Bored of the same old

Fuseman

Is it wrong to be bored with the Aer Lingus and RyanAir Airbus/Boeing range? As a spotter for 30 odd years, I'd love to see more variety. Thankfully Etihad and Emirates have brought some variety. I'd just like to see more 747's, MCD etc. Maybe its an airport problem rather than an airline one. Are DAA doing enough to attract more to the mix??

BeardySi

Somehow I don't think DAA prioritise spotters in their business model...

It's a simple fact that there are fewer types being operated by major cariers these days. A320 family, A330/40, B737/767/777, Dash8 and ERJ seem to account for the vast majority of traffic... Something of a shame, but it's the end result of years of smaller manufacturers beinf absorbed into or edged out by the big boys...

Tenger

Yup, just the trend in aviation worldwide. Fewer types in operation. Just look at EI, today we have A319/320/321 and A330.

12-15 years ago they had B737-4/5, A320, Bae146, Fk-50, A330.

Less manufacturers and the need to reduce costs mean less variety for spotters.

BeardySi

Tenger wrote: »

Yup, just the trend in aviation worldwide. Fewer types in operation. Just look at EI, today we have A319/320/321 and A330.

12-15 years ago they had B737-4/5, A320, Bae146, Fk-50, A330.

Along with occasional leased lovelies like an MD-11 or Tristar

Not

The last very interesting thing I spotted at Dublin airport was the Electra cargo taking off one night, several days before its unfortunate demise at Shannon. These days, the B717 is really the only thing I see there that catches my eye, very reminiscent of the B727 of old. I've seen the B777 occasionally there but it's just an oversize A330 in terms of general appearance.

EB_2013

I'd only go spotting at Dublin early in the morning when all the heavies from the States come in and then maybe an Emirates 777, but apart from that I wouldn't be bothered with Aer Lingus or Ryanair. 737-800's and A320/321's are just plain boring. Even an Atr is more exciting to watch.

I remember Dublin back in the old runway 23 days when you could spend nearly a whole day at the airport with such a larger variety of aircraft compared to todays offering.

urajoke

Pop over to Heathrow, Amsterdam or Frankfurt lots of variety compared to Dublin.

L1011

There isn't the passenger or cargo demand for 747s; and there are very few Douglas craft left flying in Europe in the first place - Delta aren't going to get an MD90 to make it across the pond.

You already get both wide and narrow body Boeing and Airbus types in; pretty much all practical ones. There's daily ATRs, BAe, Saab and Bombardier flights, with the odd Embraer. There isn't a huge amount of other options there is any practical chance of seeing.

The DAA look to get airlines in, not specific airframes.

kona

There a de havilland Prop in at 3 am most days, doubt many airports see one of these!

Pity there's no wide body heavy maintenance that would bring some nice stuff in. Sure H6 and 5 are 747 hangers (well,were!)

b757

urajoke wrote: »

Pop over to Heathrow, Amsterdam or Frankfurt lots of variety compared to Dublin.

MAN is a great spot too..

Marcusm

urajoke wrote: »

Pop over to Heathrow, Amsterdam or Frankfurt lots of variety compared to Dublin.

Dublin is hardly comparable to hub cities for some of the world's global airlines. If the Irish sea didn't exist, Dublin would be even more vanilla - think of EDI or Liverpool.

billy few mates

Get yourself out to Dublin this friday and saturday and you might see a FedEx MD11....

urajoke

Marcusm wrote: »

Dublin is hardly comparable to hub cities for some of the world's global airlines. If the Irish sea didn't exist, Dublin would be even more vanilla - think of EDI or Liverpool.

I meant compared WITH. There again it should be plainly obvious that I would hardly be comparing Dublin with them and then sending someone over there to look at the same types or airlines.

For clarity go to Heathrow Amsterdam or Frankfurt to see MORE types and Airlines.