bmi rules the airwaves

On Saturday I flew bmi from Dublin to Heathrow. As bmi normally do, they played music in the cabin to while away the time. As I boarded the appropriate "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" by Travis (obviously catering for the Dublin market!) was playing. This was followed by The Bangles with "Eternal Flame". Again the line "say my name, sun shines through the rain" is pretty appropriate for the Irish weather.

Anyway... all this musical shenanigans reminded me of a flight with bmi on the same route last year. I believe it was April to be precise, and they played "Live Forever" by Oasis. Shortly into the song the music paused and the safety demo started. Once that was all out of the way the music came back on with Liam Gallagher belting out the lines:

"Maybe I just want to fly
Want to live, I don't want to die"

Now that's delicious timing.

My chariot G-DBCE departing LHR

PS On a sidenote I think airlines should jazz up the safety demo by playing "Safety Dance"

Lies, Damned Lies and Ryanair

The aircraft slams into the runway (on a calm and clear night) at Manchester causing many of my fellow passengers to let out the odd expletive or two. And then it happens - the little smug pre-recorded announcement tells us we have arrived ahead of schedule. Umm... sorry to interrupt but we have not arrived early – we have only landed! Only when the aircraft has reached its parking position can you claim to have arrived. After all, the flight schedules are based on block times and not flight times. A little bit of Airline 101!

So the aircraft reached the gate at 9.31pm. This meant we actually arrived late, albeit by one minute. Quite poor really seeing as they allow 50 minutes in the schedule for an off-peak flight from Dublin! But no doubt Ryanair will blame the Irish “tourist tax” for this as well...

Ryanair's CEO was unavailable for comment.

Manchester Airport - Home of the Mismatching Engines

This past weekend I was in Manchester and going through some of the photos I took at MAN I couldn't help but notice the number of aircraft with mismatching engine cowlings. It's bit like if a car door is replaced by another door that's a completely different colour - it's functional but sure looks odd.


The first photo is G-OZBS of Monarch with a fetching grey part on Engine No. 2.




bmi's G-DBCJ also sported a nice grey part which probably would have been less noticeable on the previous British Midland colour scheme.




Ryanair's EI-DCW jazzed things up with some dark blue on Engine No.2. Incidentally this is the aircraft I flew over from Dublin on. To remember its registration I christened it "the Carl Weathers".

The first of many First Choices - G-OOBC with a bit of white on its RR engine.

OY-VKI of Thomas Cook Scandinavia decided to break up the blue monotony on Engine No. 2 with a bit of white.

Another Ryanair. This time EI-DHA with a somewhat odd looking engine, admittedly not helped by the thrust reverser in action.

It's not really easy to see it on this photo but G-OOBK's Engine No. 1 has a dash of white towards the back.

Another First Choice aircraft, G-OOOZ. Engine No. 2 is 'ooozing' with white. Ok, I won't give up the day job!

Oh look, another First Choice. This time it's G-OOPH and yet again it's another bit of white, on Engine No. 1.

What's this? Surely not a First Choice aircraft? And yes, more white. This time on G-OOBG.

A third Ryanair aircraft with a patchwork engine. EI-DCZ.

And finally, an mismatching engine cowling part that actually adds colour to an aircraft! OM-ASG flashes a bit of blue amongst all the white.

Tough times at the airlines you may ask? More likely just a case of the parts being all that was available at short notice or as a temporary measure. After all, airlines like First Choice (or Thomson or whatever they may be called this week), Thomas Cook and Monarch don't really have time to have their aircraft sitting in a hangar at this time of year waiting for something that may be a bit more aesthetically pleasing. And besides it allows people to do seemingly pointless blogs!