V-Flyer

Morning boys and girls...

I am well aware that over the last couple of years (I think it's that long...) Virgin has been sending it's A340's to Manila. Sometimes directly from here, an sometimes swapping with another a/cft in Hong Kong for the shot hop from there.

What exactly goes on in Manila. I can only assume it is some kind of maintenance, but sometimes an acraft can be there for over a month.

Any insightment into this would be awesome. Cheers in advance

AJWR

Morning!

Manilla is where VS get Lufthansa technik to carry out their mandatory maintenance checks.

Depending on the age of aircraft, they need to go for a variety of checks categorised by A, B, C, D with D being the most intensive and time consuming check taking between 3 weeks and 2 months! The D check is done around every 5-6 years and considering the 346's were introduced around 2002, most of them are coming up or going for a D check.

Just checked at 7x 346's were delivered in 2006 so expect them to be heading to Manilla this year.

723 340-642 30/01/2006 G-VBLU Soul Sister
736 340-642 28/02/2006 G-VWIN Lady Luck
753 340-642 24/05/2006 G-VFIT Dancing Queen
764 340-642 19/07/2006 G-VFIZ Bubbles
765 340-642 23/08/2006 G-VYOU Emmeline Heaney
768 340-642 19/10/2006 G-VRED Scarlet Lady
787 340-642 20/12/2006 G-VWEB Surfer Girl

There is an interesting little topic on Flyertalk, which shows what goes on at BA's maintenance facility in Cardiff. This will be pretty much the same as the VS one in Manila.

It shows one of the 747's getting a full 37 day 'D' check, involving a total strip out of the cabin.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british- ... rdiff.html

Wow, for the speedy and informed replies.

I suspected (I think i have actually read somewhere before) that Lufthansa Technik has servicing facilities over there.

I'll check the thread out and do some research on the different exams.

Just quickly, G-VWIN is current en route with VS819 from MNL to Zurich. Is this for other maintenance. I believe the A333's visited ZRH previously for WiFi work and some cabin work. Is this the same thing?? ?|

Thanks folks
y)

Well, from Manila, I looked at the thread header and thought, who wants to know what I'm up to .

Will have a look to see if I can spot any when I leave on Thursday!

Lol!

Thanks a lot, that'd be great! Let me know what you spot