Qantas pilots making errors after long periods without flying
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Qantas pilots making errors after long periods without flying
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.
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787 aircraft was diverted back to Sydney 40 minutes into the flight after crew noticed that the landing gear had not been retracted prior to take off.
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 shortly after taking off from Sydney because two gear pins had not been removed before departure.
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).
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I know of at least one crew that forgot to lower the arrestor hook last week. Had to select afterburner for the go around.
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.
I thought these things flew themselves! Turns out we are integral to the operation….hoooooo knew?
Don’t ride the clutch….
If the crew let the clutch out too quickly, the Aircraft is at risk of stalling and dropping onto a school.
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.
Work-experience journalism at its best.
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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
OMAA
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.