Bizarre QF Captain Behaviour
Thread Starter
Bizarre QF Captain Behaviour
Came into BNE this morning on QF A330 from Singapore. All was normal except for the fact that every 45mins- 1 Hour the skipper, in full uniform, would do a lap of the aircraft, walking down the aisles, smiling to passengers and having a look around.
I thought nothing of it the fist time, thought it was unusual the second and third times and when I woke up about 90mins from landing and watched him do it again, I was thoroughly perplexed. I guess that he would of done it 5 or 6 times throughout the flight. I saw him hand out some kids packs and help out a few other passengers, but don't they have to stay in the cockpit or the cot? In all my years of flying have never seen anything like this.
Does anyone have any idea about why he would do these periodic scopes of the cabin? His name was Capt. Xxxxxx Xxxxx. Maybe those at QF might have witnessed such behaviour before.
Hooroo
Upgraded
PS - He also assumed the old-school 'goodbye' position as the passengers deplaned, something I haven't seen any pilot do, especially Qantas for many years.
And you may assume you are extremely lucky I am in a good mood and didn't ban you for posting the pilots name. Not a good first post!!!
Go back and read the rules before you post again.
I congratulate the captain for putting a face to the voice. Shades of the old days - maybe Qantas is getting more human again!
Woomera
I thought nothing of it the fist time, thought it was unusual the second and third times and when I woke up about 90mins from landing and watched him do it again, I was thoroughly perplexed. I guess that he would of done it 5 or 6 times throughout the flight. I saw him hand out some kids packs and help out a few other passengers, but don't they have to stay in the cockpit or the cot? In all my years of flying have never seen anything like this.
Does anyone have any idea about why he would do these periodic scopes of the cabin? His name was Capt. Xxxxxx Xxxxx. Maybe those at QF might have witnessed such behaviour before.
Hooroo
Upgraded
PS - He also assumed the old-school 'goodbye' position as the passengers deplaned, something I haven't seen any pilot do, especially Qantas for many years.
And you may assume you are extremely lucky I am in a good mood and didn't ban you for posting the pilots name. Not a good first post!!!
Go back and read the rules before you post again.
I congratulate the captain for putting a face to the voice. Shades of the old days - maybe Qantas is getting more human again!
Woomera
Last edited by Woomera; 14th Jul 2005 at 01:21.
Bottums Up
Maybe he just wanted to have a stretch and prevent DVT.
Maybe his perambulations were his way of maintining contact with the travelling public in the current era of fear, where we lock the crew in a little cubby-hole.
Until the demise of the good-ole bifold door on the 146, I would often stand in the doorway and say good bye. Good PR I thought, and the pax seemed to appreciate the gesture too.
Maybe his perambulations were his way of maintining contact with the travelling public in the current era of fear, where we lock the crew in a little cubby-hole.
Until the demise of the good-ole bifold door on the 146, I would often stand in the doorway and say good bye. Good PR I thought, and the pax seemed to appreciate the gesture too.
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I dont know the man and have never flown the A330 but congrats to the Captain for putting a face to the name/title.
Many pax only ever hear a voice and thats the extent of knowing who is in charge of their lives.
I dont know where the A330 crew rest is located, but good on him for stretching his legs (especially if he cant sleep) and letting the younger guys have the front seats and do some work.
Great to see a Skipper bid farewell to the pax also.
How can you complain about that !!
Many pax only ever hear a voice and thats the extent of knowing who is in charge of their lives.
I dont know where the A330 crew rest is located, but good on him for stretching his legs (especially if he cant sleep) and letting the younger guys have the front seats and do some work.
Great to see a Skipper bid farewell to the pax also.
How can you complain about that !!
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There are no restrictions on leaving the flightdeck to answer nature's call, maybe he chose to use the rear lavs. I often do this myself as it enables a bit of interaction with the pax, is good for DVT, and it helps me have good communication with the rear flight attendants, who I would otherwise never see.
Good on him!
Good on him!
Know him, flown with him on A330. The story doesn't surprise me because he's a professional, competent, easy-to-work-with, happy camper with a balanced view of the world and a 'people' focus; oh... and an all-'round nice guy!
To the surprise of some it's actually not that rare in QF, but it would still be good for the organisation if more were like him!
To the surprise of some it's actually not that rare in QF, but it would still be good for the organisation if more were like him!
Last edited by Jetsbest; 14th Jul 2005 at 01:30.
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Good on the man! In an era where fear, paranoia and jumping at shadows now totally dominates, this is great to see. This is in stark constrast to some other Captains I've flown with who won't EVER venture out of the flight-deck "because there might be terrorists out there"..... 
Or contrast it with another skipper who, while you are taking a 5-10 min toilet break/leg stretch/quick chat with the F/As as to how things are going/quick chat with the punters, actually calls the cabin to fetch you back "because I was starting to get worried... security you know... blah blah..." God help this profession. 
