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The great big "ask an airline pilot" thread!

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    #1502
    Boeing777
    Registered Users Posts: 699 ✭✭✭Boeing777


    This is quite a random question, but why do EI fly to Berlin Schöenfeld and not Tegel? I would've thought TXL is much closer to the city?


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    #1503
    donvito99
    Registered Users Posts: 5,818 ✭✭✭donvito99


    Boeing777 wrote: »
    This is quite a random question, but why do EI fly to Berlin Schöenfeld and not Tegel? I would've thought TXL is much closer to the city?

    Cheaper for them I'm guessing. And Schoenfeld is nicely covered by rail if I'm nt mistaken?


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    #1504
    Shamrock231
    Registered Users Posts: 726 ✭✭✭Shamrock231


    Schoenfeld is supposed to be the new main Berlin Airport (Brandenburg), but the opening has been delayed from 2012 until about 2016, after that point everyone will fly from SFX (BER).


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    #1505
    Tenger
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tenger


    Indeed. Not really a great idea to start flights to an airport that was planned to close 1-2 years later. And SXF also allows access to the Greater Berlin catchment area rather than just the city itself.

    Poor auld Air Berlin are getting badly stung by the BER delay. They had pinned their business strategy on the new airport being operational at this point.


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    #1506
    Shamrock231
    Registered Users Posts: 726 ✭✭✭Shamrock231


    Well IIRC it was supposed to be operational last October, everyone was ready to move, new flights had been launched due to the extra capacity at the airport and everything, the plan was in place to move all the airport vehicles over down the road, then about 3 weeks before hand they turned around and said "Nah, give us a few more years".


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    #1507
    pclancy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,939 ✭✭✭pclancy


    Please just questions from anyone and answers from pilots relating to the topic of "Ask an Airline Pilot"

    Cheers :)


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    #1508
    Kencollins
    Registered Users Posts: 567 ✭✭✭Kencollins


    Hi all,

    Im am an ATCO in Shannon and I have a question for the transatlantic pilots.

    When we hand you of to EGGX at 15W and issue a frequency like 127.9 do you disregard this totally if you are using FANS/CPDLC or do you still check in by voice first?

    Ken


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    #1509
    Suasdaguna1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 525 ✭✭✭Suasdaguna1


    Kencollins wrote: »
    Hi all,

    Im am an ATCO in Shannon and I have a question for the transatlantic pilots.

    When we hand you of to EGGX at 15W and issue a frequency like 127.9 do you disregard this totally if you are using FANS/CPDLC or do you still check in by voice first?

    Ken

    Ken I thought you'd know this one. NO we don't disregard.....127.9 is Shanwick VHF and we check in saying "xxx123 CPDLC, track B , Gander next, standing by HF assignment." They come back with Shanwick HF freqs and Gander HF frees who we contact at 30w. In the meantime we get a selcal from Shanwick on HF, put VHF1 on 121.5 and VHF2 on 123.45. 30mins inside oceanic entry we recycle our squawk to 2000.

    Prior to oceanic we will know from our DCDU I think they call it whether we have a lock on with EGGX re CPDLC and like an ADS connection. At 30W it disconnects auto from Shanwick and connects to Gander oceanic....well that's the plan!. TBH it's the best bit of kit ever and saves all the bullish!t of HF calls for mundane position reports. Also especially routing on Southerly latitudes in the mid Atlantic, HF reports can be a curse with skip distance, attenuation, blank spots etc......


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    #1510
    Kencollins
    Registered Users Posts: 567 ✭✭✭Kencollins


    us ATCOs don't know everything!

    So even if you are CPDLC or ADS, you still check in by voice first?

    If you are connected to EISN CPDLC the next data authority message gets sent before transfer, and as you say, all going well it will auto log on to EGGX.

    I don't know where I got it from but I had always thought the voice report at 15W would be removed if CPDLC was in place.


