Bristol: General Airport News, Updates & Discussion

[Aviador]

Interesting times ahead for Bristol. Like you I can't see the airport reaching 10 mppa without the talk about expansion. In fact 10 mppa would be considered a long shot for any UK regional airport.

As for additional flights to Turkey, this is quiet possible with the weak pound against the euro. I would imagine the airport management will be chasing the lost Izmir service with a view to reinstating it.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Justin Lee Collins to welcome travellers at Bristol Airport

Comedian Justin Lee Collins will be the first voice greeting incoming visitors travelling through Bristol International Airport.

The co-presenter of the Sunday Night Project was persuaded by airport chiefs to be the voice of a talking cone which is stationed at passport control in the international arrivals area.

It plays a message in which Justin welcomes them to Bristol and politely asks them to "mind the stairs" in front of them.

Jacqui Mills, public relations manager at Bristol International Airport, said: "Justin Lee Collins is a great ambassador for Bristol and the region and we are delighted that visitors to the city will be welcomed by his voice when they arrive at Bristol International."[/textarea]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Jus ... ticle.html

I'm not aware of Mr Collins's work but I'm told he is a comedian of some note with a distinct Bristolian accent.

Some years ago the airport used to play a recorded message about not leaving unattended items 'anywhere on the airpoRRt'. I guess one of the staff recorded it because it sounded so amateurish and always got a good laugh, especially from travellers from further afield.

I notice our local main railway stations now have computer generated voice train announcements that sound very cut-glass and poshy posh – no doubt the voices of professional actors originally input.

At least you can understand what is being said unlike the days of old when it seems one of the porters used to do the announcing.

I'm not sure that a strong regional accent is the best thing at an airport. Might be confusing to those whose first language is not English.

 

[Aviador]

Many foreigners say that they can't understand us (Yorkshire folk) at all. If you're British, it's nice to hear regional accents but it's no good for tourists who only understand BBC English. A Spanish girl once stopped with me, she was trying to learn English but she just couldn't grasp the Yorkshire lingo and that was in Leeds where the local dialect is relatively weak. She kept asking me to repeat what I was saying all the time.

EDIT: Incidentally, Aviador is Spanish for Aviator in case people didn't know.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Bristol airport expansion could be grounded by lack of business class passengers

Bristol airport will struggle to attract new long-haul destinations because regional flights struggle to fill up lucrative business class seats, a group of MPs has warned.

Although many regional airports link up with European hubs such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Bristol International is one of the few that has connections to international hubs, including New York.

However, the Commons transport select committee said the withdrawal of British Airways and bmi from transatlantic routes from Manchester means the writing is on the wall for regional long-haul expansion.

Part of the problem, it said, is the lack of profits from flights that do not attract many passengers flying in business class.

In its Future of Aviation report, out today, the committee said: "Bristol, Newcastle and Belfast International (are among those that) run services to non-EU hubs. It seems clear, however, given the withdrawal of British Airways and bmi transatlantic routes from Manchester, that further expansion of long-haul services from regional airports is unlikely.

"One problem lies in generating sufficient business-class demand, which is important for profitability."
A decision was due on the £150-million expansion plans for Bristol airport this month but North Somerset Council postponed it due to the complexity of the lengthy application.

The decision is now expected in February. The proposals would increase annual passenger traffic to 10 million by 2016 from the current level of six million a year.

MPs on the transport committee called on the Government to recognise the financial importance of regional airports by updating its assessment of their economic value regularly. Committee chairman Louise Ellman MP said: "Aviation is important to the UK economy, both in the South East of England and in the regions. Regional airports are important for regional economic growth and transport."

Bristol Airport spokesman James Gore told the Evening Post: "We welcome the Transport Select
Committee's recognition that regional airports such as Bristol International play a key role in economic development by serving local business markets and facilitating inward investment.

"Bristol International handled over 800,000 business passengers last year, and routes to major hubs such as Newark/New York, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels are particularly vital as they enable travellers from the South West to make onward connections to destinations across the globe.

