Geograph - photograph every grid square

A series of seven photos taken over a seven minute period, observing the activity as the ground crew and aircraft crew strive to meet the allocated 40 minutes turnaround.

The task was less demanding than usual due to the coronavirus (covid-19) travel restrictions which were in place at the time, which resulted in fewer aircraft for the ground crew to handle and fewer passengers (and attendant baggage) to disembark and embark.

The featured aircraft is a Boeing 737-8AS with registration number SP-RSS. It has just arrived from Prague 15 minutes early and is scheduled to return there in 40 minutes time.

0:00 Photo 1 ( Link ): The ground crew and some of their vehicles are already in place as the incoming aircraft comes to a halt at Gate 151.

0:41 Photo 2 ( Link ): The tug has already started to align with the front wheels of the aircraft in readiness to engage when needed for pushing back. The electrical supply is being connected to the cockpit. The aircraft front door is open sufficiently to enable the cabin crew member to see if the integral steps are properly unfolded and engaged. A ground crew member approaches the wing on the right to run-out the 'do not walk under the wing' tape from a dispenser.

1:14 Photo 3 ( Link ) : The tug is now fully aligned with the front wheels. The steps are down, but not yet secured, the aircraft door is still not fully open. The yellow 'do not walk under the wing' tape has been run-out but is not yet in place. A traffic cone has been placed in front of the passenger side engine.

2:45 Photo 4 ( Link ): The steps are fully engaged and the front door fully open, some passengers are already on the way to the terminal building. A set of mobile steps is approaching the rear door. The luggage loading/unloading conveyor has approached on the left, as has a fuel truck and a 'scissor lift' truck at the rear door. A set of step-ladders is being placed under the wing on the left to assist with re-fuelling.

3:46 Photo 5 ( Link ): The rear steps are almost in place and a baggage train has arrived at the baggage conveyor. This contains outbound baggage and will also collect inbound baggage and take it to the baggage reclaim area. Some activity can be seen at the fuel truck, the step-ladder is now in place.

5:42 Photo 6 ( Link ): Baggage is being unloaded. The re-fuelling hose is attached and is under the watchful of the fuel man. A mamber of the flight crew is making a walk-around inspection of key parts of the aircraft. The rear steps are now fully in place and the rear door is open. A toilet service truck approaches at the rear.

7:09 Photo 7 ( Link ): Baggage unloading is complete and baggage loading has commenced. The flight crew member is now checking the engine on the right. A further small van approaches from the right.

7:10 Final call is announced, the photographer must now board. Thanks to the efficiency of the ground crew, the (only half full) flight to Prague left on time, was uneventful and landed 43 minutes ahead of schedule.

See other images of Ryanair pit-stop at Manchester Airport