Todos os direitos de imagens postadas aqui pertencem exclusivamente ao autor, salvo se especificamente creditado para alguém. /// All rights to images posted here belong exclusively to the author unless specifically credited to someone else.
Sexta-feira, 27 de Junho de 2008
First flight on an ATR 72-500


From: www.atr.fr



Picture of Cebu Pacific ATR 72-500 by Laurent of airliners.net (seen here as he lands in Toulouse during one of the test flights)




Configuration of Cebu Pacific's ATR 72-500






I have just arrived from the airport and still excited about my flight. This is not actually about my travel destination but basically a flight report on ATR 72-500 of Cebu Pacific, the first time I flew on one! And this is also my first time to write an authentic flight report. That means I flew just for the heck of it!

Here we go!


5J405
Cebu Pacific

Date: 16 June 2008
Dep: Laoag International (LAO)
Gate: Monogate
Boarding Time: 1920
Dep Time: 1955 scheduled, 1957 actual
Load: 100%
Seat: 19D/16
Class: Economy
Aircraft: ATR 72-500
Aircraft Registration Number: RP-7251
Weather during take off: Broken Clouds
Arr: Manila Ninoy Aquino International (MNL)
Gate: Monogate
Arr Time: 2115 scheduled, 2115 actual
Weather during landing: Broken clouds, scattered rain shower



I have been stressed out (this is an understatement) for the past weeks and I felt I needed a break. Sure, for me, that "break" means flying or going to a new place or a combination of both depending on my tight budget (always on a tight budget, lol!)

I was choosing between flying to Laoag City and experience the new ATR 72-500 of Cebu Pacific and do a quick side trip to Abra and Ilocos Sur or to Iloilo City which I have never visited yet and fly with Philippine Airlines' Airbus 320 (which I have flown a couple of times) to see the new and nice airport. I chose the former.

Due to lack of time and non-availability of seats going to Laoag Airport with Cebu Pacific, me and my sister decided to take the bus. I don't really like to travel by bus unless I am traveling to a new place and there are new things to see along the way. For me traveling to a new place is as important as the flight experience. And since I am always on a tight budget, I try to squeeze in those desired 'flights' into my travel itineraries thus resulting to a less comfortable accommodation or mediocre food. I don't mind though. I always rough it.

The bus ride (10 hours) was surprisingly nice because it only had one stop which was Pangasinan. Usually, the regular air-conditioned buses that ply the route stop in every province.

There were bunch of European youngsters on board and I asked one of them (in French) if they're French and one of the ladies said yes. And they're going to Ilocos. Would be nice to practise my French with them. Oh well, too bad I did not get their email addies.

Anyway, after 2 days in Ilocos Region (yeah, that's quick), I had to return back to Manila. So I should go to Laoag City and fly from there. This would be the fastest way to get to Manila because Laoag is only an hour away (depends on the aircraft used) by plane. The thing is, going to Laoag City from where I was is way too complicated. I had to take the jeep to go the capital and from there to Narvacan (Ilocos Sur), another bus ride; and again took a bus from Narvacan to Laoag via Vigan. From the Farinas bus station in Laoag, I rented a tricycle for 100 pesos going to the airport. But if you have the time and willing to walk for some distance, take the jeepney going to Gabu. The (broken) trip took some 4 hours.

The good side is: I was able to fly!


Laoag International Airport

This airport is the northernmost international airport in the Philippines by geographical location. It has a 2,420-meter runway and is considered as an alternative/secondary international airport by the Philippine Air Transportation Office.

Well, the airport terminal is far cry from the international standards for an international airport. It really needs improvement. But the airport staff were all friendly though. I would not mind using it again.

Check-in

I arrived early. There was no queue at check-in at Cebu Pacific desk. The agent was efficient. I requested for the window seat on the last row. I got it.

