7/19/06
UAL202
A319
N834UA
YVR-IAD
4 hours 20 minutes
Got to YVR at about 10:00 for a 12:20 flight. The United checkin line streched for a respectable disance, but was nothing compared to the US immigration line which streched down the length of the terminal, and looped around a couple times near the end of the terminal. Checkin was pretty easy with the United Kiosk, and soon we were headed for the loooooooong US customs/immigration line. Towards the end of the terminal there was a guy sitting in a chair with a cat, which was going into a garbage can, to look for food, it was kinda funny. The line moved decently though, and soon we cleared US customs at YVR. At this point I went to the Pacific Grill (fast food place near the gate) and got a hot dog and fries which were pretty good. After eating, it was time for boarding. Boarding went pretty fast, we actually got on after the last boaring call. The plane was hot inside, and the pilot said that the ground AC unit wasn't working, so they started an engine before pushback to get some cool air into the plane. After push back we taxied on one engine for a while, then the #2 was started up. The JAL Samurai Blue 744 was parked at the international gates, so that was nice to see on taxi.
After this we taxied past the domestic side, and then towards runway 8R. One family had a baby, which wouldn't stop crying. It was very annoying. This begs the question, why don't parents give their babies pacifiers if they are crying? At least the kid shut up for takeoff though. We were in line behind an Alaska 73G. Once he took off, we took the runway, and takeoff thrust was applied. There was a JAL 744 approaching 8L when we started roll. Takeoff was nice, and there was a nice overview of the airport once we got airborne, which I got in the video I made. As we climbed it was smooth, we got one random big bump, as we climbed. We continued east, and soon were over the Rockies.
I turned on channel 9, and listned to that for a while. Then the IFE movie Ice Age 2 came on, so I watched that. It was ok, much better than "She's the Man", (which was played after that, since there was enough time) When that came on it was back to channel 9, for the rest of the flight. This is when things started getting more interesting too. I guess over the Midwest there were some pretty big t-storms, so for several periods we went through some pretty good turbulence. I enjoyed it actually. This time however, the air got smoother as you went lower. So planes were requesting to go down to altitudes like FL250 when they were at something like FL370, and getting bumped around. We started off at like FL370, and the pilots eventually reqested FL250, since that was reported to be smoother, and eventually were were cleared all the way down there, and the turbulence subsided. After being at FL250 for a bit, it was time to decend further for approach to IAD. Approach was good, but you couldn't see much as it was hazy, out. Eventally, we were set up on approach for runway 1R. The setting sun was visible in the distance, as we were on final. After landing we taxied right to gate C6, which took no time at all. I guess this is why they pilots requested 1R in the air, when at first we were supposed to go to 1L. This was a good flight, no complaints.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA1YP99rCh8
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7/19/06
TCF7540
ERJ-170
N647RW
IAD-BDL
50 minutes
This flight was at night. Boarding went pretty quickly, and soon we were pushed back. We started up one engine, then taxied on that, and started up #2 while waiting for runway 1R. There were mostly RJ's out waiting for departure. Although I did see a 767-300 on roll, and the A319 I had come to IAD on was getting pushed back too when we went by that gate. A Global Express took off before us, then it was our turn. Takeoff thrust applied and we rolled down runway 1R and lifted into the sky. Soon after departure we went through some puffy clouds and got knoked around a bit. It pretty nice actually, and since some people who had been reading got nervous, they shut off their reading lights, so then I could see outside better since the reflections caused by the lights were gone. The turbulence was only in/near a few clouds and we were soon out of it. It became smooth after this. When we got a bit higher, I switched seats to an empty row so I had 2 seats to myself for the rest of the flight. Since this flight was very short there wasn't any drink service or anything like that. We passed the NYC area, and soon we started decent for BDL. Arrival was on runway 6. Before I got off the flight, I asked if I could get pics of the cockpit. The captian was cool, and he turned up the brightness on the displays for me, and asked if the pics were going on airliners.net. All in all, another great flight.
