question is short and clear.
Who operates currently the route Brize Norton - Ascension Island - Mount Pleasant (Falklands) on behalf of the RAF?
And as a side question: who has operated them in the past, and who will in the near future (if this is known already?).
I know of these:
Air Seychelles
Air Tahiti Nui
Monarch (?)
[Edited 2013-03-06 05:52:31]
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Fly Globespan & BMI have both had the contract to fly to the Falklands. I would have thought Air Tanker would tke over once they have a full compliment of A330s.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Hi-Fly currently operate a charter every tuesday ex gatwick for oil workers
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- Clydenairways
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
It's a contract that seems to change hands quite regularly. Others that operated in the past were Globespan and the RAF themselves.
I think Hi Fly are the current operator with the A340.
I think Hi Fly are the current operator with the A340.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Do the flights go non-stop?
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Saw it the other day doing a tech stop in SID. Can't tell if it is a regular occurence, though.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
CS-TQL has been doing the Falklands flights but this leaves the fleet soon and will be replaced with CS-TQY, ex A6-ERQ, for these flights.
CS-TQP is the aircraft which operates for British MOD.
CS-TQP is the aircraft which operates for British MOD.
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- Bongodog1964
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Titan Airways had the contract for the previous two years.
This is a contract that appears to change hands on a very regular basis. The big question is why. Is it due to operators continually cutting each others throats to get the work, or do operators get fed up with the penguin run and and either not bid, or bid high.
This is a contract that appears to change hands on a very regular basis. The big question is why. Is it due to operators continually cutting each others throats to get the work, or do operators get fed up with the penguin run and and either not bid, or bid high.
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- Rufusisgod
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
I worked for XL when we used the travel city direct 747-300 on the penguin run. It's a lucrative contract especially in the winter when charter work is slow. The main issue we faced was from a crewing perspective. Having crew away from base for 1-2 weeks living on an army base is challenging and leaves you short for crew at your home base.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting rufusisgod (Reply 8): Having crew away from base for 1-2 weeks |
This looks very long.
Aren't those flights going 2 or 3 x a week? When I was in the islands 3 years ago, there was a 2 or 3 weekly service where 'normal citizens' (no military staff) could get a seat, be it at a quite high fare.
| Quoting PhotoLPPT (Reply 5): Saw it the other day doing a tech stop in SID. Can't tell if it is a regular occurence, though. |
Must have been exceptional due whatever reason. Normally it goes nonstop BZZ-ASI-MPN.
Anyhow, uptil now we have:
Air Seychelles
Air Tahiti
Fly Globespan
BMI
Hi Fly
RAF (off course)
Titan (didn't know they have aircraft with that range...)
XL Airways
And to add an extra question, what equipment did they use?
Air Seychelles ==> 763
Air Tahiti ==> 343
Fly Globespan ==> ??
BMI ==> 332
Hi Fly ==> 343?
RAF ==> L11, M11?
Titan ==> ??
XL Airways ==> ??
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
I suspect Titan would have used their sole 763 G-POWD. Likewise FlyGlobespan and XL Airways would have used their 767's.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Yup GSM used their 767's when they had that run. Maybe it's just a figment of my imagination but did MON not have the contract for a very short while running either A300-600 or A330s down to the Falklands?
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- TupolevTu154
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Perhaps of no relevance whatsoever but I saw a Monarch A330 landing at Brize just two days ago.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
speak of the devil...
http://fr24.com/HFY8220
http://fr24.com/HFY8220
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Air Italy flew it for a short while as a replacement when GSM went under on 16 December 09. The Fly Globespan 767 G-CEFG was stored at Brize Norton for a month after the airline shut down, flying out on 17 Jan.
http://www.planespotters.net/Product.../767/26264,G-CEFG-Flyglobespan.php
No matter the operator they always tend to use the Flight numbers *210/1 & *220/1 as these correspond with the MOD terminal departure screens which badge this as a RRR flight. IE departure screen will show RRR8210 while the Hi Fly aircraft will flightplan HFY8210.
