Evening all,
I paid 139 pounds for this weekend, about $200 US, a bit more than the low
cost equivalents, but still good value, primarily as a photo trip.
EDI-LHR (Edinburgh, UK - London Heathrow, UK)
G-MIDF A321-231 BMI British Midland BD051
This sector operates a Lufthansa codeshare, and was full because of British
Airways having cancelled flights due to weather in London the night before.
BMA looked as if they were honouring BA tickets.
Scheduled time was 0635/0805, we pushed at 0637, took off at 0649, landed at
0742, and pulled in at the gate at 0747. Looking forward to a cooked
breakfast, but the Ciabatta roll with sausage went down really well - very
fresh and a better idea than some of the muck I've had in the past.
LHR-MUC (Heathrow - Munich)
D-AIPF A320-211 Lufthansa LH4707
Funny how at EDI I couldn't be checked thru to Munich, I found out that the
inbound aircraft didn't depart Munich until about 0830 UK time, due to snow
in Germany. Checked in at the laughably named Flight Connections Centre,
really just a central line of people. Scheduled times were 0930/1215
(Germany of course being an hour ahead of the UK). We left the gate on a
full flight again at 1056, taking off quickly (for the 'Row) at 1107. Flight
time was an impressive 77 minutes, landing at 1324 local, and at the gate at
1329.
Food service was coldcuts with tea/coffee or alcoholic drinks.
Munich has what looks like some remote stands, but you leave the aircraft
via an airbridge, then enter a small glass structure, just steps an an
escalator down to below ground level, where we were met by a bus to take us
to the arrivals hall. There are at least 12 stands like this, in addition to
the 20 or so connected directly to Terminal 1, plus maybe 50 or so remote
stands in the true sense. The field is dominated by Regional aircraft, being
the hubs of Air Dolomiti with ATR42s and 72s, Lufthansa Cityline with CRJs,
CRJ-700s and RJ85s, and Deutsche BA with 737s.
For watching aircraft, the best place to go is the Besucherpark. Its easiest
to walk. Exiting Terminal A, where Lufthansa's domestic operations are, its
a 1200m walk, but as you walk round you can see a fair part of the apron.
Building work continues apace on Terminal 2, which is well away from the
current viewing, but assuming the same prevailing winds as when I was there,
none of the action would be missed completely.
The Besucherpark is essentially a big man made hill, with 163 steps (I
counted 'em), and costs either 1 or 2 euros to enter, although the price
does allow up close access to the three preserved aircraft, which are a
Swiss Air Lines DC3, HB-IRN; Lufthansa Ju52 D-ANOY, and LH Super
Constellation D-ALEM.
There are no food or toilet facilities at the top of the hill, so either
requires you to pay again. There is an aviation shop and a reasonably priced
restaurant at the bottom of the hill at the entrance. There is also a bus
tour available, think it cost 10 euros including entrance to the hill, but I
didn't go on it.
>From the hill, both runways can be seen, although the southern one is a bit
distant. Good binoculars are needed for registrations, but inbounds from the
northern runway mostly taxi within camera distance. I needed a 280mm lens
for a 737-300, and care is needed to avoid the lamp standards, but nothing
(not even a Cargolux 747 - the only lump I saw there - was missed).
Some of the commuters park well away from the terminal, such as Dolomiti,
Augsburg AW and Eurowings.
MUC-FRA (Munich - Frankfurt)
D-AIRY A321-231 Lufthansa LH163
One nice touch at Munich, which was absent at Frankfurt, was free coffee at
the Lufthansa gates.
The scheduled times were 1750/1905, and we pushed back at 1752, arriving at
the gate at FRA at 1857, after a flight lasting 39 minutes. Drinks service
was suspended before I got one due to a bit of rough weather.
FRA-EDI (Frankfurt - Edinburgh)
D-AVRN Bae RJ85 Lufthansa LH5954
The flight left late because of a late arrival from EDI, due to deicing,
according to the flight crew. Being at one of the most remote stands near LH
Cargo, we pushed at 2226, well after the scheduled departure of 2150, taking
off at 2237. Food service was a cold salad and a couple of Warsteiner beers
- nectar!! Headwinds meant no time made up, exacerbated by waiting for a Go
737 to come off stand after being deiced at EDI. We landed at 2333 (that's 4
minutes short of 2 hours flight time) at pulled up at the gate at 2347.
Highlights of my sightings were :
SAT 01 FEBRUARY 2003 MUC 1430-1700
D4-CBG 752 TCV = Cape Verde Airlines
EY-85692 154 TZK = Tajikistan AL
F-GPKM SF3 ECC = Europe Continental AW / Crossair Europe
OK-XFB AT7 CSA = Czech AL
F-OGYQ 313 AFL = Aeroflot
RA-85674 154 SBI = Sibir AL
RA-85814 154 SVR = Ural AL
S7-ASY 763 SEY = Air Seychelles
D-AILK 319 KZW = Khalifa AL
SUN 02 FEBRUARY 2003 MUC 0900-1700
A6-MFM 738 UAE Govt (Think this is a BBJ2)
A6-EKW 332 UAE = Emirates
B-2382 343 CES = China Eastern
F-GPTB CRJ LIT = Air Littoral
LX-RCV 744 CLX = Cargolux
VP-BAJ 734 AFL = Aeroflot
RA-85770 154 PLK = Pulkovo AL
RA-85673 154 SBI = Sibir AL
S5-AAF CRJ ADR = Adria AW
SU-GBU 321 MSR = Egyptair
SU-RAD 320 SHK = Shorouk AL
SX-BLM 734 CUS = Aegean AL
TF-MDC M83 MDI = Icelandic MD Airlines
4X-EAB 762 ELY = ElAl
9H-ABP 320 AMC = Air Malta
SUN 02 FEBRUARY 2003 FRA 1930-2130
HA-LME F70 MAH = Malev
HL7526 772 KAL = Korean AL
I-BIMI 319 AZA = Alitalia
OY-MRJ 737 DAN = Maersk
RA-85742 154 AFL = Aeroflot
RA-85705 154 SBI = Sibir AL
RA-64017 204 SBI = Sibir AL
TC-SUA 738 SXS = Sun Express
Jim