BA A380 - LHR 4th July

[jabird]

Been discussed a bit on the BA thread in AA&R, but perhaps you spotters would know a little more?

BA website says she's due mid morning - so around 10-11am? Not been spotting in ages, but this one looks like a good opportunity.

Anyone know when these new deliveries are likely to go back out again? I assume the 380 will hang around for a few photos around T5 - then will it go out on a press trip, or go straight into service on one of the short haul training runs?

[jabird]

Media saying ~10:25

[tomahawk_pa38]

Anyone know where it is coming from ?

[Wycombe]

From TLS by the looks, currently (0920L in the UK) in the vicinity of La Rochelle, with c/s BAW380, FL340

[no sponsor]

Its on Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker! (http://www.flightradar24.com) flight number BAW380.

[wiggy]

It's definitely ex-TLS, not surprising really....

[RJ100]

From the BA company Website: due to land at 10:20am then taken over to Engineering base.

[ilesmark]

Even the BBC has picked it up - BBC News - BA's first A380 superjumbo arrives at Heathrow airport (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23177384)

[cyflyer]

Why does it take so long to put their aircraft into service ? Autumn 2013.

[RJ100]

It will start regular scheduled services to LA etc in the Autumn. Between now and then it will be used for training.. The first will be a few days of mock flights using staff whilst its on the ground with full inflight service and to test the IFE etc. Then it will be put on short haul routes to train crews so that they get more chances for take-off/landings etc. LHR-FRA route for the A380 and LHR-ARN for the B787.

[chevvron]

For the benefit of those of us who don't know IATA codes, where are FRA and ARN?

[ericlday]

Try your best friend 'Google'

[SilentHandover]

Chevv, Frankfurt and Stockholm Arlanda

[Talkdownman]

chevv, look 'em up (http://www.airlinecodes.co.uk/home.asp)!

[DaveReidUK]

Chevv, Frankfurt and Stockholm Arlanda In fact you can get them both in a single Google query:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=flights+from+ARN+to+FRA

Oh, and I believe LHR is London Heathrow. :O

[chevvron]

Damn still won't get 'em on MID departures, nor will they go right hand on easterlies.

[Lightning Mate]

Why on earth are you people so interested in just another airliner?

Beats the hell out of me!

[Charley B]

Thats good news on Frankfurt as will see out the back of here on its way there :)

[Hotel Tango]

Lightning Mate,

Because it's the spotters forum :ugh:

[Skipness One Echo]

Why on earth are you people so interested in just another airliner?
Beats the hell out of me!
Were you in fact looking for trainspotters.net and had a senior moment? This forum does what it says on the tin...

[Talkdownman]

Why on earth are you people so interested in just another airliner?
It paid the mortgage for me... :ok:

HD will doubtless remember the cry "more jets please..."

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

If he has to ask the question he wouldn't understand the answer...

[RetiredBA/BY]

Because the A380 is not just another aeroplane, a magnificent aeronautical engineering achievement, state of the art.
And we'll done Captain James Basnett, BA into service manager and one time head boy at my daughters school, Repton.
After 20 years in the LHS of various Boeing types, just dearly wish I had the chance to fly it, but long retired.
Anyway discussing the 380 makes a refreshing change from wiwol !

And remember chaps, you can always tell a fighter pilot but you can't tell him much!!

[AirportsEd]

BA said it had 380 flag-waving staff out to meet it on arrival.
British Airways Celebrates Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Deliveries | Airports International | The Airport Industry online, the latest airport industry news (http://www.airportsinternational.com/2013/07/british-airways-celebrates-airbus-a380-and-boeing-787-deliveries/14248)

[DaveReidUK]

BA said it had 380 flag-waving staff out to meet it on arrival.Presumably they didn't have enough flags to mark the 787 delivery last week in similar fashion. :O

[Need to Know Basis]

Norwegian started the B787 flights a couple of days ago. Training / Proving flights etc. Going around Europe including LGW

[Phileas Fogg]

The double-decker airliner is the world’s largest commercial jet

Oh no it ain't:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/An-225_Mriya_4.jpg/800px-An-225_Mriya_4.jpg

[jabird]

Well he did say "commercial", although the Wikiref says commercial aviation includes passengers and freight. I'd always used it to include all forms of aviation with paying passengers - ie schedule (inc loco) and charter, but apparently not:

Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation (both general aviation and scheduled airline service) that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo.

[RJ100]

BA's A380 starts flying the London - Frankfurt route on August 1st. Am told it'll be two return trips per day starting in London each day.

[DaveReidUK]

Am told it'll be two return trips per day starting in London each day. Once of which will no doubt be the BA902/903 rotation, which is usually a B763 (the other 6 rotations are normally A319s).

[Capetonian]

I'm surprised at the interest that this lumpen and ungainly aircraft has aroused. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it. On the other hand, the graceful lines of a VC10 or the magnificence of the Vulcan are something I'd travel a long way to enjoy.