Once Flybe has rationalised its fleet Guernsey will be left with two Q400's nightstopping as the E195 cannot land on the island yet. If BA Cityflyer decided to operate a GCI-LCY route, it may prove popular as BA would be the only Jet Operator offering flights to the island, even though cityflyer would only have limited connections, it would still prove popular as a transit destination as you can't connect with any flights on the GCI-LGW route even though there are two airlines operating on it. Im sure BA could quite easily fill an RJ100 twice a day with London and Connecting passengers twice a day!!
Interesting, however, the remark about flyBE and the Q400 @ LCY. I wonder why Flybe is unable to do what Lufthansa/Augsburg has already done, SAS currently does and Luxair will do sooner than later. What airmanship do they have that flyBE lacks ?
It's my opinion that the reluctance to do it goes right back to the start of Flybe DHC8 ops into LCY. There seemed to be an overriding fear in the minds of the fleet and training managers, which then bred thoughout the minds of the majority of the pilots. The hand-flown raw data method that our SOPs dictated we used for the approach was completely unnecessary, and didn't do anything to help boost the confidence of many. When it came to taking the 400 in there, the Bombardier LCY DHC8-400 approach video was spread around to nicely alarm everybody, (near tailscrape!) and then the actual trials were done by the wrong people, (sim & desk drivers) they scared themselves silly and that was an end to it. The 146 fleet probably wondered what the hell all the fuss was about.
However, I suppose one must consider the opposite point of view that doing the trials with people that didn't actually fly the aircraft very often was exactly the right thing to do, given that the wider DHC8 workforce (especially now) are relatively low in experience.
I have never seen a Q400 get even close to a tail scrape (appart from when the Bombadier test pilot - named 'Wally' - nearly did it on certification - but there was probably a very good reason as to why this nearly happened).
What I have seen frequently is the Q400 running over lights, runway designator boards (Augsburg) and taking short cuts across the grass with one of their main wheels as they vacate the runway. It seems that the combination of a wide track and the nose wheel being far forward makes them quite good at this (especially if the pilot follows the yellow lines with his nose wheel).
Now that they can park on just one stand (nosewheel mod) they are very capable aircraft in and out of City. I saw an SAS aircraft rotate half way down the runway, and then get to 3000ft long before he made the initial turn at 1.5DME. I can't remember another aircraft having this performance (or maybe the load figures aren't doing too well to Copenhagen).
I also remember seeing an Augsburg one land abeam the tower (on runway 28) and still come off at 'B' so they seem to stop even better than they go.
It is always good to hear when new routes come out but to even think of BA operating a London City route to and from Guernsey is pie in the sky i am afraid
The London City-Jersey route was five a day four years ago Flybe pulled out due to types of aircraft in the fleet meaning no little dashs only the 400 no good for the City.
VLM cut back as the route was losing 60k a year and the now only have on five days a week and that is based on bussiness people from the city for the day high fair sectors.
Could Guernsey have a City route well if it is a jet which it could only be with BA operating it could take away passenger from the Gatwick route well it might work as there does seem a lot of tech problems with both companies at the moment with the Dash and the ATR.
Passengers who travel on these flights on a regular basis can get pead off with delays and might look at a differant route if it is available and at a good fare.
Anybody recognise any of the faces ? Any still around ?
Notice that as they are taxying for departure from London City at about the 2 minute 10 seconds mark on the film there appears to be a DC-10 on the ramp. Now I wonder how we missed the arrival of that
Notice that as they are taxying for departure from London City at about the 2 minute 10 seconds mark on the film there appears to be a DC-10 on the ramp. Now I wonder how we missed the arrival of that
VLM Airlines to cut back LPL to just two daily flights. In its best days, the route saw, IIRC, up to five flights on weekdays. From February 4, two flights per day will leave LPL at 6.45am and 4.15pm. Fear at LPL that the route will be axed for good sooner than later
Also rumour going around that Scot Airways to stop EDI-LCY. This seemed a bit far fetched to me as its a large part of all they do. Anyone heard anything?
I would hope that BA citiflyer might pick this one up. Would probably work with the more competitive fares that they offer in comparison with what eastern were offering.
Also rumour going around that Scot Airways to stop EDI-LCY. This seemed a bit far fetched to me as its a large part of all they do. Anyone heard anything?
I can't see this happening, it is their flagship route, loads are usually very good with the exception of the mid morning/lunchtime services - which seems to be an problem for most operators at LCY due to the nature of the business.
It is not unusual to go onto CB's booking engine and find some services are full or near full.
For example this Friday one service is already full, 5 services have less than 5 seats available and 3 southbound services have less than 9 seats available and every northbound journey has less than 9 seats available
They are not a LCC either, so I imagine yields will be pretty good
It's a shame about the Eastern service. The loads haven't been that bad lately and last nights flight departed with 13 pax although it was booked at 19. It came into LCY with 20 so not to bad at all.
There is a rumour of Eastern operating a service from ABZ to LCY via NCL using a Saab 2000 but we shall have to wait and see.
Last nights VLM LPL flight departed with only 10 on board.
Quote from Newcastle's Evening Chronicle:
An Eastern Airways spokesman said: "Regrettably Eastern Airways is withdrawing the Newcastle to London City service as the route is not commercially viable. This is due to significant high costs associated with operating from London City Airport being dramatically increased. We are also disappointed with passenger numbers and with demand for travel to London City Airport being relatively low, we have taken a tough decision to cancel all flights. We constantly monitor all services on our route network to ensure they are commercially viable."
The landing fees are a flat rate independent of aircraft size (thus discouraging smaller aircraft) but IIRC they've been that way for some time.
A wild guess: could the new route landing-fee-discount period perhaps have come to an end (hence higher costs for Eastern) rather than LCY putting up their charges across the board?
C.
Last edited by Evileyes : 29th January 2007 at 22:48.
Reason: ADQ
The hand-flown raw data method that our SOPs dictated we used for the approach was completely unnecessary, and didn't do anything to help boost the confidence of many. When it came to taking the 400 in there, the Bombardier LCY DHC8-400 approach video was spread around to nicely alarm everybody, (near tailscrape!) and then the actual trials were done by the wrong people, (sim & desk drivers) they scared themselves silly and that was an end to it. The 146 fleet probably wondered what the hell all the fuss was about.
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