Dear Friends of Aviation, A wonderful good morning
My name is Juergen Raps
and this invitation onto our flagship
an Airbus A380, will take us to San Francisco today.
The forecast is for a smooth ride and great weather along the route
as well as a perfect view of the city at arrival
So be prepared for some beautiful surprises on this flight
So, once again, welcome on board this A380
Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning
On behalf of Lufthansa, and her Star Alliance partners,
as well as our crew, I'd like to welcome
you onto our Flagship Service to San Francisco
My name is Juergen Raps and I am your captain today
Joining me today, Captain Robert Juelicher and Senior First Officer Harald Tschira
Our chief flight attendant today is Purser Peter Jacobus
There is 15 minutes left until our scheduled departure time
we expect a very short flight time of only 10:30hrs.
Give us the promise of a punctual arrival time
that you should be used to with Lufthansa
We are proud to have you on board
make yourself comfortable and enjoy our service
Have a pleasant stay on board
We are cleared for departure route MARUN-2J
straight ahead till 5 DME then right turn 275°
till 8.4 DME
then right turn over TAUNUS onto TABUM 5000ft
and minimum over Frankfurt 8.4DME is 3500ft
and 11.4 DME TAUNUS 4400ft, no problem for us
and in the case of engine failure straight ahead and cleanup at 1950ft
climb to 4000ft and decision on next procedure, depending on failure
and for rejected takeoff (RTO) there is nothing extra to mention
there is 500 meters of (additional) space left on the runway
so nothing to worry about, ...the runway is dry
Still amazing: by pushing it to the limit
we would be allowed a max. take-off weight of 605 tons
Peter (Purser) we have very short taxi time today
I already know so you can get mentally prepared
Front doors are currently closing -Briefing starts after the last passenger
I know, you can be pretty fast. But me too.
May I give the order to unplug the ground power? -ok
Before start checklist
Gear pins -removed Pitot static -checked
Fuel quantity -145.5 tons
Take-off data -inserted 150 fl 161 fl
Barometric reference value -1021 Mb 350 current altitude
Windows and doors -closed Parking brake -off
Mobile -off Checklist completed -thank you
Hello Ground Operator?
Good morning, this is Marco from OPS.
I just wanted to check back on the actual compartment weights
Ground power can be unplugged 2886, 2475, 2541, 7544, 672kg
The weights are correct. Let me hand you over to my colleague.
Bye-bye
Let's ask for pushback clearance. -Apron, good morning, Lufthansa 454
on Position C14, request pushback -Pushback approved, facing east
LH 454 pushback approved, facing east Ground we are cleared for pushback
Ground Please release your brakes -Brakes are off, ready to push
Ground Heading where? Still to the east...
Push back starts now -beautiful
Offblock time 49 min? Take 50, and let's check what they chose.
Cabin Switch off any electronic equipment now...
Reason for delay 5min loading or equipment?
Loading was finished.
LOT 357 continue via 'L' and hold short of 'L3'
Ground Engines are clear -Engine start
Brake is set, prepare aircraft for T/O Hand signal from the left side
Engine 3 and 4
After start items Flaps '1'
Flight Controls And the elevator -Full down, full up
Ground Have a good flight -Thanks,goodbye
Full right -And the rudder -neutral
Rudder full left, full right, neutral
After start checklist? -Yes, please
Anti-ice -off Flight controls -checked
Pitch-trim 40.1 -40.1, after start checklist completed
Perfect, please ask for taxi clearance
LH 4UX pushback approved face west, blue line
push approved, facing west blue line, LH 4UX
LH 454 Super, request taxi -454 for runway 25R
via 'N' and 'N1' hold short of 'L'
Right side is clear -ok
Something holding onto the tail cam -That's a wasp
How nice! -Somebody is really hanging onto the camera
Take-off checklist. LH 454 hold short of 'L' and call tower 119.90
Tower, LH 454, we are ready -LH 454, 'L1' and hold short for RWY25R
LH 454 onto 'L1' and holding short for runway 25R
Take off checklist -all green Flaps 1F, packs on engines
All green, flaps '1 F' and packs on engines
LH 455, wind 250°, 6 knots runway 25R, cleared to land
There is another A380 coming in
Nose up!
Right on the touchdown marker.
LH 455, leave runway to the right and Contact ground on 121.75 MHz
The 455 received a company message in this very moment of the ATC-call
LH 490, Wind 220° 6 knots cleared for take-off 25R
See ya!
He won't let you in between another landing on 25R
LH 454, line up 25R
right side clear
LH 454, wind 220° 9 knots RW25R cleared for take-off
LH 454, cleared for take-off on RWY 25R
Take-off
San Francisco here we come!
Take-off power, set.
100 knots -checked
Go (Calloutz V1) Rotate (Vr)
Gear up -gear up
LH 454, continue climb to level 70
FL 70 blue LH 490, continue climb to level 130
LH 490, cross level 100 in 130 miles due to protected airspace
3500ft
flaps zero -flaps '0'
Autopilot on engaged
LH 490, do you have any shortcuts? -depends on your rate of climb...
LH 490, could be better...
Altimeters? -set to standard 55 crossover check for altitude
LH 454, Contact radar on 124.72 124.72 goodbye
LH 454 contacting radar at 134.710 MHz
Maastricht, good morning passing 210 climb level 240
LH 454, you are identified continue climb to level 250
LH 454, continue climb to level 250 and CPDLC written communication
Have a good rest -sleep well
LH 454, climb to level 320 -recleared to FL 320
AF 1145, own navigation to 'NOR' VOR (Nérvenich)
31 minutes ahead of schedule -you can't beat that...
LH 454, any turbulence?
- Negafive
Roger, there have been reports from FL 330 and above -ok, thanks
doorbell 'Door please'
Oh, Mister Jacobus -Have a good day
Have a look at the menu, mark what you want
and we'll see what's left over from first class
What's the plan for today besides having a beer afterwards?
We're heading for San Francisco. Oh, that's new to me, good idea.
As always, we decide after take-off. What a pleasant surprise...
Peter, we might face some turbulence,
after some turbulence reports -but we don't...
But, a smaller Boeing 737 gets more shaken than an Airbus A380
Let's wait and see. -Alright
message bell Message!
