World Cup 2014 flights

[sn26567]

Also related somehow to this topic:

Passengers of Brussels Airlines and Jetairfly in the air yesterday at 2200 CET were regularly informed of the score of Belgium-USA by the cabin crew receiving messages in real time through ACARS and SATCOM.


Picture Jetairfly

[Inquirer]

I can confirm that indeed the pursers somehow manage to keep passengers updated as good as live about the scores in brasil at Brussels Airlines (and possibly also other belgian airlines as you say, André): is this a sort of newsfeed via satellite or something? I already wondered how they did it, so could be cool to have some background information, maybe?

[euroflyer]

nothing spectacular, usual service for example with LH (and I am sure many others) for many worldcups and european cups in the past years, cockpit receives the information in the same way as they are informed of gate changes for connecting flights etc and than either announce that themselves or pass it on to the purser

[tolipanebas]

It's indeed sent to the aircraft though an airborn communication system, called ACARS, which is mostly used to send operational data between the aircraft and the control center of the airline, like amongst others the information about the gates for connecting passengers, just to name one.
The only difference is of course that here, it's not a computerized message sent to the plane, but a piece of free text, so somebody at operations actually has to bother viewing the match live (or looking up the score) and then text the result to all the planes logged in to the system at that moment: not that it's much of a hastle though, if you have the technical equipment. It's just one of those little things which shows which airlines really care about their passengers while on board, and which only pretend.
Oh, some don't even have ACARS, because... well, you've guessed it: it costs too much... and the next thing you hear is their pilots on the ATC or handler's frequencies to find out who won 'for free'.

[Lysexpat]

It's just one of those little things which shows which airlines really care about their passengers while on board, and which only pretend.
Oh, some don't even have ACARS, because... well, you've guessed it: it costs too much...

A little bit harsh isn't it?
I for once would prefer flying in a new A333 without ACARS than in an old one who frequenly brakes down and has to make a fuel stop on the way to GRU.

[sn26567]

The Swiss team has just landed at ZRH from a Swiss A333:

[Passenger]

It doesn't happen much that a cancelled flight is excellent news:

Arrival today at 17h35: SN2014 Sao Paulo-Brussels (A333): cancelled...

[Flying Apple]

Oh, some don't even have ACARS, because... well, you've guessed it: it costs too much... and the next thing you hear is their pilots on the ATC or handler's frequencies to find out who won 'for free'.

and you also stil have 121.5 and some midwave radio stations which you can tune on the adf and listen to the "ident"

[sn26567]

The Aviation Factory has chartered a B767 from Brussels to Brasilia for the fans to watch the quarter final Argentina-Belgium. But the plane is waiting for supporters... Indeed, only travel organisations can book seats, and none has showed up; only many individual supporters have asked for seats.

http://www.lalibre.be/sports/football/l ... vQQ5v9yFGW (French)

[Passenger]

The Aviation Factory has chartered a B767 from Brussels to Brasilia for the fans to watch the quarter final Argentina-Belgium. But the plane is waiting for supporters... Indeed, only travel organisations can book seats, and none has showed up; only many individual supporters have asked for seats.

http://www.lalibre.be/sports/football/l ... vQQ5v9yFGW (French)

Allow me to disagree André. The problem is not that only travel organisations are allowed to book: they need bookings from fan clubs, registered with the Belgian Football association. Only they have access to allotments for soccer match tickets. Individual Red Devil Supporters can book soccer match tickets with the Football Association, but I assume Aviation Factory finds it a too big risk to sell tickets to 260 individuals on very short notice (unless their AOC forbits individual sale). What if they sell only 125? Cancel the flight and risk a indemnity claim from those 125?

The article in La Libre indeed states: "...Nous avons reçu énormément de demandes individuelles, mais nous ne pouvons travailler qu’avec des organisations de supporters ou des entreprises qui louent l’ensemble de l’avion”. Or pour l’instant, aucune organisation ou entreprise ne s’est encore manifesté. “Nous attendons jusqu’à ce soir, voire demain matin, mais si personne ne nous contacte, nous annulerons le vol car il deviendra impossible à organiser", conclut-on du côté d'Aviation Factory...."

[crlhub]

It is too late for this saturday.Maybe more possible in case of 1/2 final(eventhough it would also be on very short notice, the game is scheduled for next wednesday,it could even be a 'derby' against the Oranje..imagine).But for both final games scheduled for next week (on saturday and the big one on sunday)I'm sure one big sponsor could be found,as taking part of a 1/2 final gives you (even loosing it),the right to one final.
But I do not dream too much,Argentina will be our final game like in 1986.
Are the RD flowing back with SN?

[Kapitein]

But I do not dream too much,Argentina will be our final game like in 1986.
Are the RD flowing back with SN?

Never say never
Indeed, in case of a lost game the aircraft, OOSFO, will leave at 2200LT to GRU

[sn26567]

High level supporters departed from Melsbroek military airport to Brasilia this morning on board of the Belgian Air Force A321. The aircraft will refuel in Cabo Verde.


Picture L'Avenir

[Inquirer]

I wonder what the purpose is of this second "official" visit?
The first one with the King had a sauce of a trade mission over it still and as the head of state I suppose it's ok for him to go and see the national football team at the FIFA world championship and thus had to be flown out there on a government's plane, but this time around we simply have 3 government ministers -in the process of stepping down- flying out to the other half of the world on taxpayers' expenses to see nothing but a football match for their own pleasure?
If they want to see the match in Brasil, why can't they fly commercially then?
I really don't see why we need to spend so much money on something as useless as this ministerial trip.
Anybody our here who knows how much it costs approximately to send an A320 to the game and back?

[sn26567]

The BAF A321 at arrival in Brasilia



There were also journalists and other people on board, who had to pay for their trip. Hence the cost of this flight is not entirely paid by the Belgian taxpayer....

[sn26567]

77 special flights from Argentina to Brasilia yesterday! How many from Belgium?

[Passenger]

77 special flights from Argentina to Brasilia yesterday! How many from Belgium?

Euh. At least one: an grey A321 with a load of three self declared VIP's and some journo's...

[Passenger]

Seems the crew for SN2014 OO-SFO has to prepare for take off in 45 minutes (plus sime extra time).

[b-west]

Oi Oi Oi, passenger, don't jinx it! All of Belgiums goals were in the second half. Let us remain optimists!!

[Inquirer]

Seems the crew for SN2014 OO-SFO has to prepare for take off in 45 minutes (plus sime extra time).

Where will the fly to to pick them up (in case they need to): Brasilia? Sao Paolo? any other place?