Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

Locker10a · 18-06-2017 08:36PM

lxflyer wrote: »

ozzy jr wrote: »

Of the short haul fleet, do all the planes return back to Ireland at the end of the day?

No - two overnight in Heathrow.

Why two ? In my airline experience I've always know short haul nightstops to be one aircraft, but two crews, one for an early departure, one for a late afternoon etc

LXFlyer · 18-06-2017 10:13PM

Locker10a wrote: »

Why two ? In my airline experience I've always know short haul nightstops to be one aircraft, but two crews, one for an early departure, one for a late afternoon etc

Locker10a wrote: »

Thanks for that, I'm surprised that over the years EI haven't acquired an earlier arrival slot at LHR

It's not that surprising given that it's their busiest route, surely, and one of the busier international corridors?

Bear in mind that, allowing for the longer turnaround times that Heathrow flights require, that would mean an arrival time of about 06:50, which would mean a departure time of about 05:20 from Dublin which Aer Lingus may feel is too early.

Looking at the scheduled Heathrow arrivals for tomorrow morning, there are no short haul arrivals prior to 07:20, and only 16 short haul flights arrive earlier than the first Aer Lingus arrival, most of which are from the continent and which have the benefit of the one hour time difference.

Add to that, I suspect that the cost of acquiring one of the long haul arrival slots would be pretty expensive.

Cloudio9 · 18-06-2017 10:30PM

Locker10a wrote: »

Thanks for that, I'm surprised that over the years EI haven't acquired an earlier arrival slot at LHR

Don't think there'd be much demand for an earlier flight from business travellers. With the 6.40 departure, passengers can get something approaching a nights sleep and be functional that day.

Hector Savage · 20-06-2017 09:48AM

Hi I posted this over on the general thread :

Hi,
A bit of an unusual historical question here, the 1st time I flew it was in May 1984 Dublin to Menorca
My grandad at the time told me it was a BAC1-11 (Aer Lingus)

But my brother rememebers it a little differently, he thinks it was a 737-200.
Anyway, the plane was definetely Aer Lingus, I was just wondering did anyone know if the BAC1-11 flew that route
back then ?

...And received this interesting reply ...

I may be wrong here but I'm sure the BAC111 had certain payload restrictions and didn't have great range, this might mean it wouldn't have been capable of efficienctly operating a flight between Dublin and Menorca, fully booked and with each passenger having hold luggage. But again I'm not sure on this, the folks on the Aer Lingus fleet discussion thread may know better

Is this correct ? was the BAC-1-11 short range ?
Would DUB-Menorca be too long for it ?

Captain_Crash · 20-06-2017 10:13AM

Hector Savage wrote: »

Is this correct ? was the BAC-1-11 short range ? Would DUB-Menorca be too long for it ?

I believe EI had the earlier variants of the 1-11 which didn't have the legs for DUB-MAH no. Although the 300 had the range, it was tight and with the fuel requirements regarding holding and diversions, would not have been able to operate such a route without restriction.

L1011 · 20-06-2017 10:14AM

Hector Savage wrote: »

Hi I posted this over on the general thread :

...And received this interesting reply ...

Is this correct ? was the BAC-1-11 short range ?
Would DUB-Menorca be too long for it ?

The Series 200s that Aer Lingus had wouldn't make it with any acceptable load (if at all). Normal range 720nm; DUB-MAH is 920nm

Locker10a · 20-06-2017 10:36AM

I recall Pay Kenny and late Jerry Ryan once telling the story of Italia 90, there were obviously going out there to work but got seats on one of the many charters organised at the time.
They flew with Ryanair, who at the time had the 1-11. It couldn't do DUB-FCO non-stop and had to refuel in Nice on the way, interesting story and gives a example of the restrictions on the 1-11

Hector Savage · 20-06-2017 01:41PM

Captain_Crash wrote: »

I believe EI had the earlier variants of the 1-11 which didn't have the legs for DUB-MAH no. Although the 300 had the range, it was tight and with the fuel requirements regarding holding and diversions, would not have been able to operate such a route without restriction.