Proceed direct VIG Alesund, Norway
That's really great!
That's a nice shortcut!
LH 454 inbound VIG -Correct
xxNOEL out of 300 climbing to 350 requesting 450
MEL Copenhagen radar contact standby for climb
Copenhagen, good morning, LH 454 Super maintaining FL 340 inbound VIG
LH 454, Copenhagen radar contact
After two weeks of teaming with the crisis committee
I have become an volcanic ash expert
The intensity of a volcanic eruption
is measured by 'experts' eyes' only
That's why you should add some
more information to this ash map
This map is a computer prediction
for the ash concentration in about three hours
4000 micrograms per cubic meter for flight level 350 and above
our route is different, so this is irrelevant for us
it looks more dramatic below this level, but don't worry
the ash cloud is very thin and at this flight level, 200-350,
no regular flight is crossing the Atlantic
Our original route for today was south of Greenland
But after renegotiating with dispatch
I asked for a direct routing
as we are flying higher than the cloud
The new route is now one hour faster.
How far to the north are we flying today?
What about 73° north? -73° north, Peter...
I always knew you were omniscient.
Apparent latitude of 80° north. -Thanks, that's easier to keep.
KLM 74G (St. Maarten - AMS) direct VESTA
Scandinavian 408 Bodra Control, ok
What a delight, Thank you very much.
Lufthansa 454, contact Bodca Oceanic on 127.725
I ordered asparagus because of my plans
for an own asparagus farm when I move to Arizona.
There is plenty of sandy soil there at least.
I'll be able to fill the gap in the US market for white asparagus
there is plenty of green, but no white asparagus.
And I'm pretty sure with correct watering
asparagus will grow decently in Arizona
because the land should be ideally suited for
-as well as the temperature
maybe you will have to harvest the asparagus four times a day...
Lufthansa 454, Bodra -Bodra is calling
Bodo, go ahead. -There is a new prognosis about the volcanic ash
so there will be a new route for you. Are you ready for the reroute?
LH 454 go ahead. - LH 454, reclear for San Francisco
via 69°N 0O°E, 72°N 10°W,
74°N 26°W, 74°N 40°W
73°N 50°W
then back to your original route 72°N 60°W
NADMA, FL 360, Mach 0.84
69°N OOOE
72°N 10°W
74°N 26°W
74°N 40°W
73°N 50°W
then back to our original route FL 360, Mach 0.84
Read-back correct
Insert new waypoint, I am listening
72°N 10°W
74°N 40°W
72°N 60°W
delete, delete
what does that look like? -good with NADMA
Norwegian Air Traffic Control
moved our route more to the north
Due to new predictions
they made this decision for the northern rerouting
If you take a look at the estimated flight time
the new route will take us just one more minute
That's not worth mentioning
so this lost minute is not important to us
because we will still arrive 30 minutes earlier in SFO
looking at the fuel, we will burn about 300kg more
piece of cake, with the 146 tons of fuel we took with us today.
Talking about the perfect speed for a plane
the geometries and the design will influence
what speed a plane's speed sweet spot is
for the A380 it's between 0.86 and 0.87 percent of the speed of sound
We're requesting a new flight level using our mailbox system
we'll be asking for FL 370
First, we have to activate our request page
we will request for a climb to FL 370
then I send it to my mailbox and select send request
now it's sending
after sending, I can close the message
and then hopefully we'll get clearance right away
there it is
climb and maintain FL 370 report when reaching FL 370
I'll answer WILCO (will comply)
that we will execute this request
Now we are sending the predefined message again
sent
the next thing to do is to tell the autopilot
to climb to FL370 -done.
1000ft left
There will be another popup window
that's the info for 'level reached'
The computer offers the correct answer to send
I am sending the info Level 370 reached
sent, closing page
This corner is our present position
Everything back to pure air
My impression at the moment
we are quite by ourselves over here
we are, indeed
LH 454 Edmonton Center, no voice report required
the next contact at crossing 80°W Edmonton (Canada) on 134.400 MHz
Empress 601 (Canadian north) cleared for Iqualuit airport
via Igloolik, direct 67°north 75° west, report when reaching
Have a good sleep, Juergen -good night
I was fully asleep for about 90 minutes
I tried to read a magazine, but after rereading the same line
five times, I knew I was ready to fall asleep
maybe it's a symptom of old age?
No, that has been happening for 30 years...
LH 454 Contact Edmonton on 133.07 MHz
To become a pilot was my destiny,
inspired by my father
Unknowingly, because he passed away
when I was 16
But he put me in Contact with aviation first-hand
There was a little airport in my hometown, Bayreuth,
Run by the military in World War II
In the mid 50s, when I was around six years of age
I joined a sightseeing flight on a DO-27
After short time my decision was clear:
When I am grown up, I am going to become a pilot
And apparently it worked out
And the letter that I had passed my exam
is still in my drawer at home
that was the invitation to flight school in Bremen
well...
Live your dream and don't dream your life
If I recap my life, the job of a pilot is my dream job
As a little boy, my only dream was to become a pilot
The most beautiful moment in my career as a pilot...
was the offer to become a captain
and receiving the epaulettes with 4 stripes
and the braid for my hat from my trainer
In any event, that is the most important moment
in any pilot's career
to be promoted from co-pilot to captain
LH 454, Seattle Center calling -go ahead
Due to military airspace, please go to Point Reyes via Waypoint PASST
That's P A S S T, then direct Point Reyes and then GoldenGate5 arrival
Ok, that's PASST, then Point Reyes and then GoldenGate5 arrival
One more thing, I have traffic in the opposite direction, in your FL 400
So your choice if you'd like FL 390 or FL 410? -FL 410
LH 454, thank you, climb and maintain FL 410
410 blue -Ok
And we have to reprogram the computer
because of the new GoldenGate5 arrival. -You want me to do that?
ILS 28R, Star, Golden5
transition none
everything's in there
LH 454, contact Seattle Center, on 135.45Mhz, goodbye
Are you going for a ride? This is the same helmet, like mine.
Mine makes a whistling noise -that's what all of them do...
You can easily spot the San Andreas Fault
by looking at the line of the volcanoes.
