First Choice Airways Manchester to Arrecife

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Member for

20 years 2 months

Posts: 696

Flight No FCA 2410
Manchester to Arrecife
Boeing 757-200
G-OOOY
Dept 7/4/05 08:00
Flight time 4 hours

Woke early to find that it was snowing and had already dumped around 2 inches of the white stuff, great living up here in the sticks and having to drive was not looking good.
Anyway made it onto the M60 and arrived at the car park at 05:45, hoped onto the bus and got to check in at terminal 2.
Check in was quite busy around 30 or so in front or us and within five minuets we preceded to the desk. We were given seats 26E and F, not to bad even though I asked to sit further forward.
Anyway got through security ok but Mrs Wilag was poked and prodded and frisked, seems that this morning they were picking on all females, anyway walked over to the departure area and sat down. Boarding commenced at 07:30 and we all made our way down the air bridge on to oscar yanky.
Interior was clean and fairly new looking but the lack of room once seated did seem a trifle tight compared with other charter airlines.

View at Manchester before departure:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=75401&stc=1

Pushed back at 08:00 on the dot and like a waking lion those RB211 growled into life, a sense of excitement now grew as I thought about the take off and remembered what these Boeing rockets are like. Crossed over 24R and lined up behind a Ryanair 737-200, he thundered off and it was now our turn.
Brakes released and power stabilised we rolled forward and then take off thrust set we were rammed back in our seats as we powered down the runway, 20 seconds later we were airborne.

Just after take off:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=75405&stc=1

After around 20 minutes we were in the cruise at 35000ft, breakfast was served and the usual drinks and so on. I then settled back and spent the next few hours relaxing as there isn’t much else to do.

Cabin view at 35000ft
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=75406&stc=1

Decent started around 30mins prior to touchdown and soon we were over Lanzarote, we flew directly opposite the airport which can be seen in this picture:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=75407&stc=1

Then made a 180 degree turn as well as dropping the wheels and setting flap to full, this made for a very interesting landing, as we just finished the turn and within 6 seconds we made contact with the runway, idle reverse and hardly any breaking were vacated off runway 03.

Once parked and engines wound down the usual mass clicking off seatbelts filled the cabin, what is it with these people why the rush.
Departed via the rear steps into 25 degrees of warm sunshine:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=75408&stc=1

Bussed to terminal and found out that there was a cleaners strike at the airport, the place was filthy, rubbish bins overflowing and cigarette buts all over the place, and to top it off they were protesting in the terminal with these blooming whistles, great start. Anyway got the bags and set off to the hotel for a well earned rest and plenty of beer drinking:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=75415&stc=1

Cheers

Hope you enjoy, will do the return trip when I sort the rest of the photos out.

Regards

Andy

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Original post

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,670

Nice report and pics!

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 664

Great report Wilag, nice read and some great pics. :)

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Excellent report and shots Wilag, thoroughly enjoyed it :)

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 929

Brill report wilag, glad you enjoyed Lanzarote, I noticed that all the inbound aircraft on that day were flying over the airport, they would usually fly around the other side and turn left over Puerto Del Carmen. I also think I saw your flight at around the time you stated, a was walking along the front and saw loads, brill photos too!

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 1,887

Great report there

Member for

20 years 2 months

Posts: 696

Brill report wilag, glad you enjoyed Lanzarote, I noticed that all the inbound aircraft on that day were flying over the airport, they would usually fly around the other side and turn left over Puerto Del Carmen. I also think I saw your flight at around the time you stated, a was walking along the front and saw loads, brill photos too!

Thanks mate,

Did you have a good time?, the approach was different to say the least, was 99% sure we would be executing a go around, guess Mr Captain was just showing off his good flying skills.

Did you have to put up with the noisy racket at the Airport?

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

Nice report

Member for

20 years 11 months

Posts: 12,842

Great report and photos, that last shot has made me thirsty for an ale