Pacific Blue Aircraft

[Deleted member 29185]

I was on a Pacific Blue e-Jet yesterday (VH-ZPM) which had the J class fitting. I didn't think J was fitted to Pac. Blue or am I confused again. It certainly didn't look like a new fit out.

 

[Justinf]

Yeah I didn't think they were allowed to fly a J class yet.
Out of interest, what's the range for the e-jet?

 

[markis10]

I was on a Pacific Blue e-Jet yesterday (VH-ZPM) which had the J class fitting. I didn't think J was fitted to Pac. Blue or am I confused again. It certainly didn't look like a new fit out.

It's a VA plane just with PacBlue titling, to be a PacBlue aircraft it would have a kiwi rego.

 

[AIRwin]

Out of interest, what's the range for the e-jet?

It just so happens that I have a copy of the Voyeur magazine with me now, so I have the following information on the Embraer E190 handy:
Maximum guests - 98
MTOW - 47,800 kg
Maximum range - 3,200 km
Typical cruising speed - 890 km/h
Wing span - 28.72 m
Overall length - 36.25 m

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It's a VA plane just with PacBlue titling, to be a PacBlue aircraft it would have a kiwi rego.

So if a genuine PacBlue has to have Kiwi rego, why would they have painted it up in PacBlue livery but registered it to DJ?

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Just marketing - getting the Pac Blue name out there?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just marketing - getting the Pac Blue name out there?

And confuse the punters. I started practicing my Kiwi accent just in case I landed in AKL!

 

[cavemanzk]

So if a genuine PacBlue has to have Kiwi rego, why would they have painted it up in PacBlue livery but registered it to DJ?

Pacific Blue, who is now Virgin Australia (NZ) ltd. Operate 10x 738s registered ZK-PBA-PBM, this also include the Virgin Samoa 738. These 10x aircraft are based in NZ, an there crew is based in either CHC or AKL. They mainly operate Tasman/Pacific Island Sectors from Australia and New Zealand.

I'd say they had a plan to use the E190 into the regional market in New Zealand, but it never really happend. An couple of years back they did an regional tour with it, tested out an couple of possible ports.

 

[Jamesl]

Pacific Blue, who is now Virgin Australia (NZ) ltd. Operate 10x 738s registered ZK-PBA-PBM, this also include the Virgin Samoa 738. These 10x aircraft are based in NZ, an there crew is based in either CHC or AKL. They mainly operate Tasman/Pacific Island Sectors from Australia and New Zealand.

I'd say they had a plan to use the E190 into the regional market in New Zealand, but it never really happend. An couple of years back they did an regional tour with it, tested out an couple of possible ports.

Spot on the money!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Pacific Blue, who is now Virgin Australia (NZ) ltd. Operate 10x 738s registered ZK-PBA-PBM, this also include the Virgin Samoa 738. These 10x aircraft are based in NZ, an there crew is based in either CHC or AKL. They mainly operate Tasman/Pacific Island Sectors from Australia and New Zealand.

I'd say they had a plan to use the E190 into the regional market in New Zealand, but it never really happend. An couple of years back they did an regional tour with it, tested out an couple of possible ports.

Thanks for the story. So it's still in the Pac.Blue livery yet most other e-jets (all of them??) are white birds. I wonder what the future holds for it.

 

[Plutonus]

Thanks for the story. So it's still in the Pac.Blue livery yet most other e-jets (all of them??) are white birds. I wonder what the future holds for it.

I've been on a Pacific Blue 738 on a domestic run. I remember seeing it as a ZK- registration, but maybe I'm making that up now... Was definitely Pacific Blue though.

 

[clarmich]

IIRC it was originally intended to be delivered to Pacific Blue for NZ domestic operations but never got there as DJ pulled the pin on their do,rustic NZ operations. So it remained in PAC Blue livery but only ever flew for DJ/VA in Australia.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I've been on a Pacific Blue 738 on a domestic run. I remember seeing it as a ZK- registration, but maybe I'm making that up now... Was definitely Pacific Blue though.

Yes, I have as well....on a few occasions, but what made this one stand out for me was the J config. None of the 738s have J fitted yet AFAIK and I wasn't aware Pac.Blue had an E-Jet. I didn't lose sleep over it, but it did make me curious.

 

[markis10]

I was on a Pacific Blue e-Jet yesterday (VH-ZPM) which had the J class fitting. I didn't think J was fitted to Pac. Blue or am I confused again. It certainly didn't look like a new fit out.

Look what I parked next to!

 

[markis10]

I was on a Pacific Blue e-Jet yesterday (VH-ZPM) which had the J class fitting. I didn't think J was fitted to Pac. Blue or am I confused again. It certainly didn't look like a new fit out.

Dear swanning_it, here at Virgin Australia we take branding seriously, on review of your feedback we have decided this situation cannot continue any longer and have dispatched the aircraft to the paint shop post haste for intense counselling and corrective action (you may wish to confirm that here: VH-ZPM). I am pleased to report this is our last jungle jet out of uniform. We always appreciate feedback from our customers and as a courtesy have taken the liberty of loading two free ATR flights onto your Velocity card to be used at your inconvenience.

Kind Regards

The (fat) aircraft controller.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Dear swanning_it, here at Virgin Australia we take branding seriously, on review of your feedback

What a hoot! Coincidence at it's best....although given VA have never listened to me before, this post is going straight to the pool room! :mrgreen:

 

[Captain Halliday]

Dear swanning_it, here at Virgin Australia we take branding seriously, on review of your feedback we have decided this situation cannot continue any longer and have dispatched the aircraft to the paint shop post haste for intense counselling and corrective action (you may wish to confirm that here: VH-ZPM). I am pleased to report this is our last jungle jet out of uniform. We always appreciate feedback from our customers and as a courtesy have taken the liberty of loading two free ATR flights onto your Velocity card to be used at your inconvenience.

Kind Regards

The (fat) aircraft controller.

Second prize was 4x ATR flights.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Second prize was 4x ATR flights.

Yes, I treated the ATR prize with the contempt it deserved!

 

[Scarlett]

Dear swanning_it, here at Virgin Australia we take branding seriously, on review of your feedback we have decided this situation cannot continue any longer and have dispatched the aircraft to the paint shop post haste for intense counselling and corrective action (you may wish to confirm that here: VH-ZPM). I am pleased to report this is our last jungle jet out of uniform. We always appreciate feedback from our customers and as a courtesy have taken the liberty of loading two free ATR flights onto your Velocity card to be used at your inconvenience. Regards
The (fat) aircraft controller.

FlightAware shows a Planned flight of 3662Km and Flown flight of 3747Km. But as we now all know from AIRwin in post #4 of this thread and Virgins own propaganda mag, the Max range of the aircraft is 3200Km... It's the new E190 with special glide capability.

Or the lack of freight and self-loading freight may have helped.

 

[markis10]

FlightAware shows a Planned flight of 3662Km and Flown flight of 3747Km. But as we now all know from AIRwin in post #4 of this thread and Virgins own propaganda mag, the Max range of the aircraft is 3200Km... It's the new E190 with special glide capability.

Or the lack of freight and self-loading freight may have helped.

Range figures quoted in many publications are indicative of their capability when fully loaded, on ferry flights they have much longer legs as evidenced by most of the A330s flying direct to home from the factory.