BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8267 posts, RR: 56 Posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 7202 times:
I had to change my flights to/from Edinburgh, whilst in the process I noted that Flightine were operating a BAe 146-200 for BA on the EDI-LCY route. The --200 is missing from my flown log, despite the real inconvenience of getting home from LCY booking the flight was a no brainer.
The flight to EDI was from LGW on G-DOCH (3rd flight on this aircraft), flight was on-time with about 30 passengers, was the 06:30 flight, I was a bit tired so no report for this sector.
16.10.08 BA8719 Bae 146-200 G-FLTB 3A
1st Flight on this aircraft & 1st BAe 146-200 flight
SCH DEP 12:35 SCH ARR 14:10
ACT DEP 12:23 ACT ARR 13:33
I arrived back at Edinburgh's rental car return & dropped off my Discovery, nice car BTW!
The bus to the terminal was pretty prompt and I was inside the terminal at 11am, checked in and headed through security, despite a bit of a queue, it moved quickly and I was airside by 10 past 11.
Not much action of interest at this time of day, though there were 3 BA machines at all getting ready to head south to London.
The BA Terraces was pretty empty, at one point I had the lounge to myself - I guess I'd missed the rush!
Got a coffee and checked e-mails and made a few calls until boarding was called, the time was 12:05.
The chair arms are really starting to look pretty grubby!
Our flight today was departing from Gate 17, not had one form there before, so made a nice change to see a new bit of the terminal -- this area is quite new, some areas of it are still under construction.
My plane
Next door
Boarding actually started at 12:15
I could see this would be quite a light flight, however the final load was 9, of which 3 were BA crew deadheading -- a very light load indeed!
The crew consisted of a male and one female, both were Flightline staff and were pretty cheerful.
Despite this aircraft being built in 1984, it was in pretty good condition, the seats were very comfortable.
Push back occurred ahead of schedule at 12:23, sort taxi out to the active and wheels were up at 12:32.
Once released the crew offered a Smoked Salmon and Egg mayo sub, was pretty tasty -- I took a snack thing and beer with it.
Numerous re-fill offers were made, however I declined as I still had to drive when I recovered the car from Heathrow.
Quite a nice day for flying
Looking behind me
Out the window
It go a bit bumpy as we approached London, however it smoothed out once we started finals.
I've not flown into LCY since 1992, that was on a Brymon Dash 7 -- I'd forgotten how steep descent into the airport was!
Wheels touched down at 13:33, some 37 minutes ahead of schedule, quite impressive.
Once on stand we had to wait some 10 minutes to disembark as the ground crew too their time to arrive.
Last look
I was in the arrivals area at 13:47.
As nice as it was being early, Nicole was picking me up, aiming to arrive for my scheduled arrival time.
All in all a very nice flight with excellent service from the Flightline crew, though I'm sure a full flight with the 3-3 configuration would be less enjoyable.
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 7125 times:
Hi, Mark
such a great catch by you. And what a comfortable ride it was with this load. Not a moneymaker for BA.
Good service it seems, enough food/drinks at least, for this kind of flight.
Cheers,
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11141 posts, RR: 63 Reply 2, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 7085 times:
Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter): I arrived back at Edinburgh's rental car return & dropped off my Discovery, nice car BTW!
I would love one of those, they are great all purpose cars and you can buy them fairly cheaply second hand, but even so it's difficult finding an insurance company to give you a quote when you're 21.
Great report as normal Mark, thanks for taking the time to write; it did indeed look like a great day for flying, but I do find it slightly odd that there is a BA flight at 12:35 and another at 13:10 - just 35 mins apart! I know multiple frequencies are useful to business travellers, but it just seems a little pointless to me and, the load on your flight reflects that.
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16575 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 7009 times:
Nice, short TR.
The pics are good.
Wow, what a light load. Amazing. And as Plymspotter said, it is odd that they have two flights to LCY within 35minutes.
DALCE From Netherlands, joined Feb 2007, 1582 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 6878 times:
Hi Mark,
Nice and neat report with some nice shots!
Congrats on the 146-200 a type still missing in my log too
I'm surprised that the loads are so light, I had expected full(er) flights, as a very thrustworthy source always tells me
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Joost ( D-ALCE )
flown on : F50,F70,CR1,CR2,CR9,E75,143,AR8,AR1,733,735,736,73G,738,753,744,319,320,321,AB6. Next flights AMS-ZRH-AMS on
Rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1136 posts, RR: 19 Reply 6, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 6679 times:
Hola Mark!
