A 380 (Merged)

[Charley B]

DoorstoAutomatic

Thank You!"
Afraid I cant see that far!
Shame!:(

[PThomas]

video of landing on sky news.. http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-1309658,00.html

[Dont Hang Up]

There must be a reason for it landing on the southerly when everything else was landing on 27R or was it just spite ?
No. They are just still being cautious with the wake separation. If you only have one superheavy all day then why not just make a space in the departing traffic and keep it away from the other arrivals.

[GANNET FAN]

Please bear with me on this. I realise a certain amount of crystal ball gazing may be involved but in the collective view of you expert flyers, how would the 380 have handled the appalling weather at LHR given that other aircraft had a not very comfortable time landing.

Perhaps the extra weight and size would provide better stability?

JC

[Geffen]

Landed 27L mainly due the press, it arrived early and was unable to hold until the alternation.

[ChristiaanJ]

st7860,
Thanks, nice touch-and-go.

Classic "party trick" on the real Concorde sim (carrier located not far from Kai Tak, IIRC).

[barberspole]

The necessary taxyway widening to permit A380 operations has only been completed between Terminal 3 and 27L/09R. At the time of the improvements British Airways had yet to order the aircraft. When aircraft are using 27L for landing separation will be increased.

[Golf-Mike-Mike]

I too got caught out when it went into 27L but was amused by a BA arrival 15mins later, heard on the ground frequency, asking what all the folk in hi-viz jackets were up to and unaware of the A380. "Was there a Marshallers' Convention today?!!"

[Will Hung]

When does it head back ?

[oversteer]

Scheduled to depart at 1855

I assume it will fly out over Gerrards Cross?
Clouds seem to be clearing, but I guess it will be too dark by the time it comes overhead..

[DILLIGAFF]

Departs at 1855 tonight as SQ319.
P.S the next one is already on its way, departed SIN at 1545. three minutes before todays touched down. So for three minutes there were two A380s heading to LHR. It is estimating arrival at 0508 tomorrow.
D

[MikeStanton]

I went up to Blackheath, South London (next to the tea hut!) Was listening to 119.725 (northern hold) waiting for her to drop below the 4k cloud base, when she was handed over to Director 120.4 the officer said 'Singapore 308 its 27 left for you.. you have 20 miles turn right 240 and report established 27 left :) She was a Little to far away for any worth while video but I used the zoom to get a better look... Awesome... I will have to get used to not being woken up at 5am in the future when she IS 20 miles out for a direct in approach 27R ;)

[Gonzo]

How annoying of ATC to move it onto 27L

Seem to remeber one of Concordes' last flights departing from 09L which is hardly ever used for take-offs. P***d off a lot of people that day too. ATC clearly do not like spotters !!!!

Yes, sorry about that. In fact, the first thing we always think about when making decisions is how we can annoy all those spotters! Facts like safety as it was with Concorde, and a request from the owner of the airport, as it was today, just don't have the same weight behind them.

No. They are just still being cautious with the wake separation. If you only have one superheavy all day then why not just make a space in the departing traffic and keep it away from the other arrivals.

See above for the reason why we used 27L for landing.

The necessary taxyway widening to permit A380 operations has only been completed between Terminal 3 and 27L/09R.

Not correct. A10E south down Echo is A380 compliant, as is the eastern side of the airfield from the 09L turn offs from A5 and A4.

[Diedtrying]

Here's a view you wont have seen on any TV news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvR1Oe6CfoQ

[ChristiaanJ]

Diedtrying,
Yes indeed!
And nice to see a water salute at a first arrival, rather than just at the sad occasion of a very last flight (i.e., Concorde......).

[scruggs]

Nice video Diedtrying. Thanks for posting :ok:

S

[treadigraph]

Dang missed it! I was so busy working (yeah right!) that I was about 5 mins late reaching my vantage point by the coffee machine. Oh well, saw the very first one to arrive at Heathrow in '06...

[MikeStanton]

^^ yes thanks for the super video :D

[trident3A]

Great vid, watched it come in from Myrtle Ave, fantastic stuff. Not often you see a first like that!

[crewmeal]

What was the immigration hall like in terminal 3? Did it take as long to clear as the flight took? Bet the baggage reclaim wasn't much better either!!

Sorry but I have had 2 bad experiences inside that dump regarding queues and baggage.

[HeathrowAirport]

What was the immigration hall like in terminal 3? Did it take as long to clear as the flight took? Bet the baggage reclaim wasn't much better either!!

Sorry but I have had 2 bad experiences inside that dump regarding queues and baggage.

Heathrow is only a dump because passengers treat it that way.

Hopefully you will see a much needed change to Heathrow if stupid people that stop running across a runway or jumping on a/c as if it's a trampoline then just maybe when we get a New 27R/09L and Current 27R/09L Changes to 09C/27C and Terminal 6 then just maybe Heathrow will be the best in the world.

