AirTran announces new service to Key West

[Colonel Savage]

It's an experiment in diversity, to say the least.

 

[Headfake14]

I'm surprised that noone was doing MCO-EYW. I think there used to be.

I think ASA still goes down there from ATL...usually was the -700 out of ATL. Did the -200 with 40 seats a few times. I never got the chance. But it was a Capt only landing if I remember right...not sure about the takeoff......too many moons ago.

 

[Minimaniac]

I always thought the taxi was the most challenging part of Key West. Those are some narrow taxiways, and there are only 3 turn ins to the ramp that will accomodate the 737...better hope Gulfstream did a good parking job so as not to block your way in! Also, going out past the GA ramp can be tight, especially when they park the King Air 300's right up against the grass.

Have fun!

 

[at7driver]

stopping isnt the issue, like you mention those narrow taxiways and entrances are interesting.. ya asa still runs the 700 down there. used to be a nice old school type terminal.. they have a new terminal now, well an addition to the old one. too bad it was fun going into one of the few old florida terminals..

 

[BoilerUP]

Air Wisconsin flew in there the last few winters in the CRJ-200, coming from and going to both MCO and FLL. 40-45 pax and bags to MCO was possible, if you didn't have an alternate and took every knot of headwind for takeoff into account...landing with a hair over 2000lb fuel.

ASA was flying CR7s to/from ATL at the time; talking to the ramp agents there they said the 700 could take 70 people between ATL & EYW all day long. Freedom was also doing MCO-EYW in a E145.

IIRC, wet runway landing numbers were the most restrictive...with Marathon as an alternate and Navy Key West as an emergency divert option.

 

[Headfake14]

EYW grooved?

 

[CitationLover]

Flew the F-28 in and out of there long time ago, don't remember anything unusal, except some of the locals.

Does that include all the chickens?

 

[B52GUNNER]

I lived there for a year. Those #*&^% chickens were hard to get used to. They start at about 3am and go on from there. After a while you kinda get used to it. It is a great place to visit. Living there is something else.

 

[CA1900]

EYW grooved?

It is, yes.

 

[eaglesview]

4801-foot runway? Should be interesting. The 727 would have better numbers because it's a 3-engine jet. I'd be surprised if a 737-700 wasn't seriously weight-restricted out of there, even just going to ATL.

I'm sure you meant to say the two engine jet would have bettr numbers.

 

[EatinRamen]

Doing the ASR into there is gonna be fun with the Navy Key West Approach controllers, that cant figure out how to get you in. I love it when it gets a little cloudy there and they start having you hold because of the "volume of flights" THen Miami Center takes control and you get right in.

I would imagine AirTran is certified to conduct RNAV approaches and would therefore be able to fly the RNAV approaches to 9 or 27.

 

[Lear70]

Originally Posted by CA1900
4801-foot runway? Should be interesting. The 727 would have better numbers because it's a 3-engine jet. I'd be surprised if a 737-700 wasn't seriously weight-restricted out of there, even just going to ATL.

I'm sure you meant to say the two engine jet would have bettr numbers.

No, he meant it the first time he said it, 'cause he's never flown the 727 and doesn't understand the aerodynamics. He's thinking 3 engines = more thrust = better performance numbers.

What he doesn't understand is that 3 old JT8D's weren't that much of an increase in thrust over 2 engines on the 737-700. Combine that with the 727 being the LAST of the "true" swept-wing commercial airliners, even a -100 was pretty runway critical with 4800 feet.

While the 727 was an awesome aircraft to do short-haul flights with lots of payload, it's not the best short-field performer ever made (the 737-300 and later are much better short field aircraft than the 727 ever was).

Even so, it's going to be right at the ragged edge of the aircraft's performance on a fairly regular basis. Hope that whoever gets those trips watches the weather and runway analysis pretty closely. Better safe than sorry...

 

[BlueYonder]

I don't see what everyone is so concerned about. I mean you have all received short field training haven't you? Wasn't it done at the same time as international operations training?

 

[eaglesview]

No, he meant it the first time he said it, 'cause he's never flown the 727 and doesn't understand the aerodynamics. He's thinking 3 engines = more thrust = better performance numbers.

What he doesn't understand is that 3 old JT8D's weren't that much of an increase in thrust over 2 engines on the 737-700. Combine that with the 727 being the LAST of the "true" swept-wing commercial airliners, even a -100 was pretty runway critical with 4800 feet.

While the 727 was an awesome aircraft to do short-haul flights with lots of payload, it's not the best short-field performer ever made (the 737-300 and later are much better short field aircraft than the 727 ever was).

Even so, it's going to be right at the ragged edge of the aircraft's performance on a fairly regular basis. Hope that whoever gets those trips watches the weather and runway analysis pretty closely. Better safe than sorry...

Well sir I know what he meant I was trying to cut him some slack.

 

[Lear70]

Well sir I know what he meant I was trying to cut him some slack.

Oh I know you did, I just like giving GT a hard time,,,