Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Posted (5 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 4408 times:
Introduction
In fact there really is not much of an introduction to this TR needed. As SN was running a another sale some time ago, I happily made use of a promo code to book this same plane turnaround flight to Stockholm BMA, price € 89. Not having flown the SN route to THF, which has been closed some years ago now, I didn’t want to make the same mistake again and not having flown into this city airport as well. It seems SN has a special relationship with city airports: THF and not TXL (now they do fly into TXL of course), BMA and not ARN. SN is also the only Western European carrier (not counting in the BA subsidiary flying AAR and BLL from BMA) which flies into BMA. It is currently also the longest scheduled flight ex-BMA clocking off at 2h25 mins. Oh if only they flew into LCY iso LHR. They do have the right equipment for that with the RJ100 and DH8 though...
I realise there are already plenty of TR’s who feature SN and the RJ100 but still I thought this one would be of interest due to the nice contrast in weather conditions (lots of snow in BMA). Therefore I’ll keep the words to a minimum and let the pics tell the story.
The obligatory map (thanks to the excellent www.gcmap.com, copyright Karl L Schwartz):
I arrive in a rather quiet terminal A some 10 mins before boarding time:
The day hasn’t started yet to it’s full extent and I meander my way throught the terminal and watch the morning activities, such as the loading of another Africa flight and the unloading of what looks like a fully loaded Air Baltic Dash from Riga (I still wonder who might be so crazy to spend 3h in a Dash...?):
Meanwhile, OO-DWH comes into gate A60, inbound from MRS and due to carry me to BMA. Gate A60 is just adjacent to the border control area for the Africa bound SN flights and a lot of Africans are having a rest/sleep on the seats.
BRU to BMA
SN2303
BAE Systems Avro RJ100 (RJ1H) OO-DWH
STD-STA 09h00-11h25
Y class
seat 19F
The load is about 60% with quite some pax in the b.flex cabin:
Pushing:
Takeoff from 25R:
Do you notice the Shaheen Air A330?
BRU cargo ramp:
Turning north over a cobweb of roads:
Vilvoorde power plant:
Antwerp in the distance:
The Port of Antwerp:
Emerging out of the clouds and into the blue, I always like these moments in flight...
Magazine and BOB menu. The prices have gone up since I last flew SN in June, now € 5 for a muffin/drink combo iso € 4:
‘Tea and lemon’ hits the spot nicely this morning (and I’m not paraphrasing someone here ):
A while into the flight, the first signs of snow appear underneath:
Here’s another cabin view, taken after a toilet visit:
The aft galley and the male FA’s coat hanging on the door:
It’s quite a different view for me, looking down with the earth covered in snow. I know for our Nordic or Antarctic a.netters it is ‘business as usual’ but for me it is certainly special:
After about 1h40 of flight time, we start the descent for Stockholm Bromma Airport. Total flight time as announced by the flight deck crew was 2h00 with a bit of tailwind.
After quite some time in the murk, we finally break though the low cloud base:
Ha ha, there is a runway indeed, and we’ve found it!
We make the most gentle touchdown in a snowy Stockholm. The runway seems to be slightly sloped:
1 week prior to my flight, the airport was closed for some time due to heavy snowfall. I understand why now, there are large piles of snow on the sides of the taxiways:
These albino’s pretend very hard not to be here in this harsh white environment. Lucky for me I have eagle eyes!
Another striking thing is the abundant presence of Malmö Aviation Avro’s, they are really everywhere. This Sverigeflyg ATR is also quite nice:
We make a halt at stand 12 and disembark swiftly, here’s my chariot:
It is a chilly -9°C so I hastily make my way inside. No finger gates here, I find that quite charming.
Only some minutes after disembarking, I see this sign and the circle closes itself once again.
I’m directly in the airside departure hall (no security check!), which is quite small as expected. It is quite crowded:
The scheduled ground time is about 30 mins:
I fumble some with my phone to get the free wifi working and to reproduce my electronic boarding pass. One needs to apply for a validation code which is sent by sms. This all goes smoothly. I wish there were more airports (and places in general) to offer free wifi.
How it should be:
After a 10 minute wait boarding is called and I make my way back to stand 12.
BMA to BRU
SN2304
BAE Systems Avro RJ100 (RJ1H) OO-DWH
STD-STA 11h55-14h20
Y class
seat 21A
The crew members both recognize me but don’t ask or say anything about me taking the very same flight back. I guess I’m not the first one who does this kind of thing
This time I’m seated on the left side, window last row of course. Legroom here is noticeable better and tray tables are stored in the armrests but there’s a nasty draught coming from behind me on the window side. It will continue troughout the flight. Brr...
Some BOB items are stored here:
The load is even lighter now, maybe some 50%?
We taxi off under own power, making a hard right turn:
Once more one of the prominent players here:
And now the most fun part of it all. We turn onto the runway, n° 30 and stop. The engines rev up, full power, the brakes are still on. The plane shakes and vibrates violently and then all of a sudden, brakes are released and we rocket off. Forget about derated takeoffs, this was a real one. What a moment!
In no time, we are back into the clouds and above:
It being midday and me being hungry, I opt for a double decker grilled chicken sandwich and a tomato soup. I lose € 6,5 by this. It’s nothing special but hits the spot again quite nicely (damn, I said it again!).
Let’s try some art now:
One of the FA’s enjoying that day’s paper in the front galley:
The flight back is uneventful and 5 minutes longer than the outbound. Eventually, we start the descent for BRU. There’s definitely no winter here...
The military airfield of Brasschaat:
The usual twists and turns follow ending in a lineup for 25R:
Another plethora of SN tails waiting for their next flight.
We taxi all around the A terminal, passing these 2 Thomas the Cooks. They’re probably not of much use at this time of the year...
Here’s that Shaheen Air bird again @ the LH Teknik hangar:
Guided in by a marshmallow errr... marshaller:
And that’s the end for today as we park next to sistership OO-DWI:
Conclusion
Brussels Airlines once again provided me with a solid, no-frills flight. On time, relatively comfortable - except for that nasty draught on the way home - and for a more than good enough price. The airline is still struggling hard with it’s finances but I do hope they can keep their head up.
As for Bromma, what a nice little airport. Extra bonus points for the snow and of course that mighty powerful takeoff
Thank you for reading and feel free to leave your comments!
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6186 posts, RR: 79 Reply 1, posted (5 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 4311 times:
Hi Nils,
enjoyable report with good pictures! That sandwich looks okay...but instant tomato soup??? Ugh!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): As SN was running a another sale some time ago, I happily made use of a promo code to book this same plane turnaround flight to Stockholm BMA, price € 89.
That's a good deal, but you get the same reg twice...
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): (I still wonder who might be so crazy to spend 3h in a Dash...?):
Nice bird. Most likely the third frame to join the fleet (they're all old ex-Vladivostok Air/Aer Lingus planes).
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Legroom here is noticeable better and tray tables are stored in the armrests but there’s a nasty draught coming from behind me on the window side. It will continue troughout the flight. Brr...
roberts87 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2011, 660 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (5 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 4176 times:
Nice little report Nils, thanks for sharing.
As you might remember, I took the same flight this summer, so it brings back some memories. BMA is indeed a nice airport to fly into it, great that you decided to do it. Shame you didn't get the approach over the city though!
The fresh and homemade tomato soup with basil and meatballs was sold out so I had to settle for this one. The other option was creamy chicken, that's even worse than tomato soup!
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2212 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (5 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 3902 times:
Hi Nils
Enjoyable report! Thanks for sharing it with us. This trip is making me look even more forward to this week's end.
BMA looks pretty attractive to try out one day myself.
The pics are very stunning. Interesting prospective on the BMA-BRU flight as well. Should try it out fri.
dc9northwest From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1735 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (5 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 3611 times:
Nice report on your BMA flights Mr. (Sulta)Nils!
Who expects snow in Sweden?
BMA is a small and cute airport, it seems. I guess it "hit the spot nicely", didn't it? Yes, I should try it out when I get to Sweden. City airports are really nice.
The Avros are also really nice, although I suppose not very rare for you Belgians
Thanks for the write up and the pics. They give a nice idea into these flights... as usual with your TRs!
Draught, huh? Maybe it's to keep the old ladies out
infodesk From Switzerland, joined May 2006, 1241 posts, RR: 34 Reply 9, posted (5 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3369 times:
Hi Nils,
Thank you for posting a report about this little jaunt, I enjoyed it. It's great that SN enables you to do these sort of daytrips, if only some of their *A partners were also a bit more flexible. Nice pics too.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Tea and lemon’ hits the spot nicely this morning (and I’m not paraphrasing someone here
Excellent choice of morning drink. Glad you didn't have any turbulence
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): It’s quite a different view for me, looking down with the earth covered in snow. I know for our Nordic or Antarctic a.netters it is ‘business as usual’ but for me it is certainly special:
Even I have to admit everywhere does look very pretty covered in the stuff. But that's where the fun stops!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): This all goes smoothly. I wish there were more airports (and places in general) to offer free wifi.