"The committee highlights a change in travel patterns which has seen more passengers using regional airports instead of travelling to London. However, five million passengers from the South West still used London airports last year in order to access long-haul services to destinations not currently served from Bristol.

"Enabling businesses from this region to access more non-EU hubs, such as Dubai, from their local airport would deliver substantial time and cost savings.

"Bristol International's forecasts, which show that the airport could be handling 10 million passengers per annum by 2019/20, are not based solely on long-haul growth."

A list of potential new short-haul destinations that could be made possible by development of the airport includes cities such as Munich, Dusseldorf, Zurich and Copenhagen.[/textarea]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

Another misleading headline by a local rag that consistently likes to put in the knife when it 'reports' airport news.

Incidentally, Munich, Dusseldorf and Zurich were all flown from BRS by BACon until spring 2007 when Flybe acquired the airline and axed the Bristol base for reasons not entirely connected with profitability.
It now seems some fences are being mended and Flybe might be seen more often in the future.

easyJet used to fly to Copenhagen (I used the route myself) but axed it when the Danish government imposed a hefty passenger tax some years ago.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Bristol International Airport: We'll cap night flights


Bristol International Airport is limiting its proposed hike in the number of night flights as part of changes to its £150 million expansion scheme.

Night flights at Lulsgate, due to rise to around 12 a night under the expansion plans, would now be capped at 10 per night.

There are currently around seven flights per night on average.

The airport is spending £10 million in total on a series of changes to its expansion plans, many involving transport links, following public consultation.

Changes include a new flyer bus service from Weston and increased funding for the £48 million Bus Rapid Transit scheme and the £47 million South Bristol Link road.

It will also delay development of green belt land at Lulsgate, due to be converted into long-stay parking, until passenger numbers have grown enough to merit the increase in spaces.

It will also spend £100,000 to make Weston's 121 bus service – which currently runs every two hours from Weston to Bristol city centre via the airport – hourly.

The changes follow public consultation on the expansion scheme, which includes multistorey car parks, a larger terminal and new administration building.

Passenger numbers, currently six million a year, are expected to rise to ten million by 2020.

The airport claims the expanded site would directly create 3,500 on and off-site jobs.

Three weeks of consultation on the amendments has now begun before North Somerset Council decides on the whole application on February 10.

Airport chief executive officer Robert Sinclair said: "We have listened to the views expressed and responded positively.

"These additional measures demonstrate our commitment to working with the council to find a balanced solution which can be agreed locally."

Under the terms of the proposals, BIA's contribution to the Bus Rapid Transit scheme and the South Bristol Link – both of which will help alleviate congestion on local roads – would rise to £5.4 million.

Public transport links to Weston-super-Mare would also be improved, with the airport giving up to £100,000 a year towards the cost of operating an enhanced, hourly 121 bus service, ahead of the introduction of a 'Weston Flyer' express coach when passenger numbers reach eight million passengers per year, in around 2012. This service would operate between Weston town centre, Weston railway station and Worle.

Under a new planning condition, the proposed seasonal overflow car park to the south of the airport would be developed in two phases and permitted only if set passenger milestones are reached. It has 8,000 spaces but would use land to rise to 14,000 spaces once the target number of passengers is reached.

The airport has offered to reduce the cap on night aircraft movements put forward in the original application from 4,500 to 4,000.

These comprise a summer limit of 3,000 movements and a winter limit of 1,000 movements.
Airport bosses are also offering an Airport Environmental Improvement Fund with BIA contributing £100,000 per year, with this figure increasing in line with passenger numbers. This will provide funds for local projects to improve roads, reduce noise and enhance the local environment.

Stop Bristol Airport Expansion spokesman Jeremy Birch said: "The airport has made no real concessions here. It has made offers that turn out to be no limitation on what they planned to do before, yet they sound good and are aimed to convince people that they are being flexible. Local jobs will be far less than BIA is implying, no more than 900, and quite possibly less.

"The rest are based on projected spending by incoming tourists – yet 44,000 jobs in South West tourism have disappeared since the airport started expanding in 2001.

