VS165 - Gone Tech

VS165 has gone tech on the taxiway towards LHR 9R. Issue with the SATCOM radio.

Plane has returned to a remote stand and technicians are onboard trying to solve. Think they are waiting for a replacement unit.

Starting to get a bit worried about pilot duty times.

SATCOM unit is kaput. Luckily G-VAHH Dream Girl is on the stand next to us. So the techs are removing the faulty unit and taking the one from Dream Girl to replace it.

New plan is to fly at a lower altitude. So that we can use radio rather than the SATCOM.

So we arrived safely in MBJ about 2 about behind schedule at 9:30pm. I think the issue must have been fixed, because we cruised over at FL410 according to the captain. But the onboard map was innit the entire flight.

The cabin crew onboard were exemplary considering the delay. Restarted the drinks service and kept us informed with updates roughly every ten minutes.

Was a bit weird having high tea at what would have been 7:30-8:00pm BST. But we move.

[mitchja]

Glad to got there, albeit it later than planned. I think the navigation maps are currently disable on all the B789’s as it was the same when I flew to/from YYZ back in July.

Glad to got there, albeit it later than planned. I think the navigation maps are currently disable on all the B789’s as it was the same when I flew to/from YYZ back in July.

Nav map worked fine on the B789 I was on to YYZ yesterday. A nice flight actually despite a med emergency on board that had me checking the map to see how close we were to Shannon in case of a divert back across the ATL. All good in the end and the crew acted exemplary.

Flight back (VS166) Monday 27th has now been cancelled. I assume this is because the outbound VS165 has been canned due to Hurricane Melissa.

Had the text and email this afternoon. No alternatives currently offered as i assume every flight is already fully booked or cancelled.

I assume i’ll be offered something in the coming days once the airport reopens, potentially American via Miami or Delta via ATL to connect to a VS inbound.

Assuming i accept the first offer given what recompense might i expect. Would VS cover reasonable expenses. Resort have given us two complimentary days, then $500 a night full board until
we leave. I think this sounds fair for a party of four.