Flybe and Belfast City

seems to be an overlook on BAes part!

The uncommanded engine power loss is referred to as rollback and I have the official BAe systems training video on how to deal with it right here beside me. It is icing linked. The 146 was designed (as you all probably know) to be a twin engine aeroplane using the motors from the VFW614 but they were no longer available when it finally got put in production. The only suitable solution available was to use 4 smaller motors. For anti-icing purposes compressed air (which is hot due to being compressed) is drawn off from the engines just before the combustion chambers which is then fed to the leading edges of the wings and tail surfaces to prevent ice build up. In certain icing conditions (bearing in mind that the 146 doesn’t have adequate performance to get above the icing) the anti-icing system starts robbing the engine of so much bleed air that the engines start losing power! The only option is to descend to warmer temperatures where there are less demands on the anti-icing system. Just hope you’re not over mountains at the time!

Oh, it has redeeming features. That great “squeal” when the flaps are extended and a high comfort level in the 2-3 configuration. It’s also different to the boring 737s we see all the time.

The 146, is no longer, my favourite aircraft.

Thank you wysiwyg.

The 146 also had/has problems with icing I think. At least is’s an improvement on the ATP!

Just a quickie for anyone who still thinks the 146 is the greatest thing since bread was cut –

There have been several incidents (more than 11 before 1995) where 146’s have suffered from uncommanded power loss on all 4 engines at the same time at a rate of 5% loss of engine speed per minute!

from my last message it was APU not PAU and Loud not Load :S

I think the AN-124 would have been carrying parts from the Bombarder range ironically built at Belfast City

My last visit to Aldergrove was by BAe146-200. It has a typical UK regional airport feel about it in terms of what traffic you can see.

There seemed to be a lot of Easyjet activity and shuttle flights to and from London by the main players, also holiday charters.

You can also witness some RAF chopper activity and I was lucky enough to see the big Antonov 124 heavylifter take to the skies.

Yup all Flybe. flights out of LGW are on the 146 except some winter Channel Island services which are with the -Q400. I fly GCI-LGW on Flybe. fairly regularly and while that 6 abreast is cramped, the service is normally good. I though they were quitting the Belfast service?

That’s right, a glider with 5 APU’s!

5 of em – presuming you’re referring to the PAU which is almost as load as the 4 eng,… errr… thingimabobs on the wings :rolleyes:

…which is why it needs 5 of them!

They’re not jet engines, they’re hair dryers!

I flew a 146-200 out of Belfast in February, having flown a CRJ into Northern Ireland.

Nothing to report really; I always find the 146/Avro experience unique. Its unusual looking out of the window and a) seeing wings above you, AND, jet engines.

The service was nothing flash, but, equally nothing bad either…pretty standard.

As for spotting, from my short time at City Airport, activity was very minimal. The only thing I saw was 146s, a CRJ and a BMI A321 from Heathrow.

Thanks Wysiwyg, that’s what I thought, I’ve never seen anything else in Flybe colours at Gatwick.

You normally only ever see Flybe 146’s out of Gatwick so I would think that is highly likely Martin.