sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Posted (1 year 12 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 5642 times:
Dear readers,
Good day to you all and welcome to another story of mine! So what’s the story behind this one? Well actually I am trying to log the main Scandinavian airports out of my home airport BRU. For me that is: OSL, CPH, ARN and HEL. Having yet had OSL and CPH I went for a search on ARN and HEL. ARN was quickly ruled out on the days I wanted to travel since fares were painstakingly high…
I had a few options for HEL and to my surprise I found a day return on a Saturday for € 165 (so that’s ~ € 41 per leg) all incl on the ‘full service carrier’ Lufthansa (via FRA). I found this a very good deal and booked it right away. Only downside with this trip were the rather short connection times in FRA (60 mins outbound, 50 mins inbound). However I was still a bit hesitant: how would FRA airport and Lufthansa perform on these connection times? I had no idea… I knew I wasn’t going through security since I would be travelling intra-Schengen all day so that would not slow me down. But what with a delay and the arriving aircrafts parking on a remote stand? That could seriously take some off my precious time… Anyway, I decided not to bother and see what the day would bring me! So off we go:
The preparation for this trip started the day before: OLCI on the clear and easy navigable LH website. Normally I was to fly these aircraft in this order: B733, A320, B733 and A319. When checking in I noticed that the seat maps were not all according to these types. So I checked the LH seat maps on their site and learned that the 3rd leg (HEL-FRA) would be operated by a ‘refurbished’ B733. As some of you might know, the last row on the LH B733 has no window, so a ‘no sit’ for me that is Having completed the online checkin I had the boarding pass sent to my mobile phone. Also something new to try! I got 4 sms’ from LH, 1 for each leg, with links to the boarding pass. All you need is a phone with a web browser and that’s no problem nowadays.
It looks like this
The next day I got up at 4h45 and drove to airport, parked the car at Front Park 2 also called ‘Economy parking’ since it has the cheapest daily rate of € 16.
BRU departures ‘kiss & ride’
And no need to queue here
Then the looong walk to the A terminal where I arrived at gate A45 30 mins before boarding. The scheduled B733 waiting there, but still no activity around it…
D-ABEP to FRA today
Since I had a little time I walked around and spotted some morning activities.
Daybreak scene
CSA to PRG
Thomas Cook special scheme to LPA
Lovely SN A333 on tow to the T-gates
OO-VEP leaving for ATH
I returned to the gate at boarding time where the gate staff just made and announcement that boarding would be 15 mins late (no explanation given). Damn, that was not a good start...
Everyone was quickly seated due to the light load. The captain and cabin crew made their speeches and we were good to go… almost. After sitting idle for about 20 mins, I watched the ground staff messing around with carts and bagage and bags and… They were seemingly arguing with each other and apparently messing up the whole loading process.
Ground crew messing up a bit
The captain came on again stating in German (and as far as I could understand) that this flight was undergoing ‘the most horrible and painstaking loading process he had ever experienced but that we would be on our way soon’. He appeared to be angry and frustrated. Judging from the scene I was witnessing outside I could see what he meant. So with a delay of about 30 mins we finally pushed back and made a beeline for rwy 25R.
Pushing back
Passing the B-terminal on our way to 25R
Very good seating comfort on board of this classic 737
Cabin view on a light loaded flight this morning
Arriving from Africa
We made a rolling takeoff and after a sharp left turn we went direction Frankfurt. Some nice views were possible of the city of Brussels after takeoff.
Up and away, see you in a few hours!
LH technik facilities at BRU
BRU cargo buildings
Brussels city early in the morning
Again…
The ‘Zonienwoud’, a nice forest in the ‘Brussels Capital Region’
Belgian landscape: flat with green meadows
Classic winglet-less wing
Some nuclear power plant on the way
The cabin crew quickly spring into action: we were given a ‘Leo’ chocolate snake and a drink on this 40 min flight. After cruising for about 10 mins, descent was already initiated into FRA.
Some minor cloud formations
White and… well, not white
Nearing FRA over the Rhine river
Some single runway airport near FRA, anyone?
On approach for rwy 25L, there is FRA!
Hazy downtown FRA
Turning right to align for rwy 25L
And downtown FRA from the other side
And again…
Nearly there
And again…
Wings in action
We taxied into gate A36. Really good cause with a delay of about 30 mins I would not have wanted a remote parking position.