You have an airport that already operates at triple what it was designed for and yet demolish and recreate or create stuff then expect this.

I saw the A380 Land on 27L * I though Yes the press did not get a good veiw from 27R *, i knew all along it was 27L anyway.


Robbie

[doublesix]

What would be the A380's alternate in the event of having to divert? Would it likely be to a UK airport, eg, Manchester or Prestwick or more likely to the continent.

[Diedtrying]

What would be the A380's alternate in the event of having to divert? Would it likely be to a UK airport, eg, Manchester or Prestwick or more likely to the continent.

I believe Gatwick (but don't quote me on that :=)

Glad you all like the vid.

[HeathrowAirport]

If Gatwick and Heathrow had problems it would be EGSS/Stansted then if that has problems.

It might be paris CDG.


Robbie

[ChristiaanJ]

Seems with the recent crud weather several diverted to AMS?

[Bailey571]

Thank you for the video. :D Amazing machine. Like to think all the non believers had rather red faces today.

[BEagle]

Undoubtedly a technological triumph.....but god it's a fugly thing :eek:!

Once there were graceful jets such as Concorde and VC10s at London Airport. Somehow, compared to those, the 380 is, well, just plain dull.

And probably no-one will ever notice the first 7-late-7 when and if it ever arrives...:rolleyes:

[ChristiaanJ]

Undoubtedly a technological triumph.....but god it's a ugly thing!Couldn't agree more... that snout, those piggy eyes.... Still hesitating between "Whale" and "Hippo".

Once there were graceful jets such as Concorde and VC10s at London Airport. Somehow, compared to those, the 380 is, well, just plain dull.

And probably no-one will ever notice the first 7-late-7 when and if it ever arrives...Unless you're a born-and-bred plane-spotting anorak, I challenge you to distinguish a 757, 767 or 777 from an A330.
Or a 737 from an A319, A320 or A321 at first glance.
As to the RJs, let's give that a miss, shall we?

(Puts on tin hat and leaves.)

CJ

[TheGorrilla]

I saw an A380 today as I was getting off the B777 I'd just flown for the last 6,7-8 hours. Must say I really didn't give a toss that the worlds biggest airliner had just landed. It looked like a fat, butt ugly version of various butt ugly Airbuses I'd seen before. Was only too glad to turn the ignition on my mighty SAAB and drive home.

Sorry, folks it doesn't anything for me.

[TheGorrilla]

P.S. My SAAB doesn't do anything for me either. Apart from take me to the airport and airfield (on my days off!).

[point5]

9V-SKA due at 05:01 as SIA322 "Super", landing 27R, parking 307.
The alternate for all EGLL 380s at the moment is EDFF or LFPG.

Ta.

[paul360m]

What time is it due out today please? SIA site currently down.

Thanks

Paul

[Charley B]

Hi Paul
Think 11.00 it is going back--is the SQ 317--baa site says last call at the gate a couple of secs ago when I looked--so should be off about to time!


CB

[PThomas]

arrivals from singapore today:

1505 SQ308 EXPECTED 1420
1855 AC9940 EXPECTED 1815
1855 SQ318 EXPECTED 1815
1855 VS7318 EXPECTED 1815

FOR DEPARTURES CLICK ON
http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/site/heathrow/template.PAGE/menuitem.7472564ef868a47ee4b12871120103a0/?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=token&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=token&javax.portlet.tpst=44bf027a7d926b1f71de920eaca12635&javax.portlet.prp_44bf027a7d926b1f71de920eaca12635_flightRou te=SINGAPORE&javax.portlet.prp_44bf027a7d926b1f71de920eaca12635_flightNum ber=&javax.portlet.prp_44bf027a7d926b1f71de920eaca12635_flightTer minal=

[PThomas]

Christiaanj ...

757 - long and stretchy
767 - looks like 757 who's eaten too many big mac's
777 - beefy boeing with 6 wheels per side on the main gear
a330 - looks like a 777 but not as many wheels


737 - small - pointy nose
a319 - looks smaller than the 737 - snouty nose

a320- a big a319
a321 - a stretched 320..

done:ok:

[parabellum]

And of course, the best looking of them all and not to be confused with any A380 or other Airbus ugly bugs is the Boeing747-400!:ok:

[pumaknight]

I was one of the poor simps who stood in the freezing cold at 27R.:bored:

I watched her queue up , number 4 for landing, only for my mate to say, "why is it going the wrong way?" Sure enough, over she goes to 27L. :mad:.

Okay I thought, wake turbulence, security issues, traffic issues - I could go with any of those reasons. I have watched enough a/c pull a left turn and line up on 27L when 27R is being used as the landing.

