Aviation Discussion

[pompeyfan]

Would 319s be able to land at a lot of fly-be's bases? Certainly southampton would struggle for longish flights.

 

[starrymarkb]

Would 319s be able to land at a lot of fly-be's bases? Certainly southampton would struggle for longish flights.

Southampton would be tricky, but might be doable with some seats blocked. It might be worth taking the reduced capacity out of Southampton in return for extra capacity elsewhere.

 

[EssexGonzo]

....until 1900 this evening. Due to power outage at NATS.

Just on BBC news, can't find any links yet!

:eek::eek:hock:hock:

 

[Saint66]

It's strange looking at the radars and seeing so few planes over London at the moment. This is going to cause so many problems at this time of year.

 

[Strathclyder]

Flights disrupted after computer failure at UK control centre

Passengers are facing widespread flight disruption after a computer failure at the UK's air traffic control centre.

Nats said it was in the process of returning to normal operations after a "technical problem" at its Swanwick control centre caused delays and grounded some flights.

Problems were reported around the UK.

The government said the scale of the disruption was "unacceptable" and said it had asked for a "full explanation" of what had gone wrong.

This included delays at Heathrow and Gatwick, where departing flights were grounded for a time. Other UK airports reported knock-on effects.

It comes a year after a telephone glitch at the Hampshire control room caused huge disruption - one of a number of technical hitches to hit the part-privatised Nation Air Traffic Services since the centre opened in 2002.

Reported problems around the country include:

• Heathrow: Fifty flights cancelled. Others delayed but planes now landing and taking off
• Gatwick: Flights are now departing but still subject to delays
• Stansted: Flights still landing, no flights departing
• London City: Cancellations and delays
• Luton: All flights experiencing delays
• Bristol: Limited departures reported
• Luton: All flights experiencing delays but planes now leaving
• Edinburgh: No queues but passengers being advised to check with their airlines
• Glasgow: Some delays to departures
• Southampton: Experiencing ''problems''
• Oxford: Experiencing "some delays", mainly to services arriving from overseas
• Leeds Bradford: All flights out and most flights in suspended until 1900
• Birmingham: Some departures are being re-routed to avoid flying through London airspace
• East Midlands: Departures and arrivals delayed but passengers advised to turn up as normal

One source told the BBC the problem was caused by a computer glitch that co-ordinates the flights coming into London and puts the flights in sequence as they come into land or take off.

He described it as a "flight planning tool problem".

Travel body Abta encouraged passengers expecting to take a flight to contact their airline.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30454240

 

[fowler9]

Have any of you guys used Blue Airs website? I'm looking at going to Brasov from Liverpool and was wondering if the windows in the calendar show how many seats are left. There seem to be a few slots for the same price on multiple dates. Normally between 1 and 4. Also does anyone know about travelling from Bucharest to Brasov under your own steam?

 

[jopsuk]

Would 319s be able to land at a lot of fly-be's bases? Certainly southampton would struggle for longish flights.

London City (not a "base", I know- but has a fair few routes) would be a no-no! Only Airbuses permitted there are BA's two A318s with steep approach modifications. Even then it's only because they have an all-business layout

Guernsey is more or less out, Jersey isn't great for 737/32x either

 

[Butts]

Curse my lack of email checking lately!

Well check it tomorrow Wednesday 17th - another Flybe Flash Sale

 

[starrymarkb]

Well check it tomorrow Wednesday 17th - another Flybe Flash Sale

Ditto, Tempted to try the EXT-LCY

 

[Butts]

Ditto, Tempted to try the EXT-LCY

Routes not announced - but it's a possibility.

This time Flights from X-Mas Eve are included whereas last time it was January kick off - could be handy for people travelling over the Festive Period.

 

[CC 72100]

Just watched an Air crash investigation about a 737 that went down in Lebanon. While the interior shots of the cabin don't have to be strictly accurate, I noticed that the plane was in a 2+3 seating configuration.

While I've never travelled on a 737 (I use the orange budget airline, not the Irish one), I've never seen a 737 like that before - can anyone shed any light?

