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ameya · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 4:28 pm Post subject: The final leg BBJtwo - 2 India

Chicago, I reached on Saturday 28th – the trip report for which is finally up and thanks for liking it. I am still amazed by the big block buttons on the overhead panel of the B757. I am just wondering if this was the first step towards the B787 not in technology but traffic pattern, less capacity but longer routes.

I went thru the regular stuff in Chicago on Saturday – Millennium Park, Buckingham fountain, Cloud Gate, Navy Pier, Willis Towers skydeck and so on. The disadvantage of being alone is that my photos can well be said to have been downloaded from google.

An old friend joined in for dinner and he insisted we go to an Indian restaurant for dinner. I am not a desi food eater when I am at a new place, but considering the fact that there is nothing local to US food anyways and the other options would well be Subway / McD / etc I thought of saying yes to this chap who took me to India house in downtown Chicago.

The conference started on Sunday and early morning, I was at The Hilton Chicago, which is located on the magnificent mile, very close to the Buckingham fountain area. Before that I transferred myself from a hotel near ORD to a hotel near MDW, thanks to office stupidity.

The conference went off well on all days, including on the day we had an exhibit there. For the first time, I attended an awards lunch in the ballroom, with a seat having my name tagged to it. As I was telling my wife, the closest I can compare this is to my roll no. being written on the desk during exams. *Poor Joke*

But it was an experience to have your name on the table when there are 1500 people around (All had their names, not just me Razz

) and enjoy the function. A lot of insights into the industry in that part of the world.

Every evening, till the senior management was there, we would not go anywhere but end up having a tall Sam Adams either at TGIF which was in the Chicago Midway Hotel complex or the hotel bar. On 1st Oct the team left and I was to register for a tour for two tours, one to the control center of AmTrack and another to a bus operators workshop. However, upon registration they asked me for my SSN and when I told them that I do not have one, everything went in a loop. After a long time, I heard what I was secretly hoping, I will not be allowed on the amtrack tour because of security reasons.

The reason I said I was secretly hoping was because there was a plan B in place. This involved going to Rockford, which is 2 hours away and see my maternal uncle. So plan was made, and immediately after the closing session, which I finished early from my side on auspicious day of Gandhi Jayanti, I swiftly made it to the MDW long distance bus lane and took a Van Galder Coach USA bus to Rockford. Occupying the front seat on the top deck, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to Rockford via I-90.

An evening well spent, where I had some fantastic baba ganush in a Palestine restaurant followed by some burritos at Chipotle, and always struggling to finish it, we were back home. One plan was to get up early and catch the shuttle but by the time we were done chit chatting in his cozy place, it was close to midnight and plan was revised to go by the 9:00 AM shuttle, which would reach MDW at 11:30.

I would then take the hotel shuttle, reach hotel, check-out, and explore a museum. Sumantra sir had highly recommended the Field museum, however, I was more inclined towards the Museum of Science and Industry and eventually that is where I went because I wanted to see the german U boat – the U-505, one of the only 5 U boats in existence today.

I managed everything in time and went downtown again, one last time from where I took the “L” to come back to midway.

Interestingly, the weather had deteriorated bigtime. After days and days of sunshine, it was pouring cats and dogs. Interestingly, on Monday, I had seen in USA today, that they are forecasting thunderstorm for Thursday. I discussed this with my uncle and he said, if that’s what they say then it would be so. Much unlike, the if this is what they say, you can forget the umbrella home, it wouldn’t come thing we say here.

On Gandhi Jayanti, in Rockford it was sunny as well but every place we went, people were talking about the weather the next day and its implications, I will still surprised by the craziness of the thought. However, I did wake up to fog, rain, poor visibility and extremely cloudy conditions and despite the same, the coach did reach MDW on time.

The museum was extremely fantastic and I would answer specific questions about that if you have any. The photos at the end should give you some glimpse. If that’s how the children in US learn Physics and Chemistry, hats off to them. It seriously is one of the best places around to see in Chicago.

On my way back, I figured out that there is a shuttle which goes from MDW to ORD. I thought of taking it, since I had time to kill and sure I did, boarding the 0615pm bus, which started going in the opposite direction and then the driver announced that I would have to change the bus at a bus stand, where a bus would be waiting for me and then I would go to ORD. Skeptical about the time I would reach, the promised was 0735pm, he assured me that would be it.

Indeed it was, they took us thru highway I-294, if I am not wrong and we did reach at 7:30pm where I got down at Gate 1 – Terminal 1 where the Lufthansa sign was.

There are 4 flights on ORD-FRA route and mine, LH 433 was the last of the day departing ORD at 22:15hrs. Two of them are operated by UA on B777 and the remainder by LH on the B744.

LH has arrivals in T-5 at ORD and the aircraft is then towed to T-1. We were assigned gate B-16 for the departure. Like I did for the onward journey, I checked the Frankfurt airport website, which had said that my aircraft would be D-ABVN “DUsseldurf” which has been doing this ORD flight for the past week or so, I think because at this time, the swaps available in FRA are limited, as compared to the mid-day timings.

None the less, I realized on checking that the flight is being delayed in FRA, some more probing thru websites and I realize that its now D-ABVP “Bremen” which will take me to FRA. Interestingly, Pune & Bremen are sister cities and there is a Pune Bremen Maitri Chowk (Friendship Square) near Pune University – Aundh area, in Pune.

The aircraft left FRA at 06:03pm instead of 5:25pm operating LH432 the incoming flight. This aircraft had come in from KIX.

Interestingly, I think D-ABVN went tech because it was to operate a late night departure to EZE (22:35 from FRA), giving engineering a lot of time to fix issues.

Back to the airport, I hurried inside and saw an empty LH counter, rather counters. Check-in for MUC flight was done and FRA people had not turned up yet. Interesting, the same thing happened with me at BOM. I quickly dropped off the baggage, took my boarding pass and headed to the security.

There is no stamping of passport while going back from the US, so a TSA employee just verified the passport and I was in a very short security line which was very quick. I decided to try out couple of food options in concourse B of T1 at ORD and kill time, since I still had over 2 hours.

Used this time to call up my uncle and friends in US and waited near the gate to see D-ABVP, ( I am just wondering if Sumantra Sir would have called this the AKhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad plane) being taxied to the gate.

Boarding was orderly, with people being asked to stand as per their seat numbers and only those area being opened for boarding. I think the same should be replicated in India, sooner or later and somebody who stands in the wrong line should be made to board last

I settled in my seat 41A, after going thru another round of passport check for all pax. Finally when the boarding announcement was made, was lucky to realized that 41B is empty.

We pushed back 25 mins behind schedule and made a long taxi, probably the longest of all times for me to runway 14L overlooking a lot of work happening in the AA hanger and also some UA planes in the hanger, to take off in southwardly direction and immediately bank left and cross over lake Michigan heading northeast for our set path to FRA.

I had changed my meal options and was now on AVML. The announcement that Dinner would be served happened sooner but wasn’t taken very seriously by the crew. By the time the meal actually came, turbulence hit in and pilot announced that next 30-40 minutes would be this bad. Luckily for me, the meal was already given and fearing that they would take it away, I opened it immediately. It was a Aloo Gobhi subji, stir fried carrot and rice, along with fruits and curd.

As other waited, I promptly finished by dinner and slept. The PTV did not have much of a different selection from what was offered in September and there wasn’t much to see.

I had a nice sleep, thanks to the middle empty seat and when I got up we were just 2 hours from FRA. Quickly a round of breakfast was done, which was same for everybody – muffin, fruits and biscuits, along with tea / coffee/ juice.

30 mins to landing and the screen started showing the arrival gate along with connections. My boarding pass said that LH 768 would board at B47 which is so not like its regular gate B24, so I awaited the change in boarding gate on the PTV. But my luck about this was as bad as ever, PNQ did not feature in the list of connections. Interestingly, flights till 17:00 were displayed under this, but not PNQ. Damn, differential treatment to my hometown. Anyways, we landed at 13:25 LT on runway 07R giving me a new view on landing and taxied to gate Z69, the furthermost of the gates around.

I rushed out to find that the staff continued to say that my gate would be B47 for the next flight and FIDS continued to display Only B.

Most of the walkators weren’t working and I had to rush and walk a lot, train, security and stuff as such to get to concourse B, where I finally managed to see the gate B47.

The security was smooth, quick and polite. Hence the special mention of people I don’t like generally.

I saw the Privat Air aircraft and using the free wifi (30 mins only), next 30 by different email and after that another 30 by wifes email ID, I clicked some snaps and sent it on the whatsapp group. Saw Jat Air, Tam, Air ALgierie, probably my first. Not sure if I have seen TAM anywhere before.

Tried roaming around the terminal to kill time and awaited boarding call. Boarding was delayed till 15:20 and the aircraft left only at 16:05hrs. People got in large bags and the B737 had only as much space to accommodate and hence the back and forth between business and economy of pax to keep luggage and settle in.

The pilot announced that they are also awaiting some repairs. Interestingly this aircraft does not rest, it does PNQ on 4 days, where on the return it makes a tech halt at OTP (Bucharest) and on other 3 days operates to DMM. I wonder how they manage the maintenance with such a tight schedule.

The aircraft, was clean, probably spotlessly clean. Considering my hatred towards the B737, the cramped window seat and possibility of not being able to see anything other than the takeoff, if I go by the metar at FRA and region around, I chose an aisle seat. First time in the history by choice, 11C and would not repent the choice.

The aircraft, D-APBC has 32J and 60Y seats. As I counted, 4 J were empty and 7Y were empty. Unfortunately not the one next to me.

We did a long taxi to runway 18 and did a powerful takeoff after a long roll and climbed to 34995ft if I have to believe the screen.

Drinks service started soon after and again and again with the meal service. The crew in here was the best I have seen in a long long time and wouldn’t hesitate to say the best so far. Incidently they are privat air employees and food is catered to my privat air too. However, they may have the same contractor as LH.

That was followed by a tea coffee service and then lights were dimmed for people to sleep.

There was nothing interesting on the PTV as well so I had the regular flight map on. The seats were the same as they are on the regular LH flights with PTV. However, the ones on B747 were the newer seats which have half folding tray table and a magazine holder on the top of the seat, along with the PTV.

A quick snacks service happened about an hour before landing and we had a veg and non veg sandwich option. We landed at 0350hours, with a delay of 20 mins.

As I wondered why the immigration card wasnt given inflight, there was an announcement which said that they forgot to pick up cards in FRA and hence we would have to fill it up in the terminal.

It was a total chaos as we went to the terminal and started filling up the immeg. cards

All done, I was out quickly thru customs by 0420. The benefits of PNQ.

The aircraft on the legs

D-ABVP
MSN 28284
B747-400
Delivered 25/02/1997
Named Bremen

D-ABPC
MSN 33016
B737-800 BBJ2
Delivered to 20-10-2004 to Sun Country Airlines
Leased to Transavia
Back to Sun Country
Back to Transavia
Back to Sun Country
With Privat Air Since Apr'09
WL added in 2006

Photos to follow

ameya · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject:

Downtown can be dirty too

20131002_121855 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

For all car enthusiasts

20131002_132654 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

Hallowen

20131002_173344 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

U-505 in chicago

20131003_124906 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

B727

20131003_134620 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

Spirit of america

20131003_141628 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

Conference venue

20131003_145220 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

20131003_212419 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

Bremen being towed to Gate B16 from terminal 5 at ORD

20131003_212246 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr
AT FRA

20131004_141847 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

20131004_142840 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

20131004_144207 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

20131004_150559 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

20131004_151353 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

20130928_164239 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

Famous 103 floor skydeck

20130928_160109 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

My private Privat Air at 22Euro

20131005_211119 by ameyajoshi, on Flickr

Thanks for patiently reading my entire TR, across the trip

PAL@YWG · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 8:59 pm Post subject:

Excellent TR Ameya!

You mentioned in the first part that you had the chance to visit both Russia & US in the same calendar year, now I have a question for you: What are your observations in terms of societies/ Economies/ infrastructures in these two seemingly different places?

The BBJ experience must be unique but it's too long a journey in a narrow tube.

Thanks again for sharing with us!
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stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Great TR, loved the descriptions!

