Ask the BA Staffer and Heathrow ATC
May 23, 2012, 5:33 am
#1171
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cheshire / Wherever they send me
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I remember driving past Heathrow once when Concorde took off on my right hand side, the noise was deafening even in my double glazed car 
Lovely sight, though, to be overtaken by Concorde
Can't remember exactly where I was at the time, but I assume it must have been the Bath road at a location where there was enough of a gap in buildings to see the northern runway.,,
Lovely sight, though, to be overtaken by Concorde
Can't remember exactly where I was at the time, but I assume it must have been the Bath road at a location where there was enough of a gap in buildings to see the northern runway.,,
What always amazed me was that it made the building vibrate, such was the power of the engines.
T
May 23, 2012, 6:26 am
#1172
Join Date: Sep 2005
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May 23, 2012, 7:29 am
#1173
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cheshire / Wherever they send me
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Posts: 943
May 23, 2012, 6:52 pm
#1174
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,552
May 23, 2012, 9:58 pm
#1175
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Not the UK
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 70
Apologies for returning to such a depressing subject, but a couple more points to the question of getting out of an aircraft in an emergency. Sorry if this is a bit too detailed and graphic but as has already been said, forewarned is forearmed.
1. Keep your shoes on for take-off and landing. It never fails to amaze me how many regular fliers take their shoes off as soon as sitting down. Even in a "semi-normal" evacuation, you do not want to be running around the tarmac in your socks.
2. If you are in a window seat, keep the window blind open. What is happening outside the aircraft could be a big clue on which way you need to go. It may also let extra light into the cabin.
3. Headphones. Don't just take them out of your ears and leave them hanging. Take them out completely and tidy up and stow the cables. If you need to get out of there in a hurry, you do not want to find yourself tangled up in the arm rest. In a fire situation, even a small delay can make a difference. Same for other electrics.
4. Keep the floor clear. No papers discarded as you read them. Bags tucked well under the seat if applicable. No bag handles trailing from under the seat.
5. Back to awareness. Don't just count the rows to the nearest exit. Make sure you know how far it is to the alternatives both, in front and behind.
6. During an evacuation, if fire is present, grab something to cover your mouth and nose. If nothing is available, use the head rest cover. 99% of the time, the fumes will kill before the fire does.
7. Again, in a fire situation, try to keep as low as is safely possible without risking being trampled.
8. I always keep my jacket on for take off and landing, not only because I could suddenly find myself running around in the cold outside, but also because it offers some protection from flying debris.
9. And yet again, awareness. What can you see happening around you? Is one exit obviously blocked? Is there another you can use? Are the seats in front of you empty? If need be, can you push the backs down and go over the top? Bear in mind you may not be able to hear instructions from the crew. Apart from hearing being one of the first senses to go in a traumatic incident, the noise and confusion will possibly/probably be overwhelming.
10. And finally, I know it's something we bang on about all the time, but watch the demo. Make some plans. Ask questions about anything you are unsure of. Have a look at one of the main doors. How do they work? Could you open one if the crew are incapacitated? Know the aircraft you are travelling on. No crew member worth their salt will have any problem with answering your queries if you explain why you are asking.
Once again, apologies for being so graphic and possibly stating the obvious in some areas. The above tips, in most part, cover the possible worse case scenarios, something which thankfully, the vast majority of people will never encounter. They aren't intended to frighten people. But if, God forbid, one of us should find ourselves in that situation, they may just help
1. Keep your shoes on for take-off and landing. It never fails to amaze me how many regular fliers take their shoes off as soon as sitting down. Even in a "semi-normal" evacuation, you do not want to be running around the tarmac in your socks.
2. If you are in a window seat, keep the window blind open. What is happening outside the aircraft could be a big clue on which way you need to go. It may also let extra light into the cabin.
3. Headphones. Don't just take them out of your ears and leave them hanging. Take them out completely and tidy up and stow the cables. If you need to get out of there in a hurry, you do not want to find yourself tangled up in the arm rest. In a fire situation, even a small delay can make a difference. Same for other electrics.
4. Keep the floor clear. No papers discarded as you read them. Bags tucked well under the seat if applicable. No bag handles trailing from under the seat.
5. Back to awareness. Don't just count the rows to the nearest exit. Make sure you know how far it is to the alternatives both, in front and behind.
6. During an evacuation, if fire is present, grab something to cover your mouth and nose. If nothing is available, use the head rest cover. 99% of the time, the fumes will kill before the fire does.
7. Again, in a fire situation, try to keep as low as is safely possible without risking being trampled.
8. I always keep my jacket on for take off and landing, not only because I could suddenly find myself running around in the cold outside, but also because it offers some protection from flying debris.
9. And yet again, awareness. What can you see happening around you? Is one exit obviously blocked? Is there another you can use? Are the seats in front of you empty? If need be, can you push the backs down and go over the top? Bear in mind you may not be able to hear instructions from the crew. Apart from hearing being one of the first senses to go in a traumatic incident, the noise and confusion will possibly/probably be overwhelming.
