Night shift over the Asia | PMDG 777 | OMDB-WSSS

[Kepti 108]

Today we will be travelling with the king of the Middle-East, Emirates Airlines Sky Cargo Boeing 777, from the heat of sand-city Dubai to Singapore. Singapore is a city of 5.5 million people. It has a very rich culture and it's located in the Malay Peninsula. Millions of tourist travel to Singapore each year to experience the beat of the city, where the Asian culture is still clearly visible. 

Singapore Changi International Airport is one of the worlds busiest airports, which serves more than 4000 flights each week. It's also a very important cargo hub for many large airlines.

 

It's a saturday night. Emirates flight 9826 will be transporting lots of expensive items tonight. There's luxury cars, not to mention a camel, who is travelling to it's new home in Singapore Zoo. The camel keeps the pilots on their toes, as the temperature of the cargo bay needs to suitable for the animal.

 

So let's get in business. We arrived to the airport roughly two hours before the scheduled departure time. The zulu-time for the departure will be 10.40, which is 3.40PM local time. The aircraft today will be a Boeing 777F, registered to A6-EFK, which is one of the newest additions to the Emirates fleet. The airplane is only five months old.

There will be three pilots flying this flight. Not to mention the ground crew and others, whom will be refuelling and loading/unloading the plane so that we can fly safely. The aircraft will be continuing it's journey from Singapore to Sydney with a different crew couple of hours after our arrival.

 

Our flight, UAE9826, will be heading straight to it's route after takeoff over the Arabian Sea. We will be passing India and the Bay of Bengal. While we reach the Malaysia we will be preparing for the approach. Flight time will be roughly seven hours and we are expecting the sun to set enroute before landing.

 

Our aircraft is waiting for it's pilot in a gate C47. It's a sweaty job to walk from the bus to the plane in a +37C degree heat.

 

 

It's always a pleasure to notice that the ground crew has already set up the plane electrics for the flight. The first officer takes a right seat and I will be going outside to check if the plane is suitable for our flight.

 

 

 

I've almost done checking the exterior of the plane. The navigation lights of the left wing seems to be okay. :-)

 

 

Inside the cockpit the first officer is almost finished with setting up the overhead panel. Each switch gets check. APU fire test completed and everything works as it should!

 

I'm taking the left hand seat. The fuelling of the aircraft is almost finished. First officer is done with her preparations for the long flight and my job is to double-check everything. I'll be also testing some of my own things, such as the oxygen test.

 

It's a good time to go through the ATS-flight plan:

 

 

FF OMDBUAEK OMDBZPZX

       OMDBUAEK

(FPL-UAE9826-IS

-B77L/H-SDE2E3GHIJ3J5M1RWXYZ/LB2D1

-OMDB1040

-N0500F330 DCT RIKET B525 LALDO B505 NADSO A777 VAXIM P307 PARAR

 N571 LAGOG/M082F330 N571 NILAM/M083F350 N571 GUNIP/N0487F350 R467

 VKL A464 ARAMA

-WSSS0709 WMKK

-PBN/A1B1C1D1L1O1S2T1 NAV/RNVD1E2A1 DOF/130824 REG/A6EFK

 EET/OMAE0007 OOMM0014 VABF0104 VOMF0243 WMFC0521 WSJC0648 WMFC0700

 WSJC0707 SEL/GJEK RALT/VCBI WIMM RMK/NRP HAR TCAS ADSB)

 

Our departure time from Dubai is 10.40Z. We will start our flight by climbing to FL330, which is 11 kilometers. Later we are planning to step climb two thousand feet to FL350. We will be landing to Singapore Changi roughly seven hours later. Our alternative airport is Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

There is also some other information in the section number 18, such as the registration of the aircraft and estimated arrival times to different airspaces.

 

Looking out of the window I'm seeing a Saudi Boeing 777 rotating to it's long journey.

 

Everything starts to be ready in the cockpit. It's time to check the weight and balance + takeoff performance calculations, as well as to brief the takeoff carefully.

 

Our plane is almost full of cargo, but as the 7 hour flight is not that long for our plane type, we could be flying with more fuel. So the takeoff gross weight stays clearly below the maximum value, and the center of gravity is good. 

 

Following numbers are the finals:

 

ZFW 221000 KG

TOW 284734 KG

 

We are taking seven hours and nine minutes of fuel, which is the estimated flight time of our flight today. We are also adding reserve fuel in case we need to perform holdings, go around or divert to our alternative airport, Kuala Lumpur.

 

TRIP  WSSS     54375 KG   0709 H

CONT  3.0  P/C  1631 KG  0013 H

ALTN  WMKK 4708 KG 0038 H

FRSV  3020 KG  0030 H

FMC-RSV - 7.7 -

 

T/O FUEL       63734 KG

TAXI             664 KG  0021 H

RAMP FUEL       64400 KG  0830 H

 

We are asking the ground crew to fill 64 400 kilograms of fuel to our wing tanks, which is enough for eight and a half hours of flying time. (Minus the 21 minute taxi, 664 kilograms).