Boarding

I should have had plenty of time to watch takeoffs and landings. But no. Only Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines would land at that time of the day and Laoag Airport is not really a plane spotters' favorite. I had some snack because I knew the thing with budget airlines )no free meal or no meal at all!). I was amongst the first into gate, settled in until the aircraft was ready for boarding. Boarding was efficient and took place fairly quickly. The flight attendants were professional enough. Before boarding the aircraft, I tried to snap some photos but it did not work. They came out dark. Too bad. No aerobridge was used so we had to climb up the stairs to get to the aircraft. Anyway, right before I got in, I gave some pat on the aircraft rear door for taking me to my destination. Then the beautiful flight stewardess greeted me courteously with a smile. What a nice welcome.

And when I got in, yayyyy! The aircraft still has the smell of new! This is a spanking bran new aircraft! The blue/green leather seats looked good. Anyway, I have been following its delivery from Europe to Manila and now I could not believe I was to fly on it! The aircraft was spotless and immaculately clean! Besides it was my first time fly on an ATR 72-500 so I got excited even more.

The take off

I noticed that the ATR 72-500 had a short takeoff roll. It was smooth and quiet yet a powerful take off, even on climb out. It has to be one of the smoothest take-offs I have had. It's a peaceful and serene aircraft to enjoy a flight on.


The flight

The flight was short at only a little bit longer than an hour. Strangely there was no service on board. I mean, no food whatsoever. The flight was 1.25 hours and I was expecting some free drinks. I have flown with Cebu Pacific going to Hong Kong and back and on both legs, drinks were provided for free but other items such as the sandwiches or cheesecakes were sold for a small fee. Anyway, maybe this is the thing with their domestic flights. I'm not complaining though.

5J ATR 72-500 aircraft is configured in a 4 abreast Y class (2-2). I found the seat width to be adequate in every way. It was one of the most spacious short haul Y seats and leg rooms I'd ever been in, which as someone 5'10" is nice. My flight was 100% full. No IFE system.

Aside from occasional turbulence near Manila, the flight was pretty smooth.

When we were 92 nautical miles to Manila, the captain made some announcement about the weather in Manila and the estimated time of arrival. He also welcomed us to the city.

Landing

Landing was also smooth. And this has got to be the best aerial view of Manila I had so far.

Baggage claim at the domestic terminal was OK. But the only thing that I did not understand was why would the guards collect the terminal fee receipt before the passengers go out (and I think also the carry-on tag given by Cebu Pacific). Hey, that's for my collection!

Conclusion: ATR has already landed on my favourite aircraft list! I enjoyed the flight and hope to fly on it again. And kodus to the pilots!

Anyway, hopped a cab and to office I went. :)

Here are some photos of my journey:



Abra road



A ricefield in Abra



Tobacco plantation in Abra



Ilocos Sur-Abra boundary



This is the "Junction" )or the locals would simply call: "Diangsiyon") in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. I got off here to take a bus going to Vigan and Laoag. This direction is going to Manila.



Going to Abra



Going to Vigan and Laoag



Inside the Farinas Bus going to Laoag via Vigan. This is a scenic road but due to my proximity to both seat mates (left and right), taking photos was impossible and I had no way to hold the camera steady enough.





Tobacco plantation in Ilocos Norte



Tricycle ride going to the airport..........




The entrance (Laoag International Airport). Not so "international". The trouble is that there's no public transportation to and from the airport. Yeah, there is a jeepney but you have to walk to get to the terminal itself, and it not that near. It's either you have a car or rent a trike.



Check-in counter of Cebu Pacific (right) and ticketing office of Philippine Airlines (left)



Pre-departure area (you have to be at the centre because the farther right or left you go, the hotter it gets because the air-conditioning system is only focused on the centre)



Airbus 320 of Philippine Airlines (registration number: RP-8609) arriving from Manila at 1825; when it took off, the ATR of Cebu Pacific landed.



Interior of the Cebu Pacific ATR 72-500! I don't like the green/blue combination but the cleanliness of the aircraft and its smell made it up for me. I must tell though that Cebu Pacific's livery has got one of the worst colour schemes around.



