markonline1

Ha! In my hardcore flight sim days (before kids) I did several LHR to US west coast flights on VATSIM. Looking back, I’m not sure how LOL. What was cool was flying through Europe whilst an event was on. If you were lucky, you’d have ATC the whole way (yeah, it’s nerdy, but it was the next best thing, sort of, to actually being able to fly)

Steerpike

Interesting! In light of all our discussions about Climate Change, they should at least cram the plane full of cargo to make use of that fuel!

scrubbedexpat091

I don't know if they can take revenue cargo, but if they could would be a way to offset some of the cost of the proving runs.

Not really a day where a big airline isn't flying empty planes somewhere, be it for maintenance, or repositioning or some other reason.

Steerpike

I imagine there are some specialized traders who try to match spare cargo capacity with people needing stuff moved around? I know FedEx and UPS have their own planes, but I could also imagine them having a deal with other airlines to use them if they have space.

markonline1

That rumour has been confirmed by the AAIB. Turns out there were 2 techs. One knew which hole it went in, one didn’t. Unfortunately, the tech that knew was too short to reach so asked the tech that didn’t know to do it, and he chose his hole unwisely. When a diagnostic check was run on the gear, it retracted LOL. I can just imagine the guy in the cockpits heart sinking as the planes nose lowered itself down onto the ramp.

scrubbedexpat091

There are indeed cargo companies who specialize in what you describe.

I am not familiar with the new A321's that can do these longer over ocean flights, not sure what their payload is once passengers, fuel, and bags are accounted for.

The JFK flights I used to work from Vancouver often weight restricted so we rarely loaded any cargo on those flights, they were usually 737-800's, Atlanta could finicky too sometimes.

Alaska took a fair chunk of cargo on their 737 Vancouver to Seattle flights, lots of passengers usually, but so little fuel was needed, they could really fill the belly up with cargo.

I don't think Alaska has 737's on the route anymore though, Alaska has steadily downsized Vancouver over the years, hard to believe today that in late 1990's to 2003 ish, Alaska almost had a miniature hub in Vancouver.

scrubbedexpat091

I wouldn't want to be that person, putting the pin into the wrong hole like that.

Basically what happened when I was with America West and we had a 757 fall on its nose, a pin was either incorrectly placed or someone had forgotten, I can't remember the specifics it was like 20 years ago now.

scrubbedexpat091

Juan has a good video up on the ditching/crash in Hawaii, includes some NTSB photos underwater.

scrubbedexpat091

Can't believe it's been 25 years.

TWA 800 JFK to Paris bound 747-100 exploded shortly after departure killing all 230 people onboard.

There will be a private memorial gathering for the family tonight on Long Island.

The wreckage has been in a hangar in Virginia where the NTSB has used it for training purposes, but will begin dismantling and destroying it in the coming weeks.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/17/polit...ial/index.html

Jerseygirl

I remember that so well. We were in the car driving home in NJ on I-80. I turned around to speak to my daughter and through the back window, saw what looked like a rocket in the distance. I mentioned it to hubby at the time. When we got home we heard about TWA 800.

scrubbedexpat091

steveq

That's awful. A likely stroke by the sound of it. She sounded flaky at the call-back too.

scrubbedexpat091

I was thinking possibly a stroke or something medical before she even left the ground, she didn't sound great. Reported to have been 74 years old, and had flown that plane for over a decade, so doesn't sound like she was inexperienced.

Fortunately the house was empty at the time of the crash.

markonline1

Pure speculation. Happened at my airport.


Ok, I’ve just opened the video link and read the comments. Jeeeeeeez. So tempted to reply to some of those comments, but I do quite enjoy my job.

scrubbedexpat091

I remember doing homework for class and waiting for dinner, when the local news suddenly switched to live shot with Peter Jennings, on the west coast the only time you got national news anchors on live was when something major happened.