Tales from Kai Tak - 15 Years On
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: outernet
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"The Visual Step Down" according to G McB!
The object of the exercise was to "spool up" about 400ft final 13 and carry out a normal landing.
However, the start point was about Green Island at 330kts, 1,000ft in the L1011. Without using the speed brakes! So timing of closing the throttles was paramount.
Manoeuvring in the harbour was allowed but 1,000ft had to be maintained until inside Stonecutters. i.e. no climbing to loose speed!
And on another occasion, also with G McB. Unlimited vis. At 8,000ft around TH heading west, told we are number two, 5 miles behind ABC123 carrying out the full IGS. At this point we are at minimum clean speed, and G is rolling his eyes! Ask if there are any further traffic. Receiving a "negative" G requests a visual right hand downwind RW 13. "Cleared". This is going to be interesting!! G turns the L1011 to a point just inside Stonecutters, and with throttles at idle, drop gear and flaps, all within limits. Follow the contours of the north part of Hong Kong island. Carry out a continuous 180 degree onto final RW 13 and spool up the engines as per G's visual approach parameters! Having parked at the terminal and shut down, we were in time to see ABC123 cross the threshold of 13. Them days!!
The object of the exercise was to "spool up" about 400ft final 13 and carry out a normal landing.
However, the start point was about Green Island at 330kts, 1,000ft in the L1011. Without using the speed brakes! So timing of closing the throttles was paramount.
Manoeuvring in the harbour was allowed but 1,000ft had to be maintained until inside Stonecutters. i.e. no climbing to loose speed!
And on another occasion, also with G McB. Unlimited vis. At 8,000ft around TH heading west, told we are number two, 5 miles behind ABC123 carrying out the full IGS. At this point we are at minimum clean speed, and G is rolling his eyes! Ask if there are any further traffic. Receiving a "negative" G requests a visual right hand downwind RW 13. "Cleared". This is going to be interesting!! G turns the L1011 to a point just inside Stonecutters, and with throttles at idle, drop gear and flaps, all within limits. Follow the contours of the north part of Hong Kong island. Carry out a continuous 180 degree onto final RW 13 and spool up the engines as per G's visual approach parameters! Having parked at the terminal and shut down, we were in time to see ABC123 cross the threshold of 13. Them days!!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting Idea, Could it make financial success ?
Originally Posted by Sea Eggs View Post
Hong Kong doesn't need an airport. Shut down CLK and sell the land to the developers. How many skyscrapers can they build at CLK? If anyone wants to travel, just use the airports in Shenzhen Bao'an and Macau.
Hong Kong doesn't need an airport. Shut down CLK and sell the land to the developers. How many skyscrapers can they build at CLK? If anyone wants to travel, just use the airports in Shenzhen Bao'an and Macau.
For me the nostalgia associated with Kai Tak had to do more with happier days, great flying, amazing people and a fantastic city to live in or visit. Working for CX or KA was more than a job, it was a fantastic lifestyle. Sadly the rot started with the B scale and new age management hell bent on building a CV. Sad, but good things rarely last.
23
GMcB was on the first course at Palmdale as an F/O and got his command in early 77, I think. He could get the 1011 to dance for him. His other unusual arrival was to get off the crew bus well before the Tokyo Prince Hotel and simply disappear into the night!
Another execution of the "Visual Stepdown" by PB in the 744 was less appreciated by the next in line on the IGS. HGA who was in the following 744 had to do a GA! There were a few terse words at the Aero Club.
GMcB was on the first course at Palmdale as an F/O and got his command in early 77, I think. He could get the 1011 to dance for him. His other unusual arrival was to get off the crew bus well before the Tokyo Prince Hotel and simply disappear into the night!
Another execution of the "Visual Stepdown" by PB in the 744 was less appreciated by the next in line on the IGS. HGA who was in the following 744 had to do a GA! There were a few terse words at the Aero Club.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: hong kong
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Understatement of..... I was going to say, 'the century', before I stopped myself. Yes, the A-Scalers had it 'good'. Well above and beyond the Aero Club; the best of everything; and after you forced the company to give you another ten years beyond your contractual retirement age and then some, I think we can all agree the A-Scalers had it 'the best' in the history of aviation. And good for you!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Back of Beyond
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The B scalers did alright until November last year as well to be fair. Was a pretty good innings. Massive fall from grace now alas.
