Broken seat on 767 fresh out of maintenance (G-BZHC)
May 12, 2018, 3:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 553
The 777s and 747s do 2 pressurisation/landing gear cycles a day, anything that does short haul is doing 6-10, they age much much quicker.
The 767 was designed as a short/medium haul aircraft that later pioneered ETOPS. The 787 is a medium/long haul aircraft through and through, it really isn't built for a high cycle environment.
The 767 was designed as a short/medium haul aircraft that later pioneered ETOPS. The 787 is a medium/long haul aircraft through and through, it really isn't built for a high cycle environment.
This morning we had over 200 pax on the red eye to MAD. Come October what will service that demand? Pain in the wallet, knees and back for pax with densified and overstretched A321s.
May 12, 2018, 3:57 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: 59K
Posts: 2,301
The youngest are 20 years old. BA are not going to keep a non standard fleet of 3 aircraft hanging around just because they are 8 years younger. Especially when they burn 60% more fuel for 15% more passengers. This mornings early MAD could have been operated by a 321 in the current unmodified config with seats to spare, let alone a densified one.
As for keeping the long haul airframes for Gatwick, they were long gone before the Monarch slots became available so it wasn’t an option. They also needed a fortune spending on avionics to be allowed to continue crossing the Atlantic.
As for keeping the long haul airframes for Gatwick, they were long gone before the Monarch slots became available so it wasn’t an option. They also needed a fortune spending on avionics to be allowed to continue crossing the Atlantic.
Last edited by Jumbodriver; May 12, 2018 at 4:10 pm
May 12, 2018, 4:38 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 553
The youngest are 20 years old. BA are not going to keep a non standard fleet of 3 aircraft hanging around just because they are 8 years younger. Especially when they burn 60% more fuel for 15% more passengers. This mornings early MAD could have been operated by a 321 in the current unmodified config with seats to spare, let alone a densified one.
As for keeping the long haul airframes for Gatwick, they were long gone before the Monarch slots became available so it wasn’t an option. They also needed a fortune spending on avionics to be allowed to continue crossing the Atlantic.
As for keeping the long haul airframes for Gatwick, they were long gone before the Monarch slots became available so it wasn’t an option. They also needed a fortune spending on avionics to be allowed to continue crossing the Atlantic.
May 12, 2018, 9:30 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 204
British Airways do not have a Global Navigation Satellite System installed on their 767s and navigate purely on the IRS with ground updates from VORs. The 767s also do not have ADS-B (Which is why they never look like they are in the right place on FR24) which is compulsory between FL350 and FL390 within the NAT OTS which would make operating the remaining 767s across the Atlantic costly as they would not be allowed to fly at optimum levels. They could fly off the OTS but it would also be costly as you couldn't take an optimal routing, however from 2020 no aircraft without ADS-B will be allowed on the North Atlantic above FL290.
ICAO have also now brought in PBCS (Performance Based Communication and Surveillance), which again no BA 767 has the appropriate equipment or software. PBCS requires the aircraft certified to RNP4 and equipped with CPDLC (Controller Pilot Data Link Communications) and ADS-C (Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Contract). PBCS approval is currently compulsory to fly on certain North Atlantic tracks (typically three tracks) between FL350 and FL390. With PBCS, ATC can reduce the longitudinal seperation of an aircraft at the same level down to 5 minutes (from 10 minutes) and also horizontal separtation down to 30 nautical miles (from 60 nautical miles).
This will be rolled out to all North Atlantic tracks probably by the end next year as we are in a 6 month transition phase currently, then eventually the whole North Atlantic, just like the ADS-B rollout.
Upgrading BAs 767, just with a GNSS would be expensive, let alone everything else that will be madatory within in the next few years.
May 13, 2018, 1:24 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
Random question comes from this, did F-HILU (the OpenSkies 767 formerly of the Heathrow fleet) have this fitted as it crosses the Atlantic virtually every day between Orly and Newark at the moment?
May 13, 2018, 2:16 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 204
It has the bare minimum equipment to cross the North Atlantic. However it is not allowed to operate above FL340 within Oceanic airspace.
May 15, 2018, 2:36 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 267
That said, a widebody replacement for them would be much preferred over any narrow-body, if for no other reason that it is so much quicker to board.
May 15, 2018, 3:47 am
#23
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
Interestingly just looked at BA456 (0620 LHR >> MAD for the non saddoes on here who don't know every flight number) ;-)
10th and 14th May was operated by an A321 which is fairly unusual. G-EUXC and G-EUXF.
I guess there's a fair chance that is related - just a slight knock-on from the fleet being temporarily reduced due to those C checks???
10th and 14th May was operated by an A321 which is fairly unusual. G-EUXC and G-EUXF.
I guess there's a fair chance that is related - just a slight knock-on from the fleet being temporarily reduced due to those C checks???
May 15, 2018, 7:50 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 484
How do we know the 777 will be on ARN ? Are they loaded in the system ? Couldn't find anything. I only ask as work will take me to ARN in October & travelling in CE (CW Cabin) would be preferable. Cheers
May 15, 2018, 8:09 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 553
Oops, I was pricing up an ex EU on Google Flights and the flight number is listed next to the aircraft. BA777 is the 11:40 departure ex ARN. Apologies!
May 15, 2018, 8:20 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 484
May 15, 2018, 1:28 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: BA silver
Posts: 8