Pakistan International Airlines

[ex_crew]

If the Boeing 777 doesn't perform from LBA then PIA will have to look at another aircraft type such as the A330 otherwise LBA will be at risk of loosing the service.

Do you think PIA would allow this to happen on a profit making route?

Air Blue have the perfect aircraft for the route if PIA did go.

 

[airbus]

the only thing with air blue is that thay have to go via turkey so it adds about an hour on to the flight add i dont thing pia will leve because the leeds bradford route is very popular and makes more mony and they only droped the monday flight because less people was traveling on the mondays manchester to islamabad flight

 

[Aviador]

Refer to page 18 and 19 of this thread.

I would doubt Air Blue's performance from LBA with an Airbus A321. The runway required at maximum take off weight for the A321 is 2,180m. The Leeds runway is 2,250m and the aircraft would be at maximum take-off weight for the majority of the time where as the Boeing 777-200 wouldn't need to be fully laden with fuel. A previous example of this would be the pilgrimage flights to mecca where the flights operated by the A321 routed via Turkey. On the return leg nearly all the baggage had to be left behind because of the weight restrictions.

 

[jason1-11]

The future of this route has to be the 777 as the airline will soon not have a viable substitute. If that means the airport and airline working together to find a solution, then that must happen or the route will be lost to Manchester possibly forever.

After all, this is Leeds most prestigious route and will send out a clear message to the likes of Emirates and Ethiad if PIA pull off the route.

Is this airport up for long-haul or not? Answers on a postcard.

 

[ex_crew]

I would be surprised if PIA pull out of this route, Im sure something can be sorted.

Is this airport up for long-haul or not? Answers on a postcard.

Yes but on the right aircraft e.g 767/757 ETOPS.

 

[Runway 32]

As previously mentioned the 777 will eventually show up at LBA its just a case of when. I'm not saying it will be in the next couple of months but one day you may well be surprised that a 777 turns up as opposed to the A310 without us all being aware until it lands!! LBA management and various services at LBA are still very much working towards handling the 777 on a regular basis. Watch this space!

 

[White Heather]

LBA management are in discussions with PIA about the 777 being used at LBA, as reported to the Consultative Committee.

LBA are also keen to see the 777 used because the A310 exceeds the airports noise limits when it is late and takes off within the night-time operating hours. This is not a problem when the flight is on time but has been in the past. More recently, the flight has seemed to be more punctual in general than it was this time last year.

 

[ex_crew]

Thanks for the update Heather, fingers crossed it will be a positive outcome.

 

[jason1-11]

What is the operpational issue with the 777 @ the LBIA: LDA / TORA, taxiway widths, apron ???

Having seen 747's, DC10, Tristars use the airpot on a regular basis I'd be interested to know.

Apologies if already covered in a previous thread.

 

[Aviador]

What is the operpational issue with the 777 @ the LBIA: LDA / TORA, taxiway widths, apron ???

Having seen 747's, DC10, Tristars use the airpot on a regular basis I'd be interested to know.

Apologies if already covered in a previous thread.

Green centreline taxiway lighting has been mentioned for the turning D at the end of runway 14. Very few other issues with the runway itself by all accounts.

 

[White Heather]

Yet as Jason says, we have in the past had 747's, DC10's and L1011's at LBA and they have all turned round on this D without any problems. Since the 777 is not bigger than the 747, I can't see why it is unable to turn round on the D. As far as I know the centre line on the D is as it was in the past when these other wide body types were used.

 

[ls27]

From ls27.
Is it not the type of wheel arrangement on the undercarriage that can cause problems on tight corners?

 

[Aviador]

I was just going to say the same! Is it not something to do with the wheelbase of the aircraft? They could be further apart than on say the Boeing 747 or Tristar. To be fair though, I think many of the mentioned problems are a bit of a myth and most people just don't really know. (myself included)

 

[ls27]

From ls27
A former collegue told me that when 777s started to fly into MAN they caused some problems with the taxi way surfaces.

 

[ls27]

I have just remembered that the bogies on the underwing undercarriage legs have six wheels, and therein lies the problem.

 

[White Heather]

So did those on the Tupolev 154, although that was obviously much smaller. Why does 6 wheels rather than 4 make a difference when turning in a tight D? Does this cause it to scrub the tyres or something?

 

[User0001]

Apparently there is srubbing by the tyres on corners. I was told by a former collegue that this caused problems at MAN.

 

[eastcoaster]

I was under the impression that the rear two wheels (in parallel) of the 6 bogey actually steered, rather like some of the long road wagons and some long European coaches. This helps by preventing scuffing of the tyres in a tight turn.
On another note, with the arrival of tonights A310 in PIA's new colour scheme. Surely they would'nt paint an aircraft whose remaining life with them was about to be retired. This may mean they are keeping them, or some, for a few more years yet.

 

[WYIA]

A couple more years i think. KLM painted both old 737-300 & Fokker100 aircraft when they knew they would be going within 2 years.

 

[Runway 32]

Some of the A310's may have more life left in them compared to the rest of fleet. I cannot see the entire fleet of A310's being replaced. I think we may see only half the fleet being replaced by something like the A330 for long haul operations and the remaining A310's staying to operate the high density short haul flights. Its been a while since we have seen any orders from PIA for new aircraft. Will we see something this year???