737 Ops into Jersey

[Doors to Automatic]

I'm booked on a 737 sector into Jersey next week.

Just wondered what if any restrictions are in force? From the charts there is only 4000ft available after the touchdown point which is mighty tight!

I'm assuming that extening the flare is not an option!

I would be interested in any opinions (even silly ones!). I.e. what autobrake is used, what margin is available etc.

Many thanks!

[BOAC]

Used to operate 200/300/400/500 there and now 700. Landing distance not a problem unless the weight is high. There were times when it was 'tight' having enough fuel on landing in a full 400 to have enough to divert and with a wet runway/heavy aircraft we required the use of a particular runway direction. Only once in my memory did I have to limit payload for a wet runway there. From memory 09 was the better for landing weight? Haven't been for a while. Flap 40, autobrake on 2 and the usual precise touchdown point and speed.:8

The 737 is a good 'stopper'.:ok:

[Wycombe]

Heard a tale (late 70's if memory serves) that BA once operated LHR-JER-LHR with an L1011 to clear a days worth of fog-delayed pax. Always wondered if it really happened?

"I say, Nigel, are you sure, the end looks awfully close :eek:"

[BOAC]

Stand by for 411A to tell us what a great a/c it was.:D

[Doors to Automatic]

BOAC - many thanks for the response. Out of interest is it a place where new first officers would be allowed to land or is it experienced FO's or even captains only?

Wycombe - your memory does serve you correctly! There was one L1011 movement in around 1978. Not sure of the circumstances but it definitely went in!. A light L1011 had monsterous take-off power.

[BOAC]

I think most Captains prefer..................:hmm:

[Cremeegg]

I'm pretty certain that my father took an L1011 into Jersey - would have been between 1974 & 1976 - will check through his old log books and let you know. He was always full of praise for its abilities in both stopping and, after many years on Tridents, getting off the ground as well.

[Jerbourg]

The BA L1011 was used after the airport was closed for 24 hours on a peak summer Saturday due to fog. The Tristar took up 3 (If I recall correctly) of JER's parking stands.

[GBALU53]

A lot of airlines operate the 737 into Jersey from the 200 up to the 800.
Yes there are some restrictions the 400 with a full load inbound has one stab on the ILS and then diverts.
The runway length is 1706 Metres.
British Caledonian brought in there Airbus 310 all those years ago for the same reason fog delays.
From what I can make out there was restrictions on the L1011 and it goes like this, it could only bring in a small load but take out a full one,and it was only certain Tristars that could do the trip as some of them had differant flap settings I think.
A 737 landed on Rwy 27 the other day inlight winds and turned off at the apron intersection and that would be less than a 1000 metres.

So a 737 can stop in a short distance if needed?

[Riverboat]

BA Tristars were almost regular visitiors after a "clamp" for certainly a couple of years and maybe more, but then there was a change in flap operation that meant they couldn't use Jersey's runway any more.

The L1011s could handle the runway easily (from an observer's standpoint). What was more fun was the Trident! OK, it was only the 2Es, but you got the impression that the pilots were sweating a bit more in the Trident than the Tristar.

Best of all was often the BAC 111s of BCAL! They used to add 50% of the crosswind to their Vat, and as Jersey likes crosswinds, adding 15kts was not unusual, and maybe they added another 10kt for the wife and kids. Heavy braking, lots of noise, masses of perspiration.

And sometimes, on take-off, they would not get off the ground until about 100m from the end of the runway. It was always entertaining, sitting in the Aero Club with a pint in your hand, watching the BCAL 111 pasing the window, still on the ground, going EAST!

[freightdoggy dog]

D.T.A ,
We take G-CELP and LW into Jersey every weekend (B737-300s) with 16 tonnes of newspapers . Expect a firm landing , lots of reverse and don't forget the 30 knts cross wind + 100 mtrs of fog !!

[Wycombe]

.....I remember watching an NLM F28 take-off from 09 at Guernsey once. I'm sure the mainwheels were still on the tarmac as she got to the upwind end piano keys :eek:

737's (albeit I think mainly 500's) were fairly regular there not all that long ago also, mainly Lufthansa IIRC.

[Doors to Automatic]

Thanks for the responses folks - always interesting to read.

I'll report back after the trip!