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    #1511
    basill
    Registered Users Posts: 1,348 ✭✭✭basill


    The VHF call is another part of the system to try and prevent a gross navigation error on the tracks. By us making the standard call as described above it is hoped that the pilots will do another check to ensure that what is on the clearance is actually in the "box". Also in order to maintain a selcal watch and to not listen into HF for the entire crossing we must get a selcal check. This becomes critical should we need to declare a pan or mayday on the tracks as the initial action is to send the distress or urgency via cpdlc but you will be selcalled pretty quick smart by gander, shanwick, NY etc and then issued reclearances via voice as necessary.


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    #1512
    James74
    Registered Users Posts: 960 ✭✭✭James74


    Suasdaguna1 wrote: »
    ...127.9 is Shanwick VHF and we check in saying "xxx123 CPDLC, track B , Gander next, standing by HF assignment." ....we get a selcal from Shanwick on HF, put VHF1 on 121.5 and VHF2 on 123.45. 30mins inside oceanic entry we recycle our squawk to 2000.

    ...we have a lock on with EGGX re CPDLC and like an ADS connection.


    I just want you to know that from my point of view as a complete illiterate, aviation ignorant, but interested lurker here... this is probably the single greatest thing I have ever read on Boards. I have little to no idea what it means but my internal 12 year old and my Y chromosome are thanking me for reading it. In my mind this post is accompanied by Kenny Loggins and it makes me happy :D


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    #1513
    Stallingrad
    Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭Stallingrad


    Loving this thread too!

    Here's one, not sure if it's been asked, but what is the procedure for starting a jet? Are there keys, are they immobilized? :) Are the plane doors locked on the tarmac? Just wondering what is to stop disgruntled ground crew taking one for a spin!


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    #1514
    smurfjed
    Registered Users Posts: 10,039 ✭✭✭✭smurfjed


    Just wondering what is to stop disgruntled ground crew taking one for a spin!
    Considering the number of aircraft that are repossessed by owners etc, you can imagine that its not too difficult to move one if you have an idea of what you are doing.


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    #1515
    crazygeryy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,065 ✭✭✭crazygeryy


    bit of a weird one but someone might know.

    what is the name for the "kite" like thing at mainly small airports that gauges how soft or strong the wind is?
    its shaped like a tube that has a big opening at one end(where the wind goes in) and small opening at the other end and is attached to a stick thats stuck into the ground.

    god i hope im explaining this well enough.:rolleyes:


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    #1516
    Wise Old Elf
    Moderators Posts: 3,554 ✭✭✭Wise Old Elf


    crazygeryy wrote: »
    bit of a weird one but someone might know.

    what is the name for the "kite" like thing at mainly small airports that gauges how soft or strong the wind is?
    its shaped like a tube that has a big opening at one end(where the wind goes in) and small opening at the other end and is attached to a stick thats stuck into the ground.

    god i hope im explaining this well enough.:rolleyes:

    Sounds like a windsock... (can't link a pic so wiki with a pic below).
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsock


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    #1517
    crazygeryy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,065 ✭✭✭crazygeryy


    Disco Stuart wrote: »
    Sounds like a windsock... (can't link a pic so wiki with a pic below).
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsock

    yes thats the one thankyou.
    just wanted to know the name for it.


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    #1518
    Tenger
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tenger


    crazygeryy wrote: »
    .......its shaped like a tube that has a big opening at one end(where the wind goes in) and small opening at the other end and is attached to a stick thats stuck into the ground.

    god i hope im explaining this well enough....
    You pretty much nailed that description....


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    #1519
    adam88
    Registered Users Posts: 1,599 ✭✭✭adam88


    Stallingrad wrote: »
    Loving this thread too!

    Here's one, not sure if it's been asked, but what is the procedure for starting a jet? Are there keys, are they immobilized? :) Are the plane doors locked on the tarmac? Just wondering what is to stop disgruntled ground crew taking one for a spin!

    Would like to know the answer to this as well!!!!


