These flights on TAROM were absolutely fine, but the whole experience turned nasty, when I had to make an ‘unscheduled’ stop at the airport police office in Bucharest, because a flight attendant claimed that I took several pictures of her, while on duty, which was absolutely not true. The result was pretty awful for me at that time, since I had to erase completely all my pictures taken before and on those flights, many of them being catalogued as illegal. I managed to recover my pictures from the memory card and now I can reveal all the details of the trip.
Here it goes…
I planned this trip 7 weeks before, so I can fly on the Romanian national carrier, TAROM, which I have never flown with before, and also on ATR 42-500. I tried to find domestic cheap fares and I finally booked a return flight from Bucharest to Tirgu-Mures (TGM), in central Romania, in the region called Transylvania, which I suppose many of you heard of it.
The flight to TGM would have a small layover in Sibiu (SBZ), “European Capital of Culture” in 2007. These 2 flights (with 2 layovers, so actually 4) cost me around 55 euros, the lowest price it can get.
These domestic flights are mostly sold with traditional paper tickets, so I had to go to the TAROM agency, to buy one.
I got to the airport around 5 PM, even though my flight would leave at 9:35 PM. I did so because I wanted to do some spotting, to try getting some shots of YR-LCA, one of the two aircrafts Airbus 310 in TAROM fleet, which began to operate again, after a few years of storage. The main reason this aircraft stopped flying at that time was the big financial losses on the routes from Bucharest to New York, Montreal, Beijing and Bangkok. Now it’s back in action, flying only European routes for now, where the demand is higher, from OTP to LHR, MAD and TLV.
Here it is, arriving from London Heathrow, before touching down on runway 08R.
Some other planes:
Alitalia // MD-82 // I-DAWC
Blue Air // 737-300 // YR-BAC
KLM // 737-900 // PH-BXR
Blue Air // 737-300 // YR-BAA
TAROM // 737-300 // YR-BGE
TAROM // 737-300 // YR-BGD
I also took some pictures with the airport terminals, which according to the authorities, are all illegal. So here’s the proof of my “criminal act”, which undermines the national security.
Departures terminal
KLM and TAROM
Who says you can’t clean an aircraft the old-fashioned way, with a broom and a bucket of water?
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OTP (Bucharest Henri Coanda / Otopeni) - SBZ (Sibiu International) (210 km)
31 Jul 2007, Tue
TAROM 725
Aircraft type: ATR 42-500
Registration: YR-ATD (First flight: 28 Sep 1998)
Scheduled: 9:35 PM - 10:30 PM
Actual: 9:45 PM - 10:40 PM
Flight duration: 45 min
Seat: 4A
Load factor: 85% ( 41 / 48 )
I checked in for my flight about 2 hours prior to departure, getting the window seat I kindly requested, even though the view outside wouldn’t be that good, because of the darkness and unfavorable weather conditions. I got seat 4A, right behind the so called business class seats, which were the same size, with the same pitch, so really nothing special about them.
Boarding was done by bus, which carried all the passengers from the domestic hall to the remote stands, where the aircraft was waiting. We boarded through the back door, as usual on ATR 42-500, and greeted by the two flight attendants, one well in her 40s and one in her 50s.
Seats 4A and 4B
The seat pitch was very small, even for a middle sized person; luckily the flights operated with this type of aircraft aren’t that long.
The left side engine, before being started; there were visible in the back My Air A320 and TAROM B737
The safety demonstration came swiftly, the aircraft taxied right after that, and we took-off on runway 08R. A large left turn came, in order to follow our flight path, towards north-west.
A few minutes into the flights, the F/A’s began the in-flight service, consisting of a small, but extremely small ham and cheese sandwich, a bit tasteless, and a soft drink. I chose orange juice. Small snack indeed but still better than nothing, considering the length of the flight.
About 20 minutes into the flight and a huge bump came, which seriously shook down the whole plane, but the passengers weren’t that surprised about it, most of them being most likely frequent travelers on this route, operated always with ATR 42-500.
