FlyBE - 5
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2 years ago i used to fly on Ryanair to Dublin about 12 times a year, now i use Flybe to do that route from Norwich instead of Stansted, and have found the service better than using FR. It could be because i don't fly on the days when BE have there 2 hour delays of whatever, but that is my experience. Henze my liking to BE
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I would happily wager that the BHD turnbacks had more to with SOPs and pre-flight set up than genuine a/c gremlins, especially in the early days of the operation. It will be exactly the same with the E195 - crews coming from much older technology onto new technology and not leaving the more complex systems enough time to 'do their thing' before hooning off into the wild blue yonder. No criticism of the crews intended.
As for the Dash 8's gear, well I've smashed it into the tarmac often enough that if it were a bit fragile I'd undoubtedly still be picking grass and gravel out of my teeth.
As for the Dash 8's gear, well I've smashed it into the tarmac often enough that if it were a bit fragile I'd undoubtedly still be picking grass and gravel out of my teeth.
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No criticism of the crews intended.
ADC2604.....did I miss your reply? P'raps you were flying.....
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eastern wiseguy - apologies for the late response but unlike others, I have been working. My life does not revolve around arguing with people 24/7. I am not announcing my position within any company - why should I, it is no one's business. Crewing thankfully is not my area - I don't think I would have the patience.
Yes I like Flybe - I work for them (shock horror) and have traveled with them a lot of times (leisure and work)
To be honest I do not have the time nor energy at the moment to reply to you or anyone else......I am heading for my bed. No doubt though that 'experienced' members of this forum will be kind enough to continue this thread........
Yes I like Flybe - I work for them (shock horror) and have traveled with them a lot of times (leisure and work)
To be honest I do not have the time nor energy at the moment to reply to you or anyone else......I am heading for my bed. No doubt though that 'experienced' members of this forum will be kind enough to continue this thread........
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Jeez, it's like a bunch of bickering schoolkids in here sometimes and it always seems to revolve around Flybe.
I'm a firm supporter of Flybe who have no doubt allowed a great many passengers access to low fares from regional airports accross the UK however I firmly acknowledge that they sometimes get things wrong, as do most carriers at some point.
eastern wiseguy - in ATC you are privvy to know better than most of the number of incidents where an aircraft returns to BHD, however I would hazard a guess that in many cases the airline returns to base where it has engineers. I imagine that you find that places such as BHD,EXT,BHX hear more about such instances that airfields such as LBA, NCL. Flights ex NCL/LBA to BHD which might encounter similar problems may take the option of continuing to their destination to avoid a longer recovery of the aircraft. This may distort your view sometimes and make things appear worse than they actually are.
birdscarer - its horses for courses. I personally have nothing against Ryanair but the apparent contempt with which O'Leary views his own passengers does nothing to endear me to him or his airline - like nickbarnes, I would opt for an alternative even if likely to be slightly more expensive. I guess nick has chosen Flybe ex DUB because, all told, they work out cheaper for the total package than flying ex STN.
ADC2604 - you clearly have a passion for your employer and what you/they do, however they are by no means perfect and sometimes you need to just accept that whilst you may not have had a bad experience, you are only one of approx 8million passengers who have travelled with them in the past year and others may have had a journey from hell. Maintain that passion as that is why we all come on here, just try to channel it in a more balanced way.
dustybin - the Crewing shot was a low one. It takes a special sort of individual to want to pilot an aircraft and have that much responsibility. Equally, it takes a special sort of person (sadistic maybe??) to want to work in Crewing and manage said pilots rosters on any given day!
I like Flybe and think that they are no worse than many others....they have had a testing year trying to digest BAConnect, but given the losses being accumulated this had to be done quickly - it could never have been a nice, slow combination of the operations, not when it was losing £40million a year! Flybe are good at cutting costs, but couldn't afford the luxury of time on this one.
Sorry if this sounds lecturous, but surely I'm not the only one who believes in reading your posts through in the third person prior to hitting the 'submit button!!! ... and if i'm wrong.....well then bickering schoolkids it is.... i guess it still makes for an entertaining read!
I'm a firm supporter of Flybe who have no doubt allowed a great many passengers access to low fares from regional airports accross the UK however I firmly acknowledge that they sometimes get things wrong, as do most carriers at some point.
eastern wiseguy - in ATC you are privvy to know better than most of the number of incidents where an aircraft returns to BHD, however I would hazard a guess that in many cases the airline returns to base where it has engineers. I imagine that you find that places such as BHD,EXT,BHX hear more about such instances that airfields such as LBA, NCL. Flights ex NCL/LBA to BHD which might encounter similar problems may take the option of continuing to their destination to avoid a longer recovery of the aircraft. This may distort your view sometimes and make things appear worse than they actually are.
birdscarer - its horses for courses. I personally have nothing against Ryanair but the apparent contempt with which O'Leary views his own passengers does nothing to endear me to him or his airline - like nickbarnes, I would opt for an alternative even if likely to be slightly more expensive. I guess nick has chosen Flybe ex DUB because, all told, they work out cheaper for the total package than flying ex STN.
