Aviation Discussion

[starrymarkb]

I read somewhere they are cutting back on The Embraer 195's unfortunately,
as they are far superior to the 175's

The E195s will start to leave the fleet from October (as the leases expire)

 

[WestCoast]

The E195s will start to leave the fleet from October (as the leases expire)

The E195s are very pleasant aircraft to fly on, however I believe they are leaving the fleet due to their relatively high leasing costs. According to a seemingly knowledge poster on the Pprune forum* it actually costs less to lease a larger Airbus A319 than an E195.

*no guarantees for accuracy

 

[Techniquest]

The E195s are very pleasant aircraft to fly on, however I believe they are leaving the fleet due to their relatively high leasing costs. According to a seemingly knowledge poster on the Pprune forum* it actually costs less to lease a larger Airbus A319 than an E195.

*no guarantees for accuracy

I've heard the same through comments on an aviation friend's status on FB recently, which seems a bit nonsensical.

The E195s are nice craft to fly on for sure, as are the E175s. Only had one of each with Flybe, not sure which ones off-hand, but they were both enjoyable experiences.

As for the new base for Flybe at BHX, that's good news for a fan of the airline

In other aviation discussion, I'm informed a Bicman DC-10 (I think I have that right!) is coming to BHX on 22nd, 23rd and 24th of February. Farewell tour, but about that's all I know at this time. If anyone else has fuller gen, I'd welcome hearing it

 

[Zamracene749]

All here techniquest. Wish i could afford it

http://www.biman-airlines.com/about/news?id=548c5950-d80c-482d-b7a3-120f48108627

There is an excellent video of the DC10 leaving Manchester somewhere on the FL350 website

 

[Techniquest]

I couldn't afford that either, hopefully I'll be able to go and see it at least. Never seen one so would be nice to do that

Thanks for the gen though

 

[flymo]

Another 3-holer and the DC-10's big sister, the MD-11, is also scheduled to end passenger service this year. only KLM still operate them in passenger service at the moment ( I think !!) and the last scheduled service is due to be this summer sometime.

Elsewhere, Glasgow airport is due to have an Emirates A380 operating flights EK27 and EK28 on April 10th. This is to celebrate 10 years of EK serving GLA. Get your cameras ready, could be a nice sight.

 

[WestCoast]

Isn't Binman the very last commercial operator of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10? I'm very tempted by the sightseeing flight, especially as BHX is my local airport, however I can't do that weekend! I know Binman is (re)launching Dhaka-Birmingham-New York JFK, but it's certainly a privilege for the airport to host this.

Flew on a MyTravel DC10-10 from Manchester to Las Palmas and back in around 2003/4, shortly before they retired them from service. I remember the outbound flight well, as it was the first time I had flown on a widebody aircraft! Quite proud to say my first trip on a widebody was a DC-10 in the 2000s!

Monarch are also having their Airbus A300 farewell soon, glad I flew on one of those beasts last year!

 

[trentside]

Just attempted to book on one of the DC-10 sightseeing flights, but Biman have kindly authorised money to be taken from my account and then failed to provide a confirmation that the reservation has been successful. Hardly a promising start!

Very fond memories of the DC-10, flew to Jamacia and back on one with Airtours in early 2001. Was able to visit the cockpit while we were flying over Canada and the north Eastern USA - quite an experience, and one it's not possible to repeat on UK/US bound flights nowadays.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Winds were strong enough to lift a sizable aircraft vertically off the ground while it was parked at the gate at Shannon…

http://avherald.com/h?article=46fec169&opt=0

An Aer Arann Avions de Transport Regional ATR-42-300, registration EI-BYO, was parked at the gate in Shannon for the night after having arrived as flight EI-3635/RE-3635 from Birmingham,EN (UK) on Feb 11th.

Flights out and into Shannon were cancelled on Feb 12th due to heavy storms with gusts in excess of 80 knots. Shannon Airport recorded a maximum gust of 86 knots at about 14:30L (14:30Z).

On Feb 12th the gusts caused the aircraft to become airborne at the gate and fall down onto the ground again. The left main gear collapsed in that process, the aircraft sustained substantial damage when it came to rest on left wing tip, right main gear and nose gear.

I wonder why none of the "erks" twigged what the forecast winds would mean and put it in the hanger?

 

[stut]

Ah, the "Flying Coffin". Will and won't be sad to see it go. My first ever long-haul flight was in a Northwest DC-10 from Gatwick to Boston on the (long) way round to Australia. It was followed by a 727 from Boston to Detroit, which was every bit as fun. Actually, all this was within the last 20 years...

