Airbus a318, largest commercial plane lands @ TB Lettsome Airport
Titan Airways Airbus a318, a chartered flight which actually originated in the UK, flew directly from Canada to the VI with passengers. It had landed in Canada to refuel.
There have been aircrafts of such size landing at the local airport before but were military aircrafts.
Among the Government officials that made their way to the airport for the historic landing were Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1); Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9); Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5); Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Deputy Governor David D. Archer Jr.
Premier Fahie, speaking to Government Information Service (GIS), said just a few days ago in the House of Assembly (HoA) he made a statement that the VI would maximise what is there before thinking about lengthening the runway, which he said remains an ongoing discussion.
‘Direct flights within a year’
According to Premier Fahie, the BVI Airports Authority (BVIPA) is in discussions with airlines with aircrafts such as the size of the Airbus a318 to make direct flights, with possible flights from the VI to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and then to Miami, USA, with a direct flight on return to the VI, “And some going from here straight to Miami and back.”
“So we are going to maximise what we have to provide airlift from the VI to Canada, the US and other parts of the world,” Hon Fahie continued.
The Premier said the Virgin Islands will realise such flights within a year, since “there are some logistics to be worked out and there are also some things they are doing with the terminal as we speak and we are also looking to see how the BVI Airports Authority can also get to acquire more land around the airport for future use, because you can’t think for now you have to think for the future.”
Premier Fahie said the expected increase in airlifts, particularly to Canada and the United States, will help to boost the VI’s tourism product, “it’s going to help our economy, it’s going to help diversify our economy in many ways.”
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54 Responses to “Airbus a318, largest commercial plane lands @ TB Lettsome Airport”
Yes that flight would have been highly insured. The flight crew would have undergone an extensive amount of extra preparations and the first officer most likely did a previous flight on a smaller private jet and alot of simulation practice. Don't fool yourself, yes, it can take off but he wouldn't even be allowed to smell alcohol and every move would have already been calculated based on the runway length available for take off and also weather and wind conditions on the day of takeoff. I'm also surprised of the party on board after landing by non passengers. I assume the insurance was cleared for that all things considering that we in the industry know would be termed a violation . So yes it can take off but highly insured and skilled
Given all of the above, the pilots (which I think is what would happen and what they have already calculated) bring the flaps down to the full position, throttle up at the very beginning of the runway (before the bearings numbers) while the brakes are on, they should be able to takeoff okay. (Side note: the runway may need to be lengthen if we want to do direct flights further than MIA but you never know because the fuel range is over 3,000 NM and MIA is roughly 1,100 NM away so half full will get you there which is a lot of weight off the jet).
Fact #1 This flight was a chartered flight from Canada and not the United States. Two country's with 2 different international air space regulators. The Bvi is under a UK government air space regulator
Fact #2 The Airport at Beef island doesn't have the necessary Infrastructure for Jetliners flights commercially in terms of international regulators safety codes
Fact #3 This event was published in a very unappealing way to potential international airlines who might have taken up the call to fly direct flights commercially. Not chartered
Fact #4 Since the Bvi Government has made there statement via its Facebook page. Its shows that what is actually available to the Beef island Airport is chartered jetliners flights.
Fact #5 Commercial jetliners direct international flights Wont happen no time soon until this Government informs the nation on the Facts. Companies that have interests in doing jetliners commercial flight will look for serious upgrades to the airport and that is the redevelopment and expansion of the current runway to ensure international regulators safety codes are meet at EIS to prevent the 'what if?' That cant be ignored.
How safe are airbuses.?
Didn' realize that they were still in operation.
No need to be so angry, judgemental and condescending.
Patience and eveness of temper goes a long way in being a success in the airline industry.
I have been flying as a crewmember on airbusses for many moons.
What is embarassing are the typical Tolians with nasty attitudes and their inability to normally interact with human beings.
They landed in Canada to ReFuel.