CARDIFF - 2
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It's all happening when I'm off-shift I see 
Not suprised an accident involving ground equipment has happened to be honest, the amount of it scattered randomly about the airfield is getting quiet obscene!. Lots of it belonging to one company in particular!, usually to be found blocking in other companies equipment
I am glad someone has finally moved those busses from where they were parked, causing any traffic travelling on the apron road to have to veer into the taxiway on the sly to get past them and to the top stands.
Some of the antics have been quiet comical infact, usually involving steps, being taken off an aircraft to service another one, then the crews arriving and standing round for 30mins for another set to arrive.
Aircraft arrive up the top on the new stands, a 737 or A320 lets say, to have only one bus show up, 20mins later the 2nd arrives!
Whoever is at the helm of the ramp operations at Cardiff needs to get a grip! Sort out where your equipment is parked, make sure its SAFE and not blocking anything else. Try and get two busses to an aircraft that is landing etc, think before moving steps!. Also, how about actually bringing GPUs to aircraft that arrive? I'd guess you have a contract thats states the airline has the use of a GPU inclusive, seems if your not on Stands 1, 2 and 3 your chances of having a GPU are remote. Can't see the airlines being happy about having APUs being run all night using fuel, apu hours and making a racket, when they have paid for the use of a GPU!. Infact don't the ramp procedures say aircraft MUST use GPUs?
Soooort it
Not suprised an accident involving ground equipment has happened to be honest, the amount of it scattered randomly about the airfield is getting quiet obscene!. Lots of it belonging to one company in particular!, usually to be found blocking in other companies equipment
I am glad someone has finally moved those busses from where they were parked, causing any traffic travelling on the apron road to have to veer into the taxiway on the sly to get past them and to the top stands.
Some of the antics have been quiet comical infact, usually involving steps, being taken off an aircraft to service another one, then the crews arriving and standing round for 30mins for another set to arrive.
Aircraft arrive up the top on the new stands, a 737 or A320 lets say, to have only one bus show up, 20mins later the 2nd arrives!
Whoever is at the helm of the ramp operations at Cardiff needs to get a grip! Sort out where your equipment is parked, make sure its SAFE and not blocking anything else. Try and get two busses to an aircraft that is landing etc, think before moving steps!. Also, how about actually bringing GPUs to aircraft that arrive? I'd guess you have a contract thats states the airline has the use of a GPU inclusive, seems if your not on Stands 1, 2 and 3 your chances of having a GPU are remote. Can't see the airlines being happy about having APUs being run all night using fuel, apu hours and making a racket, when they have paid for the use of a GPU!. Infact don't the ramp procedures say aircraft MUST use GPUs?
Soooort it
Join Date: Feb 2005
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New Routes
Hey guys, its probably been asked before but any idea of how well the new routes (well new ish lol) are doing? I.E.
WOW: NQY & MAN
RE: ORK, DUB, LRT & GWY
T3: NCL & BRU
Z4: YVR
The new longhaul services from TOM are proving popular esp POP from CWL almost full each sector (data from internal sources) but just wondered how the others are doing.
Cheers,
BYCREWLGW
WOW: NQY & MAN
RE: ORK, DUB, LRT & GWY
T3: NCL & BRU
Z4: YVR
The new longhaul services from TOM are proving popular esp POP from CWL almost full each sector (data from internal sources) but just wondered how the others are doing.
Cheers,
BYCREWLGW
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Only 24 hours before the FCA incident, a Thomson 767 narrowly avoided damage under identical circumstances.
1 day later due to the airbus' engine being closer to the equipment....bang!!
The incident in question cost FCA many many £1000s, by creating knock-on effects all over the country and overseas!
I fear ramp safety is not what it should be at the moment, there are far too may building workers and equipment in close proximity to aircraft for starters!!
1 day later due to the airbus' engine being closer to the equipment....bang!!
The incident in question cost FCA many many £1000s, by creating knock-on effects all over the country and overseas!
I fear ramp safety is not what it should be at the moment, there are far too may building workers and equipment in close proximity to aircraft for starters!!
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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It's really just about impossible for an outsider to take a view on how well any routes from and to anywhere are doing, to be honest, except in the extreme case of the routes having no passengers at all.
The number of pax aboard a service is almost irrelevant - what matters is how much they paid to be there. For example - let's assume that Airline Y are only filling five seats to XYZ on average every night. But they are getting £200 a seat in revenue. Makes a grand, plus any no-shows (and they as a business airline will be getting some). Are they doing better or worse than say, Airline X filling 50 seats every night at £19 a seat?
To the outside world, Airline Y look like they are suffering, but in fact are doing better than Airline X, who have a fuller aircraft.
You could fill any route at any time you wanted to, if the fare is right. But you may not make any money on it, and that is the whole point of the business.
You really can't read much into pax numbers. In isolation of yield figures and some idea of costs, it is a bit meaningless.
BTW - I second PhilM's point on ground handling. I flew into Cardiff with KLM the other day, and we were held off stand whilst the crew radioed to get some equipment moved so we could park. Then we watched the ground staff chatting away on the ramp whilst we waited 20 minutes for the stairs. Not good!
