Airbus Factory Visit (TLS) 17th July
31 August 2007
Narrative and log from the Section visit to the Airbus factory at Toulouse on 17th July 2007.
The 17th Section visit to Airbus at Toulouse 17th July 2007
By Graham Armitt
I usually arrange a trip in May when the expected loads are much lighter than later in the Summer. However, due to the pressure of the looming Air Show at Paris for Chris and his team, we settled on mid July. As 23 members applied to go on this visit, I had to leave 5 behind and planned for the maximum of 18 to visit Airbus on this trip. With it being July, the flight back to Gatwick late afternoon was showing minus in both cabins at one point. I advised members to plan a different route for their return or at least to take back up tickets in case they did not get on the return flight to Gatwick.
A small number of regulars like to travel to Toulouse the night before and this visit was no different. Unfortunately, one of this group failed to get on again because of a full aircraft. He joined us the following morning and travelled on the first flight, having sampled the delights of trying to sleep at Gatwick.
8 members wanted to travel down to Gatwick that morning and as usual, I offered to drive down and take 4 with me from Hatton Cross. However, with the return flight looking so full, I couldn’t ask one of the other members to drive as most wanted to fly back over Paris. We finally settled on a taxi to take us all down and it arrived outside Barclays at Hatton Cross on time. Unfortunately, one member didn’t arrive on time and as we couldn’t contact him we waited 10 minutes and then had to go. It turned out he was there a few minutes later but the taxi was already on the way. I would like to thank Paul for arranging this taxi, however, I don’t think I will use this taxi service again. I honestly didn’t think we would arrive in one piece as he liked to travel over 100 mph for most of the journey, only slowing down to 80+ when we encountered road works.However, we did arrive safely and all registered for the flight. Even this flight was packed and very unusually 5 of us found ourselves in Club.
The flight left on time and arrived TLS on time in warm sunshine. We were soon through Immigration & customs to be met by our guide, Stephanie. We were soon on board the coach heading for the first stop outside the A330/340 production line. Fortunately, the coach had air conditioning as it only had 18 seats for us with every seat taken. As the first delivery of the A380 was fast approaching, we were not allowed to visit the A380 production facility, which was unfortunate, especially after we unable to visit this part in November, but for very different reasons.
We made it back to the Terminal in record time, which was useful as members were going for a variety of flights over Geneva and both Paris airports of CDG & ORY. This left 7 of us trying for the flight back to Gatwick. We had some good news earlier in the day, that the booked load are reduced, presumably because of Travel Agents returning unsold seats back to BA. However, when we came to check in time, we came across a queue of passengers all with bicycles. This was due to the only day during the Tour De France allowing non-racers to ride the route. Those of us on standby went back at flight closure thinking will we get on. This was made worse by check in accepting 3 late passengers, again with bicycles but we all got on, this time with 4 of us in Club.
Even with the last part of the trip not happening, we saw over 75 Airbus & ATR frames, so another successful visit and with the non Airbus flights, I copped another 13, mainly due to the Summer flying programme.
Since writing this report but before posting it on our web site, I heard the sad news that one of our members who was on this visit, died suddenly. My deepest sympathy goes out to Huw’s family.
TOULOUSE AIRBUS VISIT 17th JULY 2007
238 A300B4-203 F-WHPS AIRBUS ORIGINAL COLOURS PARKED AT DELIVERY CENTRE PAINTED AS F-WUAB
655 A300B4-608ST F-GSTA/1 AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
751 A300B4-608ST F-GSTB/2 AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
765 A300B4-608ST F-GSTC/3 AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
776 A300B4-608ST F-GSTD/4 AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
796 A300B4-608ST F-GSTF/5 AIRBUS ALL WHITE
878 A300 F4-600R N692FE FEDEX FULL COLOURS PARKED AT DELIVERY CENTRE
0001 A320-111 F-WWBA AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
3164 A320-214 VP-BXT ALL WHITE OUTSIDE SOGERMA HANGER
3180 A320-214 F-WWDT TAM FULL COLOURS AT DELIVERY CENTRE HF ON TAIL
