Whats happening with the 330 order? (updated with pics)

Is the A333 still taking its first flight from MAN to MCO in April? or has it been pushed back? im confused =P

[Neil]

Is the A333 still taking its first flight from MAN to MCO in April? or has it been pushed back? im confused =P

Yes, it will be 2nd April from MAN-MCO

I thought the whole point of the Airbus flight decks was that if you could fly a 340, you could hop into a 330 and fly it? Or is that a major oversimplification?

Any news on the IFE and if it will have wifi yet?

[mitchja]

I thought the whole point of the Airbus flight decks was that if you could fly a 340, you could hop into a 330 and fly it? Or is that a major oversimplification?

The difference is that all existing VS A/C have 4 engines, whereas the A333 only has 2. To fly 2 engine A/C the flight deck crew and engineering staff have to be ETOPS qualified.

Any news on the IFE and if it will have wifi yet?

There's not going to be WiFi and the IFE is the latest Panasonic eX2 system, which will be a touch-screen AVOD system. There's more info about it on the VS Facebook page. I believe with this system those annoying under-seat IFE boxes are no more now too.

Someone posted pics on a.net of VSXY in EMA today, poor weather but first time I've seen underneath shots of the livery with the titles:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwhcvt/5571964858/

[Scrooge]

I thought the whole point of the Airbus flight decks was that if you could fly a 340, you could hop into a 330 and fly it? Or is that a major oversimplification?

The difference is that all existing VS A/C have 4 engines, whereas the A333 only has 2. To fly 2 engine A/C the flight deck crew and engineering staff have to be ETOPS qualified.

That's not entirely correct, neither the crew nor ground staff have to be ETOPS qualified, they only need to get ETOPS rated if VS plans to fly ETOPS routes (which will happen in the end)

However, to the original post, yes your oversimplifying it a bit. But there is minimal training to do to have the 340 crews fly 330's.

[Scrooge]

Just to carry on from the post above.

ETOPS is a two stage process, firstly the airframe and engines must be certified which the 330 is along with the RR engines.

Second the airline itself must be certified, which I believe VS is not yet, so no matter what we will be seeing longer routes with the 330's for a while.

Just to carry on from the post above.

ETOPS is a two stage process, firstly the airframe and engines must be certified which the 330 is along with the RR engines.

Second the airline itself must be certified, which I believe VS is not yet, so no matter what we will be seeing longer routes with the 330's for a while.

VS is ETOPS certified as of last Friday.

[Scrooge]

Thanks for that, 4 days behind the news :w

Thanks for that, 4 days behind the news :w

I was replying to a point raised in the post that I quoted.

What is this ridiculous secrecy in not showing pictures of the cabin, I wonder. Does anyone expect it to be radically different? We know the IFE, we know the seats ... so what gives with VS.

Maybe there is a surprise ... maybe PE has been overhauled like ANZ or the BD offerings???

Maybe they've got laurence llewelyn Bowen feverishly sorting out a new look in there as we speak.

Maybe they've got laurence llewelyn Bowen feverishly sorting out a new look in there as we speak.

Great! Black walls and chintz covered seats! :$ :$ )

what seats have been chosen?

Maybe they've got laurence llewelyn Bowen feverishly sorting out a new look in there as we speak.

Great! Black walls and chintz covered seats! :$ :$ )

And ridiculously oversized white shirts with big cuffs ...

What is this ridiculous secrecy in not showing pictures of the cabin, I wonder. Does anyone expect it to be radically different? We know the IFE, we know the seats ... so what gives with VS.

Maybe there is a surprise ... maybe PE has been overhauled like ANZ or the BD offerings???

There will be a "surprise". Got to be.

Probably want to have a big expensive publicity splash.

Won't want to organise that then find they can't fully crew the new aircraft or have to delay refits yet again ... but there are rumours of VS pulling back from the brink.

What is meant by 'pulling back from the brink'?

The first flight is April 2nd I think, MAN to MCO.

Perhaps VS want to get a few flights under their belts before starting the fanfare.

But I am surprised there are no pictures from yesterday's event.

Will the new ac have a new safety video or will Vic Reeves continue his run?

I think Lou and Andy from Little Britain could hack it.

What is meant by 'pulling back from the brink'?

Sorry - referring to earlier link.

It seems that VIR have pulled back from the threat to bring in TCX Captains to fly VIR aircraft - perhaps because TCX Captains said what they thought!

As you can see from the above link, all is not sweetness and light among the crew and other staff. It would not seem to be a good time for management egos to go rampant.

Hopefully sense will prevail and we will not hand back all the BA pax. that have jumped ship due to fools there.

It would be good to see the A333 and other improvements introduced without acrimony.

[The Moderators]

Following a discussion between the Moderators, a decision has been made to remove the posts containing the photos leaked on Facebook.

The decision was made to two reasons.

1. It appears that the images are either copyright of Virgin Atlantic or taken and posted on Facebook without their express permission.
2. There are doubts to the accuracy of the images, as in it shows a Y-W-Y configuration rather than the W-Y-Y config that has been seen in the official seat plan. This means they could be old images and not a fair representation.

The Virgin team have already removed the images from Facebook and will no doubt remove any new ones that appear.

While Virgin Atlantic do not tell V-Flyer what we can and cannot post, we have always tried to work with them rather than against.

Obviously once it goes into scheduled service, any photos members take themselves and post on the site are fair game. Equally, any commercial photographs taken may be linked to but should not be uploaded etc. in line with V-Flyer's copyright policy.

Please feel free to continue discussing the new A330-300.

The Moderators.

Does the red seem darker now than on the earlier pics or is it just me??

There seems to be several shades of red in the VS paint tins, and at least two on the new livery planes. David noticed it here a few days ago and I saw this last week.

I've also noticed the Virgin Redheads vary in colour - it depends on how much muddled strawberry they put in.

I'm mixing my threads as well as my drinks now :0

From the VS Face book page

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_ ... 3927359453

Join us at Manchester Airport Saturday 2nd April 2011 – The Runway Visitor Park

We will be at Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Park from 10.30am on Saturday (2nd April 2011) morning to get some plane spotter pics before G-VSXY our brand new A330 takes off on her inaugural flight to Orlando. Join us on the day to score some goodies and upload your own G-VSXY photos to Facebook from Saturday.