Virgin returns after smelly take-off
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
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
Evertonian
Thread Starter
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.
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.
Evertonian
Thread Starter
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?
PS. I followed a big 4WD the other day with personalised plates reading: KEG...Please, telll me it wasn't you?
Nunc est bibendum
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!
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!
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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.
One thing you learn, as the hours build, is that quick decisions often lead you in the wrong direction.
Very quickly.
"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.
Very quickly.
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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 ".
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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 ......
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 ......
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Just the very abbreviated version will do Bailey's Dad.
I suspect fowl play
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 the
I suspect fowl play
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 the
good crew decision to return for the landing.
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Dear me,
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.
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.
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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.
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?
the outcome could have been a lot worse.
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?
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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?
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?
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Well there you go Ronnie,
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 !
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).
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 !
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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
Oz
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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?
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."
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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...
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...