A318 at Brum

[fatboy slim]

Saw the Airbus A318 demonstrator at BHX yesterday - landed in the afternoon and was sitting on the Western Apron for the rest of the day. Looks small eh? Who's looking at buying them then?!?! Can't see the charter boys wanting it. Surely not CitiExpress, JEA - ??, mearsk/DUO - ?? MYT lite ??.

[FougaMagister]

Damn! Fatboy Slim beat me to it... I was about to start that thread meself. Happened to see it too, in the standard Airbus "rainbow" livery, on short final to r/w 33 at 1315Z. Must obviously have been for demo purposes for a prospective client - as mentioned, MYT Lite and DUO would be prime suspects - unless it was some sort of pre-line-training flight for Air France's benefit.

Info, anyone?

[Notso Fantastic]

I can't understand the justification for buying such a short stubby low capacity aeroplane. Almost the running costs of the larger models, almost the same purchase costs presumably. And a tightly limited capacity. Even BA once wanted them before common sense crept back in. So why?

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

This is the picture of the A318 at BHX.

A318 Departing BHX (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/356350/M/)

Thanks
BAe 146-100

[FougaMagister]

NotSo - you are mistaken about BA's A318s. The reason why they cancelled the order has more to do with the PW4000 engine development problems. Air France, which insisted on having a de-de-rated version of the CFM-56 instead, is still looking forward to take delivery of their first A318s this year, to replace about two dozen 737-500s.

While the A318 is indeed too heavy for a single-type fleet when compared to the 737-600 or better still, the 717-200 (né MD-95), it makes sense for an operator that already uses other fly-by-wire Airbuses, because of the single type-rating with the A319, A320 and A321 and fleet commonality for maintenance.

Therefore I think Lite would be a better bet than DUO since MYT already operate the A320 and A321 (plus the A330-200). However, some senior ops. people at DUO really fancy the Airbus...

Cheers

[swervin'mervin]

In total did about ten touch and go's (calibrating of some sort i hear) - only full stopped in BHX to pick up fuel apparently and not demo flight.

[jethro15]

I heard it was for crosswind landing trials.

jethro15
UK and Ireland Airline Fleet Listings
http://www.jethros.i12.com

[pilot_2b]

i watched the a318 that day. it completed numerous touch amd goes and stopped twice . it then came back and parked over by the elmdon building

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Whats the performance diffrence between the PW4000 and the CFM-56?

Thanks
BAe 146-100

[FougaMagister]

As far as I know, the CFM-56 works, the PW4000 doesn't...

Cheers.