Argentinian uprising (flying between Madrid and Recife)
Novembro | November 2007
Novembro | November 2007
Embarcámos à noite no voo TP728 com destino a Madrid, no A319 CS-TTK "Miguel Torga". A nossa missão seria agarrar no CS-TMP no dia seguinte e seguir até Recife numa operação para uma companhia de bandeira argentina.
Da tripulação da TAP fazia parte um antigo colega da Luzair que conseguiu colocar-nos a todos em C/CL embora, como era natural, tivémos apenas direito ao serviço de Y/CL com a box de sandes fria.
In an autumn evening, we went to Madrid on the TP728 flight, operated by a A319 with tail number CS-TTK and named "Miguel Torga". The next day, we would meet our airplane CS-TMP to fly her to Recife while operating for an Argentinian carrier.
On board we met a fellow colleague who previously worked for our airline and that was part of TAP's crew. He was successful to invite us for the Business Class - a complimentary upgrade.
Da tripulação da TAP fazia parte um antigo colega da Luzair que conseguiu colocar-nos a todos em C/CL embora, como era natural, tivémos apenas direito ao serviço de Y/CL com a box de sandes fria.
In an autumn evening, we went to Madrid on the TP728 flight, operated by a A319 with tail number CS-TTK and named "Miguel Torga". The next day, we would meet our airplane CS-TMP to fly her to Recife while operating for an Argentinian carrier.
On board we met a fellow colleague who previously worked for our airline and that was part of TAP's crew. He was successful to invite us for the Business Class - a complimentary upgrade.
O voo foi curto e pela primeira vez aterrei em Madrid/Barajas. Lembro-me de fazer frio e apesar de estar desfardado acabei por vestir o pullover da farda visto ser uma peça de vestuário absolutamente normal e discreta.
The flight was short and for the first time I landed in Madrid/Barajas. I recall it was a cold night and despite being using my own clothes, I had to wear the uniform's pullover to face the low temperatures.
A tripulação dividiu-se em dois taxis e ficámos no hotel Auditorium bem perto de Barajas, um dos mais impressionantes em que fiquei hospedado. Descemos todos para o lobby do hotel onde estivémos a conversar até tarde ao mesmo tempo que matávamos a fome com Club Sandwiches.
Noite bem descansada no quarto e o dia seguinte foi passado a ver televisão e o tráfego do aeroporto de Barajas em aproximação através da janela do quarto. Infelizmente o centro da cidade ficava longe e o taxi ficaria bastante caro como demonstrado no curto percurso aeroporto/hotel, suportado pela companhia. Precisávamos também de estar descansados para o longo voo transatlântico que descolaria apenas à noite.
The crew was split in two taxis and we stayed in the Auditorium hotel, near the airport. I remember I was quite impressed with this hotel. After leaving our baggage in the rooms we went down to the lobby to eat something and to chat until late.
I had a good sleep that night and I spent the following day watching TV and spotting the air traffic in Barajas through my room's window. Unfortunately, it was not that easy going to the center of Madrid and we needed to be physically prepared for the long transatlantic flight which would take place during the night.
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| Tráfego em Madrid: A310 da Air Comet Air Comet's A310 on final approach |
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| Auditorium / vista do quarto | room's view |
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| A340-600 / Iberia |
I found that it was possible to see our aircraft CS-TMP, parked at the airport, from our hotel!
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| CS-TMP @ Barajas |
O embarque do voo LUZ502, com destino final Buenos Aires, seria o mais complicado que já tive. Estávamos a substituir um Airbus A340 da companhia que nos fretou devido a uma greve de tripulantes e os passageiros de Executiva não gostaram do facto de não terem disponíveis as amenities pelas quais pagaram.
The boarding of our LUZ502 flight bound to Buenos Aires (Recife was just a refueling stop) was one of the most demanding I ever had. We were replacing an Airbus A340 because the crew members of the original airline were on strike and some Business Class passengers didn't like the fact that they didn't have the amenities they paid for.
No início rejeitaram o avião esperando outra alternativa que obviamente não existia a não ser ficarem em Madrid. Primeiro todos queriam sair, depois já só saíam alguns que tentavam a todo o custo demover os que queriam ficar para terem mais força numa possível negociação com a companhia fretadora. Nesta confusão entre saír e ficar, o tempo foi ficando curto para a descolagem pois o aeroporto de MAD encerra às 23h.
Initially those passengers completely rejected our airplane, waiting for another solution that obviously didn't exist beside cancelling the flight. First, everyone wanted to go out; then, without any alternative solution, just a few wanted to resist and tried to convince the others to also refuse in order to have a stronger position. With all this confusion between those who wanted to stay and those who wanted to leave the aircraft, we were running out of time for our departure because that part of the airport where we were parked would close at 11 pm.
Após o Cmdte ter dito pelo PA que o aeroporto estava fechado, tinha a económica toda de pé e de bagagem na mão a gritar em coro "QUEREMOS SALIR" tendo eu assumido erradamente que queriam sair do avião. Com a cabine num caos absoluto e nós tripulantes perdidos sem saber o que dizer, apesar de várias vezes me ter deslocado à executiva para inteirar-me do que se estava a passar, não tive dúvidas que o voo seria cancelado apesar do Cmdte ter anunciado também que estava a tentar uma autorização especial de descolagem. Pouco depois é que me apercebi que o "queremos salir" significava "Queremos salir para Buenos Aires" estando instalada uma verdadeira batalha Económica vs. Executiva pois foi impossível esconder que eram os passageiros desta última que estavam a empandeirar o voo.
After the Captain announced that the airport had closed and he was trying to get a special permit to go on with the flight, suddenly we had all economy passengers yellowing together "QUEREMOS SALIR". Me and other colleague assumed that it meant they wanted to get out of the airplane. With all that chaos installed I went several times to the front of the airplane to get more accurate news and to have something to tell to the passengers. It was only some time later that we all realized that those words "queremos salir" meant after all that economy class passengers wanted to close doors and proceed to Buenos Aires. So we had a real battle between Business and Economy class passengers with different feelings about whether to cancel the flight or not.
No meio de toda aquela confusão e com passageiros sem perceber ao certo o que se estava a passar, claro que havia uns que ainda tentaram sair a correr do avião com a bagagem de mão atrás. Tentei evitar a todo o custo que desembarcassem pois isso significaria procurar a bagagem de porão e retirá-la também do avião fazendo atrasar ainda mais uma partida que já estava dependente de uma autorização especial.
In the middle of all that big confusion and with passengers disoriented about what was going on, there were some that tried to escape and give up the flight taking with them their hand luggage through the aisles. I tried to avoid it the most I could, convincing them to stay. We were already dependent on a special permit and losing time searching in the holds for their checked baggage would not improve our scenario.
Havia em particular, um brasileiro que algumas colegas depois durante o voo me garantiam ser um actor pornográfico (!) que estava assustado e com medo de voar e que tentou desembarcar duas vezes. Tentei sempre acalmá-lo e até lhe disse que aquele avião já tinha sido da TAP o que acabou por ser pior emenda que o soneto já que o passageiro confessou ter tido sempre experiências traumatizantes com a TAP. Mas com muita tranquilidade lá consegui convencê-lo a ficar.
In particular, there was one Brazilian passenger that some colleagues recognized him as a porn model (!) that was terribly scared with all that situation and tried to disembark for at least two times. I tried to calm him down saying that our aircraft was part of TAP's fleet in the past. That was a big mistake because he said he had awful experiences with TAP. But with the right words, I finally convinced him to stay.
Quando o Cmdte conseguiu autorização de descolagem e os pax de executiva decidiram finalmente prosseguir todos no voo - já com a garantia de um elemento da companhia fretadora que foi ter à última hora ao nosso avião fazer um comunicado via P.A. explicando a situação que se estava a passar e que os passageiros seriam posteriormente recompensados - lá saímos com toda a gente a bordo. E foi impressionante ver como uma cabine num estado caótico ficou toda arrumadinha com a bagagem acondicionada nas bagageiras e passageiros sentados em menos de três minutos! (ufff... tanta confusão para nada!)
When the Captain got its special permit to start the flight, the Business Class passengers finally agreed to accept our airplane and proceed in that flight. Previously, one representative of the airline to which we were flying for, explained the situation through our PA system, saying that they would compensate the disappointed passengers later.
It was impressive see an entire cabin, that was in a complete chaos, to get ready for push-back in less than three minutes. Every hand luggage was placed again in the overhead compartments and passengers quickly occupied their seats in order to comply with our new slot. (ufff... such a confusion for nothing!)
Deixo aqui a versão de uma passageira que esteve nesse mesmo voo:
Here is the description of this "rise-up" seen by a passenger of that flight (Spanish only):
Mujeres al límit: Aerolíneas Argentinas
The boarding of our LUZ502 flight bound to Buenos Aires (Recife was just a refueling stop) was one of the most demanding I ever had. We were replacing an Airbus A340 because the crew members of the original airline were on strike and some Business Class passengers didn't like the fact that they didn't have the amenities they paid for.