Thanks for the TR.
Are you sure that sunny ramp, sun light was in EDI?
BA Terraces look always very nice around the world, and this one in EDI is no exception, sorry to see some details showing its age; they need tio visit the nearest IKEA, no money for Laura Ashley right now, and get themselves some new furniture.
I always like flying with thses planes.... although having a 3-3 seating on them feels quite cramped. Anyway with a total passenger load of 9 that was not the main issue that particular day I guess.
I am having a flight with one of those Avros at the end of the month: BCN-BSL-BCN.
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
EIDAA From Ireland, joined Oct 2006, 821 posts, RR: 16 Reply 8, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 6479 times:
Nice report as always Mark, thanks!
I flew on that aircraft when it was EI-CZO operating with WX. It looks in good shape despite the age, but that light load also made for a nice flight. Most of my flights on that aircraft type have been connecting flights through CDG and were rarely less than 80% full... slightly cramped!
FLIEGER67 From Turkey, joined Sep 2003, 4391 posts, RR: 57 Reply 10, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 6259 times:
Hi, Mark,
well done, sounds like a real good deal to catch the 146-200 against the usual
Airbus planes there.
And together with such a light load, real interesting.
Congrats, hope to catch another one next week for my log.
Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter): I've not flown into LCY since 1992, that was on a Brymon Dash 7 -- I'd forgotten how steep descent into the airport was!
Kaneporta1 From Greece, joined May 2005, 719 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 6020 times:
Very nice report and very nice aircraft. The Flightline 146 looks a lot newer(!!) and nicer than the WDL Aviation 146 I use for my weekly trips to TLS.
Still it's a very special aircraft, from the aerodynamic noise coming from the flaps during extension and retraction to the always really smooth touchdowns, to the tail brake extending during cruise to control the speed...
I hate being cramped in a 146 week after week, but this machine has personality...
I'd rather die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather, not terrified and screaming, like his passengers
- No, pretty poor, whilst waiting for Nicole, the next flight from EDI came in, that was an AR1 with 23 passengers, again a poor load.
Quoting PlymSpotter (Reply 2): Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter):
I arrived back at Edinburgh's rental car return & dropped off my Discovery, nice car BTW!
I would love one of those, they are great all purpose cars and you can buy them fairly cheaply second hand, but even so it's difficult finding an insurance company to give you a quote when you're 21.
- I'll say, remember when I had to insure cars at that age, quite costly!
Quoting B747forever (Reply 3): Wow, what a light load. Amazing. And as Plymspotter said, it is odd that they have two flights to LCY within 35minutes.
- I think it might be slot related, thanks for reading
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): The loads certainly were light and looking at the departure board in the lounge BA still have a good presence at EDI.
- I know, almost like being at LHR!
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): Brymon used to operate with London City Airways! Those were the days.
- I know, Dash 7 heaven back them!
Quoting Rogerbcn (Reply 6): Are you sure that sunny ramp, sun light was in EDI?
- The weather was lovely, cold but nice and sunny.
Quoting Rogerbcn (Reply 6): BA Terraces look always very nice around the world, and this one in EDI is no exception, sorry to see some details showing its age; they need tio visit the nearest IKEA, no money for Laura Ashley right now, and get themselves some new furniture.
- The lounge is fine, just need new furniture, all the sofas & chairs are like this.
Quoting Rogerbcn (Reply 6): I am having a flight with one of those Avros at the end of the month: BCN-BSL-BCN.
- Thanks for reading Roger - look forward to report.
Quoting Semsem (Reply 7): Impressed that they serve smoked salmon sandwiches
- They were very tasty.
Quoting EIDAA (Reply 8): Nice report as always Mark, thanks!
- Thanks for reading
Quoting EIDAA (Reply 8): I flew on that aircraft when it was EI-CZO operating with WX
- Interesting, never really looked into the history of this plane.
well done, sounds like a real good deal to catch the 146-200 against the usual
Airbus planes there.
- Hi Markus, sure makes a change from the usual!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 10): Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter):
1st Flight on this aircraft & 1st BAe 146-200 flight
Congrats, hope to catch another one next week for my log.
- Thanks, was a good catch for sure. Look forward to your next jolly, Eurowings machine?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 10): Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter):
I've not flown into LCY since 1992, that was on a Brymon Dash 7 -- I'd forgotten how steep descent into the airport was!
