Virgin Trans Tasman questions

[serfty]

That makes more sense. I assume the crews would still be NZ based?

More interesing would be the Oz aircraft I assume has 2x2 config in rows 1 and 2 - that would make row 3 more interesting.

 

[TomVexille]

More interesing would be the Oz aircraft I assume has 2x2 config in rows 1 and 2 - that would make row 3 more interesting.

I was thinking about that. It would be a nice surprise for someone who had paid for PE and got J.

 

[AdMEL]

Not on the route the OP is flying, ie:

22/01/2014 VA62 Melbourne Christchurch VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
23/01/2014 VA62 Melbourne Christchurch VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
29/01/2014 VA62 Melbourne Christchurch VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
30/01/2014 VA62 Melbourne Christchurch VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
31/01/2014 VA62 Melbourne Christchurch VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
01/02/2014 VA62 Melbourne Christchurch VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
02/02/2014 VA9948 Melbourne Christchurch VH-YFG B737-800 8J/168Y

Aother route that gets the mix:




Date Flight No From Via To Registration Type Configuration
19/01/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
19/01/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
20/01/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
20/01/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
21/01/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
21/01/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
24/01/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
24/01/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
27/01/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
27/01/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
28/01/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
28/01/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VOX B737-800 8J/168Y
17/02/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VUY B737-800 8J/168Y
17/02/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VUY B737-800 8J/168Y
18/02/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VUY B737-800 8J/168Y
18/02/2014 VA68 Brisbane Wellington VH-VUY B737-800 8J/168Y
19/02/2014 VA66 Brisbane Wellington VH-VUY B737-800 8J/168Y

Looks like VH-VOX likes flying to NZ!

Interesting, answers my question as to how they do so many routes with relatively few ZK aircraft.

Apparently they have 10. In reality, I don't think they actually do many flights though. Most of the flights are on NZ metal, with only approx 2 a day from each of MEL/SYD/BNE to AKL/CHC/WLG etc on VA metal.

I was thinking about that. It would be a nice surprise for someone who had paid for PE and got J.

Agreed!

 

[serfty]

Looks like VH-VOX likes flying to NZ!

...

... and VUY ...

I do believe the aircraft internals (life rafts etc.) must be set up to a different standard than that for domestic Oz.

 

[TomVexille]

... and VUY ...

I do believe the aircraft internals (life rafts etc.) must be set up to a different standard than that for domestic Oz.

Overwater certification?

 

[AdMEL]

Overwater certification?

I don't know anything about over water certification, but What about flights to Tassie? And any other flights that fly over water on the coast of mainland Oz, or do they all fly inland?

 

[markis10]

I don't know anything about over water certification, but What about flights to Tassie? And any other flights that fly over water on the coast of mainland Oz, or do they all fly inland?

Life rafts are dependent on distance:

in the case of an aircraft that has:
(i) 4 engines; or
(ii) 3 turbine engines; or
(iii) 2 turbine engines and complies with section 20.7.1B;
a distance equal to 120 minutes at normal cruising speed, or 400 miles, whichever is the less; or
(b) in any other case — a distance equal to 30 minutes at normal cruising speed, or 100 miles, whichever is the less.
Civil Aviation Order 20.11 - Emergency & life saving equipment & passenger control in emergencies (02/12/2004)

References:
ERSA-GEN-SP-1
AIP ENR 1.1 62 'Flights Over Water'
CAR 258
CAO 20.11 (5) Flotation Equipment

 

[AdMEL]

Life rafts are dependent on distance:

in the case of an aircraft that has:
(i) 4 engines; or
(ii) 3 turbine engines; or
(iii) 2 turbine engines and complies with section 20.7.1B;
a distance equal to 120 minutes at normal cruising speed, or 400 miles, whichever is the less; or
(b) in any other case — a distance equal to 30 minutes at normal cruising speed, or 100 miles, whichever is the less.
Civil Aviation Order 20.11 - Emergency & life saving equipment & passenger control in emergencies (02/12/2004)

References:
ERSA-GEN-SP-1
AIP ENR 1.1 62 'Flights Over Water'
CAR 258
CAO 20.11 (5) Flotation Equipment

Thanks. Figured it might have been distance based and that Tassie would be within the max distance without water cert.

 

[AdMEL]

After all the discussion about VH-VOX and VH-VUY liking flying to NZ, I was on VH-VUY CHC-MEL on VA63 on Saturday! Had a NZ crew (pilot, at least). At least 4 life rafts in the overhead lockers, which took up a lot of room, making overhead storage space, on what was a 100% full flight, a huge premium! Sitting in exit row seat, I was told that I would need to help with the life raft in an emergency - don't recall ever being told this on any flight before! Almost all flights I'm in an exit row. Some lucky PE passengers in J seats!

VA62 MEL-CHC on Fri Feb 21 was on a Virgin Samoa painted plane - I asked a crew member whether it was one of the NZ planes and was told yes. Do Virgin Samoa not have their own planes?

 

[737NG]

When the ZK airframes are scheduled for heavy maintenance, VOX or VUY are transferred to the NZ operation. This involves swapping over the crew operating manuals and as previoulsy mentioned the installation of additional emergency equipment. The flights are all crewed by VANZ crew. The Virgin Samoa aircraft is registered in NZ, it's operated by VANZ for Virgin Samoa.

 

[bass_ke]

This thread has popped back up in a timely manner, is as stating at VOX today wondering why it was in my memory