So we are off to paradise. After a month here in Europe, I get the opportunity to fly to a region never before visited. On Friday, we are scheduled to pilot for Air Mauritius aboard the A340-300 aircraft. According to scheduling, this is an 11:10 minute flight departure in the late evening arriving the following morning. I’ve never created a flight plan for this route, much less spent anytime with Air Mauritius. Excited about the change of scenery and a week in the Indian Ocean. Watch for that trip report this weekend.

Route: EGLL-LEBL (Barcelona – El Prat)
Flight: Iberia 4181
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Block Time: 2:07
Flight Time: 1:43

After a weekend in London,  time to soak up some sun in Catalonia. Today’s flight plan was a short two hour hop in an Iberia A320. I have a lot of flights scheduled this month in the Airbus it seems. Leaving Heathrow at dusk is always a pleasure. Plenty of traffic, usually pretty quick departure though. Followed out an American 777 headed across the pond. We departed from 27L into the setting sun and received vectors to climb out to 13000 and turn south quickly to allow another departure right behind us. Only a few scattered clouds.

The flight down here to Barcelona was uneventful. Sun set on us over the English channel as we followed an Easyjet 737 enroute to Barcelona as well flying about 2mi west, and 2k higher. Climbed to our crusing altitude and intercepted DRAKE and headed south. Pretty good visibility over France but clouded up during our descent and final, with visibility under 2mi when we dropped the gear.

We’re in Barcelona for just about 48 hours. Hope to soak in some sun, enjoy the great culture and sights here in Spain, before we head back to Germany on Thursday night.  See you then!

Route: EDDM-EGLL
Flight: British Airways #949
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Block Time: 2:15
Flight Time: 1:42

Arrived here at Heathrow on a short hop from Munich. Been in Europe now almost two weeks, since arriving in Deutschland on 2 March. Weather has been a bit of a wild ride, with on-again, off-again showers and low ceilings. Haven’t flown in two weeks however.

Today’s flight was pretty uneventful. I love Munich’s field. Very modern, easy to navigate, two parallel runways. One of my favorite airports to fly into and out of in continental Europe. Departure weather was just a few scattered clouds (EDDM 151520Z 07010KT 9999 FEW020 SCT250 12/08 Q1009 NOSIG). Temps about 7C. While waiting for clearance out of Terminal 1, heard an Etihad A340 receive clearance. What a beautiful bird. Headed to warmer climates no doubt.

Fuel was late to load, as was baggage so our 1135 depature was delayed and we pushed back at 1148. Nice and easy. The Airbus is such a slick and easy aircraft, always a pleasure to fly. Engines roared to life at 1151 and we were on our way. Held up on the apron for a DBA 737. Germany has as many low-cost carriers as the US, if not more. After continuing taxi we made it to 08R for our departure, just after the DBA.

Wheels up at 1209.

Our flight plan required a left turn and took us northwest towards Frankfurt. We rocketed up to our cruising altitude and above the cloud cover. Leveled off about 12 minutes later. This time of day, there were a few North American bound heavies departing EDDF as we intersectedBOMBI. A Lufthansa heavy for Washington, US Airways for Philadelphia. Some good AI on this route.

Our plan turned us on a HDG of 310. Clouds cleared over Belgium as we began our descent just off the English coast over the channel. Heathrow is one of the more challenging approaches I’ve flown. Not because of the location or terrain, but because of traffic. With AI at 100%, ATC never even pauses. Even at midday. A lot of company aircraft on the mike, as we began our descent through 200 and to 140. We were receiving vectors for 09R so we passed south of the airfield to make the turn back into Heathrow. Crossed directly over Gatwick and a lot of Easyjet traffic.

At 1234 we set the ILS frequency to anticipate intercepting the localizer. Then came the rain. We monitored the WX throughout the flight and expected low cigs. Rain was light, but visibility was greatly diminshed. Adds to the already crazy airspace as we turned to begin final. We descended to 2500ft and lowered the gear and flaps. Speedbrake armed. We were number 2 for landing following a company A319. The clouds were low, under 1000ft. Glideslope alive.

The wheels touched down at 1253 and we decelerated quick to taxi. Heathrow was busy. We were cleared to taxi to Terminal 1 which might a lenghitly taxi to the otherside of the airfield. On the ground, no rain was reaching the surface. Just low visibility and about 12C. We taxied to the British Airways domestic terminal and arrived at the gate. Alls well that ends well.

On the schedule this month: Munich, London-Heathrow, Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Zurich, and Paris-De Gaulle. Still working on where to go for holiday at the end of March.