Monday, 02 April 2007
Charleroi Brussels South (EBCI/CRL) - Nîmes Arles Provence Camargue (LFTW/FNI)
Ryanair flight FR8048
11:25-12:45
Boeing 737-8AS
EI-DPM, delivered 03/2007 !!!!! 8)
Seats 16D & 16E
Entering the airport building, we proceeded direct to the baggage checking. Our baggage weighed 15.2kg, but they didn't p*ssed us off. After the safety checks, we proceeded to gate 2. Around 11h00 I noticed EI-DLH embarking, for Bergamo-Orio al Serio, methinks.
Our flight was called on time, the plane was only landing, we left the lounge and we rushed to the door (distance +/- 6 metres
)We were really treated, with the brand new EI-DPM ! Onboard, everything was clean and shiny (sorry, I didn't dare to take a picture) except for the 2 or 3 chewing-gums sticked on the floor
We sat in row 16, seats 16D & E, it means... The emergency exit ! Really cool : space enough for my legs (I'm 1.89 metres tall) and the window. I noticed that the plane was full ! Before taking a picture of the wing, the winglet and the outside, I asked my mother if she hadn't a little refreshing towel from a previous flight in her handbag : the alcohol that it contains would help me wiping & cleaning the window. Yes, sometimes I feel myself a bit McGyver !
Our cabin crew was composed of 4, 2 hostesses (Ingrid & ?, very cute girls
) and 2 stewards (Luis and ?) The annoucement was made, and as usual you don't understand anything because the hostess doesn't speak loud & clear . She said that the captain for this flight was (?) Philip XXX, wishing us a pleasant flight and so on. We began the taxi at 11h35, we taxied towards rwy 25 at a high speed if you ask me, we lined up at 11h40 and the pilot immediately applied the take-off power. I had in mind the classical CIV departure : after take-off, at 6 Nautical Miles from the GSY (Gosselies) VOR/DME, direct to CIV. But the pilot first turned right, then left, straight ahead during 2 or 3 minutes, then a long, smooth left turn. We left Paris CDG airport on our right. I bet for the UN872 airway. After that, there stood under us a cloud layer of medium density, accompanied with some light turbulence. At 12h08 we couldn't see our mother Earth anymore. 
On the plane, I bought a Maes beer : expensive, but it's kinda cool to drink (to enjoy, not to guzzle !) your beer while you relax in an airplane seat !
We began the descent at 12h32, (passing Clermont-Ferrand, said the pilot : I thought immediately of CFA VOR/DME !)
At 12h55, I saw the runway from my window !
We made a medium right turn during the approach I became sure that we had followed the UY27 airway : the procedure described is the approach from Mende (MEN) VOR/DME. We touched rwy 18 (a bit late if you ask me), the pilot applied full spoilers & reverse, we used the whole runway to stop. At the end of the runway, the aircraft turned right, directed towards the military area (Nîmes is an airbase of the French Navy) I asked myself "What the f*** is going on here ?"
Maybe the plane wanted to greet its military cousins, because we taxied along the military apron ! Then we turned right in order to cross the runway. We parked in front of the tiny terminal, next to a Sabea Technics hangar !!!
(On the left of the picture, just above the tractor, you can see the tower which stands on the military part of the airport.)
On the technical apron were a white DC-10, an Axis 757, a DC9 and a FlyMe 737. The weather was a bit windy, but sunny, and the temperature of +/-20°C during our stay pleased me very well (I suffer from an hormonal problem : I don't like when it's too hot, I feel groggy if the temperature exceeds 23°C) and the pastis is even more refreshing ! :drink:
The stay was pleasant, the sphere in town is really relaxing, we visited the well known amphitheatre, with audioguides. Idem for the well known maison carrée. Our hotel was in the suburbs of the town. It was advertised by Ryanair as a "low-cost hotel" but it was looking nice anyway. And the food was great !
Wednesday, 04 April 2007
Nîmes Arles Provence Camargue (LFTW/FNI) - Charleroi Brussels South (EBCI/CRL)
Ryanair flight FR8049
12:45-14:20
Boeing 737-8AS
EI-DLH
When we arrived at the airport, guess who was standing on the technical apron, next to a white DC-10, an Axis 757 and a FlyMe 737 ? You guessed it ! Our beloved OO-TUC ! I noticed that the engines were running.
We went through the customs, and in the departure lounge, I saw that there was something wrong with the screen : the flight was planned for 13:20 and I could read "Status : embarking" on the screen ! They simply had forgot to change that from a previous flight. At the other gate, passengers were waiting for their flight FR9817 to Liverpool, 25 min before us. It was then 12h. Then their screen showed "DELAYED"... Suddenly I saw a fire truck coming on the apron, I thought of a technical problem... At 12h04, I saw a plane far away in the distance, heading south in the circuit for a rwy36 landing. But when the first aircraft landed, (I thought : the flight for LPL) we were the lucky passengers to be called first ! In fact, maybe the 2 planes had delay, and they put all the delay on the flight for LPL, by calling us first.
Our plane wasn't as full as 2 days ago, but I didn't manage to get a window seat, that made me mad. I sat in 16F & my mother in 16E
The announcement was even less understandable this time
The cabin crew was composed of 4, 1 steward and again 3 really cute girls : Ingrid (the same as 2 days ago), Nicola and Carol. There were less clouds in the sky this time, but more wind. the flight altitude was FL360 = 36000 feet. In the center of France, we already began our descent into Charleroi. We crossed CDG area at 33000 ft, the captain announced our way : Paris - Beauvais - Cambrai - Chièvres. During the approach, we didn't make many turns, I bet for a rwy 07 landing. The approach was very shaky, a child vomited but that subtle perfume hasn't had the time to spill over in the plane 
I noticed that the landing speed was quite high, and oh my god, at touchdown we bounced one time reeeeaaally hard (the whole plane screamt "OUGH" !) 
then landed for good 
I hope you enjoyed my descriptions !
