Category Technical Crew

3 Interviews on Black Swans, Resilience & Oshkosh “Theater in the Woods”

17 July, 2015 · by · in Leadership, Management, Teamwork, Technical, Technical Crew, Training · 9 Comments

Report on Resilience “Resilience – Recovering pilots’ lost flying skills” The Royal Aeronautical Society, London has published the report that I produced after I opened the Flight Simulation Conference at the RAeS in London in November 2014. My report studies the flight safety statistics from 1942 until 2014 and the implications for flight simulation industry. The future […]

The Empirical Skeptic and Hacker

21 March, 2014 · by · in A380, Airbus, ATSB, Back Stories, Big Jets Book, Cabin Crew, Leadership, Management, Passengers, QF32 Story, Rolls-Royce, Teamwork, Technical, Technical Crew, Training · 8 Comments

Version 10 – July 2016 Viewers of  Air Crash Investigators program have asked me many questions including: Why didn’t we evacuate the A380 immediately after stopping on the runway in Singapore? What are my views about the Malaysian MH370 incident? My answers centre around how I gather, judge, store and use data. Empirical Skeptic I am […]

Back Story – QF32 page 261

16 November, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, QF32 Story, Technical, Technical Crew · 5 Comments

I have always welcomed robust debate and constructive criticism. Matthew Squair, a very intelligent expert in risk and safety systems (and a person whom I hold in the highest regard)  raises the question:  “Is there a role for military control checks in civilian aircraft?” This question opens up a very large topic! Food for thought. […]

Back Story – Air Traffic Controllers

20 October, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Management, QF32 Story, Teamwork, Technical Crew · 1 Comment

20 October – International Day of the Air Traffic Controller Today is the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the profession of Air Traffic Controllers to the safety of our aviation industry. Throughout my career I have trained, developed and worked along side this band of […]

Back Story QF32 p 124 – Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger

10 October, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Management, Psychological, QF32 Story, Reviews, Teamwork, Technical Crew · 5 Comments

I have just added one more memory to my list of life’s great experiences. I spent many hours yesterday with Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the captain of US Airways flight 1549 that successfully ditched in the Hudson in 2009 and the captain who saved the lives of 155 passengers and crew. Sully is a quiet […]

Pheu!

10 September, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, QF32 Story, Richard de Crespigny, Technical Crew, Training · 8 Comments

I’ve just passed the third of my four annual (four hour) simulator checks for this year.  It is not a trivial effort – requiring two full weeks of considerable preparation. So now I have time to answer your (extensive) questions and publish more back stories.    Ensure you have entered your details at “FOLLOW BLOG […]

Photos – Mentors, Friends & Legends (not in the QF32 book) – John Bartels

3 September, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Management, QF32 Story, Teamwork, Technical Crew · Leave a comment

John Bartels (QF32 page 27) John – the Captain of QF30 that suffered an explosion of the oxygen cylinder on 25 July 2008.   John and his technical crew were faced with about 30 checklists to complete.  He diverted to and made a successful emergency landing at Manila airport. How did he manage this unprecedented event?   […]

Slingshot Effect (QF32 p 346)

22 August, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Big Jets Book, Technical, Technical Crew · Leave a comment

Editor’s Note I am pleased that this topic has generated much discussion in the pilot community.      Few readers understand if and why the Slingshot Effect exists which makes this topic is even more interesting.      Question QF32 reader John Reid asks: “The QF32’s appendix includes A380 specifications.   There is a statement […]

Welcome to the Big Jets Book discussion

20 August, 2012 · by · in A380, Airbus, ATSB, Back Stories, Big Jets Book, Careers, Leadership, Qantas, Qantas History, Resources, Rolls-Royce, Teamwork, Technical, Technical Crew, Training · Leave a comment

I am writing a book about big jets My definition of the big jets are those bigger than the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320.  Large corporate jets (Gulfstream and Cessna) are also included. For aspiring aviators who are pursuing a career flying Big Jets and for commercial aviation pilots, The Big Jets book provides an […]

Back Story QF32 p 016 & photos opposite p 135 – – Automation, Mechatronics

13 August, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, My Family, QF32 Story, Technical Crew · Leave a comment

Alexander is studying Mechatronics Engineering (computers, electronics, mechanical) at a university in Sydney, Australia. Alex has a passion for things that work and fly.  He is fortunate to be entering the workplace when the world is being transformed in a remarkable environment of discovery and innovation.  In particular, robots are enabling improved capabilities and efficiencies […]