According to Flight Routings 2003 and 2006 editions it was still in house at that time:
RRR3210/1 & 3220/1 flown by RAF TriStar.
http://www.planespotters.net/Product.../767/26264,G-CEFG-Flyglobespan.php
No matter the operator they always tend to use the Flight numbers *210/1 & *220/1 as these correspond with the MOD terminal departure screens which badge this as a RRR flight. IE departure screen will show RRR8210 while the Hi Fly aircraft will flightplan HFY8210.
According to Flight Routings 2003 and 2006 editions it was still in house at that time:
RRR3210/1 & 3220/1 flown by RAF TriStar.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Omni Air operated a DC10-30 on the Air Bridge for a year up to when Globespan took over.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Flights are operated by Air Titan 767-300. I have the info below re pricing :
FARES
Airfares are listed in the table below. £22 Embarkation Tax is payable on all Northbound flights.
Fare Type Southbound Northbound Return Basic Notes
Duty £775 £775 £1550 This fare is for Falkland Islanders, residents and their immediate family; and HMG/FIG sponsored personnel.
Standard £1111 £1111 £2222 Available to non Duty passengers.
Group £999 £999 £1999 Applicable to groups of six or more people, booking and travelling together.
Child/
Student £426 £426 £853 Resident children pay 55% the adult Fare from their 2nd to 16th birthdays. The adult/full fare applies from the 16th birthday unless the passenger is in full time education or is travelling to/from college as part of an apprenticeship scheme."
This reduced fare does not apply to non resident children or students, even if they are entitled to the Duty Fare.
Infant Children under 2 years of age travel free of charge but are not entitled to a seat. Only three Sky cots are provided per flight.
A more detailed breakdown of eligibility for different fares can be provided upon request. Please contact travel@falklands.gov.fk for more information.
If you choose to break your journey up with a stay on Ascension then you will be billed for the extra leg this will add to your flight. The fare for individual ‘legs’ are given below.
Fare Type Tariff BZZ-ASI ASI-FI
Adult (Duty) Return £925 £645
Single £467 £330
Child/Student Return £515 £360
Single £261 £185
Group Tourist Return £1010 £1010
Single £510 £510
Standard Econ Return £1122 £1122
Single £565 £565
FARES
Airfares are listed in the table below. £22 Embarkation Tax is payable on all Northbound flights.
Fare Type Southbound Northbound Return Basic Notes
Duty £775 £775 £1550 This fare is for Falkland Islanders, residents and their immediate family; and HMG/FIG sponsored personnel.
Standard £1111 £1111 £2222 Available to non Duty passengers.
Group £999 £999 £1999 Applicable to groups of six or more people, booking and travelling together.
Child/
Student £426 £426 £853 Resident children pay 55% the adult Fare from their 2nd to 16th birthdays. The adult/full fare applies from the 16th birthday unless the passenger is in full time education or is travelling to/from college as part of an apprenticeship scheme."
This reduced fare does not apply to non resident children or students, even if they are entitled to the Duty Fare.
Infant Children under 2 years of age travel free of charge but are not entitled to a seat. Only three Sky cots are provided per flight.
A more detailed breakdown of eligibility for different fares can be provided upon request. Please contact travel@falklands.gov.fk for more information.
If you choose to break your journey up with a stay on Ascension then you will be billed for the extra leg this will add to your flight. The fare for individual ‘legs’ are given below.
Fare Type Tariff BZZ-ASI ASI-FI
Adult (Duty) Return £925 £645
Single £467 £330
Child/Student Return £515 £360
Single £261 £185
Group Tourist Return £1010 £1010
Single £510 £510
Standard Econ Return £1122 £1122
Single £565 £565
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- PlymSpotter
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting theobcman (Reply 16): If you choose to break your journey up with a stay on Ascension then you will be billed for the extra leg this will add to your flight. The fare for individual ‘legs’ are given below. |
If that's the all in fare for UK-Falklands, then it's more than halved when I looked at going several years ago on the RAF flight. Makes me think about doing it now.
Dan
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
I did two stints down in the Falklands in 2007 on RFA Gold Rover. Both times I flew down there on an Air Atlanta 747-300 crewed by XL. The aircraft itself was a totally anonymous white with no logos or markings. When I looked up the reg it was an ex-Thai aircraft.
