Technical Stop
 

Anybody know what type of aircraft this was:-
TECHNICAL STOP AT ST HELENA AIRPORT


TECHNICAL STOP AT ST HELENA AIRPORT « St Helena

Found out
It was a C130
Photos here:-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/560571324116728/

https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...99&oe=59F0D995

SAAF Hercules as far as I can tell.

Can't find any information about the specifics, though.

It's a military cargo aircraft on a trip from South Africa to Brazil.

Well I guess it makes sense to stop in HLE for a fuel stop... Any idea if this is to become a recurring practice ?

St. Helena Service confirmed:

JNB – WDH – HLE – WDH - JNB

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-con...-July-2017.pdf

Fairly comprehensive faq.

That being said still no firm date.

No dates and no prices, but everything else seemed comprehensive!

Can anyone help with the following please. How much freight can a E190 (weight and size) carry and what is the maximum business/ economy passenger load for this aircraft, I presume that it is higher than the figure quoted and if so why not carry more passengers?.

I'd suggest that both of those are up to the MTOW or RTOW of the aircraft, there is no specific requirement that a cabin is for passengers only, there are such things as combi airliners and as for the split between business and economy ... That is why the curtain is often on rails, they can move it up and down the cabin dependant upon the booked load.

Basically what you're asking is "How long is a piece of string?"

All about the E190: https://www.embraercommercialaviatio...ial-jets/e190/

Perhaps it is passenger limited as the aircraft has to carry contingency fuel for a return to Windhoek/Walvis Bay without landing at St. Helena. Say the aircraft gets all the way our there and finds it can not land- divert options are limited!

Whilst brilliant news for the Saints, cant help but wonder how its actually going to work out in reality - not entirely sure the E190 with the routing announced is going to be worthwhile.. but at least its something to start so I'm sure people are relieved.

You never know someone else may yet see the opportunity being as they are an open skies airport.

The FAQ seemed quite clear that Island Reserve would be used.
Therefore no need for return fuel after PNR, and much better payload available.

It's currently passenger limited for the worst case 15 kt. downwind landing on 6400' long runway 02, the official length of which is reduced to 5036' by certifying agency ASSI. As Airlink gains experience they expect to always land into the wind on 20 and remove the restriction. The difference in reserves between Remote Island and an ASI alternate is only about 15 minutes. It's vitally important that a once-a-week service always lands at the destination. Going to ASI probably would run the crew out of time.

As you say practical experience will be paramount in fine tuning the service. And for that it has to start...

Going from WDH solves many problems. Air traffic is so thin in the South Atlantic that the flight will probably always get it's ideal altitude and probably match optimistic manufacturers performance charts. I think there will be an ETOPS proving flight in August.

The pressure on the pilots to land in any case will be immense, and such will be the risk ...

I'm sure they will value their own lives just as equal as the passengers and operate within the SOP's developed according the CAT C training they would of had in order to make the approach in the first place.

What bull ... The pressure is upon any pilot, any taxi driver, any truck driver etc. to make it to their designated destination "or else" but I'd imagine that none of the passengers would be complaining to be safe and sound on Ascension rather than dead and floating in the south Athantic!