Good news for HUY, especially with Doncaster International about to open……but surely a new operator, not a new route as Thomson/Britannia have been operating Malaga out of Humberside this winter.

I have the magazine in front of me, and it clearly states 60,000 survey forms were sent out in September 2004, relating to flights taken since September 2003. 26,972 replies were received, of which 19,738 were used to compile the survey. The sample size for Palmair was 55, but that must be statistically significant to be included. Sample size for Monarch (leading UK charter airline) was 691, followed by (in survey order) Britannia 1508, Thomas Cook 715, First Choice 837 and finally, MyTravel 665.

The material on the ‘Which’ site is out of date and relates to the survey published in 2003, which also showed MyTravel propping up the table, with only JMC and Air Scandic being rated worse….and Palmair rated absolutely the best airline!

Also it is from 2002 and so hugely dated

The survey forms were sent out last year, to cover the period September 2003 – September 2004, so the results are NOT hugely dated. The results are also remarkably consistent over the years (the survey is biannual), with Palmair the top rated UK airline, and MyTravel consistently one of the worst.

Undoubtedly not a good thing to have happen…but considerably less problematic than having it do an unrequested hardover!!!

A justified pre-emptive strike from wysi…..over 5 hours from the first post and no slanging match developing, what’s wrong with the world?

They only survey a small number of people who fly. Its not realy a comprehensive survey.

The Consumer’s Association (publishers of Holiday Which? magazine) sent out 60,000 survey forms of which 26,972 were returned. Discounting business travellers and travel trade employees, they used 19,738 replies to compile their results. Airlines mentioned by less than 30 respondents were ignored.

I would suggest that the results are a pretty accurate survey, especially for the major airlines with large sample sizes…eg BA with 3166 responses is firmly mid-table. Palmair only has 55 responses, but I guess they would not have been included unless statistically significant (and they must be doing something correct, as they are always near the top of this bi-annual survey).

What is interesting in the result, is that the low-cost infants of major airlines score better results than the parent…..Bmibaby/Thomsonfly/MyTraveLite all are more highly rated than BMI/Britannia/MyTravel.

Landing speed is a function of aircraft weight……Vref (threshold speed) is 1.3Vs, where Vs is the stall speed in that particular configuration. Stall speed increases with weight, so a 757 at ferry weight (65 tonnes) will have a Vref Flap 30 of about 108 kts…..at normal landing weight (85 tonnes), Vref 30 is 128 kts (..ish, don’t have the books to hand). The approach is actually flown at a minimum speed of Vref plus 5 kts, and in strong wind conditions, a maximum of Vref plus 20 kts.

Malaga is a classic example of land and sea breezes. Assuming that there are no strong winds being produced by weather systems, the land heats up during the day, causing air to rise overland and the sea breeze to develop….hence a southeasterly wind and 14 in use. Overnight the reverse is true, with the sea being relatively warmer than the land. Here is part of today’s (typical) AGP forecast

LEMG 011100Z 011812 12010KT 9999 SCT018 BKN030 BECMG 0206 30010KT

..note the wind becoming northwesterly overnight as the land breeze develops. 14 is very definitely the preferential approach though, with a direct approach from the north, so its not unusual to be landing 14 with a light tailwind (or the notorious “Spanish Calm”). Nothing unusual about the 14 ILS, except for a slightly steeper glideslope (3.2 degrees, compared with the normal 3 degrees), which I presume is for obstacle clearance.

Posted these before on the commercial forum…the Frightener as the crew referred to her. Glasgow, 1985-ish.