Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year 2010

The staff at Aero Pacific Flightlines would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Safe New Year 2010.

New Saudi G550 at Long Beach

(Photo by Michael Carter)

New G550 (cn 5251) HZ-ALFA destined for an unknown Saudi customer sports a rather lovely livery. The aircraft is seen at Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) basking in the afternoon sun on the Gulfstream Completion Center ramp on News Years Eve.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

LAN Airlines 767 sports OneWorld Titles

(Photo by Michael Carter)

LAN Airlines 767-316(ER) 37801/985 CC-CXJ is captured departing Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) sporting the carriers "OneWorld" livery.

New Livery for bmiBaby

(Photo by Gordon Stretch)

bmiBaby has introduced a new livery on 737-59D (27268/2529) G-BVKB. The aircraft sports the updated "Tiny" on the tail and the aircraft being re-named to "Jelly Baby" from it's previous name "Pudsey Bear." The aircraft is captured as she arrives at Birmingham International (Elmdon) (BHX/EGBB) following a flight from Geneva International (Cointrin) (GVA/LSGG).

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

The staff at Aero Pacific Flightlines would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Boeing Delivers Last Classic 747

Boeing has finally - and quietly - delivered the last of the original 747 family off the line, a -400ER Freighter (MSN 37304).

The General Electric CF6-80C2-powered aircraft, which is the 1,419th 747 to be built, was officially delivered on 10 November to Kuwaiti freighter cargo start-up LoadAir, along with its sister-ship.

The hand-over of the last original 747 marks the end of a chapter in Boeing's Jumbo Jet story, which began 40 years ago with the delivery of 747-100 N733PA to Pan Am on 12 December 1969.

The last -400ERF completed its maiden flight on 16 May 2009, but along with its LoadAir sister-ship (line number 1416) has been stored in an all-white scheme awaiting delivery. Both were ferried to the aircraft storage site in Marana, Arizona the day after their official delivery.

In April LoadAir was dropped by lessor AerCap as its partner in the joint leasing company AerVenture after the airline failed to make a capital payment. While there had been talk of AerCap taking over LoadAir’s 747 order as part of the settlement in a sale/leaseback deal, the lessor tells Flightglobal that this is no longer the case and it has no involvement in the 747s.

Boeing declines to comment on the fate of the two aircraft now that they have been delivered. However, according to industry sources, the two 747s are likely to enter service early in 2010. The company's website says its "operations are expected to commence upon delivery" of the 747s.

LoadAir was awarded its air operator's certificate in 2008 and had aimed to begin operations in early 2009 with the two new 747s, but these plans were delayed amid the collapse in the cargo market. The airline was established as the first dedicated cargo operator in Kuwait.

Boeing is now gearing up to start flight-testing its stretched 747-8 family, deliveries of which are due to begin at the end of 2010, to launch customer Cargolux.


(Max Kingsley-Jones / FlightGlobal News)

Monday, December 21, 2009

All Nippon Airways Orders Boeing Aircraft

Japan's All Nippon Airways formally decided on Monday to order 10 planes from Boeing for about USD$2.1 billion to tap new passenger demand as Tokyo's Haneda airport expands.

Japan's second-largest carrier said that it will place a JPY185 billion yen order for five Boeing 777-200ER jets, to be delivered between April 2012 and March 2014, and another five 767-300ER models, to be delivered between April 2010 and March 2012.

ANA said in July that it would raise USD$1.5 billion to revamp its fleet with new Boeing jets, including an additional order for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

ANA hopes to grab growth while bigger rival Japan Airlines downsizes.

It said that Monday's order, which was included in its July fundraising plan, would not affect its annual outlook for a drop to a JPY20 billion operating loss for the year to March.


(Reuters)

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Thomson Airways "Merry Christmas" Livery


(Photos by Gordon Stretch)

Thomson Airways has turned Boeing 737-8K5 (35134/2152) G-FDZA into the "Merry Christmas" airplane for the Holidays.

Alaska Airlines Debutes "Spirit of Disneyland" II


Alaska Airlines would like to introduce you to the Spirit of Disneyland® II - the newest Disney-themed airplane in the fleet. The new design replaces the original Spirit of Disneyland® aircraft retired last month.

The plane, 737-990 N318AS (30018/1326) made its innagural flight on December 18th, 2009 from Portland to Los Angeles and was welcomed to the gate by three Make-A-Wish® children who traveled to the Disneyland® Resort to have their wishes granted.

Thanks to the longer fuselage of the Boeing 737-900, Mickey Mouse's faithful friend Pluto joins the cast of Disney characters.

The Spirit of Disneyland® II joins the Magic of Disneyland® and Spirit of Make-A-Wish in the Alaska Airlines Route System.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Two Gulfstreams Make Early Departures at Long Beach

G-IV (G300) (cn 1508) N820TM turns onto Rwy 30 as she departs for Monterey-Peninsula Airport (MRY/KMRY) at 07:58.
G-IVSP (cn 1495) N251MM rolls onto Rwy 30 at 08:09 as it departs to Tocumen International Airport (PTY/MPTO) at Panama City, Panama.

