Trip Reports - British Airways Club World London City, InterContinental London, and a day in London

Hi Folks:

I recently had the chance to experience British Airways' new Club World London City product, and managed to combine it with a stay at the InterContinental London Park Lane along with a day of sightseeing in London. I'll have the report totally finished in the next few days, and will continue to update the links below as they become available.

Introduction: British Airways Club World London City, InterContinental London Park Lane, and a day of sightseeing in London (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/11/01/introduction-british-airways-club-world-london-city-intercontinental-london-park-lane-and-a-day-of-sightseeing-in-london/)
Review: Tampa to New York JFK on Delta in First Class (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/11/02/review-tampa-to-new-york-jfk-on-delta-in-first-class/)
Review: New York JFK to London City on British Airways Club World London City (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/11/03/review-new-york-jfk-to-london-city-on-british-airways-club-world-london-city/)
Review: InterContinental London Park Lane (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/11/10/review-intercontinental-london-park-lane/)
Trip Report: A day of sightseeing in London (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/11/11/trip-report-a-day-of-sightseeing-in-london/)
Review: London City to New York JFK on British Airways Club World London City with a stop in Shannon (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/11/12/review-london-city-to-new-york-jfk-on-british-airways-club-world-london-city-with-a-stop-in-shannon/)
Review: New York JFK to Tampa on Delta in First Class

Thanks for reading!

I've been following your trip through your RSS feed updates but can't wait to read the whole shebang.

Looking forward to the rest.

Wow, well done Lucky!

I'm looking forward to reading your reviews.

Thanks folks! Parts 1-3 have now been posted, so finally there's a bit of Club World London City fun....

Seems to be a pretty solid product lucky9876coins - although I will have to take you to a proper place to get a bacon sandwich.. they is no justice of one in the air... ;)

Good work ^

Thanks for the report! Looking forward to more!

Because of the high buildings around London City an approach needs to be done at 5 degrees rather than the normal 3 of most airports.

Airbus has fitted a special "steep descent mode" button to the two A318s which configures the flight control computers to achieve this. If you notice the spoliers automatically retract at the same time the 'retard' call is made in the cockpit (entry into the flare).

If a go-around is needed the spoilers will also automatically retract when the thrust levers are pushed to TOGA (take-off/go-around power).



Airbus have managed to achieve this "steep approach" capability for the A318 essentially by special programming of the Fly-by-wire Flight Control System. To achieve a speed-stabilised steep approach (and to demonstrate this at even steeper approach angles than the LCY glideslope), some of the speedbrake panels are partially extended during the approach. This reduces lift and so Vref is increased (to Vls+8 kts). It seems that lots of things happen behind the scenes with the control computers, including changes to the gains in the autothrottle, AOA protection, roll authority and flare laws.

However, Airbus claim to have made it as straightforward as possible for the crew. Evidently additional simulator training is required at Toulouse, and the aircraft monitors all of the various mode selections and modified control laws [as I understand it, in a similar manner to the "autoland" warning function, ...any malfunction leading to a mandatory go-around (unless there are mitigating circumstances, eg a fire). Standard call out heights are substantially modified as are rules for GPWS activation, etc, due to higher rates of descent.

The interesting bit as I recall is the flare, as retracting the spoilers would cause a float and leaving them extended makes for a bit of a firm arrival, so there is some sort of compromise where they are retracted from 30 degrees to a lesser angle, and of course all fully deployed as usual after touchdown. The flare is initiated much higher than normal, due to the steeper approach angle and higher rate of descent.

So there are modified SOPs and some new skills involved, though I think I read that the steep approach, once armed and activated, can still be "hand-flown", Airbus-stylee, using the "bird" (Track/Flight Path Angle selected on Primary Flight Display). I remain mightily impressed by the capabilities of the airbus FBW aircraft, and the A318 (together with the new Embraers) will surely open up new possibilities from LCY and new sales for an aircraft that, hitherto, didn't really have an unique selling point.

Glad you enjoyed BA004...it's a great service.

I want to thank you for another excellent report. I went so far as to share it with my non-FT (but certainly interested in travel) brother who also passes along his compliments.