The only bizarre thing about this behaviour is that it's regretably the exception rather than the norm these days. It needs saying again: God help this profession.
So, great to see someone regaining the high ground and injecting a bit of sanity into our lives again.
Or contrast it with another skipper who, while you are taking a 5-10 min toilet break/leg stretch/quick chat with the F/As as to how things are going/quick chat with the punters, actually calls the cabin to fetch you back "because I was starting to get worried... security you know... blah blah..." God help this profession. The only bizarre thing about this behaviour is that it's regretably the exception rather than the norm these days. It needs saying again: God help this profession.
So, great to see someone regaining the high ground and injecting a bit of sanity into our lives again.
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Yeah! Done the same thing many times on long flights to ease the boredom and to remind myself to never ever fly cretin class! What a mess they make!! Had an F/O do the same thing once and never saw him again! It's a jungle back there! 
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Was on a CX A330 recently, travelling cattle class, and saw the SO on the flight doing the same thing. Later found out that the cabin crew had reported a 'funny noise' somewhere down near the toilets and the SO was routinely checking it out, while talking to pax, etc.
I believe QF also carry SOs on that service so, although it is perfectly acceptable to leave the flightdeck anyway, how do you know that there weren''t still 2 drivers up there? How do you know that the captain walking around wasn't a 'spare' i.e. a checkie, who was bored?
I believe QF also carry SOs on that service so, although it is perfectly acceptable to leave the flightdeck anyway, how do you know that there weren''t still 2 drivers up there? How do you know that the captain walking around wasn't a 'spare' i.e. a checkie, who was bored?
Thread Starter
Firstly, apologies regarding the naming mistake. Despite the fact the comments were far from defamatory, the rules are there for a reason...
Next, I know that the person involved was the operating captain as I saw him sitting in the left seat when I boarded. I can also safely presume that there was an SO on board as well.
I think it is best answered by Jetsbest. From what I witnessed, I can believe everything you said in your post.
Just appears to be someone who likes their job and likes to do it properly..
Case closed.
Now, on to refining my online protocol.......
Upgraded
Next, I know that the person involved was the operating captain as I saw him sitting in the left seat when I boarded. I can also safely presume that there was an SO on board as well.
I think it is best answered by Jetsbest. From what I witnessed, I can believe everything you said in your post.
Just appears to be someone who likes their job and likes to do it properly..
Case closed.
Now, on to refining my online protocol.......
Upgraded
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amos2 mate you are probably old enough to remember the "urban myth"? generated in the days of the old two deck PanAm/BOAC Stratocruisers across the pond.
Apparently it was possible to appear from the cockpit on the upper level and regain entry to the cockpit via the lower deck without being observed from the upper.
The story goes that a bored crew appeared thus not long before landing and one by one sauntered down the upper deck chatting to the passengers and being conspicuous then not reappearing or be seen to return to the office before landing.
Aaaah those were the days, got to go on a Constellation in the early 70's
but never made it to the converted B29 Stratocruiser another legend of the skies.:
Apparently it was possible to appear from the cockpit on the upper level and regain entry to the cockpit via the lower deck without being observed from the upper.
The story goes that a bored crew appeared thus not long before landing and one by one sauntered down the upper deck chatting to the passengers and being conspicuous then not reappearing or be seen to return to the office before landing.
Aaaah those were the days, got to go on a Constellation in the early 70's
but never made it to the converted B29 Stratocruiser another legend of the skies.:
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Maybe just maybe there is a truck load of ego involved here and the guy just wants to be seen in all his regalia. After all this would be very typical of a great proporsion of QF Capts.
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amos2 
ooops sowwy, they were still the queen of the skies until 26/10/1958 when the B707 went into service and I'm sure that DC3 I saw you in still had some factory warranty left on it .
ooops sowwy, they were still the queen of the skies until 26/10/1958 when the B707 went into service and I'm sure that DC3 I saw you in still had some factory warranty left on it .
Normasar.. what a **** you are.The captain could also be quietly checking to see that cabincrew are doing their checks properly as l know well enough that many pay lip service to it.L have sat at the back of a QF SYD NRt service and not seen one cabin attendant doing a walkround in that time!
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Norm; The terms bitter and twisted or wind up seem applicable to your post.
Am yet to figure out which but may in all probability decide not to waste my time in attempting to do so.
Amos 2; I'm really curious. Did you ever find out what happened to the F/O?
And re the subject of the thread; well done that man!
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Am yet to figure out which but may in all probability decide not to waste my time in attempting to do so.Amos 2; I'm really curious. Did you ever find out what happened to the F/O?
And re the subject of the thread; well done that man!
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.