Aviation Appreciation Station

[Cube Inmate]

Originally Posted by Violator

Tires look flat or is that normal?

Wheel chocks on the main gear give that illusion, and the rim around the stage cuts off the bottom of the nose gear.

Edit: Shooting down the propaganda
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...#axzz2K9jpXKdK

Edit again (and again): Pay no attention to the fact that the daily mail article linked above is full of errors (identifying an F-22 as an F-18, an F-18 as an F-5, etc. Stupid mass media.

[Bigtime]

Some leaks of the new WestJet (and possibly WestJet Encore) routes that will be announced Monday:

-Calgary --> DFW (American operates this route right now too)
-Toronto --> Myrtle Beach (possibly an Encore route with the Q400)
-Edmonton --> PHX goes year round now

[billybob123]

Wish they'd do IAH or Houston Hobby. It's crazy expensive on AC or United.

I don't think the Q400s can make it all the way to DFW/IAH though.

[mykalberta]

I can see WJ taking over some of the DFW and maybe ORD/LAX/MIA routes from AA.

Especially now with Premium Economy a full code share with AA should be possible with their C class passengers.

I can see IAH but I think WJ would need to do a full court press to get the IAH market which means 3X/day which is a good sized commitment when there is other low hanging fruit out there.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by billybob123

I don't think the Q400s can make it all the way to DFW/IAH though.

No, DFW will be a 737 route and not operated by Encore. This is one of the benefits of Encore starting up, WS will end up freeing some 737's to open up routes they are better suited for (instead of YYC-YEG for example).

[Bigtime]

http://www.yyc.com/News/tabid/91/art...h-of-2012.aspx

Calgary, AB. - It was another record-breaking year at Calgary International Airport (YYC), with over 13.6 million passengers travelling through the airport in 2012. While passenger traffic grew just over six per cent last year, cargo activity also grew with an increase of five per cent to over 117,000 metric tonnes. YYC is the leading passenger hub and cargo gateway in Alberta with the most extensive passenger service network in central Canada and is one of only three airports in Canada to offer passengers nonstop scheduled service to both Europe and Asia.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I can see IAH but I think WJ would need to do a full court press to get the IAH market which means 3X/day which is a good sized commitment when there is other low hanging fruit out there.

I don't know what kind of numbers YYC-IAH sees, but I can see why it's so expensive on AC or United. The flights I go on are always packed to the gills. How many a day right now? 2x AC, 2x United?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by billybob123

I don't know what kind of numbers YYC-IAH sees, but I can see why it's so expensive on AC or United. The flights I go on are always packed to the gills. How many a day right now? 2x AC, 2x United?

3 daily United, and 3 daily AC Express.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by billybob123

I don't know what kind of numbers YYC-IAH sees, but I can see why it's so expensive on AC or United. The flights I go on are always packed to the gills. How many a day right now? 2x AC, 2x United?

AC/UA (Continental) are both Star Alliance and I think are allowed to act as 1 airline on cross border routes.

Not sure if that applies with the ex Continental routes yet. But that would be the reasoning on the high prices. No competition. With 2 airlines it looks as if there is but there isnt any "real" competition.

WJ would disrupt that market, the question is would the companies that pack those planes use them over AC/United.

Hard to compete against what looks like 6-7 daily flights. To even have a chance WJ would have to have enough metal to drop 3X daily if not 4-5 to properly compete.

Maybe encore routes will replace some 737 on routes like YYC-YEG, YLW, YXE etc.

My guess is they are waiting for enough metal to do 4X YYC and 2-3X YYZ-IAH before they even attempt it.

[Bigtime]

I'm also thinking the YYC-IAH route needs to have a premium product up front to compete as well. Even the AC Express flights are operated by the CRJ-705's that are very nice in business class. So until WS has their new premium economy product up and running they may lose business on that front too.

[Bigtime]

Crosswind landings during winter operations at Dusseldorf, Germany:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2e4_1360275078

[KelVarnsen]

WestJet Reveals New Routes and Encore Operation in S13
by JL
Update at 0210GMT 11FEB13

As per 11FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, WestJet reveals planned new routes as well as operational routes for its regional turboprop unit “ENCORE”. Reservations for these new routes are now open since 10FEB13, and the airline is expected to make the announcement as early as 11FEB13.

NEW WESTJET Mainline Routes
Calgary – Dallas/Ft. Worth eff 29APR13 NEW 1 daily service
WS1554 YYC1025 – 1458DFW 73W D
WS1555 DFW1545 – 1829YYC 73W D

Toronto – Myrtle Beach eff 02MAY13 NEW 2 weekly service
WS1154 YYZ0930 – 1135MYR 73W 47
WS1155 MYR1220 – 1414YYZ 73W 47

WestJet Encore
WestJet Encore begins operation from 24JUN13, and will be further expanded from 15AUG13, with a fleet of 78-seater Dash8-Q400 aircraft.

