Gents can we please observe COC Rule 14 and not directly quote the post above unless breaking it down. As a standard please just click Reply and not Reply with Quote. Thanks

Am I right in saying due to rostering, crews only find out who they’ll be flying with days before they fly (or even on the day that they fly) – perhaps Deano can give an insight? But if this is the case then you’re telling me all the crew were convinced to go along with a hijacking plot within the space of 5-48 hours without a single one reporting anything to the police?

Matt I only just saw this but it depends on the airline and what system they use. We use a system called AIMS, which is a worldwide system and you can see who you are flying with within a roster period. The only caveat to that is that this system to see who you’re flying with in the “future” can be disabled.

Similar with transponders that except for the new style push button transponders it is normal practice after handing off from one airspace and before getting a new transponder code to switch to standby until a new code is inputted.

Not the case with all modern transponders. There’s usually a standby display that you can input the new squawk code into then you simply move it up to the active position.

I’ve seen on PPrune…and other discussions of the crash by non-aviation people…people asking if the plane could have hit the water and been swallowed whole, leaving no debris.
For those of you too young to remember, here’s video of a RAF Nimrod hitting Lake Ontario in 1995. Don’t view it if you’re sensitive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAcHCpaZpSk
So the short answer is…no, not even a strong modern jetliner can’t withstand an impact like that.

I don’t think anyone can say for certain about the crash mapping of a B777 because it is mainly composite material. Nobody knows how it wold break up in a ditching or high speed entry into water.

Dropping the pressure is only a possible technique on freighters. It is not a valid technique when you have passengers and I doubt you’ll find it in an airlines fire check list. First and foremost because you’ll kill the passengers. I find it hard to believe a captain with 33 years experience would resort to such action.

Sandy

With respect that is not true. Depressurising the aircraft is a valid way of removing smoke even in passenger aircraft. Here is a picture of our Fuselage Fire QRH Drill:

I completely agree with Bmused55. I’ve always been convinced this is another case of EgyptAir 990. Nothing else adds up.

I don’t think anyone should leave a conversation, we should all want to discuss topics because this is a discussion forum, so please reconsider, Derek.

Just going back to the winds that day in Manchester. The Q400 may appeared to have been coming in wings level because it actually was. Pilots have different techniques during crosswind landings; some like to fly cross controlled all the way to touchdown and some, including myself like to crab in all the way until about 30ft and then go wing down at that point. I was having a think about it whilst flying last night in only about 15kt crosswinds and that is basically what I do.
In most cases of the Q400 into wind main wheel touch first technique, the passengers don’t bat an eyelid because when it’s bad enough to have alot of bank on touchdown it normally means a pretty turbulent approach and they are normally only too pleased to be on the ground. You can tell because you can hear them when they get off saying “say thanks to the pilots”. In all my years of flying I have never heard of someone complain because of the bank angle on touchdown.
The Q400 is a bit of an animal to handle, if you mishandle it then it can bite you really bad but one thing it does well is handle turbulence and crosswinds very, very well indeed; c’est la vie.

Well Derek as I fly the damn things I can assure you that you do actually use that technique all the way to touchdown. So if you feel you’re more qualified to discount what I am saying then please share your wisdom with us.

Well out of the global 450 that are captains there are about 10 in my airline. I agree with Alan, I think the figures are rather dated.

Was driving with my two daughters in the back the car today, they are 8 & 9. My 8 year old said “Daddy I’m not sure I’m allowed to say this or not, shall I say it?” I told her to say it. She said “ok then, as long as you’re sure. We just drove past a bus stop, what does it mean when it says F%£$ police?”

I have to say it’s the first time I have ever heard my 8 year old come out with anything like that at all and I just had to hide my face behind my jacket because I was about to explode with laughter. She asked me if I was cold and I said yes. Haha.

Geoff

It isn’t my fight but just a different take on it without the ol’ mod’s hat on. Let’s say I posted that vile video that was doing the rounds of the Ken Bigley Beheading and put a warning on there that the content is offensive (amongst a whole host of other things). The issue is that there is no minimum age to which a forum member or guest has to be to be able to frequent these forums. What would happen if a minor (sub 10 years old, or any age for that matter) then clicked on the video and then watched it because they didn’t really understand the warning? Yes we adults have a choice because we understand, but an inquisitive minor might not have that luxury and that is the problem, this is a global, family forum.

As for angry

Not just angry today but angry every single time I see muppets in their cars flash fixed traffic lights to make them change to green. They then run over the padded sensors in the road, the traffic lights then turn to green and they drive away thinking their flashing has done the trick.