 

We will be performing the takeoff from runway 30R. We are located in the other side of the airport, so we are expecting to be taxiing for the 20 minutes. Taxiing will be done according to the chart below all the way to the holding point M13.

 

Trip to Singapore will begin with a RIKET4F standard instrument departure route. We will be flying the runway heading all the way until intersection EMUNI, which after we will make a right hand turn towards east and intersections DB558, DB559, KUMDA and DEDNE. Finally we should arrive to intersection RIKET, from where our journey will begin officially. We will have to take into account the tight altitude restrictions, marked in red.

 

 

Weather is warm, but the afternoon brings some dust. METAR says the following:

 

 

OMDB 241100Z 34012KT 330V050 5000 DU NSC 37/26 Q0999 NOSIG

 

Wind blows from the south, visibility is five kilometers because of the sand dust. Temperature is up to plus 37 degrees, which will be lowering our takeoff performance a bit.

 

After inserting the weight values to the EFB (not simulated!! Check http//aurasim.com/), we are getting the following data:

 

RWY 30R

FLAP 15

C.G. 31 %

TRIM 3.5 UP

V1 141

VR 148

V2 157

VREF (in case of a return) 156

 

RUNWAY MARGIN 800 METERS

FULL THRUST N1 102.3

 

Briefing completed. Cockpit is now prepared for pushback, engine start-up and takeoff. We will be reading the electronic checklist for the startup and ask the ground crew whether we can pressurize the hydraulics and tell them to prepare for pushback.

 

 

Engines will be started in an order of 2-1. Because the Boeing 777 uses a system called "autostart", the engine start is a bit different than in Boeing 737 for example.

First we're turning the starter to START -position...

 

... which after we're immediately opening the fuel cutoff switch. Autostart-cycle will then begin. The pilot has to monitor if the oil pressure goes up normally - the plane takes care of everything else.

 

 

Engine start OK - ground crew is disconnecting the pushback truck and moves to show a thumb up to signal everything is ready for taxiing. I'm giving them thumb up back and then reaching to read the after start checklist.

APU off.... Flaps 15.... Flight control check....

 

Taxi light on. I'm giving bit of a thrust to make the plane move. Time is 11.00Z and we're starting to move 20 minutes behind the schedule.

 

 

The previously mentioned camel is looking at the inflight entertainment system as we taxi.
"Almost home", he thought.

 

 

We get a good view of the Dubai airport during the taxiing, as the route takes us in front of the terminal buildings. It's a long way to the end of the runway - luckily the taxiway is straight.

 

 

Everything is prepared for takeoff. We're pressing the checklist key to make the before takeoff checklist appear in lower EICAS. Everything looks good. Before takeoff checklist completed!

 

 

It's our turn now! Tower clears us to line-up the runway. RAAS is screaming for "ON RUNWAY 30 RIGHT!"

 

Pushing the throttle levers forward until the N1 reaches 55 % in both engines. After that I'm pressing the TOGA button located behind the levers. Autothrottle is now automatically applying the takeoff power of 102.3 %.

 

 

V1... ROTATE!.... V2

 

 

Dubai located in the left side of the aircraft as we turn towards east and Singapore. The worlds tallest building, Burj Dubai, can be seen through the fog.

 

Nice blue sea below us as we accelerate and select more flaps up. ATC is clearing us to our initial flight level, 330.

We are reaching the desired flight level. Now there's not much more to do than to wait for the sun to set.

 

 

Slowly the sun starts to set and the pilots are preparing to fly in dark. Cockpit lightning needs to be set - and a cup of coffee needs to be taken.

 

It's not that easy to say where the horizont is - at least when it gets even more darker.

 

 

Night falls. Atmospheric night lightning is a very nice looking and some random thunderstorms can be seen outside the window. The forecast said there would be CB clouds at our flight levels over the India.

 

 

Someone reaches us from the radio. ATC is calling and asking whether we would like to climb to FL350 earlier than planned. 

Quick FMC check -> Optimum flight level is FL350.

"Emirates 9826, climbing to flight level 350!"

Pulling from the altitude knob, the autopilot takes us two thousand feet higher.

 

Filling up the navlog is part of the business. This way we can ensure that we have the right amount of fuel onboard and that there is no fuel leaks or what so ever.

 

 

 

The city lights of Maleysia can be seen through a light cloud layer.

 

 

Wait... where's the captains headwear? Well, maybe I can use the Finnish Defensive Forces beret this time!

 

And so it's time to start descending towards Singapore. Malaysia ATC clears us to FL100 - we are shortly arriving to our destination.

