SXDFC From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 2008 posts, RR: 19 Posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 8592 times:
I came across this old but facsinating documentary about a group of BA pilots flying a 742 between LHR and BKK. There is 5 parts of this documentary, also note later in the documentary a group of student pilots made fun of the then "brand new" Boeing 747-400.
Beany From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 181 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 8568 times:
Lynn Barton (the reserve FO) was the Captain of my BA 744 flight from Singapore to Heathrow in May 2006. She was also in charge of the first flight to arrive at Heathrow Terminal 5, commanding a 744 from Hong Kong in March last year.
TUNisia From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1834 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 8550 times:
I caught this program on You Tube a while back and enjoyed every second of it. Wish the BBC would produce programming this good again!
Remember the "Airport" series that took place at Heathrow with the guy who worked for Qantas? GOD, I loved those episodes, but they never released it on DVD. Only bits and pieces of episodes are scattered across You Tube.
Someday the sun will shine down on me in some faraway place - Mahalia Jackson
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11952 posts, RR: 37 Reply 3, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 8429 times:
I remember that programme; it was particularly good. I have always had a great affection for the old Classics and this is a good old blast from the past.
Many years ago, BA (and before them, BOAC) used to do promotional films of various acft types, including the VC10 and 707; they're a great part of aviation history. Unfortunately, they also show how much flying has changed - and not necessarily for the better.
Jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7345 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 8080 times:
Very interesting in the life of 747's before 744 at BA even had the lady Captain who flew the first 744 into teh new terminal 5 when she was a First Officer.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16819 posts, RR: 57 Reply 5, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 8041 times:
"With the recent world-wide expansion in air travel, there's a world-wide shortage of pilots. BA has recently launched a massive recruitment drive. Successful candidates come here to the BA flying college at Prestwick. The school expects to turn out over 100 qualified FO's a year. Many cadets come here at 18, having done A-levels (cut to shot of boy who looks like he hasn't started shaving yet wearing a cadet's uniform). In 70 weeks they're qualified to fly as FO on BA planes and can earn 23,000 pounds a year."
Krisyyz From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1575 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 8026 times:
I recently came across this great documentary on youtube. I found it be a nice "blast from the past", it was great seeing BA's B747 classics in action.
However I found the comments made by the Air traffic controller to be somewhat controversial. I still believe that the pilots are ultimately responsible for the control of their aircraft.
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 8002 times:
Quoting TUNisia (Reply 2): Remember the "Airport" series that took place at Heathrow with the guy who worked for Qantas? GOD, I loved those episodes, but they never released it on DVD
- I have always wondered by the BBC has not released that program on DVD. Would it be a money maker or would it not be worth their time?
David
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
FLY2HMO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7904 times:
Part 2 is very interesting. They talk a lot about pilot fatigue and mention several incidents where pilots just kept flying over their destinations (ring a bell?)
It's been 30 years since these documentaries were made, and yet little has been done to truly help mitigate pilot fatigue
413x3 From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 1983 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7904 times:
Quoting Krisyyz (Reply 6):
However I found the comments made by the Air traffic controller to be somewhat controversial. I still believe that the pilots are ultimately responsible for the control of their aircraft.
Just another disgruntled "I wish I was a pilot" that goes off about how little pilots do, how overpaid they are, etc.
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 7793 times:
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 4): Very interesting in the life of 747's before 744 at BA even had the lady Captain who flew the first 744 into teh new terminal 5 when she was a First Officer.
EIJFK From Ireland, joined Jul 2008, 119 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 7473 times:
Quoting FLY2HMO (Reply 9): Part 2 is very interesting. They talk a lot about pilot fatigue and mention several incidents where pilots just kept flying over their destinations (ring a bell?)
It's been 30 years since these documentaries were made, and yet little has been done to truly help mitigate pilot fatigue banghead
Same thing I was saying. It might have been me, but the comments seemed very blasé, like it was such a common issue that was easily rectified, and not something most passengers would be horrified to know!
Maddog888 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2007, 159 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 7361 times:
What I found interesting was the cockpit environment when descending. I never realized that pilots had to put up with such condensation problems. Was it a regular occurrence - the way the captain spoke certainly seemed to suggest that - and has it changed on more modern aircraft?
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11952 posts, RR: 37 Reply 16, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 7292 times:
Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 14): Have a look at "Tale of 2 Jumbos" as well, very interesting.
You can find them on the sidebar while watching "Jet Jockeys" and is a 3 part docu.
Yes, I was watching that last night (certainly better than anything on television); it was very well made ... certainly dated too; that livery must be from the late 70s/early 80s. I can't actually remember when it first came out, but I was certainly impressed by the level of detail that went (and no doubt still goes into) maintenance.
One thing that strikes me is that a lot of effort went into making these videos many years ago, but how much effort goes into this now? None. In 50 years' time, there will be something to remember the VC10s, 707s and 747 Classics, but probably very little to remember the (BA) 777s by.
Grimey From Ireland, joined Jun 2005, 434 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 6829 times:
Quoting Kaitak (Reply 16): One thing that strikes me is that a lot of effort went into making these videos many years ago, but how much effort goes into this now? None. In 50 years' time, there will be something to remember the VC10s, 707s and 747 Classics, but probably very little to remember the (BA) 777s by.
I agree, we will however have BBC programmes that try to investigate FR and all it will be is Mick O'Leary going on how many pax his airline is carrying.
There is a good book that I bought last year, From The Flight Deck Boeing 747 LHR-HGK. I think the flight is set in March 2001 but it is a very good insight into a long haul flight.
There is another DVD that I got last year which is about a VS flight LHR-SFO, its about 3 hours long but goes into a lot afo very good detail.
That BBC programme about BA B747-200 is very good, I thought it was funny how the captains wife was saying how it was hard to live half a year without her husband but when it showed him in Bangkok he was in a pub and then down a red light district. The air traffic controller didn't seem too happy with pilots, the crew on a B747 might have gone from 4 to 3 and then to just 2 but in the last 20 years since that was made the B747 crew remains at 2.
On another note RTE did a programme about an EI B747 crossing the atlantic during the 70's / 80's does anyone know where I could get my hands on that one?
Grimey From Ireland, joined Jun 2005, 434 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6722 times:
Quoting Grimey (Reply 17): On another note RTE did a programme about an EI B747 crossing the atlantic during the 70's / 80's does anyone know where I could get my hands on that one?
Found it on Youtube (from 1975......oh how things have changed)
413x3 From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 1983 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6583 times:
on the topic of documentaries, does anyone know where I can find the discovery channel special "The Secret World of Air Freight"??
Bojangles From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6508 times:
i love the bit at 5.00. The two old dears with their tin of sugar dusted, boiled travel sweets!! No glove compartment of a car driven by the over 65's was without one when I was growing up!
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11952 posts, RR: 37 Reply 24, posted (3 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 5023 times:
Quoting 1stfl94 (Reply 23): Interesting documentary. Never realised that BA flew direct LHR-BKK with the 747-200, I always thought that only started with the -400
The old -200s had fairly long legs, so they could do that; I don't think they could do SIN (at least, not without significant load constraints), but BKK was within limits.
Indeed, I recall that CX used to do LGW-HKG nonstop with its 742s and 743s and I remember that this really stretched them, because of the slightly shorter length of LGW's runway. (This was before CX got its LHR slots.)
25 MIAspotter: Yes, hard to imagine, even the most tiny screw is as important as the rudder or the engines. I wish they would make more videos like these for TV, ju
26 Midcon385: Great documentary, and so is "Tale of Two Jumbos" and the Aer Lingus one. Tim
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