Syd Atc
 

Congrats to the controllers from the crew of the QF438 yesterday arvo. Some seriously nice work and very much appreciated. I know that Aus ATC cop a bit of hammering on PPRUNE from time to time (sometimes deserved but often not) so I figure that great controlling (or non-controlling as the ATCO on SYD APP said to me) deserves due recognition.

Got vectored for base from about sixty miles and then got this clearance:"When clear of the coast join final not closer than five miles, cleared visual approach". I'm not sure who had more fun. The F/O who was doing the flying (at that stage...easy you QF guys who suddenly raised your eyebrows and are wondering about 12 sectors, I did the landing) or me who got to sit back and sight see the big waves rolling into the Nasho and Cronulla.

Anyway, an enjoyable day and the track shortening much appreciated!

PS: If I give you the rest of my roster can I get more of the same? :ok:

PPS: From the ATCO at Jandakot that is going to offer me a visual approach to Jandakot whenever I want you keep it until you get your backside somewhere where I can actually use it! :}

Sounds good Keg, can you explain why qantas dudes would be raising an eyebrow over the f/o flying? I'm not qantas so am just interested. cheers.

Gee keg anymore exciting news. I was given max speed to the field and cancel all height requirements yesterday.:cool:

Difference between you and me tunedog is that I thought to say a public 'thanks' to people that are often derided by pilots who tend to (arrogantly) suppose that we have the 'big picture' when that picture is often on a screen in front of an ATCO. Perhaps instead of taking a shot at my post you could have added your thanks for nice controlling work for you too. :ugh:

As for more exciting news, my third child is rolling over now, she says 'dadda' all the time, I'm back into doing some work on my hobby instead of burying my head in books studying, and the missus has realised she's spending too much money and has declared she's going to cut back. I was going to share all that in my original post but figured that most ATCOs wouldn't care too much about it! :rolleyes: :E

Framer, new Captains aren't allowed to let the F/Os do landings for their first 12 sectors so me saying the F/O was flying may have caused some QF drivers to wonder who did the landing.

Gawd, airline flying must be boring as bat5h1t if you crack a woody about hand-flying a visual approach over the beach.

The money might be better in the airlines, but i prefer my lower-altitude job any day.:8

Sorry Keg I couldn't help myself.

However that is the job of a controller. If you don't ask you won't get. Remember that Keg and you could save your company a whole lot of money. :D

Sure thing Charlie. But the money is oh so sweet

Been there done that Charlie. It wears a little thin after a few thousand hours.

I love flying in a straight line it is so easy.:p

Once, many moons ago, we had just finished fleet support off the coast of Nowra at 3 in the morning. As we climbed and contacted Melbourne Centre, I asked for any track shortening. The answer:

"Cleared direct Edinburgh.":D

PS. Congrats on the captaincy, Keg.

Climbing out of Brisbane one afternoon (and 10 years ago) and got direct to a 10 mile final in Hobart. But that was normal in the "wombat", though normally reserved for between midnight and sun-rise.

halas

I got:

-"fly heading 270"
-"cross YAKKA at 55, then 210 knots"
-"Increase to profile speed"
-"Reduce to 190 knots"
-"Reduce to 160 knots"
-"Just gonna take you through centreline due slower preceding traffic" (Q400:rolleyes:)
-"Reduce to minimum approach speed"

Now admittedly I fly a turboprop and these speed changes are really no problem, but what it does is really stuff up the profile and increase fuel burn! The fuel burn on the short hop from Willy was up 50%:eek:

But of course other days you get to be the rooster too, have lost count the number of times I have been switched from 16L to 16R in the last month...:ok:

It's all swings and roundabouts really, but it's always good when you get on that swing!;)

Sadly, you're terribly close to the mark, Ascend Charlie. With my employer, if I did a visual approach when an ILS - or any instrument approach - was available, or if I (gasp!) hand flew an ILS when the autopilot was available, I'd be in for tea and bikkies with The Man the next day, as he - (I kid you not) - told us all when introducing the current 'highest level of automation at all times' policy: "The line is no place to practise your flying skills."

Back to the subject of the thread: on Christmas Day quite some years ago, Vienna gave me "direct to Timba", (the approach fix for 26L at Gatwick).

Geeez HH you had a good day there mate:ok:
We (& a few select operators) at EN used to have an 'over the top of ML' in VMC conditions local dep procedure some time ago that worked well when off rwy 35 heading west or so but not anymore. Heard that it was canned due staff shortages at ML twr!:bored: Now we get vectored when ML are using rwy 34 for arrivals to the SE at 1500ft when one needs to go west like today, rough as guts (40+kts blw 2000') with a spinal patient onboard! Still could be worse could be in some beat up old PA31 I guess!

Most times ATC are good, but !:bored:


CW

Wiley,

so where does he expect you to practice your hand-flying skills so that you'll know what to do when the sh!t hits the fan at dark o'clock way out over the drink? :eek:

No disrespect but I think I'd rather be in the hands of a driver who's had the opportunity to get their hands dirty at lot on the sunny days so that they know what switch is where, when the lights are off.

Anyway... sounds like Kaptain Keg had a great day: fun flying on his first outing (?) in seat 0A, and Mrs Keg VOLUNTEERING to cut spending just after your promotion! :ok: I'm sure it was nunc est bibendum once Kegling #3 had been put to bed.

Taildragger67
 

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

:ok:

No sense of adventure. At least dial me up and say hello!:D:ok:

The very question that has been asked by many and remains unanswered to this day, Taildragger.

Back in the days when we were allowded to hand fly, I very quickly discovered an almost foolproof truth - that those who practised hand flying rarely needed to, while those who didn't really should have.

I'll leave it to your imagination to work out why that was (is!!!!) so.

We're breeding a new generation of computer gamers.

Out of interest Wiley what a/c do you fly to have that kind of policy

Not long ago, just airborne ADL with an organ transplant patient onboard, on contacting approach:

"Cleared direct to Sydney..."

Didn't stop me turning off at the wrong taxiway when I got there however....

:}

I reckon if a small % of Hand Flying were made compulsory say in every month for recency, there WOULD be a genuine pilot shortage!:eek:

Where is the Chuckler......I know he has some strong views on this! Make good reading:}

J:ok:

I am glad you enjoyed it KEG.I try to do this as often as we can when traffic permits. It's great to get some positive feedback every so often!!!!::ok: