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Spiderguy252 · Last edited by Spiderguy252 on Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:35 am; edited 3 times in total

I don't think many know about it on here, but flying KU of late is proving to be unsafe for many. Their tatty fleet of 17 birds acquired in the aftermath of the Gulf War are starting to fall apart with potentially tragic consequences.

July this year saw the latest in a series of incidents involving their aircraft, where an A300 had one of its engines explode mid-air while on a pilgrimage trip from KWI to JED. Props to the skipper for piloting it down safely to the ground, but it exposed for yet another time to the Kuwaiti public, that the airline had in fact been managed and driven into...well, the ground by the government.

After all, what could have been a worse affair than a plane-full of their own men and women on a holy jaunt to Saudi Arabia go down?

The media went on an overdrive from that point on, and smear campaigns were in full swing especially in the local papers. Survivors of the incident also posted videos of what ensued on board.

Here is one of them, where you can see the oxygen masks deployed, and weird engine noises throughout. Skip over to 1:20 if you want to catch the actual sound of the starboard engine bursting, with terrified cries of "Allah!" from passengers around the cabin, many of them praying and bracing themselves for a possible crash.

Turns out the aircraft involved was the very same one (9K-AMC) that went tech during one of my DXB-KWI flights from a couple of years ago, which I have described in another TR.

The airline for its part went into damage control, claimed that it gave top priority to safety and maintenance practices (the usual drivel), and grounded three of its aircraft for inspection - one each from its A300, A310 and A340 fleet.

You can read all about the saga here.

In any case, the end of the year is always a time for me to head back home. This year actually had a planned sojourn to South East Asia planned (KUL and SIN), but circumstances have pushed that to the end of January - and that is a trip where I'll be flying SQ outbound from BLR and Air Asia on the hop back from KL to MAA. You're always spoilt for choice on those sectors.

Unlike on the Kuwait-Chennai market, where KU has a monopoly. For the record, the only other "competitor" on the route is a 2-weekly AI A320, which flies MAA-HYD-AMD-KWI. No thanks.

A departure of Saturday the 22nd was purchased, and while us in the know do realize that an engine failure can happen even to the freshest of birds, it was a slight bit of relief on catching the aircraft type listed on the booking - an A310, of which two are active in the fleet with the third (9K-ALC) grounded as mentioned above.

Also went ahead and picked out a seat by the window.

Now I won't claim that I'm an expert with these kinds of things, but surely with only two aircraft of the type in the fleet, the success rate of my prediction on the one that'll turn up at MAA just boils down to what can basically be likened to a coin toss right? Twisted Evil

Thus I proclaim - on the basis of gazing at the general movements and scheduling over the past few days, that 9K-ALB, the newer of the two birds, will be servicing my flight come the morning of the 22nd. The way I see it, it is dispatched over to either one of MAA or TRV every third night, and spends the rest of the while catching up on some regional trunk routes - DXB, CAI and JED. One night is spent overnight at DXB, and the other in the KU hangars I presume, to catch up on some much needed rest!

Here it is coming back from TRV this morning.

So, will have this updated as and when things progress. The return would be the usual 738 on KWI-BOM via 9W come the 30th, followed by the aforementioned SQ and AK flights to round off January.
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject:

However, it looks like last night's flight - the one that will be last operated to MAA prior to mine on the 21st, has used an A300.

9K-AMA was the bird, though I reckon I'll still stick with my punt and claim that 9K-ALB will be the metal of choice on Saturday. Twisted Evil

I'll be watching its movement closely through tomorrow to ascertain this.
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Nice start to another progressive trip report, in the inimitable Varun style!
We look forward to some nice descriptions form you, along with pictures. Interestingly, I am right now waiting for AI 101 at BOM CSIA T2 with TW and Jr, which will be the first domestic 777 flight for the three of us. More interestingly, I am scheduled to depart from MAA on the 22nd Dec too, from the International Terminal (yes, the Anna terminal), on AI 43, which departs at around a similar time. I wonder if we will be able to meet up!
My itinerary is as follows:
Set out 22 Dec (Sat) for New Delhi from Chennai
AI 43: Air India (A319)
Anna (International) Terminal, Chennai - IGIA T3, New Delhi
Chennai (MAA) - New Delhi (DEL)
[09:05 pm - 11:45 pm]
Cheers, Sumantra.

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:31 pm Post subject:

Hi Sumantra, I think you've misunderstood the times of my flight - it departs at 0545 (AM) on the morning of the 22nd! Smile

While yours leaves over twelve hours later.

I suppose a meetup can't be a possibility this time around, but I'm sure we can manage it sometime later on. Let me know.

Conveyed the same to your inbox.
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Oops sorry, Varun - I guess I was too sleepy at BOM to have missed the clear `morning' references, plus the last image with the `AB3' encircled: possibly raised my hopes. Thanks, in spite of being tech-challenged, I can manage PMs here, thanks for the details. Now you know that if you get SPAM/crank calls, where they come from Razz

Cheers, Sumantra.