[perkin]

Is G-CELP still used for freight then? I had the joy of paxing (late...:rolleyes:) into AMS this morning on it/her. Can you tell me what the little red things are on the cabin interior trim that are just beneath luggage bin level and wear the label B737-QC? I've not noticed them on the other QC's I've been in, just wondered what their purpose was :confused:

Apologies for the thread drift... :)

[TopBunk]

I believe that the main problem with the BA Tristars at Jersey was the high pitch attitude on the approach (higher than the 2 degrees nose up of most aircraft), such that when they flared, the far end of the runway disappeared from view until touchdown.

Might be folklore, but a good story nonetheless...

[White Knight]

BA 757's were regularly operated into JER during mid 90's also...

[bean]

Tristars operated into Jersey on three occasions between 1979 & 1980 for fog backlog clearance.
The first aircraft G-BBAF took 280 passengers to Heathrow. (total capacity in those days 330)

A310s were not used as baclog clearers. The first aircraft operated to Jersey at easter 1984 beacause of high demand and they operated sporadically until their sale by BCAL.

The ex Northeast Trident 1e's operated into Jersey for a period in the mid 70s.
After their phase out it is quite correct that 2e's operated some trips.
757s & 321s are still irregular visitors to Jersey.

[4Screwaircrew]

Perkin the little red bungs are for the smoke detector air inlets, installed for pax operations and removed for cargo. Engineers used to find allsorts bunged in by passengers in an attempt to cut down the noise(chewing gum, tissues) prior to the bungs being introduced.

[perkin]

Thanks for the explantion, it was very puzzling as to what they were, though I've not noticed them on any of the other QC's owned by Jet2...

[tech...again]

There was a 757-200 that operated through GCI in the early nineties I believe, Privatair from memory. I'm guessing 4 seats and a cup full of fuel...must have been 'sporty'!:eek:

[jerboy]

I've heard rumours that a 767 once operated into JER empty as training, I have no ideas whether this is true or even possible. However on stand 1/2 there are stop marks for the 767... seeing that thing stop would make a 737 look slightly unimpressive!!

[BOAC]

I am led to believe that a 757 lands more slowly than a 737 anyway, and of course, at lighter weights it would not be an issue.

[J-Guy]

I've heard rumours that a 767 once operated into JER empty as training

I believe a Britannia 767-200 operated into the Island in the early 1990s, which must have been quite some sight :ok:

I’m not sure if I’m correct with this one, it could have been a different aircraft, but I also seem to remember that BA brought the 767 down for a training flight around 01/02 (although it didn't land).

[Trihandle]

Britannia operated the Boeing 767-200 into Jersey on a few occasion on charters.
If my memory is correct the first flight was parked on stand 3 nose in and had to be towed back by two tugs as the handling agent thought the B757 towbar would fit:ugh:
After that it was always parked side on to the pier.

[GBALU53]

Trihandle
Correct on the 767 aircraft parking on stand 3, the best bit was not having to be towed by two tugs if my memory serves me correct, this was done by two fire tenders from the airport fire service.:ok:
Another charter handled by the handling agent working to perfection but I think a lot of people now know to check a re check have we got a bar for this aircraft.:ok:

[GBALU53]

J-Guy

Ref British Airways 767 operating down to Jersey.

This aircraft was on a training flight with some new equipment on board, with Jersey having all the landing aids to check this out they chose to come down with an ILS go-around and back to Heathrow.:ok:

[Doors to Automatic]

I have just got back from my weekend in Jersey - a beautiful place & what the rest of England would be if it was run properly. I would recommend it to anyone as a weekend break destination!

The flight in was relatively uneventful. We wobbled a bit but touchdown was nice and early about 800ft in from the threshold - fairly firm but not too bad. The plane appeared to brake without effort (autobrake 2?) and had slowed to taxi speed with about 1000ft to go.

Our flight back today was almost 3hrs late due to a broken FMC and heavy traffic near EMA due to an event at Donington Park. I spent the time in the observation lounge and watched a few 737s landing. The runway was very wet and there was a healthy southerly crosswind blowing! The arrivals looked very precarious especially early on. Our inbound flight touched down at the correct point but appeared to have more difficulty in slowing down and seemed to take up the entire runway to stop.

Definitely very marginal conditions today and great to watch. If anyone operated in there today and can share experiences that would be great!