Aviation Discussion

[WatcherZero]

Apparently Emirates had an A380 fall off the jacks while under maintenance a couple of months ago; presumably that is unlikely to be repaired? If that is the case, would it be the first A380 hull loss?

Was how it was initially reported but in actuality they retracted the undercarriage without putting in the pins to secure it.

Technically not the first though, Emirates has broken two of its first received hulls up for parts in Dubai while it is still receiving new ones.

 

[Butts]

Indeed. Their ERJ145s are an absolute pleasure to fly in. They are getting in some ATR props and withdrawing all their saabs over the next year I believe. The saab2000s are pretty much done with already I think.

I'm looking at exploring the hebridies and hopefully will use loganair for a lot of it!

Is an Embraer 145 just like a miniature version of the 175/195 ? I'm jealous having never set foot in one !!

You have missed the boat (or should that be the plane) on The Hebrides with regard to cost. I think you will find the fares are now prohibitive. Until a few years ago Loganair used to operate a lot of them on behalf of Flybe.

At that time Flybe had a great rewards scheme based on points for each flight made (regardless of cost). And of course points made prizes. I did quite a few of the Islands (including Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland) for about £30 or £40 return utilising this great scheme.

I suspect you will be knocking on £150 or £200 return these days.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Was how it was initially reported but in actuality they retracted the undercarriage without putting in the pins to secure it.

Technically not the first though, Emirates has broken two of its first received hulls up for parts in Dubai while it is still receiving new ones.

I thought the term "hull loss" only applied if there was an accident?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Is an Embraer 145 just like a miniature version of the 175/195 ? I'm jealous having never set foot in one !!

You have missed the boat (or should that be the plane) on The Hebrides with regard to cost. I think you will find the fares are now prohibitive. Until a few years ago Loganair used to operate a lot of them on behalf of Flybe.

At that time Flybe had a great rewards scheme based on points for each flight made (regardless of cost). And of course points made prizes. I did quite a few of the Islands (including Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland) for about £30 or £40 return utilising this great scheme.

I suspect you will be knocking on £150 or £200 return these days.

Yes and no. It is in terms of comfort for me. But obviously a lot smaller. It's 1 plus 2, and as I've only ever flown em on business, I took the one and was really grateful. Walking down the aisle requires you to watch your head a bit too if you're tall. They are rapid on takeoff and I'd say relatively quiet unless you sit at back to hear the engines. Did one hour flights on em but reckon I could have done longer and be comfortable.

You're right about prices but I don't intend on doing it often and will combine with hire cars and ferries for the full experience. Needs must. Even their Manchester Inverness flights are quite expensive, trying to grt the Mrs on one to experience the ERJ145.

 

[Aictos]

Anyone used Dortmund or Düsseldorf airports? Any views on them?

 

[158756]

Flybe have apparently denied they intend to cancel all domestic routes. It probably won't be that bad, but having to make such a statement is not usually a good sign.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Even their Manchester Inverness flights are quite expensive

It seems to be pot luck with Loganair. When I've looked, Newcastle-Aberdeen has been a good price, about the same as the train. Prices out of Carlisle are OK too. But Isle of Man-Edinburgh and the London City flights always seem to be eye-wateringly expensive.

Flybe have apparently denied they intend to cancel all domestic routes.

Alarming that they'd have to issue such a statement so soon after being taken over, I agree.

It'll be interesting to see what changes. Flybe have already switched the Isle of Man flights to Stobart Air as "the ATR72 is more suited to the short flights" (because an ATR72 and Q400 are so totally different!). And they're talking of getting rid of the E175s and getting in more Q400s.

As an aside, I do wonder if Stobart Air will stop using the Aer Lingus Regional brand and have everything under the Virgin Connect brand.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Anyone used Dortmund or Düsseldorf airports? Any views on them?

Düsseldorf Airport used a few times it's fairly efficient. All you'd expect from a modern German airport.

 

[FQTV]

Flybe have apparently denied they intend to cancel all domestic routes. It probably won't be that bad, but having to make such a statement is not usually a good sign.

I’m minded to agree with your earlier assessment of flybe’s future as Virgin Connect. In fact, I’d put more money on you being absolutely right than I’d ever consider investing in VC.

I can’t even see a decent rationale behind dropping a couple of million on it to keep it out of IAG’s hands, given how much they wouldn’t want it.

Even easyJet must be chuckling; this way, they can let VC prove a non-Heathrow route and then chuck an A320 at it to completely swamp them.

 

[jfollows]

Düsseldorf Airport used a few times it's fairly efficient. All you'd expect from a modern German airport.

Agreed.
Used it a few times.
You land and taxi to somewhere near the terminal building.
You get off and get into a bus which takes you to the terminal building.
You queue up and get through passport control because you're coming from the UK or going to the UK.
You queue up and wait in a holding pen for a bus.
You get on the bus which takes you to your onward flight.
You discover that the onward flight is parked next to the one you arrived on.
But it's all done as efficiently as it can be, under the circumstances. I don't remember feeling hassled.
Taxi time to/from runway isn't too long.

