Astra serial #'s

[svcta]

I've done 4 hours in it in one sitting.........and it's not bad.

 

[Lead Sled]

How is the flight deck comfort on the longer trips?

Most of the Astras that I've flown had pretty comfortable seats. The noise level justifies a comfortable headset, but ANR isn't required. For me, the biggest complaint was that the center console rubbed against the outside of my calf, but I've had that same complaint on larger and smaller airplanes - why do they always make the consoles as wide as they can? Most Astra's have an entry curtain that, if used, makes a big difference in cabin sound level.

There is no way around it, the cabin ain't the airplane's strong suite, but it's good enough most of the time. All in all, me thinks it's a pretty good compromise.

LS

 

[400A]

How do they tolerate low utilization? say 150 hours per year?

 

[wtrav8r]

How do they tolerate low utilization? say 150 hours per year?

These Planes like to fly, my experience is that they have many electrical anomolies when they sit for long periods. I am guessing this has to due with moisture in the Bonnet area (avionics bay)

In addition, it is always a crap shoot with regards to Slats deploying (Classic). The one weak system is the flap/slat system.

Cabin is nothing spectacular, however, the speed and low fuel consumption offsets this. In additional, the TO/Land numbers are fairly impressive.

Otherwise, except for the Human Factors nuisances (cockpit switch labeling), these are good machines.

 

[svcta]

We only use ours ('99 SPX) about that. It's got about 1300 TTAF and we've had it since new. It cranks up and runs flawlessly every time. We've got a great mechanic and he's ferreted out a couple of fuel leaks for us and most recently we've had some avionics woes, but it's getting to that age where those things start to happen. I don't think that sporadic use will be a problem for you.

Addition: We have had to replace a slat actuator in the past. But using lower extension speeds seems to have cut back on this problem across the fleet. And as far as the cockpit layout and labeling..I'd love to meet some Israeli engineers in a dark alley. Don't get me started on the QRH, either.

 

[Lead Sled]

These Planes like to fly, my experience is that they have many electrical anomalies when they sit for long periods. I am guessing this has to due with moisture in the Bonnet area (avionics bay)

In addition, it is always a crap shoot with regards to Slats deploying (Classic). The one weak system is the flap/slat system.

Cabin is nothing spectacular, however, the speed and low fuel consumption offsets this. In additional, the TO/Land numbers are fairly impressive.

Otherwise, except for the Human Factors nuisances (cockpit switch labeling), these are good machines.

I flew Astras for a company that put 700+ hours a year on each one of four airplanes. At the place I work now, we flew a pretty constant 120 hours a year. The airplanes are very reliable. Our last on (a Classic) sat for over a year prior to our purchase. It was a nightmare until we knocked the rust off of it, it took about 6 months, but after that it was like the Ever Ready Bunny - and we only flew it about 10 hour a month.

The slat-flap issues are pretty much in the past in any of the airplanes. Granted, they are over engineered, but all it takes is proper and timely maintenance. Do that and you'll seldom, if ever, have a problem. If you don't do it, then you'll get what you're asking for. We went for 4 years in 4 airplanes (a Classic, 2 SPs, and an SPX) - about 12,000 flight hours - without a single slat-flap problem and we didn't use any reduced extension speeds. Just maintain them correctly. I've had my share of failures, but it was during the period when our mechanics were trying to figure out the system.

The electrical glitches seem to correspond with being kept outside in the rain. The airplane definitely likes to be hangared.

LS

 

[G100driver]

How is the flight deck comfort on the longer trips?

WHAT ... I CANNOT HEAR YOU .... YOU WILL HAVE TO SPEAK UP .... HOLD ON A MINUTE, LET ME PUT ON MY HEADSET ...

Whew, that is better. Now that I have a headset on I can hear, but I am getting headache for having to wear one for the entire flight or risk permenant hearing loss.

It was not until I started flying another airplane that I realized how fatiguing it was to sit a noisy airplane.

On the plus side, I drank all the coffee I wanted because of the nice flushing potty.

 

[G100driver]

The electrical glitches seem to correspond with being kept outside in the rain. The airplane definitely likes to be hangared.

LS

You make an excellent point. I always wonder what is going through guys minds when the leave the slats and flaps down and walk away from the airplane and leave it on the ramp for a few days.

 

[svcta]

Quiet it ain't.