It's the tectonic boundary between the Pacific plate
and the North American plate.
Please take over Harald -Thanks a lot
As soon as you have your headset, I'll make an announcement
Everything's on you. Mount Shasta is on our right.
Alright? - OK Enjoy your meal...
Ladies and Gentlemen, This is your captain once more
San Francisco is just 30 minutes ahead of us
The volcano on your right is called Mt. Shasta
currently we are heading for Point Reyes
from there we will fly directly over the city
We are expecting perfect weather with blue skies and sunshine
Mild winds and the temperature reads 15°C +59F
The fasten seat belts sign will come on now
I'd be happy to welcome you once more on one of our jets
I am here back again, -me too
Talking about the arrival route, we are entering from the north
and depending on the traffic situation, we'll be guided either over the port
and then taken in after a left turn
or over Oakland and then have a right turn
onto the final to the 25R1gm, which will be our runway today
But this will be at short notice, depending on traffic
Sector: 4500ft, Final altitude 1800ft,
Minimum decision 220ft, Runway length 3600m
go around will be onto waypoint VIKYU at 3000ft
LH 454, descend at your discretion to FL 350
Leaving FL 410 descending to FL 350
open descend
approach phase activated
and that's Napa Valley down there
didn't we have a special "corky taste" lately?
LH 454, descend and maintain FL 180 -continue descent to FL 180
180 blue -ok
3013 hg Baro 21500 altitude
and that's Point Reyes -correct
today we can even spot the lighthouse
LH 454 approaching 11000ft information 'C'
LH 454 Super, NorCal approach
San Francisco heading 140, prepare visual approach on 28L
LH 454 SFO depart, heading for 140
for visual approach on runway 28Le_fi
...and expect the ILS for RWY 28R1gm
I was starting to wonder...
On your left, the Golden Gate, Alcatraz and downtown San Francisco
What a view!
LH 454, reduce speed 230kn - reducing...
LH 454 heavy, reduce speed 210kn descend and maintain 6000ft
contact NorCal Approach on 135.65 MHz
heading 140 -ok
LH 454, reduce speed to 180kn -reducing to 180
flaps '1 ' -flaps one
LH 454 turn left heading 100
2000ft left
Cleaning up, please SFO VOR and manual can be deleted
Silicon Valley ahead of us 1000ft left -ok
LH 454 turn left 040° -left and heading 040°
NAV* is still armed
Skywest 6840, level 7200ft descending 6000ft, heading 040°
Skywest 6840, causing wake turbulence because of an A380
ALT*
LH 454, descend and maintain 4000 turn left, heading 010°
4000 blue -ok
LH 454, 3 miles from DUMBA, turn left 310°, cross DUMBA at 4000ft
cross DUMBA at or above 4000ft cleared for lLS28R approach
DUMBA is at 16.1 DMI
...to where? -to AXMUL
LOC*
that turn is kind of sporty
auto thrust off
flaps 2 -flaps two
LH 454, caution for turbulence behind a Boeing 757
reduce speed to 160kn
LH 454, the Boeing 757 has been moved to the left runway
This one is crossing our centerline right now
Skywest 6840, traffic at 11 o'clock in 5 miles 7000, cleared for 28R
Gear down -Gear down 2500 callout
Skywest 6840 turn left heading 360
Flaps 3 -flaps three
autopilot off
3000ft for go around
flaps full -ok
reduce your approach speed
contacting tower on 128.50 MHz
Landing checklist: all green, flaps full -ok
SFO tower, LH 454 Super approaching 28R
L454 wind 280° 15kn cleared to land
Redwood 342, wind 280° 14kn runway 01 R, cleared for take-off
1000ft callout -checked
there are two more preparing for take-off
runway is clear
400 callout
300 callout
200, minimum callout -continue
100 callout
-50-40-30-20- retard -retard
spoilers, reverse green BTV brake to vacate
70 knots
LH 454, taxi across the 28L, then contact ground 121.80
"Willkommen in San Francisco" Thank you
Leave via 'Q' and cross 28L ground 121.80
Captain Raps and the whole crew would like to say goodbye
And may we cross? -Yes, 28L
right is clear
this track is well known -right
normally straight ahead, but the trucks are over there...
Monday is washday, so we'll get a cleanup now
there is one on my side as well
we usually have our aircraft cleaned on Mondays
That's just fantastic
APU is available -wonderful
LH 454 you are cleared for position (3101
right side is clear
Skywest 6840, taxi via 'K' and 'A' to the ramp
Parking: External lights -off Parking brake -is... on
Checklist completed -Thanks a lot
Ground calling cockpit Good afternoon -Hallo Moin
The Chocks are about to be in position -Thanks
Technical report over here: nothing! -Good to hear!
We are well-behaved over here...
So far with the first part of our trip. I hope, you enjoyed it.
You should have seen a very nice approach to SFO
Join us tomorrow when we will have a sailing trip up to the Golden Gate
and to the Cliff House for dinner. Stay tuned for more exciting moments.
Your bike is waiting -Harry, that's it for now
Bye -see you later
Hole in one ;-)
This should be our pier, with our catamaran...
the big one.
It's no "circulatory disturbance" it's the whole pier that's shaking.
All your way to the front, sir
I'd like to welcome everyone of you on board Adventure Cat II
my name is Hans, I'll be you captain today
Look a that, another German... -my Name is Hans
Enjoy the sailing today! Thanks.
Set sail!
Another welcome from me, too. I'm really proud of you
because we set sail exactly at our scheduled time.
Have a wonderful sailing trip for the next three hours.
This way out? Towards the Golden Gate -Yeah
For those of you interested in real estate
Just behind the grey boat, up the hill there is a house with a red roof
It's for sale at the moment for $60 Million dollars!
What kind of plane are you flying? I am flying an A380, the double-decker.
Basically, a sailboat is just like an airplane
except the wing is upright instead of horizontal
What's the occasion for this party?
I'm going to retire. -I see
And now, to prove this, an A380 would fit underneath the bridge
In the meantime, we have nearly reached the open sea
By continuing over the open sea several more weeks
we could end up in Hawaii, which is not our destination.
We are on the way back on our harbor cruise
with the Golden Gate in front of us, I can tell you, I am really amazed.