"Make no mistake, BIA are still planning the same increase in flights, traffic, noise and use of green belt. BIA are trying to avoid real constraints being placed upon them, such as a cap on passenger numbers linked to delivered infrastructure improvements."[/textarea]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

I'm sure whatever the airport proposed, short of closing down completely, would not appease those who oppose its expansion and in most cases its presence.

The airport already contributes a significant sum to local charities and other worthy causes.

Clearly, road infrastructure improvement in the immediate and wider area would be beneficial both to the airport and to the wider community.

A reduction in night flights probably will have little effect on the airport which is why they are able to offer it. Most night flights are mail and charter flights and both these categories have reduced in number considerably in recent years.

Bringing in a Flyer service to Weston-super-Mare when passenger numbers reach 8 mppa which they suggest will be around 2012 (that seems wildly optimistic in the present economic environment) is almost certainly a sop because detailed discussion in the airport master plan some years ago came to a wary conclusion about the viability of such a service.

In the meantime the airport will spend £100,000 to bring the Weston-Bristol 121 bus service to an hourly schedule from its current two-hourly. Now this is definitely a sop and will benefit the airport hardly at all.

The 121 takes a circuitous route between Weston and Bristol, calling at numerous villages and also the airport (anyone in a hurry to travel between Bristol and Weston uses the several times an hour bus services along the A 370), and is lightly used. Furthermore, few people use it to access the airport. In fact, it was to be withdrawn in May of this year but the North Somerset Council kept it going with a grant.

 

[Aviador]

Is a figure of 10 mppa achievable if they limit the number of night flights to just 10? I assume that this has been worked out on the assumption that any additional capacity will come from both Easyjet and Ryanair who generally operate between 06:00 and 00:00.

I wonder if the runway and taxiway infrastructure can cope with the extra capacity during the daytime hours and do you happen to know how many movements per hour the airport can handle?

Also, using Leeds as an example, when we used to have a nighttime curfew the airport had a significant number of departures scheduled for 07:00 which the local authority considered as the start of daytime. This caused significant bottlenecks in the restricted terminal at gate areas and security. I wonder if the Bristol airport management have taken these additional factors into account?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I think I mentioned before that Bristol Airport has a strict night time quota so there is little scope to increase them anyway. This is not the problem it once was, especially in the summer, when there could be half a dozen charter flights arriving and six or seven mail planes both arriving and departing during the night time period.

I don't know the airport's movements per hour limit but even when they were handling in excess of 200 airline movements per day at busy summer times a couple of years ago there was never any suggestion of a problem, though obviously there were peaks and troughs.

0600-0900 was the busiest period for take-offs with up to thirty on most days in the busy summers of 2007 and 2008. Summer 2009 was often 25-27 take-offs in that period with perhaps eight or nine arrivals.

The airport said that 10 mppa would equate to an extra 5-6 movements per hour throughout the period 0600-2300 - at the moment it's around eleven or twelve spread throughout the day, though less at this time of the year.

In addition there are numerous flying school, air taxi and corporate aircraft so if necessary I suppose their movements might have to take more of a back seat. Even in summer there are times when the airport is quiet enough to allow Hercules and Sea Kings from nearby military establishments to practise approaches.

The idea, if planning permision is ultimately granted, is to phase in the expansion as traffic builds. Additional stands will be built and extra apron and manoeuvring space found by demolishing the old terminal, currently used as offices.

There would also be some airbridges - for the first time at Bristol - though probably Ryanair would not be keen on them.

I believe their hope is that growth will be spread between low cost and legacy carriers. For an airport of this size they have been relatively successful in attracting traditional carriers with Air France, KLM, Brussels Airlines (albeit to be operated by bmi on wet lease shortly) and Continental currently operating, although Lufthansa, SAS and Aer Lingus have now moved on. When the economy improves the airport is looking to get some of these back plus others.

There is also a mix of smaller airlines - Air Southwest, Aurigny, Aer Arann, OLT, Scilly Skybus and Eastern, as well as the locos, easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe.