Something on the to-do-list for next year.
- And I need to fly out of it, not done that yet.
Quoting Kaneporta1 (Reply 11): Very nice report and very nice aircraft. The Flightline 146 looks a lot newer(!!) and nicer than the WDL Aviation 146 I use for my weekly trips to TLS.
- Thanks for reading,. Despite being 24 years ol, this plane looks well maintained.
Quoting Ojas (Reply 12): The BAe146 really looks ... urm .. cute I would say . The pictures were good and the best was the one with the can of Heineken, LOL.
- The plane sure us cute
Quoting Ojas (Reply 12): BTW do you guys have a wide body option while traveling within UK?
- Not really, every now and again BA put a 763 on some domestics to EDI but it's pretty rare.
Conrad1402 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2008, 64 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 5243 times:
Thanks Mark for another great TR. EDI is my home base, and it's nice to see inside the BA Terraces Lounge - I've never visited this lounge as SkyTeam use the Servisair facility.
I'm not a huge fan of the BAe 146-200, however I've taken a few flights on the EDI-LCY route with BA. I love the approach into LCY. Some great views, but it really is steep! I always liked the ScotAirways service on the Dornier 328 turboprop for this approach in particular.
Quoting Conrad1402 (Reply 15): I've taken a few flights on the EDI-LCY route with BA. I love the approach into LCY. Some great views, but it really is steep!
- Too right, the approach is great - weather permitting & yes, it is steep!
Comeflywithme From Argentina, joined Sep 2006, 265 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5077 times:
Great pics as usual Mark.
Yes they call that route the "bankers express" as it is sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland .
They buy up so many seats which makes it viable to run even with so few passengers.
ScottishLaddie From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2004, 2383 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 4937 times:
Nice report, indeed that was a very light load. The mid afternoon flights are always the quietest but never seen one that quiet before. The peak rush hour flights are always very busy although with the current financial climate even the loads on those flights have dropped a bit.
Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2895 posts, RR: 25 Reply 19, posted (4 years 7 months 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 4609 times:
Hi Mark,
I quite enjoy reading "operated by" trip reports, as it always indicates some change from the normal. This report made no exception, BA operated by Flightline is probably quite rare, in fact I didn't even know BA had a Flightline BAe chartered - but as it's carrying BA titles, I guess this wetlease will last longer than just for a few weeks.
As others already pointed out, the load factor on this flight is amazing, especially given the fact that there was another EDI-LCY flight just a bit later.
Always a pleasure to read your UK reports! Regards, Alex.
Quoting ScottishLaddie (Reply 18): The mid afternoon flights are always the quietest but never seen one that quiet before
- As a passenger, mid afternoon is always good, but not normally this good!
Quoting Ndebele (Reply 19): BA operated by Flightline is probably quite rare, in fact I didn't even know BA had a Flightline BAe chartered - but as it's carrying BA titles, I guess this wetlease will last longer than just for a few weeks.
- Hi Alex. I think these birds also fly to DUB for BA.
Contact Air From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 1154 posts, RR: 14 Reply 21, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 4232 times:
Hi Mark,
interesting report and some great pics.
Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter): I had to change my flights to/from Edinburgh, whilst in the process I noted that Flightine were operating a BAe 146-200 for BA on the EDI-LCY route. The --200 is missing from my flown log, despite the real inconvenience of getting home from LCY booking the flight was a no brainer.
I also wouldn't have hesitated to book a flight on this special aircraft.
Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter): I've not flown into LCY since 1992, that was on a Brymon Dash 7 -- I'd forgotten how steep descent into the airport was!
Flying into LCY is always great - usually the approach offers some very good views to the City of London. My flights into LCY were on a Sabena Dash 8 (well, those were the days...) and on a Lufthansa Regional / Contact Air ATR 42.
Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter): I could see this would be quite a light flight, however the final load was 9, of which 3 were BA crew deadheading -- a very light load indeed!
Definitely not a money maker!
Quoting BA319-131 (Thread starter): All in all a very nice flight with excellent service from the Flightline crew, though I'm sure a full flight with the 3-3 configuration would be less enjoyable.
3-3 is simply too much on the 146. I remember a flight on a Eurowings 146-300 between FRA and STR last year - very short flight, but still horrible because the plane was full. Never felt so cramped before...
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8267 posts, RR: 56 Reply 24, posted (4 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 3482 times:
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