British Airways - 2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Slough, UK
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Hope its ok to ask the following on here. I did post similar on another forum but as yet no reply. I see that Boeing 737 G-DOCE returned from Sofia maintenance today after a 19 day stay. Boeing 737 G-DOCN left for maintenance at Sofia this morning. I think usually the 737s go to BA Engineering at Glasgow, although both Glasgow and Prestwick are both very busy at the moment with Airbus work. Quite a few of the 737s have had long maintemance checks recently and some a repaint. Hopefully this, along with extra A319s, will enable the summer schedule to run smoothly. Just a thought but is there scope for BA in times of extreme weather and such like at Heathrow to operate more flights temporarily from Gatwick? I have transferred several times LGW-LHR and vice versa and it hasn't been too bad at all. As always any comments and views welcome..
V.
V.
I believe that due to the increased fleet size following the bmi acquisition BAMG doesn't have the capacity to service the entire 737 and Airbus fleet. As part of the deal to acquire bmi, BA inherited the bmi contract for Lufthansa Technik to perform maintenance at their Sofia base. As Sofia is an Airbus and Boeing capable facility, BA have chosen to send a few 737s there for heavy maintenance. It's not just the 737s though. A319 G-EUOF is there too.
I believe the Prestwick facility only does wing work on the Airbus fleet although I stand to be corrected. Some of the ex-bmi A319's have been going up recently.
As for operating flights from Gatwick, the extra cost and time don't really add up. When there is bad weather at Heathrow, usually Gatwick struggles (although not as much). You've got the logistical issues of coping with extra flights. Then there are union issues too. I suppose BA would consider if the weather was forecast to be bad for a long period but at the moment it's not on the cards.
Champ
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It is however a good idea, instead of binning rotations and leaving aircraft, crew and passengers down route, why not operate them intending to terminate at LGW ? At least everyone would be almost in the right place then instead of being stuck in another country. ?
I see that similar happened recently with the Babybus operation, which due to wx at LCY ended up diverting to LGW and then operating back to JFK from Gatwick.
cs
I see that similar happened recently with the Babybus operation, which due to wx at LCY ended up diverting to LGW and then operating back to JFK from Gatwick.
cs
Join Date: Mar 2008
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Slide 12 of
http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...1246&SizeId=-1
gives a graphical representation of the difference in Jan 2013 flights operated by the airlines compared with Jan 2012.
As WHBM says , it looks as if BA in T5 took the brunt of the cancellations.
http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...1246&SizeId=-1
gives a graphical representation of the difference in Jan 2013 flights operated by the airlines compared with Jan 2012.
As WHBM says , it looks as if BA in T5 took the brunt of the cancellations.
As I understand it, BA just don't have enough de-icing capability to run their schedule of departures.
Queues and departure delays waiting for de-icing means aircraft staying on stand, which in turn gives issues for inbound landings with nowhere to go, and the whole thing gets disorganised.
I did see some very impressive custom-built de-icing units BA showed a few years ago, which must have cost a bomb, and doubtless bought a smile to their salesman. However, elsewhere in the world a straightforward truck-mounted bit of kit appears to do the job just as effectively. I would guess you could buy several of these for the price of one of those gold-plated units.
Queues and departure delays waiting for de-icing means aircraft staying on stand, which in turn gives issues for inbound landings with nowhere to go, and the whole thing gets disorganised.
I did see some very impressive custom-built de-icing units BA showed a few years ago, which must have cost a bomb, and doubtless bought a smile to their salesman. However, elsewhere in the world a straightforward truck-mounted bit of kit appears to do the job just as effectively. I would guess you could buy several of these for the price of one of those gold-plated units.
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The July 2012 meeting of the Heathrow Leadership Group (oxymoron ?) noted :
Winter Resilience
The short term (12 out of 14) recommendations arising from the Begg report have been implemented. The 2 longer term items (the possible centralisation of de-icing facilities and Airport Control Centre) are being developed in consultation with airlines.
http://www.heathrowairport.com/stati...s_July2012.pdf
One suspects the development is still in progress - I don't remember seeing any mention in the Business Plan for Q7 (or is it too small to get a mention there, but too big to actually do ?)
http://www.heathrowairport.com/stati...220311_BAA.pdf
Winter Resilience
The short term (12 out of 14) recommendations arising from the Begg report have been implemented. The 2 longer term items (the possible centralisation of de-icing facilities and Airport Control Centre) are being developed in consultation with airlines.
http://www.heathrowairport.com/stati...s_July2012.pdf
One suspects the development is still in progress - I don't remember seeing any mention in the Business Plan for Q7 (or is it too small to get a mention there, but too big to actually do ?)
Recommendation 2:
The Panel recommends that BAA work with airlines, NATS and other relevant
stakeholders to review and invest in the aircraft de-icing processes and infrastructure to
ensure the airport can maintain its flow rate in inclement weather. Consideration
should be given to reviewing the slot procedure in conditions of freezing precipitation to
support remote de-icing procedures
The Panel recommends that BAA work with airlines, NATS and other relevant
stakeholders to review and invest in the aircraft de-icing processes and infrastructure to
ensure the airport can maintain its flow rate in inclement weather. Consideration
should be given to reviewing the slot procedure in conditions of freezing precipitation to
support remote de-icing procedures
Appears to be a spate of smoke in cockpit situations over the last few days. B777 diverting into Goose, B744 diverting into Vegas & an A320 returning to LHR today (another B744 diverted back to LHR yesterday for reasons I don't know)
Is it likely to be a "common" fault between the fleets, or are BA just having a run of bad luck? or for a fleet the size of BA is this the "norm" ?