Then there is the charter market - who knows whether that will make a come-back?

If the expansion plans are thrown out the airport says it can accommodate 8 mppa with some tweaking of the present facilities. Would be a bit of a squeeze for passengers though in the peak times.

The master plan which has been published, commented on, reviewed, re-published ad nauseum over the past four years is immensely detailed as to every conceivable scenario, running to 150 pages, including numerous tables for this and that. I don't think they will have overlooked any operational consideration.

 

[Aviador]

How's the weather looking down this 'neck of the woods', any snow yet?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

One or two flurries during the day but mainly dry - and cold.

So far only the ASW flights to LBA and MAN cancelled because of the snow there, of which I know you are all very well aware around Leeds.

Later this evening the band of snow that has affected northern districts is forecast to move south and the area around Bristol was expecting up to 25cm of snow (which I am told is around ten inches), though recent reports are now suggesting there won't be as much as that.

Nevertheless, even if the most friendly estimate turns out to be correct the airport will struggle to open for business in the morning.

I'm hoping they've got it completely wrong but not with much conviction.

 

[Aviador]

We've had around 15 cm as a sheer guess which is half a foot but it was apparently snowing in places like Harrogate and towards Halifax long before the snow arrived here at Leeds so it's looking like we got off lightly. I think the weather forecasters are getting a little over excited about the amount of snow predicted for the South tomorrow. I will be surprised to see 30-40cm. (30cm is 1 ft on old money. :smile: )

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A visitor is parked up on the eastern apron overnight not regularly seen in the North Somerset mountains so far as I'm aware.

TNT Bae 146, reg OO-TAZ, arrived early afternoon and will depart tomorrow evening - per BRS apron website. It seems to be the team bus for the Biarritz rugby union team that is playing Gloucester in the Heineken Cup tomorrow.

In the past TNT 146s have been in evidence bringing in horses for the Cheltenham Gold Cup race meeting each March.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Tracker launches at Bristol International Airport

Bristol International Airport (BIA) is launching a new system for recording the noise generated by aircraft and their adherence to agreed flight-paths, from 1 February.

Tracker will enable BIA to record where aircraft fly in relation to specific postcode locations on the ground.  This will help the airport to respond to local residents with concerns over noise in a more detailed, transparent and timely way.

Aircraft already operate under strict noise regulations and follow specific ‘noise preferential routes’ on departure.  Aircraft noise is currently monitored and published in an annual Operations Monitoring Report which enables year by year comparisons to be made.

The Tracker system has required the installation of an additional noise monitor on Littleton Hill in Dundry.  The new monitor is powered by wind and solar power.  The system also takes radar data from air traffic control, providing a complete picture of each flight’s performance.

A recent report by the Institute of Acoustics shows BIA is the third most ‘noise efficient’ airport in the UK (based on the number of passengers carried per person within the Lden 55dB contour used in the production of Noise Action Plans).  The same report found BIA has the fourth highest expenditure on noise management per person.

BIA’s figures, reported to the Airport Consultative Committee on a quarterly basis, show that 14 complaints were received from 4 individuals in December 2009, during which time 4,587 aircraft movements occurred.  The annual total of noise complaints received has fallen from 448 in 2007 (5.86 per 1,000 aircraft movements) to 361 in 2009 (5.14 per 1,000 aircraft movement).

Measures to manage noise from aircraft on the ground and in the air are already being implemented, including limits on the use of Auxiliary Power Units, encouraging Continuous Descent Approaches and incentivising airlines to operate quieter aircraft.  Night flying is controlled by a noise quota system.

Fresh proposals included in BIA’s recent Draft Noise Action Plan include a review of stand allocation to identify opportunities to reduce the impact of noise from the aircraft parking apron and the installation of fixed electrical ground power.

Data from Tracker will not be available live, but can be requested by calling BIA’s noise complaints line (01275 473799), or emailing [email protected].[/textarea]

http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/news-an ... t-bia.aspx

This equipment has been promised for a long while at BRS but installation has taken longer than anticipated.

