Virgin - 2
Rumour at bmi is that we are moving airside to a grotty room underneath the domestic finger at T1. Long serving (suffering) pilots will remember the old crew room in about the same place.
> Long serving (suffering) pilots will remember the old crew room in about the same place.<
Hi Max.
Yeh, I remember that place. Took over the old Aer Lingus store room, didn't we ?.............................for about forty folks at a go ! Cosy !!!!!
Yep, seem to remember it was a surplus furnishings store.
Looks like you're going to get your seats back, Count !!!
Surely they're not going to do that again.
Rgds, Sleeve.
Hi Max.
Yeh, I remember that place. Took over the old Aer Lingus store room, didn't we ?.............................for about forty folks at a go ! Cosy !!!!!
Yep, seem to remember it was a surplus furnishings store.
Looks like you're going to get your seats back, Count !!!
Surely they're not going to do that again.
Rgds, Sleeve.
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Yeah I've heard thats where we are possibly moving to. It's only a temporary measure until the new Heathrow East gets built then bmi will have a purpose built crew report centre there combined with all the other airlines in STAR alliance.
As far as the seats go, I think the new design of the crew report centre looks a lot better than it did with those knackered old seats, it looked worse than a flying club working from a grass strip taking in people's seconds as furniture.
And besides, there are seats in the longstop/standby rooms if you want to have a lounge around, so why would you need a chair to report? You do a quick review of the weather/Notams; say hello to your crew then make your way to the lovely CP3?
Compass centre was going to be used by STAR but don't think the lease was suitable.
As far as the seats go, I think the new design of the crew report centre looks a lot better than it did with those knackered old seats, it looked worse than a flying club working from a grass strip taking in people's seconds as furniture.
And besides, there are seats in the longstop/standby rooms if you want to have a lounge around, so why would you need a chair to report? You do a quick review of the weather/Notams; say hello to your crew then make your way to the lovely CP3?
Compass centre was going to be used by STAR but don't think the lease was suitable.
And besides, there are seats in the longstop/standby rooms
Last edited by Max Angle; 24th Jun 2007 at 22:50.
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Well considering that the Queens building which is home to both BMI and Virgin crew, not to mention a multiple of other airlines, it is very possible that Compass is simply going to replace the Queens building when it shuts down next year to be demolished! There is going to be a huge amount of change around LHR commencing from late this year and lasting a few years until Heathrow East is constructed!
More likely crew check in will end up adjacent to the terminal area and in a cost saving exercise you wont be bussed out to the a/c but will have to walk.But thats just a theory of mine...
But neither can MCO when 3 or 4 744's (and the BA 777) are all boarding at the same time. I complained to VS about overcrowding in the gate area after a trip there last year. Didn't seem too interested, not surprisingly.
Last edited by Wycombe; 23rd Aug 2007 at 22:59.
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Considerably Bemused Wannabe
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Just my humble opinion, but I don't think the VS order will be cancelled. When the initial announcement was made to defer delivery, myself along with a few others thought VS may be hanging on for the yet to be announced A380-900 series.
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Virgin's Branson To Shun Thirsty 4-Engined Planes
September 3, 2007
Virgin Group boss Richard Branson said he would aim to avoid buying fuel-thirsty four-engined planes in future to curb fuel costs and the environmental impact of his fast-growing airlines.
Fears that CO2 emissions from airlines are fueling climate change will not reduce demand for air travel, he added, but innovation in biofuels could provide a solution in the next decade.
Virgin Atlantic's fleet of 38 planes all have four engines, and it has six four-engined Airbus A380 superjumbos on order.
But in April the airline said it was buying 15 of Boeing's new fuel-efficient carbon-composite 787 jets with two engines, which burn 27 percent less fuel than the Airbus A340s they will replace.
"Global warming has become a priority, but it also makes good economic sense to be eco-friendly," Branson told reporters, adding he favored two-engined jets for the future. "We've just announced the 787, which has two engines."
