Well, that was moderately exciting

On the weekly shuttle back from Dusseldorf on Wednesday, we're coming
into land and when about 30-50m from the ground suddenly we abort and
climb steeply. We then wheel around, from side to side accelerating
hard and then backing off, accelerating hard etc. etc. climbing all the
time.

After about 5 minutes the captain calls the Chief Purser onto the flight
deck; note two of them, not one, went...

After another couple of minutes the captain tells us over the intercom
that he had a hydraulic problem affecting the landing gear and the
brakes, the landing gear is partially down but he's not sure if it's
locked in position. We are then given instruction on the emergency
landing procedure; including hearing the proper 'emergency instruction'
and circle for 30 minutes whilst they prepare the runway to recieve us..

As we start to decend again the captain tells us he's now pretty
confident the landing gear is engaged.

We went into land but unfortunately, after all that, weren't told to
adopt the emergency landing position, which was a bit of a shame.

All in all an enjoyable exercise. In the past I know I'd have been
willing the plane to crash, fortunately I'm not doing that anymore.

Some airplane twitcher caught onto the story, here:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?...4&height=695&sok=&photo_nr=&prev_id=&next_id=

 

That is a very, very old A320 indeed - they are ex BCal and about 20 years
or so in service. The wheel doors are interesting.

Himself had an interesting time with one of the G-BUSx batch. Can't recall
which one. Nosewheel decided to lose steering on attempted take off. On the
second attempt, plane was three feet from the grass, having veered again,
when Captain Speaking decided that a tug back to the gate was the best bet.
This shut 27R for about fifteen minutes.

Ah, he says his was BUSF. I tend to watch for the wobble when we fly on it,
which we have since.

Ali

 

It was in a pretty shitty state inside as well. The seat pockets were
absolutely hanging to the extent that when I put my laptop in one it
slid straight out the bottom...

I don't know how many flights I've done in the last 20 years. I'd
hazard a guess at something like 3-600 but it's only a guess since I
really can't remember too well. This is the first one that's been dodgy
due to anything apart from weather so I can't really complain too much.

However... I'm thinking about how to approach BA for some 'compensation
air miles'. My current approach... "You have caused me lots of stress
making it difficult for me to carry out my job which involves weekly
flights, please give me air miles to compensate for my stress" seems a
little lacking...

 

Yup, well used.

I've done about 500 or so, I guess. Himself has recorded (sad spotter, with
regs) 754. We've had very few nasties. Wind shear at Luton, wake turbulence
at Zurich and a lightning strike on take off from LHR.

<snort> Silly boy. Mind you, it's worth a shot, I got fifty quid from them
once for non functioning IFE. And free champagne, too. But I was ever so
nice to the purser, which always worked. Dave once got given a bottle of
Heidseck by a purser.

Ali

 

Also on pprune

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=234586

 

And Himself now recalls that he and spotter chum were at the Northside
visitors centre waiting for some Algerian jobs on the 12th. They both saw
the go-around, but didn't think much of it, as it happens so often. Usually,
too close to one in front, rather than anything more serious, like this one.

Ali

 

Shouldn't. I said it was "all in all an enjoyable exercise". Anyway,
AFAIK RyanAir don't fly Heathrow to Dusseldorf several times a day and,
more importantly, don't offer decent lounges at airports.

 

Do their planes fall apart in the air?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

It wasn't serious, it was "enjoyable"


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Where did I say it was a problem?

There are so many reasons why *I* would rather fly BA than RyanAir that
I can't be bothered to type them.

It's *my* choice here, after all, and since I didn't have a problem with
the flight I can't understand why you'd type something like "Should have
flown Ryanair". *YOU* might prefer Ryanair and after all, that's *YOUR*
prerogative, I wouldn't tell you which you should or shouldn't fly.

 

What's your issue here?

 

Well as you're such a macho man, you didn't.

Oh do **** off you pompous ****. If you can't see a joke come steaming in at
500 miles an hour, get to fucking specsavers.


and since I didn't have a problem with

That much is pretty obvious. Maybe (just for you) I should include a smiley
when there's a possibility I might not have been serious. (That'd be almost
every post though, so perhaps not)

*YOU* might prefer Ryanair and after all, that's *YOUR*

You wouldn't be able to help yourself.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

You misunderstand completely. I'd not describe myself as 'macho'. I
didn't take it seriously, I know I'm a lucky git and would have emerged
without a scratch even if the fucking thing landed without an
undercarriage.

Well, tell me the fucking punchline then.

"Better fly RyanAir" doesn't really sound very funny. Maybe my sense of
humour isn't as advanced as yours.

Rubbish.

 

How do you *know* you'd have walked away without a scratch?

I'll let you figure that ne out for yourself. After all, you seem to have a
crystal ball of some type or other.

"Should've gone by Ryanair" is what I said. A bit like the specsaver ads. It
was a fucking joke, but you're right, maybe your sense of humous *isn't* as
advanced as mine.

Ryanair are *not* rubbish.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Experience. I wasn't worried in the slightest, not because I'm 'brave'
but because I was confident I'd walk away from it.

As far as I was concerned I had nothing to worry about and that's all
that matters really. In this case I was right.

You seem to have a lot of anger.

Ah, well I wouldn't have recognised that line as a specsavers ad if it
wasn't pointed out to me. I tend not to pay too much attention to
(most) adverts.

I suppose this is another of your jokes?

The "Rubbish" was in reaction to your "you wouldn't be able to help
yourself" rather than a statement on RyanAir.

Bored now.

 

But there's a world of difference between "confident" and "know". An example
would be a gamble confident of the outcome of a (say) race *could* lose his
shirt, but one who knows the outcome wouldn't.

I have that much anger, I have trouble typing with a smile on my face.

'Course you don't. No-one does.

Take a stab in the dark for an answer to that question

Result.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19