The safety card. The lady sitting beside me was wondering why I was taking all these pictures. She could have thought it was my first flight ever! Lol



I like the boarding pass though



Leg room (not bad for a small plane). Nice surprise!



publicado por Sadiri Gonzales às 17:27
link do post | comentar | favorito

mais sobre mim
pesquisar
 
Maio 2009
Dom
Seg
Ter
Qua
Qui
Sex
Sab

1
2

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10
11
12
13
14
15
16

17
18
19
20
21
22

24
25
27
28
29
30

31


posts recentes

Cidade de Vigan (Filipina...

Abra (Filipinas)

Voo com ATR 72-500 da Ceb...

Hundred Islands, Philippi...

Baguio City, Philippines

Ilocos Norte, Filipinas

In Pagudpud, Islands Phil...

Q400 da PAL Express e T3 ...

Arredores de Tuguegarao, ...

Macau and Hong Kong (Janu...

Air Macau (NX) and Macau...

Tagaytay, Philippines (Ja...

Just arrived in Manila!

Take off from Abu Dhabi A...

Abu Dhabi International A...

Just landed at Abu Dhabi ...

Paris Charles de Gaulle A...

Going back home to the Ph...

Leaving Belgium now...

Colddddddd

Cold Leuven

Asian..............

Luxembourg City, LUXEMBOU...

Leuven and Wallonie, Belg...

My mobile phones are work...

First day of training

In Belgium here I am

Arrival at Abu Dhabi Inte...

Flight to Abu Dhabi with ...

My 1st time with my favou...

First flight on an ATR 72...

Cebu Pacific Hong Kong-Ma...

Manila-Laoag with Philipp...

Busy QC

Manila......revisited

GökerHus sou eu!

First time to fly Philipp...

Manila-Hong Kong-Manila C...

Bordeaux-Paris-Istanbul-A...

My first time with Boeing...

Going back to the Philipp...

KLM B737 to Gothenburg, S...

Air Europa Boeing 737 to ...

KLM Boeing 737 to Copenha...

Olympic Airways (Airlines...

Lufthansa/Air Canada: Tri...

Aerolíneas Argentinas : f...

In the Netherlands

Virgin Express Boeing 737...

SWISS MD11 from Manila to...

arquivos

Maio 2009

Abril 2009

Março 2009

Janeiro 2009

Novembro 2008

Outubro 2008

Junho 2008

Maio 2008

Março 2006

Outubro 2005

Março 2005

Setembro 2003

Março 2003

Janeiro 2003

Dezembro 2002

Outubro 2002

Setembro 2002

Julho 2002

Dezembro 2001

Outubro 2001

tags

abu dhabi (auh)

aerolineas argentinas (ar)

air canada (ac)

air europa (ux)

air france (af)

air macau (nx)

airbus 319

airbus 320

airbus 321

airbus 330

airbus 340

ams (amsterdam)

amsterdam (ams)

athens (ath)

atr 72-500

aviação

barcelona (bcn)

belgium

boeing 737

boeing 747-400

boeing 757

boeing 767

boeing 777-200er

boeing 777-300er

bordeaux (bod)

british airways (ba)

brussels (bru)

canada

cathay pacific (cx)

cebu (ceb)

cebu pacific (5j)

coisas minhas/personal stuff/cosas mias

copenhagen (cph)

denmark

embraer 135

etihad airways (ey)

filipinas

france

frankfurt (fra)

gothenburg (got)

greece

hong kong (hkg)

istanbul (ist)

klm royal dutch airlines (kl)

kuala lumpur (kul)

kul (kuala lumpur)

laoag (lao)

leuven

london (lhr)

lufthansa (lh)

lusófonia

luxembourg

luxembourg city

macau (mfm)

mad (madrid)

madrid (mad)

manila (mnl)

md88

mnl (manila)

munich (muc)

netherlands

olympic airways (oa)

palma de mallorca (pmi)

paris (cdg)

philippine airlines (pr)

porto

portugal

q400

swiss international airlines (lx)

switzerland

toronto (yyz)

trip/flight reports

tuguegarao (tug)

turkey

virgin express (tv)

zurich (zrh)

todas as tags

links
blogs SAPO
subscrever feeds