Spotter mode....
Swissair operated ad-hoc A310s then switched to Fri/Sat/Sun ops for them around November 1987, with MD80s/DC9s on the other days. Think it was another 2 to 3 years before it was A310s on all flights; we did have 2 Dc10s come in.

Air France put A310s/A300s on whenever there was an "event" (normally football) that involved a Paris side playing a northwest England side (plus Euro 96). Saw 2 or 3 AF 747s here (not including those days with the fuel problems at CDG/Orly!).

Lufthansa used both A310s and A300s intermittently (likewise with Euro96), though on at least one occasion, we had 2 737s operating within an hour or so of each other as LH074 and LH074A.

And showing my age... I remember the Monday morning and Friday lunchtime KL DC8s when I was at Parrs Wood High School.

Alitalia also used the A300 for the Student Games in Sheffield in 1991 and I'm sure Olympic used A300s on a couple of occasions?

Sorry if my last post sounded cocky, it wasn't meant to be.

Any chance of VIR using B787-9's ('s is being optimistic) at MAN they're due to start arriving late 2014 and could fit nicely on MAN-LAS

Wonder if there is anything in this?

Just had a nights stay at the MacDonald hotel Manchester, and 5 'suits' from Air Asia got out of the lift as I got in. Could only read 2 of their passes, one was ramp operations manager and other was network and strategy manager. Couldn't see the other 3 badges.

Thought they had given up on Europe?

Perhaps come to watch the United v Chelsea match.
J.

Not sure why they would travel to/from KUL in their work gear to watch a match, especially as they are noy affiliated with any of the 2 teams?

Air Asia
 

Maybe they were checking out the boy Rooney for Tony. Anyone else noticed how he looks like an Asian Adrian Chiles?

Single Runway Operation
 

Saturday and Sunday lunchtime, we joined the Dayne hold and burnt costly fuel whilst MAN was operating a single departure/arrival runway. ATC did their best to keep the traffic flowing. Why a single runway operation. After all, the airport has spent a great deal installing a 2nd runway.

What is the reason for this? Is it a fire cover issue, ATC manpower perhaps, or simply cost-saving. Or perhaps it is a noise abatement agreement, to help the Knutsford and Mobberley folk enjoy peaceful lunches?

Ultimately the airlines and hence their passengers will bear the brunt of this in £ terms. I know this is not a recent development, but I do not fully comprehend it. All I do know is that it is not good. Except maybe for the airport authorities.

It was my understanding that approval for the second runway was based on peak-time ops only where one runway would be dedicated to arrivals whilst the other dedicated to departures. The plan was 23L departures and 23R arrivals, alternatively 05L departures and 05R landings. Hence the new runway was built without a parallel taxiway and lower standard landing aids.

I agree that it is someway less than optimum use of a new expensive runway.

TSR2, thank you for the clarification.

In reality, as you infer, 23L is not much use as a runway for a stream of inbound traffic, but could be used for departures at any time. With 23R as the landing runway.

We were holding Sunday to land on 05L. Nothing on earth wrong with the longer, ILS-fitted 05R. Just that all aircraft had to use 05L.

There is a reason why MAN aren't using 2 runways. Countless airports around the globe have 2, 3, or 4 runways, and use them simultaneously. MAN cannot manage 2 when needed. What is this reason?

The problem is, I believe, probably down to finance. To run the 2nd runway means additional staffing, both ATC and Fire cover. I suspect, but am not certain, that there may be a clause in the 'Cheshire agreement' for the use of the runway.

Personally I agree that it would be better if dual operations were in use between 0600-2000.

LAX_LHR
 

Agree, why would Air Asia personnel be in uniform if just attending a match?

It does seem very strange when the airline no longer serves the UK.

I believe this comment is a little unfair. MAN do manage two runways and some may say very well. The point is why is there restricted use of 2 runway operations.

I believe it has nothing to do with economics but entirely due to permission to operate 2 runways during specified time periods only.

Incidentally, I understand the EK A380 uses only 23R or 05L (Runway1) irrespective of traffic pattern at the time.

No now but was at first but with times of ops it will anyway until the 2nd service next month

chaps

As with most things, getting planning permission for 23L/05R required compromise. Part of this was agreement 106 with the local councils, which basically limited use of the new runway when traffic was below certain levels (had a quick google, but haven't tracked down the fine detail yet).

As traffic levels are now increasing, the airport seem to be aware of the fact, as they are currently conducting a trial extension to the opening hours Mon-Fri 0530-0930 and 1200-1900 GMT (I think that's 30 mins longer in the morning, and 2-3 hours longer in the afternoon. If holding at a weekend lunchtime is becoming prevalent I imagine that those hours will also see expansion ultimately.

I would guess that other than hardcore NIMBYs, now that runway 2 has been in use for over a decade, a gradual expansion of it's hours will be a lot less noticeable than it would have been from day 1.

I know that a few years ago Runway 2 (05R/23L) was in operation from 06:00-12:00, and then again from 15:00-21:00 local time, Daily!

That was then changed to 06:30-10:30, and then again from 16:00-20:00 local time Mon-Fri. Then it is just 06:30-10:30 on Sat, and then only 16:00-20:00 on Sun. (So it would go about 30 hours with single runway ops.) I'm not entirely sure why they cut its use that much though.

I wasn't aware it had increased recently by 3 hours a day. Are the weekend times still the same as before? And are the longer opening hours here to stay?

At present there is a 2 week trial during day as it is getting so busy mid afternoon

Chaps

RoyHudd
 

I wonder whether you would not be better using your energy to get your airline to contact the airport to get an answer on your behalf? I am sure that they are as concerned as you are with regards to the waste of fuel and time as a result of the delays that you experience.

Does your airline not have its own internal system all allow you to voice your worries?

Duhh
 

Never thought of that :ugh:

2 week trial using 05R/23L weekdays from 1300L now extended until October.

Is a trail actually required, its not as if ATC have never operated dual runway ops. They do it everyday and mornings is the same as lunchtime.