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Hey guys,

Thinking of flying with Lao Airline from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Check the official page and find it is flying with AT7.
Anyone flew this route before? How was it? Is it safe flying with Lao Airline?

Cheers,
Alexis

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1

AT7 are OK, as they are quite a reliable, French-made aircraft type. Most accidents in the past with Lao Airlines have been pilot error related due to poor weather in mountainous areas. No recent problems have occurred and thus if the weather is good, you should be fine. I would be a bit hesitant about flying with ATRs in during the rainy season mainly because cancellations are frequent and the turbulence can be quite bad, but aside from that they are quite safe. I am pretty sure flights to/from remote mountainous airports such as Sam Neua in Hua Phan, Luang Nam Tha and Boun Neau (Phong Sali) would be cancelled or delayed when there is a lot of fog (mainly during the cool season, or now) and/or heavy monsoonal rains.

I would steer clear of the Chinese made MA60s being flown by Lao Airlines instead, just to be safe.

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2

Perfectly safe, rainy season or no rainy season

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3

thanks for the reply! another question is do you know Lao central airline, is it safe as well?
i actually even decide to book the lao airline, then i coincidently find the lao central airline... it seems to be a new airline and offers limited routes, but it's much cheaper...

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4

Regarding the MA60, don't know what evidence symphoniline has to suggest that aircraft type is unsafe. Looking at the statistics, there has only been one fatal crash on an MA60 and that was due to pilot error. MA60 has the same type of engines as the ATR72. The aircraft's avionics is all standard US made Collins with a Universal GPS / FMS system for long range navigation (same as what you find in many business jets). The MA60 also use Electronic Engine Control just like the ATR does.

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5

A plane's only as good as the pilot behind the controls! Having said that Aérospatiale ATRs are good aircraft. I flew with Lao Airlines on an old Harbin Y12 from Xieng Khouang to Vientiane some years ago - I was very apprehensive but, I am happy (and alive) to report that it was unfounded!

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6

Lao Central Airlines is ok. Mind you they are a newish airline, so it is hard to judge their history.

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7

It's been safe for me - so far.

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8

@ StillWithUs - evidently!

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9

Do you mean the ATR72? If so,, I have flown these many times around Laos. Probably my favourite aircraft.

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