Passing this Air Dolomiti
A36, we have arrived
Parked next to this A321
After disembarking I checked the FIDS and learned that the next flight would depart from gate A28, only a short walk away, phew... In stead of running I could now leasurely stroll to the next gate, meanwhile enjoying all the great action FRA has on offer!
Random FRA scene 1
Random FRA scene 2
Random FRA scene 3
Random FRA scene 4
Random FRA scene 5
Random FRA scene 5
Boarding for HEL also started also some 15 mins late. Due to some operational issues there appeared to be an aircraft swap from an A320 to an A321. Lots of people were assigned new seats but I kept mine, 30A. Unfortunately this was no longer ‘window last row’ but I did not bother changing it.
A bus drove us to a remote stand, passing by some more ‘random FRA scenery’:
Random FRA scene 6
Random FRA scene 7
Random FRA scene 8: LH A380 D-AIMB
Random FRA scene 8: LH A380 D-AIMC
Random FRA scene 9
Waiting to board and enjoying the action all around
A very nice neighbour next door: Somon Air of Tadjikistan
I got on last since I could not get enough of all the action around me and the smell of fresh kerosine
Finally up the stairs
One last view before entering the cabin
With everyone settling in I was hoping to having a row for myself but the plane was nearly full and 2 remaining seats next to me were quickly taken.
Boarding process
Comfort surely not as good as the previous leg…
Pushback was on time and we taxied to 25R for takeoff
Leaving the stand
Entering 25R, the PAPI’s
Liftoff, view on rwy 18/36
And again
Some airport near FRA, I think it’s the same as I saw earlier
Service was a very tasty chocolate muffin and a drink, I had my lemon tea as usual. Then I switched into ‘relax mode’ and listened to some mellow tunes on my phone, occasionally peeping out the window to absorb all the beauty outside.
Tea & lemon and a half way eaten muffin
The beauty outside and your typical Airbus wing view
Following the coast up north
Some small town and an airport
Some island and an airport
Looks somewhat like the tropics
After about 1h45 mins airtime we started our descent into HEL.
Finland in sight
HEL is visible under the wing (if you look closely)
Some highway
Sharp left turn to align with rwy 22L
No more snow in HEL, all’s green now
Welcome to HEL!
Taxi into gate A18
And not saying goodbye to the friendly crew without a cockpit visit, thanks guys!
After disembarking I went for a stroll around T1, looking for some action and a bite to eat. HEL gave me a nice impression: relatively small and with excellent views outside through clean windows. And the great weather helped a bit of course!
Wandering around
And around…
And around again…
Is the airport open???
After a tasty salad and an overpriced bottle of water I sat back and enjoyed some nice views outside
Blue1 AR8
Norwegian
Very nice Air Finland B752, going to Chania later that day
Finnair’s new livery: some like it, some don’t…
Something blue coming in from AMS
Blue plane & blue carts & a mess
Surprise 1
Surprise 2
Air Baltic & Austrian
The return flight would be leaving from gate A26. No delays visible for the moment and indeed, a B733 came in on time at gate A26. So hopefuly this would be a ‘refurbished’ one…
Boarding was announced on time and as I handed over my phone with boarding pass it was scanned ‘code red’. Due to an aircraft change I had to get a new seat, 9F in stead of 25A. I began to have the feeling that I would not be flying a refurbished B733… Upon entering my suspicion became harsh reality: it was again a ‘normal’ B733. I did not mind because the seating comfort was again extremely good.
In my seat, another view on the Air Finland B752
We pushed back on time and made our way to 22R for takeoff
Leaving the stand, for sure a different view than ‘window last row’
Bye HEL, see you again in August
Another push back view
HEL tower
Crossing 22L
Following this Austrian Fokker to 22R
There we go again
And again
And again
The climbout was quite bumpy and the seatbelt sign stayed on for quite a long time.
Last views of Finland
After some 45 mins, the sign went off and the crew distributed a hot snack (tortilla) which was tasty and we were offered 2 rounds of drinks.
Wing and engine view
After about 1h50 mins we initiated our descent into FRA. The captain also advised us on the presence of some thunderstorms in the area so we would twist and turn some to avoid them as much as possible. Exciting! The pictures don’t really do justice to as how magnificent the thunderclouds were. And we avoided them all!
