Low Cost Carriers

[stevem]

There are always questions on this board about flying with these new Low Cost Carriers, I just want to draw your attention to the past 2 weeks. Please seriously consider using a real full service airline, last thing I would want to be would be to read about a BM being lost to one of these airlines.

1st January 2007 - Adam Air (Indonesia) 737-400 aircraft lost
24th December 2006 - Lion Air (Indonesia) 737-400 serverely damaged in landing accident
22nd December 2006 - Air Asia (Malaysia) A320 - damaged in landing accident
20th December 2006 - Mandala Air (Indonesia) 737-200 severely damaged in landing accident


Air India Express (India) - pilots with 300 total flying hours are allowed to perform take offs and landings. Line Captains performing training duties without appropriate qualifications.


These are just some of the more recent incidents I can find. While I dont have a vendetta against these airlines, it would be better if they were forced to lift their game. Cheap fares means something has got to be cut from the budget.

[Thai Kwan Do]

Originally Posted by stevem

Air India Express (India) - pilots with 300 total flying hours are allowed to perform take offs and landings. Line Captains performing training duties without appropriate qualifications.

jeez... Ive got at least a 1000 hours on my flight simulator !

wat do they have ? 600 hours sim ??????
and some 350 hours flying for real?

[stevem]

It is a rather worrying situation. Even some of the large middle eastern carriers (I wont name them), are accepting DEC (direct entry captains) with only narrow bodied experience, as wide body captains. A bloody big difference driving a 737 around compared to 777.

Some of the guys sitting in the right hand seat of Air Asia flights are just out of cadet school, with not much more than those hours in the logbook. Heaven help those on board should the captain become incapacitated.

It really is cause for concern where it is all going.

[stevem]

Originally Posted by peterhol

jeez... Ive got at least a 1000 hours on my flight simulator !

What sim do you use and whats your fav metal.

[Thai Kwan Do]

Originally Posted by stevem

What sim do you use and whats your fav metal.

F/S 9 737-400 pilot in command

Wilco Publishing - Publisher of quality simulation software since 1997

[Thai Kwan Do]

Originally Posted by stevem

It is a rather worrying situation. Even some of the large middle eastern carriers (I wont name them), are accepting DEC (direct entry captains) with only narrow bodied experience, as wide body captains. A bloody big difference driving a 737 around compared to 777.

what are they saying to them ?
always trust our instruments son!

[Nautilus]

I always fly with Air Asia to Phuket and until last December, i have had not experience any sort of delay.

On the last trip in Dec, the flight to Phuket was delayed 40 minutes, and back to KL delayed 20 minutes.

At LCCT, i saw the plane land and was already on the runway. Many people started to queue. Nothing happened after a long time, i knew it was gonna be a delay. The pilot said something bout tyre problems.

Bloody hell, tyre problems!!! This is worrying. How much maintenance do they actually do?

I promise myself, that's the last Air Asia flight. Flying Malaysia Airlines to Phuket from now on.

[aussie dollar]

had trouble with air asia cancelling flights and hassles getting refund,but thats nothing if what stevem is saying is correct.
have already stopped using them.
phuket air had some real problems a while ago are they back ?
what about oz internal flights any better ?

[stevem]

Originally Posted by aussie dollar

what about oz internal flights any better ?

Nothing to worry about there AD.

Also just heard this arvo, that Air Asia has ordered another 100 A320's, on top of their previously ordered 100. What in the hell are they going to do with all of those.

[IRISH JONNY]

Its Better And Safer To Pay The Xtra Cash.........ij

[Spider]

What Air Asia is going to do whith another 100 A320's???

Simple, expansion, expansion and more expansion. We are waiting desperately for first Air Asia flight to touch down here in Saigon, and I will be one first and most regular future costumers on route SGN-BKK-SGN.

At this stage, Vietnam Airlines and THAI are still charging ridiculous 290 USD for a 1 hour flight return trip, imagine. I have been paying this for quite a while and look forward to better my finances in 2007. April should be start of first Air Asia flight to Saigon, so we all wait and see.

Furthermore, China is next big target. Millions of Chinese are waiting for Air Asia to come and to change their life style plus a major expansion is planned to Europe, with cheap flights from K.L.

