Question for long-haul crew
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Question for long-haul crew
In an airline such as BA which operates several flights to Los Angeles and New York on a daily basis, do the flight crew cross paths with their colleagues while down-route? For example, if the aircraft is scheduled for a 1.5 hour turnaround at Los Angeles, would you "meet" on the flight deck or would the inbound crew have already left the aircraft for the hotel?
I imagine that you must bump into each other there too, especially when there is more than one "slip" (if that is the right term) at a particular destination?
Just curious!
Nick
I imagine that you must bump into each other there too, especially when there is more than one "slip" (if that is the right term) at a particular destination?
Just curious!
Nick
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Not really in a position to say, but as SLF I can have a guess - Crews just arriving off the aircraft would normally leave the airport using a similar route to the passengers. Then it's onto the crew bus and off to the pub, sorry, I mean hotel. The pilots are probably on in the briefing room. Maybe the cabin crew might cross paths?
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It is pretty rare for crews to meet on the aircraft unless you are running unexpectedly late, and even then you may only see each other from the other side of a glass door.
I guess I should further qualify that by saying that if the aircraft is routing A-B-C then the crews may meet up at B on a transit turnaround.
It is rare for a 1hour30 rotation on a B747.
Even with 1 hour 30, on schedule the inbound crew will be off by STA+20 and the outbound crew are not scheduled to arrive at the airport until STD-60.
Occasionally at some transit stations, where passengers stay onboard, then one set of cabin crew (which one will depend on hours) will stay onboard or arrive early for a handover. In these instances it is common for the flight deck crew to have separate transport (additional taxi being cheaper than paying pilot overtime).
I guess I should further qualify that by saying that if the aircraft is routing A-B-C then the crews may meet up at B on a transit turnaround.
It is rare for a 1hour30 rotation on a B747.
Even with 1 hour 30, on schedule the inbound crew will be off by STA+20 and the outbound crew are not scheduled to arrive at the airport until STD-60.
Occasionally at some transit stations, where passengers stay onboard, then one set of cabin crew (which one will depend on hours) will stay onboard or arrive early for a handover. In these instances it is common for the flight deck crew to have separate transport (additional taxi being cheaper than paying pilot overtime).
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It depends on the airline and country. Our entire crew usually board the aircraft after the pax have disembarked, and get a quite enjoyable 5-10 minutes chatting while handing the aircraft over.
In USA & Canada it is forbidden for the inbound & outbound crews to meet, for Customs reasons...
LJ
In USA & Canada it is forbidden for the inbound & outbound crews to meet, for Customs reasons...
LJ
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Thanks for the replies.
TopBunk - I'm perhaps being a bit slow here, but what do you mean by "from the other side of a glass door"? Are you referring to the shuttle buses that you take you to/from the aircraft?
I confess I picked 1.5 hours at random. Does it actually take longer to turn around a B747?
So, I guess the only colleagues you would bump into at the hotel are those who are not flying the aircraft back that you just landed, but who are returning to London on an earlier flight than your return trip? If that makes sense.
TopBunk - I'm perhaps being a bit slow here, but what do you mean by "from the other side of a glass door"? Are you referring to the shuttle buses that you take you to/from the aircraft?
I confess I picked 1.5 hours at random. Does it actually take longer to turn around a B747?
So, I guess the only colleagues you would bump into at the hotel are those who are not flying the aircraft back that you just landed, but who are returning to London on an earlier flight than your return trip? If that makes sense.
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... from the other side of a glass door
in some places. So you can see the outbound crew at the departure gate as you follow the passengers into arrivals. Just one example.
As to 747 turnaround times; 1:30 would be pretty tight if you need to take on a hefty fuel load - the fuelling can take about an hour; think about it: deplane the pax ~15 minutes, cleaning about 15 minutes alongside de/re-catering maybe 20 minutes, all before cabin checks of 10 minutes before boarding of about 40 minutes. Add those up (15+20+10+40) = 85 minutes.
So about 1:30 for an en-route transit, eg in Singapore in LHR-SIN-SYD is about right. When however, you are talking about the ultimate destination before beginning the return Longhaul journey, then to allow for schedule regularity, then usually 2 hours upwards will be built into the schedules .
On occasion sub 1:30 is easily achieved (eg LHR-Bahrain-Doha) where limited fuel is required, same cabin crew, limited pax changes, no catering etc.
Downroute hotels: it is not always the case that crews stay in the same hotel at a location, although often they do and naturally they can meet up as frequently there are popular haunts, and airline crews are easily spotted!
it is forbidden for the inbound & outbound crews to meet
As to 747 turnaround times; 1:30 would be pretty tight if you need to take on a hefty fuel load - the fuelling can take about an hour; think about it: deplane the pax ~15 minutes, cleaning about 15 minutes alongside de/re-catering maybe 20 minutes, all before cabin checks of 10 minutes before boarding of about 40 minutes. Add those up (15+20+10+40) = 85 minutes.
So about 1:30 for an en-route transit, eg in Singapore in LHR-SIN-SYD is about right. When however, you are talking about the ultimate destination before beginning the return Longhaul journey, then to allow for schedule regularity, then usually 2 hours upwards will be built into the schedules .
On occasion sub 1:30 is easily achieved (eg LHR-Bahrain-Doha) where limited fuel is required, same cabin crew, limited pax changes, no catering etc.
Downroute hotels: it is not always the case that crews stay in the same hotel at a location, although often they do and naturally they can meet up as frequently there are popular haunts, and airline crews are easily spotted!
"from the other side of a glass door"?
I think TB means in airports in places such as the States, when inbound and outbound crews can't physically meet. If the incoming flight is late and the outbound crew get to the gate on schedule (because the company "forgot" to delay their pick up from the hotel
), you'll perhaps see your colleagues on the "otherside of the glass door" which separates arriving from departing pax and crew at the gate.
"So, I guess the only colleagues you would bump into at the hotel are those who are not flying the aircraft back that you just landed".
The aircraft are not always turned round in minimum time ( e.g. departure might have to fit in with home base ATC slots timings), the inbound may arrive early, the drive from the airport might be short.... there are all sorts of variables mean that sometimes crews "cross" in the hotel lobby, but it's not the norm.
I think TB means in airports in places such as the States, when inbound and outbound crews can't physically meet. If the incoming flight is late and the outbound crew get to the gate on schedule (because the company "forgot" to delay their pick up from the hotel
), you'll perhaps see your colleagues on the "otherside of the glass door" which separates arriving from departing pax and crew at the gate. "So, I guess the only colleagues you would bump into at the hotel are those who are not flying the aircraft back that you just landed".
The aircraft are not always turned round in minimum time ( e.g. departure might have to fit in with home base ATC slots timings), the inbound may arrive early, the drive from the airport might be short.... there are all sorts of variables mean that sometimes crews "cross" in the hotel lobby, but it's not the norm.
