QLINK (and Virgin) Pilots PLEASE READ
 

Yesterday at Syd we were stuck on the taxiway for 5 mins unable to pass behind a Dash 8 because its Pilots refused to taxi up to the holding point even after requested by ATC.

The Dash was at least 10 meters shy of the line. Very frustrating and a phenomena Virgin Pilots are guilty of also - PLEASE MOVE UP TO THE HOLDING POINT!:ugh:

That's OK. Yesterday poor old TIger was holding up the Rapid exit (B8) off 16R not sure as to whether he should give way to us as we taxied northbound up Bravo. Needless to say we had been instructed by Ground to hold short of Bravo 9.

Now it's fair enough to be cautious, but we were both stopped by this stage, and only after prompting by the ground controller did they move. Their excuse. "We weren't sure if we had to giveway to the other aircraft"

If your going to operated transport catagory aircraft into a major Capital city, you really should know the rules!

What reason did they give for refusing the request?

If we turn our lights off will youse guys move up a bit??? :} :ok:

Regards,
BH.

Hey CloudBuster - Maybe if you turn on more of your external lighting - we might be able to see you :}:}

Oh - thats right - never have you been guilty of anything that "may" have upset fellow pilots ....

But then again - no doubt you would have voiced your concerns over the radio:ugh:

True Krusty, it would be unusual for an A/C vacating the runway off a high speed exit to give way to a taxiing A/C.

See the " hold short of the hold point " a bit around here, could be because some of the clowns in this place have been known to attempt a T/O or Landing on the taxiways :ugh:

Isn't there an issue with their computer system or flux system caused by magnetic interference (or something like that) on a few of the taxi ways ie:B4...etc. There is some blurb on the Syd Airport chart about it which is why they hold so far back from the holding point on those 2 intersections.....
If they taxi up to the mark they end up with some sort of system failure.
I have flown with a few ex-Dash 8 pilots who have mentioned this issue.

This might explain the denial of ATC’s request to move forward..Maybe?

Whenever I've seen aircraft hold short by a wide margin I reckon they've held short so that they can still see the line out the front window not understanding that when they do that the line is still a long way in front of the nose.

Some of the QF drivers aren't immune to it either. I've had to prompt a couple of our F/Os when they've stopped a long way short.

One of the best things I recall a training captain doing for me during F/O training was walking along the line of the nose so that I could see where his feet intersected the glareshield- he was prompted to do this after I held short by a wide margin. I was very surprised at just how close I could get to the line and how far back I'd previously been holding. Perhaps this isn't as prevalent as I had thought it to be.

There is an issue at B3 and F holding points that can topple the nav systems of what seems to be only Dash 8s and SAABS. It doesn't happen all the time. Something to do with either the train or fuel line depending on who you ask.

That (might) have been the reason they were so far back if it was one of these.

While we are at it: If you know you will not be ready by the time you get to the holding point, then too bad. Taxi there and finish getting ready, don't taxi down B4 at 2km/h and delay everyone else on B and C just in case you may be able to roll on and go. :ok:

Starts with a P got it in one. There is a company directive to hold way behind the hold short line in order to stop the AHRS from going tango uniform for the reasons already discussed...

If you find it annoying, take it up with Flight Ops (more appropriate than this medium).

Fuel-Off :ok:

Hey CaptCloudbuster, you and that 76 of yours had miles of room to get past the Dash. As we taxied past behind you onto B4, your wing would have been nowhere near the Dash's tail if you taxied on.
And the reason we don't go right up to the holding point at B3 and F, is to avoid AHRS-related interference.
I'll be more than happy to provide you with the FOSO on it. So the guys in the Dash were exactly where they should of been.
Instead, why don't you ask the ground controller why he put the Dash there, knowing full well it would take them a while to get away due to the departing traffic at the time, having well known you guys would be coming up on Bravo.

Starts with P Thanks for the info - we were at B3. My apologies to the Dash 8 crew for casting aspersions.

Fuel Off If you knew how long asking "the horses mouth" to get an answer was likely to take you'd forgive my indiscretion.

ILS 34L In a 76' we are unable to see the wings from the flight deck

Correct.

Next time you guys taxi past B4, B3 and F you will notice some little flags in pairs. When the SAABs and DHC-8's pull up to the holding point, the wing tips rest directly over these flags. The flags mark a fuel line that runs underneath the ground at those points that is electrically charged to prevent corrosion (so we're told). This screws with the flux valves in the wingtips that are resting right over them causing a 'HSI HDG MISMATCH' error message in the attitude and heading reference system that prevents us from taking off. Seeing as it can take a few minutes to clear, the company has directed us to stop with the wing tips remaining clear of the flags which is the easiest prevention method. This leaves the back of the aircraft hanging out and some obvious annoyance for those taxiing behind. ATC are aware of this which is why we are often sent to B1 and B2 when space allows.

If you guys have a problem with it, take it up with SACL and get them to fix the problem, or take it up with flight ops as has been suggested. To suggest that crews haven't noticed that they're sitting 10 metres from the holding point, or are doing it deliberately, is just demeaning.

Dragun has it.

You would have been well behind the dash in the queue so you would have had the 5 mins hold anyway.. what's the problem? It's like the jokers driving around the city trying to win the race to the next red light. You aren't really getting anywhere.

Dragun Thanks for the extra info. I take your fair criticism on the chin. I'll be sharing the info supplied here with my fellow crew.

Mr Whippy

The 767 was inbound.

ILS34L fair enough, like cloudbuster said, I'll cop that. Note to self: don't post after 1/2 bottle of rum.

littlehurcules,

What, a QF pilot complaining on the radio? No, surely not. :E

So that explains the Dash.

What's Virgin's excuse??

Cheers CaptCloudbuster :)