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:13 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Eeks Varun, it has started already, with my grammar going all over the place Sad

Cheers, Sumantra.

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject:

So far so good. With regards to my prediction of course; ALB has departed for CAI and upon its return, it should be dispatched to MAA. Of course, you can never be sure. Twisted Evil

QR 133 is a 787 by the way, I had no idea they were flying them in to KWI, will try and get some snaps if I somehow manage to catch it on my way in.
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:54 am Post subject:

Sigh. I officially suck at this game. Turns out that it's 9K-ALA, and not ALB, that is being flown to MAA as I type. Sad

Anyway, enough of this claptrap. My next words (and pictures) will appear after I've completed the outbound. Barring any untoward incident of course, like an IC 320 tire burst this time last year at GOI on New Year's night, in which case I'll fill you in from the depressing MAA international terminal.

Ciao.
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:33 am Post subject:

Hello from Kuwait. Quite chilly out here and I'm running short on sleep, but here's the outbound. My eyes are falling shut so I'll let the pictures do most of the talking. Thanks to Instagram for churning out good edits of them btw, considering that they were captured through a cellphone camera. Especially like their new 'Mayfair' filter which was rolled out with their latest update two days ago, and I've found that that one works best for aviation shots - aircraft taxiing, take-offs, cloud formations, etc.

Boarding Card.

Looks like a new store's opened up in the international terminal. Free previews of all headphones inside they say, but it's pointless if they have working hours ranging from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Flight was three quarters of an hour late coming in, so boarding was expected to be consequently delayed as well. But the folks announced boarding, then got walkie-talkied a message asking them to delay the process, bit funny. Eventually stepped onto ALA at 6:10 AM. Jordanian-Filipina crew allotted for this flight.

Airline: Kuwait Airways
Aircraft: Airbus A310-300
Registration: 9K-ALA
Date of Delivery: 2nd May, 1993

Load in J: 20%
Load in Y: 100%

Scheduled Departure Time: 05:45 AM
Actual Departure Time: 07:15 AM
Scheduled Arrival Time: 08:40 AM
Actual Arrival Time: 10:10 AM

Flight Time: 5 hours, 20 minutes

Domestic terminal whirring to life on this overcast Saturday morning.

I'm not completely aware of the mechanics of it, but I suppose the aircons aren't kept on when the aircraft is idle at the gate as it is solely powered by the APU? Well, ether way the cabin was becoming irately hot and there were no signs of a push-back in sight. No announcements from the flight deck either, but the crew began a drinks run.

After which Captain Mohammad came on and said that we were delayed thanks to traffic out of MAA, but I could clearly see engineers working on engine 1. This airline is a farce.

In the meantime, we were treated to an entire array of domestic departures on our left, mixed with the odd international arrival, including an SQ 74F cargo bird, and an Air Asia 320 in from KUL.

6E 320.

AI 321.

Safety Card.

SG 738.

In-flight magazines.

9W 738.

AK 320.

Come 7:15, we pushed back after being in the tube for more than an hour.

I think I counted a total of 1 PTV functioning in the entire Y cabin. None on my row, of course.

Lining up on 27.

Lift-off with a view of the secondary runway.

Saint Thomas Mount. Aircraft bank left here a lot.

Safety signs.

The benign PTV screen in front of me.

Levelling off at 34k feet.

Fell asleep for a bit, until one of the Filipina FAs chimed out loudly, "Sir, I think you pre-ordered a Hindu meal"?

Entertainment controls.

Everybody had of course, refused the complimentary headsets, and were schmoozing around with their own forms of entertainment - laptops, iPods and the like.

At the back of a long Y cabin, with windows shut to help us catch some sleep.

And sleep I did, before waking up as we were battling heavy turbulence off the coast of Oman. Crew braved the jerks and progressed through another drinks run.

After a gradual descent into the sandpit, we touched down to end our flight.

Parked at a jetway near a Bahrain Air and Gulf Air 320s, both bound over there obviously. QR 320 taxiing in the distance caught my eye as well, but it was relatively quiet this morning, with the sole departure being a KU AB3 to DXB. Closer investigation of which at the arrivals board revealed that KU's DEL and ISB flights were heavily delayed due to fog, and BOM was doing no better. A 772 was yet to depart to JFK, and it was 18 hours delayed. The only two incoming arrivals were an EY 320 from AUH and a KU 343 from CGK/KUL.

Couldn't help but click this at immigration. It's been 20 years, yet nobody has figured that they've got the birthdate on my visa wrong - it should be 28-12, and not on Christmas. Smile

Merry Christmas to all of you btw, and have a great 2013 up ahead as well. I'll update this with the return to BOM on a 9W 738, followed by the South East Asian adventures in a fresh TR.

