V-Flyer

Is this ever a likelyhood in VS? I know the Nova/Odessey are ancient (and I suspect VHS or beta based), and looped so pointless for this sort of thing, but is there any particular reason why Virgin can't or won't do this. But with JAM or V-Port, is this likely to happen..

It would make my flights so much better. Even the 10 minutes taxi from landing to the gate might be worth sitting to see the end of something... Last off the plane?

I believe this can't be done because the CAA (UK aviation regulator) prohibits it.

My opinion is that no IFE on the ground is a good thing. I wouldn't want to be evacuating an aircraft with people getting tangled in headphone wires etc.

What I would say is that both BA and VS could probably switch it on a lot sooner and off a lot later than they currently do.

Agreed, could easily be started sooner.

I once took a My Travel Airways (MYT) flight to BGI and they kept the outside cameras on for take off and landing (but no IFE) - was great to see the landing from that perspective. Though I think the CAA don't allow this and MYT were registered overseas I believe...

Agreed, could easily be started sooner.

I once took a My Travel Airways (MYT) flight to BGI and they kept the outside cameras on for take off and landing (but no IFE) - was great to see the landing from that perspective. Though I think the CAA don't allow this and MYT were registered overseas I believe...

Thomas Cook still do this to the day and they are reg in the UK.

I thought someone on a Air New Zealand flight had commented about this... On a LAX to LHR flight.... So I assumed that it wasn't the UK regulations...

I've seen Emirates & Icelandair flights arrive into GLA with the IFE still on, and films still playing after the pax have disembarked. Same with departing: IFE is switched on/reset just before the pax board.

GlasgowBoy wrote:I've seen Emirates & Icelandair flights arrive into GLA with the IFE still on, and films still playing after the pax have disembarked. Same with departing: IFE is switched on/reset just before the pax board.

Was that looped or on demand?

So, is it technical problems with the VS or regulatory, or a combination of both?

Smid wrote:

GlasgowBoy wrote:I've seen Emirates & Icelandair flights arrive into GLA with the IFE still on, and films still playing after the pax have disembarked. Same with departing: IFE is switched on/reset just before the pax board.

Was that looped or on demand?

So, is it technical problems with the VS or regulatory, or a combination of both?

Emirates and Icelandair are not governed by CAA as they are registered elsewhere.

It isn't a technical problem with VS. I recall one flight several years ago from MCO where the IFE, albeit just the map was on when we got on the plane and remained on after landing. The other day when flying in to Dubai there was a promotional video of all the VS destinations being shown while we were landing and today, after they had shown the Change for Children video, someone had forgotten to switch the IFE off and so we had the map showing us doing loops of LHR until someone realised it and flicked the switch. Boo! Hiss!

Air France A380 had promo videos and outside cameras playing during take off and landing on their LHR to CDG flights last year. Terminal 4 Tarmac not that exciting but there was some impressive lightning storm footage after take off

I've been on VS flights where they turn the IFE off about 80 mins before landing -far too long.

Air New Zealand have gate to gate IFE... it's all to do with where the plane is registered.

We once flew into mco on airtours many years ago. They had a camera that looked out front from underneath the ac. We were able to see the guy guiding the plane onto stand. Once the ac came to a stand still, he turned around and bent over to put something down or something. He was not the slimmest, and we got an eyeful of his huge "builder's bum". The plane went nuts with cheers, laughter and clapping.

I ws on an SAA A346 that had the tail mounted camera - it was on throughout including take off & landing. fascinating to watch.

Is this standard on all A346's? If so a shame VS don't feed it through to the IFE

As already mentioned this is a CAA regulation thing. Any carrier using UK registered aircraft must comply with these CAA regulations.

VS 346's do have the same tail mounted external cameras (along with a belly cam as well) but these are for flight-deck use only.

I understand it's not so much the country of registration, but that the airlines have to get re-certified for operating IFE gate to gate, as their procedures will change.
Other airlines (Air Canada) place restrictions, such as you can use your IFE but only with earbuds, not headphones that have a band that go over the head, as then I guess the band may fall over your head and prevent you from leaving the aircraft.
Restrictions also apply to J pax as their screens are on stalks, similar to the UCS, so it's Y pax only.
VS could go for gate-to-gate IFE but it would cost them quite a bit to get certified.
But that's just my understanding... can't remember where I read that now.

mitchja wrote:VS 346's do have the same tail mounted external cameras (along with a belly cam as well) but these are for flight-deck use only.

And here is the view from the camera...

Tinkerbelle wrote:

mitchja wrote:VS 346's do have the same tail mounted external cameras (along with a belly cam as well) but these are for flight-deck use only.

And here is the view from the camera...

WOW!! That is sooooo exciting - NOT!! )