Suvarnabhumi Airport

[Moonfruit]

So i was over at my friends place on Sunday having lunch when we got around to discussing the new Airport. He is a long haul pilot for Thai Airways and he tells me hes kinda worried. They are supposedly definately going aheah with the opening next month, however he has a few small problems.

Chief among those problems is that he doesnt know his way around the airport. He doesnt know where to Taxi his plane and do whatever else it is that pilots do apart from sleep. Further to this, there is no planned training or orientation that he has been informed of. As he spends 8-14 days overseas at a time, that leaves very little opening for them to rectify this!

In particular Thai style, he was actually more bothered about being stopped in the Airport terminal itself by a passenger, and asked for information or guidance, of which he could offer absolutely none!

Whaddaya reckon to that guys!

[Maestro]

I am glad I did not book THAI for my flight from Milan to Bangkok in November.

Anyway, that flight will still go to Don Muang.

--------------

Maestro

[Moonfruit]

Your flight in November is going to Don Muang?

From what i was aware, ALL flights will be going to Suvarnabhumi from Sep (28th??) and Don Muang will be closed. My buddy didnt indicate anything contrary to this, but i must admit, i never raised that possibility.

[redrus]

Surely ATC will tell pilots where to go. Can every pilot in the world know every airport in the world. A point must come where you fly to an airport and not know where to taxi....?

As long as you find the right runway eh..........!

redrus

[britmaveric]

Your flight in November is going to Don Muang?

From what i was aware, ALL flights will be going to Suvarnabhumi from Sep (28th??) and Don Muang will be closed. My buddy didnt indicate anything contrary to this, but i must admit, i never raised that possibility.

Well chatted with quite a few pilots from some of the major carriers - as far as they know Don Muang is the airport they will be flying into sometime next year.

[gudy]

Your flight in November is going to Don Muang?

From what i was aware, ALL flights will be going to Suvarnabhumi from Sep (28th??) and Don Muang will be closed. My buddy didnt indicate anything contrary to this, but i must admit, i never raised that possibility.

Well chatted with quite a few pilots from some of the major carriers - as far as they know Don Muang is the airport they will be flying into sometime next year.

[redrus]

Try again Gudy, or edit your post.....

redrus

[gudy]

Your flight in November is going to Don Muang?

From what i was aware, ALL flights will be going to Suvarnabhumi from Sep (28th??) and Don Muang will be closed. My buddy didnt indicate anything contrary to this, but i must admit, i never raised that possibility.

Well chatted with quite a few pilots from some of the major carriers - as far as they know Don Muang is the airport they will be flying into sometime next year.

+++at least it will be a bit more quiet for me when those domestic flights are redirected... :)because now all flights are going just over the neighborhood here......but I still find the new location a bit questionable.....

[tuky]

It certainly will be interesting.

A friend of mine is a contract manager in the commissioning department. Strangely enough, oneday he was saying next year, the next day he was saying september this year...

[britmaveric]

It certainly will be interesting.

A friend of mine is a contract manager in the commissioning department. Strangely enough, oneday he was saying next year, the next day he was saying september this year...

Trying to plug the leaks, huh Tuky???

[tuky]

It certainly will be interesting.

A friend of mine is a contract manager in the commissioning department. Strangely enough, oneday he was saying next year, the next day he was saying september this year...

Trying to plug the leaks, huh Tuky???

He must have worked out I was a mod on TV

Once someone on TV knows something, every knows it

[Maestro]

From what i was aware, ALL flights will be going to Suvarnabhumi from Sep (28th??) and Don Muang will be closed. My buddy didnt indicate anything contrary to this, but i must admit, i never raised that possibility.

If your buddy knows which side his bread is buttered he will toe the official line and continue to tell everybody that starting 28 September 2006 he will be flying into Suvarnabhumi

--------------

Maestro

Countdown until my flight to Bangkok

[Rinrada]

Case of beer Chang says that it will open on time (not a betting man)and I will expect to be landing at Suwanna.Dlight TG 917 on the Friday Afternoon.(39th)...so...