The minutes of the consultative committee meetings each quarter invariably make the point that the majority of noise complaints emanate from one individual.

 

[Aviador]

What were you just saying on the Leeds threads about similarities between Leeds and Bristol?

Leeds used to have one of these trackers on display in the terminal. Unfortunately it's no longer on display which is a shame but I understand that the tracking of aircraft is still carried out as part of a previous planning obligation. I think the Air Traffic Control Manager now reports to the airports Consultative Committee every now and again if the information is called upon. White Heather might be able to say a little bit more about it I hope?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Uncanny, isn't it?

It must have been written somewhere that the senior management would have experience of both airports.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Flying from Bristol? Pack less, say airport baggage handle

Passengers at Bristol Airport are being asked to pack less in their bags to prevent injuries to baggage handlers.

The airport staff lift the equivalent weight of an elephant every day causing high levels of injuries.
Unite's "pack less" campaign is calling on airlines to introduce a maximum individual bag weight of 23kg, a call backed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Aviation Industry Committee and the International Air Transport Association. The current limit is 32kg.

Steve Priddy, Unite regional officer, said: "Passengers across the UK and Europe are being asked to pack less in their bags.

"Most people think that baggage handling is fully automated, while the reality is that a bag can be manually lifted up to a dozen times on its journey.

"Baggage handlers lift the weight of an elephant every day. They are five times more likely than any other worker to suffer serious injuries – that unfortunately can lead to permanent disability – because they are forced to handle very heavy bags in often cramped conditions."

Unite is also calling on the Government and the HSE to do more to protect baggage handlers.

The European Commission is looking into introducing regulations to reduce the amount of muscular skeletal injuries suffered by workers across Europe.

Unite will be putting pressure on the Government to ensure the safety of ground handling staff is addressed at a European level.

The 'pack less' day of action is supported by the European Transport Workers' Federation which is pushing for European-wide regulation.[/textarea]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

BBC Radio Bristol milked this story in its 0600-0900 current affairs show and had a reporter at the airport interviewing passengers and staff live on air.

I only heard it from 8 (I'm a lazy so and so and don't get up to listen until then) and was amused when a baggage handler was interviewed 'down the line' by the studio anchorman Steve Lefevre (was he once involved in broadcasting in the Leeds area?).

After the interview finished Steve said something along the lines that the handler was an interesting fellow because he also worked for Menzies in their shop.

Clearly he didn't realise that Menzies has an aviation division (they handle easyJet at Bristol) and assumed the handler was a bookstall worker doing a bit of baggage handling as well. In fact, there is no Menzies bookstall at BRS and so far as I know all the Menzies bookstalls at stations and airports ceased to exist several years ago.

On the topic itself, airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair encourage fewer hold items because of their charges, especially with easyJet having no weight limit as such on cabin baggage so long as it will fit their dimensions.

The suggestion seems to be that people are packing more items into fewer cases when they do use the hold but they still have to pay excess if they are overweight so I didn't follow the logic of that.

 

[backtrack]

"Baggage handlers lift the weight of an elephant every day" made me laugh, so true though.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Airbus, Bristol International Airport and easyJet launch BAC 100 Celebrations

Celebrating 100 Years of Aviation in the West of England

An easyJet Airbus A319 was today named “Sir George White” to commemorate 100 years of aerospace design, engineering and manufacturing in the Bristol region.

Today’s ceremony, which is the launch event for centenary celebrations of aviation in the West of England, was marked with a VIP champagne reception at Bristol International Airport, a commemorative flight over the city of Bristol, and a ceremony at Airbus’s engineering and manufacturing site at Filton.

Sir George White founded the Bristol Aeroplane Company (BAC) at Filton, near Bristol, in February 1910. From these humble beginnings, globally significant enterprises that are now major parts of UK aviation giants Airbus and Rolls-Royce plc, and an environment that supports aerospace suppliers across the country, was born. Sir George’s pioneering spirit also lives on in the world-class scientific research to be found throughout many UK universities and industrial sectors.

