I was at a trade convention in Melbourne last week and the luncheon speaker was Captain De Crespigny. PIC of QF 32
As a pilot I was really looking forward to this, and I was not disappointed what a wonderful story. What a skilled pilot and listening to the actual recording from ATC cool as a cucumber.
Man, what a job these blokes had to get the aircraft back in one piece, a wonderful testament to the training at QANTAS. There was 3 Captains 1 first officer and a 2nd officer two of the Captains were check and training Captains. there was a total of 140 years of flying experience and a Combined total of 73,000 hours.
With over 600 of the 721 system down it would have been a friggin night mare in the ****pit. It was easier to establish what systems they had than to go through the check lists and see what they did not have.
Richard was kind enough to sign the book for me, I was stocked and after the lunch was over we had a yarn for about 5 mins it was a privilege to chat to this bloke.
He is just a down to earth pilot who enjoys the freedom we all feel when in the left hand seat. I would love to sit down and have a long chat over a few beers. :D
Certainly a remarkable ending to pending disaster. A lot of accidents are caused by the crew becoming fixated on a problem. There are many examples of this in aircraft accidents. The procedure is for one of the crew to fly the aircraft while the other attends to the problem. And that's what happened. Of course in this incident there were 6 pilots on the flight deck all able to give input. The other problem is the computerized systems controlling aircraft today. In my day, once you turned off the auto pilot, it was hand flying. Captain De Crespigny had a wealth of experience initially in the RAAF I believe, then flying various types before the glass ****pit was introduced. I noticed in the TV program that he flew the aircraft manually in accordance with procedures long past, and it was his actions, that saved what could have been one of the world's worst air disasters. Whilst he must be congratulated I'm sure he would say that he was only doing his job...
Yuglamron said
11:51 AM Aug 19, 2015
Isn't it always the same. "I was only doing what any-one else would do". From the guy recently who jumped into the Brisbane river to pull out the driver who ended up in the river, to another Tradie who rescued the baby dumped by the side of the road by a car thief recently.
Ordinary people who do extraordinary things just because.. Heroes every one of them.
Dougwe said
12:05 PM Aug 19, 2015
Well done Ron. It's always good to meet someone like that. I met a few in my previous life and will remember them always.
Delta18 said
02:12 PM Aug 19, 2015
Am I the only one that has NFI what a QF32 or a Crespigny is?
Maybe I have been under Doug's rock too long.
aussie_paul said
02:26 PM Aug 19, 2015
Delta18 wrote:
Am I the only one that has NFI what a QF32 or a Crespigny is?
Normally any flight related incidents get my attention, I must have been out 'bush' then.
Collo said
06:34 PM Aug 19, 2015
I have read de Crispigny's book and it is a truly remarkable story. A amazing feat of flying to get that aircraft back on the ground.
I gives me great reassuance that Qantas has such high levels of training and safety procedures in place.
Collo.
Nomes said
06:46 PM Aug 19, 2015
I love aeroplanes of all sizes, I picked up QF32 at an airport bookshop before a flight. I started reading it on the flight, read it on my holidays and finished it on the flight home.
It is the best book I have ever read.
Lucky you to have met such an amazing person and he gives huge accolades to the rest of the flight crew including the cabin staff who kept the passengers calm during the ordeal.
I have loaned that book to a number of people and they could not get past the first couple of chapters, if you have the same problem, keep reading because they have a huge bearing on the actual flight.
I was at a trade convention in Melbourne last week and the luncheon speaker was Captain De Crespigny. PIC of QF 32
As a pilot I was really looking forward to this, and I was not disappointed what a wonderful story. What a skilled pilot and listening to the actual recording from ATC cool as a cucumber.
Man, what a job these blokes had to get the aircraft back in one piece, a wonderful testament to the training at QANTAS. There was 3 Captains 1 first officer and a 2nd officer two of the Captains were check and training Captains. there was a total of 140 years of flying experience and a Combined total of 73,000 hours.
With over 600 of the 721 system down it would have been a friggin night mare in the ****pit. It was easier to establish what systems they had than to go through the check lists and see what they did not have.
Richard was kind enough to sign the book for me, I was stocked and after the lunch was over we had a yarn for about 5 mins it was a privilege to chat to this bloke.
He is just a down to earth pilot who enjoys the freedom we all feel when in the left hand seat. I would love to sit down and have a long chat over a few beers. :D
Cheers
The Hats (Ron)
Certainly a remarkable ending to pending disaster. A lot of accidents are caused by the crew becoming fixated on a problem. There are many examples of this in aircraft accidents. The procedure is for one of the crew to fly the aircraft while the other attends to the problem. And that's what happened. Of course in this incident there were 6 pilots on the flight deck all able to give input. The other problem is the computerized systems controlling aircraft today. In my day, once you turned off the auto pilot, it was hand flying. Captain De Crespigny had a wealth of experience initially in the RAAF I believe, then flying various types before the glass ****pit was introduced. I noticed in the TV program that he flew the aircraft manually in accordance with procedures long past, and it was his actions, that saved what could have been one of the world's worst air disasters. Whilst he must be congratulated I'm sure he would say that he was only doing his job...
Ordinary people who do extraordinary things just because.. Heroes every one of them.
Am I the only one that has NFI what a QF32 or a Crespigny is?
Maybe I have been under Doug's rock too long.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas_Flight_32
Aussie Paul.
Thank you, I am enlightened.
Normally any flight related incidents get my attention, I must have been out 'bush' then.
I have read de Crispigny's book and it is a truly remarkable story. A amazing feat of flying to get that aircraft back on the ground.
I gives me great reassuance that Qantas has such high levels of training and safety procedures in place.
Collo.
It is the best book I have ever read.
Lucky you to have met such an amazing person and he gives huge accolades to the rest of the flight crew including the cabin staff who kept the passengers calm during the ordeal.
I have loaned that book to a number of people and they could not get past the first couple of chapters, if you have the same problem, keep reading because they have a huge bearing on the actual flight.
Cheers,
Naomi