Being a toddler I always used to admire the big double-decker plane flying over my head with 4 powerful roaring engines. As I grew up,
I came to know that this flying creature is called as a jumbo jet or a Boeing
747. Since then I wanted to experience how it feels like to actually fly in
this aircraft. Over the years many new airliners joined commercial aviation but
my love for this particular species never diminished.
Her massive size, turbo charged looks and a hump on the head
gives her a unique feel. One can easily distinguish a 747 from any other
aircraft by looking at the twin decks. Since her inception, she has been the
undisputed queen of the skies. As demand
for air travel increased in the late 1960s, there was a need to build bigger
airplanes with more seats. The jet engine evolution made it possible for Boeing
to build larger planes. A 747 usually fits around 400 passengers in a three
class layout.
In India, only Air India currently uses a fleet of B747. They were delivered to the airline in early 90s. AI used to operate the jumbos
on the long and ultra long haul routes to the US and Europe. Over the years, the
fleet got old and it became economically difficult to operate these mammoth sized fuel
guzzlers. Plus more energy efficient and greener alternatives became available
in the market. Naturally, their usage drastically reduced in this millennium.
Currently AI has a fleet of only 4 Boeing 747 aircrafts which they plan to
retire sometime next year.
The idea of taking a ride in this
aircraft was getting strong in my mind before it disappeared permanently. I
began to keep a track of the routes on which they operate. After a small research,
I short listed two routes BOM-HYD and BOM-DEL. Without wasting much time, I
booked myself on AI965 to Hyderabad departing March 5th at 1500 hrs.
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| Terminal 2 interiors |
I reached the airport a good 2 hours before the scheduled departure.
After completing the check ins and security, I took a walk inside the
beautifully built CSIA new terminal. The terminal design is so attractive that
one cannot stop giving a second look.
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| Terminal 2 interiors |
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| First look of my ride VT-EVB "Velha Goa" at Gate 66 of CSIA T2. |
After a swift round of briefing and safety procedures, we
lined up on runway 27 for departure. This aircraft had refurbished interiors
with IFE fitted. Though it looked old, the cabin was clean and well maintained.
Being a domestic sector, the flight entertainment wasn’t accessible. Just 15
mins into the flight, the crew started their meal service. This time it
included 2 butterscotch cookies, a cheese sandwich and mango juice. Now here I
was disappointed a bit. They could have atleast come up with a vegetable
sandwich. But it was just a cheese slice wrapped between two sheets of white
bread. A big let-down, would give 2 on 5 for the food.
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| Snacks served soon after take off. AI is known for its food but this time it was a let down. |
Post finishing the meal, I took a round of the economy class
cabin. Economy has a seating capacity of 385 and is spread across the lower
deck behind the business class. The rear half of the plane was sparsely filled
with less than 50% occupancy. On my way back had a word with the crew who were
more than happy to allow me to take pictures of the cabin. This young lady
asked me to climb the upper deck where she introduced me to one of her
colleague. Even she was impressed to know I was travelling on this plane just
to get a feel of it and asked me to email the pictures that I click for their training purpose.
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| Economy class cabin. Seating 3-4-3 |
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| This way leads to the upper deck where the First class is seated |
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| My seat 33A. Economy had an excellent legroom suitable for a long haul flight. |
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| and this is how it looks when you climb up. |
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| Upper deck first class cabin. |
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| Business class cabin |
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| Business class cabin |
I was asked to come back after the flight to take seat facing shots. By the time I returned to my seat, we had already begun our descent into Hyderabad. After a series of turns we finally lined up for the runway and did a smooth landing at 16.28. Once all the passengers deboarded, I headed back to the business class cabin for the second session of photographs. The stewards there offered to click my pictures posing inside the business class cabin. It was a warm gesture from the crew. Their area of work is to take care of the passengers on the flight. But when some crazy nerd asks for a favour this is something that wins them brownie points. Overwhelmed by their hospitality, I deboarded the aircraft happy and completely satisfied.
My ratings for some key aspects on the flight:
Aircraft – 4/5
Punctuality – 5/5
Crew – 4.5/5
Food – 2/5
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| A view of our neighbourhood from the otherside. |