But what I couldn't stomach was the decision to let her depart on 27L as well. After 3 hours of standing there waithing for her to go up, I thought I deserved a bit more of a looksie.

But no, ATC had cleared a space for her in the landing pattern, and off she goes, from 27L.

Talk about a day gone wrong :{.

Sigh.

[WHBM]

I think they only put it on the opposite runway to do an Up Yours to HACAN :E

[trident3A]

Bad luck Puma, we drove round to Myrtle av and as there were about a hundred people there assumed it was the right place - confirmed a few mins before arrival by listening in on 119.75:).

[pumaknight]

There was a few hundred at least over at 27R!! I even asked and got told that it was definately 27R, ATC confirmed 27R.....I will never trust anyone again!!:\

glad you (and others) got to see it though. Looked mighty impressive.

[PThomas]

doesnt look like it.. todays SQ308 has just landed - it was a 747-400

hopefully this evenings SQ318 expected at 18:15 will be an A380 - although it might be a bit dark!

[Gonzo]

Presently the only A380 service is the 0530 inbound (SIA322) and 1100 outbound (SIA317).

[ChristiaanJ]

With only three Whales in service at the moment, I would think they'd be a bit streched to do daily returns to both London and Sydney.
So you may still see 747s when you expect an A380.

[point5]

As far as I am aware the A380 morning service is daily. The arrival of the 3rd machine allows them to operate a complete daily A380 Kangaroo service.

[allthatglitters]

Missed the arrival at heathrow and the video to long to download, will just have to make do with seeing the comings and goings at the local airport.

[MikeStanton]

I saw it go over my house this morning,( North Kent) just before 5am, could just make out the Singapore logo.... ;)

[WHBM]

For those uncertain about the current timetable here it is :

Singapore - 2320
Heathrow - 0525/1100
Singapore - 0740

Singapore - 2030
Sydney - 0700/0850
Singapore - 1345

Therefore three aircraft are required, two for the London route and one for Sydney. There is no logical service throughout from London to Sydney, directly connecting flights are on other 747 services. When summer time comes in these times change by minutes but the basic pattern is the same as far into the future as Singapore Airlines currently schedule.

[alexmcfire]

Will they rotate the 3 A380ies on the LHR-SIN and SIN-SYD routes? Or is it
one each that goes all the time on the LHR-SIN and SIN-SYD route and one that rotate inbetween the two routes?

[ChristiaanJ]

Will they rotate the 3 A380ies on the LHR-SIN and SIN-SYD routes? Or is it one each that goes all the time on the LHR-SIN and SIN-SYD route and one that rotates in between the two routes?Ah.....
That's the question the true spotters on here will have to answer using their logbooks!

In practice, I'd expect the three being rotated between the routes as a function of availability, determined by such issues as delays, minor tech problems, maintenance, etc.

CJ

[chornedsnorkack]

In practice, I'd expect the three being rotated between the routes as a function of availability, determined by such issues as delays, minor tech problems, maintenance, etc.


Considering:

Singapore - 2320
Heathrow - 0525/1100
Singapore - 0740

Singapore - 2030
Sydney - 0700/0850
Singapore - 1345

we can see that every day from 13:45 to 20:30 there are two planes in Singapore (and the third is in London).

The longest possible stay of any frame in Singapore is 7:40 to 23:20 - from London back to London, 15:40 stay.

Since the Sydney frame and the London frame in Singapore meet in Singapore, they can freely be exchanged or not exchanged, as seems preferrable.

Any maintenance that cannot be done in 15:40 means cancellations - at least till 008 is delivered (when?).

[ChristiaanJ]

horned snorkack,
Maybe you should do a bit of a read up about the difference between Zulu time and local time....
The Heathrow to Singapore flight does not travel back in time.
It arrives way after the Singapore-Sydney one leaves.

[chornedsnorkack]

The Heathrow to Singapore flight indeed arrives in Singapore in Singapore morning 7:40, having departed Heathrow the previous morning. At that time, a SIN-SYD flight has left some time ago (20:30 the evening before) and has not returned.

No plane is due to fly back to London till 23:20, Singapore time - right?

And the plane into Sydney returns 13:45, Singapore time. From which time there are two frames in Singapore. Until 20:30 Singapore time, when they depart - 20:30 for Sydney, 23:20 for London.

[Glen999]

Anyone know if there were any logistical problems arising out of the A380's arrival at heathrow????

[rubik101]

Why should there be any? It's just another aeroplane, albeit a bit bigger than most others. What difference is there if two B767s land at the same time? Mountains out of molehills spring to mind.

[Pugilistic Animus]

However do airports handle the An-225 I believe I seen video of the AN225 at JFK and LHR--- that 'baby' makes the A380 appear like [ in the word of the 'Governator' of CA] 'like a little gurlyman':}

perhaps a different LCN / PCN?