Is it likely to be a "common" fault between the fleets, or are BA just having a run of bad luck? or for a fleet the size of BA is this the "norm" ?
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Mr A Tis
Consider this:
You see, on 3 consecutive days, a:
1) Bentley Mulsanne;
2) BMW M5 and;
3) Skoda Fabia.
All these cars are broken down, by the side of the road. The cause is fumes in the passenger/driver cabin. All of them are of different ages and vintages.
Do you think all 3 cars have the same "common" components?
Or is it a case of bad luck?
You mentioned 747, 777 and A320's.
I'd say it was more bad luck, wouldn't you?
You see, on 3 consecutive days, a:
1) Bentley Mulsanne;
2) BMW M5 and;
3) Skoda Fabia.
All these cars are broken down, by the side of the road. The cause is fumes in the passenger/driver cabin. All of them are of different ages and vintages.
Do you think all 3 cars have the same "common" components?
Or is it a case of bad luck?
You mentioned 747, 777 and A320's.
I'd say it was more bad luck, wouldn't you?
Appears to be a spate of smoke in cockpit situations over the last few days. B777 diverting into Goose, B744 diverting into Vegas & an A320 returning to LHR today
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
Quote:
Appears to be a spate of smoke in cockpit situations over the last few days. B777 diverting into Goose, B744 diverting into Vegas & an A320 returning to LHR today
Do we know that today's A320 return was smoke-related ?
Appears to be a spate of smoke in cockpit situations over the last few days. B777 diverting into Goose, B744 diverting into Vegas & an A320 returning to LHR today
Do we know that today's A320 return was smoke-related ?
Narrow runway, if the 3 cars were owned & maintained by the same person, then its reasonable to say it was "unusual", " unlucky" or, in some way "concerning"
sorry i asked.
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Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
Quote:
Appears to be a spate of smoke in cockpit situations over the last few days. B777 diverting into Goose, B744 diverting into Vegas & an A320 returning to LHR today
Do we know that today's A320 return was smoke-related ?
Appears to be a spate of smoke in cockpit situations over the last few days. B777 diverting into Goose, B744 diverting into Vegas & an A320 returning to LHR today
Do we know that today's A320 return was smoke-related ?
Narrow runway, if the 3 cars were owned & maintained by the same person, then its reasonable to say it was "unusual", " unlucky" or, in some way "concerning"
sorry i asked.
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MR A Tis
The only link is that they are all in the BA fleet, which numbers more than 300 aircraft I believe.
Short of a systemic failure in the BA Engineering Quality function, I think this is just plain bad luck.
Short of a systemic failure in the BA Engineering Quality function, I think this is just plain bad luck.
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British Airways enters no frills market?
BA have announced a "hand baggage only" fare starting with selected routes from LGW from this spring.
British Airways Enters The 'No Frills' Market
British Airways Enters The 'No Frills' Market
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BA & CX get together on Australia
British Airways and Cathay Pacific have announced a code share agreement on flights in and out of Australia starting March 31.
Source: Travel Weekly Australia
Source: Travel Weekly Australia
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Livery news:
G-YMMI & G-ZZZC have been freshly repainted & now sport the to fly, to serve crest
Route news/transfers:
ALA (3/weekly), LAD (3/weekly) ORD (2/daily), YVR (2/daily) to transfer from MF to WW
AUH (daily), MCT (daily), MIA (2/daily), SIN [BA15] (daily), SYD (daily) to transfer from WW to MF
IBZ (2/weekly), PMI (2/weekly) to be operated by EF
CTU (3/weekly) to be operated by WW
BOS increases to 4/daily
MIA reduces to 2/daily
PVG increases to daily
JED increases to daily
YYZ increases to 17/weekly
MEX increases to 5/weekly
G-YMMI & G-ZZZC have been freshly repainted & now sport the to fly, to serve crest
Route news/transfers:
ALA (3/weekly), LAD (3/weekly) ORD (2/daily), YVR (2/daily) to transfer from MF to WW
AUH (daily), MCT (daily), MIA (2/daily), SIN [BA15] (daily), SYD (daily) to transfer from WW to MF
IBZ (2/weekly), PMI (2/weekly) to be operated by EF
CTU (3/weekly) to be operated by WW
BOS increases to 4/daily
MIA reduces to 2/daily
PVG increases to daily
JED increases to daily
YYZ increases to 17/weekly
MEX increases to 5/weekly
Last edited by TCX69; 27th Feb 2013 at 15:50.
A sad day for the 747.
British Airways B747-400 G-BNLF Operates Last 747 Australia Service. | The BA Source
Having operated to Sydney on one of the first 747 services and actually operated the first BA 747 to AKL it seem a sad day for the aircraft knowing that it will not be going down under anymore. Plenty of time for reflection I guess.
British Airways B747-400 G-BNLF Operates Last 747 Australia Service. | The BA Source
Having operated to Sydney on one of the first 747 services and actually operated the first BA 747 to AKL it seem a sad day for the aircraft knowing that it will not be going down under anymore. Plenty of time for reflection I guess.
Last edited by crewmeal; 31st Mar 2013 at 16:31.