World Cup, BA and PR
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Thanks to all who responded to my post. I never thought this bit of trivia would extend to a second page of posts. I was pleased to see that the great majority of respondents felt that my request was quite legitimate and normally would likely have been answered, subject to operational conditions. I suspected as much, as pax in N American airspace are often kept abreast of the score in major sports events. Guess I was unlucky to have a captain who was a stickler for the rulebook.
More PR like this compensates just a little for the loss of flight deck visit priviliges since 9/11, which flying enthusiasts like myself enjoyed so much, remembered vividly years later, and looked forward to (if vainly, sometimes) on every long-haul flight. Will they ever be granted again?
Rockhound
More PR like this compensates just a little for the loss of flight deck visit priviliges since 9/11, which flying enthusiasts like myself enjoyed so much, remembered vividly years later, and looked forward to (if vainly, sometimes) on every long-haul flight. Will they ever be granted again?
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Hug;
That is the part were you got confused (or confused us...). Both are separate accidents.
You mention the famous Varig flight. You don't seem clear about the details, however. Both pilots were listening to the football commentary. When the "Pull Up" command came, one said "Shut up, Gringo" and disabled it.
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Hugmonster.....<<Of course safety has to come first. You mention the famous Varig flight. You don't seem clear about the details, however. Both pilots were listening to the football commentary. When the "Pull Up" command came, one said "Shut up, Gringo" and disabled it. I don't know what your definition of "impeccably" is, but I hope you were being sarcastic. "Impeccable" that is not. >>.....you plainly do not know what you are talking about. The incident I was referring too was the pilots on a 737 in Brazil listening to a football match and going in completely the wrong direction and running out of fuel and crashlanding in the jungle.
I still think we should be more professional. We are NOT a sports results service period!
I still think we should be more professional. We are NOT a sports results service period!
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Perhaps, just perhaps, a crew might not feel the need to listen to a match if they could just get a quick update from an ATCO instead - then they wouldn't crash, as they could then get on with being professional! 
No, notso, we're not a results service. Instead, we are part of a team dedicated to getting our passengers from A to B in safety and comfort. Nothing more. God forbid that we should actually consider their journey to be more fun and enjoyable, and take a little time out if we're not doing anything and nor is ATC. We might lose the image of being untouchable skygods! Oh - and the FO isn't there for fun, either. If he cracks a joke, it is definitely bad form to laugh at it. He might think he's your equal - very unprofessional. All communication between the two pilots should be operational only. It would, of course, be extremely unprofessional to say anything at all to the cabin crew beyond what is strictly necessary for the purposes of the flight.
For heaven's sake, notso, loosen the sphincter a little. If the pax have a good time, they're more likely to come back. If they think you're an uptight anal retentive who relies on being stuffy and pompous (of course I'm not saying this about you!) they will look elsewhere next time.
No, notso, we're not a results service. Instead, we are part of a team dedicated to getting our passengers from A to B in safety and comfort. Nothing more. God forbid that we should actually consider their journey to be more fun and enjoyable, and take a little time out if we're not doing anything and nor is ATC. We might lose the image of being untouchable skygods! Oh - and the FO isn't there for fun, either. If he cracks a joke, it is definitely bad form to laugh at it. He might think he's your equal - very unprofessional. All communication between the two pilots should be operational only. It would, of course, be extremely unprofessional to say anything at all to the cabin crew beyond what is strictly necessary for the purposes of the flight.
For heaven's sake, notso, loosen the sphincter a little. If the pax have a good time, they're more likely to come back. If they think you're an uptight anal retentive who relies on being stuffy and pompous (of course I'm not saying this about you!) they will look elsewhere next time.
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To any BMI pilots out there;
every time I pass through T1 there is an almighty great big ad for BMI showing a smiling pax whose main cause for joy is that even though he was at 30000ft, BMI had just got him the footy results.
In BA we have been told we must not under any circumstances use ACARS for obtaining sports results. ATC time is too precious to give out results, and you shouldn't be listening to the radio while flying.
