My first flight for two years, and I was really looking forward to it! I was supposed to fly from NCL to ABZ with Loganair last year but the flight was axed and instead we had to endure several hours on thew worst long distance train in the UK - the LNER Azuma. I said I would not be doing that again so this year I booked to fly from MAN with Loganair and hoped that the flight would not be axed, and it wasn't .
We spent the night at the Radisson Blu in the airport grounds, and had a bit of a view through the window of our room (though some rooms have better views!)
Jet2 lease two A330s, and they are both based at MAN, so I was very pleased to get the chance to photograph one from the hotel room.
I had checked in online but still had luggage to drop off, so we had to go to the desk and check in the bags. Then we had to join the long security queue. Loganair depart from terminal 3 at MAN, which has not been as badly affected by queues as Terminal 2. The queue was quite fast moving so we weren't too stressed and passed through into the departure area in good time.
Our flight was LM022, scheduled to depart at 08:30. It has been operated by a variety of aircraft including the ERJs, the ATR72 and the ATR42, which was to be today's aircraft. I was happy to be flying in a "new" (for me) aircraft type.
Our aircraft was G-LMSA.
G-LMSA at the gate.
G-LMSA has the name "Clan Armstrong".
G-LMSA being prepared for the flight to Aberdeen.
We boarded in good time, and hoped for an on-time departure (this flight rarely departs on time). We were greeted by the single flight attendant and settled into our seats - 10A and 10B.
The ATR safety card.
View from my seat.
This Loganair ERJ145 was operating the flight to Inverness.
We started to push back at 08:36, so not bad for timing! We took off at 08:45.
We climbed through some cloud, and the Captain said that weather conditions in Aberdeen were not good: rain, cloud, poor visibility!
Inflight view.
Inflight view.
Don't know what bridge that is.
My inflight snack was this Scottish caramel wafer and water to drink. Hot drinks were available and there was also a choice of shortbread biscuits if you didn't want the wafer.
Inside the ATR. The seating is 2-2 and each seat has an individual (as opposed to all the same pattern) tartan headrest. I found the aircraft quite comfortable, and vastly superior to the vile train we had endured in 2021!
Above the clouds.
A clear bit.
Over the coast.
Starting the descent to Aberdeen, and approaching the cloud. We flew through thick cloud on the approach, and there was some turbulence. Sitting in row 10 meant that I felt the landing gear door opening and the landing gear lowering, right under my feet!
It was very cloudy and raining when we landed in Aberdeen at 09:48. I was glad to have flown again, even though I am seriously out of practice when it comes to writing trip reports .
MAN-ABZ with Loganair 050922
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MAN-ABZ with Loganair 050922
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise
Re: MAN-ABZ with Loganair 050922
Glad to see you again on a plane and writing a report for Aviation24.be, Louise.
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
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Re: MAN-ABZ with Loganair 050922
Thank you Andre, I am glad to be back flying and reporting again - it's been too long .
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise
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Re: MAN-ABZ with Loganair 050922
A great review on a route I wouldn't mind trying myself, especially because of Loganair, which I have yet to experience.
A small correction to show you what a nerd I really am : the headrests don't have individual tartans, it's the antimacassars that do (= the piece of cloth on top of the headrest).
A small correction to show you what a nerd I really am : the headrests don't have individual tartans, it's the antimacassars that do (= the piece of cloth on top of the headrest).