ADC2604 - you clearly have a passion for your employer and what you/they do, however they are by no means perfect and sometimes you need to just accept that whilst you may not have had a bad experience, you are only one of approx 8million passengers who have travelled with them in the past year and others may have had a journey from hell. Maintain that passion as that is why we all come on here, just try to channel it in a more balanced way.
dustybin - the Crewing shot was a low one. It takes a special sort of individual to want to pilot an aircraft and have that much responsibility. Equally, it takes a special sort of person (sadistic maybe??) to want to work in Crewing and manage said pilots rosters on any given day!
I like Flybe and think that they are no worse than many others....they have had a testing year trying to digest BAConnect, but given the losses being accumulated this had to be done quickly - it could never have been a nice, slow combination of the operations, not when it was losing £40million a year! Flybe are good at cutting costs, but couldn't afford the luxury of time on this one.
Sorry if this sounds lecturous, but surely I'm not the only one who believes in reading your posts through in the third person prior to hitting the 'submit button!!! ... and if i'm wrong.....well then bickering schoolkids it is.... i guess it still makes for an entertaining read!
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on another matter, now SAS have decided to remove all there Q-400's perhaps Flybe should take some of them, perhaps the ones which were deliverd in 2002 which would make 7 of them, would help in getting rid of those 145's
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There might be a case to take some of the later ones but there are some (including many on Proon) who would never let Flybe forget they were the "dodgy Swede 400s" to the delight of journos trolling for a headline.
Better to let BBD take them and convert them to 400MR waterbombers or something.
Better to let BBD take them and convert them to 400MR waterbombers or something.
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Before the Media does
With the incident happening at the weekend and not on home ground when the white collor workers are off, Flybe might make some statement today being Monday and the first day of the week for the white collar/Senior Management workers?
One would expect them to release something not just sit on this and let the National papers do all the talking.
Has there been any story in the British nationals yet?
One would expect them to release something not just sit on this and let the National papers do all the talking.
Has there been any story in the British nationals yet?
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I have to agree with Eastern Wiseguy, and he`ll know how much that hurts!! Ha ha!!
I have worked in Atc for 18 years and I have never known an aircraft any more likely to go tech than the Q400. Things have improved as the gremlins have slowly been ironed out but it is still top of the list as far as unreliablity goes in my neck of the woods.
As for turn backs, i had two on the same day a couple of weeks ago on the AC-PF route. I hope that the 195`s will have a more successful winter as there just aren`t enough stands at the City for tech aircraft.
I have worked in Atc for 18 years and I have never known an aircraft any more likely to go tech than the Q400. Things have improved as the gremlins have slowly been ironed out but it is still top of the list as far as unreliablity goes in my neck of the woods.
As for turn backs, i had two on the same day a couple of weeks ago on the AC-PF route. I hope that the 195`s will have a more successful winter as there just aren`t enough stands at the City for tech aircraft.
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NickBarnes - on another matter, now SAS have decided to remove all there Q-400's perhaps Flybe should take some of them, perhaps the ones which were deliverd in 2002 which would make 7 of them, would help in getting rid of those 145's
Yesterday
Yesterday
Jobsa
Quote
"but given the losses being accumulated this had to be done quickly - it could never have been a nice, slow combination of the operations, not when it was losing £40million a year!"
I doubt that the losses continued much beyond the day that Bacon came into Flybe and finally manage to throw off the remains of British Airways Regional that it had been carrying for the last four years, a masively top heavy BA dominated "Leadership team"with all their costs and perks, a way over the top super flash corporate HQ building and being stuck with being forced to pay over the odds for BA handling. Not that they will ever admit it, but I suspect that BE are finding that the core elements of BACon (airframes and crews) that they took on are potentially quite cost effective and lean.
Quote
"but given the losses being accumulated this had to be done quickly - it could never have been a nice, slow combination of the operations, not when it was losing £40million a year!"
I doubt that the losses continued much beyond the day that Bacon came into Flybe and finally manage to throw off the remains of British Airways Regional that it had been carrying for the last four years, a masively top heavy BA dominated "Leadership team"with all their costs and perks, a way over the top super flash corporate HQ building and being stuck with being forced to pay over the odds for BA handling. Not that they will ever admit it, but I suspect that BE are finding that the core elements of BACon (airframes and crews) that they took on are potentially quite cost effective and lean.
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Absence
Ladies and gentleman this is your captain speaking, sorry for the delay but unlike some (most) posters I actually command aircraft.
I admire the passion that people have for BE, a pity that they won't see sense. But ADC I'am still waiting for the dates that there was almost no delays?
But I'am curious to whether or not that BE will acquire SK Q400 a/c? Will the new Embraer jets help operations or will it just add another line to Flybe's tombstone?
I admire the passion that people have for BE, a pity that they won't see sense. But ADC I'am still waiting for the dates that there was almost no delays?
