General Aviation Discussion

[Bonez]

Without being too off topic, has anyone here ever flown on an ATR 72-500?

Twin prop... if so, what are they like? Noisy? Comfortable? Reliable(!)

I'll be flying all around Indonesia in the next couple of weeks with Lion Air, who have a reasonably good name for an Indonesian airline... their last major incident was in 2002 so I should be alright

Just never flown in a prop plane before that's why I'm asking!

[Helitak_670]

Sit down the back.

[Bonez]

Sit down the back.

I did on one of the flights and the landing was horrible! The plane was an ATR 72-500. Seats ~70 people.

The first flight we had we were seated in row 01, the very front of the plane. Takeoff and landing was very smooth, the only thing about the front was the engines were very noisy during takeoff. For the rest of the flight it was fine.

The 2nd flight my fiance ended up in row 01 again but I was put in row 28, right down the back. They couldn't seat us together unfortunately. When the plane landed it felt like it was swaying side to side violently as we hit the runway. It would be the worst landing I've ever experienced, far worse than being in the back of a jet. The other half said to me when we got off the plane "that was the smoothest landing I've ever had!"... completely different to my experience.

Each flight we took was 1 hour and 10 minutes. One of our flights was at 12pm but it was delayed, and there was another flight scheduled at 4pm so they combined both of the flights and put us on a 737. It took just under 20 minutes to get to our destination. I think we spent more time taxiing and waiting clearance than in the air. Just goes to show how much faster a jet is compared to a prop!

[Helitak_670]

You will always feel the rudder inputs more down the back than up the front.

[Infernal]

Airline Updates
Qatar

From 01OCT12 to 31JAN13 is boosting capacity on Doha – Perth route, where Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is replacing -200LR on selected dates.

Planned operation as follows:

04OCT12 – 18OCT12 77W Day 246
20OCT12 – 03NOV12 77W Day 2 77L Day 46
06NOV12 – 15NOV12 77W Day 246
17NOV12 – 01DEC12 77W Day 24 77L Day 6
Service from 02DEC12 increases from 3 weekly to daily
02DEC12 – 10DEC12 77W Day x46 77L Day 46
11DEC12 – 31JAN13 77W Daily (01JAN13 operates with 77L)

Emirates

Dubai – Perth Service increases from 14 to 19 weekly from 01DEC12, 21 weekly from 01MAR13
EK422 DXB2145 – 1225+1PER 77W x47
EK423 PER1530 – 2225DXB 77W x15

Singapore Airlines

Singapore – Perth 4th Daily service operates for entire Northern Winter season from 28OCT12, instead of 10DEC12 – 31JAN13

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand is planning to increase capacity on Auckland – Perth service in Northern Winter 2012/13 season, where it’ll operate Boeing 777-200ER aircraft instead of 767-300ER. Boeing 777 operation is in effect from 28OCT12 to 30MAR13.

Schedule:

NZ175 AKL1405 – 1635PER 772 D
NZ176 PER1750 – 0515+1AKL 772 D

[Infernal]

Perth first for 787 down under!

Starting in December the 787 will replace the 77L/W

http://www.traveldaily.com.au/news/per- ... ner/134698

[VK4006SWL]

The 787 Dreamliner looks like a pretty swish plane. I wouldn't turn down a flight on one of those.

[Magnus]

Video of aborted landings during adverse weather 28th November

http://youtu.be/tkTIW4uorDo

[Nafenn]

watching planes try to land at jandakot today was far more interesting

[Infernal]

787 Confirmed

http://airlineroute.net/2012/12/12/qr-per-feb13/

[Nafenn]

Heard through the grapevine at work today that a C-130 may be flying over the city at 6am tomorrow, and dropping a few guys out the back over Swanbourne.

[Helitak_670]

There is a C130 at YPEA at the moment.

[robbage]

6am is a bit inconsiderate for the spectators. Would the C-130 be handled by Pearce all the way radio-wise?

[Nafenn]

6am is a bit inconsiderate for the spectators. Would the C-130 be handled by Pearce all the way radio-wise?

Nah, that's Perth's control zone. If Perth is using 03/06, they will be with approach - 123.60, or if Perth is using 21/24 they will be with departures - 118.70.

[Steve]

Exercises like this present good opportunities to search 225MHz-380MHz and see what you can stumble upon.