So where did all that pax carrying capability get Cathay during the SARS crisis? In deep pooh that’s where. When only freight would fly on the route we didn’t have cargo 744’s operating while pax aircraft cost money sitting around or operating with no passengers on them. We could operate the A346 with much more freight than a conventional 744 and make a profit with no need to carry a single passenger.

…another non FBW disappearing giving way to aircraft flown by computers and computers watched by so called pilots.

Ouch…so I’m a ‘so-called pilot’ now, am I?!? :p

Last thing I heard was that the long haul aircraft would be A330’s.

…but Virgin aren’t interested in a merger, just a takeover (according to my sources).

Dubai was priority but now Mumbai is in the lead…possibly by February.

Or by the fact that airlines need adequate performance to suit their needs rather than ultimate performance. Question – why do Virgin use the A346 over the B744 on the LHR-HKG route? Because the B744 hasn’t got the carrying capability we need. If Cathay want rid of theirs they should have spoken to us sooner. We can’t get enough of them!

I’m a bit like Matthew in that I don’t really see the point of counting post numbers but I would like to say that in my view it’s things like seeing people turn around from being difficult contributors to really great forum members that makes this forum so good. Long may it continue.

Can ATR’s fly as high as 5000/6000 metres?

I doubt they would have the performance to do it however they would need to have drop down oxygen fitted in order to operate above FL250 (about 4 miles up) with passengers under JAR.