Calgary – Edmonton eff 15AUG13 1 of 7 daily service replace Mainline operation
WS3252 YYC1220 – 1311YEG DH4 D
WS3253 YEG1715 – 1803YYC DH4 D

From 15SEP13, overall service increases from 7 to 9 daily, with 4 of 9 daily operated by Encore
WS3250 YYC0600 – 0651YEG DH4 D
WS3252 YYC1220 – 1311YEG DH4 D
WS3268 YYC1450 – 1541YEG DH4 D
WS3291 YYC1745 – 1836YEG DH4 D

WS3251 YEG1050 – 1138YYC DH4 D
WS3273 YEG1615 – 1703YYC DH4 D
WS3253 YEG1715 – 1803YYC DH4 D
WS3292 YEG2245 – 2333YYC DH4 D

Calgary – Fort St. John eff 24JUN13 NEW WestJet service
WS3101 YYC1600 – 1639YXJ DH4 D
WS3100 YXJ1030 – 1300YYC DH4 D

Calgary – Grande Prairie eff 15AUG13 NEW 1 daily nonstop service
WS3248 YYC2030 – 2154YQU DH4 D
WS3249 YQU0600 – 0717YYC DH4 D (eff 16AUG13)

Calgary – Nanaimo eff 24JUN13 NEW WestJet service
WS3109 YYC1100 – 1143YCD DH4 D
WS3108 YCD1230 – 1457YYC DH4 D

Schedule varies after 15SEP13

Calgary – Regina eff 15AUG13 1 of 4 daily service replace Mainline operation
WS3296 YYC0815 – 0943YQR DH4 D
WS3289 YQR1015 – 1148YYC DH4 D

Calgary – Saskatoon eff 24JUN13 Overall service increases from 4 to 5 daily
WS3241 YYC1650 – 1805YXE DH4 D
WS3246 YXE1835 – 1953YYC DH4 D

Edmonton – Grande Prairie eff 15AUG13 1 of 2 daily service replace Mainline operation
WS3252 YEG1345 – 1451YQU DH4 D
WS3253 YQU1530 – 1632YEG DH4 D

Vancouver – Fort St. John eff 24JUN13 NEW WestJet service
WS3102 YVR0815 – 0959YXJ DH4 D (eff 25JUN13)
WS3103 YXJ1710 – 1855YVR DH4 D

Vancouver – Victoria eff 24JUN13 NEW WestJet service
WS3103 YVR1925 – 1955YYJ DH4 D
WS3102 YYJ0715 – 0744YVR DH4 D (eff 25JUN13)

[sa226]

Only real surprises in there are YYC-YCD and YVR-YYJ.

Nanaimo to YVR is a very busy route, but considering there isn't much frequency from YYJ to YYC I'm surprised they would try Nanaimo. They could be on to something.

YYJ surprises me just because it is an AirCanada dominated route. Foot in the door I guess.

YYC to YXJ makes a ton of sense, I'm surprised Air Canada never bothered to try that route.

[Art Vandelay]

I thought YXJ would be an Encore destination at some point. YCD is a surprise especially from YYC. The mainline replacements/additions (YYCYEG YQU YXE
YQR) aren't a surprise either. YXE/YQR-YWG can't be too far off either I hope.

I'm sure they will add to the YVR-YYJ frequency when they get more planes.

[stazzy33]

I may have missed this earlier, but does anyone know why WJ Encore decided to go with Dash-8's over CRJs? I flew both on Air Canada this summer and the Dashes aren't even in the same league as the CRJs...

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by stazzy33

I may have missed this earlier, but does anyone know why WJ Encore decided to go with Dash-8's over CRJs? I flew both on Air Canada this summer and the Dashes aren't even in the same league as the CRJs...

Better fuel economy on short sectors, the Q400's are almost as fast as a CRJ on those same sector lengths, better economics due to those two reasons as well (you need to fill less seats on the Q to break even versus the RJ).

If you were flying AC Express Dash's this summer chances are you were on the older model -100 or -300. The Q400 is leaps and bounds above those ones.

[Bigtime]

Here's a map showing the YYC based routes that were announced for WestJet Encore:

[GP_Matt]

Calgary – Grande Prairie eff 15AUG13 NEW 1 daily nonstop service
WS3248 YYC2030 – 2154YQU DH4 D
WS3249 YQU0600 – 0717YYC DH4 D (eff 16AUG13)

I am really looking forward to this schedule. You will be able to fly in and out of Calgary the same day and get there first thing in the morning. Prior to this you couldn't get to Calgary until after 9 which means getting downtown after 10 and losing half the day.

I can see myself booking with Westjet more often going forward.

[stazzy33]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Better fuel economy on short sectors, the Q400's are almost as fast as a CRJ on those same sector lengths, better economics due to those two reasons as well (you need to fill less seats on the Q to break even versus the RJ).

If you were flying AC Express Dash's this summer chances are you were on the older model -100 or -300. The Q400 is leaps and bounds above those ones.

Hmm that's very cool! Thanks for the response!

[mykalberta]

Vancouver – Victoria eff 24JUN13 NEW WestJet service
WS3103 YVR1925 – 1955YYJ DH4 D
WS3102 YYJ0715 – 0744YVR DH4 D (eff 25JUN13)

Seems more like a parking route than anything (likely cheaper to park the D8 in YYJ than YVR. Im suprised they wouldnt have made that a YLW route instead. Also surprised that bird gets to bed bed early in the day - 1955. I wonder if WJ would turn YYJ into a mtce base for the D8.

Also strange they wouldnt try to decreased the turn time on the D8 to less than 45 minutes. 1/2 the size of a 737 I expected them to be able to turn them quicker to increase their utilization. Maybe they will once their flight planners get used to their operational stability etc.