UAL202
A319
N834UA
YVR-IAD
4 hours 20 minutes
Got to YVR at about 10:00 for a 12:20 flight. The United checkin line streched for a respectable disance, but was nothing compared to the US immigration line which streched down the length of the terminal, and looped around a couple times near the end of the terminal. Checkin was pretty easy with the United Kiosk, and soon we were headed for the loooooooong US customs/immigration line. Towards the end of the terminal there was a guy sitting in a chair with a cat, which was going into a garbage can, to look for food, it was kinda funny. The line moved decently though, and soon we cleared US customs at YVR. At this point I went to the Pacific Grill (fast food place near the gate) and got a hot dog and fries which were pretty good. After eating, it was time for boarding. Boarding went pretty fast, we actually got on after the last boaring call. The plane was hot inside, and the pilot said that the ground AC unit wasn't working, so they started an engine before pushback to get some cool air into the plane. After push back we taxied on one engine for a while, then the #2 was started up. The JAL Samurai Blue 744 was parked at the international gates, so that was nice to see on taxi.
After this we taxied past the domestic side, and then towards runway 8R. One family had a baby, which wouldn't stop crying. It was very annoying. This begs the question, why don't parents give their babies pacifiers if they are crying? At least the kid shut up for takeoff though. We were in line behind an Alaska 73G. Once he took off, we took the runway, and takeoff thrust was applied. There was a JAL 744 approaching 8L when we started roll. Takeoff was nice, and there was a nice overview of the airport once we got airborne, which I got in the video I made. As we climbed it was smooth, we got one random big bump, as we climbed. We continued east, and soon were over the Rockies.
I turned on channel 9, and listned to that for a while. Then the IFE movie Ice Age 2 came on, so I watched that. It was ok, much better than "She's the Man", (which was played after that, since there was enough time) When that came on it was back to channel 9, for the rest of the flight. This is when things started getting more interesting too. I guess over the Midwest there were some pretty big t-storms, so for several periods we went through some pretty good turbulence. I enjoyed it actually. This time however, the air got smoother as you went lower. So planes were requesting to go down to altitudes like FL250 when they were at something like FL370, and getting bumped around. We started off at like FL370, and the pilots eventually reqested FL250, since that was reported to be smoother, and eventually were were cleared all the way down there, and the turbulence subsided. After being at FL250 for a bit, it was time to decend further for approach to IAD. Approach was good, but you couldn't see much as it was hazy, out. Eventally, we were set up on approach for runway 1R. The setting sun was visible in the distance, as we were on final. After landing we taxied right to gate C6, which took no time at all. I guess this is why they pilots requested 1R in the air, when at first we were supposed to go to 1L. This was a good flight, no complaints.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA1YP99rCh8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
7/19/06
TCF7540
ERJ-170
N647RW
IAD-BDL
50 minutes
This flight was at night. Boarding went pretty quickly, and soon we were pushed back. We started up one engine, then taxied on that, and started up #2 while waiting for runway 1R. There were mostly RJ's out waiting for departure. Although I did see a 767-300 on roll, and the A319 I had come to IAD on was getting pushed back too when we went by that gate. A Global Express took off before us, then it was our turn. Takeoff thrust applied and we rolled down runway 1R and lifted into the sky. Soon after departure we went through some puffy clouds and got knoked around a bit. It pretty nice actually, and since some people who had been reading got nervous, they shut off their reading lights, so then I could see outside better since the reflections caused by the lights were gone. The turbulence was only in/near a few clouds and we were soon out of it. It became smooth after this. When we got a bit higher, I switched seats to an empty row so I had 2 seats to myself for the rest of the flight. Since this flight was very short there wasn't any drink service or anything like that. We passed the NYC area, and soon we started decent for BDL. Arrival was on runway 6. Before I got off the flight, I asked if I could get pics of the cockpit. The captian was cool, and he turned up the brightness on the displays for me, and asked if the pics were going on airliners.net. All in all, another great flight.
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