My phone bleeped.
It was a text message from a friend, and it was the sort of message I really don’t like getting: “We’ll pick you up at 02.00 on Saturday”.
“Whaaaaat?"
"02.00? Does it have to be THAT early?” I thought to myself, ”I must be mad”; but as our KLM flight would depart Manchester for Amsterdam at 05.55, it did indeed have to be that early and yes, I probably could be certified as mad.
"02.00? Does it have to be THAT early?” I thought to myself, ”I must be mad”; but as our KLM flight would depart Manchester for Amsterdam at 05.55, it did indeed have to be that early and yes, I probably could be certified as mad.
We arrived in good time at Manchester’s Terminal 3 and made our way to the gate to await the flight. Boeing 737-800 PH-BXZ was already on stand and before long, we were called to board the aircraft.
Our hopes of a prompt departure were dashed, however, as an announcement was made over the P.A. that a passenger at the back of the aircraft had become unwell and would require medical attention. A paramedic duly arrived and after a brief delay, the passenger was pronounced fit-to-fly. A couple of minutes later, we pushed-back and then taxied to the holding point in readiness for departure from runway 23R.
Once established in the cruise at FL270, the captain announced that ATC had given us a couple of short cuts and that these, together with the throttles being pushed slightly more forward than normal, would ensure that our arrival would be more-or-less on time.
The weather forecast for Holland for the Saturday morning had not been good and as we began our descent into Schiphol, it soon became apparent that it would probably be cold, wet and windy on the ground.
After landing, we taxied to pier ‘D’ and having cleared immigration and customs, we made our way to the terrace where it proved to be very cold, wet and windy indeed. Since my last visit to Schiphol, a Fokker 100, PH-OFE, has been hoisted onto the terrace as a visitor attraction and its wings provided welcome shelter from the rain as we got our bearings.
There were rumours that the weather would improve by lunchtime and the plan was to then go the ‘Spottersplace’ that the airport authorities have provided alongside runway 18R/36L, the ‘Polderbaan’, but before any plan could be implemented, the terrace was suddenly closed to visitors and we were requested to leave by airport security.
We’d heard a siren on the airport and a fire engine had turned up alongside a Boeing 737, PH-BXP, which was parked on the ramp below our vantage point. Two firemen had approached the aircraft but had then beaten a hasty retreat back to their vehicle. Several more emergency vehicles quickly arrived and before long, the aircraft was cordoned-off and several firemen were changing into protective ‘noddy suits’. We were just wondering whether it was an exercise when the security men appeared and ushered us inside.
What to do now? The weather had definitely started to improve so I wandered down to the airport station and caught a train into Amsterdam in search of lunch.
Returning to the airport a short time later, I was pleased to find that the drama was over and the terrace had re-opened so it was time to settle down and watch the aircraft for the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and after breakfast at the hotel, there was time for a few hours on the deck before the flight back.
Boeing 737-700 PH-BGU would be our ride home but as with the previous day, there was a delay in our departure. A problem with the airport refuelling hydrant saw us depart some ten minutes behind schedule. Once again, ATC helped out with direct routings and we taxied onto stand at Manchester ahead of schedule, though it was fifteen minutes before we could disembark as the jetway jammed as it was moved to the aircraft.
Once off the aircraft, there was time for just one more upset; my friend’s bag had fallen from the baggage trailer and had been run over by the tug, so after collecting its remains from the baggage belt, he had to go to the handling agent’s desk to fill out a claim form for the damage to the bag and its contents: a slightly sour footnote to an otherwise very enjoyable weekend.
BA Cityflyer Embraer 190 G-LCYL arriving in the murk from London City.
Estonian Air Canadair CRJ900 ES-ACC.
Reflections in the rain as KLM’s Boeing 737-700 PH-BGW is pushed back.
Alitalia Cityliner Embraer 175 EI-RDK.
Still wearing the livery of its former operator OLT Express, Air Malta Airbus A320 9H-AEF taxies in.
Nearly disappearing from view in the spray caused by a departing Boeing 777, Canadair Regional Jet 200 S5-AAD is operated by Slovenia's Adria Airways.
Lufthansa Regional Embraer 195 D-AEBM.
Saturday is definitely Turkish day at Schiphol with three Onur Air Airbuses on adjacent stands.
After the rain, Fokker 100 PH-OCE on the terrace.
KLM line-up at pier D.
SkyTeam-liveried Boeing 737-800 PH-BXO of KLM.
9A-CQB DHC8-400 Croatia Airlines.
Nice to see one of these on the ground rather than at FL360 over the UK, TC-JNR Airbus A330-300 Turkish Airlines.
Air ambulance Eurocopter EC135 PH-HVB heads off to an incident.
Another ‘nice to see on the ground’, Boeing 747-400F VQ-BFI of Air Bridge Cargo.
And yet another freighter, Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777F A7-BFB.
Iberia’s venture into the lo-cost sector is Iberia Express, illustrated here by EC-LDA Airbus A320.
As the light begins to fade, Airbus A319 4L-FGA of new airline FlyGeorgia taxies in.
TC-SNU Boeing 737-800 of Sun Express, yet another Turkish airline.
Into Sunday now, and in the harsh morning sunlight Rossiya’s Airbus A319 EI-ETP is pushed back.
Iran Air Airbus A300 EP-IBC, is somehow kept airworthy despite sanctions on Iran.
Martinair Cargo Douglas MD11 PH-MCT.
China Southern A330-200 B-6135 on stand.
Aruba-registered Boeing 767-300 P4-KCB of Kazakhstan’s Air Astana, a one-time Schiphol resident as PH-BZK of KLM.
JY-AYP Airbus A319 Royal Jordanian in ‘One World’ colours scheme.
Leased form Atlas Air, Emirates Sky Cargo Boeing 747-400F N408MC.
China Cargo Boeing 777F B-2082.
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