Resigned from BA to fly the BBJ !!!
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Fokkerjet,
You are absolutely right about waiting for hours on the ground with the APU running and the packs on for A/C. When Boeing were with us recently after we took delivery of our 2 BBJ's they actively encouraged us to leave the APU on for ages (sometimes 5 hours)with A/C on. If this was a factor in the explosion of the center tank then clearly there are implications for all of us that follow the same practice.
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'Keep the Stress Down'
You are absolutely right about waiting for hours on the ground with the APU running and the packs on for A/C. When Boeing were with us recently after we took delivery of our 2 BBJ's they actively encouraged us to leave the APU on for ages (sometimes 5 hours)with A/C on. If this was a factor in the explosion of the center tank then clearly there are implications for all of us that follow the same practice.
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'Keep the Stress Down'
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Stress,
I guess with 2 known center tank explosions out of 3000+ B737's, Boeing may not think there's a problem. I do hope they look into it though, since the corporate world would probably be at greatest risk since we sit for such long time with the APU running.
Also Stress, I was emailing a pilot from BMI about my beloved Fokker, and he talked about being able to "declare" a reduced takeoff weight on the Fokker with Brussels. This reduced weight translated into reduced airways and airport fees and saved them lots of money. I don't know what kind of weights you operate at, but I bet you don't come close to the 171,000 lbs. If you were to limit your weight somewhat, could you save some big money?
I guess with 2 known center tank explosions out of 3000+ B737's, Boeing may not think there's a problem. I do hope they look into it though, since the corporate world would probably be at greatest risk since we sit for such long time with the APU running.
Also Stress, I was emailing a pilot from BMI about my beloved Fokker, and he talked about being able to "declare" a reduced takeoff weight on the Fokker with Brussels. This reduced weight translated into reduced airways and airport fees and saved them lots of money. I don't know what kind of weights you operate at, but I bet you don't come close to the 171,000 lbs. If you were to limit your weight somewhat, could you save some big money?
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Stress & Fokker
With regards to the two known centre tank explosions, I believe that in both cases the tank had run dry and that the centre fuel pumps were not switched off. We operate a Middle East based BBJ wirth plenty of APU hrs and in discussion with the regions tech rep it is suggested to avoid running the pumps for any time when dry. Also preserves the pumps life.
With regards to the two known centre tank explosions, I believe that in both cases the tank had run dry and that the centre fuel pumps were not switched off. We operate a Middle East based BBJ wirth plenty of APU hrs and in discussion with the regions tech rep it is suggested to avoid running the pumps for any time when dry. Also preserves the pumps life.
Guest
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Hi folks,
Any of you that are into the BBJ Ive started building a new website called www.thebbj.com
Its in the early stages but has a forum if you want to continue the above discussion, with specifics about the BBJ.
www.thebbj.com
Any of you that are into the BBJ Ive started building a new website called www.thebbj.com
Its in the early stages but has a forum if you want to continue the above discussion, with specifics about the BBJ.
www.thebbj.com
Guest
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Well a quick update on how its all going if any of you are still interested.
I think it is all starting to soak in now, I didnt realise how much you have to do in the corporate world, there is little or no support and it is all up to you.
I never thought I would have to do a 18 hour day, however I didnt realise that you get to lie in the sun before and after the flight and have some kip on the flight as well. It certainly Suits me Sir!
The organisation remains a mystery but it all seems to work without any hickups but I think it may only come about through crisis management. Forward planning seems to be nil primarily because you dont know what you are doing the next day. However once you get used to this it is great, it beats the total boredom you get at BA and other airlines (Dan Air incase any of you thought that I only worked for BA).
Anyway the overall verdict is a big thumbs up, Ive finally got involved in something I like and can influence if I want to. Mostly I sit back and enjoy it!
This job would certainly not suit those in BA that want to fly by the book because they cant without one! Sorry Chaps
I think it is all starting to soak in now, I didnt realise how much you have to do in the corporate world, there is little or no support and it is all up to you.
I never thought I would have to do a 18 hour day, however I didnt realise that you get to lie in the sun before and after the flight and have some kip on the flight as well. It certainly Suits me Sir!
The organisation remains a mystery but it all seems to work without any hickups but I think it may only come about through crisis management. Forward planning seems to be nil primarily because you dont know what you are doing the next day. However once you get used to this it is great, it beats the total boredom you get at BA and other airlines (Dan Air incase any of you thought that I only worked for BA).
Anyway the overall verdict is a big thumbs up, Ive finally got involved in something I like and can influence if I want to. Mostly I sit back and enjoy it!
This job would certainly not suit those in BA that want to fly by the book because they cant without one! Sorry Chaps
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B J
mmmmmm!!
I'll operate by the book thanks.I have seen the other side and did not like it,I thought it was gash and would not be a part of it.
Having said that with good experience on type it would be a more comfortable proposition.
(Reborn 13 year airline pilot not yet smug enough to be bored).
mmmmmm!!
I'll operate by the book thanks.I have seen the other side and did not like it,I thought it was gash and would not be a part of it.
Having said that with good experience on type it would be a more comfortable proposition.
(Reborn 13 year airline pilot not yet smug enough to be bored).
Guest
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Flanker
I am aware that some or alot of the private or corporate world are gash, and yes compared with the airline world some of what we do may appear to be gash, but operating to the confines of an airline operation (that has to cater for the 200 hour copilot) does not fit into the private operation. The whole thing changes when you have pilots that do not have less than 10000 hours each.
The great thing about where I work everyone is aiming for a very slick and professional operation and this can not be done overnight as ther is little support and WE have to do it all.
Smug, may be I am, I am just enjoying myself for the first time in years.
I am aware that some or alot of the private or corporate world are gash, and yes compared with the airline world some of what we do may appear to be gash, but operating to the confines of an airline operation (that has to cater for the 200 hour copilot) does not fit into the private operation. The whole thing changes when you have pilots that do not have less than 10000 hours each.
The great thing about where I work everyone is aiming for a very slick and professional operation and this can not be done overnight as ther is little support and WE have to do it all.
Smug, may be I am, I am just enjoying myself for the first time in years.
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BJ
Glad to hear you're enjoying it.
I too would have been much happier on a Boeing in that environment than I was on a new type with effectively no SOP's.10000hr plus guys are very valuable commodities if they have the discipline and knowledge to go with the experience.
If you are being given the resources to sort things out by yourself I should think it would be quite a lot of fun.
Go on then be a bit smug
Glad to hear you're enjoying it.
I too would have been much happier on a Boeing in that environment than I was on a new type with effectively no SOP's.10000hr plus guys are very valuable commodities if they have the discipline and knowledge to go with the experience.
If you are being given the resources to sort things out by yourself I should think it would be quite a lot of fun.
Go on then be a bit smug
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Back again sorry it takes so long to reply to these posts, in BA you have loads of time to spend at the PC as everything else is done for you and all you do is turn up to work and fly then go home. This suits many of those at BA, it didnt suit me.
On that subject, there are many people in BA with vast amounts of knowledge, but that knowledge is not filtered through to the top. The reason for that is that you can only get the information through a middle manager type, this is then normally binned because they didnt come up with the idea. To get your idea through you need to become a manager and to do that you need to go through interviews and and need to sign your life away working weekends and all your days off.
In this new world I have entered you are already the middle management and everyone listens and if it sounds good then it gets done.
Here's a few things for discussion.
After Sales Support
Please let me know if all you other BBJ operator/owners have the same problem. When the BBJ comes out of Boeing the support just stops.
1. The AOG desk is no good, we use Trade-Air as they get the parts to us when we need them not when Boeing can get around to getting them to us.
2. When we want something changed on the aircraft that is different from the delivery status ie changing from track up to heading up they immediately start talking about paying extra ($15000+). Surely if you have paid this sort of money for an aircraft it should come as part of the warranty.
3.When Boeing suggest an approved outfitters they should carry out some sort of quality assurance, not approve companies that take 2 years to get it outfitted from green to flyable. This then reduces your effective warranty from 5 years to 3 years.
Owner Hassle
It seems amazing to me that the people that own these aircraft have to put up with so much day to day hassle from third party suppliers. Why is there not a support company that looks after their interest so that the owner only has to talk to one company that then deals with the suppliers. What do I mean by a support company?