Sandwiched between 2 cloud layers
Some great threatening clouds
And again
And again
And again
And again
With the bad weather passed we came into finals for FRA.
Bye bye storm
Apparently there were strong winds because the approach into rwy 25L got very turbulent.
Weather clearing up very near FRA
Seen this before today
The ‘Commerzbank-Arena’
Touchdown and braking and reversing
We landed a few minutes early and taxied our way to gate A36, yes, the same arrival gate as this morning from BRU. What a coincidence!
Hey, who’s that?
Taxiing into A36, can you spot the LH retrojet?
Turning into A36…
…next to this beauty!
No disembarking before a cockpit visit!
Now for the last leg of the day I had some 45 mins to connect to the BRU flight which was to depart from gate A4. That would be no problem and I was there after a 10 min walk. These A gates are very long apparently!
I sat down in the vicinity of the gate and watched the activities outside. An A321 came in and made a sharp right turn to line up for the gate finger passing with it’s wing only a few metres away from the window where I was sitting. Apparently this is gate A1 and for sure the most difficult place to park in FRA I think.
A321 parked at A1, look how close to the window. The yellow lines guide this tricky parking manoeuvre…
The BRU flight was called on time and we were bussed to a very remote stand past the cargo apron to our scheduled A319.
Upon entering the cabin one crewmember already distributed a snack to speed up the inflight service because from the captain’s speech I learned that this flight would just take 35 mins.
I boarded through the rear stairs of course
2 more neighbours next door
Yep, I am on the right one
This plane was also refurbished I think. It had very, I mean very thin new seats installed. They were narrow and quite uncomfortable. I can’t imagine sitting in these for more than 2 hours…
People settling in
No pushback this time: just throttle up and ride to rwy 18
And away for the last flight of the day
The city of ‘Luik’ in Belgium
Belgium countryside
And again
And again
It seemed only just after takeoff and we already dived down for BRU. Again it was quite a turbulent approach but not for 25L but for 25R this time. I’ve never experienced this approach before so it was a nice bonus!
Coming down
Houses houses houses
Entering the airport premises
And on the ground in BRU
Taxxiing into gate A45, again the same gate as the one we departed from this morning
Finally there
To conclude this story I can tell you I had a great day flying around and visiting HEL. Lufthansa delivers what I expected. Some years ago I went to Porto on Lufthansa as well and I remember getting a complete breakfast on FRA-OPO and a hot meal on OPO-FRA. Compared to today the offer was substantially less but I did not mind. Connections at FRA were painless and the mobile phone boarding pass worked also very well. As for HEL: a nice medium sized airport, well worth a visit and hopefully next time not only indoors!
robso2 From Switzerland, joined Jun 2010, 216 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 12 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 5593 times:
Great report - like the way you expanded the photos (how do you do this?). Shame you didn't get to visit Helsinki, but nice to have all those flights in a row!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Connections at FRA were painless and the mobile phone boarding pass worked also very well.
Hmm.. not sure I quite agree, there seem to be so many aircraft, including many long-haul, parked at remote stands. From my experience at FRA this signifcantly increases the connection time as well as being annoying.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): This plane was also refurbished I think. It had very, I mean very thin new seats installed. They were narrow and quite uncomfortable. I can’t imagine sitting in these for more than 2 hours…
I agree, I find them rather uncomfortable! Still, not bad for a short hop!
Wow, I didn't even realise SN had this livery till I saw your photos! Thanks for enlightening!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The captain came on again stating in German (and as far as I could understand) that this flight was undergoing ‘the most horrible and painstaking loading process he had ever experienced but that we would be on our way soon’.
I've never heard that one onboard before! Lol. I would have found it amusing and I certainly think its funny reading this.
Wow! the retro-livery LH plane! really nice to catch an eyeful from your seat!
Its hard for me to comment on your photos individually but as a whole, you took many scenic shots of the beautiful landscapes and dramatic clouds which were totally awesome! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for this TR and I'm glad you had a nice sweet trip with Lufthansa!
Cheers!
RvXKaz
They say that I'm a dreamer. But I'd only Dreamt Skyward.
Quoting robso2 (Reply 1): like the way you expanded the photos (how do you do this?)
I haven't a clue how this happened, photos are sized to 800x600 and uploaded to Picasaweb. The same process I always do...