 

It's time for the arrival briefing.

 

 

The weather in Singapore is following.

WSSS 241800Z 17004KT 140V200 9999 FEW018 BKN300 28/24 Q1010 NOSIG

 

The wind is calm from the south, visibility more than 10 kilometers. Few clouds at 1800 feet and a bit more at FL300. Temperature 28 degrees, which is quite high because it's 2.30AM local time.

 

We are being cleared to ARAMA arrival route to runway 20R, which is perfect for us. After ARAMA we are contiuing to south-east towards intersection BOBAG, which after we will proceed to Batam- VOR which we should cross at 7000 feet. Then after heading north we should find ourselves at BIPOP intersection, which after we expect to have radar vectoring for ILS approach.

ILS approach to runway 20R is nothing special compared to other ILS approaches. We are starting the ILS at 3500 feet and with a 3 degree glide we're making it to the runway. Minimums are at 220 feet where we should know if we're going to land or not. If we need to go around, we're going straight ahead to 5000 feet and continuing to hold over SAMKO.

 

 

Singapore cargo terminal is not in a good position for us, as it's in the other side of the airport and we need to taxi backwards. This is why we're selecting flaps 30. With that setting we're getting the following speeds:

 

FLAPS 30

VREF 141

VAPP 146

AUTOBRAKE 3

 

Our landing weight is roughly 232 800 kilograms, which stays clearly below the maximum value.

 

Briefing completed... it's a good time to read the descent -checklist.

 

Singapore lights can be seen from the captains window.

 

 

Decelerating to 220 knots. After the BIPOP intersection we're expecting radar vectoring for the runway 20R approach.

Landing and logo lights on as we pass 10'000 feet.

 

Reaching the initial approach altitude, 3500 feet. We are given a heading of 230 which we'll use for establishing the runway localizer with a 30 degree angle. Speed is going down as we select more flaps.

 

 

ILS captured as well as the glide slope. We are flying a three degree glide all the way down to runway and slowing the speed down to the approach speed, 146 knots. While reaching the glideslope I'm lowering the landing gear and selecting flaps 20.

 

Flaps 30! Landing checklist completed!

 

 

It's time to show the first officer what a "hand job" really means. Autopilot disconnecting, even though the autothrottle still maintains the speed until the touch down, as per the FCOM of Boeing 777.

 

 

Touchdown! Speed down to a proper taxiing speed. We are two minutes behind the estimated flight time, which is quite a good performance. Not so good performance is the arrival time, which is 30 minutes behind the company schedule. That's because we departed 20 minutes late.

 

 

Taxiing is done as per the following chart. We are given the gate 601 which is located in the eastern cargo area. We are passing the terminal number three as we taxi to our parking.

 

 

And once comparing the chart to the view outside the window, it's pretty much the same.

 

 

Changi Airport passenger terminals are on the right side of the aicraft on our way to the terminal. At the same time we're starting the APU and making some other configuration changes after the landing.

 

 

We are finding ourselves in a gate 601. Engines off, hydraulic and fuel pumps off. We are continuing to read the shutdown checklist...

 

Which looks good as well. It's a good time to end the day! :-)

 

 

Me and the other pilots are heading to the Singapore Raffles hotel to enjoy some exotic Singapore Sling drinks. Thank you and have a good night!

 

 

This is the end of my story. Hopefully you enjoyed it as much as I did while writing it. You will be pleased with this add-on!

 

Aleksi

 

[Shaun Mclean 11]

Beautiful mate, one of the best Flight Reports I've read in a long time!

[KAPTEJNLN 3]

im most loking forward to se how smooth or the other way comparied to the NGX as im a bit sad at some point if the 777 runs beter as i for my destinations find a ngx beter for my flights as the 777 is to big for most grecce airports but also hope the 777 would be beter..

 

Lars N.

[FLEX1978 373]

Great report mate! Well done.

[FDX706 8]

Great report.... Man o Man!!! :lol:

[HerzogKraut 3]

Wow, really enjoyed reading your Report, very well done and thank you for sharing.

[jose88 50]

The best flight report I've ever read!

 

Thanks

[EGLL77W 1,508]

Loved it!!

[mganz121 159]

One of the best posts in years !

 

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[machine2035 176]

Great post Aleksi.

 

Thoroughly enjoyed!

[UAE77W 16]

Awesome. Just an awesome report.

 

Great to read and great pictures. Thank you very much.

[Piper9t3 25]

Thanks for sharing this. It was great reading through your report with the complimenting images. I am really looking forward to release of this aircraft!!

[SKEWR 364]

Really good post! Totally enjoyed it.

[ETOPS3_TTV 35]

Spot on report... One question if you don't mind... Where are you getting those charts...?

[MTN1289 31]

Very nicely done!