ZRH will offer free wifi from Jan1st, so you can try it out.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): The plane shakes and vibrates violently and then all of a sudden, brakes are released and we rocket off. Forget about derated takeoffs, this was a real one. What a moment!
Wonderful. Those Avros can be little beasts when they want.
Happy flying
Infodesk
"Do nothing in haste, look well to each step and from the beginning think what may be the end" - Edward Whymper
B747forever From United States of America, joined exactly 6 years ago today! , 16574 posts, RR: 11 Reply 10, posted (5 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3363 times:
Nice report.
If you had more time you could have flown on something interesting out of BMA. Plenty of flights on the RJ85/S340/S2000/ATP.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 1): Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter):
(I still wonder who might be so crazy to spend 3h in a Dash...?):
No thanks...
Well I have spent close to 3hrs on a BT Q400 flying RIX-MUC with strong headwinds. Let me tell you, that flight felt much longer than 3hrs.
I most certainly do at this time of the year. If that wouldn’t be the case, there are no certainties in life anymore
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 7): I guess it "hit the spot nicely", didn't it?
It certainly did.
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 7): although I suppose not very rare for you Belgians
No, SN still has quite some examples in the fleet but I guess it won’t be lond until the A319’s will outnumber the Avro’s. Only 1 -85 version left and some 12 (I guess) -100 versions. I guess LX has some more of these as well.
Thank you for posting a report about this little jaunt, I enjoyed it.
Hello Hannah, how are you?
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9): It's great that SN enables you to do these sort of daytrips, if only some of their *A partners were also a bit more flexible.
Well sometimes these kind of fares can be found but only on a very limited number of destinations such as CPH, NCE, GVA, BMA, LHR and a few more.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9): Excellent choice of morning drink. Glad you didn't have any turbulence
We sailed smoothly all the way and back so I didn’t spill my drink unlike you
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9): ZRH will offer free wifi from Jan1st, so you can try it out.
That’s about time. Wel, BRU doesn’t offer it for free either but if you’re a customer at a certain telecom operator you do have the benefit of free wifi at BRU.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9): Wonderful. Those Avros can be little beasts when they want.
It showed perfectly what these planes are able to and it shows as well how pilots are very conscious on flying as much ‘eco’ as they can.
Quoting B747forever (Reply 10): If you had more time you could have flown on something interesting out of BMA. Plenty of flights on the RJ85/S340/S2000/ATP.
I know. There was plenty of interesting metal on the apron. But I might do that in summer: more light and less chances of suffering delays/cancellations due to winter weather.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6082 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (5 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3049 times:
Quoting sultanils (Reply 11): I hope you still have a soft spot for the country in which you used to live in for many years? With or without the snow...
It's nice in the summertime....I have been here so long now that this is home.
Quoting sultanils (Reply 11): I couldn’t see that. I know the runway is relatively short as well due to the powerful takeoff.
It doesn't slope up that much at that end but a little bit. I just to drive around the perimeter fence when I worked there as a security guard.
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 13, posted (5 months 16 hours ago) and read 2931 times:
Hey, N.,
now that´s really good to follow some winter pictures from Sweden.
Summer is much more the time to go there for me.
SN looks like ok, beside that "fumes" on the way back.
Sometimes it´s better not to know what happened!.
B747forever From United States of America, joined exactly 6 years ago today! , 16574 posts, RR: 11 Reply 15, posted (5 months 3 hours ago) and read 2738 times:
Quoting sultanils (Reply 11): I know. There was plenty of interesting metal on the apron. But I might do that in summer: more light and less chances of suffering delays/cancellations due to winter weather
You should go back, and especially try to get on the very rare ATP.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (5 months 1 hour ago) and read 2709 times:
Nice daytrip Nils! Can't say it'd be my choice though! I'm certainly no SN fan. Shame the BOB prices have gone skyward (as if they'd ever get cheaper).
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Oh if only they flew into LCY iso LHR. They do have the right equipment for that with the RJ100 and DH8 though...
