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On the Airbands
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Four of our “On the Airbands” readers have written to enquire: “What is Qantas 180, and where is it bound?” This flight is the recently inaugurated Tokyo/Darwin service. Equipment used is a Boeing 767-238, with the Tokyo departure on Monday evening, with an early morning Tuesday arrival in Darwin, followed by the continuation through to Sydney for a mid-morning arrival. The flight brings the total of Japan/Australia services to 32 a week. The first service was flown by VH-EAQ, commanded by Captain Noel Gordon, with First Officer Peter Campbell, and Second Officer Peter Mills. About the time you are reading this column, the aircraft flying the Qantas 180 service will be upgraded to a Boeing 767-338. On the subject of new things at Qantas, prior to now, all Qantas Satcoms equipped 747-400s were only involved in data transfer through computer terminals. Boeing 747-438 VH-OJQ has been fitted with Satfone capability, meaning high quality cabin voice and telephone communications can now be made. From an American reader, who wishes to remain unnamed within these pages, a story similar to one we came across some years ago involving our returning military from their Middle East service. They were being welcomed at Canberra’s Fairbairn Air Force Base by relatives, and some camels, specially arranged to “set the mood”. Apparently, one of the camels escaped and raised hell on the active runway! In this story, set at a fairly large airport in the American Midwest, a Chief Flying Instructor and student are holding on the runway in their Cessna 172, waiting for departing traffic on the cross runway. Suddenly, a deer runs out of nearby bushland, stops in the middle of the runway, and just stands there looking at them.
Twr: “Cessna Five Four Golf, Cleared For Takeoff.”
STUDENT: “What’ll I do Tower? There’s a deer in front of us.”
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Twr: “What Do You Think You Should Do?”
STUDENT: “Maybe if I taxi up to him it’ll scare him.”
Twr: “Good Idea!”
The Cessna taxis up towards the deer, but the deer is macho, and firmly holds his spot on the runway.
Twr: “I Say Again, Cessna 1-8-5-4-Golf, Clear For Takeoff Sir, Runway Three-Six!”
(now starting to lose patience) STUDENT: “What should I do Tower?”
Twr: “T-h-i-n-k!”
STUDENT: “I’m t-r-y-i-n-g to think” Then for no particular reason, the “flying” deer bolts for the woods from the active runway. Two seconds later ….
Twr: “Cessna Five Four Golf, Cleared For Departure Runway Three-Six. Caution, Wake Turbulence, Departing Deer!”
We’re jumping across the Atlantic now to Stanmore in Middlesex in the United Kingdom. The letter is from Ray Henman, who was monitoring Southend Tower and “National 676,” a freighter one morning, on his Signal Communications R-535 receiver.
Twr: “National 676, Cleared For Takeoff, Report Passing Two Thousand”
NATIONAL 676: “676 copy, we’ll report passing two thousand” Shortly afterwards ..
National 676: “Southend National 676 Is Passing Two Thousand On Climb To Two-Five-Zero”
Twr: “Thank You, Call London Control 128.6, Good Day Sir”
And while they are dialling up 128.6, they lost a door … yes, that’s right … a door!
National 676: “Mayday Mayday Mayday, London Control, This Is National 676, Four Miles West Of Southend, Two Thousand Five Hundred. I’ve Lost The Door, And Am Returning. We’re Climbing To Four Thousand, And Returning To Southend”
London Ctl: “National 676, London Control, Are You In Control Of The Aircraft?”
National 676: “No More Than Usual My Friend!”
Thanks to Ray Henman for the story. It just shows you how cool professional aircrew are. They can even find time to make light during an air emergency.
Bankstown Tower, 132.8 Mhz, Monitored By This Writer.
One lone Tomahawk is doing touch-and-go’s. There is no other aircraft in the circuit, and it’s nearing last light. The Tomahawk has done a lot of touch-and-go’s, and the controllers are clearly getting quite giddy watching them.
Twr: “How Many Circuits Are You Planning To Make?”
TOMAHAWK: “We’d like to do two or three more”
Twr: “Well, We Were Just Working Out Your Landing Fees, And Your Bill Is In Excess Of Thirteen Thousand Dollars Sir!”
A long pause … and then … TOMAHAWK: “Are you kidding? That was our last one!”
Twr: (Laughs) “Yair, Just Kidding.”
A very pleasant and much appreciated fax arrived at my office from Richard Alder, Aviation Manager, Aviation Services, Fire Management Branch, from the Victorian Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Richard alerts my attention to “On the Airbands” July ’94, where Anthony Galante monitored an AS350B, callsign “Firebird 02,” and identified it to us as a Navy helicopter. Richard explains that Anthony is not quite on the mark with that information. “Firebird 02” is an AS350B, but is apparently one of seven helicopters leased by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for bushfire control, and other natural resource management work. They in turn hire the helicopters to the Country Fire Authority of Victoria for use in their area of responsibility. “Firebird 02″ has recently flown substantial hours conducting high intensity controlled burning for forest regeneration in the highlands of eastern Victoria using the “Dragon” underslung aerial driptorch. This in turn is followed up with aerial seeding using helicopter mounted seeding equipment. Six of the seven helicopters (and seven of their fixed-wing fleet) went to Sydney for the horrendous January bushfires, along with 50 management and support personnel. “Firebird 02” was equipped with forward looking infrared, and the specially developed “ARMS” Automated Real Time Mapping System. This kit uses GPS, a computer, and ancillary equipment to automatically produce fire maps. This proved extremely valuable in the Sydney situation. Here are the callsigns of the helicopter fleet, courtesy of Richard Alder:
- “Firebird 01” Bell 206 Horsham or Moorabbin Jayrow;
- “Firebird 02″ AS350B Moorabbin Jayrow;
- “Firebird 03” Bell 206 Myrtleford or Moorabbin Jayrow;
- “Firebird 04” Bell 206 Bairnsdale or Moorabbin Jayrow;
- “Helitack 01″ Bell 412 Moorabbin (fire season) Lloyd;
- “Helitack 02” Bell 212 Benalla (fire season) Lloyd;
- “Helitack 03” Bell 212 Heyfield (fire season) Lloyd. As Richard Alder is renegotiating contracts with suppliers for the ten aircraft fixed wing fleet, which they use for firebombing and infrared surveillance, we won’t list the fixed wing component at this stage. Very interesting Richard. Thanks for taking the time to fax us! “Listening In to Aircraft Radio” is quickly selling out now, at $22.95 inc p&p. Available from Airband Communications, PO Box 16 Georges Hall NSW 2198.
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