easyJet Aircraft acting unusually over Irish Air Space? (Mon 8-10-12)

DJDontaz

Hi all, just wondering if anyone else noticed the easyJet A319 acting a little unusual about the northern half of Ireland today?

It took off from London Southend Airport and I then noticed it over Irish airspace. Thought it was a little unusual to see an easyJet plane over this part of Ireland.

I find it unusual also, because of the route it took and how sudden it turned. It's altitude was also unusual as it climbed to 35,000 ft and then dropped to about 12,000 ft over Sligo and then climbed to 39,000 on route back to the UK.
Overall, I watched it for about 45-60 mins.

It couldn't have been any type of emergency as it wasn't squawking 7700 (Emergency). And I find it hard to believe that they would hold flight training over Irish air space, especially at this time of day.

Added some photo's to back up what I'm saying. Also managed to get a photo of the contrails, even though it was quit far south of me.

Any idea what was going on???? :O

Storm 10

Post Overhaul Flight?

grange mac

DJDontaz wrote: »

Hi all, just wondering if anyone else noticed the easyJet A319 acting a little unusual about the northern half of Ireland today?

It took off from London Southend Airport and I then noticed it over Irish airspace. Thought it was a little unusual to see an easyJet plane over this part of Ireland.

I find it unusual also, because of the route it took and how sudden it turned. It's altitude was also unusual as it climbed to 35,000 ft and then dropped to about 12,000 ft over Sligo and then climbed to 39,000 on route back to the UK.
Overall, I watched it for about 45-60 mins.

It couldn't have been any type of emergency as it wasn't squawking 7700 (Emergency). And I find it hard to believe that they would hold flight training over Irish air space, especially at this time of day.

Added some photo's to back up what I'm saying. Also managed to get a photo of the contrails, even though it was quit far south of me.

Any idea what was going on???? :O

Where do you get that info from, looks cool!!

DJDontaz

Storm 10 wrote: »

Post Overhaul Flight?

You mean like a test after maintenance?

DJDontaz

grange mac wrote: »

Where do you get that info from, looks cool!!

I get the flight radar info from an app on my iPad called Plane Finder.

You can go to planefinder.net to view the same thing!

eyeinthesky

Watching it for some time, personally i think it was after mantainance as it was ascending and decending and reducing speed especially over the ocean. I have seen other aircraft carrying out the same pattern on numerous occasions as for it been in Irish airspace it was a civilian aircraft and must have been cleared to enter the airspace as all other aircraft get.

DJDontaz

eyeinthesky wrote: »

Watching it for some time, personally i think it was after mantainance as it was ascending and decending and reducing speed especially over the ocean. I have seen other aircraft carrying out the same pattern on numerous occasions as for it been in Irish airspace it was a civilian aircraft and must have been cleared to enter the airspace as all other aircraft get.

Yeah I can totally agree with you. Personally, never really noticed any other aircraft doing anything like this. Makes total sense now that it was probably just on a test flight after maintainance.

I did notice the dramatic change in airspeed and altitude and also it's movement. That's mainly how it caught my attention.

Thanks for your reply. Thanks a lot.

vicwatson

DJDontaz wrote: »

I get the flight radar info from an app on my iPad called Plane Finder.

You can go to planefinder.net to view the same thing!

This is not accurate 100% of the time, for example I've just been looking at a Wizzair plane coming from Warsaw to Prestwick, it shows it flying straight across England and Wales and heading towards Cork but tunrs around mid Celtic sea and starts heading back.

Wouldn't be trusting the data on planefinder at all at all.

DJDontaz

vicwatson wrote: »

This is not accurate 100% of the time, for example I've just been looking at a Wizzair plane coming from Warsaw to Prestwick, it shows it flying straight across England and Wales and heading towards Cork but tunrs around mid Celtic sea and starts heading back.

Wouldn't be trusting the data on planefinder at all at all.

Of course, it's not always going to be accurate. But in this situation, the plane flew about 15-20KM south of me and I could see it clearly (2nd photo)

bluecode

Indeed don't trust everything you see on those apps. I followed myself at one point. That looked scary but in reality it was nothing like it.

Most likely though it was a post maintenance test flight. The stories I've heard about those flights. Pilots taking advantage................

A320

bluecode wrote: »

Indeed don't trust everything you see on those apps. I followed myself at one point. That looked scary but in reality it was nothing like it.

Most likely though it was a post maintenance test flight. The stories I've heard about those flights. Pilots taking advantage................

It's great getting on one!!! Some craic out over the Atlantic in a stall!! Haven't been on one in about 3/4 years!!

Bummer1234

Mind me asking how you actually got on a test flight?

Lustrum

I've been on one recently. The company I work for have a maintenance division for 737 engines, they did a test flight about a month ago before the aircraft went off to the States. I just asked the pilot could I go, no problem. Sure there were a load of engineers on it aswell for the craic (it was a BBJ so they all wanted to just have a flight in the business class seats!). Flew west of Land's End at FL240, did a few steep turns, both pilots had a go flying manually, then back to land.

All good fun in the jump seat

A320

Bummer1234 wrote: »

Mind me asking how you actually got on a test flight?

Was working on the aircraft in question.strings have to be pulled with tech reps regarding insurance

kub

A320 wrote: »

It's great getting on one!!! Some craic out over the Atlantic in a stall!! Haven't been on one in about 3/4 years!!

A320 you are a poxy get, I envy you . How high were ye for the stall and how did advise ATC of your antics?

A320

kub wrote: »

A320 wrote: »

It's great getting on one!!! Some craic out over the Atlantic in a stall!! Haven't been on one in about 3/4 years!!

A320 you are a poxy get, I envy you . How high were ye for the stall and how did advise ATC of your antics?

I was messing around in the cabin,wasn't in the flightdeck for much of it because there was 4 pilots on board 2 from the easing company and 2 from the airline who was handing it back,the go around with immediate steep turn and climb was more fun