If you had a company that dealt with the Sales companies, the maintenance companies, the crew training, insurance and the whole lot and reported to the owner every six months, the owner would then be left to enjoy his aircraft, and not get involved in the everyday wrangling of the support companies. I know there are 'management type companies' hwever they charge lots of cash to the owners. Why not make it free for the owners and charge the suppliers a small percentage. This percentage being made available to the owners to ensure their trust in the business.
You guys will know alot more about this than I what are your comments?
As for my progress, as you can see I am on a steep learning curve. We now have some great flightdeck procedures, these finally became a combination of what I learnt at BA and what I learnt from the other pilots. It was a great two way flow of information. There were a few sticky points but we all feal that we now have a great checklist and SOP's that have increased the safety and efficiency ofthe operation, now its time to look at the efficiency of the whole operation.
What else do you want to know?
Please remember, I respect the privacy of the owner and cannot comment on certain subjects.
Best Regards
Bobby
On that subject, there are many people in BA with vast amounts of knowledge, but that knowledge is not filtered through to the top. The reason for that is that you can only get the information through a middle manager type, this is then normally binned because they didnt come up with the idea. To get your idea through you need to become a manager and to do that you need to go through interviews and and need to sign your life away working weekends and all your days off.
In this new world I have entered you are already the middle management and everyone listens and if it sounds good then it gets done.
Here's a few things for discussion.
After Sales Support
Please let me know if all you other BBJ operator/owners have the same problem. When the BBJ comes out of Boeing the support just stops.
1. The AOG desk is no good, we use Trade-Air as they get the parts to us when we need them not when Boeing can get around to getting them to us.
2. When we want something changed on the aircraft that is different from the delivery status ie changing from track up to heading up they immediately start talking about paying extra ($15000+). Surely if you have paid this sort of money for an aircraft it should come as part of the warranty.
3.When Boeing suggest an approved outfitters they should carry out some sort of quality assurance, not approve companies that take 2 years to get it outfitted from green to flyable. This then reduces your effective warranty from 5 years to 3 years.
Owner Hassle
It seems amazing to me that the people that own these aircraft have to put up with so much day to day hassle from third party suppliers. Why is there not a support company that looks after their interest so that the owner only has to talk to one company that then deals with the suppliers. What do I mean by a support company?
If you had a company that dealt with the Sales companies, the maintenance companies, the crew training, insurance and the whole lot and reported to the owner every six months, the owner would then be left to enjoy his aircraft, and not get involved in the everyday wrangling of the support companies. I know there are 'management type companies' hwever they charge lots of cash to the owners. Why not make it free for the owners and charge the suppliers a small percentage. This percentage being made available to the owners to ensure their trust in the business.
You guys will know alot more about this than I what are your comments?
As for my progress, as you can see I am on a steep learning curve. We now have some great flightdeck procedures, these finally became a combination of what I learnt at BA and what I learnt from the other pilots. It was a great two way flow of information. There were a few sticky points but we all feal that we now have a great checklist and SOP's that have increased the safety and efficiency ofthe operation, now its time to look at the efficiency of the whole operation.
What else do you want to know?
Please remember, I respect the privacy of the owner and cannot comment on certain subjects.
Best Regards
Bobby
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Bobby,
Sounds like you are having a lot of fun, It's good to see that there are oppertunities out there for Pilots who don't want to drive Buses for BA.
By the nature of what I do, I speak to hundreds of different types of Pilots every week, those who fly Balloons, Gyroplanes or microlights through to those who fly the big Jets. The most pleasant ones to deal with in my opinion, are those who love flying, Such as yourself.
Keep up the posts, they are really well written and pleasing to read.(Even though I don't understand some of the tech stuff)
WP
Sounds like you are having a lot of fun, It's good to see that there are oppertunities out there for Pilots who don't want to drive Buses for BA.
By the nature of what I do, I speak to hundreds of different types of Pilots every week, those who fly Balloons, Gyroplanes or microlights through to those who fly the big Jets. The most pleasant ones to deal with in my opinion, are those who love flying, Such as yourself.
Keep up the posts, they are really well written and pleasing to read.(Even though I don't understand some of the tech stuff)
WP
