For the aviation fans

[kosmonooit]

I did the daytime from Europe once on Air Portugal, all the pax wanted the window shutters closed and I had to fight to keep mine open. I have always enjoyed the last part of the flight over Europe in the morning, esp. if the Alps are involved, then all the landscapes in summer, used to prefer Air France when I used to travel to Europe on a regular basis.

 

Singapore have started a daytime flight now, but bar Madagascar,, Reunion  and Mauritius  there is not much to see, and unless you are stopping over in Singapore there is not much point for me to use that, perhaps less pax though which is always a plus as far as I am concerned.  You do get a bit of Madagascar in  daylight on the outbound flight which leaves ORT at13h30

 

I think KLM still do a daytime flight here, I have seen it coming in on FR

Edited April 20, 2019 by kosmonooit

[Bonus]

I flew TAP from LIS to JNB once on a Lockheed Tristar. We left Lisbon very late at night, close to midnight iirc and so the last two thirds of the flight were in daylight. We landed in Brazzaville in the Congo to drop off/pick up pax then flew on to JNB.

[kosmonooit]

I flew TAP from LIS to JNB once on a Lockheed Tristar. We left Lisbon very late at night, close to midnight iirc and so the last two thirds of the flight were in daylight. We landed in Brazzaville in the Congo to drop off/pick up pax then flew on to JNB.

 

We came back via Maputo, and the aircraft was packed on both legs. I had just been to a week long music festival (camping)  and things were getting smelly... and I was center seat in the center row. GRIM is an understatement.

[Bonus]

This video came out some years ago. A flight from JNB to MPM with a camera fitted to the nose wheel of the plane.

 

One of my favs :-)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DcoVBj7pyU

[Lotus]

How the Boeing 737 Max Disaster Looks to a Software Developer

An excellent article, by a software and aviation writer. See why the plane of the future will only have 1 pilot and a dog in the cockpit.

 

https://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/aviation/how-the-boeing-737-max-disaster-looks-to-a-software-developer

[MrJacques]

How the Boeing 737 Max Disaster Looks to a Software Developer

An excellent article, by a software and aviation writer. See why the plane of the future will only have 1 pilot and a dog in the cockpit.

 

https://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/aviation/how-the-boeing-737-max-disaster-looks-to-a-software-developer

 

 

But who will be the one flying the plane?

[Lotus]

But who will be the one flying the plane?

Spoiler avoidance system (SAS) alert - you have to read the article for the answer!

Edited April 21, 2019 by Lotus

[Robbie Stewart]

I had a night flight from Kinshasa to Johannesburg a few years ago, and as we came over Botswana, there was a thunderstorm to our left, about 30km away. Absolutely spectacular to see the lightning show from above. That was a moment I will cherish.

[mazambaan]

Nice pictures thanks. Flying over the Arctic then Alaska in summer was a great experience - clear weather and I imagine Antarctica to be spectacular as well.  All that empty remoteness

 

A cycling pilot or piloting cyclist from the sandpit tells me he keeps a sharp eye open near the Horn of Africa. Too many uncertain ATC's and pilots for his liking.

[Lotus]

Something going on here. Heard this flight passing low over the house just now. Seems it took off then turned back quickly, now circling over Suikerbosrand. Burning fuel off to land a bit lighter?

 

 

Edited April 24, 2019 by Lotus

[Lotus]

FA281 now gets moved out of the way to let Iberia in?

 

[Lotus]

And they're back where they started from. Interested to know what causes this kind of event. Sqawk?

 

[Spokey]

Technical or even medical event that precluded the long trip to Spain. Clearly not serious enough for an immediate return but enough of a problem to dump fuel and head back. Either way, pretty shite for the pax, but safety first!

 

Will be interesting to hear the reason.

[kosmonooit]

Well spotted!  

 

Looking the replay on FR, it seems not to have climbed much higher than 10000ft after take off even while still heading NW en route (334 deg) before turning back over Harties.

 

I don't know what the point of those three steep turn circles were over Suikerbosrand, thats generally the area of the approach/ long finals into FAJS not quite a holding pattern area. How much fuel can you burn in 10 mins? then track east before another tight turn before getting back on to finals, just about  over Rand 7600ft, just over 2400 ft AGL

 

Weird.

 

 

Perhaps a technical? flaps, gear,

Edited April 24, 2019 by kosmonooit

[Bonus]

Gear not retracting, pax with a heart attack.....

 

Usually it's a case of dumping fuel more than burning off fuel. Just until they get down to the max weight that the undercarriage can safely land with. Certainly an expensive exercise.

[Lotus]

Well spotted!  

 

Looking the replay on FR, it seems not to have climbed much higher than 10000ft after take off even while still heading NW en route (334 deg) before turning back over Harties.

 

I don't know what the point of those three steep turn circles were over Suikerbosrand, thats generally the area of the approach/ long finals into FAJS not quite a holding pattern area. How much fuel can you burn in 10 mins? then track east before another tight turn before getting back on to finals, just about  over Rand 7600ft, just over 2400 ft AGL

 

Weird.

 

 

Perhaps a technical? flaps, gear,

Those tight turns over Suikerbosrand would suggest that the zebras and wildebeest got a kerosene shower. Or does it vaporise before it hits the ground, even from that low altitude?

Edited April 25, 2019 by Lotus