My main memory of the KLM MD-11s was the very odd (pre-refurb) cabin configuration, in both business (split into two tiny cabins) and economy (the famous 2-4-3 layout).

The Delta MD-11s weren't too shabby, mind.

 

[trentside]

Just attempted to book on one of the DC-10 sightseeing flights, but Biman have kindly authorised money to be taken from my account and then failed to provide a confirmation that the reservation has been successful. Hardly a promising start!

Well, it seems Biman have quite efficient customer service - they retrieved my reservation and emailed me a duplicate ticket 2am this morning, which would make it around 8am in Dhaka. I'm flying on the 0900 flight on the Sunday morning

 

[starrymarkb]

This Escalated Quickly - From A.net

Great shame that Flybe is getting rid of all the nice Embraer 195 fleet.I used to love flying on them.
10 Embraer ERJ 190-200LR's [Official designation of the E195*] to be WFU by end March 14. The remaing 4 to be WFU end Summer 14
http://www.jethros.org.uk/fleets/fleet_listings/flybe.htm

3 are already stored pending new homes.

*This is what is on the aircraft's paper work rather then the marketing name. MD80s are still officially DC9-80s and IIRC the Boeing 717 is officially a DC9-95

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Back in the early 1980s ( ie long before Boeing took over McD-D ) I wrote to Boeing to ask why the sequence went from 707 to 727 then 737 etc; why no 717?

The answer came back - and I've probably still got the letter somewhere - that the 717 was the official designation of the USAF KC-135 tankers.

That is probably why the DC-9-95 was never formally re-designated 717 but the marketing department were able to use the numbers unofficially as the public are unaware of the true designation of the KC-135...

 

[Techniquest]

This Escalated Quickly - From A.net



3 are already stored pending new homes.

*This is what is on the aircraft's paper work rather then the marketing name. MD80s are still officially DC9-80s and IIRC the Boeing 717 is officially a DC9-95

Harsh, E195s are nice craft.

As for KLM ditching their MD11s soon, any gen on the easiest way to get one in the book? Or at least the best place to go and see them?

 

[starrymarkb]

Harsh, E195s are nice craft.

As for KLM ditching their MD11s soon, any gen on the easiest way to get one in the book? Or at least the best place to go and see them?

Usually on AMS - Canada routes. Amsterdam Schiphol would probably be best to see passenger versions. (There is a huge rooftop spectator terrace) They will still be common as Freighters so Stansted or East Midlands might be good bets.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks, may have to get myself over to AMS and find this terrace to fill my AFQR somewhat. Of course, if I do go it'll have to be a BHX-AMS leap with Flybe, I fancy my chances of getting another Dash 8 in the book

*Hurries to Flybe.com to look for a sensibly priced flight*

 

[starrymarkb]

I'd go KLM. Look for a rare Fokker 70 Also if you stop overnight on a Saturday you can usually get a return with KLM for less then a Flybe Single with free food/drinks on board. If you like Engine Noise sit near the back (IIRC Row 15) as you'll be about a metre away from a howling Rolls Royce

 

[Techniquest]

Nice, I'll look into that then for sure!

 

[flymo]

KLM have 4 MD11s left in service, rego's PH-KCA, PH-KCB, PH-KCD and PH-KCE. They are usually found at the moment on the YUL (Montreal) flights KL671/KL672. KL672 has an early arrival in AMS at about 07:50 scheduled and departure at about 15:20.

Also KL605/KL606 AMS-SFO also sees some MD11 action until 29 March this year. Times at AMS indicate departure at around 10:05 and return into AMS at around 10:20 scheduled. The SFO flights are not daily though...

All of this information is of course subject to change/delay/equipment. Flightstats or flightradar24 would be able to give more up to date information and expected times of arrival/departure on the days you are there.

 

[starrymarkb]

The Schiphol mobile app also gives the booked aircraft (as in Registration) 24 hours before departure/arrival.

 

[Butts]

Does anyone think Flybe will do a re-run of last years we'll pay your APD promotion ?

Butts has just booked a trip to Southampton from Edinburgh and back in June for £70 return - a veritable bargain.

However even more of a bargain with no APD

Off to Islay next month from Glasgow (rewards freebie with low Loganair taxes) - will be a Saab in all probability.

ps - what nutter would go by rail from Edinburgh to Southampton when fares like the above are available

pps looks like Dundee Airport is on it's way out as City Jet are leaving in March leaving it with no scheduled flights.

 

[flymo]

pps looks like Dundee Airport is on it's way out as City Jet are leaving in March leaving it with no scheduled flights.

Just checked for prices for early March and with prices from about £300 for a return trip to London City, does anybody actually travel from Dundee ??