Time to move on. Cathay management can't destroy the memories at least.
Time to move on. Cathay management can't destroy the memories at least.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: In the Auzzie outback
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And now it's the race to the bottom. Pilot remuneration has fallen off a cliff. HK teachers get paid more than pilots and cabin crew paid no more than fast food workers.
That COS18 contract is written on toilet paper.
Reference Part 1, benefits and allowances. That first paragraph says it all, the company can change your money when it wants, however much it wants and they don't even need to tell you... just like when they cut panel doctors off the medical we had without telling any one. (And everyone thought clause 7 was bad in one of the previously turned down negotiations around COS16)
Aviation has become an industry where you start at the top and it's all downhill till you retire on less than you started... all for what?
What are we doing here.... ( if you don't like it leave right?)
That COS18 contract is written on toilet paper.
Reference Part 1, benefits and allowances. That first paragraph says it all, the company can change your money when it wants, however much it wants and they don't even need to tell you... just like when they cut panel doctors off the medical we had without telling any one. (And everyone thought clause 7 was bad in one of the previously turned down negotiations around COS16)
Aviation has become an industry where you start at the top and it's all downhill till you retire on less than you started... all for what?
What are we doing here.... ( if you don't like it leave right?)
Last edited by dabz; 18th Jul 2021 at 13:14.
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Back of Beyond
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just like the toilet paper our contracts are written on, we have to show them where to stick it. And many, many are. Either to jobs in the US or elsewhere, or to non-flying roles entirely, because the writing is on the wall.
Let's hope it's Cathay that ends up with a generous dose of egg on their face, and rightly so, the opportunistic psychopaths.
Don't you worry dabz, we are leaving in droves. It might get a bit interesting very soon....
Let's hope it's Cathay that ends up with a generous dose of egg on their face, and rightly so, the opportunistic psychopaths.
Don't you worry dabz, we are leaving in droves. It might get a bit interesting very soon....
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Checkerboard
Interested in knowing which year the Checkerboard Approach was introduced and which types of aircraft of that era flew that approach to runway 13?
The restoration of the Checkerboard has taken place. Two sides South and West have been restored and painted .
South side is fire engine red / white. West side a burgundy / white
Did the west side serve a purpose for the 13 approach and why the darker red ?
The restoration of the Checkerboard has taken place. Two sides South and West have been restored and painted .
South side is fire engine red / white. West side a burgundy / white
Did the west side serve a purpose for the 13 approach and why the darker red ?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Glasgow Scotland UK
Age: 76
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's hard to answer the first question on internet research. I did come across this from the Civil Aviation Departments ArchiveIn 1962, a passenger terminal building was built. Turboprop aircraft were being replaced by jets such as the Boeing 707, DC8 and de Havilland comet. The first Boeing B747 arrived on 11 April 1970. In those days to use runway 13 pilots were required to have the runway in slight when the aircraft was near Cheung Chau Island.
In 1974, the visual approach was replaced by the Instrument Guidance System (IGS). With the aid of the IGS the runway could become visual to pilots when they were over the Kowloon Peninsula. This significantly increased the utilization of runway 13 under adverse weather conditions particularly during long periods of easterly prevailing winds.
Don't know the answer to the colour scheme questions though.
In 1974, the visual approach was replaced by the Instrument Guidance System (IGS). With the aid of the IGS the runway could become visual to pilots when they were over the Kowloon Peninsula. This significantly increased the utilization of runway 13 under adverse weather conditions particularly during long periods of easterly prevailing winds.
Don't know the answer to the colour scheme questions though.
I think you will find that the reason for the slightly different colour scheme for the two faces is nothing more than the paint they had available.
I have had two walls of the same room in Hong Kong painted a different white by the half wit who said that was all they had left in the shop.
I have had two walls of the same room in Hong Kong painted a different white by the half wit who said that was all they had left in the shop.