Today, aviation supports 200,000 jobs directly, and 500,000 indirectly, in the UK, and is worth more than £11.5 billion in GDP. These jobs cover skills from designing complex IT systems, advanced engineering and manufacturing, to customer services. All are vital pieces to the UK economy.

The 2010 BAC 100 programme will commemorate and promote the West of England’s technological achievements through education and arts projects, exhibitions, publications and community-based events, among other activities. The year-long celebration is a collaboration between local authorities, businesses and business organisations, heritage groups, arts organisations and other bodies, including Airbus, GWE Business West and Rolls-Royce.

Events will not only look at a landmark in aviation history but also explore future challenges and aspirations in aviation design and travel, and consider the wider role of science and technology in shaping the region.[/textarea]

http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/news-an ... inary.aspx

I was a bit undecided in which board to place this but thought that perhaps the BRS main thread will do.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/ ... 523523.stm

The main Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio Bristol this morning was broadcast from BRS. I heard the last hour. It was tolerably interesting but as is so often the case the presenters aren't aviation people and never ask the right questions or bring things out properly.

The easyJet A319 flew from BRS to Filton via South Wales and a tour of Bristol before it was named Sir George White by the great man's (he is in Bristol aviation circles) great grandson, a distinguised elderly gentleman himself. The second link features some pics from the event at BRS and at Filton and a shot of the snow-covered Brecon Beacons beneath its flight path.

The hot air balloons are genuine pocket-sized balloons and were allowed to ascend inside the terminal building. Bristol regards itself as Britain's, if not Europe's, balloon capital being home to the major balloon manufacturer Cameron Balloons and also to the largest annual Balloon Fiesta in Europe that attracts half a million people in the years when the weather is good.

So with this aviation history, present and future it's really astonishing that there is so much antipathy towards extending the size of Bristol Airport.

Incidentally, the city councillor taking the part of Sir George White at the ceremony is a professional actor so it might not have been as daft as it might appear.

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Bristol still flying high after 100 years of aviation

For 100 years Bristol has been synonymous with the aviation industry.

From the workers at Filton Airfield to the passengers at Bristol International Airport, thousands of lives have been touched by the flying machines that continue to capture our imaginations.

Aviation in the South West all started with one man – Kingsdown- born businessman Sir George White.

On February 19, 1910, Sir George registered two companies that would help change the way we travel, British & Colonial Aeroplane Company and the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

The centenary of that historic event was celebrated in style yesterday, with a special ceremony and an anniversary flight over the city.

Airbus, easyJet, Bristol International Airport and Bristol City Council were among those involved in the day, which recognised the depth and breadth of Sir George's legacy.

Dignitaries in attendance included Sir George's great-grandson, a government minister, South Gloucestershire and Bristol councillors and the Mayor and Mayoress of Bristol.

And 14 lucky Evening Post and Western Daily Press readers had a seat on the anniversary flight, after winning our competition.

Seven winners and their guests won seats on the flight, which travelled from Bristol Airport to Filton.

Several had ties to the local aviation industry, including John Dunford, a retired air traffic controller at Filton.

Mr Dunford, 82 of Saltford, came with his daughter, bank worker Julie Dashfield.

He said: "I started work at Filton in 1956, my first job was with security, but there was a job going at air traffic control.

"I have always been interested in aeroplanes since the 1930s. I was in the RAF.

"I went back to Filton Airfield several times when I retired but I have not been back there since then."

Karin Beasant, 44 of Hartcliffe, enters competitions as a hobby but went for this one because her dad Stan, 76, is a plane buff.

He recently underwent a major heart operation so she decided to take him on the anniversary flight as a treat.

She said: "My dad is mad about planes, I grew up going to all the air shows.

"It's a one off experience to have a flight around Bristol.

"It's fabulous. Mum is extremely jealous."

Mr Beasant, who joked that he was looking forward to flying under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, said: "I've been interested in planes since I was a toddler. I used to have a model airplane business."

The day began at Bristol Airport, with the Beasants among more than 100 people waiting to board the very special flight.

A new Airbus 319 was rolled onto the tarmac by easyJet for the occasion.

