to nose on opposing sides of the active runway? I have been known to ask the relevant question on the frequency. The reply has always been most apologetic. No problem.
If the Tower says "Line up behind the landing...", there is a risk that the crew only hears the "line up" part. So now the emphasis is on drawing the crew's attention to the aircraft on final, or short final, or whatever. Thus, the first thing they hear is "behind the...".
I confess that, at times, I've had to request confirmation of the instruction - usually because I'm distracted by something of an operational nature - but I believe that this phraseology is better than the former phraseology. It might even have its' genesis in a rather well known prang some years ago involving a Dutch airline and a US airline... but that's strictly personal conjecture, of course.
As to when I activate strobe and landing lights, our SOPs are to do so only after we actually receive clearance to enter the runway to line up. I have no real problem with anyone else who does it differently because I'm looking beyond those lights. Can't say that I've ever even SEEN strobe and/or landing lights in use by an aircraft at the holding point - I'm sure there MUST have been times when that happened, but it has never bothered me at all.
Nose to nose on opposing sides of the active runway? I have been known to ask the relevant question on the frequency. The reply has always been most apologetic. No problem.
