Aviation Discussion

[stut]

The seats are pretty tightly packed but it's fine for the sub 1 hr flight. Wouldn't want to go to Egypt on one though!

Do they still have the ex-GB Airways A320s for the longer routes? When I've been to RAK, it's been on one of those, and it's not at all unpleasant.

Mind you, they were running LTN-ATH well before they took over GB Airways.

They can go over the top on some of the mid-haul services, though, like Israel. The service is terribly Haifa-Luton.

 

[atillathehunn]

I was an EJ A320 on a flight from Amman to Gatwick, and then a 'connecting' A319 to AMS the following morning (worst major airport I've been at overnight). You really notice the difference between the two when the journeys are so close together. I would not have liked to be in the A319 for the 5 or so hours. We had taken off after Iftar, so the Arabs had rushed to drink as much as they could, which meant the queue for the toilet was really quite long...

 

[fowler9]

The seat pitch and width is exactly the same on Easyjets 319's & 320's. I'm guessing its the lack of the extra loo which would have been a nightmare, can understand why by the sounds of it.

 

[atillathehunn]

Overall in a larger plane there is more breathing space, though nothing to the A380 I went out on (via DXB). Whilst you don't get more seat space, it's nicer to be in an even slightly larger plane, especially when the queue for the loo reaches more than half way down the cabin. After take off the seat belt signs are kept on for about 45 minutes until you are well clear of Israeli airspace, which didn't help the backlog for the bog.

 

[telstarbox]

The Scottish Parliament is to take control of Air Passenger Duty for Scottish airports. Is this more for the benefit of internal flights to Orkney, Shetland etc or will it lead to greater competition between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Manchester/Leeds Bradford/Newcastle?

 

[Hornet]

Due to arrive in T2 next weekend on a Hairy Fungus flight ex DUB. My first time through the revamped T2. (Old hand at T1 gate 80 - 90 arrivals). Assume that there is an Irish/Channel Island channel that by-passes passport control a la Gatwick. I don't use my passport for ex Ireland flights if I fly with an airline that do not insist on them, (EI being one). Have my UK Photo Driving License which is acceptable on EI. I've only ever shown ID coming through T1 from Dublin, twice, in over 300 inbound flights, unlike Holyhead where they insist on seeing ID every time you get off the Ferry!

 

[Butts]

The Scottish Parliament is to take control of Air Passenger Duty for Scottish airports. Is this more for the benefit of internal flights to Orkney, Shetland etc or will it lead to greater competition between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Manchester/Leeds Bradford/Newcastle?

People who live in Orkney and Shetland already qualify for so many subsidised cheap flights per year to the mainland.

You missed Birmingham off your list - my main destination from Edinburgh. I doubt it will make much difference as prices have barely risen in the last few years even with APD hikes.

 

[telstarbox]

No I didn't

I meant - will English and Scottish airports compete for international flights? eg if someone in NW England wants to fly to Europe or the USA, it might be cheaper for them to fly from Prestwick than Manchester due to the difference in APD.

 

[Clip]

Hmm mI think I may have ot resort to the train here as the fare is £144 now and I could probably fly to Mallorca for that.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No I didn't

I meant - will English and Scottish airports compete for international flights? eg if someone in NW England wants to fly to Europe or the USA, it might be cheaper for them to fly from Prestwick than Manchester due to the difference in APD.

But surely the cost of getting to Prestwick would cancel that out wouldnt it?

 

[atillathehunn]

How do you know the APD will reduce though?
For me here, I am indifferent flying from Brussels or Amsterdam. However, due to the huge tax on long-haul flights out of Amsterdam it is often cheaper to book from Brussels, with a journey which features the Thalys to Schiphol and then the long-haul connection. Seems silly but I can save hundreds of euros. On a recent booking to Beijing I saved about €400...
A similar thing could happen with the trains from Manchester one supposes.

 

[WestCoast]

Just spent a 1h50m flight on Aegean Airlines from Thessaloniki to Munich (as part of an Athens to Munich booking) eating and drinking almost non-stop. Sweets for takeoff, followed by full bar, full meal with dessert, tea/coffee, more tea/coffee, another full bar service and then sweets for landing. The crews seemed to love their jobs. Massive fan of the budget carriers, but the fare undercut the easyJet fares to Basel and Berlin. Can highly recommend them if you're heading Greece or thereabouts way (they fly to Athens from Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester IIRC) based on my experience!

 

[starrymarkb]

Just seen an A400M going into Exeter Any idea why it's visiting?

 

[WatcherZero]

First UK one arrived last week and official acceptance ceremony of the first one was couple of days ago. Flybe won the maintenance contract for the fleet to be performed at Exeter.

 

[fowler9]

Fly be are maintaining the A400's! Blimey, didn't realise that kind of thing went on with Air Force aircraft. Had a presentation off the RAF on Tuesday in work. The A400 featured fairly heavily considering the number they currently have. Ha ha. Interesting presentation.

 

[Spamcan81]

First UK one arrived last week and official acceptance ceremony of the first one was couple of days ago. Flybe won the maintenance contract for the fleet to be performed at Exeter.

Bit bigger than the Dash 8s of their own fleet.

 

[WatcherZero]

Yeah happens on occasion with Auxiliary ships/planes though this Governments been using it a lot. The A330 based air to air fuel tankers are leased as is some of the strategic lift capability. On the naval side some of the survey/supply ships are leased.

 

[fowler9]

Yeah happens on occasion with Auxiliary ships/planes though this Governments been using it a lot. The A330 based air to air fuel tankers are leased as is some of the strategic lift capability. On the naval side some of the survey/supply ships are leased.

Yeah mate I should have known better. My mate is in the RFA and their ships are always being repaired in civilian dockyards. One of the Fort boats is in Cammell Laird as we speak unless I am much mistaken.

 

[Butts]

Flew the new Flybe London City to Edinburgh last night on the 2120 Service.

Arrived at the Airport about 40 mins before flight scheduled, sailed through Security - it's the last flight out of LCY.

Unfortunately it was a "Dash" about half full I'd say.

Compared to my BA Flight a few weeks ago on an Embraer it was sub-standard, however so was the £39.99 Fare plus £3 for a Coffee and Kit Kat.

Headwinds resulted in a 1 hour 20 minute flight time (normally an hour) but still beats the pants off the Train (even 1st Class) due to the reduction in nicotine deprivation time.

 

[starrymarkb]

Flew the new Flybe London City to Edinburgh last night on the 2120 Service.

Arrived at the Airport about 40 mins before flight scheduled, sailed through Security - it's the last flight out of LCY.

Unfortunately it was a "Dash" about half full I'd say.

Compared to my BA Flight a few weeks ago on an Embraer it was sub-standard, however so was the £39.99 Fare plus £3 for a Coffee and Kit Kat.

Headwinds resulted in a 1 hour 20 minute flight time (normally an hour) but still beats the pants off the Train (even 1st Class) due to the reduction in nicotine deprivation time.

Flybe's Embraers are not allowed into City as they don't have the steep approach kit that BA's do.

 

[Butts]

Flybe's Embraers are not allowed into City as they don't have the steep approach kit that BA's do.

Oh is that so, thanks for the information.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Oh is that so, thanks for the information.

Flybe Flash Sale Today (Wednesday) just booked 4 Flights at £15 each

 

[jopsuk]

what does the steep approach kit consist of?

 

[Strathclyder]

what does the steep approach kit consist of?

According to this Airbus article, it changes the descent angle limit from the standard 3 degrees to 5.5 degrees.

 

[starrymarkb]

what does the steep approach kit consist of?

Mods to allow the speed brakes to deploy during the approach and adjustments to the Fly By Wire. It's mostly software.

Problem for Flybe is that it's only approved on the E170 and E190 - not the E175 that they operate. Now they could try and get approval but would cost a lot to do all the paperwork!

 

[Butts]

Mods to allow the speed brakes to deploy during the approach and adjustments to the Fly By Wire. It's mostly software.

Problem for Flybe is that it's only approved on the E170 and E190 - not the E175 that they operate. Now they could try and get approval but would cost a lot to do all the paperwork!

Shame they gave up their E190's and substituted crap Dash replacements on a lot of routes.

 

[starrymarkb]

Shame they gave up their E190's and substituted crap Dash replacements on a lot of routes.

The 195 had the same problem. Plus they were overpaying for them, hence why they are being retired, In hindsight it would have been better to get A319s which cost the same to lease and not much more to run for an extra 40 seats

 

[Techniquest]

Flybe's Embraers are not allowed into City as they don't have the steep approach kit that BA's do.

Oh is that so, thanks for the information.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Oh is that so, thanks for the information.

Flybe Flash Sale Today (Wednesday) just booked 4 Flights at £15 each

Nice, wish I'd known about that! How do you find out about these?

 

[Butts]

Nice, wish I'd known about that! How do you find out about these?

E-Mail Alert - no special code required as it was a general sale

 

[Techniquest]

Curse my lack of email checking lately!

 

[WestCoast]

Shame they gave up their E190's and substituted crap Dash replacements on a lot of routes.

I was rather surprised to find out that I'm flying 'long-haul' on the Flybe Q400 next week, Salzburg to Southampton! At 2h40m gate-to-gate it must surely be one of the longest routes they can economically operate. Aside from the novelty factor I'm also looking forward to it as I find them rather quiet and comfy at the back. If it was an ATR on the other hand, it would probably take half a day!

 

[Butts]

Curse my lack of email checking lately!

I got Newcastle to Exeter for £15

Exeter to London City for £15

Inverness to Dublin Return £15 each way.