 

[starrymarkb]

Just watched an Air crash investigation about a 737 that went down in Lebanon. While the interior shots of the cabin don't have to be strictly accurate, I noticed that the plane was in a 2+3 seating configuration.

While I've never travelled on a 737 (I use the orange budget airline, not the Irish one), I've never seen a 737 like that before - can anyone shed any light?

Prob a DC9 or MD80 interior.

Worst one of for wrong interiors I saw was an FBW Airbus with control columns
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Ditto, Tempted to try the EXT-LCY

Or maybe not. Work are threatening to rejig my rota so I can't plan based on days off and it looks like my next holiday week off falls outside the promotion

 

[Hornet]

Just watched an Air crash investigation about a 737 that went down in Lebanon. While the interior shots of the cabin don't have to be strictly accurate, I noticed that the plane was in a 2+3 seating configuration.

While I've never travelled on a 737 (I use the orange budget airline, not the Irish one), I've never seen a 737 like that before - can anyone shed any light?

I flew regularly with British Midland during the late 80's/early 90's between LHR - DUB on their 737-400 series aircraft. They were able to reconfigure the seats on these aircraft from a 3+3 arrangement to a 3+2 arrangement, and they were able to manage that during turnround. (Reconfiguring didn't take long). I've seen a 3+2 arrangement using the front three rows right up to a 3+2 arrangement using eighteen rows on the first flight ex DUB on a Monday morning. The 3+2 was for Business Class with the 3+3 as Economy.

 

[fowler9]

I flew regularly with British Midland during the late 80's/early 90's between LHR - DUB on their 737-400 series aircraft. They were able to reconfigure the seats on these aircraft from a 3+3 arrangement to a 3+2 arrangement, and they were able to manage that during turnround. (Reconfiguring didn't take long). I've seen a 3+2 arrangement using the front three rows right up to a 3+2 arrangement using eighteen rows on the first flight ex DUB on a Monday morning. The 3+2 was for Business Class with the 3+3 as Economy.

They took seats out for a business class 3 plus 2 on a turnaround? Did they put wider seats in? I'm not saying you are wrong but that sounds a lot of effort and a long turnaround for very little reward. I wasn't even aware you could do that kind of thing on a turnaround.

 

[CC 72100]

They took seats out for a business class 3 plus 2 on a turnaround? Did they put wider seats in? I'm not saying you are wrong but that sounds a lot of effort and a long turnaround for very little reward. I wasn't even aware you could do that kind of thing on a turnaround.

I think I remember seeing an episode of BBC airport where an Icelandic Air crew did this during a turnaround of a 757. In order to 'increase' business class capacity, they used a seat winder which 'transformed' the 3 seats into 2, creating a large armrest between the two seats.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Prob a DC9 or MD80 interior.

Worst one of for wrong interiors I saw was an FBW Airbus with control columns

Thanks for clearing that up - seen a lot less interior photos of those, which would explain my unfamiliarity with them.

As for a control column in a fly-by-wire plane... hmmm :roll:

 

[starrymarkb]

As for a control column in a fly-by-wire plane... hmmm :roll:

That's not unknown. Boeing 777s and 787s and Embraer E-jets have fly by wire control columns

 

[fowler9]

That's not unknown. Boeing 777s and 787s and Embraer E-jets have fly by wire control columns

Suppose if it was pre A320 it wouldn't have had a side stick to be honest.

 

[starrymarkb]

Suppose if it was pre A320 it wouldn't have had a side stick to be honest.

No It wouldn't - that's why I said FBW Airbus

 

[Royston Vasey]

Just watched an Air crash investigation about a 737 that went down in Lebanon. While the interior shots of the cabin don't have to be strictly accurate, I noticed that the plane was in a 2+3 seating configuration.

While I've never travelled on a 737 (I use the orange budget airline, not the Irish one), I've never seen a 737 like that before - can anyone shed any light?

I don't think any commercial 737s have been 2+3 in economy in recent memory, if ever. Air Crash Investigation is actually surprisingly good at getting the graphics, crash scenes and mock-ups right, particularly with later series. They used a generic cockpit for a couple of series but then started to improve the realism. ACI is actually a very well detailed series I think.

I think I remember seeing an episode of BBC airport where an Icelandic Air crew did this during a turnaround of a 757. In order to 'increase' business class capacity, they used a seat winder which 'transformed' the 3 seats into 2, creating a large armrest between the two seats.

British Airways' short haul A319/320/321 and the (dwindling) 734 fleet all have this capability so as to create as much Club Europe seating as fits demand, whereby the frontmost seats are the same seats but permanently 2+2 and several rows can be converted from 3+3 to 2+2 using moveable armrests. Sometimes they just don't sell the middle seats, and for "Business UK" on the Heathrow shuttles they sometimes just give you a normal 3+3 seat towards the front!

I believe they are now going for a simple blocked out middle seat with the new "Pinnacle" refurbs

 

[fowler9]

I think I remember seeing an episode of BBC airport where an Icelandic Air crew did this during a turnaround of a 757. In order to 'increase' business class capacity, they used a seat winder which 'transformed' the 3 seats into 2, creating a large armrest between the two seats.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Thanks for clearing that up - seen a lot less interior photos of those, which would explain my unfamiliarity with them.

As for a control column in a fly-by-wire plane... hmmm :roll:

Cheers for clearing that up. I really didn't know it was possible.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No It wouldn't - that's why I said FBW Airbus

Yeah sorry mate.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't think any commercial 737s have been 2+3 in economy in recent memory, if ever. Air Crash Investigation is actually surprisingly good at getting the graphics, crash scenes and mock-ups right, particularly with later series. They used a generic cockpit for a couple of series but then started to improve the realism. ACI is actually a very well detailed series I think.



British Airways' short haul A319/320/321 and the (dwindling) 734 fleet all have this capability so as to create as much Club Europe seating as fits demand, whereby the frontmost seats are the same seats but permanently 2+2 and several rows can be converted from 3+3 to 2+2 using moveable armrests. Sometimes they just don't sell the middle seats, and for "Business UK" on the Heathrow shuttles they sometimes just give you a normal 3+3 seat towards the front!

I believe they are now going for a simple blocked out middle seat with the new "Pinnacle" refurbs

Cheers for the pictures mate. The only time I flew internally in the UK was Manchester to Heathrow on BA and I never thought to look to look at the seats, was too excited as we were flying on to Hong Kong. Ha ha. I just assumed anyone first class got a nicer bacon butty and the seats upfront were not all used.

 

[Hornet]

They took seats out for a business class 3 plus 2 on a turnaround? Did they put wider seats in? I'm not saying you are wrong but that sounds a lot of effort and a long turnaround for very little reward. I wasn't even aware you could do that kind of thing on a turnaround.

As some of the photo's show it was, in effect, just a case of flipping the armrests into the middle seat space. BM would do this on one side for the two formation and leave the three formation on the other (which was used by families on the many times I travelled, otherwise only the Window/Aisle seat would be occupied). I travelled a few times in Business with BM. As you can see it didn't take long to rearrange the arms.

 

[fowler9]

As some of the photo's show it was, in effect, just a case of flipping the armrests into the middle seat space. BM would do this on one side for the two formation and leave the three formation on the other (which was used by families on the many times I travelled, otherwise only the Window/Aisle seat would be occupied). I travelled a few times in Business with BM. As you can see it didn't take long to rearrange the arms.

Yeah mate, never come across that before. Ha ha. Interesting.

 

[CC 72100]

Thanks for everybody's input following my question, learnt a fair bit here

 

[Strathclyder]

Contact with AirAsia flight QZ8501 (an Airbus A320) has been lost:

AirAsia flight QZ8501 from Indonesia to Singapore missing

An AirAsia flight travelling from Indonesia to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control with 162 people on board.

Flight QZ8501 lost contact at 07:24 (23:24 GMT), Malaysia-based AirAsia tweeted.

Search and rescue operations are under way.

Malaysia's national carrier Malaysia Airlines has suffered two disasters this year - flights MH370 and MH17 - but AirAsia has never lost a plane.

Flight MH370 disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March with 239 passengers and crew, and MH17 was shot down over Ukraine in July, killing all 298 on board.