No início rejeitaram o avião esperando outra alternativa que obviamente não existia a não ser ficarem em Madrid. Primeiro todos queriam sair, depois já só saíam alguns que tentavam a todo o custo demover os que queriam ficar para terem mais força numa possível negociação com a companhia fretadora. Nesta confusão entre saír e ficar, o tempo foi ficando curto para a descolagem pois o aeroporto de MAD encerra às 23h.
Initially those passengers completely rejected our airplane, waiting for another solution that obviously didn't exist beside cancelling the flight. First, everyone wanted to go out; then, without any alternative solution, just a few wanted to resist and tried to convince the others to also refuse in order to have a stronger position. With all this confusion between those who wanted to stay and those who wanted to leave the aircraft, we were running out of time for our departure because that part of the airport where we were parked would close at 11 pm.
Após o Cmdte ter dito pelo PA que o aeroporto estava fechado, tinha a económica toda de pé e de bagagem na mão a gritar em coro "QUEREMOS SALIR" tendo eu assumido erradamente que queriam sair do avião. Com a cabine num caos absoluto e nós tripulantes perdidos sem saber o que dizer, apesar de várias vezes me ter deslocado à executiva para inteirar-me do que se estava a passar, não tive dúvidas que o voo seria cancelado apesar do Cmdte ter anunciado também que estava a tentar uma autorização especial de descolagem. Pouco depois é que me apercebi que o "queremos salir" significava "Queremos salir para Buenos Aires" estando instalada uma verdadeira batalha Económica vs. Executiva pois foi impossível esconder que eram os passageiros desta última que estavam a empandeirar o voo.
After the Captain announced that the airport had closed and he was trying to get a special permit to go on with the flight, suddenly we had all economy passengers yellowing together "QUEREMOS SALIR". Me and other colleague assumed that it meant they wanted to get out of the airplane. With all that chaos installed I went several times to the front of the airplane to get more accurate news and to have something to tell to the passengers. It was only some time later that we all realized that those words "queremos salir" meant after all that economy class passengers wanted to close doors and proceed to Buenos Aires. So we had a real battle between Business and Economy class passengers with different feelings about whether to cancel the flight or not.
No meio de toda aquela confusão e com passageiros sem perceber ao certo o que se estava a passar, claro que havia uns que ainda tentaram sair a correr do avião com a bagagem de mão atrás. Tentei evitar a todo o custo que desembarcassem pois isso significaria procurar a bagagem de porão e retirá-la também do avião fazendo atrasar ainda mais uma partida que já estava dependente de uma autorização especial.
In the middle of all that big confusion and with passengers disoriented about what was going on, there were some that tried to escape and give up the flight taking with them their hand luggage through the aisles. I tried to avoid it the most I could, convincing them to stay. We were already dependent on a special permit and losing time searching in the holds for their checked baggage would not improve our scenario.
Havia em particular, um brasileiro que algumas colegas depois durante o voo me garantiam ser um actor pornográfico (!) que estava assustado e com medo de voar e que tentou desembarcar duas vezes. Tentei sempre acalmá-lo e até lhe disse que aquele avião já tinha sido da TAP o que acabou por ser pior emenda que o soneto já que o passageiro confessou ter tido sempre experiências traumatizantes com a TAP. Mas com muita tranquilidade lá consegui convencê-lo a ficar.
In particular, there was one Brazilian passenger that some colleagues recognized him as a porn model (!) that was terribly scared with all that situation and tried to disembark for at least two times. I tried to calm him down saying that our aircraft was part of TAP's fleet in the past. That was a big mistake because he said he had awful experiences with TAP. But with the right words, I finally convinced him to stay.
Quando o Cmdte conseguiu autorização de descolagem e os pax de executiva decidiram finalmente prosseguir todos no voo - já com a garantia de um elemento da companhia fretadora que foi ter à última hora ao nosso avião fazer um comunicado via P.A. explicando a situação que se estava a passar e que os passageiros seriam posteriormente recompensados - lá saímos com toda a gente a bordo. E foi impressionante ver como uma cabine num estado caótico ficou toda arrumadinha com a bagagem acondicionada nas bagageiras e passageiros sentados em menos de três minutos! (ufff... tanta confusão para nada!)
When the Captain got its special permit to start the flight, the Business Class passengers finally agreed to accept our airplane and proceed in that flight. Previously, one representative of the airline to which we were flying for, explained the situation through our PA system, saying that they would compensate the disappointed passengers later.