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    #1520
    smurfjed
    Registered Users Posts: 10,039 ✭✭✭✭smurfjed


    Keys = yes, immobiliser = yes, locked = yes...... not to mention motion detectors, video camera's, wifi reporting and at least in our case, a man with a big bloody gun :)


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    #1521
    NewSigGuy
    Registered Users Posts: 179 ✭✭NewSigGuy


    With my crowd the aircraft are never on the ground long enough, they average over 18hrs airborne per day. There's only time to change crew, add fuel and catering for the next sector...


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    #1522
    Stallingrad
    Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭Stallingrad


    smurfjed wrote: »
    Keys = yes, immobiliser = yes, locked = yes...... not to mention motion detectors, video camera's, wifi reporting and at least in our case, a man with a big bloody gun :)

    I guess I'm thinking off you average Ryanair 737 parked overnight. Is the main door really locked, hard to believe a key is used, seems a bit low tech, never saw a keyhole?!


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    #1523
    dukedalton
    Registered Users Posts: 404 ✭✭dukedalton


    I'm not sure if this is something that's always been there and I'm only now noticing it, but can anyone tell me what the "hump" is on the roof of aircraft is?(excuse my non-technical language) I've noticed them recently particularly on long haul aircraft. I've attached a picture of an Aer Lingus A330 with such a feature.


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    #1524
    IRLConor
    Subscribers Posts: 4,075 ✭✭✭IRLConor


    dukedalton wrote: »
    I'm not sure if this is something that's always been there and I'm only now noticing it, but can anyone tell me what the "hump" is on the roof of aircraft is?(excuse my non-technical language) I've noticed them recently particularly on long haul aircraft. I've attached a picture of an Aer Lingus A330 with such a feature.

    That's the new antenna for the WiFi service they haven't launched yet.


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    #1525
    NewSigGuy
    Registered Users Posts: 179 ✭✭NewSigGuy


    IRLConor wrote: »
    That's the new antenna for the WiFi service they haven't launched yet.

    It's a Satcom Antenna.


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    #1526
    basill
    Registered Users Posts: 1,348 ✭✭✭basill


    If your referring to the big white bulb on the top rear of the fuselage then its the wifi. VHF 3 is located near it which has caused no end of problems for the engineers in rectifying comms issues. The Satcom is located on top of the fuselage near the front of the aircraft. All per my FCOMs - DSC20-20 refers.


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    #1527
    Suasdaguna1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 525 ✭✭✭Suasdaguna1


    basill wrote: »
    If your referring to the big white bulb on the top rear of the fuselage then its the wifi. VHF 3 is located near it which has caused no end of problems for the engineers in rectifying comms issues. The Satcom is located on top of the fuselage near the front of the aircraft. All per my FCOMs - DSC20-20 refers.

    A big yawn


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    #1528
    NewSigGuy
    Registered Users Posts: 179 ✭✭NewSigGuy


    basill wrote: »
    If your referring to the big white bulb on the top rear of the fuselage then its the wifi. VHF 3 is located near it which has caused no end of problems for the engineers in rectifying comms issues. The Satcom is located on top of the fuselage near the front of the aircraft. All per my FCOMs - DSC20-20 refers.

    Looks very like a Satcom Antenna, the WiFi antenna is also located in the same location


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    #1529
    smurfjed
    Registered Users Posts: 10,039 ✭✭✭✭smurfjed


    9708606047_8931b84da0_c.jpg
    Most days are great, some others are just awesome :)


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    #1530
    Shamrock231
    Registered Users Posts: 726 ✭✭✭Shamrock231


    smurfjed wrote: »
    [url]<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/9708606047_8931b84da0_c.jpg&quot; width="689" height="800" alt="Shannon"></a>[/url]

    Most days are great, some others are just awesome :)

    Go on, give us a hint... :pac: :P


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    #1531
    eatmyshorts
    Closed Accounts Posts: 821 ✭✭✭eatmyshorts


    Shamrock231 wrote: »
    Go on, give us a hint... :pac: :P

    Screen shot of the EFB map display.
    Which model is that smurfjed?


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