With my crew and my long-time friends
who have accompanied me for my whole working life
to spend this day with them - I shall never forget it.
And it will continue. This evening, we're going to meet
at the Cliff House. A restaurant located directly on the seafront,
to let the evening end as beautifully as it has begun
Back there you can see the retired captains...
...the chubby ones...
Are you talking to me?
I am truly thankful and happy
to spend my final flight and my last evening with you
because you have become part of my life over the years
some of you for 41 years
and when friendships grow strong over such a long time
I consider them a "godsend"
the passport for retirees
as well as the sunhat appropriate for sunny places
we expect you to be
as well as a well-prepared t-shirt
Sorry, Peter, the stars on the shirt seem a bit larger than Juergen's
so finally, we wish you the best retirement of all
we will always keep you in mind
'Live your dream, and don't dream your life'
One last promise: If Juergen eventually proceeds
I will join in.
rollin', rollin'
loadin', loadin'
clearin', clearin'
crossing...
Let's compare the numbers: zero-fuel-weight 359 tons
- 359.0 klick into the comguter
zero-fuel-weight CG centre of gravity 33.0 gercent
with fuel 138t plus 1.2t for taxi
that sums up to 495.8 tons take-off weight
and that leads to a take-off CG of 40.2 percent
with a trim tank filled with 14.5t
15.5? - ok
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of Lufthansa as well as the Star Alliance members and
our crew, I am happy to welcome you on board this Airbus A380
on our Flagship Service to Frankfurt
My name is Juergen Raps and I am your captain today
complemented by Captain Robert Juelicher
and Senior First Officer Harald Tschira
as well as the cabin crew, headed by Peter Jacobus
We have little time to spare until starting our engines on time
Estimated flight time will be 9:45hrs
pretty fast
that means we will arrive ahead of our scheduled time
in Frankfurt
Thanks for flying with us
make yourself comfortable, settle back and let us spoil you
I wish you a pleasant stay
Next, we need to call ramp tower
then taxi clearance
and then - automatically switching to the tower frequency
we won't be told personally
backdoors are closed - front doors will follow shortly
Briefing once more? Departure route - straight ahead 3000ft.
That's plain talking...
In case of engine failure we do more or less the same
an aborted take-off procedure without any interference
the calculations show plenty of space, dry surface
wind on the nose.
And if I callout 'stop'
the plane will stop...
What's going on back there?
I haven't had that for a long time, even Peter is "in overload"
'Boarding completed'
- Boarding completed.
Stress is only known by inefficient people
Shut the door! - Wait!
Not this one, the lower one.
L1Ll
Ground?
Go ahead, cockpit
We will ask for clearance, ok?
They are about to remove the jetway, give me a second
as soon as they have cleared a couple of inches, I'll give you clearance.
Alright, at this time you're cleared to call for clearance
Yes - Yes, sir.
SFO ramp golf tower, LH 455 Super requests push from position 101
LH 455 Super, you're cleared to push
LH 455 cleared to push
We may push now brake is released
steering pin inserted ready for pushback
Thank you. And just to confirm
all your doors and panels are closed and locked
That's perfect
And pushing back now and give me the offblock time
Yes, that looks like 25min past the hour
COPY, 25. pushing
OK
Ladies and Gentlemen, may we have your attention, please
We'd like to acquaint you with the safety features of this aircraft
and therefore, we are showing this short film
You tell me when the engines are clear -will do
'Company message' callout -Hello there
'Flight docs, not signed electronically' message -sure
Give me your password, so I can sign it for you
*** - everything in lower case? - everything small.
Ground for cockpit, at this time, you can start all your engines
- beautiful -
- Engine start-
Ground for cockpit You are separated
Brake's set, prepare aircraft for taxi hand signal right side
Have a pleasant afternoon - Thank you, Bye
Elec remote cb-control active - ok
After start items, flaps '1 '
flight controls Elevator - full down
full up
full left
from ground, just to confirm all towing equipment is removed
steering pins are removed standing by for final disconnect
Ok, you can disconnect. - Thank you and bye-bye
After start checklist
Anti-ice - off Flight-controls - checked
Pitch-trim - 39.8
After start complete. - taxi clearance
thumbs?
Ground control LH 455 Super request taxi clearance
LH 455 Super, cleared for runway 28R
taxi via A, Q, B, F, hold short of 01 L
verify Information 'R'
taxiway A-Q-B-F and hold short runway 01 L
and we have information version 'R'
right side's clear
"hold short" runway 01 L - hold short 01 L
Cactus 968 America West San Francisco Ground
Cactus 968, roger ready for push
we just received a new load sheet
Delta 1680 your ground staff has been extended, expect update at 22:0Ohrs Zulu
Flight No 455, call sign D-AIMG Aircraft: A388, Position G101
June 26, 2011, departure 02:25pm arr: 09:31 am , travel time 10:O6hrs
Passengers: 526, Crew count: 3/21 Distance: 5149 naut. miles, Runway: 28R
Fuel: jet A-1, Quantity: 138 tons Take-off weight: 496t, Speed: 158kn
Cabin report please! Peter
Look sharp! I like that.
Later on this taxiway we should look out for a sign asking to switch frequency
Cabin We're now ready for take-off so please ensure that the table
and the monitor is stowed and secured
LH 455 heavy, short 01 L, monitor tower: "Auf Wiedersehen"
'Auf Wiedersehen', monitor tower and hold short of 01 L
Switched already? - Yes, we are talking to the tower.
Short of 01 L - ahead of us. - ok
Take-off checklist. All green, Flaps 1/F, Packs on engines.
All green, Flaps 1/F Packs on engines
Once before we had to hold short 01 L
LH 455 Cross 01 L and 01 R and hold short runway 28L
Crossing 01 L and 01 R and holding short runway 28L
right side is clear
Over here is the sign for switching to 120.5 MHz
Let me provide you with some interesting facts for this flight
This flight is very special, because 41 years ago tomorrow
our captain, Juergen Raps, started his career as a pilot
at flight school in Phoenix, Arizona.