Funnily enough these were the best flights I've ever been on, the cabin crew and flight crew were utterly excellent, and the flight home was always a party atmosphere with some very funny PA announcements, Tornado F3 escort away from the Falklands (with banter from the Tornado crews passed to the pax via the PA from the flight deck), and a very funny send off from the RAF ramp staff at Mount Pleasant.
[Edited 2013-03-07 05:35:01]
Funnily enough these were the best flights I've ever been on, the cabin crew and flight crew were utterly excellent, and the flight home was always a party atmosphere with some very funny PA announcements, Tornado F3 escort away from the Falklands (with banter from the Tornado crews passed to the pax via the PA from the flight deck), and a very funny send off from the RAF ramp staff at Mount Pleasant.
[Edited 2013-03-07 05:35:01]
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- flyingalex
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting theobcman (Reply 16): If you choose to break your journey up with a stay on Ascension then you will be billed for the extra leg this will add to your flight. The fare for individual ‘legs’ are given below. Fare Type Tariff BZZ-ASI ASI-FI Adult (Duty) Return £925 £645 Single £467 £330 Child/Student Return £515 £360 Single £261 £185 Group Tourist Return £1010 £1010 Single £510 £510 Standard Econ Return £1122 £1122 Single £565 £565 |
So you mean to tell me that if I wanted to fly BZZ-ASI-MPN-(ASI)-BZZ, I'd be looking at a total fare of nearly £1700?
Whoa...
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Don't forget that these flights are operated almost exclusively for the MoD, and there are only between 10-30 seats sold to civilians on each flight. The civilian seat allocation is also used by "Saints" from St Helena who use the Air Bridge for faster access to their home island - many Saints work in the Falklands and Ascension. From Ascension, Saint Helena can be reached in 2 days by the RMS St Helena ship. The only other way of reaching the island is via CPT, and a 6 day journey on the RMS St Helena. The highest numbers of Saints in the UK live in the Swindon area...handy for BZZ!
The Falkland Islands on the other hand have more of a choice either the MoD Air Bridge or the weekly LAN service to Punta Arenas & SCL http://www.falklandislands.com/secti...r/e176cdaeb524b974c9d360f87fb08f4b
The Falkland Islands on the other hand have more of a choice either the MoD Air Bridge or the weekly LAN service to Punta Arenas & SCL http://www.falklandislands.com/secti...r/e176cdaeb524b974c9d360f87fb08f4b
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- sierra3tango
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
After a decade of reading / following this forum I've finally paid up & this is my first post!
Checked on the LAN website a return from LHR via Punta Arenas etc is ~£2500+ and takes 45 hours plus, so the air bridge is cheap(er) & quick(er)!
Checked on the LAN website a return from LHR via Punta Arenas etc is ~£2500+ and takes 45 hours plus, so the air bridge is cheap(er) & quick(er)!
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting GB777 (Reply 6): CS-TQL has been doing the Falklands flights but this leaves the fleet soon and will be replaced with CS-TQY |
Strange, I thought AirTanker Services will take over the flights with the arrival of new A330's Voyagers.
Why is AirTanker Services not flying for the MOD/RAF being a passenger airline (despite the name AirTanker)?
http://www.airtanker.co.uk/news/airt...ker’s-first-flight-as-an-airline
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- finnishway
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting debonair (Reply 22): Strange, I thought AirTanker Services will take over the flights with the arrival of new A330's Voyagers. Why is AirTanker Services not flying for the MOD/RAF being a passenger airline (despite the name AirTanker)? |
I thought that too. Maybe they are training and testing first with shorter flights.
[Edited 2013-03-09 03:37:34]
[Edited 2013-03-09 03:38:20]
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting debonair (Reply 22): Strange, I thought AirTanker Services will take over the flights with the arrival of new A330's Voyagers. Why is AirTanker Services not flying for the MOD/RAF being a passenger airline (despite the name AirTanker)? |
The commercial leases are almost certainly better value and cheaper than using Air Tanker.
UK Auditors have expressed major concerns that this PFI (Private Finance Initiative) is VERY Expensive - As always the MOD Mandarins and associated civil servants seem hopeless at negotiating favourable contracts.