EDIT : just checking on the CAA site for stats it seems 2084 trips were made twixt Dundee and London City in November so obviously there is some demand.

 

[trentside]

pps looks like Dundee Airport is on it's way out as City Jet are leaving in March leaving it with no scheduled flights.

Not quite, as Loganair are starting two weekday Dundee - Stansted flights under the Flybe brand. These begin the day after Cityjet withdraw the London City route (30/03/14).

A new air service linking Dundee to one of London's busiest gateways is to launch this spring with one way flights from £74.99.

Scotland's airline Loganair will operate a twice daily weekday service, and once on a Sunday, to London Stansted from 30 March, replacing the CityJet service to London City which is due to be withdrawn at the end of March.

In the meantime, tenders will soon be issued to secure a Public Service Obligation that will ensure the long term future of air services between Dundee and London.

<snip>

Flights will operate twice daily on weekdays, with flights leaving Dundee at 7.00am and 4.25pm. Return flights depart Stansted at 9.00am and 6.25pm, allowing business passengers to complete a full day's work in London. There will also be a flight to and from London Stansted every Sunday afternoon, leaving Dundee at 4.25pm and departing Stansted at 6.25pm.

The new service, operated by a 32-seat Dornier 328 turboprop aircraft, is the result of weeks of negotiation between Dundee Airport operator HIAL, Dundee City Council, Transport Scotland and the airline.

The full press release can be read here.

 

[Butts]

Not quite, as Loganair are starting two weekday Dundee - Stansted flights under the Flybe brand. These begin the day after Cityjet withdraw the London City route (30/03/14).



The full press release can be read here.

£74.99 one way ? - are they having a laugh Edinburgh and Aberdeen offer far cheaper flights ie from £37 on BA from EDI.

No wonder no one (but those on expenses) will use the place

 

[trentside]

£74.99 one way ? - are they having a laugh Edinburgh and Aberdeen offer far cheaper flights ie from £37 on BA from EDI.

No wonder no one (but those on expenses) will use the place

And of course, they'll now be adding the train tickets from Stansted to the City onto their expense accounts as well

 

[WestCoast]

£74.99 one way ? - are they having a laugh Edinburgh and Aberdeen offer far cheaper flights ie from £37 on BA from EDI.

No wonder no one (but those on expenses) will use the place

Of course, you've got to factor in the time and cost element of reaching those airports if your destination is closer to Dundee. However, I'm a tad skeptical about Stansted as the choice of London airport. It does have very decent rail links to the City and Canary Wharf e.t.c but it's never going to be a London City or Heathrow for business travellers.

How many fares does BA offer at those levels on the prime time business flights (say Monday morning or Friday evening)? Not many when I used to look at the domestic prices.

There is still a market for high fare business services, look at Eastern Airways, the starting fare on their long-established Birmingham to Newcastle service is £115 one way, although they do offer "bulk buy" and corporate travel discounts for those regularly flying.

 

[Butts]

Of course, you've got to factor in the time and cost element of reaching those airports if your destination is closer to Dundee. However, I'm a tad skeptical about Stansted as the choice of London airport. It does have very decent rail links to the City and Canary Wharf e.t.c but it's never going to be a London City or Heathrow for business travellers.

How many fares does BA offer at those levels on the prime time business flights (say Monday morning or Friday evening)? Not many when I used to look at the domestic prices.

There is still a market for high fare business services, look at Eastern Airways, the starting fare on their long-established Birmingham to Newcastle service is £115 one way, although they do offer "bulk buy" and corporate travel discounts for those regularly flying.

I agree with your sentiments regarding the demand for a "business service". I was speaking personally and would always book in advance wherever possible.

 

[trentside]

I've uploaded my pictures from my DC-10 scenic flight on Sunday to Flickr;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trentsidetraveller/sets/72157641474515094/

Hope you enjoy them

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Hi aviation people. I am a very occasional plane photographer, usually when sat at an airport awaiting a connection (need to get them all on Flickr some day). Fancy treating my new D600 to some airport days and just wondering which airport in the north is best for photography? Wanting a good mix of flights and a good viewing point, ideally accessible by train.

Many thanks.

 

[Shrimper]

Manchester; though some of the best spots are difficult by public transport.

Early morning to midday the southside is the best with the line-ups on 23L; moving to 23R when single runway ops commence for both arrival and departure shots.

As the sun moves round in the afternoon the AVP is good; and the airport pub can be good in an evening.

Of these only the AVP and Pub are accessible by public transport (both by hourly bus; though the pub will improve once the Metrolink works allow buses to resume normal routes). Walking to the southside is possible but could take a while!