14 years later, he was promoted to the rank of captain
on a Boeing 737, of which he was later appointed Fleet Chief
He has trained a large number of pilots
He chaired the flight school in Phoenix
he was Chief Pilot for sixteen years
and member of the Board of Lufthansa Germany Airlines
He has been head of Flight Operations and Chief Pilot for the last five years.
To say goodbye to SFO Airport
quite soon after take-off you will see the wings
go once to the left and once to the right
perhaps twice, we don't know
this is a standard procedure for saying goodbye to an airport
so we do hope, you'll enjoy that
as much as we do.
Maybe after this one.
LH 455 cross 28L and 28R line up and wait
traffic will depart to the north, from 01 R
Skywest 6746 Sacramento-SFO left on 'D' no delay crossing on 'D'.
Southwest 945, following a 737 on a mile-and-a-half final
wind 240°, 16 knots RWY 28L cleared to land
Southwest 945, continue flowing please, for traffic
LH 455 wind 290° 13 knots RWY 28R cleared for take-off
Take-off
Take-off power, set
100kn - checked
V1 - Go
- rotate
Gear up - gear up
LH 455 Contact NorCal departure 'congratulations on your retirement'
Thank you. - Contact NorCal departure, good day.
NorCal depart, radar Contact climb 10000
LH 455 continue and climb 10000
10000 blue, flaps '0' - flaps zero
the derate climb is still inactive? Set to 2000? - 2000 ok
Look at the beautiful view of the Golden Gate
LH 455 turn right 320° expect Sacramento
right turn 320°, will comply
I'll program 3000ft so we won't climb that fast
at the end of this beach down there, you can spot the Cliff House
Shall we start the turn?
One moment... now
- wonderful -
LH 455 Contact approach on 124.32 MHz "tschuess"
Aren't we lucky with the weather?
What about unfastening? - Seat belts to 'auto'
I trashed my boots from yesterday's bike riding.
They were on their last legs anyway.
You mustn't forget that I might be the only one
who has ever driven his Harley across the San Francisco Airport
at an airport that was in operation in between active traffic
that's unique for my farewell
that will remain a one-of-a-kind exception
Contact Oakland Center on 132.95MHz
Oakland Center, passing FL 180 climb level 230
Oakland Center, climb and maintain FL 290
FL 290 set
Sacramento ahead
kind of large...
Sierra Nevada, a perfect place to ski in winter
United 877, traffic for you at about 10 o'clock
25 miles northeast a Super Airbus 380
coming off FL 260 climbing to FL 290
may be interesting down there Lake Tahoe
LH 455 Contact Salt Lake Center on 128.55MHz
A bite to eat? - ok, thanks
currently flying between Boise Idaho and Salt Lake City
35min ahead of schedule, like everybody expects from LH.
Many of you might think an aircraft weighing 560 tons
would react very sluggish to the side stick, to manual flying.
But this aircraft is simply agile.
Feels more like an A330/320.
That's because of the calibration of the rudders.
Sometimes known as 'law kinematics',
'flight-control laws'
We were even able to adjust these flight-control laws
in the middle of our test flights.
Recalling the very first test flight, we learned
that this aircraft is going to be fascinatingly maneuverable.
After my last arrival in Frankfurt
I will have been in the air for 19,000 hours.
18,000 of them flying as a commercial pilot
let's try to multiply those hours by around 700km per hour.
18,000 multiplied by 700?
About 1.3 million kilometers flown?
Harry, recalculate that, please.
16,000hrs multiplied by 700...
11.2 million kilometers - oh, 11.2M, I see
Let me find out what that is in astronomical units
your flight hours equal 1,153 light minutes
Damn! Who's going to understand that?
It took you 41 years to do what could be accomplished in 1.5 light minutes...
What's the distance between the moon and the earth?
Around 405,000 kilometers
Try dividing 11.2 by 400,000
27 times in the end - to the moon
27 times to the moon and back - yes
27 times to the moon, sounds good?
May I turn up the heater? - Sure
because you're sitting in the shade...
Not everybody can lead such a charmed life like you...
Jokes, you can count on...
I am still convinced, that we can see Yellowstone now
Still plenty of snow end of May
Yellowstone is closed during winter
and reopens in May for a couple of months
Meanwhile, have you counted the hours to our final arrival?
Harald is responsible for that. - No, I'm not...
The excitement never ends over here...
We pushed the wakeup call for six times JR making fun
3KD we have a second request
3KD go ahead
Sir, what's this 'super heavy'?
3KD, so far the FAA has classified the A380-800 as super heavy
and the Boeing 747-800 series as not quite super heavy but
it generates the same wake turbulence as the A380 Airbus
Very good, thank you
Frontier 274 Boise - Denver What's the spacing behind those?
In the inter-route environment still the five-mile transition
which later increases to 10 miles
Ok, thanks, Frontier 274
Gander LH 455...
Let me switch back to 5.649 HF
LH 455 requesting FL 380
He's taking a long look at the big slate flightplans
Gander Oceanic Clearance, LH 455 climb to and maintain FL 380
Report reaching. Read back!
LH 455 cleared FL 380
Leaving FL 370 now call you at level
LH 455 read back you are starting to leave FL 370
We're leaving 370 now, climbing to FL 380. Call you reaching.
- Roger-
That must have been beautiful...
Bye now, see you in three hours Harald is going to rest
- Good night-
I switched frequencies
I just got up, just black coffee, please.
That's my cup. - The sun is rising.
We had to practice in elementary school - I see
Scottish Control, good morning - Good morning.
One of the eye-catching features of this cockpit
are the large monitors we are using
the largest monitors used in commercial planes today
all of them come in the same size
there's a good reason for that because we can switch
what's being displayed on one monitor to any other monitor,
for example, swap flight display and nav display
as well as switch with monitors below
If any monitor fails, we are independent
If, for example, the nav display fails
I can get the info on another monitor
This is the new monitor for on-board information
Over here, Iceland on our right, Norway
this is Scotland down here, Ireland
Great Britain France
That's our 'street map'
Also worthy of mention, our vertical display
in addition to our azimuth display
that gives us info about the route
we have a new vertical display
what we see here in blue is just water
until this point
then we see the southern part of the Outer Hebrides
these islands over here are the Hebrides
northwest of Scotland
that's this part of the display
next, water and then Scotland
The terrain outline of the Scottish mainland
as well as the Hebrides
And now, here's the best part a new technical system
what is really ground-breaking
our automatic brake system called 'BTV'
Brake to vacate
This system gives me the ability to decide right now
where I want to leave the runway after touchdown
let's arm the BTV System
and take a look at the airport map
where we can zoom in
Let's assume we will be approaching
runway 25R
That's the upper one
Next I'm going to tell the computer
that will calculate our request
we are cleared for 25R
The computer then provides runway information in the upper left corner
the available length of runway is 4000meters
then it offers me two magenta lines
Taking into consideration the calculated weight at the moment of touchdown,
the computer figures out the estimated exit under wet and dry conditions
I can put my request into the system
to exit the runway via Taxiway'L13'
clicks on 'L13'
That's half of the runway 2058 meters
And now, the computer will utilize only that much
braking power and reverse thrust
to have a speed of 10 knots exactly at Exit 'L13'
The estimated distance for this will be 2058 meters.
The next step is to arm the system
by switching the selector to 'BTV'
all set
Now we can expect the aircraft to stop very comfortably
with minimum load on the brakes
as well as a lower temperature in the brakes
Even if pilots try
braking by stepping on the pedals
only few would be able to put on the brake in increments
as the system is able to.
Many visitors ask me about this weird-shaped thing
that looks like a 'palm stone'
That's just an ergonomic- shaped trackball
With this computer mouse we can move our cursor
across all monitors
and click things exactly as we all do on our computers
And to remain fully functional even through turbulence
Airbus decided for a shape that "you can hold on to"
With a trackball on a flat surface
you'd be lost during shaky moments
If I go on like this, I'll become the best Airbus sales rep.
LH 455, you're radar-identified after waypoint ERAKA
Cleared direct TOPPA.
LH 455 after ERAKA direct TOPPA
For me, there are only a few jobs for which I would
have been able to say after 41 years
that this decision was the best one I could have made back then
And you would not regret a single day
And you are motivated like on the first day
entering flight school in Bremen
Live your dream and don't dream your life
You have a point there.
Juergen is indeed one of the best pilots I have ever known.
He has quite a feel for his airplanes
We met back in the trainee pilot school.
The time has flown by quickly.
You always were our “Top-Gun guy”
with the best piloting performance
I still remember my A380 rating
Back then, still in Toulouse
I remember your excellent flying skills
performing a “Belgian pattern”.
My greatest respect!
“Set parking brake”, stop and remain on the runway
Coffee break now. Excellent work, guys!
Dear Juergen, I hope you'll get a chance to stop by Toulouse again,
to play golf, or maybe I'll take you along to the racetrack
But unfortunately this means, you'll have to climb into the passenger seat
to only observe the scenery
but I'm positive, you'll like it, too.
The rudder isn't normally moved like this.
A beautiful moment, as I recall,
A true highlight of aviation
to attend your tour straight through Germany and Austria.
From Frankfurt to Stuttgart
to Vienna, Dresden, Linz, Munich and finally back to Frankfurt.
All in one day, all on the A380.
In constant rain, with tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans
For me, this is never to be forgotten
LH8124, I hope you witness the chaos
you are causing on the normal streets?
To be honest, that's what we see all day long.
I hope the weather was a bit better in the other cities.
No. - What a pity!
It was always a mystery why Juergen
and nobody else
was always ahead of schedule
why he flew faster and taxied faster on the ground
Skipping the low pass, we would have been an hour early
You will certainly get many fans on YouTube
I'm sure of that!
This was the best flight and the best aircraft
That's what we like to hear
Carsten. - Thank you
To me, the most memorable were the minutes
in a briefing room on our way to South America.
When you showed me how to assemble and prepare a crew
in the shortest amount of time.
This became a model for my flights.
This proves that you have influenced not only generations of pilots,
but also many crews.
I'm kissing you on behalf of the whole crew now -Alright
Those who know me also know I'd like to kiss the whole crew...
It was a true privilege to work with you, Juergen,
on the first A380 picked up from Hamburg.
Some colleagues were envious of
so I have to say 'thank you' for an incredible experience.
You rarely see me speechless, but I am today.
When the time has come you realize that emotions
can overcome the coolness of a man.
The permission for a low pass at a heavily trafficked airport
such as Frankfurt is indeed something very special.
But, to be honest,
I would have done it without permission too.
Dear Juergen Raps, it was once again very special
to join in this farewell reception. And to observe the accuracy and calmness
of your farewell speech, with all its emotion.
You're leaving quite a legacy behind
that tells a lot about your courage and the overall view that you've had.
It is clear how much respect you have won
in your professional life.
Dear Sasha, JR's consultant I now hand over to you
my epaulettes.
The moment Juergen reached for his shoulder
to give me his epaulettes from his final flight
was definitely the most emotional moment of these three days.
It instantly made me weak in the knees.
Finally, Carsten (Spohr), there is only one thing left.
I wish to report: Mission accomplished.
The aircraft has been handed over in perfect condition.
May I be dismissed, please?
What about logging into Maastricht Control? -ok
Amsterdam or Maastricht?
'EDYY' entering Maastricht control into the FMS for active Data Link
connect... notification
But the heading is perfect for now - You are right.
Over TOPPA straight ahead - bing, notify...
Ryanair 57WC Livergool-Riga Copenhagen on 134.675 MHz
Looks like Newcastle, that's where my daughter
did her BA in Int'! Business Admin, at Northumbria University
Who are we talking to?
Surprisingly, Scottish Control, still.
We should already be talking to London Control.
Ok, so let's request direct PAMPUS Amsterdam
So that we maybe get a better route
KLM 1185 Amsterdam-Bergen climb FL 380
Let me try to convince him
Scottish Control, LH 455 Super any chance for direct PAMPUS?