[Pugilistic Animus]

What would one characterize the 380's gear as? Dual Triple Tandem Dual Double Tandem DTTDDT

[pasoundman]

Glen999
Anyone know if there were any logistical problems arising out of the A380's arrival at heathrow????


Heathrow was one of the very first airports to build new structures to handle the A380.

There are TWO Terminals at Heathrow that can handle it ! No problem whatever. Heathrow as a major hub, was always essential to A380 acceptance by the airlines.

[autothrottle]

Actually its not a bad question. From an ATC aspect the A380 has had a quite significant impact.

It has introduced new taxiway restritions, impact on LSA , introduction of DLSA , Wake vortex seperation for arrival and departure traffic, impact on LVP. These are just some , so logistically this aircraft is treated in different ways to all other aircraft that use heathrow.:bored:

[Glen999]

I knew it was a brilliant question. Thank you. :)

[parabellum]

As well as the night flight SIN-SYD there is a morning one too, used to depart around 08:30 local SIN, though not sure if that one is A380 or B744.

[Skipness One Echo]

So was the runway switch on final planned or is it going to be a regular thing to stop it getting in the way and getting to Pier 6 almost immediately?
I am off to point a Nikon at it this weekend.....

[point5]

The A380 will land in accordance with the daily alternation, unless we are TEAMing and they choose to put it on 27L (which would make sense!)

[pumaknight]

What is TEAMing??

[Gonzo]

If inbound delay reaches 20 minutes, then we can land up to 6 an hour on the departure runway, in an effort to equalise the inbound and outbound delay.

[MANFlyer]

I was on board the inaugural SQ319 flight.

We pushed back and started to taxi then stopped. Captain came on and said an a/c had gone tech in front of us so we had to wait for that to be cleared. A few minutes later we set off again and went over to 27L. So I'm guessing this may be one of the reasons we went from there instead. Someone on board said it looked like an LH bird had the problem.

For those working out how they will use the big birds. In May SQ220 from SYD starts to get 744 and SQ222 starts with the A380.

SQ636/637 to NRT goes A380 from 20 May.

[point5]

It was a BAW 744 who was spewing fluid in Link 29/25 which is the only Code F (A380) taxy route to 27R. Hence the switch to the left.

Cheers.

[Nopax,thanx]

As an aside, how come there are no pictures of this event on Airliners.net? I would have expected a frenzy of posting on the site but the only image that comes up on A380 + EGLL gives loads of images of 004 landing back in 2006.

Not been a falling-out has there???
:ooh:

[st7860]

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8564/pig3ta3.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8564/pig3ta3.jpg)

[outnumbered]

Happened to be near Windsor yesterday morning and didn't manage to see an A380 among all the other departures whizzing overhead.

If the Singapore flight is scheduled to depart at 11am, I'm guessing that it's typically going to be airborne around 11.30am ? Presumably it's also going to be turning left fairly early after a departure on 27L/R.

[chornedsnorkack]

Who are the next airlines to get Airbus A380-800?

Singapore has 3 frames in service. 003, 005, 006.

When do they get the fourth, 008? They need it by 20th of May when Narita flights begin.

When does the first Qantas frame arrive?

When does the first Emirates (and Engine Alliance) frame arrive?

Malaysia delayed their planes to 2011. Then who are next?

China Southern?
Air France?
Lufthansa?

[oversteer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Airbus_A380_orders

Production List, near the bottom. I can't quite work it though, as to what is to be delivered next.

Surprised there are 13 flying A380s now!

[chornedsnorkack]

Production List, near the bottom. I can't quite work it though, as to what is to be delivered next.

Precisely. Which is why I ask.

Singapore - they have three flying frames undelivered: 008 since 19. III 2007, 010 since 21. XII 2007, 012 since 20. II 2008.

Any due dates for delivery?

Emirates and Qantas: apart for the three test frame Etihad whitetails bought by Emirates, there are two Emirates´ own frames (011 since 4. IX 2007 and 013 since 02. IV 2008) and one Qantas frame (014 since 25. I 2008).

The next three customers: China Southern, Air France and Lufthansa are said to be due in 2009.

China Southern has 031, Air France has 033, Lufthansa has 038.

Are any specifics known?

[smith]

A380 at Prestwick today

[Gar]

Are you kidding? Do you know if it's still there?

[Skipness One Echo]

www.egpk.com gives " N747BC B747-LCF EIA5127 arr 1210 dep 1417"

ie the B747 LCF not an A380 ?

[smith]

thanks for that, I just saw it take off and thought thats a big mother and it didn't have a high wing like the antonov, so presumed it was 380. Have seen that freighter at PIK a few times before. Sorry for the confusion.