Quoting robso2 (Reply 1): Hmm.. not sure I quite agree, there seem to be so many aircraft, including many long-haul, parked at remote stands. From my experience at FRA this signifcantly increases the connection time as well as being annoying.
Well, you certainly have a point there. From my sole experience on this trip I can only say that the process was smooth and flawless.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 2): I love your picturesque report on Lufthansa!
Thank you very much RvXKaz!
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 2): I've never heard that one onboard before! Lol. I would have found it amusing and I certainly think its funny reading this
I saw the whole process from my seat and I can tell you it was a big mess, the loaders just sitting idle on suitcases waiting for... well for what. The captain for sure was not pleased with the situation and neither was I because I did not want to miss my connection.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 2): What is that building in the middle of what looks like a forest when landing into Frankfurt!
I haven't a clue but for sure there's someone around here who can tell you.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 2): Wow! the retro-livery LH plane!
Looks nice doesn't it? too bad I did not fly it (just yet)
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 2): Its hard for me to comment on your photos individually but as a whole, you took many scenic shots of the beautiful landscapes and dramatic clouds which were totally awesome! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for this TR and I'm glad you had a nice sweet trip with Lufthansa!
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 4, posted (1 year 12 months 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 5008 times:
Hi Nils,
Whoa, you guys are getting really fast with your reports! A very nice one, I was sort of looking forward to this since reports about your home base are always very interesting to read. Some beautiful shots of the sunny weather around Europe and some lovely cloud formations and all.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): surprise I found a day return on a Saturday for € 165 (so that’s ~ € 41 per leg) all incl on the ‘full service carrier’ Lufthansa (via FRA).
Hey, that's a great price, especially for day return! LH offers some cheap fares every now and then, but usually you have to stay an extended weekend or so.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): But what with a delay and the arriving aircrafts parking on a remote stand? That could seriously take some off my precious time… Anyway, I decided not to bother and see what the day would bring me! So off we go:
LH is usually very good about this - they will do their best to get you to your connection and will usually hold the plane for you. Then again this works so much better at MUC - FRA is a huge mess...
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The captain came on again stating in German (and as far as I could understand) that this flight was undergoing ‘the most horrible and painstaking loading process he had ever experienced but that we would be on our way soon’. He appeared to be angry and frustrated.
Heh, this had me laughing. I can just think of the frustration from a well organized German at such a blatant act of slackery! Then again all my flights this weekend were delayed, with the first one being an utter display of incompetence, so I know the feeling!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The cabin crew quickly spring into action: we were given a ‘Leo’ chocolate snake and a drink on this 40 min flight.
What the heck is a chocolate "snake"? Do you mean a bar?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): A very nice neighbour next door: Somon Air of Tadjikistan
Nice! And an interesting registration on that one as well - does the carrier aspire to operate the triple seven?
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I got on last since I could not get enough of all the action around me and the smell of fresh kerosine
Tell me about it! On of my favorite things are clear, calm autumn mornings when the temperatures have been sub zero during the night. On those mornings when I leave for work there's usually a very nice smell of kerosine being carried over from the nearby HEL airport - for me that's always the cue that winter is just around the corner. Some years ago when DC still had a large operation with the Saab 340s at HEL those early morning moments also included some nice turboprop sounds from the airport when the morning commuter flights were arriving, but nowadays they have been replaced by Finncomm ATRs which are much quieter .
Ahh, took me absolutely ages to find it on Google Maps! Thanks for the challenge! Looks like your route was quite a bit more easternly than usually, because that town is Kołobrzeg in Poland and the airport Bagicz, a former Polish Air Force base which apparently has a museum with old military aircraft.
Ahh, now that I knew your basic route this was much easier! The town is Haapsalu, a quite lovely old spa town in Estonia (and one which I'm visiting in July). The airport is the former Soviet Air Force base, nowadays closed.
That's the Helsinki-Porvoo Motorway or E18, continuing all the way to St. Petersburg, Russia and home to some horrible truck jams when the Russian border and customs decides to throw a spanner in the works...
Err, it's just 18, actually. There are some gates like 19A etc. where the suffix means that it's a bus gate. All the jetways have just a single two-digit number from 12 to 37 or so.
As a side note you departed from T2, bloody Finavia doing it again. Yes, I'm not very fond of that organization nowadays...
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): HEL gave me a nice impression: relatively small and with excellent views outside through clean windows. And the great weather helped a bit of course!