LH 455 route now direct DIXAT (Wuppertal)
Direct DIXAT LH 455
Thank you. - I like that Harald is back from his rest
Maastricht Control, out of FL 280 descending to FL 260
Langen Radar, you're identified continue descending to FL 250
- Continue to FL 250
Weather: View: scattered clouds,15°C 1014 hecto, wind 230° at 14kn
United 945 Frankfurt-Chicago climb to FL 180 - Flight level 180
FL 150 blue open descend
please insert FRED and FFM VOR into 1 and 2
Air Berlin 151J Dusseldorf-Zurich climb to level 240
Approach phase is activated
LH 455 proceed ETARU, thereafter follow ROLIS 25N transition
LH 455 direct ETARU, thereafter ROLIS 25N transition
LH445 descend to FL 180
LH 455 descend 100 EATARU to be latest at
LH 455 descending 100 ETARU and level latest
LH445 descend 150 given rate
Arrival, good morning, LH 455 Super passing FL 130 descending to FL 100
weather info version 'Z' - Roger
one thousand
LH 959 (Birmingham-Frankfurt) descend to FL 60
ALT reached
LH959 Contact director at 127.27MHz goodbye
LH 455 turn left 100° - left turn, heading 100°
LH 455 descend to flight level 80 - leaving 100 descending to FL 80
ask for high speed
LH 455, high speed? faster than allowed here -Affirm
Switch off the speed limit? -Yes 250kt below FL 100
Clean up the computer, please REDGO
Inbound route
singing an old commercial for Badedas bubble bath
'flupP'
direct REDGO is programmed - merci
Briefing: both runways count 4000m
LH 455 turn left, heading 70° - heading 70°
What about asking for our runway today, politely
LH 455, which runway?
Let me see, 25L Thanks, runway 25L
There we go again!
Please reprogram the computer for 25L
and I'm going to look for the corresponding ILS
LH 455 descend to FL 60 - descending to flight level 60
LH 455 contact director 127.27 -127.27 MHz, bye
2000 left until next level
Thank you very much 25L is programmed
Director, good morning LH 455 passing FL 76 descending to FL 60
LH 455 descend 5000ft and QNH 1014 Baro
descending 5000ft QNH 1014
Altimeters
1014, 7200ft -7200ft, 1014 QNH
5000 blue, ILS 25L
minimum unchanged final altitude 171 Oft for syncing
runway length 4000m
LH 455, revision on runway It's now 25R
LH 455, RWY 25R Thanks...
my colleague told me you're going to love it...
Indeed. We just finished reprogramming for 25L
Oh sorry. -that's trained anyway.
It's worthwhile? -sure
ALT
reprogramming finished back to 25R
You may start your speed reduction any time
let me know for the right base leg
presently you are abeam 25R
LH 455 will comply
BTV check - Exit 'L13' - armed
And in case of go-around 9DMl FRD 5000ft
whichever is later TAUNUS
LH 455 how about a right turn?
- Fine Ok, then heading 160°
After go-around 5000ft between VOR TAU und MTR
LH 455 descend 4000ft - leaving 5000 descending to 4000ft
LH959 Contact tower 119.99 MHz
LH 455 turn right 230°, cleared for the ILS on 25R
LH 455, heading 230° cleared ILS for 25R
1000 left until reaching 4000ft
lLSisidenfified by the system
LH445 descend 4000ft for runway 25R
LH445 descend 4000ft for runway 25R, Super!
Funny We are the Super ;-)
The golf course of Hanau if anybody is interested... - Not really
LOC* locaHzerlLS
LH 455 reduce to 170kn and keep speed until 5/6 miles before
reducing to 170kn and keeping speed until 5/6 DMI
Flaps 1 - flaps one
Cabin is clear - Who'd have thought it?
My seat is bugging me
LH 455 Contact tower 119.9 good night...
Flaps 2? - Flaps two!
Frankfurt tower, good morning LH 455 Super, 25R
LH 455 Hello
GS* glide sloge star
5000ft programmed in case of go-around
LH959 cleared to land 25R
LH6JA1 hold short of 25R in 'L6'
over there she is..
Ready? -of course!
Behind landing line up 25R be ready for a quick one!
6JA behind landing lining up 25R
2500 caHout
auto thrust off
Gear down - gear down
Flaps 3 - flaps three
autopilot off
LH959 right off and contact 121.75
Flaps full - flaps full
Landing checklist: all green, flaps full
Automarker final altitude -checked
LH6JA cleared for quick take-off wind 220° 5 knots
LH6JA cleared for take-off 25R
-1000- fit
checked -checked
behind next landing 380 line up 25R behind
LH445 heavy, runway 25R -445 Hello
LH 455, wind 220° 12 knots RWY 25R, cleared to land
cleared to land, 25R
wind stable
kind of rough over here
-400-
-300-
-200-
- minimum - - continue
-100-
-59-
-40-
-30-
-20-
- retard -
- retard - retard -
-5-
Spoilers, BTV, reverser green
LH 455 right turn off, contact apron 121.75 Ciao
LH 455 right turn off, 121.75 MHz, bye
7 mm passed
In the name of all colleagues
all the best for the future
on this threshold of a new stage in your life
Thanks a lot! - That's it...
Cabin Welcome to Frankfurt...
Ladies and Gentlemen, two fire trucks one on the left and one on the right
nothing to worry about
That's the farewell from the airport for Capt. Raps
Let's have the lights turned off
Like always, I have to look to the upper right part of the board
Like always... I'm kind of fast today...
correct to the green...
Apron LH 454 request taxi clearance
LH 454 taxi to RWY 25 via 'N' and 'N1' and hold short at 'L'
'quietsch' sgueal
one and four engine off
Buddies! This was the final act
It is done.
Almost...
parking checklist
Please read it to me External lights -off
parking break - all parking checklist completed
Unbelievable! All the best! Thanks a lot!
Don't need to say something if it's difficult for you
There's nothing to add
Ladies and Gentlemen Dear PilotsEYE Viewers
I guess that's it
after 41 years in commercial aviation
I am leaving the cockpit for good
Or the command bridge
the size here is almost like a command bridge
I hope you enjoyed yourtfip
with us, with me
As we say in German “you always meet people a second time in life”
I do hope, there will be an opportunity
to meet a second time, somewhere, sometime.
Have a wonderful time.
You just saw a very nice arrival in San Francisco
in the best weather conditions -Ground, ah... Captain,
We've got the Chocks on the main gear now...
...let's turn off the monitor so that it doesn't disturb anybody anymore
calm down, calm down
we can't start to produce outtakes at this early stage
exhausting start, wasn't it?