Dont want to ever SEE Don Muang again...... ......a new era ....

[tuky]

Case of beer Chang says that it will open on time (not a betting man)and I will expect to be landing at Suwanna.Dlight TG 917 on the Friday Afternoon.(39th)...so...

Dont want to ever SEE Don Muang again...... ......a new era ....

I agree, I never want to see Don Muang again...but the 39th???

[britmaveric]

Case of beer Chang says that it will open on time (not a betting man)and I will expect to be landing at Suwanna.Dlight TG 917 on the Friday Afternoon.(39th)...so...

Dont want to ever SEE Don Muang again...... ......a new era ....

I agree, I never want to see Don Muang again...but the 39th???

[udon]

Your pal will get info over on pprune.org if he posts a query there.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=240104

Edited August 28, 2006 by udon

[Cool Water Palace]

I'll miss the golf course in the middle of Don Muang when I arrive on 7 October, and leave on 9th, and come back on 18th, and leave again on 12 November! Or will I? Even if I miss the one at Don Muang, have they laid one at the new one, which I can't spell or pronounce yet?

[Meerkat]

So i was over at my friends place on Sunday having lunch when we got around to discussing the new Airport. He is a long haul pilot for Thai Airways and he tells me hes kinda worried. They are supposedly definately going aheah with the opening next month, however he has a few small problems.

Chief among those problems is that he doesnt know his way around the airport. He doesnt know where to Taxi his plane and do whatever else it is that pilots do apart from sleep. Further to this, there is no planned training or orientation that he has been informed of. As he spends 8-14 days overseas at a time, that leaves very little opening for them to rectify this!

I find this a bit odd. All airports issue maps showing taxiway and gate locations to pilots. These are distributed along with Instrument Approach/Departure Procedures (IAP/SID/STAR). Here's LAX for example:

http://download.aopa.org/ustprocs/20060803...ams/00237AD.PDF

Taxiways have huge signs alongside each intersection, as well as painted signs on the taxiways themselves. If a pilot is landing at an airport for the first time (think about it...they must all do it at every airfield at some point), he can always ask for extra guidance from Ground Control, who can issue spoken guidance, or despatch a "Follw-Me" car.

Suvarnabhumi may have many teething issues once it opens up. If a pilot thinks one of them is getting lost trying to taxi to the right gate, I'd be more worried about the pilot who can't read a map...

[udon]

I showed your post to a mate who is a 747 pilot based in BKK.

These were his comments......

"the only thing I can say is that I worry about Asian pilots for the very reason being highlighted in the first post....and that is....if it is not "inside the box" then they get worried and don't know what to do."

"TG ripped the tail of an Air France ERJ135 a month or so ago in Madrid....because the TG 747 was on the wrong taxiway.....the crew should have known this, but because someone told them to taxi there, they did...and that was the result"

"they did not check" "that's how they operate" "they are afraid of what they don't know"

"each airport has a taxi diagram as part of its charts....it is not difficult"

"I have just been to 5 airports for the first time in Europe.....no one told me where to go or how to do it.....you just do?"

"It is not only Thai, but many other Asian carriers....."

"Korean (KAL) are required to have minimum 20% expat crew....otherwise their insurance goes through the roof...."

"Just yesterday a China Eastern A320 ran into a China Southern B777 on the ground....pushed back into it....that is a no brainer as far as I am concerned....but they were not thinking?"

No reversing mirrors

[lingling]

Surely ATC will tell pilots where to go. Can every pilot in the world know every airport in the world. A point must come where you fly to an airport and not know where to taxi....?

As long as you find the right runway eh..........!

There is always this classic exchange between a British Airways 747 and Frankfurt ground control.

Speedbird 206: "Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway."

Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven." The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.

Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"

Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."

Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?"

Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark,...... and I didn't land."