The landing lights were switched on, before landing.
We flew right over Sibiu city center, but the camera captured only these blurry lights.
Unfortunately nothing to see outside, as it was raining.
Most of the passengers left the aircraft, but no one else came instead, so there were only 11 passengers left for the flight to TGM.
Meanwhile I took several pictures inside the cabin.
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SBZ (Sibiu International - TGM (Transilvania Tirgu-Mures) (80 km)
31 Jul 2007, Tue
TAROM 725
Aircraft type: ATR 42-500
Registration: YR-ATD
Scheduled: 10:40 PM - 11:10 PM
Actual: 10:55 PM - 11:13 PM
Flight duration: 18 min
Seat: 4A
Load factor: 23% ( 11 / 48 )
We took-off on runway 27 and then we headed north, for the very short hop, 80 km long, to Tirgu-Mures.
I went in the back of the plane, to try to talk to the F/A’s, to explain them that I’m a big fan of the aviation and I really like to take pictures everywhere I go. When I told them I took some pictures and I will post a trip report about the flights, they even turned suspicious, almost believing I’m from the press or something… In my mind, I realized what a big mistake I’ve done by telling them all this. I also asked the number of passengers on the first flight, and the younger (in her 40s) told me the number, mentioning also that this is actually not allowed.
The other F/A (in her 50s) was very surprised by my words in general, asking me if I’m allowed to take pictures on flights… I said something like: I don’t know, you tell me…:) adding that I took thousands of pictures on my flights, having no problems about it.
I told them I would be taking the return flight the next morning, the flight being operated with the same aircraft and with the same crew.
I finally returned to my seat, as we already prepared to land in TGM.
After landing on runway 07, we left the aircraft and, because outside it was raining a lot, we had to get on a small bus, to travel on a distance not more than 40-50 meters to the terminal building. I wonder if that’s happening too when it’s not raining…Because it’s quite ridiculous.
”Welcome” greeting
Part of the terminal building
The airport was closed during the night, opening only in the morning, about 5:30 - 6:00 AM, for the morning flight going back to Bucharest. The aircraft was left standing on the apron and the crew stayed overnight.
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TGM (Transilvania Tirgu-Mures) - SBZ (Sibiu International) (80 km)
1 Aug 2007, Wed
TAROM 726
Aircraft type: ATR 42-500
Registration: YR-ATD
Scheduled: 6:40 AM - 7:10 AM
Actual: 6:56 AM - 7:17 AM
Flight duration: 21 min
Seat: 12A
Load factor: 35% ( 17 / 48 )
Before checking in for my flight I took several pictures inside the small terminal. Not so many passengers around at that early morning time. TGM has scheduled flights to Sibiu and Bucharest with TAROM, to BUD with MALEV and to CIA, BUD, BCN and LTN with Wizz Air.
TAROM check in counter, which wasn’t actually used for this flight
Other check in counters, used last time for MALEV
The check in process wasn’t exactly what I had in mind about it. Before reaching the check in counter, we had to get through security (x-raying the passengers luggage only), maybe preventing this way a terrorist plot against the check in agent.
My back pack was also hand checked, maybe the security agent was puzzled by my umbrella, camera and MP3 player.I asked the agent for a window seat and I noticed that the whole process was extremely “high tech”, I mean “done by hand”. Here’s my hand written boarding pass:
Then I had to go through yet another security check. Having left all my belongings, including my belt, in the backpack, I went through the metal detector. No beep, obviously. Not enough though, for the security personnel. I was hand checked all over my body, and I had to put my sport shoes to go through the x-rays… I almost started laughing, since I was never put through such tight security check before, not even in the US. I was given back my shoes and when I tried to put them on, well… the security agent told me I have to give them back for one more check… It has already become a ridiculous check, but I wasn’t too bothered about it, as I knew I was in Romania, where people tend to take advantage of their jobs, especially those which give them the possibility to impose their so called “full authority”, to boost their personal ego… So pathetic!
