Pelican to start NTL CBR

[Mark Grima]

This seems to have slipped under the radar.

I missed the Brindabella service so am rather excited.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/flights-between-canberra-and-newcastle-to-resume-20150226-13pcpk.html
http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/02/pelican-airlines-plans-newcastle-sydney-services/

Cheers

M

[Stephen Brown]

The J32 is a crappy aircraft to fly that distance on. Too cramped. Should be a Dash 8.

[Mark Grima]

Maybe, but id take a crappy aircraft over no aircraft.

Dash 8 is far, far too big. Brindabella couldn't fill their metros, let alone the J41s.

Cheers

M

[Zac M]

There's no market for it, having done limited handling for Brindabella they were operating 9/10 flights with an extremely light load, probably would have averaged 3 or 4 pax, when it's full I'd imagine it's extremely cramped but this service to be even close to viable it needs to operate with a small aircraft.

[Mark Grima]

There is a delay in the commencement of Pelicans NTL CBR service.

I tried to may a return booking for 1-3 May and received an e-mail from the companies Flight Operations Manager

"Thank you for our interest in out Newcastle to Canberra service.
We are planning to start operating this service around the middle of May
We will be releasing prices when we start selling tickets which will be
around the middle of this month (April).
Our service to Canberra will be an early morning and afternoon return
service Monday to Friday and an afternoon service on Sundays."

They are offering group charter flights between now and then. Route training I'd imagine.

Cheers

M

[Stephen Brown]

Well if you are going to do business in Canberra, getting on a cramped aircraft in a suit is not good. You don't want to feel as if you have just gone ten rounds with a washing machine before you have to go to work during the day. Business people didn't use it before because of the aircraft, they won't now. For me it's still better to drive to Sydney and catch a flight form there.

Riding on a small aircraft might be fine for the geeks, not so for others.

[Ash W]

So what is your suggestion Stephen? Clearly there is no demand for something bigger, so the choices are go via Sydney or drive.

[Nigel C]

Would the B1900D have been a better option? I've not been in one, so I don't know its ergonomics.

[Stephen Brown]

1900D's are worse Nige. Been on too many of those in the Impulse days

Ash, I am just saying that this sort of flight is aimed at business people (even the article states this) who have to work in Canberra for the day. A small aircraft is not comfortable to fly in for this type of passenger. I feel that this route will not work with this type of aircraft. Sure its fun for us guys and gals who love aircraft to get up there bouncing around in cramped quarters, for others not so much.

Maybe if a larger aircraft was used then more people might use it??? Maybe people are avoiding it because they don't want to get on a small aircraft? Who knows! All I know is I won't be using it for the reasons stated previously.

[Rob R]

I was an Impulse pilot on the 1900D's and we had no problems with passengers wearing suits on the flights. Back in the day we operated NTL -MEL etc and we had lots of people wearing suits on the flights. The seat pitch and width is the same if not more that the Dash8 and Saab340's. The single seating each side of the cabin, actually gives you more personal space.

I've also flown the J31 and the 1 + 2 seating arrangement is not ideal, you still have the stand up cabin and the issue of space only becomes a problem when the flight is full.

If you go back to the early to mid 90's Eastern operated a fleet of Jetstreams all over NSW and they still managed to carry passengers in suits all the time.

[Grahame Hutchison]

I think the new Airbus A380 "Budget Economy" layout, with 11 across seating, would work just fine on this route.

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/Airbus 11 Across Seating.jpg

[Nigel C]

Nice one :)

[Kent Broadhead]

If you go back to the early to mid 90's Eastern operated a fleet of Jetstreams all over NSW and they still managed to carry passengers in suits all the time.

And 20 years ago you avoided them if you could. Or at least I did. And I only tripped over the wing spar once.

But I don't know that the type is the issue for the business market. If the price and flight time are right it could be worthwhile over travelling to Sydney first.

If you're not in a FF program....