10. And finally, I know it's something we bang on about all the time, but watch the demo. Make some plans. Ask questions about anything you are unsure of. Have a look at one of the main doors. How do they work? Could you open one if the crew are incapacitated? Know the aircraft you are travelling on. No crew member worth their salt will have any problem with answering your queries if you explain why you are asking.
Once again, apologies for being so graphic and possibly stating the obvious in some areas. The above tips, in most part, cover the possible worse case scenarios, something which thankfully, the vast majority of people will never encounter. They aren't intended to frighten people. But if, God forbid, one of us should find ourselves in that situation, they may just help
May 24, 2012, 12:23 am
#1176
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,669
Even with reheat engaged, the power of each Concorde engine (so thrust) is only just over half the thrust of the ones used on the 744's and about a third of the thrust of those used on the 773's. The difference is the fan bypass technology now used and no reheat required.
Just goes to show how much the world of jet engines has advanced when an engine of 2-3 times the thrust is so significantly quieter than the 1960s counterpart.
May 25, 2012, 5:32 pm
#1177
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Thanks for all the SSC memories!
May 29, 2012, 12:35 am
#1178
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,513
One for the cabin/flight crew. I understand the time you have down route is often very short. This seems a pity in some nice places I am sure. Is there an option to extend your time? I can imagine this may give operational problems for retun flights of course!
May 29, 2012, 12:55 am
#1179
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, LH M&M Member
Posts: 2,705
New routes - do pilots have familiarisation flights?
So the new LCY - IOM flight is up and running and it got me wondering whether pilots have familiarisation flights on these new routes so they know where to go, the waypoints, etc. (and get familiar with the destination airport)?
Or are the charts and airport plans so detailed and standard that any pilot can pick an aircraft he is qualified for and fly to any destination in range?
Or are the charts and airport plans so detailed and standard that any pilot can pick an aircraft he is qualified for and fly to any destination in range?
May 29, 2012, 1:42 am
#1180
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Join Date: Aug 2000
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(non-expert response)
Given that flight crew are familiar with flying duties in general and many routes and airports in particular and they need to be primed for (unfamilar?) diversion airports, I'd imagine a new route wouldn't need much familiarisation.
After all, Dean Martin and the other bloke were able to land a damaged 707 at diversion airport 'Lincoln International' in the Airport film. But that was over 40 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ-n3QTlId0
And Wonder Woman took off in a crashed Concorde and emergency landed in Paris, all without instruction, in The Concorde ... Airport '79 - mysteriously retitled Airport '80: The Concorde for Brits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU4Mg0t3czc
(from about 5:50 in)
[OK, I'm early with a bit of time to spare, hence the online searching ...]
Given that flight crew are familiar with flying duties in general and many routes and airports in particular and they need to be primed for (unfamilar?) diversion airports, I'd imagine a new route wouldn't need much familiarisation.
After all, Dean Martin and the other bloke were able to land a damaged 707 at diversion airport 'Lincoln International' in the Airport film. But that was over 40 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ-n3QTlId0
And Wonder Woman took off in a crashed Concorde and emergency landed in Paris, all without instruction, in The Concorde ... Airport '79 - mysteriously retitled Airport '80: The Concorde for Brits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU4Mg0t3czc
(from about 5:50 in)
[OK, I'm early with a bit of time to spare, hence the online searching ...]
May 29, 2012, 2:29 am
#1181
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,513
May 29, 2012, 2:32 am
#1182
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,228
No, pilots aren't given an induction on every route in the network. BA does have a procedure for risk assessing all new routes, and specific briefings, including videos for some airports, are prepared. One issue with the 777 wrong intersection takeoff was lack of familiarity (first time for both captain and FO) -and this was not a new route.
I think that places like GIB, INN etc (ie higher risk airports) do have either specific training or some sort of enhanced briefing mechanism.
Biggest issue for Ronaldsway is fog!
That's my understanding.
I think that places like GIB, INN etc (ie higher risk airports) do have either specific training or some sort of enhanced briefing mechanism.
Biggest issue for Ronaldsway is fog!
That's my understanding.
May 29, 2012, 3:09 am
#1183
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,669
(
And Wonder Woman took off in a crashed Concorde and emergency landed in Paris, all without instruction, in The Concorde ... Airport '79 - mysteriously retitled Airport '80: The Concorde for Brits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU4Mg0t3czc
(from about 5:50 in) ...]
And Wonder Woman took off in a crashed Concorde and emergency landed in Paris, all without instruction, in The Concorde ... Airport '79 - mysteriously retitled Airport '80: The Concorde for Brits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU4Mg0t3czc
(from about 5:50 in) ...]
May 29, 2012, 3:34 am
#1185
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
We do still get "Proving Flights" at London City before a new operator starts service, as they check out their procedures. These have generally disappeared elsewhere.