It was impressive see an entire cabin, that was in a complete chaos, to get ready for push-back in less than three minutes. Every hand luggage was placed again in the overhead compartments and passengers quickly occupied their seats in order to comply with our new slot. (ufff... such a confusion for nothing!)
Deixo aqui a versão de uma passageira que esteve nesse mesmo voo:
Here is the description of this "rise-up" seen by a passenger of that flight (Spanish only):
Mujeres al límit: Aerolíneas Argentinas
O Google permite estes achados curiosos!
It's amazing the things we can find with Google!
Ironicamente acabou por ser um voo muito calmo e com os passageiros tranquilos a quererem dormir. Ainda bem que foi um voo nocturno, exactamente por essa razão. Sou daqueles que prefere claramente voar à noite seja como tripulante ou como passageiro. Fui apenas interrompido por um passageiro que escrevia uma reclamação e que me pedia mais folhas. Ingenuamente, fui buscar o nosso livro de reclamações mas assim que o passageiro viu o logótipo da companhia recusou-o de imediato "Não, não! Não é com vocês que eu quero reclamar, vocês não têm culpa nenhuma do que se passou". Como foi reconfortante constatar que ainda há quem saiba fazer uma análise correcta da situação em vez de disparar irracionalmente contra tudo e contra todos... Pediu ainda um whisky que foi prontamente servido com um extra de simpatia da minha parte.
Ironically, it was a very calm flight with many passengers just wanting to sleep. Being this a night flight helped us a lot! Passengers were absolutely tired with all their wait and with what happened before take-off. It is also my preference to have night flights. I was only interrupted once by a passenger that was writing a complaint and wanted more paper sheets. It is a ridiculous thing but we usually don't have clean paper sheets on board so I gave him our own "Complaints Book" which he immediately refused: "No, no! It's not about you that I want to complain! You're just doing your job and you're not responsible for what happened". It's always nice when you find someone that does a correct judgement of the situation instead of "shooting" against everyone. He finally asked if he could get a glass of whisky, which I was happy to serve him.
À chegada a Recife - escala técnica para reabastecimento - desembarcou apenas a tripulação que seria rendida por outra tripulação nossa que estava já em REC para pegar no avião e fazer REC-EZE-REC. Nós ficaríamos a descansar em Recife até que os colegas regressassem de Buenos Aires para voltarmos a ficar com o avião, desta feita num voo de posição até Lisboa.
When we arrived at Recife (just a refueling stop for the passengers) - our crew disembarked and we were replaced by another crew that was already at Recife and would fly these two legs in a row: REC-EZE and EZE-REC. We stayed in Recife just until they returned from Buenos Aires, and we would fly back to Lisbon in a position flight.
Só tivémos direito a descanso mínimo, pelo que, sem tempo para mais, fui basicamente dormir a Recife! Algumas vistas do quarto.
Our stay was calculated to comply with the minimum legal rest period so I just had time to have breakfast and sleep... Some room views:
When our colleagues arrived from Buenos Aires, it was their turn to rest in Recife and we took the aircraft empty to Lisbon. At Recife Airport we met a TAP crew that was getting ready for their scheduled REC-LIS flight. TAP's A310 was parked just side by side on our left. They took off well ahead of us.
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| A310 CS-TEJ da TAP ao nosso lado
TAP's A310 tail nr CS-TEJ |
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| Rolls-Royce #3 |
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| TPS de REC
Recife Passenger Terminal |
One hour later it was our turn to head towards Lisbon on an absolutely smooth flight with the airplane just for us and with the ability of preparing our own coffee without being interrupted by any passenger request!
Deixo aqui um vídeo da descolagem nocturna em REC que vale mais pelo bonito cantar dos Rolls Royce do que pela qualidade de imagem.
I'm showing next a night take-off video in Recife that is more worth for the beautiful whining of the Rolls-Royce engines than for the image quality.
During our cruise we overtook one or TAP aircraft as usual in what would be my last flight before "boarding" the Hajj experience.
4 comments:
Olha a sorte...a viajar num grande passaro e ainda a reclamar :P
Continua com os reports!
Nunca foi chic nem phino beber corona... xD
Boa . Deste tipo de posts é que eu gosto.
corona é phinissimo. e uma companhia argentina de bandeira devia ser uma companhia de bandeira argentina. estas a falhar malhao.
fez.me lembrar a historia do 'no fue el aerolineas no, pero que fue una mierda, fue!'
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