Virgin

[afterdark]

in query to 747-400 in & out of Glasgow
when 9/11 occured, Glasgow took in a few 747-400's with a couple of them departing next day to US/Canadian west coast, and Glasgow has been used for medical diversion by quite a few airlines in the past before heading accross the Atlantic
I know that Virgin seniors have told their staff previously that Glasgow cannot accomadate a 747,( even when they were operating 742's ) I am sure my eyes weren't decieving me as I watched them arrive & depart.

[Tom Sawyer]

Originally Posted by xflyer

Engineering is usually contracted out downroute . They would just use airbus engineers i guess - same company , different rating

Engineers are not like pilots. We can be "multi type-rated". At the momment I hold 6 Airbus types and 3 Boeing types, which is not that unusual and there are plenty of guys around with more than that. VS engineers are mostly multi - approved and their outstation guys / contractors will have enough coverage for any VS op's. May just have to recruit more manpower to cope with additional flights. VS do have their own engineers in a number of ports worldwide.

[Off Stand]

And in other places they don't. For example, BGI and ANU they use BA Engineering, they are qualified on the 747 and 777. A different contractor would have to be brought in if VS chose to bring in an Airbus, is that right?

[Gpik]

Scroggs, the flights are positioning fromMAN, they are a full load from GLA, trust me.

[teifiboy]

Originally Posted by Gpik

Scroggs, the flights are positioning fromMAN, they are a full load from GLA, trust me.

trust you? maybe if you got your facts right

[Tom Sawyer]

Originally Posted by Off Stand

And in other places they don't. For example, BGI and ANU they use BA Engineering, they are qualified on the 747 and 777. A different contractor would have to be brought in if VS chose to bring in an Airbus, is that right?

Not neccessarily, the company with the contract currently could get its engineers onto a VS A340 type course to get them type approved. The point I was making is that engineers are not restricted to one type at a time.

[spannersatcx]

VS go to 10 a week from 6th July from MAN. as far as I am aware the 073/4 goes to/from MCO.

[Off Stand]

Ah, I see. Cheers Tom.

[Taildragger67]

Originally Posted by phil_2405

Any idea what routes VS would use A330 on?

Dubai, other Gulf, bits of India, west Africa... anywhere where there's an alternate not too far away?

Or maybe RB has decided that fuel prices aren't easing any time soon, two donks = less fuel consumption and the in-flight shut-down rate is low enough on Trents to think about ETOPS...

[MarkD]

If they were 332s with Trents they would fit very nicely with another British airline long rumoured to be swallowed by the Bearded One...

[Groundloop]

Originally Posted by TwinAisle

Agreed Scroggs, VS is a VERY competent airline and can get ETOPS. But won't this take a year of twin operations? In the meantime, which routes will the hypothetical 777/350s be on?
Makes even more sense to take on the long haul part of bmi?

Actually it does not need 12 months experience. An airline could get ETOPS approval within 60 days of applying subject to certain conditions.

Obviously the airframe/engine combination must show the required reliablity but this is taken from the worldwide fleet so as long as other airlines have proved them together this approval can be carried forward to VS (if any of these rumours are true, of course!).

Where it becomes airline specific is in operations and maintenance. VS are a long haul airline so they are already a long way there. They would be required to draw up special ETOPS SOPS and training programmes. As long as they are approved by the CAA it is no problem.

The maintenance hurdle may be slightly harder. The airline applying for ETOPS must show that they have or can access the relevant engineering experience to maintain the airframe/engine combination and its ETOPS equipment.

For an airline like VS none of the above seem a problem.

All this can be found in CAP513 - Extended Range Twin Operations (ETOPS).

[veryEZYboy]

2dmoon

I believe the A343 and the A346 count as one rating. I seriously cannot be arsed to be trained on another aircraft if it isn't the A380. Where's the fun in that?

[scroggs]

Virgin A340 pilots fly both variants. The A330 could be flown by the same pilots on CCQ. All Virgin's cabin crew fly on all types. The A330's doors and safety equpment are identical to the A340, so there would be no problem there.

[HOVIS]

Originally Posted by Off Stand

And in other places they don't. For example, BGI and ANU they use BA Engineering, they are qualified on the 747 and 777. A different contractor would have to be brought in if VS chose to bring in an Airbus, is that right?

Not any more they don't.

Virgin setting up their own eng at BGI.

[glamourgirl!]

has anyone checked out the new corporate identity. much better!!

[QAR ASR]

The process of stripping the "four engines for long haul" has already begun. A number of 346's are already clear.

[scruggs]

VIR new livery (apparently).

http://www.airliners.net/discussions....main/2862795/

Sorry if its been posted previously

eP

[glamourgirl!]

apparently order for 14 a330 due 2008 to be announced any day! possibly farnborogh air show.

I wonder what routes they will be used for?
possibly daily gla-mco 2008?
man-jfk
some new routes out of lgw.... Maldive, Sri Lanka, Tampa
Heathrow middle east?

[Denzil]

glamourgirl, can't believe you doubted me & then you mention it yourself

Daily GLA-MCO (sorry glamourgirl) not likely, how about 4 a week plus a LAS & throw in a BGI for good measure. Give Globespan something to worry about eh

As for routes, the Chicago & Toronto from LHR good on a A330, the list is endless.

[veryEZYboy]

2dmoon

OH DEAR LORD! I'm used to having crew rest on all flights, even a little Boston or JFK. I hope this thing has got a crew rest area otherwise...BE GONE!!!