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

Ameya Sir, my hiatus resulted in me missing out on this trip report when it was hot off the oven, but thanks to your regular updates on gchat, my excitement at reading the complete report was heightened. I read this and Adi's trip report over a session last night, and today morning as well.
I regret that you did not find time to visit the Museum mile, which has always been my favourite point in the city. The Field Museum, The John D Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium are incredibly great, and soaking in the windy environment of the shores of the lake Michigan are some very sweet memories I have. I have not liked many Science and Technology musea across the US since they have very little of aviation in them, in fact, quite an apology. In the Chicago offering, I think your photographs just about show what is in view from the point of view of an aviation enthusiast. Of course, a U-boat is a great sight. Science Musea on the other hand, we in India have at least four excellent ones which I have seen: the Birla museum in Pilani, the Visvesvaraya Technological Museum in Bengaluru close to Cubbon Park(?), the Nehru Science Centre at Worli in Mumbai, and the Science City, Calcutta.
The way you collect trivia and statistics before every flight you take - is a treat for us aviation enthusiasts. I liked your `ABVP' explansion: we Delhi'ites would also refer to this as the `Atal Behari Vajpayee Party' during the Delhi University elections in the 1980s. You choosing an AVML...hmm...the food doesn't sound as bad as what a colleague recently told me about, the dinner being a sort of a starter, and quite bland, for his tastes. Do you have any pictures on board the Privatair BBJ: something exotic for an aviation enthusiast, and a plane I have seen in Pune in the early hours (I was waiting to catch the first of the three Kingfisher flights from Pune to Delhi back in 2009:IT 3150 PNQ-DEL 23 Jun'09, [06:15 am - 08:15 am]). Thanks once again for a superb trip report, Sir!
Cheers, Sumantra.

sabya99 · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 3:32 pm Post subject:

The submarine looks like a midget sub! Is it?
FRA-PNQ is a long distance,in a B737 bound to be uncomfortable! How crowded it was? What is the frequency? Very Happy

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Sabya99

Nimish · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 6:14 pm Post subject:

Ameya - glad to read the final segment of your recent trip, and glad that it all worked out well for you. The BBJ is certainly something unique, I'd love to try it at some time. I think the narrowest long haul I've done is with a 757 trans-atlantic. But as you stated in your previous TR, the 757 is far more roomy/ spacious feeling that the 737.

I don't know how you get the energy to do all the sightseeing on business trips. I typically completely skip sightseeing on business trips, so in all my years to SFO, never went to the Golden Gate, and in all my IAH trips, never gone to places like NASA/ Galveston etc.!
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We miss you Nalini!

ameya · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:52 pm Post subject:

ameya · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:54 pm Post subject:

ameya · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:57 pm Post subject:

ameya · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:58 pm Post subject:

ameya · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:00 pm Post subject:

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

ameya · Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 10:15 am Post subject:

Since it was June, I wonder why it went eastwards using runway 10.

Generally runway 10 is used from Nov end to Jan end/mid Feb due to wind direction

A319 was daily and direct, BBJ2 is 4x weekly and one stop on the way back.

As for IT 3150, the rotation was PNQ-DEL-PNQ-DEL (DEL IXR PAT DEL / DEL-PNQ-DEL) - PNQ

IT 3150/3151/3152/ 3347 or 155/156 / 3154 with the same aircraft ending up in PNQ on most of the occassions

Though there was a lot of traffic between PNQ & PAT/IXR, it could not be sold as a single aircraft flight since 3347 was a triangular operation and could not have the same flight number.

Go Air started the PNQ-DEL-PAT connection and when it launched, did really well with about 15-20 pax each flight

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

jbalonso777 · Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:05 am Post subject:

Brilliant end to a fantastic set of TRs sir! This BBJ sure does sound interesting, despite your grudge against the B737, and yes, I too would like to experience it sometime! I was a bit surprised to find out that this bird has Y class seats too, but that is surely my lack of knowledge, as I thought all BBJs have J class seats only. Thanks for this unique TR!

Regards
Jish
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ameya · Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 3:25 pm Post subject:

PAL@YWG · Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:06 am Post subject: