Part 1
On April the 12th, 2001, at 11am I was sitting waiting for what was
to be my first ride in a 717. A very good way it seems to go to Brisbane.
A memorable event if you may, about to take place. I had myself dressed
in a smart casual look, rehursing my lines to try and get a jumpseat ride.
The departure time drew close... but no sign of any 717's. A DJ 734 pulled
in... and a second. then the first left... Departure time came and went.
The Impulse people however kept us updated saying that the aircraft had
not yet arrived and that the flight would be delayed. Finaly a single 717,
I believe VH-LAX, pulled in. The people got off and... a flight to Melbourne
was announced as boarding. Well I bought a newspaper and read about Ansett's
woes. Soon however I looked up to see a wonderfull sight indeed. VH-VQA
in all it's blue and cockatoo glory pull in. Turn into the Domestic 4 apron,
and proceed to taxi straight ahead to "gate" one. I was looking at my boarding
pass which read gate 4 and shrugged it off... but no, it's a gate change!
I jumped up straight away and headed over. I was the first one (along
with the {my} paranoid mother) to get out the door of the terminal building.
And into the aircraft. First one on board. I ask for the jumpseat and it
is.... A training flight. *Excuses excuces I say*
Well we take off on runway 16L and head for YBBN. and into cruise I
ask to go to the front, advertizing that "I was the one who asked for the
jumpseat earlier" I am again reminded that it is a Training flight, but
I am welcome to visit the front. and so I do. There I meet Lindsey and
Scott... and what do you know? Scott is a first time out of the sim F/O
in training... I take that smart alec thought back! <g>
and what a visit it is! at least 20 minutes, probably more like 30.
Not only do I get to see the front office, but I also see Lindsey show
Scott how to reprogram the 717 FMS. He shows how to make a curve between
2 points rather than a straight line (and also how to make the FMS chuck
a spaz because part of the flight plan isn't joined up to the other part
<g>). Scott kept saying that "the guys at the sim" hadn't shown him
something in regards to this. Lindsey seemed to be at the end of giving
Scott a "quiz" (for anyone who watched the "Georgie" episode of Airline
you probably get what I mean) and Scott was buisy writing down numbers
on a table. They were deciding on their approach and landing speed which
if I remember correctly was approaching at 137 knots with the Vref at 127kts.
Once this is all done, Lindsey then proceeds to give ME a lesson on the
sub-systems on the 717, showing me all the modes on the MFD. Fuel management,
air pressure (and the pressure in the cabin was 6380ft or so) hydraulic,
electrical and all sorts of wonderfull gizmos. He also says that the 717
is an old McDonnel douglas design given new avionics and engines and cockpit.
This was after I made a comment that I noted the cockpit was quite small,
compared even to the 734. Lindsey then said that it's a rather narrow body,
and has one less row of seats than the 737 (numbered A,C,D,E and F by the
way). He also said that the Impulse 717's were much newer aircraft, and
"much better than anything Ansett has... no cracks" Funny bloke <g>.
After cracking a couple Ansett jokes and making Scott giggle to himself
over there in the right, Scott talked to ATC and said something about delaying
the decent. Lindsey explained that they were going to delay the decent
for a little whyle to stay at high speed to catch up time, and that the
Aircraft had been delayed earlier in Newcastle and they were trying to
catch up time, but of course we can't catch enough time since the flight
left an hour late.
Then I asked a question why the autopilot was showing a different (lower)
altitude than the FL330 which we are flying. Explains that he's got the
auto holding FL330, and when he pushes this knob (points) that it will
begin decent to the selected altitude on the Autopilot display (which was
25,000)
I then point out that I'v noticed that were going for a Coolangatta
5 arrival for 19. He then explains the approach needs a curve and that
just before they were programming the curve into the FMS. I then point
out that I can see where approaching a waypoint, and can see waypoint TOJAM
up ahead. I think he started making a comment which was probably going
to be humorous but was cut off when ATC started giving instructions. He
then hit the afore mentioned Knob to begin decent, and then Scott talked
again to ATC about making a high speed decent. Lindsey then said that they
were going to make a high speed decent to try and make up some lost time,
and that they would go to 320IAS as soon as it was available. pointed to
the speed bar, and you could see a red "tape" beginning at around 325 IAS
which I guess is max airspeed, and also a orange "tape" which was at around
310 IAS which I assumed was the max mach speed of the aircraft.
Lindsey then said that as this was to be Scott's first 717 landing
that I had to go back to the back, they all seemed cheerfull and both Scott
and Lindsey shook my hand before I turned around and back. Quite an experience,
even without a landing!
the decent was rather fast, and then coming down through what I guess
was 10,000 ft, quite a large use of spoiler was employed, which lasted
I would say about 2 minutes, right untill the gear came down. I would imagine
they banked the plane at near 40 degrees left at NIFFA there into the final
(visual) approach into 19 (I'm looking at the Coolangatta5 arrival as I
write this). I was on the left side window seat and could see nothing but
water for near 20 seconds! I kept on saying that this would be a rather
hard way to start out with your first check ride in the 717 eh! (and by
the way the aircraft was modifying it's bank profile, I think it was being
hand flown at this point?) The aircraft was rightened, and after a few
quite noticable thrust changes later VH-VQA was bought into a firm but
even touchdown with the spoilers once again jumping up and the reversers
being deployed quite strongly for what it's worth. Touched down after seeing
the runway for a good 8-10 seconds (not too much before abeam the General
Aviation Maintenance Area), and vacated the runway off Alpha 5. A pretty
good first landing that Scott could be proud of I think.
and so was my first ride in the 717.
Well, at 1pm in Brisbane on the 16th of April, VH-SMH is graced with
my prescence <g>. Jumpseat question get's answered by the same way as
it was last time... Training flight.
Took off from runway 01 at Brisbane. uneventfull flight and then I
get to go up to meet Bob and Sam up front. Nothing really as interesting
as Lindsey managed, although we were cruising at FL250. I asked him why
so low? Because of winds up high, and some "rough stuff upstairs" Both
Bob and Sam were rather a quiet lot, and they mentioned that this was their
last leg of the day before they headed home. Perhaps the reason they wern't
talkitave <g>
Aparently they had a couple days off from here. Captain Bob pointed
out something he saw out the window, and so I looked... and saw what looked
like two big chimneys sticking up out of the ground.
I then, after a few moments of boring silence, mentioned that I was
a flight simulator inthusiest... desperate to create at least some form
of convisation I told him about satpac and such things. He respondid with
mild interest I think, but the sort of mild interest that you forget about
the moment you stop the conversation.
Well I then noticed that Sam had the IAL for runway 07 up. and I said
"so where landing 07 today? when I came up we took off on 16L" Bob then
answered that 34's were being used for takeoff and 07 for landing in the
current config. He also said that "Even though where on time as such, where
going to try and get in quickly so as to get in early because it helps
the next crew and keeps things going over the easter period, minimizing
delays with the aircraft later on." or words to that effect.
well it was soon time for them to begin decent, and they kicked me
out <g>
the aircraft slowed down as I came to my seat. and semed to pitch up
somewhat. then we turned left. and started decent. not long after this
the aircraft turned right and sped up, then about 5 minutes after the right
turn, began a long sweeping left turn... I began thinking that we were
going into a holding pattern, when Bob came on the intercom saying that
due to a runway change at Sydney, the flight's arrival would be slightly
delayed, but he would try to keep up as much time as possible for probably
an on time arival at Sydney.
Some spoiler again in the decent, and a nice view of the Hawkesbury,
flaps down a few slots, a right turn, all flaps down, then a complete idiot
a few rows in front of me recieves a bl**dy SMS on a mobile phone! This
is like on decent to 3000ft and about to reverse direction to intecept
the centreline of 34R! a concerned passenger gives him a bollocking *TURN
IT OFF... OFFF!!!* the 5 rows behind and in front of him give him evil
stares and I think he turned it off. The gear comes down and 2 right turns
and I can see the whole south coast down near as far as Woolongong... and
all the mist/fog/haze which coveres it <g>
The landing was rather average in my opinion, but typical of a crosswind
landing. each wheel touching down one at a time. Left main, Right main,
Nose...
The flight was around 15 minutes late into Sydney... that's alright,
cos it left on time and I got an extra 15 minutes in the air <g>
Best airline: Impulse
Best Aircraft: 717 VH-VQA
Best airport: YSSY (hoo rah!)
Best hosties: Impulse
Best Cockpit Visit: Impulse (Sy-Bn sector)
Best Landing: 737-338 by Captain ???
Friendliest Captain: Lindsey (and F/O Scott)
Most exciting approach: 717 into Brisbane rwy 19 with Scott at the
controlls