The company has officially named the £30m aircraft Sir George White in memory of the aviation pioneer.

Among those on board were the chief executive of easyJet Andy Harrison, chief executive of Bristol International Airport Robert Sinclair, chief executive of Bristol City Council Jan Ormondroyd, Bristol City Council leader Barbara Janke, Bristol Mayor Chris Davies and government minister Kevan Jones.

Ordinarily an aeroplane would fly at around 38,000ft but for this 45-minute flight to Filton Airport the pilot stayed as low as 6,000ft.

In a loop around the region, the plane crossed the Severn at Weston- super-Mare, flying over Merthyr Tydfil in Wales before coming back above the Severn Bridge. With brilliant blue skies, the views from the cabin were spectacular, taking in a range of Bristol sights.

Captain Kevin Bonfield flew over the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the ss Great Britain, before coming down at Filton.

The plane was then towed into the Brabazon hanger, welcomed by a brass band fanfare and people dressed in Victorian costume.

The hanger has been turned into something of a museum for local aviation history, with a number of exhibits dating back nine decades or more.

The Bristol Jupiter VI, dubbed 'the engine that built the company', was on show, along with a plane that it powered back in 1925.

The engine would become the most successful of its kind in the world, powering more than 230 different types of aircraft in 16 countries.

This and other aviation milestones were marked in a ceremony that celebrated the achievements that began with Sir George 100 years ago.

Robert Sinclair, chief executive of Bristol International Airport, said: "With easyJet basing 10 Airbus aircraft at Bristol International Airport year-round, we see the incredible results of Sir George White's vision every day.

"These aircraft link the South West to destinations across the UK and Europe, connecting the region's businesses to new markets, helping families and friends stay in touch and enabling local people to achieve their travel aspirations from their regional airport."

Bristol North West MP Doug Naysmith read a message of support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He said: "Since the Bristol Aeroplane Company was founded by Sir George White, the industry has pioneered some of the most significant technological developments and innovations.

"Today, Bristol and the South West can be proud of its position as one of the world's leading centres for aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing. It is truly a British success story."

Sir George White's great grandson, of the same name, ended the ceremony by officially naming the new Airbus plane. I

In his speech he referred to commentary by the Western Daily Press, published at the time of a speech his great-grandfather made about his intention to build planes in 1910. The reporter said this decision would "anticipate the time when flying machines will be so perfected they would be recommended among the methods of travel".

Andy Harrison, chief executive of easyJet, said his company had followed in the footsteps of a visionary man.

He said: "As the UK's largest airline, we are proud to honour Sir George White's pioneering spirit. Like Airbus, which has evolved from modest roots in Bristol to become a world market leader, easyJet has grown from a small airline with two aircraft to Europe's number one air transport network in just 15 years."

Tom Williams, Airbus' executive vice-president of programmes, said: "BAC 100 celebrates technology, innovation and advanced engineering in the West of England, past, present and future.

"For 100 years, Airbus and hundreds of other companies have led the technological development of our industry, and designed and manufactured some of the world's leading aircraft and engines right here in this quiet corner of the UK.

"Airbus is proud of our heritage in Bristol, and proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of the industry during the BAC 100 celebrations."

Source[/textarea]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Mr Beasant, who joked that he was looking forward to flying under the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Apparently a number of daredevil pilots flew under the Suspension Bridge (or Spension Bridge in Bristolian) until the 1930s, after which it was regarded as too dangerous.

However in 1957 a Flying Officer Crossley of the RAF's 501 Squadron based at Filton did so in a Vampire jet. This was expressly against regulations and the officer paid with his life because having successfully negotiated the underside of the bridge he was unable to keep control and crashed into the side of the Avon Gorge.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Had a look at the BRS apron website a few minutes ago and noticed BD ERJ 145, G-RJXH, parked on the Eastern Apron operating from Hawarden (Broughton) to Toulouse.

This is an 'inhouse' scheduled service for Airbus by bmi regional that normally operates via Filton.

I don't know why it has put its wheels down on the south side of the city instead of the north.