Now I know how I do it (bending a few rules along the way) but if this is a service actively encouraged by BMI, then how do you get the results? Do you have SOPs pertaining to the acquisition of results?
every time I pass through T1 there is an almighty great big ad for BMI showing a smiling pax whose main cause for joy is that even though he was at 30000ft, BMI had just got him the footy results.
In BA we have been told we must not under any circumstances use ACARS for obtaining sports results. ATC time is too precious to give out results, and you shouldn't be listening to the radio while flying.
Now I know how I do it (bending a few rules along the way) but if this is a service actively encouraged by BMI, then how do you get the results? Do you have SOPs pertaining to the acquisition of results?
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Three-nil
As a little experiment yesterday, I got the results and PA'd them with my pre-arrival PA. During disembarkation, I stood (as usual) at the door to bid the travelling public farewell.
Positive comments about footie results: NIL
Adverse comments about footie results: THREE (including two along the lines of "thanks for spoiling that, I'm on my way home to watch it")
Lesson: unclear, something involving "all of the people, all of the time"...
(thanks to the Ryanair aircraft who passed it on to us BTW, no use of ACARS, company freq, HF, etc required!!!)
Positive comments about footie results: NIL
Adverse comments about footie results: THREE (including two along the lines of "thanks for spoiling that, I'm on my way home to watch it")
Lesson: unclear, something involving "all of the people, all of the time"...
(thanks to the Ryanair aircraft who passed it on to us BTW, no use of ACARS, company freq, HF, etc required!!!)
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5milesbaby,
Really appreciated London bloke announcing results on frequency today during a quiet spot - it saves umpteen questions to company every 30 secs - so that we can all announce the results to pax.
Really appreciated London bloke announcing results on frequency today during a quiet spot - it saves umpteen questions to company every 30 secs - so that we can all announce the results to pax.
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I think that the most likely explanation is that the Capt is not at all intersted in Football (I hear that this affliction is posssible!). But he should have made the effort.
The opportunities to pick up scores on a LHR-SVO are numerous. Spare a ADF for BBC 5 Live, spare a HF radio and pick up the results on BBC World Service during the news bulletins or passing Berlin, call the company frequency.
Flying back from Southern Africa yesterday during the England - Nigeria game, we got an update from the company frequency in Nairobi and heard the final results on the World Service. The pax were informed that the Cabin crew would have the result so happy bunnies all around.
Advised NOT to use ACARS (None over most of Africa anyway), I seem to remember a large European airline causing the ACARS system to crash by sending the World Cup Final 1998 to all its aircraft!
The opportunities to pick up scores on a LHR-SVO are numerous. Spare a ADF for BBC 5 Live, spare a HF radio and pick up the results on BBC World Service during the news bulletins or passing Berlin, call the company frequency.
Flying back from Southern Africa yesterday during the England - Nigeria game, we got an update from the company frequency in Nairobi and heard the final results on the World Service. The pax were informed that the Cabin crew would have the result so happy bunnies all around.
Advised NOT to use ACARS (None over most of Africa anyway), I seem to remember a large European airline causing the ACARS system to crash by sending the World Cup Final 1998 to all its aircraft!
Paxing All Over The World
You may be glad to know that it is not just aircraft that are endangered by football ...
Some years ago an Italian cruise ship rammed another boat in dense fog in the Med. Not sure if there was loss of life but certainly embarassment when it was discovered that a TV set was rigged up on the bridge so that they could watch the Italian national team play football
A friend of mine told me that, on a recent STN to NCL on GO, she had a Coke thrown over by an angry football fan - he was aiming at the stewardess, as she had just told the people on the other side of the aisle the score in a key Newcastle match, which he had taped to watch later!
Some years ago an Italian cruise ship rammed another boat in dense fog in the Med. Not sure if there was loss of life but certainly embarassment when it was discovered that a TV set was rigged up on the bridge so that they could watch the Italian national team play football
A friend of mine told me that, on a recent STN to NCL on GO, she had a Coke thrown over by an angry football fan - he was aiming at the stewardess, as she had just told the people on the other side of the aisle the score in a key Newcastle match, which he had taped to watch later!
Last edited by PAXboy; 15th Jun 2002 at 18:02.
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DM (the danish arm) actively advertised to the public that they would immidiately relay soccer results involving the danish team (now history) to all aircraft in the air. If (when) denmark scored the drinks trolley would make an extra round.
