Here's a "Ask Doug" question for enRoute that didn't quite make the cut but brings up a few good points:
Captain Doug. Why do most AC aircraft not show the make and model number on the body like the Embraer 190's do?
Great question! I often wonder the same thing and to be honest I don't know the answer. I do realize our main competition, Westjet, advertises the make/model. Porter Airlines on the other hand does not. Air Transat does, but not Air Canada Jazz. At Air Canada we include the registration by law (in Canada they are a five letter combo beginning with "C" or "CF" and in the U.S a "N" followed a letter/number combo) and the FIN number. The first number of the FIN number depicts what type it is. I fly the Airbus 320 and they begin with two. The A320 is 200-250. The A319 251-299. The A321 is four hundred series. The Airbus 330 begins with a nine. But that's no help to you. As to why the Embraer has it, I think because it is a relatively new airplane so the original paint scheme came with the model/make.
I do have an Air Canada paint contact and if need be I could email them.
Again, I think it's a great idea to include the aircraft type in the livery. Even we pilots sometimes see an aircraft taxi by and find it difficult to determine the make/model.
6 comments:
Over in Speedbird land, no aircraft types are displayed either - apparently this is more to do with esthetics of the livery rather than anything else.
Before we standardised on the Union Flag tails, our then CEO, Bob Ayling decided to make the BA brand more global and less afternoon tea with cream scones like. The result, some of you may remember were garish, sometimes migraine like tail colours, which no-one could identify as a Speedbird - not least of which those in the visual control rooms of the towers, as the logo lights shinimg upwards under darkened skies told them nada!
Now, I am not sure if this is true - but it explains a lot - apparently Mr. Ayling chose the tail designs himself and was colour blind!
Ian. Thanks for the post (again). I'm presently in CYEG (Edmonton, Alberta). Had a full flight with one commuter in the jump seat for four hours.
I also heard Margaret Thatcher didn't take too kindly with B.A's new paint scheme either.
I thought that as well...putting the aircraft type on the fuselage would add "clutter." But for aviation enthusiasts this takes away the interest.
It's just like most claustrophobic jetways. Why not put some windows in them for passengers to take a "look see" and put some joy into flying again?
Doug/Ian; I am enjoying this blog stuff - it is my first. Doug got me hooked after responding to my quetsion about aircraft identification. Doug, I even contributed to you retirement fund by buying the book - it's great and my wife enjoyed it as well. I am doing Edmonton return twice in January so who knows - maybe I will get a chance to say hi in person.
Regards to both,
Al
Al (AJB) I'm presently in YOW on a 30 hour layover.
Thanks for the kind words about the blog and thanks for buying my book! If you bought it at full price ($18.95), I made about $1.40 for my retirement fund. The rest goes to my publisher's retirement fund. But that's show biz. :)
I'll send Ian your feedback as well.
On Wednesday, I'll be doing a talk in front of 130 retired businessmen in Oakville on aviation and to sell my book. Hopefully, the retirement fund will increase a little more. :)
Doug
P.S I flew to PLS (Turks and Caicos) yesterday in FIN 287 (Airbus 319) and what did I see on the tail,
AIRBUS 319. It's one of our newer planes so maybe someone decided to include the aircraft type.
Doug,
Another ID type of questionfor you. Ian refers to BA as Speedbird. The flight that landed in the Hudson river was called Cactus. Can you shed some light on this for me? Does AC use another term for identification?
Thanks,
Al
Hi Al. British Airways has used "speedbird" for their call sign ever since I can remember. When America West (Cactus) joined up/merged with U.S Airways the call sign "Cactus" won out.
I still wonder how some of the ex Canadian pilots like saying "Air Canada" on the radios because many of them had a saying prior to the merge, "better dead than red."
Here's a website that has most call signs around the word.
http://www.wikiair.com/wiki/Airline_call_sign
Canada 3000 used "Elite"
China Airlines uses "Dynasty"
They even have my old airline in the Maritimes, Eastern Flying Service, "Speedair"
I'm amazed I have not said Air Canada "heavy" while flying the small bus (A320).
Doug
P.S Sorry for the tardy reply, but I've been "simulating" the last few days.
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