Inside the departures hall
We had to board again the small bus, as it was raining. The aircraft was prepared for the flight.
I was the last passenger to board the aircraft, because my seat was 12A, all the way in the back. I was greeted by the same F/A’s as last night.
We took-off on runway 25 and immediately after rotating the plane was engulfed by the low clouds.
A light load for this flight, 17 passengers, but the flight would pick up some more 18 passengers at Sibiu.
We landed on runway 25 and then had to wait for the remaining passengers to board. Meanwhile I tried to take pictures of the new terminal being built at Sibiu Airport, but since I couldn’t get outside the aircraft and, on top of that, it was raining, I wasn’t that lucky. All I got is this:
The new ATC tower
The old terminal and ATC tower
TAROM // ATR 42-500 // YR-ATE
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SBZ (Sibiu International) - OTP (Bucharest Henri Coanda / Otopeni) (210 km)
1 Aug 2007, Wed
TAROM 726
Aircraft type: ATR 42-500
Registration: YR-ATD
Scheduled: 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM
Actual: 7:39 AM - 8:22 AM
Flight duration: 43 min
Seat: 12A
Load factor: 73% ( 35 / 48 )
This is only picture I took, because when I tried to take another one inside the cabin, I was told by the F/A (in her 50s) that I shouldn’t take pictures of her... She was in row 4 and I was in row 12, when I tried to take the picture, so there’s a bit of distance… I tried to explain her that I only intended to capture a shot inside the cabin, with no intention what so ever to capture her… By the way, she wasn’t a beauty and I have no special interest in ladies well in their 50s. She said that she’s not sure if I captured her on camera or not, so she would tell the police as soon as we land in Bucharest… Can you believe that?!!!
As I was in no mood to take any more pictures, I waited time to go by… We landed on runway 08R at OTP.
The F/A informed one of the ground personnel, from TAROM... I had to go with him at the airport police bureau, together with the F/A, which seemed so offended... Before getting to the police, she explained to the person which showed us our way, that she became suspicious when I asked her the number of passengers… I only asked in a normal manner: “Have you heard of the load factor?”… No comment from her…
At the police, the F/A explained to the officer what happened, that I took a picture of her, and then I told my side of the story, that I didn’t. The officer asked for the digital camera, to take a look at the pictures. He obviously didn’t find any picture with her, but he said that there are many pictures showing the airport activity, which is not allowed… At one time, he was actually talking with his colleagues, that, I quote, “these pictures can actually give you serious charges, like espionage”… I felt like I was quite a criminal, since by taking those pictures, I actually undermined the national security... Oh, my God, I just couldn’t believe what’s happening. He finally told me, which I was already expecting, to erase all the pictures from the memory card… I did so! What other choice did I have?!
In the end, the officers told me I was quite lucky that the F/A wouldn’t press charges (on what bases? there is no picture with her!) and get a fine of about 700 euros…
After about 20-30 minutes, I was a free man, a free “terrorist - tourist”.
General conclusions:
- TAROM flights were absolutely fine, but the staff is more than outdated, many of them having the old way of thinking, with habits originating from the communist era.
- If you want to come to Romania, please don’t! Don’t come in a country where you are not allowed to take pictures in the subway, in the malls, airports and many other places… Who knows, you might even get thrown to prison.
- If you want to fly TAROM, do so, but only if you don’t plan on taking pictures.
Personal conclusions:
- I will never ever fly again with TAROM.
- I will try to convince as many people as possible not to fly with them too.
- I will take pictures whenever I have the possibility, the “old system” will never beat me.
- I will definitely emigrate from this pathetic country… I don’t want to offend any people from other countries, by saying that I would even go there than staying in Romania… but I guess I’m not offending the penguins from Antarctica, if I say that I would gladly live there, than having to spend my live in a country where I was so unlucky born.
Hopefully you enjoyed my TR, with its positive and negative sides.
Any comments are greatly appreciated.
Nick