3185 A320-232 TC-JPH TURKISH AIRLINES FULL COLOURS AT DELIVERY CENTRE
3187 A320-214 F-WWDY PHILIPPINE AIRLINES FULL COLOURS AT DELIVERY CENTRE
3189 A320-214 F-WWDZ ANA FULL COLOURS AT DELIVERY CENTRE
3190 A320-232 N659JB JETBLUE FULL COLOURS AT DELIVERY CENTRE
3192 A320-232 F-WWIT INDIGO FULL COLOURS TOWED FROM TOP HANGER LATE AFTERNOON
3194 A320-216 F-WWIV AIR ASIA FULL COLOURS AFY ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
3196 A320-232 F-WWIE SICHUAN AIRLINES FULL COLOURS 325 ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
3210 A320-232 F-WWIK SICHUAN AIRLINES FULL COLOURS B-6321 UNDER WING
3211 A320-214 F-WWIR TAM FULL COLOURS HM ON TAIL AND NOSE WHEEL DOOR
3213 A320-216 F-WWIU AIR ONE FULL COLOURS SI ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR AND ABOVE COCKPIT INSIDE OLD A300 HANGER
3215 A320-214 F-WWIZ EAST STAR AIRLINES FULL COLOURS
3218 A320-214 F-WWBB AIR ARABIA TAIL ONLY PAINTED
3219 A320-232 F-WWBN AIR DECCAN FULL COLOURS VT-DNW UNDER WING INSIDE
3223 A320-216 F-WWBV AIR ASIA TAIL ONLY PAINTED
3224 A320-232 AFRIQIYAH AIRWAYS TAIL ONLY PAINTED IN PAINT SHOP
3228 A320-232 F-WWBD JETBLUE TAIL ONLY PAINTED
3230 A320-214 F-WWBE VIRIGN USA TAIL ONLY PAINTED
3232 A320-216 F-WWBF ALL PRIMER FOR AIR ASIA INSIDE
3234 A320-214 F-WWBH JUNEYAO AIRLINES TAIL ONLY PAINTED INSIDE
3236 A320-232 F-WWBI AFRIQIYAH AIRWAYS TAIL ONLY PAINTED INSIDE
3237 A320-216 F-WWBJ ALL PRIMER FOR IBERIA INSIDE
3239 A320-232 F-WWBK TURKISH AIRLINES TAIL ONLY PAINTED INSIDE
3240 A320-214 ALL PRIMER FOR TAM INSIDE
3242 A320-214 ALL PRIMER FOR AIR BERLIN INSIDE
3244 A320-232 ALL PRIMER FOR ASIANA INSIDE
3246 A320-214 ALL PRIMER FOR VUELING INSIDE
3256 A320- ALL PRIMER INSIDE3257 A320- ALL PRIMER FRONT AND REAR SECTIONS INSIDE OLD A300 HANGER
3259 A320- ALL PRIMER INSIDE3261 A320- ALL PRIMER REAR SECTION ONLY
3263 A320- ALL PRIMER REAR SECTION ONLY
001 A340-311 F-WWAI AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
360 A340-642 F-WWCA AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
837 A340-642 F-WWCB ETIHAD FULL COLOURS A6-EHF UNDER WING INSIDE
850 A330-343E F-WWKQ CATHAY PACIFIC FULL COLOURS AE ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
851 A330-343E B-6095 CHINA EASTERN FULL COLOURS AT DELIVERY CENTRE DEPARTED ON DELIVERY LATE AFTERNOON
852 A330-243 F-WWKT ETIHAD FULL COLOURS YO ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
853 A330-202 ALL PRIMER FOR JETSTAR INSIDE854 A330-243 F-WWYY ETIHAD FULL COLOURS YP ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
855 A330-343E F-WWYC CATHAY PACIFIC FULL COLOURS B-LAF UNDER WING INSIDE
856 A340-642 F-WWCY ETIHAD TAIL ONLY PAINTED STICKER REG AS F-WWCYJ !!! INSIDE
857 A330-323E F-WWYD NORTHWEST FULL COLOURS 3218 ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
858 A330-323E F-WWYE NORTHWEST FULL COLOURS 3219 ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
859 A330-323E ALL PRIMER FOR NORTHWEST IN PAINT SHOP
860 A330-243 F-WWYN AIR CHINA TAIL ONLY PAINTED
862 A330-343E F-WWYG CHINA EASTERN FULL COLOURS 96 ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
863 A330-223 F-WWYH ALL WHITE INSIDE
865 A330-323E F-WW NORTHWEST TAIL ONLY PAINTED INSIDE
866 A330-343X F-WWYL CHINA EASTERN FULL COLOURS B-6097 UNDER WING INSIDE
867 A330-243 F-WWYP AIR CHINA TAIL ONLY PAINTED
868 A330-243 ETIHAD FULL COLOURS IN PAINT SHOP
869 A330-223 F-WWYR TAM TAIL ONLY PAINTED
870 A340-642 ETIHAD TAIL ONLY PAINTED INSIDE
871 A330- F-WWKU ALL PRIMER FOR USAF?
873 A330-243 AIR CHINA TAIL ONLY PAINTED INSIDE
874 A330-223 KINGFISHER TAIL ONLY PAINTED ALL RED INSIDE
875 A330-243 ALL PRIMER INSIDE
877 A330-202 AIR PORTUGAL TAIL ONLY PAINTED INSIDE
001 A380-841 F-WWOW AIRBUS FULL COLOURS
004 A380-841 F-WWDD ALL WHITE VNO? ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
007 A380-841 F-WWJB AIRBUS FULL COLOURS INSIDE
009 A380-861 F-WWEA AIRBUS FULL COLOURS BB ON NOSE WHEEL DOOR
??? A380-861 EMIRATES TAIL ONLY PAINTED
??? A380-841 QANTAS TAIL ONLY PAINTED
667? ATR42-512 AZERBAIJAN FULL COLOURS INSIDE TOP HANGER SEEN LATE AFTERNOON
669 ATR42-512 ALL PRIMER INSIDE
740 ATR72-212A F-WWEU AIR DECCAN FULL COLOURS VT-DKK UNDER WING
754 ATR72-212A KINGFISHER FULL COLOURS INSIDE
757 ATR72-212A F-WWER FINNCOMM FULL COLOURS OH-ATG UNDER WING INSIDE TOWED OUT LATE AFTERNOON
758 ATR72-212A F-WWES KINGFISHER FULL COLOURS INSIDE
759 ATR72-212A KINGFISHER FULL COLOURS INSIDE
760 ATR72-212A ALL PRIMER INSIDE
761 ATR72-212A ALL PRIMER INSIDE
762 ATR72-212A ALL PRIMER INSIDE
763 ATR72-212A ALL PRIMER NO TAIL INSIDE
764 ATR72-212A ALL PRIMER NO TAIL INSIDE