Well, I guess they know that most London-Brussels O/D pax will use the Eurostar, so they might as well fly from LHR and get the longhual connecting pax.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): It’s quite a different view for me, looking down with the earth covered in snow. I know for our Nordic or Antarctic a.netters it is ‘business as usual’ but for me it is certainly special:
Looks very pretty
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): I’m directly in the airside departure hall (no security check!), which is quite small as expected. It is quite crowded:
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 578 posts, RR: 19 Reply 17, posted (5 months 1 hour ago) and read 2708 times:
Hi Nils,
great idea to make this little daytrip up to Bromma with the SN Avro. I saw that flight depart last summer when I was in Stockholm, although the weather looked quite different back then Must be a interesting experience to get such a powerful take-off, it really shows what these planes are really capable of if it is necessary.
Nice pictures as well with the snowy landscape and also during approach over Stockholm.
now that´s really good to follow some winter pictures from Sweden.
Hi Markus, thank you for your comments! Winter is a lovely time to fly in as well, in good light and with snow underneath, everything looks nice and very different. If only the weather doesn't mess with the flights that is...
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 13): Summer is much more the time to go there for me.
You're right but still, a winter scene is nice as well.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 13): SN looks like ok, beside that "fumes" on the way back.
They weren't very much 'fumes' but more like a nasty cold wind coming from the left side behind me. Very annoying...
Quoting raffik (Reply 14): Really enjoyed the trip report- looks like SN offer a reasonable service on their Avros.
Hi raffik, thank you for your reply. The service on SN is quite OK, BOB of course and with prices similar to the competition.
Quoting B747forever (Reply 15): You should go back, and especially try to get on the very rare ATP.
I still miss that one yes. And plenty of other types (and airlines) as well. I will go back sooner or later.
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 17): I saw that flight depart last summer when I was in Stockholm, although the weather looked quite different back then
Rain and wind or bright sunshine and + 30°C
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 17): Must be a interesting experience to get such a powerful take-off, it really shows what these planes are really capable of if it is necessary.
It was really great. For that part alone I want to go back.
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 17): Nice pictures as well with the snowy landscape and also during approach over Stockholm.
Thanks, while winter is a bit tricky to fly in, the views can be as inspiring as in the summer.
rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1133 posts, RR: 19 Reply 19, posted (4 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2491 times:
Hola Nils!
A very interesting trip report to one not so well known airport in Europe. BMA is one of those airports that if gone, would be greatly missed by a.netters.
I was lucky enough to try out THF the summer before its closure on a SN flight to BRU, so good for you being able to catch a flight from your home base.
I clearly remember the same feeling you described on taking off from LCY on a flight to ZRH, the whole plane was vibrating vigorously before the brakes were released... then it was off the runaway at an enormous speed that got us glued to the seats... A great experinece, now I know where to head to live it again!
Prettige Kerstdagen en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 776 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2114 times:
Hello there Nils
Another great report with many nice pictures on this great deal you got! SN looks quite ok here, as you said correctly no frills. I have to say the BOB is quite pricey though!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): I still wonder who might be so crazy to spend 3h in a Dash...?):
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): The plane shakes and vibrates violently and then all of a sudden, brakes are released and we rocket off. Forget about derated takeoffs, this was a real one.
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 22): Another great report with many nice pictures on this great deal you got!
Thanks mate and the deal was indeed too good to resist.
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 22): I have to say the BOB is quite pricey though!
While of course the prices have gone up, I still find them to be in line with what other carriers have to offer. The quality of the food was pretty good and that's important as well.
25 Parton87: Hello Nils! Thanks for the great story! Nice that was able to catch this promo SN had. Really good price for those two flights. I´m glad you choose n
26 sultanils: Hello Robert, my friend! No problem, the pleasure was mine I saw it on the news and in the paper. Lots of snow indeed in your region. I feared the wo
27 Widebodyroga: Hey Nils, nice to see another of your famous flash-daytrips. I've said this before but doesn't this paint-scheme look like it was inspired by Transavi
28 Parton87: Hello again Nils! Generally snows isn´t a big problem, some delays of course for de-icing, removing the snow....but that amount of snow in a short ti
29 sultanils: Hi Stojan, how are you? Just like an update of your 'Flash Player' keeps on popping up on your computer screen Hmm, to be honest I don't see much of
30 RvXKaz: Hi Nils! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season! I really enjoyed the beautiful pictures you have taken in this TR - very gorgeous scenes you
31 sultanils: Hi gavin, how nice to hear from you! Sadly, as I write this now, my holiday season has ended. Back to work it is! Well, SN is not really a lowcost ai
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