Virgin
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From what I hear from friends who are flt deck at Virgin, the A340-600 certainly does not live up to expectations... Too many faults and problems to go into here, but the VS management seemingly got a good deal on the aircraft and also got incentives towards taking more A340-600s.
The B777, although having only 2 engines will be the next big thing to hit VS.
As the A340 and B747 fleet go in for maintenance, the '4 engines...' logo is being withdrawn.
The A340-300 fleet will slowly head for Nigeria (VS Nigeria) and any other airline that will have them. The B747-400s will soldier on, from LHR, LGW and MAN. I beleive a couple more are being sourced.
The other rumour is that the crew will fly the B747/B777 as a joint type rating however I dont know if this would be possible, but it is what I have heard from VS flt deck crew.
The B777, although having only 2 engines will be the next big thing to hit VS.
As the A340 and B747 fleet go in for maintenance, the '4 engines...' logo is being withdrawn.
The A340-300 fleet will slowly head for Nigeria (VS Nigeria) and any other airline that will have them. The B747-400s will soldier on, from LHR, LGW and MAN. I beleive a couple more are being sourced.
The other rumour is that the crew will fly the B747/B777 as a joint type rating however I dont know if this would be possible, but it is what I have heard from VS flt deck crew.
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Originally Posted by tristar500
From what I hear from friends who are flt deck at Virgin, the A340-600 certainly does not live up to expectations...
The B777, although having only 2 engines will be the next big thing to hit VS.
As the A340 and B747 fleet go in for maintenance, the '4 engines...' logo is being withdrawn.
The A340-300 fleet will slowly head for Nigeria (VS Nigeria) and any other airline that will have them.
The B747-400s will soldier on, from LHR, LGW and MAN. I beleive a couple more are being sourced.
The other rumour is that the crew will fly the B747/B777 as a joint type rating however I dont know if this would be possible, but it is what I have heard from VS flt deck crew.
One of the problems with the idea of Virgin operating big twins is that it has no ETOPS approvals and, as far as I know, has not been assessed with ETOPS in mind. What time and labour costs would be involved in obtaining ETOPS approvals I really have no idea, not being an engineer (perhaps Denzil could comment?) but I think it's not as straightforward as it looks at first sight.
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As the A340 and B747 fleet go in for maintenance, the '4 engines...' logo is being withdrawn.
See my post above. The B744 never carried this slogan.
As the A340 and B747 fleet go in for maintenance, the '4 engines...' logo is being withdrawn.
See my post above. The B744 never carried this slogan.
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You lot need to get yourselves over to airliners.net for a refresher on Virgin's various straplines!
All the A340s carry '4 engines 4 longhaul' on the outboard engine cowlings (except for the odd one after an engine change). Some carry it on the upper rear fuselage, some have other slogans. The one that has largely been removed recently is the 'Backing the Bid - London 2012' slogan which is no longer appropriate, and explains those aircraft flying with a naked back end! Other slogans you may or may not see are 'Mine's longer than yours' (A346 only), and 'You never forget your first time'. There are others.
The B744 does not carry, and never has carried, the '4 engines 4 longhaul' slogan. There are no cowling slogans either. The rear fuselage slogans include 'The Power of 4', 'Better by 4', You never forget your first time', 'Fly a Younger Fleet', and there are still one or two carrying 'Backing the Bid'. There are a few that have lost that one and are currently slogan-less, but Virgin rarely goes for long without some new pithy one-liner appearing.
If you're all basing your speculation on such flimsy evidence as the aircraft slogans, at least make an effort to do some research before you make your opinion public!
All the A340s carry '4 engines 4 longhaul' on the outboard engine cowlings (except for the odd one after an engine change). Some carry it on the upper rear fuselage, some have other slogans. The one that has largely been removed recently is the 'Backing the Bid - London 2012' slogan which is no longer appropriate, and explains those aircraft flying with a naked back end! Other slogans you may or may not see are 'Mine's longer than yours' (A346 only), and 'You never forget your first time'. There are others.
