AIRTANKER
 

Any updates on the arrival of the A330 to BZZ yet, last expected end of Oct ?

Currently doing AAR trials with Typhoon

There's been one knocking around Brize for the last month or so.

It was around Marham this week, apparently after getting it on with a GR4

Any details about the MSO/Loadie position yet?

Seemingly they are drafting in WSO(Nav)s to fix the problems with the MSO station!! We are told they are the only ones with the relevant experience.......

Let's see what empire they can create:mad:

lets hope there are enough pilots coming across with glass cockpit to experience to religate said nav to pushing fuel around and making the brews.If they try to integrate the nav into any form of navigation function they will be making a stupid mistake. still stuck as to why they need ex nav experience when the jet gives a max offload figure in order to rtb with minimums straight from the FMS!

I know the world has moved on a fair bit since I was in the Tanking game but beware total reliance on electronic wizardry, the best Tanker crews add to their effectiveness by keeping a touch on all that is going on around them and being at least one jump ahead. Fly safe Voyager crews and continue to provide the level of service of your predecessor

Future strategic career-preserving aircraft
 

Here's an idea, instead of drafting in an unnecessary and obsolete crew member to fix a piece of kit that the massed air forces of the world seem to do without (the MSO kit) we could just bin it and operate 2-pilot crew like everyone else... This project is going to take an entirely predictable tangent into preserving the careers of the second-rate, rather than being a world-class AAR provider in my view. So close, yet so far... Hell, why not make them captain and bump their hours up a bit...:ugh:

I think I would trust Art's input over what appears to be a simple diatribe.

That may be so PN, but if you check out all the to-ing on fro-ing on these forums and other similar outlets about the Air France A330 loss, then the decision to buy Airbus has already led to 'complete reliance on electronic wizardry'. When the chips are down, I don't see what intimate knowledge of the Dalton computer will bring to the party frankly. Or which navigators with previous modern glass cockpit wide-body flight deck ops did you have in mind? If integrating the MSO systems is stalling the aircraft's progress to usefulness, why are we bothering?

E-3D?

:confused:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../7/1649715.jpg

Oh, with that roll of trusty bodge tape on the tea boys(!:E;)) desk surely this is crying out for a quick caption comp?:)

It's there for the FE to gag the co-pilot - squeal piggy squeal!

http://images.icanhascheezburger.com...4056319086.jpg

http://img.myconfinedspace.com/wp-co...squeal-240.jpg

There are a lot of dials in that

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knowing the give away is one thing and following the plan another, but when the plan goes to R-S or there are numerous options then wizardy may help but not anticipate.

Two pilots might manage but 3 people might manage better.

As the Airbus has such a wonderful computer, does it automatically go home when it has no more to give? :)

As long as the Navigator / WSO doesn't put anything other than coffee, white, one, in my mug, then they're welcome on my jet anyday.

They could even help out when we hit turbulence, offload only a partial transfer, and are required to re-calculate abort points, while still keeping one pair of hands near the sidestick and thrust-levers (PF), one pair of hands to operate the ACARS/Nav-log/FMS Flt-Plan/Radios etc (PNF) and one pair of hands to press the 'partial offload' button on the MPS at the MSO console (MSO).

I don't care if they're former Navs, WSOs, FEs, ALMs, AEOPs or FCs, as long as they speak AAR and aviation, and stand their round at the bar. I also don't care what you call them.

Still, what would I know. :ok:

D-IFF. Good point. Well made!

Gentlemen,

Could I ask those 'in the know' if the new Voyager aircraft will have any form of ESM/ECM suite fitted to it? or indeed any other type of counter measures (assuming that's not classified at all)

Surely such a high value asset as this could have at least something for the WSOps or WSOs to play with during their times on the tow-line (other than making tea and coffee for the flight deck!)

It would seem to be an ideal platform to soak up lots of 'wiggly amps' stuff and, even without perhaps any on board analysis, it would be a valuable tool to have in the box. Any thoughts given to this?

Many thanks
Winco