The number of pax aboard a service is almost irrelevant - what matters is how much they paid to be there. For example - let's assume that Airline Y are only filling five seats to XYZ on average every night. But they are getting £200 a seat in revenue. Makes a grand, plus any no-shows (and they as a business airline will be getting some). Are they doing better or worse than say, Airline X filling 50 seats every night at £19 a seat?
To the outside world, Airline Y look like they are suffering, but in fact are doing better than Airline X, who have a fuller aircraft.
You could fill any route at any time you wanted to, if the fare is right. But you may not make any money on it, and that is the whole point of the business.
You really can't read much into pax numbers. In isolation of yield figures and some idea of costs, it is a bit meaningless.
BTW - I second PhilM's point on ground handling. I flew into Cardiff with KLM the other day, and we were held off stand whilst the crew radioed to get some equipment moved so we could park. Then we watched the ground staff chatting away on the ramp whilst we waited 20 minutes for the stairs. Not good!
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Yes, have to agree with TwinAisle about poor service in meeting incoming aircraft. Having been in and out of CWL a lot recently on the KLM flights, the joy of arriving early or even on time is spoilt by the poor support by the ground crews. As stated already, ten to twenty minutes are not uncommon on the se delays and are very very annoying for the travelling public, beside all those dam stairs. Up, down, up down, what a stupid idea. Has not changed one jot in years. When will the idiots there wake up and get rid of them or arrange a better flow for the paying punters along with the bunker that is the departures area.
Have a fun day
Taffman
Have a fun day
Taffman
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All the work that is going on around the international pier and in the baggage hall is to illiminate the use of stairs. The ground floor of the pier will soon go straight into the baggage hall, entering by where the toilets used to be, then a larger immigration area just before you come to the baggage belt. 
At the moment the whole airport is a building site, its going to make this summer very difficult, but hopefully it will all be worth it! The structure for the new pier over towards the new stands is starting to take shape, from the pictures i've seen its looks like its going to be quite big!
Lord only knows when it will all be completed though!
Also agreed - The ground service is getting worse, the normal excuse being 'short staffed'.
Also with quite a few new starters taken on, its not the greatest combination.
As we've seen, there have been a few incidents already this season, and its only June!
At the moment the whole airport is a building site, its going to make this summer very difficult, but hopefully it will all be worth it! The structure for the new pier over towards the new stands is starting to take shape, from the pictures i've seen its looks like its going to be quite big!
Lord only knows when it will all be completed though!
Also agreed - The ground service is getting worse, the normal excuse being 'short staffed'.
Also with quite a few new starters taken on, its not the greatest combination.
As we've seen, there have been a few incidents already this season, and its only June!
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Great news about the stairs. Perhaps they wil be taken to St.Fagons as a reminder of some of the more stupid designs ther have been in Wales. The roundabouts on the top road around Barry can go as well. What a mess. 
Bean counters I expect causing the lack of staff or are they all busy in Bristol
Here is to the future of CWL, Rhoose really, bring back Cambrian.
Bean counters I expect causing the lack of staff or are they all busy in Bristol
Here is to the future of CWL, Rhoose really, bring back Cambrian.
Brunel to Concorde
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Going back to the CWL-CDG route, how long would it be before this would qualify for RDF support?
I remember Air Wales pulling out of the CWL-BRU route because, presumably, it was not economic to operate, then, within a year or so, the same airline restarted the route thanks to RDF support of the route.
Paris must surely be a destination that could easily be construed as suitable for such funding.
Is the current Aer Arann BRU route the only one out of CWL currently assisted by the RDF?
I remember Air Wales pulling out of the CWL-BRU route because, presumably, it was not economic to operate, then, within a year or so, the same airline restarted the route thanks to RDF support of the route.
Paris must surely be a destination that could easily be construed as suitable for such funding.
Is the current Aer Arann BRU route the only one out of CWL currently assisted by the RDF?
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It's an Eastern service to BRU, not Arann... no idea whether the RDF has been dipped into for it.
Personally, I am dead against public money being used to support any route. I have been in this industry too long, and it irks me greatly when one supplier gets unfair subsidies to operate a route. Whilst I will concede the need for truly socially necessary services to get PSO (since it is cheaper supporting an air service than building hospitals throughout the Western Isles, for example), is it REALLY right to support a service from CWL-BRU, when a commercial service exists in BRS? We know that loads of people from the South Wales area use BRS, and loads of people from the South West use CWL. Should we really be using public money to take passengers off BA (on BRS-CDG) and SN (BRS-BRU)?
When US airlines (and others) enter Chapter 11, what is really happening is a sick business is being propped up against commercial reality by silly laws. If you want a reason why the US airline business is a shambles, start with Chapter 11. It's a bit like stopping evolution because you quite like dinosaur spotting. BA never needed money to run CWL to BRU or CDG - they had the right aircraft for the job, and got the right sort of fares. If airline A or airline B can't, tough. That's the nature of the market. I would much rather public money be spent on really essential services, like education, health and the police personally.
As for the argument about providing seeding for new long lasting routes that continue beyond the end of the public support - not convinced. The experience is that the grant stops, and the route is quietly dropped a few months later.