The B744 does not carry, and never has carried, the '4 engines 4 longhaul' slogan. There are no cowling slogans either. The rear fuselage slogans include 'The Power of 4', 'Better by 4', You never forget your first time', 'Fly a Younger Fleet', and there are still one or two carrying 'Backing the Bid'. There are a few that have lost that one and are currently slogan-less, but Virgin rarely goes for long without some new pithy one-liner appearing.
If you're all basing your speculation on such flimsy evidence as the aircraft slogans, at least make an effort to do some research before you make your opinion public!
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Virgin
I have heard from a very good source that Virgin Atlantic is going to use one of their nice new A380 on the Gatwick to Orlando route next year.
Although i said from a good source can anyone tell me if this is correct or not.
Craig
Although i said from a good source can anyone tell me if this is correct or not.
Craig
Originally Posted by qwertyuiop
Will they have 380's next year?
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The delivery date for Virgin's first A380 is scheduled as November 2008. The current feeling is that problems at Airbus will slip this to Spring 2009. Virgin's A380-800s are being configured for the LHR-JFK/LAX/SFO markets, not the bucket-and-spade LGW-MCO route.
Your source is worse than useless.
Scroggs
Your source is worse than useless.
Scroggs
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Just looked at MCO website at www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/main.htm and at the top they show that they are ready for the A380 But for who? Would not spend money doing conversion for no reason.
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sevenforeseven
Reliable source may be wrong, but for info Gatwick is fully capable of accepting A380 today if one turned up. RW and taxiway infrastructure is in place, only stands need upgrading, and in the meantime a/c can be parked under Airfield Ops guidance ( might mean temporary taxiway restrictions behind it though. ). Don't know about MCO.
Reliable source may be wrong, but for info Gatwick is fully capable of accepting A380 today if one turned up. RW and taxiway infrastructure is in place, only stands need upgrading, and in the meantime a/c can be parked under Airfield Ops guidance ( might mean temporary taxiway restrictions behind it though. ). Don't know about MCO.
Rebel PPRuNer
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If MCO was already doing refit it may have been only a small extra amount to fit A380 spec and thus leave the option open.
When DUB gets 10L/28R going (whenever that is) hopefully a similar attitude will prevail - little chance of it though.
When DUB gets 10L/28R going (whenever that is) hopefully a similar attitude will prevail - little chance of it though.
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the last I heard......
was VS was offered A380 Q4 2009, does not want to introduce another A/C and have similar problems a la A346. So expect a VS A380 in 2010. This is all dependent on VS engineering plus any offers from boeing !!
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The dates I gave are accurate and authoritative; they came from Virgin's DFO. While the delivery date could slip further if Airbus hit more problems, the early 2009 in-service date is the best available estimate.
From the first point at which the A380 was ordered, Virgin was adamant that it would not be a launch customer for the aircraft, as the extra workload and subsequent costs involved were not justifiable in what is a relatively small airline, as the introduction of the A346 showed.
From the first point at which the A380 was ordered, Virgin was adamant that it would not be a launch customer for the aircraft, as the extra workload and subsequent costs involved were not justifiable in what is a relatively small airline, as the introduction of the A346 showed.
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I've read that opting for the 777-300ER to replace ageing VIR 744's may prove problematic as certain Caribbean destinations don't have the infrastructure to handle these aircraft, due to the nose and body gear being spaced too far apart. Resulting in taxi problems for such aircraft as the 77W / A346.
However, I see that AF are currently replacing their Orly based 743 fleet with High Density 777-300ER's for their Caribbean routes. I'm not sure what destinations AF are intending to operate with the 77W's.
Can anybody tell me please what VS Caribbean destinations could not, without modification, handle either the A346 or the 77W?
Cheers folks.
However, I see that AF are currently replacing their Orly based 743 fleet with High Density 777-300ER's for their Caribbean routes. I'm not sure what destinations AF are intending to operate with the 77W's.
Can anybody tell me please what VS Caribbean destinations could not, without modification, handle either the A346 or the 77W?
Cheers folks.