Schedule Query

[NigelC]

Could someone have a look at the schedule for CBF3004/5 LHR/EDI/LHR T3, timings are the same both ways. I would hazard a guess the northbound should be earlier.

Nigel C

[DaveB]

Hi Nige

No black art in the majority of schedules but a number of small errors. Destinations are calculated (by and large) point-to-point at groundspeed plus 40mins which, in most cases works but the odd one does crop up Quickly picking up a copy of BA's World Timetable 1Feb-30Jun '83 which I happen to have at hand.. Lon-EDI (Tri) was 0940-1050.. return (Tri) was 1140-1250.. 1hr10 both ways so in this case, I'm guessing BA were hoping to cut the odd corner on the Southbound run

While all the main destinations are bonafide with very few exceptions (the Dove and perhaps 780 are the only 2 that spring to mind), it isn't possible for us to compress a 'selection' of airlines whole years timetables into a single day (which is what you see everytime you book a flight) so a little artistic license is required when compiling the VA timetables so.. rule of thumb comes into play.. direct-to plus 40mins.
However, every now and again, this doesn't work so.. if you find a route where the timetable can't be met (eg.. the flight time is too short), by all means let either me or John know and we'll adjust the FT accordingly

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Dave

I might be reading it wrong but I think Nigel means departure arrival times not flight duration times

[NigelC]

Yep, they both depart at 1630.

[DaveB]

D'oh!

Now.. that's what I call a fast turnaround Sri Nige.. I've had a rash of 748 times coming back at me recently that would be more suitable for a Trident so my head is in 'short time' mode. I'll take a look and adjust as necessary

Tks both for pointing that out

EDIT.. Outbound changed to 1500-1610.. Return 1630-1740. The cabin seats will still be warm but that's the nature of the beast

ATB

DaveB

[NigelC]

Many thanks for that Dave. Hope the dispatcher at EDI's on his toes

[DaveB]

Yes indeed. Looking at the '83 Shuttle routes, departures and arrivals were pretty much identical between LON-EDI-LON so as a Trident left LHR, a Trident left EDI (which is probably where John got the identical times from) Turnaround times between flights seems to be 40mins at each end so yes.. I've cut that down by half and improved productivity (as well as stretched the bounds of reality)
I can tweak it further if you like but to be honest, I never like changing any of Johns route times as he keeps a complete list of all 5000-odd flights we operate in excel and me fiddling cocks that up He's still on a bit of a sojurn at the mo but pops in from time to time so if any flight times are changed, it's best they're highlighted here rather than via PM so that he can see the post and make adjustments to his database at home

ATB

DaveB

[NigelC]

I was working at Scottish ATCC as an ATC Assistant around that time so I remember the Tridents on the Shuttles well. For those with an eye to detail, the Stored Flight Plans to GLA and EDI had the Tridents filed Northbound at FL260 and Southbound at FL270, and the BCal 1-11s out of Gatwick at FL280 and 290 respectively. Of course the crew could always request higher on the day if they so wished. If I recall right, there was an agreement between the Talla sector and Sector 26 (High Level) that TMA arrival traffic would be at FL260 or below 18DME south of Dean Cross.

[DaveB]

Hi Nige

TksVM for that. Added little snippets of detail however small go a long way to enhance the overall experience

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Good point Dave

It was quite usual then for services to be operated by two aircraft especially if the had been an overnight stop off base, the early one out would be matched by a similar time from LHR..this would be throughout the day and usually resulted in a different aircraft night stopping each nigh giving a nice rotation without too many days way from main base.