MANCHESTER 1
Join Date: Jul 2007
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A) EGCC B) 1501281144 C) 1503310500
D) 2300-0500
E) FUEL NOT AVBL
Can't see any WIP.
D) 2300-0500
E) FUEL NOT AVBL
Can't see any WIP.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Manchester
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BA's strategy for recovering today's MAN Shuttle backlog is a very interesting development. In the past, suggestions that a larger type could be drafted in have been knocked back as impractical because long-haul aircraft are crewed by a different division within BA. Hopefully, following today's precedent, we can look forward to more flexibility from BA in addressing similar problems in the future. It bears watching anyway.
EDIT: GRRR ... I see that my word 'following' has been changed to 'foolwing'. I noticed a couple of others earlier and wondered why my typing was so bad today. And I did a major software update on this machine last night. It looks like they've sneaked in another 'spellcheck' activation. Now let me just go off to strangle it at birth!
EDIT: GRRR ... I see that my word 'following' has been changed to 'foolwing'. I noticed a couple of others earlier and wondered why my typing was so bad today. And I did a major software update on this machine last night. It looks like they've sneaked in another 'spellcheck' activation. Now let me just go off to strangle it at birth!
Join Date: Oct 2007
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BA do have a history of subbing larger aircraft in to cover for cancellations, eapecially at the LGW base. Going back a few years to the height of the shorthaul fleet problems BA dropped a 772 into domestics ex LGW on occasion, canceling 1 sector and amalgamating onto another.
cs
cs
Join Date: Sep 2002
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But it is very rare (at MAN, anyway) for BA to use anything larger than a B763 to cover a LHR Shuttle rotation. The B763 is used regularly on Scotland - LHR shuttles anyway, so they are not such a surprise. Smart move by BA though ... more of this positive thinking, please!
Join Date: Aug 2010
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I was on the EK22 yesterday and it took 3 hours to de ice the aircraft. Then we had a medical emergency onboard probably due to the cabin temperature being extremely warm. Captain could not turn on air-conditioning due to ongoing deicing. The crew had 15 minutes left before they would of had to call it day when we finally got a push back. We sat on that aircraft for over 4 hours before we finally departed. Overall an 8 hour delay. Pesky snow...
Join Date: Nov 2007
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But it is very rare (at MAN, anyway) for BA to use anything larger than a B763 to cover a LHR Shuttle rotation. The B763 is used regularly on Scotland - LHR shuttles anyway, so they are not such a surprise. Smart move by BA though ... more of this positive thinking, please!
Join Date: Nov 2012
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I don't think you should read too much into BA's use of a 744 yesterday. It's by no means the first time they've covered short haul routes in this way. It's just a sensible response to operational disruption, and (as Shed says) long may it last.
And the "Union" distinction between long haul and short haul cabin crew is largely history. The MAN-LHR route is operated by "mixed fleet" cabin crew who are licensed to operate on multiple aircraft types, including long haul aircraft such as 744s and 777s.
And the "Union" distinction between long haul and short haul cabin crew is largely history. The MAN-LHR route is operated by "mixed fleet" cabin crew who are licensed to operate on multiple aircraft types, including long haul aircraft such as 744s and 777s.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Most likely a significant factor was that MAN was the only BA domestic disrupted by snow yesterday, which made it a bit easier to make larger aircraft available to them to clear the backlog.
Insignificant point of interest this morning is that most of the European operators seem to have upgraded their MAN flights to 321s, presumably also in the interests of the backlog.
Insignificant point of interest this morning is that most of the European operators seem to have upgraded their MAN flights to 321s, presumably also in the interests of the backlog.
Join Date: May 2005
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And the "Union" distinction between long haul and short haul cabin crew is largely history. The MAN-LHR route is operated by "mixed fleet" cabin crew who are licensed to operate on multiple aircraft types, including long haul aircraft such as 744s and 777s.
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I was on the EK22 yesterday and it took 3 hours to de ice the aircraft. Then we had a medical emergency onboard probably due to the cabin temperature being extremely warm. Captain could not turn on air-conditioning due to ongoing deicing. The crew had 15 minutes left before they would of had to call it day when we finally got a push back. We sat on that aircraft for over 4 hours before we finally departed. Overall an 8 hour delay. Pesky snow...
Join Date: Jun 2010
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I was on the EK22 yesterday and it took 3 hours to de ice the aircraft. Then we had a medical emergency onboard probably due to the cabin temperature being extremely warm. Captain could not turn on air-conditioning due to ongoing deicing. The crew had 15 minutes left before they would of had to call it day when we finally got a push back. We sat on that aircraft for over 4 hours before we finally departed. Overall an 8 hour delay. Pesky snow...
So much for EKs recent statement saying passengers would not be kept on an aircraft for more than 2 hours!
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Let's just say that the De-icing equipment at Manchester is average at best. We could have this debate all day about how many times does it snow at Manchester and wether equipment is adequate. And that includes ground equipment. A pushback tug broke down a few months ago when trying to push back EK18. I try not to blame anybody because there are so many people involved in trying to get turnaround time done as quickly as possible. Sometimes they fail. As long as everybody gets from A to B safely then sometimes it will take as long as it takes.
Join Date: Aug 1999
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Well, I'm sorry to have to say that Manchester de-icing on Thursday was a shambles. I personally waited 6 hours to be de-iced after it stopped snowing at 1130. We had originally been ready to push at 0845 so all in all we had a 9 and a half hour delay.
De-icing recommenced soon after it stopped snowing but we could'nt get any information as to when we might get done and could only sit watching de-icing trucks criss crossing the airport.
We witnessed the plight of the Emirates 777, which seemed to be being de-iced by only one truck and listened to the exasperated voice of the Captain reporting that it had taken them ONE AND A HALF HOURS to de-ice ONE wing!!! Indeed a few stands away, it took them over an hour to de-ice an A320.
We watched as the Emirates A380 waited on the taxiway, engines running for over an hour waiting for the 777 to vacate the stand. How much fuel that wasted only the 380 crew know.
Apart from being frustating, the whole situation was, quite frankly, extremely embarrasing. No doubt there will be plently of excuses and sloping shoulders, but from where I was sitting, watching it through the whole sorry saga, there seemed to be far too few resources and not much of a plan. I hate to think what would have happened if it had really snowed, but in that case i guess we'd have all packed up and gone home.
De-icing recommenced soon after it stopped snowing but we could'nt get any information as to when we might get done and could only sit watching de-icing trucks criss crossing the airport.
We witnessed the plight of the Emirates 777, which seemed to be being de-iced by only one truck and listened to the exasperated voice of the Captain reporting that it had taken them ONE AND A HALF HOURS to de-ice ONE wing!!! Indeed a few stands away, it took them over an hour to de-ice an A320.
We watched as the Emirates A380 waited on the taxiway, engines running for over an hour waiting for the 777 to vacate the stand. How much fuel that wasted only the 380 crew know.
Apart from being frustating, the whole situation was, quite frankly, extremely embarrasing. No doubt there will be plently of excuses and sloping shoulders, but from where I was sitting, watching it through the whole sorry saga, there seemed to be far too few resources and not much of a plan. I hate to think what would have happened if it had really snowed, but in that case i guess we'd have all packed up and gone home.