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Post Info TOPIC: Spicejet PNQ-BLR-PNQ
COUGAR


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Spicejet PNQ-BLR-PNQ
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Had to travel to BLR at short notice and a quick check on makemytrip revealed some pretty low fares on Spice and Indigo. decided to pick up Spice for  a low fare of 799 one way!!


Both flights were bang on time and service was great. Ofcourse no food and all that jazz. Just cookies and water: and the FA's came around to ask if people wanted more. On the PNQ-BLR segment, they actually did a second round of cookie service!


Had wingletted 737-800's on both legs and they flew well: very quiet in cruise! The aircraft on both legs were scrupulously clean and had leather seats. Seat pitch was actually better than on 9W and equivalent to IC.


On both flights, the descent began pretty early with spoilers extended partially for almost 5/10 mins. Have never seen this kind of extended spoiler deployment ever before. New practice for wingletted  737's? The whole aircraft was shuddering throughout this time that the spoilers were deployed.


Spicejet lost my luggage on the return segment: turns out my luggage was mistakenly put on their BOM flight at BLR. However the staff at PNQ were helpful and managed to get it the next morning. My bag arrived by a Kingfisher flight from DEL. Only problem was that I had to go all the way to the airport to collect the bag since Spice doesnt have a city office.


Overall I would say Spice is a decent LCC. Their slow and steady approach reminds me of 9W in the initial phases. They are clearly in it for the long haul. Barring some unforutnate incident, these guys will be around even when DN and Go and tohers fall by the wayside!!


Verdict: Highly recommended.



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the_380


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Nice TR Cougar... BTW did you click any snaps?


Pity you had trouble with your baggage on the return leg... but good to know SG took the responsibility in getting it back



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ArtofZen


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Overall I would say Spice is a decent LCC. Their slow and steady approach reminds me of 9W in the initial phases. They are clearly in it for the long haul. Barring some unforutnate incident, these guys will be around even when DN and Go and tohers fall by the wayside!!

I agree with you, SpiceJet impressed me, not as flashy as Kingfisher but a solid good airline.



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saurabhm_101


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COUGAR wrote:


On both flights, the descent began pretty early with spoilers extended partially for almost 5/10 mins. Have never seen this kind of extended spoiler deployment ever before. New practice for wingletted  737's? The whole aircraft was shuddering throughout this time that the spoilers were deployed.





No not really a new practice for wingletted 737s its a procedure for decent.... help to slow the aircraft down during decent... used mostly when engines at idle dont manage to slow the aircraft down! the spoilers cause drag thus slowing the aircraft down and make it decend faster... you might have noticed that the moment they were deployed the aircrafts nose got raised it a bit.... they are mostly used when the loads are high or the decent is too fast...

regards!
saurabh

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ssbmat


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saurabhm_101 wrote:







No not really a new practice for wingletted 737s its a procedure for decent.... help to slow the aircraft down during decent... used mostly when engines at idle dont manage to slow the aircraft down! the spoilers cause drag thus slowing the aircraft down and make it decend faster... you might have noticed that the moment they were deployed the aircrafts nose got raised it a bit.... they are mostly used when the loads are high or the decent is too fast...

regards!
saurabh


   Er I think you got that nose-up thing wrong. In fact, if the spoilers are deployed, the autopilot forces a nose-down to maintain the airflow and lift.


On the other hand, if you deploy flaps and let them run out significantly, like 30-40 deg. the airplane will have a nose up attitude.


What do others think ?


 



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tayara mechanici


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ssbmat wrote:


What do others think ?


 




This is dangerous territory, the reason being neither am i a pilot (tried unsuccessfully) nor do i have autopilot on my Engrs license anyway i'll have a go.


In A/F mode the Auto Flt computers will modulate all control sufaces. Spoilers deploy to the max angle on grd where they work as grd spoilers, i air they work as AIRBRAKES depending on the required rate of decent. Will rise high if rapid descent reqd, this can also be achieved thru gear down.


The cabin sound during descent normally is caused due to the LDG gear being extended. The drag created by the extended ldg gear causes a huge racket in the cabin (A320, B737), one way to confirm ldg gear deployment is a thud sound, this is the gear uplock unlocking i.e Ldg gear being lowered. You will especially feel this if seated above the wing box.


 



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COUGAR


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Tayara: The spoilers were NOT "deployed all the way". Just slightly raised: the spoilers on the inner side were raised slightly higher as compared to the ones further aft.


There seems to be 3 levels of deployment of spoliers (just a conjecture): one in-air low, 2 in-air max and 3rd lift dump on ground.


The landing gear was NOT extended until the turn to finals as thats when the "thud" was clearly heard.


I hope this is not STANDARD procedure for wingleted 737's cos their deployment did cause a noticeable "shudder" and noise that lasted through virtually the entire descent.



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AKLDELNonstop


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Cougar, have they started selling food on their flights yet? Or do they still serve only bisuits and water.

IMO they should start selling some sort of food and drinks.

Cheers

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COUGAR


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Only cookies: 2 flavors.


2FA's work the front while the other 2 work the rear row 14/15 onwards. Its all very organised like a drill! First one round of bliseri 200ml, followed by another FA who brings cookies on a tray. Then after 15 mins they go in the reverse direction rear to front asking peopl ei fthey want a second cookie of water bottle. The cookies are nice but most dont go for a second cookie but 90% of them do take another water bottle!


The staff are always ready to get you another waterbottle if u use the call button!! Any help reqd liek with medication or something, and the female FA gets the male FA to step in! probably not very comfortable about interacting with male pax!!


As for buying food, yeah i htink that would be agood idea. But i think it would interfere with their keep it simple mantra. They would have to reserve atleast one FA to first collect orders and then go to the galley and corectly pick up the right items for the right seat etc. Can be done but do they wnat to increase complexity?


Overall they are miles ahead of Deccan.



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HAWK21M


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Roy.


Nice TR.Pity about your Bags.


BTW the Spoilers raised in flight could be for a rapid Descent needed at the time.Quite normal under the circumstances.On the B737 there are Three positions for Spoilers ops Down detent,Armed & Up.Modulation between Armed & up is possible.Since the drag created is a lot hence the Flutter & subsequent Vibration.


regds
MEL



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ssbmat


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Maybe a topic fit for TechOps but- is there a standard DGCA specified rule in India for Landing Gear down i.e 500 ft AGL or is it left to the individual airline SOP.


 


on a lighter note- i like to experience the reassuring thud/shudder of the landing gear..means


1) the pilot has seen the runway


2) and remembered to gear down!



Typically in the US , it looks like the Heavys are "geared down" around 3000 ft or so.maybe because of several speed restrictions below FL100.


In reading various magz, it seems the A330/A340 pilots have to plan their descent profile very carefully cuz the plane is really "slippery?" in terms of wing airflow and it just "wants" to fly all the time..


SSB


 



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Nimish


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Great TR - thanks for posting.

I've frequently heard ATC instructing pilots to reduce to minimum speed due to the congestion. Could these extended flaps/spoilers help in keeping the a/c real slow while still providing enough lift?

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JumboJet


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Nice TR.


Pictures would not have been possible from PNQ but what about BLR



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