Welcome to Channel Islands Part 2. Aurigny GCI-JER BN2A Trislander
After a good couple of hours in Guernsey including a surprise tour of a hangar full of Bizjets (Learjet 60, Citation CJ1's, 2's, Excel's, Navajo, etc) and watching the traffic come and go, it was time to head back to the new terminal for our afternoon departure to Jersey.
We'd already checked in almost as soon as we arrived in Guernsey for our flight to Jersey, so we headed straight to departures. The small security hall comprised of the usual procedures of shoes off, in a tray, bag on conveyor, walk through archway, collect belongings, proceed. Turning the corner into the Departures area, I was actually quite shocked at how small it was. I took a seat and watched aircraft come and go, people arrive late for their aircraft (which is always amusing . After a wait which seemed to drag on a little, our flight was called for boarding. Myself, David and 6 other passengers made our way over to the door. We were escorted down the long glass walkway and then out a door, towards Trislander G-BDTO.
We were each called out by the dispatcher and escorted to where we were to be seated for the flight. Unfortunately myself and Dave were seated two rows from the back, so no view of the cockpit for the flight.
Our "view"
The cabin.
The cabin was larger than what I was expecting, but this is no surprise. I'm hardly tall.
Engines were started one by one, and we were soon beginning our, very fast, taxi to runway 09, which we had arrived at on our previous flight.
Lining up, the throttles were pushed to full power, and the distinctive droning of three pistons filled the cabin and the air around us. These things were loud from the outside despite their size, and it was certainly loud on the inside too.
You were given a real sense of flight in this aircraft. Every input by the pilot could be felt, every bit of yaw sent you leaning to your left or right. Slowly the trislander heaved itself into the air, with window panels and flaps rattling about, this was definately an experience!
Climbing higher until, what I can only guess, was about 2000ft, we levelled out and made our way off the coast of Guernsey.
View behind us
After discovering large gaps around the door seals, myself and Dave had a look at the safety cards, which were certainly different from the ATR we had just flown on previously
About 7 or so minutes after rotation, we were descending for a straight-in approach for Jersey. I was looking out for the airport somewhere out the port side, only to look ahead and see the runway dead ahead.
Gliding over the threshold we flared for a smooth touchdown.
With a puff of tyre smoke and a nice hearty screech we were on the ground again.
With ears still ringing we pulled upto the "gate" in Jersey and disembarked after a 13 minute flight. Walking across the tarmac and into the building we went straight out into arrivals, and outside of the airport.
Jersey arrivals terminal.
The legendary certainly is an experience I'd love to repeat!
We decided to have a wonder around the perimeter and see what was about. We soon found a Netjets Gulfstream, an ATP and old Electra all parked up quietly. We also came across an attractive vehicle of the grounded variety
A few weeks prior to the trip I had spoken to Aviation Beauport, a business aviation handler and charter company on the island, and they were happy to show us around their facilities. Luckily for us we were given hi-visibility jackets and taken out on the ramp, and into the hangar.
Inside there were numerous bizjets and small aircraft. Rockwell 112's, Citationjet's, Citation Sovereigns, Cessna Conquests, and many more.
The chap who showed us around requested that we try to keep registrations our of the photographs, to which we obliged. We were however, shown inside some of the Citations.
After we'd picked our jaws up off of the hangar floor and secured them back in place, we were taken out onto the ramp to take a closer look at the Electra and Gulfstream.
This does the nightly newspaper and mail run.
This G-IV had arrived from Antigua a couple of days prior to the photograph.
We had a chat with the chap, then said our farewells and had another walk around the airport. By this time the light wasn't the best for photography, so after having a look around the aero club, we made our way back to the terminal for our flight back home. The report for that section of the journey will follow soon.
As in the last report, comments are appreciated! Hope you enjoyed the read.
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16575 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 5053 times:
Great second part.
The pics are good.
The Trislander looks really funny. Would love to fly on it.
Semsem From Israel, joined Jul 2005, 1779 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 4857 times:
Seems like a lot of fun this flight. I think they operate also from Shoreham Airport to the Channel Islands. Would love to visit Herm Island nearby where cars are prohibited.
TUGMASTER From Northern Mariana Islands, joined Jul 2004, 582 posts, RR: 10 Reply 5, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 4756 times:
Great trip report,,,
apart from these Trislanders, you can fly with Lydd Air from Lydd-Le touquet on a daily basis.....also on a sunday , they do a pleasure flight with 3 course sunday roast for around £30:00 pounds.....a great way to spend a sunday afternoon...
TupolevTu154 From UK - England, joined Aug 2004, 2119 posts, RR: 31 Reply 6, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 4725 times:
Quoting Semsem (Reply 4): I think they operate also from Shoreham Airport to the Channel Islands
Rockhopper/Blue Islands have ceased operations to Alderney from Shoreham now. Which is a shame.
Quoting TUGMASTER (Reply 5): you can fly with Lydd Air from Lydd-Le touquet on a daily basis.....also on a sunday , they do a pleasure flight with 3 course sunday roast for around £30:00 pounds
Lydd is a bit far away to justify a trip like that, but definately something to look into in the future!
SPEEDBIRDEGJJ From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2003, 429 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4365 times:
Hi Tom
Great report, glad you enjoyed yourself!!. I fly the route once or twice a week, but to be honest i Havent used Aurigny for over a year. I find that Blue Islands is far better in every sense!!. Perhaps next time you'll have to try a J32 or 328 on the route!
Nice to see the guys at Beauport were happy to show you round, that GV was here for over a week and must have left sometime over the weekend as it was here when I left on Friday but gone yesterday.
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 9): I'll be flying GLO-JER on NM, hopefully on D28, in July
Give me a shout beforehand James and hopefully we can meet up this time. Friday night was the first time i've seen a 228 on the GLO flight, its normally a metro so hope your in luck!
BAViscount From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 2338 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 4260 times:
Quoting TupolevTu154 (Thread starter): Turning the corner into the Departures area, I was actually quite shocked at how small it was
I love the way the security personnel at GCI handle things...if they think you're heading through too early for your flight they send you away suggesting you come back later as there's nothing to do airside! I was actually quite surprised that they didn't build more airside distractions when they built the new terminal a few years ago, but compared to the old terminal, the new one is paradise!!
I'm so glad that GR have given up on the corporate liveries. Their little yellow birds had been a trademark of the Channel Islands for years, and I love their new paintscheme, even if they aren't quite as distinctive as they used to be. Things move on I guess!
Quoting TupolevTu154 (Thread starter): Unfortunately myself and Dave were seated two rows from the back, so no view of the cockpit for the flight.
Shame you couldn't get something further forward. I once flew GCI-ACI right behind the pilot...it felt like I had my own private plane!
Glad you had a good time down there in one of my favourite parts of the world. Thanks for the reports.
Andy.
Ladies & gentlemen this is Captain Tobias Wilcock welcoming you aboard Coconut Airways flight 372 to Bridgetown Barb
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18840 posts, RR: 54 Reply 16, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 4207 times:
Tom, why not do a wee trip to/from the IOM? You could, depending on the legs flown, get on the D28, L4T and SWM - all rare in Europe. And there are some terrific fares, e.g. IOM-BHD/BFS from £15 one-way incl taxes. £15 to get on an L4T or SWM???!
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
TupolevTu154 From UK - England, joined Aug 2004, 2119 posts, RR: 31 Reply 17, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 4180 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 16): Tom, why not do a wee trip to/from the IOM? You could, depending on the legs flown, get on the D28, L4T and SWM - all rare in Europe
Oh trust me, I've wanted to do this for a very long time and am trying to make it a possibility. But getting to IOM is the problem. £15 is all well and good but it's bloody expensive LGW-IOM!
The Let, Metro and Dornier all in one day would be awesome.
BAViscount From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 2338 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 4120 times:
Quoting TupolevTu154 (Reply 15): Quoting BAViscount (Reply 14):
I'm so glad that GR have given up on the corporate liveries.
They still had this one hopping around:
Strange that you should mention G-RLON - my photo of that very aircraft is the only one I ever got accepted on here! It was taken quite some years ago now from the huge window of the cafeteria of the old terminal building at GCI:
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18840 posts, RR: 54 Reply 23, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 3968 times:
Quoting TUGMASTER (Reply 22): sorry to hi jack your thread a little, but can you do all three in a day...?
Haven't thought about it or tried to plan it. I suppose you could if you planned it properly, but I think you'd have to start/finish in non-LON places, e.g. GLO or LBA. Or maybe start/finish in LON but do it over 2 days (stay in Belfast or something) as a compromise. Hmm... I'm on GLO-JER in July. It's meant to be on the D28. I'm thinking about doing BHD-IOM-LBA in Sept. Hopefully BHD-IOM will be on the L4T and IOM-LBA the SWM (LBA is normally by the SWM and BHD-IOM normally the L4T, but, as you know, changes occur).
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
TUGMASTER From Northern Mariana Islands, joined Jul 2004, 582 posts, RR: 10 Reply 24, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 3907 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 23): Hopefully BHD-IOM will be on the L4T and IOM-LBA the SWM
that's how i understand it too, however i've been caught with the L4T on the LBA run....
will try and figure out a "one day flys all" intinary...
oh btw..you can get to BFS for the 0900 departure from LHR on EI... it arrives around 0800...
rgds
25 PlymSpotter: Here is probably the only benefit of being the heaviest person onboard a flight - you get to sit right at the front when it's operated by a BN Island
26 TupolevTu154: Indeed, I managed to get my hands on a 10-22mm for a short while. Gives you plenty of freedom! Tom
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. After a wait which seemed to drag on a little, our flight was called for boarding. Myself, David and 6 other passengers made our way over to the door. We were escorted down the long glass walkway and then out a door, towards Trislander G-BDTO.
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