Further the civil registered AT aircraft are restricted as to where they can be flown by commercial insurances.
Currently AT are operating one aircraft in a purely passenger fit on regular flights to/from Akrotiri and around the UK and NATO countries.
One aircraft remains on test and one a tanker is on shake out and one is commissioned at BZZ.
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- finnishway
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
Perhaps not from a fuel point of view, but these aircraft are paid off and owned and most maintenance is in house. The total cost of a brand new A330 or lease plus additional ancillary costs associated with a new type may bring the costs closer, a bit like why BA continue to operate a profitable service with a huge fleet of ageing 747's
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- finnishway
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
I thought A330 Voyagers were ordered to replace Tristars and VC10's. So it would be logical to operate them to Falklands. If it is too expensive why didn't they just use RAF employees for everything instead of civilian personnel?
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
UK governments of all colours are movitated by PFI or similar financing mechanisms that either transfer or delay Capital Expenditure to some distant time frame however upon audit many have been found wanting the point that risk remain it the public domain and the contractor continues to benefit
The voyager programme is one of them
Again the commercial trouping and cargo operation to Stanley will be cost benifical on a civil lease rather than with the rates air tankers charge
The voyager programme is one of them
Again the commercial trouping and cargo operation to Stanley will be cost benifical on a civil lease rather than with the rates air tankers charge
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- finnishway
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting rutankrd (Reply 28): Again the commercial trouping and cargo operation to Stanley will be cost benifical on a civil lease rather than with the rates air tankers charge |
Ok. I get it, but do they still have any plans to fly with Voyagers to Falklands once a month or something like that? They have to replace older RAF jets at some point in the future and if they want to have capability to aerial refueling, then they have to use Voyagers or other tankers. Defending Falklands from air is impossible without air tankers, since Ascension is far away from Falklands. The only option would be submarines so if UK wants to be able to defence Falklands, they fly with Voyagers at least to Ascension, no matter what it costs.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting finnishway (Reply 29): Voyagers to Falklands once a month or something like that? |
When the KC3 version is commissioned (RAF as opposed to AT) on occasion they will certainly be flying via Ascension Island in the tanking role however thats at least two years out !
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- Bongodog1964
- Posts: 3580
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RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
The problem is that an attitude has prevailed within HM Govt for a number of years that its PFI or nothing. PFI always looks good in year 1 for a project with expensive equipment and/or facilities involved as there's only the lease cost to pay rather than the capital purcase cost. But its a 30 year deal, and will invariably look expensive after a few years. Another aspect is will we even require the planes in 30 years time ? we'll still be paying for them.
A similar situation has developed with Army tank transporters, these are now operated on a PFI deal, the cost for additional mileage howeve is dearer than employing civilian low loaders, so the PFI transporters stand idle whilst the MOD hires in lorries that usually transport excavators and bulldozers to shift tanks and personnel carriers. The same will probably happen with the Falklands Airbridge, Airtankers hire rate will be far above Titan and even further above Hi Fly, so the business will go to them.
A similar situation has developed with Army tank transporters, these are now operated on a PFI deal, the cost for additional mileage howeve is dearer than employing civilian low loaders, so the PFI transporters stand idle whilst the MOD hires in lorries that usually transport excavators and bulldozers to shift tanks and personnel carriers. The same will probably happen with the Falklands Airbridge, Airtankers hire rate will be far above Titan and even further above Hi Fly, so the business will go to them.
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
| Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 31): The same will probably happen with the Falklands Airbridge, Airtankers hire rate will be far above Titan and even further above Hi Fly, so the business will go to them. |
Exactly that.
PFI and similar mechanisms are a disaster .
And the MOD are hopeless Project Managers to boot
The RAF Voyagers are also the least capable MRTT version being produced !
No boom (Through the KC3 will be capable) , Pods modifications (extra cost) due to design failures when transferring to certain other RAF assets.
Cobham screw up on conversion/deliveries requiring Getafe to rescue programme (At extra cost again !)
RE: Brize Norton - Falklands: Who Operates?
So are there currently 2 charters to MPN? One out of Brize for the MOD and the other out of LGW for....?
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