Also, when it's been my destination airport rather than just a place to change at, it's been fine, nothing dreadful anyway.

 

[Aictos]

Düsseldorf Airport used a few times it's fairly efficient. All you'd expect from a modern German airport.

Agreed.
Used it a few times.
You land and taxi to somewhere near the terminal building.
You get off and get into a bus which takes you to the terminal building.
You queue up and get through passport control because you're coming from the UK or going to the UK.
You queue up and wait in a holding pen for a bus.
You get on the bus which takes you to your onward flight.
You discover that the onward flight is parked next to the one you arrived on.
But it's all done as efficiently as it can be, under the circumstances. I don't remember feeling hassled.
Taxi time to/from runway isn't too long.

Also, when it's been my destination airport rather than just a place to change at, it's been fine, nothing dreadful anyway.

Thanks both of you, I have provisional plans to fly domestically between Berlin and Düsseldorf next year instead of using DB as well as well as flying out of Dortmund home to the UK for the first time.

 

[WestCoast]

Had a really fantastic 10 days working in KL, main flights were out and back on Malaysia Airlines A350s of which I had no idea what to expect. Both overnight trips on MH1 and MH2. Turns out the flights were actually rather good in Economy; decent seats and pitch, decent IFE, good food and lots of it, everything was served quickly. The Malaysian dinner/breakfast were tasty and especially liked they first served a quick round of beer and snacks before the food!

I’d say the crew were definitely not as ‘polished’ as Singapore Airlines, had a chat with the cabin manager who didn’t seem to like me visiting in the galley but we had a good laugh. I’d say they're definitely not as good as Cathay, Qatar or Singapore who I’ve flown long-haul with but I’d say a solid 4 star option.

I think I’ve found my new favourite aircraft in the A350, it seems ever so slightly roomier than the Dreamliner and looks brilliant inside and out.

 

[Bald Rick]

Had a really fantastic 10 days working in KL, main flights were out and back on Malaysia Airlines A350s of which I had no idea what to expect. Both overnight trips on MH1 and MH2. Turns out the flights were actually rather good in Economy; decent seats and pitch, decent IFE, good food and lots of it, everything was served quickly. The Malaysian dinner/breakfast were tasty and especially liked they first served a quick round of beer and snacks before the food!

I’d say the crew were definitely not as ‘polished’ as Singapore Airlines, had a chat with the cabin manager who didn’t seem to like me visiting in the galley but we had a good laugh. I’d say they're definitely not as good as Cathay, Qatar or Singapore who I’ve flown long-haul with but I’d say a solid 4 star option.

I think I’ve found my new favourite aircraft in the A350, it seems ever so slightly roomier than the Dreamliner and looks brilliant inside and out.

Yep my Mrs was a regular to the Far East for years, and rated Cathay / Singapore as premier league, with Thai / Malaysian one division below. BA were somewhere in the lower reaches of the Southern league.

 

[BananaRepublic]

?.....As an aside, I do wonder if Stobart Air will stop using the Aer Lingus Regional brand and have everything under the Virgin Connect brand.

Not likely.
Stobart provide a wet lease contract service for other airlines, such as Aer Lingus Regional and KLM.
This is a separate business from the Flybe operation and the Chief Exec. has said Stobart Air will continue with these contracts within the new Connect Airways group.

 

[Bald Rick]

Not likely.
Stobart provide a wet lease contract service for other airlines, such as Aer Lingus Regional and KLM.
This is a separate business from the Flybe operation and the Chief Exec. has said Stobart Air will continue with these contracts within the new Connect Airways group.

Are Stobart Air still part of the same company that wins the Logisitics company? The latter is in the process of being sold, and I wonder how that affects the Air arm.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Is an Embraer 145 just like a miniature version of the 175/195 ? I'm jealous having never set foot in one !!

.

Apart from obviously being much smaller, the 145 (and related models) are entirely different aircraft designs from the E-Jet family (170, 175, 190, 195).
However, at the early design stage, the E-Jet was originally going to be partly based on the 145, but that plan was abandoned early on and a brand new, larger design was adopted instead.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Are Stobart Air still part of the same company that wins the Logisitics company? The latter is in the process of being sold, and I wonder how that affects the Air arm.

Yes, Stobart Group own Stobart Aviation, who in turn own Stobart Air.
Stobart Aviation own 30% of Connect Airways (the same % share as the Virgin Atlantic - note this is not the Virgin Group).

I've no idea about the Stobart Group's plans for selling off parts of its business.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, Stobart Group own Stobart Aviation, who in turn own Stobart Air.
Stobart Aviation own 30% of Connect Airways (the same % share as the Virgin Atlantic - note this is not the Virgin Group).