Looking forward,

HAPPY 2007!!

Cheers,
Spider

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by Spider

At this stage, Vietnam Airlines and THAI are still charging ridiculous 290 USD for a 1 hour flight return trip, imagine. I have been paying this for quite a while and look forward to better my finances in 2007.

Currently Air France is the best deal going between SGN and BKK. Unfortunately they don't service the route every day. I checked (as an example) 25 to 30 Jan. Round trip US$159. The same days Thai and Vietnam Air was over $450. Actually you can fly Air France business class for $359.

[JockLOS]

Originally Posted by stevem

It is a rather worrying situation. Even some of the large middle eastern carriers (I wont name them), are accepting DEC (direct entry captains) with only narrow bodied experience, as wide body captains. A bloody big difference driving a 737 around compared to 777.

Some of the guys sitting in the right hand seat of Air Asia flights are just out of cadet school, with not much more than those hours in the logbook. Heaven help those on board should the captain become incapacitated.

It really is cause for concern where it is all going.

Its not a big worry direct entry captains going from narrow body to wide body planes. Airbus for example have very similar cockpit layouts on all their planes and pilots & cabin crew are only allowed to fly the aircraft they are trained on. If you listen to the test pilots for the new A380, they describe it handling very similar to an A320.
The Indian airline however allowing pilots with 300 hours to perform take off and landings is a worrying trend. I've been working in India for the past 3 years and know the short cuts they take re safety in my line of work... frightning...

[del boy]

You can't get a job without experience and you can't get experience without a job!

Somewhere down the line though, you have to give the new pilots a chance surely? They have to be exceptionally talented and capable to get that far in aviation in the first place.

I'm sure that the pretigious, established airlines are spoilt for choice with pilots. But with the recent explosion in air travel, I'd guess that there is a general shortage of pilots.

There are many reasons why budget airlines can offer cheaper prices, but I find it hard to believe that airlines will compromise on safety (at least the ones that arn't banned!). Maybe they are not so thorough with maintenance as others. But negligence? That kind of thing can potentially send an airline bankrupt.

As it is, I won't fly Air Asia again, at least not as a connecting flight. But that is because of the reliability factor, not safety concerns.

Also, low cost carriers don't have a bad safety record here in Europe. This is maybe a regional thing? I don't think that low cost = low safety. Still, why take the chance!? Go with the best you can afford!

[cybernator_uk]

Here in Europe i have no worries using Ryanair (They do the route from Frankfurt Hahn to London Stansted) And the worst i have ever had is a 25 min delay on my way to London. However i do prefer to use BA or Lufthansa when i can. However when flying in Asia i would stick with an airline like THAI etc. It maybe me but i think when i think about it mentally (for some strange reason) i do feel safer if i was to book THAI.

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by cybernator_uk

Here in Europe i have no worries using Ryanair (They do the route from Frankfurt Hahn to London Stansted) And the worst i have ever had is a 25 min delay on my way to London. However i do prefer to use BA or Lufthansa when i can. However when flying in Asia i would stick with an airline like THAI etc. It maybe me but i think when i think about it mentally (for some strange reason) i do feel safer if i was to book THAI.

If you knew the shortcuts that Ryanair, and probably other LCC make, especially with routine servicing, you wouldn't be so keen to step on one of their planes. I wouldn't touch them
Been told this by someone "in the know"

[cybernator_uk]

Originally Posted by dawsey

If you knew the shortcuts that Ryanair, and probably other LCC make, especially with routine servicing, you wouldn't be so keen to step on one of their planes. I wouldn't touch them
Been told this by someone "in the know"

Lol You are probably right... I keep saying i will stick with just BA or Lufthansa but somehow i never do.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

Its Better And Safer To Pay The Xtra Cash.........ij

When your number is called there's not much you can do about it - but you can cut the chances of it being called early !!

[Coyotee]

I have been flying to LOS using Airasia all the time and the maximum delay is 30 min...most time 15 min and 2 times right on time! The airbus A320 is good and comfortable and i have no trouble so far with the airline...i will still stick to it.

C