In the past Branson favored four-engined planes because he said passengers, staff and pilots preferred them.
But aviation's impact on the environment has become a hot topic in Britain this summer, with climate change protesters camping at London's Heathrow Airport to protest against the industry's rapid expansion.
From 3 percent of mankind's total contribution to global warming in 2005, aviation's emissions are set to rise by a factor of two to five by 2050, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in a major report this year.
Branson, who was in London to promote the PICNIC environmental innovation competition, doubted travelers would be deterred by the figures and called on politicians to act.
"Realistically, flying is something people need to do and will do," he said. "I don't think people will change their habits if it affects their lifestyle."
"It's up to business leaders and politicians to come up with ways of reducing emissions," he added. "I suspect governments should make sure fuel prices don't drop."
Virgin is developing biofuels for aircraft alongside Boeing and engine-maker GE Aviation and plans to test them next year.
"We've said we will fly a jet engine on a 747 using biofuels sometime next year, people say the end of next year," said Branson. "But I believe we'll be able to bring that forward. We have to make sure it's economically viable to roll out across the Virgin fleet."
"Hopefully, ten years from now our planes can be carbon neutral," he added. "It's not just charitable. We've got to come up with a fuel that knocks oil for six."
Branson has pledged that for the next 10 years all profits from his 51 percent stakes in Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains will be invested in renewable energy.
"I've got a dirty business with my planes... Let's put some money into doing something about it," he said.
Branson also holds smaller stakes in Australian airline Virgin Blue, Malaysia's AirAsia X, US low-cost airline Virgin America and Virgin Nigeria.
(Reuters)
Virgin Group boss Richard Branson said he would aim to avoid buying fuel-thirsty four-engined planes in future to curb fuel costs and the environmental impact of his fast-growing airlines.
Fears that CO2 emissions from airlines are fueling climate change will not reduce demand for air travel, he added, but innovation in biofuels could provide a solution in the next decade.
Virgin Atlantic's fleet of 38 planes all have four engines, and it has six four-engined Airbus A380 superjumbos on order.
But in April the airline said it was buying 15 of Boeing's new fuel-efficient carbon-composite 787 jets with two engines, which burn 27 percent less fuel than the Airbus A340s they will replace.
"Global warming has become a priority, but it also makes good economic sense to be eco-friendly," Branson told reporters, adding he favored two-engined jets for the future. "We've just announced the 787, which has two engines."
In the past Branson favored four-engined planes because he said passengers, staff and pilots preferred them.
But aviation's impact on the environment has become a hot topic in Britain this summer, with climate change protesters camping at London's Heathrow Airport to protest against the industry's rapid expansion.
From 3 percent of mankind's total contribution to global warming in 2005, aviation's emissions are set to rise by a factor of two to five by 2050, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in a major report this year.
Branson, who was in London to promote the PICNIC environmental innovation competition, doubted travelers would be deterred by the figures and called on politicians to act.
"Realistically, flying is something people need to do and will do," he said. "I don't think people will change their habits if it affects their lifestyle."
"It's up to business leaders and politicians to come up with ways of reducing emissions," he added. "I suspect governments should make sure fuel prices don't drop."
Virgin is developing biofuels for aircraft alongside Boeing and engine-maker GE Aviation and plans to test them next year.
"We've said we will fly a jet engine on a 747 using biofuels sometime next year, people say the end of next year," said Branson. "But I believe we'll be able to bring that forward. We have to make sure it's economically viable to roll out across the Virgin fleet."
"Hopefully, ten years from now our planes can be carbon neutral," he added. "It's not just charitable. We've got to come up with a fuel that knocks oil for six."
Branson has pledged that for the next 10 years all profits from his 51 percent stakes in Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains will be invested in renewable energy.
"I've got a dirty business with my planes... Let's put some money into doing something about it," he said.
Branson also holds smaller stakes in Australian airline Virgin Blue, Malaysia's AirAsia X, US low-cost airline Virgin America and Virgin Nigeria.
(Reuters)