It used to be a far better one before Finavia started their "enhancements". Nowadays it's getting quite sucky.
You should've seen it the previous afternoon when I departed, what a madhouse and packed to the gills. Noons and early afternoons are the quietest periods at HEL.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Very nice Air Finland B752, going to Chania later that day
Looks like OH-ATJ, flew her home the very next day!
henrikg From Sweden, joined May 2011, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 12 months 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 4947 times:
Hi Nils
Thank you for a nice report!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): This plane was also refurbished I think. It had very, I mean very thin new seats installed. They were narrow and quite uncomfortable. I can’t imagine sitting in these for more than 2 hours…
I agree. Last month I was on a a319 between BUD and FRA with the new seats installed. Though the pitch was good, I found them to be quite hard. Luckily the flight was only 1 h long, so it really didn't bother me that much. However, I can imagine it being uncomfortable for flights longer than 2h.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6183 posts, RR: 79 Reply 6, posted (1 year 12 months 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 4877 times:
Hi Nils,
nice report about your day trip! It seems you had fun on LH!
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Only downside with this trip were the rather short connection times in FRA (60 mins outbound, 50 mins inbound). However I was still a bit hesitant: how would FRA airport and Lufthansa perform on these connection times? I had no idea… I knew I wasn’t going through security since I would be travelling intra-Schengen all day so that would not slow me down. But what with a delay and the arriving aircrafts parking on a remote stand?
60 minutes at FRA? That can become very tight.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): As some of you might know, the last row on the LH B733 has no window, so a ‘no sit’ for me that is
One reason why I mostly choose the second last row.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Some years ago I went to Porto on Lufthansa as well and I remember getting a complete breakfast on FRA-OPO and a hot meal on OPO-FRA. Compared to today the offer was substantially less but I did not mind.
I guess you still get those meals on the flights to and from OPO.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 7, posted (1 year 12 months 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4793 times:
Hi, Nils,
very good work, story and also pictures.
FRA is for sure impressive to connect with all these planes there.
Counting the Star numbers, 30 legs for FT, you know.
Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): As some of you might know, the last row on the LH B733 has no window, so a ‘no sit’ for me that is
infodesk From Switzerland, joined May 2006, 1241 posts, RR: 34 Reply 8, posted (1 year 12 months 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4704 times:
Hi Nils,
Thanks for this nice report. What a bargain you got with this LH day return, wish they weren't so difficult to find. Great idea to go to HEL, should really get back up there myself one day. I really liked the airport and the city of course.
What a great shot you took at FRA of the HG & landing LH aircraft, very nice. Good to hear that your connection worked out despite the loading problems in BRU, I found it quite amusing that the Captain made his displeasure known!
Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Reply 10, posted (1 year 12 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 4272 times:
Hi folks, thank you very much for taking the time to read and reply, I very much appreciate it!
Hello Petteri, thanks for dropping some lines of comment!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): Whoa, you guys are getting really fast with your reports! A very nice one,
Ha ha you are usually fast on your reports as well. And now I'm already 2 days waiting and your GIB story has not come online yet
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): Hey, that's a great price, especially for day return!
Yep I found it a great price too. I'd rather flown Finnair for once but their prices ex-BRU are a laugh...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): Heh, this had me laughing. I can just think of the frustration from a well organized German at such a blatant act of slackery! Then again all my flights this weekend were delayed, with the first one being an utter display of incompetence, so I know the feeling!
You know, BRU ground handling has repeatedly been subject to cost-cuts, strikes, etc. and their reputation is not always too good. And if you see 5 or more handlers just sitting idle on a cart, hanging on mobile phones, throwing an occasional bag on the belt then this arises some questions with me...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): What the heck is a chocolate "snake"? Do you mean a bar?
Saw this one coming, a 'snake' is nice but a 'snack' (or bar as you prefer) is much better
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): does the carrier aspire to operate the triple seven?
To be honest, I haven't a clue...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): a very nice smell of kerosine being carried over from the nearby HEL airport
Does that smell come all the way to your house then?
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): Ahh, took me absolutely ages to find it on Google Maps!