On all boeing schedules flights on the day of a danish match a special cake showing the flag of the two countries playing was served to all.
Unfornunately this only lasted 4 matches.............
On all boeing schedules flights on the day of a danish match a special cake showing the flag of the two countries playing was served to all.
Unfornunately this only lasted 4 matches.............
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What's that old adage - you can please some of the people some of the time...........
PPRuNe Pop
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PPRuNe Pop
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On a recent JMC flight from Sicily, the FO announced over the PA system everytime England scored against Denmark, after each successive announcement the entire plane errupted in apllause and cheers and the crew certainly earned themselves some brownie points. DON'T BE SO BORING !!!
Flying back from Dubai on the day of the England - Nigeria match -
the crew broadcast the result only a few minutes after the game was schedule to end. A nice touch and it made the flight that little bit better - very good PR too as i am probably not the only person to have related this story.
the crew broadcast the result only a few minutes after the game was schedule to end. A nice touch and it made the flight that little bit better - very good PR too as i am probably not the only person to have related this story.
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Notso Fantastic and M.Mouse,
Because of several errors Varig 254 made an emergency landing in the jungle, however your opinions aren’t quite true.
Some facts, based on final report and informal talking with investigators:
PP-VMK, a Boeing 737-241, took-off from Maraba for a 40-minute flight to Belem. Unfortunately pilots made a mistake in setting a 270 degrees course instead of 027, basically due to a failure on Varig’s flight plan computer program that showed 4 digits for magnetic course (0270). To fly the correct course pilots had to disregard the last digit rather than the first one. That was the first error...
During approach preparation both pilots realized that something was wrong because they were unable to contact Belem Approach Control using VHF radios or receive any Belem navaid. Therefore, they didn’t have time to listening to a soccer game under that stressful situation. Additionally, when the airplane started its descent from cruise level, the 1st. half between Brazil x Chile had already finished.
The airplane flew for almost 2.5 hours until fuel exhaustion and the pilots tried to do everything as possible to find the correct way for a safe landing – yes they had also set ADFs using Belem broadcast, but do you really believe they were listening to that match lost in that dark night?
The airplane made its tragic landing almost 2 hours after the end of that game.
By the way, Bye-Bye England….Brasiiiillll 2-1
Because of several errors Varig 254 made an emergency landing in the jungle, however your opinions aren’t quite true.
Some facts, based on final report and informal talking with investigators:
PP-VMK, a Boeing 737-241, took-off from Maraba for a 40-minute flight to Belem. Unfortunately pilots made a mistake in setting a 270 degrees course instead of 027, basically due to a failure on Varig’s flight plan computer program that showed 4 digits for magnetic course (0270). To fly the correct course pilots had to disregard the last digit rather than the first one. That was the first error...
During approach preparation both pilots realized that something was wrong because they were unable to contact Belem Approach Control using VHF radios or receive any Belem navaid. Therefore, they didn’t have time to listening to a soccer game under that stressful situation. Additionally, when the airplane started its descent from cruise level, the 1st. half between Brazil x Chile had already finished.
The airplane flew for almost 2.5 hours until fuel exhaustion and the pilots tried to do everything as possible to find the correct way for a safe landing – yes they had also set ADFs using Belem broadcast, but do you really believe they were listening to that match lost in that dark night?
The airplane made its tragic landing almost 2 hours after the end of that game.
By the way, Bye-Bye England….Brasiiiillll 2-1
Last edited by Bokomoko; 21st Jun 2002 at 22:35.
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Congratulations Brazil, I hope you win it (against Germany in the final). I also hope Rivaldo can cure his tragic case of Multiple Sclerosis, the cheating mincer.
So there we have it, Brazilian pilots will go to great lengths to keep you up to date with the latest scores. British pilots cannot be relied upon for the 'results' but have yet to run out of fuel and be forced to make an emergency landing in the rainforest.
So there we have it, Brazilian pilots will go to great lengths to keep you up to date with the latest scores. British pilots cannot be relied upon for the 'results' but have yet to run out of fuel and be forced to make an emergency landing in the rainforest.