What are airlines for? Wealth creation, job creation or national willy waving? I think you can guess where I stand, and it rests on the first of these.
Personally, I am dead against public money being used to support any route. I have been in this industry too long, and it irks me greatly when one supplier gets unfair subsidies to operate a route. Whilst I will concede the need for truly socially necessary services to get PSO (since it is cheaper supporting an air service than building hospitals throughout the Western Isles, for example), is it REALLY right to support a service from CWL-BRU, when a commercial service exists in BRS? We know that loads of people from the South Wales area use BRS, and loads of people from the South West use CWL. Should we really be using public money to take passengers off BA (on BRS-CDG) and SN (BRS-BRU)?
When US airlines (and others) enter Chapter 11, what is really happening is a sick business is being propped up against commercial reality by silly laws. If you want a reason why the US airline business is a shambles, start with Chapter 11. It's a bit like stopping evolution because you quite like dinosaur spotting. BA never needed money to run CWL to BRU or CDG - they had the right aircraft for the job, and got the right sort of fares. If airline A or airline B can't, tough. That's the nature of the market. I would much rather public money be spent on really essential services, like education, health and the police personally.
As for the argument about providing seeding for new long lasting routes that continue beyond the end of the public support - not convinced. The experience is that the grant stops, and the route is quietly dropped a few months later.
What are airlines for? Wealth creation, job creation or national willy waving? I think you can guess where I stand, and it rests on the first of these.
Last edited by TwinAisle; 3rd Jul 2006 at 11:46.
Brunel to Concorde
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TA
I'm with you on public money being used to prop up any industry or any part of an industry on a selective basis, and I do take the point about PSOs being different to RDFs.
Incidentally, I think BRS does get some indirect benefit from a RDF in that the Eastern ABZ-BRS route is supported by the Scottish RDF.
I don't know why I typed Aer Arann as I know perfectly well it is Eastern that operates the CWL-BRU. Well, I probably do know why - it's old age addling the brain.
I'm with you on public money being used to prop up any industry or any part of an industry on a selective basis, and I do take the point about PSOs being different to RDFs.
Incidentally, I think BRS does get some indirect benefit from a RDF in that the Eastern ABZ-BRS route is supported by the Scottish RDF.
I don't know why I typed Aer Arann as I know perfectly well it is Eastern that operates the CWL-BRU. Well, I probably do know why - it's old age addling the brain.
Last edited by MerchantVenturer; 21st Jun 2006 at 21:28.
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Here`s abit of news for any with an interest in terminal affairs
http://info.cwlfly.com/en/news.asp?id=213
http://info.cwlfly.com/en/news.asp?id=213
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Originally Posted by Aloon
Is Stand 11 destined to be an airbridge??
Before any new ones go in, i think they should tidy up the old ones!
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Originally Posted by Aloon
Is Stand 11 destined to be an airbridge??
Is Stand 11 destined to be an airbridge??
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Originally Posted by Deal or No deal
What's the scafoling structure between the main hangar and the 'pen' at BAMC?? Any ides??
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I see lots of talk about money proping up airlines coming from the tax payer. Well the reason for RDF money is not to support airlines, it is to support the local economy. A plane going to Bristol will not bring any visitors to Wales will it. Since Baby and other low cost have been going I see more and more foreign visitors in Cardiff city and Swansea etc. This all adds up to money well spent by WAG.
NO it doesn't. Taxpayers money being given to airlines and airports to subsidise routes is nothing more than Paying People To Come Here.
Never a viable long term strategy and frankly slightly humiliating. Spend that money elsewhere improving the environment, the business climate or the cultural quality of the region and people will want to fly to the airport without bribes. Which is sustainable, self generating and wholly more pleasing for all involved.
If you are absolutely desperate to spend more taxpayers money on transport then get rid of the Severn Bridge toll which must deter millions of journey every year.
Cheers
WWW
Never a viable long term strategy and frankly slightly humiliating. Spend that money elsewhere improving the environment, the business climate or the cultural quality of the region and people will want to fly to the airport without bribes. Which is sustainable, self generating and wholly more pleasing for all involved.
If you are absolutely desperate to spend more taxpayers money on transport then get rid of the Severn Bridge toll which must deter millions of journey every year.
Cheers
WWW
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A plane going to Bristol will not bring any visitors to Wales will it
RDF money is not to support airlines
Spend that money elsewhere improving the environment, the business climate or the cultural quality of the region and people will want to fly to the airport without bribes. Which is sustainable, self generating and wholly more pleasing for all involved
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Ground Incident
Im not surprised but this lastets inclident at CWL involving a FCA and a set steps, only a couple of weeks ago at work at BRS i heard about the ground crew driving off with the GPU after start up, but then leaving the aircraft without removing the chocks or waving the pilot off. And another incident involving a Air south west a/c, not bein chocked until after the aircraft was offloaded and the passengers had got off the plane. Another incident i also heard was that an aircraft wing clipped the wall of a building on stand or sumthing because the marshaller turned the aircraft too late onto stand. It seems ever since serivsair pulled out of cardiff and handed it over to aviance the serivce and safety has gone down hill.