Is it ok?
...pregnant silence.
What about showing you a good one...
No flashes, please
once again...
I'm fit as a fiddle!
That's the advantage of sleeping next to a woman
The Trojans fell down
It was used, anyway
There it is... gutting it back on the microphone
that's because its called "Poppschutz" wind protector
The bumblebee got it realbad
too much wind at take-off...
Bumblebees live dangerously these days...
No surprise with the way Juergen flies
Airbus Toulouse Factory Visit
Welcome Capt. Raps, Richard, nice to see you again
This is your aircraft over here
The second Lufthansa A380 on our assembly line
With the number 41 Airbus internal no.
It's going to have the call sign MB B=second
which can be easily seen on the tip of the rudder
Remove before flight... good idea, still...
It's still an uplifting feeling for me to see an aircraft getting assembled
simply fascinating
This one is only a couple of weeks old
What about stepping by the cockpit?
Let me pet the nose for a moment
These seats are no serial model -for sure not...
...ordinary office chairs. Please take a seat.
It's already done
with everything you ordered
still displaying the protection foil
All systems are in the right places
It looks like all tests have been completed successfully
Over here, the side stick,
still covered in blue foil...
and waiting to be unwrapped - under this cap
a good place to get an idea of the width of the cabin
50cm more than the 747 that's spectacular
747-400, -8 and any other 747
which means more spacious seats in economy
as well as the impression of more space
The side panels are almost vertical
and give passengers the feeling of open space
even the windows are larger and more luxurious
I think we've done a good job
in creating a pleasant brightness during flight
Has the APU already been integrated?
- Yes, it's already built in.
And passed the run up, as far as I can see
This tag is only for the lubricant
The tiny power plant,
to provide the aircraft with independent power
Some spectacular numbers about the elevator unit
One wing is about the same size and surface
as the size and wingspan of an Airbus A320
That still impresses me
All of the white parts including the tailcone
are made of carbon composite
this wing part, too? -Right.
Now we are on our own. Nobody's watching us...
The largest crane... -You are right.
Voilà
That looks good
The fin, which is tailored in Stade, Germany
always gets painted there
So it's easy to tell who the future owner is
just by looking at the fin.
You can move the fin by yourself
That's not how the rudder is normally actuated
Maybe in medieval times on a rowing galley
from head to toe 24 meters? -Correct.
That's 4.5m taller than the 747.
The tallest aircraft in the world these days
these dimensions mark a new frontier
in the commercial aircraft industry
But that's the maximum at the moment
I suppose I wont get another chance
to climb on the roof of the A380
for a long time
By looking in this direction you can enjoy the shape
of the body and the wings
those wonderful airfoils
the simple single-slotted flaps everywhere
the ETACS camera has already been put in, right?
Which we also use during flight
we often control the flaps and spoilers
Still bearing the test-license plate
the 'WW' stands for test aircraft in France
Let's proceed to the two sets of body landing gear
Interestingly, the tires are supplied by the US company
Goodrich, for the first time on an Airbus.
And Lufthansa ordered Bridgestone tires
By using six tires per gear we meet the same weight limits
that the 747-400 series requires for runways
That means the same isolated wheel load as the Jumbo?
Yes, the load per wheel is exactly the same.
Thanks to the additional axles.
This axle is steerable
For taxi and pushback
This one can be steered but does not have any brakes
and the others have brakes but no steering
rotates pretty easily
and this one, too
Next, we can take a look at the wing landing gear
they can be retracted as usual, to the side
compared to the body gear, they get lifted straight up
and get stowed away in this compartment
immaculate condition throughout...
I've got to take a picture for myself
I'm also never going to see this in this beauty
It's about time to get airborne!
Simulator session A380 engine-fire pattern
Fuel CG 39.2%
What are we going to do next?
Take-off 13L, left turn around landing 13L fl
Lufthansa 380 ready for take-off
Good morning, LH38O you're cleared for RWY13L
after take-off turn right heading 220°, climb to 4000ft
take-off
Wolfgang preparing a bird strike
100 -checked
fl -90
rotate
'Birds'
Ia re
Yes, and they hit us!
Engine failure No.01
Gear up -positive rate, gear up
I lost my speed display
engine failure No.01 engine fire alarm
engine fire
No. 01 -ok
Heading select, runway heading 135°
Ok that's good -heading selected
Autopilot one is on
passing 400 start ECAM actions
Let me make the ATC call before Lufthansa A380 Super
Engine failure, we're climbing straight ahead 3000ft, I'll call you back
Roger, LH38O Super, you're cleared
engine 01 fire, land ASAP
displayed in red
thrust lever No. 01 idle -number one confirmed
Engine No.01 master off -number one, confirmed
Engine No. 01 fire, push button, push!
Number 01 push button confirmed
Agent 01 after one second now discharge
ATC notify -notified
if fire after 23 seconds still burning then we have the second agent
- Ok
fire is out -fire is out
flaps '0' -flaps zero
we are still in the track -continue procedure
- Ok
if engine is damaged -the engine is damaged
correction, outer tank transfer is damaged
OK
Emergency outer tank transfer, on.
ALT*
-checked
clear engine fail? -clear!
Engine one shut down -start procedure
TCAS Mode Selector TA traffic advisory, only
avoid icing conditions -there are none
KVT 15°
secondary failures: elec: one generator
start APU aux power unit
inop systems: all phases generator one
green engine one pump 'A' and 'B'
engine one: bleed air wing anti-ice
status completed -remove status
procedure completed -Ok
LH 38OSuper, straight ahead for one more minute
then left turn to visual approach on RWY13L
flaps '1 ' -flaps one
flaps '2' -flaps two
that was a nice turn in look at that
in case of go-around 3000ft
gear down -gear down
auto thrust off
Back to manual flying -Ok
-400-
-300-
-200-
-100-
-90-
-80-70-
-60-50-
-40-
-30-
-20- retard
retard
ground spoilers
reverse green
Very good!
Game over
The outer left engine caught fire
We then made a left turn heading for Manhattan
And from there, back to JFK again
with one engine shut down
everything went well?
Sure, everything fine, we are back home - safe!