Ha, I don't usually don't take the time to look these things up because I now some others do it for me That's why my geography is bad and yours is very good!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): Err, it's just 18, actually. There are some gates like 19A etc. where the suffix means that it's a bus gate. All the jetways have just a single two-digit number from 12 to 37 or so.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): Ahh, you Flemish and your nationalism. More widely known as "Liege", also in the aviation circles due to the large DHL cargo operation there.
Oh please don't start me on that one I am just a simple guy who happens to live in Belgium, speaks Dutch and a very good portion of French and doesn't become overheated on the whole Flemish/French issues in my country.
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 11, posted (1 year 12 months 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 4208 times:
Hi Nils
nice trip to HEL and LH flights. I made 20 minute FRA connections, arrival on apron (busgate) and departure from A-gates. No problem, just do not visit shops or restrooms on your way
Actually, I've flown the new LH shorthaul product now a few times also (A320 and B737) and found it comfortable enough. Legroom is still good on LH, service wise (catering) made in general improvement also.
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2333 posts, RR: 53 Reply 13, posted (1 year 12 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 4014 times:
Hi Nils,
What a catchy title you have got here. From Heaven to HEL(L)? I am glad to find out that all your LH flights met your expectation. LH even arranged you the same gates!
I echo other fellows about your beautiful scenic pictures both on the ground and in the air. You know, it makes me feel like being there with you. Thanks!
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 578 posts, RR: 19 Reply 14, posted (1 year 12 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 3859 times:
Hi Nils,
great report, for sure a nice day of flying. Great pictures. And you were really lucky to get such a great offer. I found it a bit sad that you couldn't get into Helsinki city, but hey, four legs a day, that's the important thing
Cool, this approach to the 25s in FRA is my favourite one, especially when coming in from the west so you have to do a nice downwind leg past the airport. Gives you some very nice views on the airport and then over the city.
Err, sorry, but I have to correct you there. These are part of the ALS (approach lighting systems), the PAPI's actually are the Precision Approach Path Indicator, these are the four lights next to the runways touchdwon zone, which give the pilots an indication of the approach angle (two red and two white, and you are alright, all red and you are dead )
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 4): Quoting sultanils (Thread starter):
The city of ‘Luik’ in Belgium
Ahh, you Flemish and your nationalism. More widely known as "Liege", also in the aviation circles due to the large DHL cargo operation there.
Also known as "Lüttich" to the German speaking minority in Belgium
Anyway thanks for this nice report. Also great that you got some cockpit visits. A nice comparison between the airbus cockpit and the classic 737 one, well done.
SabenaA320 From Belgium, joined Nov 1999, 113 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (1 year 12 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 3808 times:
Hey Nils
Very good TR. I enjoyed reading it. Very nice pictures. Next time you should visit the city. I visited it last year and it is a small, but beautifull city.
Two years ago I also went to HEL via FRA and back via MUC. In FRA I also had that tight connection (with 2 small children). We arrived at a jetway and then we had to go to a bus gate. We had to take an elevator, walk through an endless tunnel to arrive just below our arrival gate . We had 4 very good flights and we got priority boarding (because of the children), never experienced this before.
Quote: Finnair’s new livery: some like it, some don’t…
I don't like it . I think you allready saw this one in BRU during the daybreak scene?
I will be flying to HEL at the end of june using AY. Direct flight and very friendly crew. And the price was almost the same as with KF. (and I needed a connection to VAA, KF has a summerbreak then)
Quoting akhmad (Reply 13): I wonder whether an airliner like B753 would fit here.
I think it will become very tricky then, the wingspan of an A321 is about 34m, that of a B752 about 38m.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 13): By the way, which red camera do you have?
How do you know I have a red camera It's a Panasonic Lumix p&s!
Hello CaptainRed, many thanks for your comments!
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 14): great report, for sure a nice day of flying. Great pictures.
Hey thanks!
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 14): four legs a day, that's the important thing
Indeed it is
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 14): Cool, this approach to the 25s in FRA is my favourite one, especially when coming in from the west so you have to do a nice downwind leg past the airport.
Yes, only too bad it was a quite hazy that morning and there were thunderstorms in the afternoon, so visibility was not too good unfortunately
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 14): Err, sorry, but I have to correct you there.
Sponsor Message: 
From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, 
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I am just a simple guy who happens to live in Belgium, speaks Dutch and a very good portion of French and doesn't become overheated on the whole Flemish/French issues in my country.
From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, 
that must be a record!
It's a Panasonic Lumix p&s!
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