The AirAsia flight had been due to arrive in Singapore at 08:30 (00:30GMT).

The missing jet had requested a "deviation" from the flight path due to bad weather, the company said.

There were 155 passengers on board, with 138 adults, 16 children and one infant, the company said in a statement. Also on board were two pilots and five cabin crew.

Most of those on board were Indonesian, but there were six others on board, AirAsia has said: three South Koreans, and one each from France, Malaysia and Singapore.

An official with the transport ministry, Hadi Mustofa, told local media the plane lost contact over the Java Sea, between the islands of Kalimantan and Java.

He said the plane had asked for an unusual route before it lost contact and that the weather had been cloudy.

AirAsia has set up an emergency line for family or friends of those who may be on board. The number is +622 129 850 801.

The company's chief executive, Tony Fernandes, tweeted: "Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We must stay strong."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30614627

My thoughts go out to the families of the missing passengers and crew. Praying that the worst hasn't happened.

 

[Butts]

On a half-full Q400 from BHX to GLA tonight.

What is it with Flybe's Airport Check In Machines ?

Today I was able to change my seat on checking in using the Machine at the Airport in Birmingham. I blagged an Exit Seat and had "the two" to myself.

Sometimes you are unable to change your seat in this manner and a message comes up advising you that "for a fee" it is possible to do it at the Check In Counter.

While I'm talking "Air" (hot some may say ) why are so many people unprepared for security and faff about for ages holding everyone else up. Surely everyone knows about coats and belts etc

 

[starrymarkb]

On a half-full Q400 from BHX to GLA tonight.

What is it with Flybe's Airport Check In Machines ?

Today I was able to change my seat on checking in using the Machine at the Airport in Birmingham. I blagged an Exit Seat and had "the two" to myself.

Sometimes you are unable to change your seat in this manner and a message comes up advising you that "for a fee" it is possible to do it at the Check In Counter.

While I'm talking "Air" (hot some may say ) why are so many people unprepared for security and faff about for ages holding everyone else up. Surely everyone knows about coats and belts etc

That's why I hate the early wave at Bristol. So many holiday flights and once per year travelers who are not prepared or have forbidden items in carry on.

Mind you Bristol security can be pretty arsey - they once measured my liquid polythene bag and rejected it for being a few mm too big!

 

[Elecman]

Just as a matter of interest will the Environment Agency be charging Virgin Atlantic for environmental damage to the ocean through VS43 dumping most of its fuel the other day?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I doubt it, dumped fuel would tend to disperse and evaporate long before it gets anywhere near ground level, even from those relatively low altitudes.

 

[Butts]

Flew from Edinburgh to Manchester for a short break this week and back again Q400 both trips.

Once again Flybe's weird Airport Check In policy kicked in......:cry:

On the way down I was allocated a seat and unable to change it without visiting the desk and paying a fee.

On the way back up I was able to change to an exit seat free of charge when checking in using the machine once again.

Both flights were one third full !!

Has anyone else experienced this situation and be able to furnish an explanation ?

 

[jon0844]

On Sunday we were flying back from Sweden to Stansted and got caught up in the fiasco that had happened earlier, where a Ryanair flight had come in and the wrong door was opened (or left open) that resulted in people coming into departures and forcing everyone back through security.

As a result, the flight to us was delayed by three hours and we got back three hours seven minutes late.

Ryanair has emailed everyone to say we can NOT claim under the EU ruling that entitles us to €200 each, as it was 'exceptional circumstances'. From what I can see, it was circumstances that were solely down to them, and no doubt they'll have claims against them from other airlines and the airport itself in the coming weeks.

What's more, on the heavily delayed flight the cabin crew stuck to the story that it was caused by freezing fog and a shortage of de-icing equipment at Stansted. This was fine until we arrived at the ground crew started to talk to the cabin crew about what happened and who it was, followed by the crew telling them to shut up!

Quite farcical, but now I am left wondering what the best action is to take. It seems that making a claim against Ryanair could be a LONG battle and they're refusing to pay pending some additional review at the end of next month.

Anyone here have any advice? It's €600 in total, so not chicken feed.