Have fun.
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Nice update again, Varun! Yes, I got my first dekko at the Anna Terminal at MAA after about 5 years, and some 17 hours after you set out from it. It has changed from what I remember, the glass part has been blackened out (possibly due to the adjacent construction), and the entire area re-designed (if one call call it that). The area near gate 1 is fine, but the other one, was quite bad. No view, no AC (yes!), dirty antiquated fabric seats, and an overall depressing atmosphere. I hope that the new terminal will bring about a much-needed change, and this part will be renovated well, too. It is not that the AAI cannot build and maintain nice terminals - I have seen quite a few during my trip all around the country. Some smaller cities have some nice well-maintained terminals, both old and new. Of course, the volume of passengers is much less, but there is a sea change in the attitude towards the place, and the work culture.
Cheers, Sumantra.

jbalonso777 · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:15 pm Post subject:

Fantastic TR so far, 2013 looks quite good for you!
Pity that the only picture I saw was the A.net picture of the A310..
Well, reading through helped somewhat, but as you said, let the pictures do the talking, didn't do me any good. Rolling Eyes

Regards
Jishnu
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:25 pm Post subject:

jbalonso777 · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:36 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure...its just grey that's all.
Maybe its just some snag, which is frequent here in CMB, I need to wait (and be patient!!!! Evil or Very Mad

)
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

wonderful TR Varun!

I too love to sit down and hunt out which plane will do which flight! The pleasure is priceless when you get one right, too bad for you though. Wink

Pics look excellent too! When do you report at the bus-stop aka MAA Airport for a 5 am flight? Razz

I spend the night at the airport to catch 9W 489 as taxies are unreliable and no other local transport is available at that time in the night, ofcourse autos are there but they'll charge you more than your air ticket itself! Smile

I really want to fly an A300/310, simply to experience the stunning wing views !

The food doesnt look that good!

Hope your return on 9W is better than this flight. Smile

Rishul
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Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.

- Greg House

ameya · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:32 am Post subject:

Nice to see the snaps

WIsh you happy holidays !

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject:

The_Goat · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 5:07 pm Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 3:10 am Post subject:

jbalonso777 · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 8:48 am Post subject:

There we are, pictures are working fine for me now!
Good shots there, considering the fact that they have been taken using a cell phone. Although, a few things like the face towel, and the muffin in the second drink run, are a few which aren't frequent to our airlines in India. Maybe that is the only plus point of this dying airline?

And yeah, that is indeed a Boeing 737-900ER of SpiceJet Smile

Regards
Jishnu
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sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Nice Report Varun.

It is a pity that one of the richest nations is unable to fix their airline or whatever is lef of it.

If you are in Singapore in January PM me and we can meet up.

Sri_Bom

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 2:15 pm Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject:

Great TR Varun - thanks for posting. Hope you have fun at home for your b'day and new years!
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We miss you Nalini!

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 4:49 pm Post subject:

jbalonso777 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:51 pm Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 8:20 pm Post subject:

jbalonso777 · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:15 am Post subject:

Yup, there we are, that is what I meant!

I think I also forgot to mention; considering the fact that you were using a cell phone camera, there are a few nice abstract photographs which you took!

PS-Happy Birthday!! Very Happy

Have an awesome day and a brilliant year ahead! Mr. Green

Regards
Jishnu
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:15 pm Post subject:

Cheers thanks, have a great 2013 ahead yourself(ves).
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The_Goat · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:49 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the detailed reply on KWI, Spiderguy. Too bad that the airport is improving while the major airline based there is clueless and shoddy.
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I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:20 pm Post subject:

On Sumantra's request, here is a mini-report of the return to BOM on 9W.

* Delayed departure, but KWI airport had the speakers chime out the announcements in Hindi, in addition to English and Arabic for this flight. jasepl would love it. Smile

* Aircraft was a 738 and looked fairly well-maintained. Loads weren't full.

* Dinner was a massive reduction in quantity from the previous occasions, no tea run (or I think they ran out of it before reaching my row, only coffee).

* On arrival at BOM, they gave me a boarding card for an SG flight onward to MAA, and not a 9W one as booked. This was the ruddiest part of the affair, and is continuing proof that they're losing the plot rapidly.
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Thank you for the very prompt addendum, Varun! However, this leaves us gasping for more. How was the coffee? Second, would it be possible to describe the SG connection in detail? (Of course, we would love details of the KWI-BOM flight as well, with the food part in more detail - you know what I mean - and like Razz

). The food would have been much better on the SG flight - did they give you a food coupon? Further, did you get any miles accrued for the BOM-MAA leg - a sort of `compensation' from 9W because of not putting you on to a flight on their own metal? Was this because the BOM-MAA 9W flight was heavily over-booked, or was it because they had done an impromptu cancellation on account of very light loads, and given the passengers the cheapest alternative?
Thanks in anticipation, Sumantra.

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:27 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the late reply, just got back after a quick getaway.

TKMCE · Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 957

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:15 pm Post subject: