Ryanair737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 15685 times:
Hola,
After returning from Paphos in April, we were deciding on our summer holiday for this year. We were either going to go to Sicily or the Costa De La Luz. We decided on the Costa De La Luz as me and my Dad had always fancied going there. So the holiday was booked, and we would be flying with Thomas Cook Airlines from MAN (as they are the only operator flying to XRY from MAN). The aircraft would be B757-200, an aircraft which I hadn't flown on for 2 years! It also would be a first time on Thomas Cook for me.
It was only a few weeks after when I realized that I was to be flying on one of their 3 "187" seater B752s with 35 inch pitch all throughout the cabin! I was now looking to the flights even more, and fellow A.Net member MANmatt kindly offered to reserve seats for us on the outbound as he works on check-in at TCX/SAS.
So here is the report!
August 12, 2005
Thomas Cook Airlines TCX 402K
Manchester - International (Ringway) (MAN / EGCC) to Jerez (de la Frontera - La Parra) (XRY / LEJR)
Boeing 757-28A G-FCLH (CN 26274) Selcal BJ-ER
Gate Departure Scheduled/Actual 0810/0900 Local Time
Gate Arrival Scheduled/Actual 1200/1257 Local Time
Seat 21A
We set off at around 0530 to allow us to be there 2 hours before departure. There was quite a big crash on the motorway, so we only got there at 0620. I wasn't worried though because I'd knew exactly what seats we would be getting as Matt kindly reserved 21ABCD for us. God knows what seats we would have got otherwise! We slowly made our way to the Thomas Cook check-in where the queue was surprisingly non-existent; we received our boarding passes in no time at all.
Here is mine.
The check-in area was also very busy with many flights leaving at the same time.
We made our way through security with no problems and I had a chance to "shoot" a few aircraft.
Three more unusual visitors were present, BA B744s G-BNLF, G-BNLJ and G-CIVN diverted to Manchester because of the strikes at Heathrow.
Matt had told me that the flight would be a bit delayed as the G-FCLK left 3 hours late the day before to Toronto due to unscheduled maintenance. As it happens the aircraft swapped overnight in Toronto and we were to get G-FCLH (A GLA based aircraft) instead.
I personally witnessed G-FCLH make an emergency landing @ MAN a few weeks earlier, after one of its gear bay doors had failed to retract after taking off from Glasgow.
The aircraft landed at 0750 or thereabouts, and it made its way slowly to the gate which was 22. Soon enough we made our way to the gate, so I could see the aircraft being prepared for the flight.
And here it is on a typically miserable Manchester day. I was quite impressed with this photo!
Boarding commenced at 0840 (we should have been airborne by now!). Our seat rows were called and very excitingly walked onto G-FCLH! The cabin crew greeted us and directed us to our seats. First impressions of the cabin were WOW! It was all I imagined to be, very spacious and comfortable. I was now able to get my first wing shot of the flight.
The Boarding music was well underway, it was all nice and cheery and got you into the holiday mood, but it was very annoying! Most of the 187 pax had now boarded and our Captain, Richard Stroud welcomed us on-board and apologised for the delay. We would be departing of the new runway (as he put it) which of course is 24L, making a initial right turn to avoid Knutsford and then routing down Wales, over Bristol, Exeter etc. He was estimating a flight time of a very precise 2 hours and 27 mins. He seemed like a very pleasant chap, and gave lots of info regarding routing etc. He also mentioned that this aircraft is used on the Canadian flights so that is why we had so much legroom (being fairly informed I already knew this!).
Estimated Flight Time: 2 hrs 27 mins
Estimated XRY Arrival: 1056Z
MAN Blocks Off: 0800Z
MAN Engine Start: 0802Z
MAN Taxi: 0805Z
MAN Airborne: 0829Z
XRY Actual Arrival: 1053Z
XRY Blocks On: 1057Z
MAN Departure/Take Off Data
Departure Taxiways: Delta, Victor
Take Off Flaps: 15 Degrees
Forecast Wind: 300 Degrees/12 Kts
Take Off EPR: 1.58
Assumed Temp: D-TO + 53 Degrees C
STAB Takeoff Trim: 4.3 Degrees UP
V1: 143 Knots VR: 154 Knots V2: 155 Knots
Climb Derate: CLB 2
Clean Speed: VRef30+80=219 Knots
Acceleration Alt: 1757 ft
SID: NOKIN 1 Yankee
QNH: 1015 mb/hPa
Engine Start Order: Right to Left
Phew, let’s get onto the flight. If anyone doesn't understand anything above just tell me and I will try to help you out.
Everyone was now on-board, the doors were closed and we began our pushback from stand 22 (only 50 mins late). The safety demo was then started on the aisle screens. The number two RB211 slowly began to wind up, and this was followed by the number one engine.
We completed push next to a company A330.
Pushback was fully completed by this stage, and 15 degrees of flap was selected for takeoff. A couple of nice looking MyTravel Airbuses were now seen next to each other.
Thrust was increased just a little and we began to taxi slowly to the active.
This is a good moment to display our taxi to 24L.
Thomas Cook rush-hour, with up to 5 B757s including ours.
We holded at the side of 24R, as a Jet2 B733 was coming on short finals. Safely said it made a pretty smokey touchdown, I wonder what the guys up front thought of it!
Here we are taxing across 24R in tandem with an Aurigny ATR 72 off to Guernsey.
Soon after we were at the holding point for 24L, but unfortunately only 1 aircraft every 3 mins going southbound could depart as there was London ATC Control restrictions in place (The Captain announced this when we were in the Cruise). So this ment we were holding for a good 20 mins.
Here you can see a Flybe. BAe 146-200 and a FCA B752 holding behind us.
With takeoff clearance now received we lined up, stabilisation thrust (1.20 EPR) was set and after about 5 seconds the EPR button was pressed and the reduced thrust of 1.58 EPR was achieved. As a result the take-off roll was long to say the least.
After using more than half the length of 24L, we rotated into the moody Manchester skies. The angle was pretty steep as standard with B757 departures.
After 3.2 miles we turned right to intercept the 257 radial. The Climb 2 button was now pressed to give us reduced climb thrust.
This was the departure procedure which we were following, a NOKIN 1 Yankee SID shown here.
At this very point the flaps had started to retract, all the way to there up position. We were now given DCT to NOKIN.
Away from MAN it was a very pleasant day outside, scattered clouds down below and very smooth flying conditions. The cabin crew were given the signal to work, and they announced the order of service for today’s flight. Which would be the selling of headphones, then the serving of a hot breakfast for anyone who ordered it (we had!), a drinks service would follow, then duty free.
A cabin shot during climb, you can see that it’s very spacious.
The seat belt sign had now gone off as flying conditions were very smooth indeed. And at this point I would say we were just over the Southern Parts of Wales, and levelling off at FL370 (37000 feet).
The cabin crew came round with the headphones and I decided to purchase one (I really don't know why, as there wasn't much of interest on!). At least you get to keep them I suppose. The film Robots was going to be showing.
The good thing about Thomas Cook is that they have quite a hefty magazine, which has dozens upon dozens of articles. And also a separate entertainment and bar card, so you don't have to spend extra time looking for the drinks in the magazine when you want one.
Moving on... the cabin crew were now serving the hot breakfast, and we got ours pretty quickly as not everyone had paid the pleasure of having it.
Here it is.
I think a hot breakfast is almost a necessity on a morning flight, as you won't be having any more grub for a good 3-4 hours at least! The breakfast was hot and filling, a little on the small side maybe but better then having nothing at all.
During the meal the Captain came on and updated us on our position. We were cruising along at 37000 feet, and over the Bay of Biscay. Further down we would coast in right over the top of Santander airport in Cantabrica, passing west over Madrid on our left hand side, we would then pass Toledo where at that point we would make a right turn towards Sevilla, then after that we would be almost straight into XRY for our arrival.
Over the Bay of Biscay.
And now coasting over Santander, which was having a rare nice clear day!
For a better look from from a pilots perspective see below.
It sure was great to be flying on a B757 again, I do reckon that it is one of the best aircraft you can fly on at FL370!
Time now for another cabin shot, you can see one of the "Robots" on the video show!
Passing the Toledo area, I can only imagine how hot it must have been down there!
The cabin crew now were coming round with the sale of duty free goods, as I hadn't flown on TCX before I wanted a model and it was only £8.50 so not bad at all. During the latter part of the cruise a destination video was shown, and it covered the whole of Spain. It still was interesting to watch, and made me look forward to stepping onto the beach even more!
Descent was now upon us, the engines started to come back slowly to idle.
The Captain also informed us of the weather of our destination, clear skies (which is what you like to hear!), 28 degrees, and we would be landing on rwy 21 (which is the only direction civil airliners going to XRY can land on). He also said that we would be backtracking at the end of the runway, as there is no taxiway connecting the terminal building from the 03 end. He again apologised for the delay and he wished us a nice holiday. The seat belt signs were now switched on.
Using spoilers to get the height off.
We were now well into our Sevilla 1 Juliet arrival route, which is pretty straightforward as shown below.
The first stages of flaps were beginning to travel. We intercepted the LOC for Rwy 21 at 3000, and began to descend on the glideslope @ 8 miles or thereabouts.
Landing gear was brought down shortly after, and we now were fully established on Rwy 21. Here we are passing the many surrounding fields of Jerez with full flap (30 degrees), with the Captain now flying manually.
