Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

A Helios Airways aircraft to Glasgow with 184 people on board returned to Cyprus on Sunday after reporting a technical problem, the second such incident in the last few days, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) said.

The Boeing 737-800 returned to Larnaca without incident thirty-five minutes after takeoff, reporting a problem related to air distribution with one of the engines, the semi-official news agency said.

Helios was not immediately available for comment.

Whats going on with Helios?

[andytandreou]

The problem is the crappy European and Cypriot regulations that allow these low-cost abominations to fly planes which are 20,000 years old... I would say that it's about time Europe banned used aircraft from flying in our sky.

You will find that the most accidents happen with used Boeing aircraft which are sold to low-cost airlines. The low-cost airlines cut back on maintenance to save money when they should be spending more!!!!!!!

The only low cost airline that should be allowed to fly is Easyjet. When is that bugger coming to Cyprus anyway?

[michalis5354]

I am suprised that there are still people who use Helios airline for their Journeys after that terrible accident.

[Sotos]

When is that bugger coming to Cyprus anyway?

never?

I am suprised that there are still people who use Helios airline for their Journeys after that terrible accident.

Right now I wouldn't fly with any airline except if it was an emergency!

[andytandreou]

Right now I wouldn't fly with any airline except if it was an emergency!

Sotos, that is a bit excessive man. at the end of the day flying is the safest way to travel, it even beats climbing up stairs!!!!! What you need to do is NOT fly with cheap airlines like Helios! Cyprus airways has an amazingly clean record and flying with them would be a joy if anything.

If you walk on the pavement at any point during the day or night you are statistically more likely to die than if you where flying.

Also, I saw a documentary on the making of Airbus A380 and top-secret rolls-royce engine testing and WOW!! Did you know that Rolls-Royce tests their engines by exploding them in full throttle? They do this to test that the engine casing can hold the explosion without any debris hitting the aircraft. An aircraft should be ok to fly (or glide) even without one or more of it's engines! Amazing stuff man!!!!

[Sotos]

Maybe statistically flying with airplane is relatively safe. In other situations you can do something when things start going wrong. You can press the brake and turn in your car. You can use your arms to protect your head if you fall from the stairs. In the plane all you can do if things start going wrong is pray

[devil]

Sotos

I believe you think with your genitals rather than your brain, with many of your responses, not just in this thread. If what you say is true, there would be no fatal road accidents or from falling down stairs. And you seem to think that when things do go wrong in an aircraft, you are doomed. I have probably flown more than anyone (unless some of you are aircrew, and even then) on this board and yes, I've been in aircraft in emergency situations. The worst case, in 1952, was a 4-engined aircraft with one engine on fire and another stalled, with a steward with a broken arm, while flying over the Med. We managed to make an emergency landing at Luqa, Malta, but it was a one-try affair as there was no chance of aborting the landing if anything else went wrong. We were accompanied along the runway by all the emergency vehicles. I've been in three other emergency landings, with the full accompaniment and twice had tyres burst on landing. Yes, this kind of thing tends to get the adrenaline running, but I've also been driving a car when a tyre burst and this can be just as scary, bellieve me.

Please think the subject through before posting with emotional claptrap.

[Sotos]

devil, notice that I didn't say that that flying is less safe. I said that it feels less safe for most people. This is a fact which you can not deny. The reason that it feels less safe is that you are 30,000 feet up there and you depend on things other than your own abilities in case something goes wrong. Before you become offensive try to use your own brain first

[Sotos]

Again???:

NICOSIA (Reuters) - A Helios Airways plane flying from Cyprus to Birmingham in Britain interrupted its flight and returned to Larnaca on Wednesday after indications of a technical fault flashed on its controls, the airline said.

It was the privately-owned budget carrier's third aborted flight this month.

In August, a Helios Airways Boeing 737-800 from Larnaca to Prague crashed north of Athens, killing all 121 people on board -- the worst air disaster for Greece or Cyprus.

The Boeing 737-800 which flew out of Cyprus on Wednesday with 189 passengers safely returned to Larnaca where it underwent checks. "It was a precautionary move by the pilot after a warning flashed on the panels of a possible technical fault in one of the systems," Helios said.

Helios flights to Britain on Oct. 7 and Oct. 9 were also aborted because of a glitch with a valve supplying air to non-passenger related parts of the plane. The two flights involved the same aircraft.

The company insisted the problem did not jeopardise the safety of either flight, but the plane was grounded briefly by Cypriot authorities until they were satisfied the problem had been solved.

When will they close down? This year? Next year?

[GammaDragon]

The Boeing 737-800 in question is a pretty new top of the range aircraft, part of Boeing's "Next Generation" line of 737's. Helios did send these aircraft for a full 3 day test by Boeing officials in Europe, and it came back with the all clear.

I think it's just very bad luck and unfortunate that one of these aircraft had to return to Larnaca with a problem, and an even bigger shame the press found out.

Helios do need to tread extremely carefully now, it has already developed and is still developing an appalling public image - but I can't help but feel sorry for Helios on this one, dispite the crash in August probably being their fault.