L1011 wrote: »

The Series 200s that Aer Lingus had wouldn't make it with any acceptable load (if at all). Normal range 720nm; DUB-MAH is 920nm

Locker10a wrote: »

I recall Pay Kenny and late Jerry Ryan once telling the story of Italia 90, there were obviously going out there to work but got seats on one of the many charters organised at the time.
They flew with Ryanair, who at the time had the 1-11. It couldn't do DUB-FCO non-stop and had to refuel in Nice on the way, interesting story and gives a example of the restrictions on the 1-11

Thanks all!!
that is brilliant information cheers!!

Hector Savage · 20-06-2017 01:59PM

Heres a 1-11 in Mallorca,

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aer-Lingus/BAC-111-208AL-One-Eleven/152770?qsp=eJwlTUsKwjAQvctbZxMqWrqzF9CFFxgmowZiGyYjWErvbtLu3v%2Bt4Hky%2BdljyYIBRUj5DYdMSp%2BCYQVFZaWnjVQiHzHfny6uGSlOrdV7Xys8fyfTBUPXe4cyq42VIJDJlVmyScCh3zSINksK71%2BvNlqB6H3H6M5VD7HkRPuGGMWEbfsDNGQ5SQ%3D%3D

So it would stop for fuel ?

Captain_Crash · 20-06-2017 02:21PM

Hector Savage wrote: »

Heres a 1-11 in Mallorca,

So it would stop for fuel ?

Its a 200 series so yes, a fuel stop would have been required.

Hector Savage · 21-06-2017 09:47AM

hmmm ..
seems we have a real mystery here.
It was definitely Aer Lingus (we both remember the green+white livery)
We did not stop to refuel.

And I can't find any 737/200 photos in Menorca

http://www.airliners.net/search?aircraftBasicType=2389&airline=811&country=381&sortBy=dateAccepted&sortOrder=desc&perPage=36&display=detail

Now I know it's possible the photos just don't exist , but usually they do.

Comhrá · 21-06-2017 09:50AM

Just wondering......did Aer Lingus ever take a Boeing 707 on that run occasionally - like if the loads were higher than B737 or BAC 1-11 could handle?

L1011 · 21-06-2017 10:44AM

707s were used for charter work towards the end and that was probably a charter so its entirely possible. Still around in 84.

Hector Savage · 21-06-2017 11:22AM

L1011 wrote: »

707s were used for charter work towards the end and that was probably a charter so its entirely possible. Still around in 84.

The plot thickens . . .

orionm_73 · 21-06-2017 05:42PM

Hector Savage wrote: »

hmmm ..
seems we have a real mystery here.
It was definitely Aer Lingus (we both remember the green+white livery)
We did not stop to refuel.

And I can't find any 737/200 photos in Menorca

http://www.airliners.net/search?aircraftBasicType=2389&airline=811&country=381&sortBy=dateAccepted&sortOrder=desc&perPage=36&display=detail

Now I know it's possible the photos just don't exist , but usually they do.

Can you remember the seating layout as i think the 1-11 was 2-3 and the 737 3-3 seats across.

joeysoap · 21-06-2017 07:11PM

Definitely remember a charter 707 to Rhodes in 1981. Libyan ( I think) markings on way out. Shamrock on the return leg. Both definitely Aer Lingus though, and I think it might have been the 707 used in the film 'Airport' on the return journey.

roundymac · 22-06-2017 11:06AM

I can remember EI 737s regularly haveing to refuel in Faro on the way to the Canaries.

billy few mates · 22-06-2017 11:04PM

joeysoap wrote: »

Definitely remember a charter 707 to Rhodes in 1981. Libyan ( I think) markings on way out. Shamrock on the return leg. Both definitely Aer Lingus though, and I think it might have been the 707 used in the film 'Airport' on the return journey.

Yes, EI-ASO did a summer of charter holiday flights after it came back off lease from Libya in about 1984 ish. I remember it well.
https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/EI-ASO/491944

joeysoap · 23-06-2017 12:13AM

billy few mates wrote: »

Yes, EI-ASO did a summer of charter holiday flights after it came back off lease from Libya in about 1984 ish. I remember it well.
https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/EI-ASO/491944

I see Libyan Arab Airlines in 27/2/1981 as EI-ASO. Could they have taken it back for the summer? This would tally as we went on holidays (probably with Falcon) in June 1981 to Rhodes, and I heard one if the cabin crew telling somebody that the markings were Libyan on the plane. I think the plane on the return leg was named St Senan.

We were brought to the airport around midnight and about 4 in the morning this great big Shamrock passed the window where we were sitting waiting. Happy days.

GTE · 06-07-2017 06:05PM

Howdy,

Does anyone know what happened to the 757 from Dub to Toronto for last Monday?

Thanks

alancostello · 06-07-2017 06:06PM

bbk wrote: »

Howdy,

Does anyone know what happened to the 757 from Dub to Toronto for last Monday?

Thanks

YYZ is being flown by A330s for the summer I thought?

LXFlyer · 06-07-2017 07:15PM

Quite right - Toronto is A330 now.

The 757 fleet is deployed on:
Shannon-Boston
Shannon-New York JFK
Dublin-Hartford
Dublin-Washington

GTE · 07-07-2017 07:23AM

Thanks for the info; but Mondays flight was delayed a few hours so I was wondering what was up.

A pity about the 757 switch, I'm flying back from Toronto soon. Ahh well

duskyjoe · 07-07-2017 08:42AM

roundymac wrote: »

I can remember EI 737s regularly haveing to refuel in Faro on the way to the Canaries.

The 732's were limited on range here especially the basic model. The Adv model with a bit more poke, the odds increased of a direct. Northerly head winds on return with a full load and faro was a popular drop in spot. Naviagation in these routes was hit or miss using Omega crap. You could be off track by 5 miles before in range of a VOR but such were the empty skies then, it really was of no bearing....pardon the pun.

Irish Steve · 07-07-2017 02:31PM

duskyjoe wrote: »

The 732's were limited on range here especially the basic model. The Adv model with a bit more poke, the odds increased of a direct. Northerly head winds on return with a full load and faro was a popular drop in spot. Naviagation in these routes was hit or miss using Omega crap. You could be off track by 5 miles before in range of a VOR but such were the empty skies then, it really was of no bearing....pardon the pun.

One of the reasons why airways were 10 miles wide, it meant that even if the VOR was a little bit off, either in calibration or radial setting, the flight remained in controlled airspace. Now, with the way the modern kit works, it's not unknown for one flight to be at one edge, another on the other edge, and then a third flight is either climbing or descending through the middle of the 2 of them, that's the accuracy of GPS and related aids. First time I flew any distance in a GPS equipped aircraft (182 in the States) it was "illuminating" to see how much difference there was between the GPS track and a VOR radial when over 100 miles from the VOR. To get the CDI in the middle, we had to change the setting by about 3 degrees, which was partly an installation error, and partly the VOR itself.

Now, as has been so tragically demonstrated, if you fly the centre of the airway, and someone coming the opposite direction is at the wrong level, there is a very real risk of collision, such is the accuracy of the modern instrumentation.

duskyjoe · 08-07-2017 06:45PM

Irish Steve wrote: »

Now, as has been so tragically demonstrated, if you fly the centre of the airway, and someone coming the opposite direction is at the wrong level, there is a very real risk of collision, such is the accuracy of the modern instrumentation.

That why SLOP is critical on Oceanic routings..... Triple GPS mated to Laser gyro Initerial ref systems are ridiculously accurate

AndyBoBandy · 11-07-2017 01:50PM

How's yer gaj...

New(ish) planes look awesome in EI livery.

alancostello · 11-07-2017 01:55PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

How's yer gaj...

New(ish) planes look awesome in EI livery.

Yeah, fresh paint is gorgeous, some of them are in desperate need of a repaint now, the green fades so badly

kevinandrew · 11-07-2017 03:05PM

The A330s have been receiving repaints recently, all the -200s have been done in the past two years and some of the older -300s were given a new coat of pain this winter.
Easiest way to tell is by looking at the Shamrock on the tail, they've all been applied very badly.

Van.Bosch · 11-07-2017 06:15PM

Must be time for the annual what LH routes will EI announce for 2018 discussion and when will they announce them?

Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

Comments