Abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4551 posts, RR: 56 Posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 16783 times:
Feedback always appreciated.
Trip Report: 044
Flight Category: Y-DSR (See Report End)
Date: 15Oct-07
SDT/SAT/Delay: 0600/0625/00:25 hrs
Flight: Air Fiji PC 501, 26 miles
Routing: SUV-NAN
Aircraft: CV5 (CONVAIR 580)
Seat: Economy, 3A/JUMP SEAT
I > Background:
Ok, I am back! After taking a sabbatical from trip reports for 5 months, here is the first installation from a series of trip reports. Mid-August to mid-November 2007 saw the craziest of my travel plans. 69 flights totalling 175,028 kms on 35 airlines, visiting 49 airports in 34 countries in all 6 continents. And, here is the best part … all of them were part of a 4 month break from life … pure vacation, and pure food for the mind, body, and soul. Together, they mounted to 21/2 round-the-worlds that was truly insane. As usual, all long haul flights were on Business or First Class; short haul was on Economy Class.
I think there was one other trip report on Air Fiji from a while back; however, this is probably the first time there is a trip report on a Air Fiji Convair 580. In fact, I think this is the first trip report on a CV 580 … and that too from the jump seat!
II > Pre-Flight:
a) Before Airport:
Air Fiji is the “older” domestic airline in Fiji and has an extensive network across the breadth of the Fiji islands. Additionally, it had code share operations to other nearby Pacific island microstates.
Upon landing in Suva earlier on Pacific Sun from Nadi (for report, click here), I had observed the brilliant CV 580 parked in Suva. Since I had not been on the aircraft, I just had to fly it! Enquiring at the airport office yielded no results and so I made my way into Suva town. Later in the day, divine intervention meant I passed by the Air Fiji office. There I met a beautiful girl called Pooja to whom I explained the situation. She was super amused and rolled her eyes saying, “now I have seen it all.” She called the flight operations head (Mr. Vikram) and they began looking at the CV580 scheduling. Mr. Vikram called one of the pilots and asked if he could fly the 580 on the morning run to Nadi as there was a “crazy airline enthusiast.” After some convincing on his part, Mr. Vikram confirmed and put into schedule the CV5 to do a SUV-NAN-SUV flight in the early morning, and then routed the aircraft to Tuvalu. I really could not believe the generosity of him and just kept on thanking Mr. Vikram and Pooja. Then, I convinced Pooja to issue me paper tickets instead of e-tickets. She was even more surprised and said I must be crazy J. So after all that, I walked out of the ticketing office smiling and looking forward to the next day of flights on a CV 580. Of course, booking can also be done through the efficient booking engine at www.airfiji.com.fj with complete facility to book and change tickets; and also chose and modify seats. But then, would I be guaranteed a Convair?!
b) At Airport:
Woke up at 04.30am for the 40 minute drive to Suva airport in Nausori. The PC flight to NAN was the first one of the day and I was greeted by an empty terminal. The airport looked very tropical … something out of a colonial movie about the British in the 1970s. As soon as the check-in counter opened, I checked in and was given seat “3A’. The guy was very confused on why I had a paper ticket, and why I was returning on the same flight back. When I explained, he just shook his head. Boarding was called 10 minutes prior to departure and we went through the efficient security to the tarmac where the beautiful bird was sitting basking in the quiet light of sun dawn. I slowly walked to the aircraft taking in all the details. As soon as I boarded, I was hit by a blast from the past. Immediately upon embarkation, is this huge galley space with curtain prior to the start of the cabin. The other striking thing was the feeling of space inside the aircraft. Y Load (well, entire aircraft was Y) was less than 10%!!!
Airport - External:
(Suva Airport)
Check-in:
Airport - Internal:
(Entire check-in area)
(Waiting lounge)
(Super informative FID)
Scenes of the tarmac:
(EMB 110)
Lounge
NONE
Boarding:
NONE
III> In-Flight:
a) Service Schedule + Impressions:
No service. I didn’t quite care … as all I needed was to soak in the experience.
b) Aircraft + Seats:
The Convair 580 is wet leased from Chathams Air in New Zealand which also provides the pilots. It is a surprisingly spacious aircraft and has been maintained very well. The leather seats are extremely comfortable and gives you one of the most dramatic reclines in Y cabins. Leg room is also generous. When the turbo prop engines roar, they do so with panache. (See video). At the end of the aircraft is a bathroom which is also pretty large for an aircraft of its size. Sitting inside the aircraft, my mind wondered to all the exciting places this bird probably flew to. My mind raced with the sense of adventure and possibilities.
Aircraft:
(The beautiful Convair CV 580)
Views from Aircraft:
Seat Leg-Room:
Seat Recline + Angle View:
(Look at that recline)
Cabin:
c) Meal + Beverage:
None. An interesting contrast to Pacific Sun’s orange juice and newspaper service.
d) Inflight Entertainment:
None. Unlike Pacific Sun, no inflight magazine either. The inflight entertainment surely had to be the aircraft itself!
(In-flight magazines, Boarding Passes, etc.)
e) Crew:
Two pretty flight attendants. I went back to the aft cabin and started talking to one of the FAs. She was amused by my love of flying and what I had done to be on the CV5. She explained that PC contracts the aircraft from Chathams who provide the pilots. She said, “oh, I should thank you then for waking me up to do this morning run.” Oops. After returning to Suva, the crew would do an international run to Tuvalu. Soon it was time to decent and I made my way back to the seat.
IV> Post-Flight:
Touchdown in Nadi airport was perfect and I made my way to the terminal, picked up my returning boarding pass, and then waited for the return flight. When the flight was called, the security agent immediately recognized me and was “very confused.” I explained to her that I just wanted to fly this old aircraft and she also rolled her eyes and smiled. Then things got even better!
As I boarded the flight, the flight attendant from earlier came to my seat and said, “Mr. Alex, I spoke to the captain to request if you could jump-seat for the flight, and he agreed.” I was stunned! This woman clearly made my day. I could almost not control my happiness. She had made my entire round the world completely worth it. I immediately started thanking her over and over. After all the passengers boarded, she led me to the cockpit, introduced me to the flight crew. I took the jump seat between the pilot and the co pilot and just sat back stunned. It was amazing. The amount of dials and levers and controls gave the CV5 an unique flavour. The raw power of the engines were pronounced here and we were soon cleared for take-off. During the flight, I chit chatted with the pilots who told me more about their life in Fiji, and in New Zealand. The whole experience was surreal as while I had done many en-route cockpit visits, I had never flown the entire length in a jump seat before. As I soaked in the entire experience, it was time for landing. Suva cleared us and we made our decent back. After the smoothest landing ever, we taxied to the gate. My spirits were in cloud 1000 when I bid adieu to the friendly cockpit crew, to the FA who made the entire thing possible, and disembarked. The entire round-the-world experience had just become perfect and I was so happy. Thank you Air Fiji!
(Taxiing to Pacific Sun territory)
(FJ ATR)
(NAN Airport Airside)
(NAN Arrivals)
V> Impressions + Scores:
Short flight with low expectations. I wanted to share with A.Netters a Convair 580 flight rather than make a comprehensive evaluation. What started out as a desire to fly the 580 turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I am indebted to Pooja and Mr. Vikram at PC reservations office in Suva, the awesome FA, and the pilots. They made the entire experience something I will never forget. For the routing in question (26 miles), PC provided all one can ask for … clean, efficient, on-time service. Of course, in competition with FJ, would lose out on this sector as it does not provide any service. But with such an amazing group of staffers, does it really matter? My hats off to the reservations staff and to the wonderful proactive flight attendant. In today’s world where people have become paranoid with security and flights have been reduced to commodities, it was refreshing to see professionals with a level of unsurpassed humanity and compassion. Definitely would fly with them again … but of course, only if it’s a CV5 … in a jump seat. Just kidding.
PHLstudent From United States of America, joined May 2006, 498 posts, RR: 8 Reply 3, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 16656 times:
I have been loving your trip reports, incredibly interesting and entertaining.
How many more can we expect on your round the world adventure, seems like you have been writing these for ever!
NZ747 From New Zealand, joined Dec 2004, 957 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 16493 times:
Well Abrelosojos, as usual, a very excellent report and pics. Jump seating the convair must be a great and rear experience.
Quoting Abrelosojos (Thread starter): think there was one other trip report on Air Fiji from a while back; however, this is probably the first time there is a trip report on a Air Fiji Convair 580
I've done a TR on PC a while back, it was included in an Air NZ report. Retired A.net member Jafa39 also did one and in the Convair also. None the less, nothing so far beats your great pics and coverage
I have been on the Convair between Suva and Nadi myself once a we while ago, and found it to be a very nice and different experience. Unfortunately, from what I hear, it is likely that the Convair will return back to NZ soon as Air Fiji are sadly and slowly declining. At the moment they have two of them here.
Quoting Abrelosojos (Thread starter): Woke up at 04.30am for the 40 minute drive to Suva airport in Nausori
Either you went the very long way or you were in a very slow taxi. Usual trip is about 20 mins.
AirTranTUS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 16447 times:
Gotta love the sound of those engines! Nice report about a classic airplane.
A few weeks ago I was at TUS and saw a 580. I actually heard it before I even saw it. I heard the roar and looked around but didn't see anything. A minute or so later, I saw it taxiing by the terminal. It was at least a mile away when I first heard it!
BrusselsSouth From Belgium, joined Aug 2001, 535 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 16172 times:
Hi Abrelosojos,
Amazing trip report, exotic place, exotic machine ! And the way the Air Fiji staff helped you getting on the Convair is simply fantastic...
I actually am a long time reader of your amazing reports, but I've always been too lazy to post a comment... So, here are my congratulations for this report, but also for all your other reports. In my view, they're among the best ones on this forum, with exotic airlines and places, and quite a few rare machines.
Abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4551 posts, RR: 56 Reply 8, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 15961 times:
Quoting PHLstudent (Reply 3): How many more can we expect on your round the world adventure, seems like you have been writing these for ever!
= Tell me about it. It is inspiring me to take the road again. I have a really busy schedule these days with lots of work ... hence am rarely getting the chance to sit down and get it all out. 2 more TR's on this round the world coming up and I am done ... but then, I have some other trips .
Quoting NZ747 (Reply 4): Retired A.net member Jafa39 also did one and in the Convair also. None the less, nothing so far beats your great pics and coverage
= Thank you very much. I have much respect for Jafa39, so that is a good compliment for me.
Quoting NZ747 (Reply 4): Unfortunately, from what I hear, it is likely that the Convair will return back to NZ soon as Air Fiji are sadly and slowly declining.
= Why is it declining?
Quoting NZ747 (Reply 4): Either you went the very long way or you were in a very slow taxi. Usual trip is about 20 mins.
= Took the backroads past the stadium, British HC, South Seas hotel, etc.
Quoting 777ER (Reply 6): I remember those windowless buses when I was there in 1991, obviously public transport hasn't changed
= I LOVE those buses.
Quoting BrusselsSouth (Reply 7): I actually am a long time reader of your amazing reports, but I've always been too lazy to post a comment... So, here are my congratulations for this report, but also for all your other reports. In my view, they're among the best ones on this forum, with exotic airlines and places, and quite a few rare machines.
PHLstudent From United States of America, joined May 2006, 498 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 15795 times:
Quoting Abrelosojos (Reply 8): = Tell me about it. It is inspiring me to take the road again. I have a really busy schedule these days with lots of work ... hence am rarely getting the chance to sit down and get it all out. 2 more TR's on this round the world coming up and I am done ... but then, I have some other trips .
Semsem From Israel, joined Jul 2005, 1779 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 15791 times:
Reminds me of the Swissair Convair Metropolitans I used to fly on as a kid. They were wonderful planes. I remember the smoke that would come out of the engines when they were started.
However the inside of the planes were more elegant than the Fiji plane which has more modern seats. Here is a picture of the Swissair.
AirlineBrat From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 627 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 14994 times:
Once again I enjoyed reading about your adventures. I would like to take a year off from work and do a RTW trip. Maybe in the next year or two.
I love flying on the Convair 580's. It has been a while since I flew on those historic birds. My experiences were around 1985-86 while attending Fort Lewis College in Durango. I'd fly on Aspen Airlines between DEN (Stapleton) and DRO then use an employee/dependents pass on UA to EWR or SFO. My dad worked for UA out of SFO back then. If I remember, I also flew on Allegheny C-580's when I was a little kid. We would use a quarter fare pass on Allegheny/Mohawk/US Air to visit my grandparents in ERI.
I'm leavin on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again....
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