I've no idea about the Stobart Group's plans for selling off parts of its business.

Ah. Done some digging. Stobart Group is a separate company to Eddie Stobart Logistics. The former owns the aviation division, but only about 12% of the (separately listed) logisitics company.

It is the logistics company that is in the process of being sold, including the rail interests.

 

[packermac]

Had a really fantastic 10 days working in KL, main flights were out and back on Malaysia Airlines A350s of which I had no idea what to expect. Both overnight trips on MH1 and MH2. Turns out the flights were actually rather good in Economy; decent seats and pitch, decent IFE, good food and lots of it, everything was served quickly. The Malaysian dinner/breakfast were tasty and especially liked they first served a quick round of beer and snacks before the food!

I’d say the crew were definitely not as ‘polished’ as Singapore Airlines, had a chat with the cabin manager who didn’t seem to like me visiting in the galley but we had a good laugh. I’d say they're definitely not as good as Cathay, Qatar or Singapore who I’ve flown long-haul with but I’d say a solid 4 star option.

I think I’ve found my new favourite aircraft in the A350, it seems ever so slightly roomier than the Dreamliner and looks brilliant inside and out.

According to Seat Guru MH A350-900's are only 31 or 32 inch with an 18 inch width in economy, so not great but better than many. I guess they may also be seats with very thin backs to help knee room.

 

[atillathehunn]

Anyone used Dortmund or Düsseldorf airports? Any views on them?

Dortmund - never used, but from what I've seen not very well connected.

Dusseldorf is what you expect in a German airport, really. Security in the non-priority side is a joke. Queue cutting, poorly managed, crowded. Premium line not bad.

 

[Bletchleyite]

According to Seat Guru MH A350-900's are only 31 or 32 inch with an 18 inch width in economy, so not great but better than many. I guess they may also be seats with very thin backs to help knee room.

The trouble with quoting pitch is that it doesn't tell you the whole story - to use a rail example, Northern's "Connect" refurbished 158s use near enough the same layout as the as-built ones, but have very generous legroom rather than very tight legroom as built because the seat backs are about 2" thinner and less raked. There could really do with being a new standard measurement of "seat back to seat front" or somesuch, ideally measured at the angle of the base, as that tells you a lot more.

 

[packermac]

The trouble with quoting pitch is that it doesn't tell you the whole story - to use a rail example, Northern's "Connect" refurbished 158s use near enough the same layout as the as-built ones, but have very generous legroom rather than very tight legroom as built because the seat backs are about 2" thinner and less raked. There could really do with being a new standard measurement of "seat back to seat front" or somesuch, ideally measured at the angle of the base, as that tells you a lot more.

Airline seat pitch is measured from two identical points, normally the front or rear stud of the seat leg where it mounts into the seat track and the same point on the seat behind (or in front). Not sure how rail seat pitch is measured.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Airline seat pitch is measured from two identical points, normally the front or rear stud of the seat leg where it mounts into the seat track and the same point on the seat behind (or in front). Not sure how rail seat pitch is measured.

Yes, and it doesn't tell you much because the thickness of the seat back and cushion can vary actual legroom by up to a couple of inches.

 

[packermac]

Yes, and it doesn't tell you much because the thickness of the seat back and cushion can vary actual legroom by up to a couple of inches.

Hence my original remark about a thin seat back. I have been out of the industry since 2012 but over the years aircraft seat manufacturers came up with all sorts of ideas to increase legroom, whilst being able to jam in more seats by not increasing pitch. High pivot points, thin backs, carbon fibre backs etc. Of course at the end of the day it is really weight rather than passenger space that matters to the airline in the economy cabin.
Of course always bearing in mind it has to survive a 16G crash test. Although no one as far as I know has ever proved the passenger would.

 

[atillathehunn]

Air NZ ending their long standing LHR flight (which went via LAX - must be a terrible journey). Will push travellers via their partners in Asia. Pretty smart decision. Instead they will serve EWR non stop.

 

[Bald Rick]

Air NZ ending their long standing LHR flight (which went via LAX - must be a terrible journey). Will push travellers via their partners in Asia. Pretty smart decision. Instead they will serve EWR non stop.

That’s a shame, no direct London-NZ flights. Although most Kiwis I know tended to go via the UAE or China.

 

[atillathehunn]

That’s a shame, no direct London-NZ flights. Although most Kiwis I know tended to go via the UAE or China.

So many one stop options out there and the transit in LAX is surely horrendous.

 

[Bald Rick]

So many one stop options out there and the transit in LAX is surely horrendous.

Agreed, but no need to transit on NZ1/2.

 

[atillathehunn]

Agreed, but no need to transit on NZ1/2.

Yes there is - you go through a transit and CBP processing phase in LAX.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes there is - you go through a transit and CBP processing phase in LAX.

I stand corrected. What a palaver.