But I'am curious to whether or not that BE will acquire SK Q400 a/c? Will the new Embraer jets help operations or will it just add another line to Flybe's tombstone?
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I've been around long enough to recognise that there is often a gap between PR and reality.
But this one has got me beaten!
SAS issue a statement that they are permanently withdrawing the Q400 following recent undercarriage problems/incidents. They very clearly say the Q400 has encountered "repeated quality-related problems", and they are concerned that this is causing customers to lose confidence, hence the withdrawal.
Then Flybe issue a statement which leads on the fact that SAS have made a "commercial decision" to exit the domestic market (not, as SAS say, they have scrapped the Q400 due to quality and customer confidence issues).
So, have SAS dropped their Q400's because they want to get out of their domestic routes as Flybe suggest, or because (as SAS say) they have quality and customer confidence issues with the Q400??
I don't have a view either way - except that it is all extremely odd.
For discussion!!
But this one has got me beaten!
SAS issue a statement that they are permanently withdrawing the Q400 following recent undercarriage problems/incidents. They very clearly say the Q400 has encountered "repeated quality-related problems", and they are concerned that this is causing customers to lose confidence, hence the withdrawal.
Then Flybe issue a statement which leads on the fact that SAS have made a "commercial decision" to exit the domestic market (not, as SAS say, they have scrapped the Q400 due to quality and customer confidence issues).
So, have SAS dropped their Q400's because they want to get out of their domestic routes as Flybe suggest, or because (as SAS say) they have quality and customer confidence issues with the Q400??
I don't have a view either way - except that it is all extremely odd.
For discussion!!
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Dash Q400
I think in all honesty we have to look at it subjectively at this time. FlyBE unlike SAS have had no undercarriage related issues. So for me I'm standing by the Q400 for now in the most part, however clearly whether it be SAS maintenence or the climatic conditions etc in Scandinavia thats causing SAS's problems FlyBE have been exempt from these problems.
The Q400 suits their finaincial requirements, it is still in my opinion a technical nightmare however FlyBE have not encountered SAS's problems so the removal of the EMB145 is a just one.
Just my own honest opinion......
Regards
The Q400 suits their finaincial requirements, it is still in my opinion a technical nightmare however FlyBE have not encountered SAS's problems so the removal of the EMB145 is a just one.
Just my own honest opinion......
Regards
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European regulator seeks crisis talks on Q400; grounding mentioned as possible outcome.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/29/business/jet.php
Grounding seems highly unlikely, given that BE have not - as mentioned above - had u/c related issues with its fleet. No doubt the CAA will put this view across to the JAA.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/29/business/jet.php
Grounding seems highly unlikely, given that BE have not - as mentioned above - had u/c related issues with its fleet. No doubt the CAA will put this view across to the JAA.
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landing gear
The problem seems to be corrosion of landing gear actuator. FlyBe did emergency checks after last incident with short groundings of some aircraft. Roumour is that corrosion was reported in some actuators so they were replaced immediately. Looks like preventative maintenance is the answer to the problem and FlyBe are on top of it
. Maybe the SAS Q400s operate in a hostile enviroment so are more likely to get the corrosion problem
. Still, selling 27 Q400s is n t something you do lightly
. Maybe the SAS Q400s operate in a hostile enviroment so are more likely to get the corrosion problem. Still, selling 27 Q400s is n t something you do lightly
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IOMSPOTER,
If Flybe are that much on top of the "situation" with the Q400 landing gear problems and SAS were not, despite the fact that it is Flybe Technical Services at EXT that do a good proportion of the maintenance checks on the SAS Q400 fleet....... Are you suggesting that they look after their own aircraft better than a third party airline?
Flybe's Q400 fleet are significantly younger on a mean basis compared to the SAS fleet also.
If Flybe are that much on top of the "situation" with the Q400 landing gear problems and SAS were not, despite the fact that it is Flybe Technical Services at EXT that do a good proportion of the maintenance checks on the SAS Q400 fleet....... Are you suggesting that they look after their own aircraft better than a third party airline?
Flybe's Q400 fleet are significantly younger on a mean basis compared to the SAS fleet also.
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AEUENG, as a manufacturer approved maintenance provider of Bombardier Q products it is wholly probably that the relationship that Flybe have with Bombardier is different to that of SAS. Flybe will have worked with Bombardier to sort out the previous issue and therefore it is right to assume that they are 'ontop' of things in this respect......I don't think that IOMspotter was suggesting anything to the contrary.
It is correct that the average age of Flybe's aircraft is somewhat newer, however Flybe do have some older ones having received their first four between October 2001-June 2002. Different airlines surely have differing SOP's, some of which have already been mentioned. It could be this, the weather, or indeed something else that lead to the incidents so far.
It is correct that the average age of Flybe's aircraft is somewhat newer, however Flybe do have some older ones having received their first four between October 2001-June 2002. Different airlines surely have differing SOP's, some of which have already been mentioned. It could be this, the weather, or indeed something else that lead to the incidents so far.