[PREM-R]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know if Suvarnabhumi is ready to receive the A380 "super jumbo" or will it be a matter of parking away from the terminal and taking the bus.

[eddy-ham]

Hi,

At present not many places can receive the A380, I was in Dubia 3 month ago and that had some double height rams installed.

Paris had them fall down last year ( that was the accident with the concrete)

Londons new terminal will.

Problem is the A380 will not be in service for a few years, so the airports are not really hurrying.

Wet here in Hamburg.

[PREM-R]

Hi,

At present not many places can receive the A380, I was in Dubia 3 month ago and that had some double height rams installed.

Paris had them fall down last year ( that was the accident with the concrete)

Londons new terminal will.

Problem is the A380 will not be in service for a few years, so the airports are not really hurrying.

Wet here in Hamburg.

Singapore Airlines are quoted as saying they expect to start commercial flights to LHR "Late 2006/Early2007" with the A380.

[thaihome]

People, this is not the first major international airport to open. Does anyone remember HK? KLIA? How about Denver (that was a good one), etc, etc.

There will be problems, it will be pain for a couple of months, and then you find something else to cry the sky is falling about.

TH

Edited August 29, 2006 by thaihome

[Rinrada]

They are still talking..Noverber... ..from newsletter they send me....

Singapore Airlines reaffirms its commitment to the Airbus A380 programme with new orders

Singapore Airlines is pleased to announce that it will be purchasing nine additional Airbus A380-800s as part of a deal worth US$7.5 billion at catalogue prices.

As part of the purchase, the airline has options for another six A380-800s.

These additional purchases of the superjumbo reflect the airline's confidence and clear commitment to the A380 programme.

"Airbus has demonstrated to Singapore Airlines' satisfaction that the engineering design of the A380 is sound.

It has performed well in flight and certification tests, and the delays in its delivery have been caused more by production, rather than technical, issues.

"This latest order including 20 A350 XWB-900s and 20 Boeing 787-9s ordered in June, will position the Airline well for future growth and uphold our policy of continuous fleet renewal and modernisation," Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chew Choon Seng said.

With this order, Singapore Airlines will have 19 firm orders and 6 options for the Airbus A380. Deliveries of all 19 A380s will commence in December 2006 and run until 2010.

and..

The world's first fully operational double-decker passenger aircraft, the Singapore Airlines A380, will begin service from Singapore's Changi Airport.

As the world's largest passenger aircraft, the A380 presents a unique challenge for many airports around the world.

In anticipation of the arrival of the A380, Singapore Airlines, its subsidiaries and partners, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), Changi Airport Fuel Hydrant Installations (CAFHI) and its handling agents formed a Ground Handling Working Group in early 2005.

The task for the Working Group was twofold: to work with Airbus to guarantee seamless operations of the A380 at the airport, and to ensure passengers continue to experience the comfort and ease they have come to expect. ...and lots more ...from Singers Air....

Got a comp also going with winners getting 2 free tickets on the big one....promo...from Sing Air

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/?SelectedCountry=UK

[IMA_FARANG]

So i was over at my friends place on Sunday having lunch when we got around to discussing the new Airport. He is a long haul pilot for Thai Airways and he tells me hes kinda worried. They are supposedly definately going aheah with the opening next month, however he has a few small problems.

Chief among those problems is that he doesnt know his way around the airport. He doesnt know where to Taxi his plane and do whatever else it is that pilots do apart from sleep. Further to this, there is no planned training or orientation that he has been informed of. As he spends 8-14 days overseas at a time, that leaves very little opening for them to rectify this!

In particular Thai style, he was actually more bothered about being stopped in the Airport terminal itself by a passenger, and asked for information or guidance, of which he could offer absolutely none!

Whaddaya reckon to that guys!

