Anyone got a Towbar??
I am surprised that the following story from last Tuesday 8th February has not yet been seen in Prune or in the dreaded press.
Diversion due to engine problems!!!!!!!!!!!
Virgin Airlines Airbus 340-600 on route to London Heathrow, diverted to AMS due to Fuel Management Problems.
VIR201 04:51 05:29 A HKG PL G09 G09 G-VATL 346
Nothing known about departure. Passengers are in the clean area awaiting news. By the way, first aircraft type visit???
UPDATE Virgin Airlines:
Still at gate G09 at this moment (09:55 a.m.). Passengers(311) are stuck in waiting area G09 and are not allowed to go out. Drinks and food is served. Also people are smoking inside (and that's not allowed !!!). Aircraft looked very nice and very long, with some additional titles: 'Miss Kitty', 'Air Born October 2003' and 'Backing the Bid'. No news about repairs, but the nicest thing is: a rescue ship is coming in from LGW within an hour, so second Virgin today!!!!!
Arrival: VS811P 11:30 11:30 LGW PP G73 G-VXLG 744
Departure: VS201 12:30 12:30 LGW PC D06 G73 G-VXLG 744
EDIT: also problems with the push back bar for the A340-600, no good one available, that's why the A340 couldn't leave stand G09. We've got A340 Cathay Pacific here, isn't that the same one?
The extra Virgin B747 will arr on G73, G-buffer and the pax will transfer by bus from gate D06(busgate).
The 747 is also bringing a towbar so the Sick Bird can be moved to the G-buffer; problem is that the nosewheel of a A340-600 is wider than the normal 340's and no towbar is available at Schiphol. Note: normal 340's at SPL are -200/300 from Cathay, EgyptAir & until last November Kuwait.
Seems logical as the A340-600 is heavier and taller then the -200 & -300.
Here is a small story about the problem:-
The aircraft was on its way from HKG to LHR when Number 1 engine failed and could not be restarted; nothing to bad but crew then noticed that main tank was empty and they could not pump fuel into it from the other tanks. Then number 4 started to splutter so Captain decided to put it on the ground as soon as possible.
The Virgin 340-600 finally pushed at 2239 and took off from 24 at 2252
Acknowledgements for above to Scramble Message Board.