And here we are flaring over 21, to eventually make a remarkably smooth touchdown (normally on runways of this length they would pound it down!).
Full reverse, spoilers and autobrakes 3 were utilised to slow us down on this short runway.
Spoilers down, flaps coming up and starting to turn around to taxi down the runway.
Depicted on the chart is our taxi to our parking stand (1), see below.
We taxied past an Iberia MD-87 which was getting ready to go back to MAD, and that was the only other civil aircraft there! All the other aircraft were General Aviation and they have their own section of the airport.
The small but nicely done terminal building could now be seen.
After 2 and half hours of flying, both engines were shut down and the seat belt sign was turned off.
At the end we were only 50 mins late so not bad at all. At the end of the flight the F/O came out with the flight information for me which is always appreciated and I said thanks to him. I didn't ask to see the flightdeck this time though, I decided to ask on the way back instead.
We disembarked and instant heat was felt, which has to be the best feeling you can ever have!
I managed to take a pic of G-FCLH after we disembarked.
Doesn't she look great!
We only had a short walk to the arrivals building, and reclaimed our bags which didn't take that long.
We then went to the Avis desk, picked up our hire car and set off for the resort to begin an excellent week’s holiday in one of the nicest resorts I have been to in Spain.
---------------------
So there it is report completed! Thomas Cook impressed me on this flight, the cabin crew were not overly friendly but they were efficient. The seats were great, and all that extra legroom really was quite rare to have on such a short charter flight. I hope you have enjoyed the report; XRY is not covered much in this forum so I hope you all found it an interesting read.
Any questions or comments are always greatly appreciated as I spend a lot of time doing reports like this. Also stay tuned for my return trip report in a few days time, which will have much better pics as the window didn't have any scratches on it at all!
BmiBaby737 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1516 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 15611 times:
Hey,
Great report and very factual and imformative too!
FLIEGER67 From Thailand, joined Sep 2003, 3554 posts, RR: 58 Reply 3, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 15499 times:
Hi Daniel,
very detailed report, interesting to follow your trip.
Enjoy your stay at the Andalucia Playa and tell us more when your back home.
Best regards,
Markus (FLIEGER67)
Next: Old school to BKK and new style retour ex SIN
San747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4884 posts, RR: 14 Reply 7, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 15444 times:
I'm impressed with all the detailed info you had for the flight... How'd you find all that stuff out?
MANmatt From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 953 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 15308 times:
Nice report Daniel, glad you enjoyed the flight. Shame you didn't manage to get 'LK, they don't usually swap a/c in YYZ on a thursday evening, they usually do that in YUL on a wednesday evening.
PDXtriple7 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 690 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 15235 times:
Great report! Great pictures! Great job! You window was pretty scratched up. Always a bummer when that happens.
ManchesterMAN From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1177 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 15235 times:
Great report. I flew on FCLH to YYZ in June and was very impressed by the legroom and service, although my window was all scratched as well
One thing that I wondered when flying the aircraft which I have just remembered now is why does G-FCLH have its own safety card? I flew G-FCLJ on the way back and it just had a standard B757-200 (ETOPS) safety card but "LH" had the specific registration printed on the card. What makes this aircraft different than the rest of the fleet that it needs its own SC?? The contents of the cards seemed the same.
Ryanair737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 15072 times:
Thanks for the comments, they are all much appreciated!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 3): Enjoy your stay at the Andalucia Playa and tell us more when your back home.
I am back home! It was one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in, if not the nicest. I will have pics of it in my return trip report.
Quoting MANmatt (Reply 8): Nice report Daniel, glad you enjoyed the flight. Shame you didn't manage to get 'LK, they don't usually swap a/c in YYZ on a thursday evening, they usually do that in YUL on a wednesday evening.
Yeah interesting to know that, maybe the delay would have been longer if we got G-FCLK and that is why they swapped so the MAN program wouldn't have been affected so much.
Quoting PDXtriple7 (Reply 11): You window was pretty scratched up. Always a bummer when that happens.
It sure is! To be honest I didn't realise how scratched the window was until I saw my photos. On the return the window didn't have any scratches on it, so my pics are much better.
Quoting ManchesterMAN (Reply 12): One thing that I wondered when flying the aircraft which I have just remembered now is why does G-FCLH have its own safety card? I flew G-FCLJ on the way back and it just had a standard B757-200 (ETOPS) safety card but "LH" had the specific registration printed on the card.
Yep it did have its own safety card with the registration on it, but for what purpose I don't know.
Bae146tom From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 226 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (6 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 15053 times:
Cheers for sharing such an highly detailed and greatly worded piece.(me being all posh worded haha. One of the best reports i'v read all year i believe:
All the best m8 Tom
(p.s respect added )
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