Well here's my input.....I am booked on a Thai international flight from Athens to Bkk on the 2nd of October and return on the 12th of October. I have made attempts to get updated info from Thai International regarding what airport the flight will be landing at. So far, Thai International here in Athens doesn't know exactly where that flight will be landing. They can only say it is "currently in the computer system as landing at BKK airport (BKK being the code for Don Maung, NBK the code for the new airport). I've been around Thailand enough to know when a Thai doesn't want to give a Farang information that they might not like (don't lose face by saying sometning that might make another person unhappy).Every Thai I talk to at Thai International seems like they are acting that way. All the Management says that the new airport will open 28 September, so the loyal employees repeat that. I can see, however, that they don't really believe it.

I'm still hoping that I will get more good info in September.

Whatever airport I land in, I'll just go with the flow. Mai Pen Rai.

[Simmo]

Starting to feel like the eerie quiet before the train wreck.

[Cheeky Farang]

OK, I am booked on a TG flight from London to BKK on the 28th Sept. I emailed Thai Airways in London and asked them which airport we would be landing at. SEE BELOW

From: R ????? [mailto:r@?????.co.uk]

Sent: 26 August 2006 18:01

To: ReservationsExt

Subject: GOLD CARD NA????? (SEAT BOOKING)

From R ???? ( ROP number NA?????)

I am booked on the following flight, can you please book seat K??,

if this seat has been allocated can you please reserve me any low number K seat.

Also can you please confirm which airport the outbound flight is due to land at, will it be

Don Muang or SUVARNABHUMI.? as I need to arrange details with people that will be meeting me

at arrivals.

Thank-you in advance, and await your return email with confirmation.

Flight Schedule

Airline Departure Arrival Travel Time Services

Thai Airways

TG 917

Economy 21:30 hrs

Thu 28 Sep 06

London [LHR]

TERMINAL 3

Heathrow 15:05 hrs

Fri 29 Sep 06

Bangkok [bKK]

TERMINAL 1

Bangkok International 11h 35m Aircraft: Boeing 747 Jet

Meals: Not specified

Dear Sir

Please be informed that your seats are now booked on ??K for London to Bangkok.

As per advised from our Head Office, Suvanrnabhumi Airport will open on 28 September 2006, therefore, your fights would arrive at Bangkok at the new Airport, Suvanrnabhumi.

Regards,

Yaovaporn Sutthasan

Reservation Agent

Thai Airways International

41 Albemarle Street

London

W1S 4BF

Tel. 0870 6060 911

Fax. 0207 409 1463

-----Original Message-----

[sbk]

hey can only say it is "currently in the computer system as landing at BKK airport (BKK being the code for Don Maung, NBK the code for the new airport).

Actually, everything I have read so far the airport code will remain BKK. NBK is the interim code.

From the Thai govt public relations site

The code NBK has been registered at the International Air Transport Association to identify Suvarnabhumi Airport from July 29. It will be used for a period after it is operational on a commercial basis on September 28, until operations go smoothly. Then the code will be changed to BKK, which is the designated name for Bangkok International Airport at Don Muang. Suvarnabhumi will replace the Don Muang airport when it opens for commercial services.

[eddy-ham]

The world's first fully operational double-decker passenger aircraft, the Singapore Airlines A380, will begin service from Singapore's Changi Airport.

As the world's largest passenger aircraft, the A380 presents a unique challenge for many airports around the world.

In anticipation of the arrival of the A380, Singapore Airlines, its subsidiaries and partners, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), Changi Airport Fuel Hydrant Installations (CAFHI) and its handling agents formed a Ground Handling Working Group in early 2005.

The task for the Working Group was twofold: to work with Airbus to guarantee seamless operations of the A380 at the airport, and to ensure passengers continue to experience the comfort and ease they have come to expect. ...and lots more ...from Singers Air....

Got a comp also going with winners getting 2 free tickets on the big one....promo...from Sing Air

I phone up Emirates , another customer to book a ticket yesterday and they had a nice little advert on the phone saying that the A380 is in service late 2006 to early 2007.

I hope that they are all right.........would like a little bet on it though if you fancy a small wager...?

As I said raining here in Hamburg....

:jap: