Trip Report:-LCA-MAN with XLA Part 2

XLA7113-11/04/04
Scheduled Time of Departure: 19:10
Actual Time of Departure: 19:09
Scheduled Time of Arival: 22:10
Actual Time of Arrival: 21:42
Aircraft: TF-ARD
This is the return flight back to Manchester after having a wonderful holiday in Paphos. We got to Larnaca about 16:50 for a 19:10 departure. We got into the smallest queue and within 10 minutes of joining it, we were at the front of the queue. This time, the check-in assistant asked us how many window seats we wanted and we said two. We checked our bags in and went through to departures where we went literally straight through security and into departures. I got to one of the few seats where you could see the movements on the runway. From here, I saw a BA 763 depart, two ECA 738s land, a HCY 738 land, of course, I saw my plane arrive 10 minutes ahead of schedule, and a Royal Jordanian land as well as the usual CY planes depart. Soon enough, it was time to board, our passports were checked and we boarded the bus to get to the aircraft. The apron was busy again with both CY 332s, an EK 332 and two ECA 738s the only additions to the traffic I had seen. When we arrived at the aircraft, I noticed it was the same one again. We boarded via the back door on the left and took our seats. When everyone had boarded, it became apparent that this flight was not going to be anywhere near full. We ended up getting four window seats and my dad, my mum, my sister and myself each got a row of seats to ourselves. The safety demonstration was again done very professionally. Following a very smoky start-up, we taxied out to the runway behind a CY 332 and the EK 332 with an ECA 738 behind us. The 330s took off pretty quickly leaving us to do a rolling take-off. About 10 seconds into the roll, we lifted up off the runway and up over the Meditteranean before heading over Limassol, Paphos airport and Paphos itself. We soon turned north and the seatbelt signs were switched off. The cabin crew again started off with a headsets and snacks trolley. Soon after, it was the drinks trolley. The film then started which on the inbound flight was Big Fish followed by a selection of music videos. The meal came round which was either lamb in gravy or chicken in a cream sauce. I chose the chicken and I have to say, it was again very tasty. About half way through the flight, the noise from the left engine got significantly louder leaving quite a few nervous looks. Thankfully, about 5 minutes later, it clamed down. The duty free came round, but I didn’t buy anything this time. Another drinks service before we commenced our descent directly above the River Thames which was clearly visible. About 10 minutes prior to touchdown, the airbrakes were again used, these were on until about 2 minutes before landing. This might have been to slow the aircraft down so we didn’t need to use reverse thrust which is banned at MAN after 20:00. Anyway, we smoothly touched down on 24R and used a lot of manual braking as we were still going pretty quick. We came off by the Viewing Park and I saw the floodlit Concorde and RJX. We passed the viewing mounds(just about visible) and towards T2. There were lots of parked aircraft at the remote stands including G-BNWH which was having maintenance, G-BYAN in Thomson colours, G-XLAH, G-OOBG, G-OOAX and the US Airways 757. We parked up at gate 210 and we disembarked via an airbridge at the second left door again. Due to the efficiency of the ground handlers, we had our bags and out of the terminal by 22:00, 10 minutes before our scheduled time of arrival!!

General comments: I was very impressed with the cabin crew who were very professional and friendly at the same time. The leather seats were great!! The aircraft did not look 19 years old(which it is) and was generally very reliable. I would have expected the purser to know we were in Larnaca, not Las Palmas!! I thought the only thing wrong was that there was very limited information from the flightdeck. Generally, it was excellent.