(Photos by Michael Carter)

G-IVSP N411QS (cn 1311) departed Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) at 09:08 arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) at 09:19.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Notable Action at Long Beach Airport Today


( Photos by Michael Carter)


Spotted the following Gulfstreams at Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) this afternoon:

G450 N851CB (cn 4132) - towed to midfield run-up for engine runs.

G-V N371JC (cn 505) parked on the Gulfstream service center ramp.

G550 N55AL (cn 5229) departed at 11:53 bound for Sao Paulo (GRU/SBGR) Brazil.

G-IVSP N251MM (cn 1495) departed at 16:26 for a short test flight returning to Long Beach (LGB/KLGB) at 17:20.

G550 N841GA (cn 5241) departed at 18:09 bound for Savannah/Hilton Head (SAV/KSAV) from where the aircraft will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force as 09-001.

New C-17A Performs Pre-delivery Test Flights



(Photos by Michael Carter)

The latest C-17A 08-8193 (F-215/P-193) destined for McChord AFB has been performing pre-delivery test flights the past two days from Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB). The above photos are from todays flight which returned at 13:32.

** Breaking News** Boeing 787 Takes to the Skies

Boeing 787-800 (ZA001/1) N787BA lifted off Paine Fields (PAE/KPAE) Rwy 34 at 10:29 this morning on her long awaited first flight. "BOE1 Heavy," if all goes as planned will perform a 5 hour 25 minute flight with a planned arrival at Boeing Field (BFI/KBFI) near Seattle.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Everts Air Cargo Buys Three DC-9-30's

Everts Air Cargo of Alaska has bought three former Airborne Express (Abex Air) DC-9-30 aircraft according to a fleet update in Airways magazine. The aircraft involved are as follows;

DC-9-32CF (47040/172) N904AX, originally deliverd to Overseas National Airways 10/06/1967 as N931F "Pioneer." Evergreen bought the aircraft on 10/29/1976 then sold it to Airborne Express in August 1981 then being re-registered to N904AX in February 1982.

DC-9-33RC (47363/445) N930AX, originally delivered to Martinair Holland 02/09/1969 as PH-MAO "Desiderius Erasmus." The aircraft was returned to Douglas on 04/28/1983 and re-registered N502MD. Muse Air leased the aircraft on 07/11/1983 using the aircraft until returning it to Douglas in early 1984. Airborne Express bought the aircraft in March 1984 then re-registered it to N930AX in August 1984.

DC-9-33CF (47465/684) N932AX, originally delivered to Balair 04/17/1970 as HB-IDN. The aircraft served with the carrier until 11/07/1976 when it was bought by Douglas as N7465B. Douglas sold the aircraft to Manufactures Hanover Leasing Company on 04/29/1977 and immediately leased to Itavia with whom the aircraft served with until being returned in July 1981. Hawaiian Airlines bought the DC-9 on 11/16/1981 and leased it to American International Airways. Hawaiian repossed the aircraft on 09/18/1994 from the carrier then sold it to Airborne Express on 01/02/1985 re-registering the aircraft to N932AX in March 1985.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Today at Long Beach (LGB/KLGB)

Turkish Air Force G550 N841GA (cn 5241) tbr 09-001 departed on a pre-delivery test flight at 1328 returning at 1900.

G-V N673P (cn 673) operated by GC Air LLC rotates from Rwy 30 as she departs at 1525 bound for an unknown destination.

G-IV (G350) N5115 (cn 4019) rolls for takeoff at 1308 on Rwy 30 bound for Boeing Field (BFI/KBFI) in Seattle.


NASA T-38N "Talon" N921NA (cn N5957) departed at 1309 bound for El Paso International (ELP/KELP).

(All Photos by Michael Carter)

Other Notable Aircraft Spotted at Long Beach (LGB/KLGB) Today

Skywest CRJ-900 N821SK (cn 15109) sporting the carriers 35th Anniversary livery, arrived from Salt Lake City (SLC/KSLC) at 1159 as SKW4717 and departed back to same at 1242 as SKW4546.

G-IV HB-IWY (cn 1176) ex N9253V arrived from Palm Beach (PBI/KPBI) at 1429 and parked at the Gulfstream facilities.

G-IV N480QS (cn 1380) arrived from Santa Monica Airport (SMO/KSMO) at 1720.

G450 N237GA (cn 4055) arrived from Las Vegas McCarran (LAS/KLAS) at 1729.

G-III N469TB (cn 469) arrived from John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA/KSNA) at 2040.

G-V N70AG (cn 522) - Gulfstream Service Center.

G-V B-8092 (cn 510) ex N513MW - Gulfstream Service Center.

G550 N62MS (cn 5017) - Gulfstream Flight Ramp.

G-III N399AP (cn 399) ex-N528AP - Gulfstream Service Center.

IAI Galaxy (G-200) N525AG (cn 226) -Gulfstream Service Center.

United Announces Long-Haul Aircraft Order

United Airlines yesterday announced an order for 50 long-haul aircraft evenly split between the A350-900 and 787, along with purchase rights for 50 of each type, claiming that the "breadth in size and capabilities of the different aircraft models ensure the company has the right aircraft for the right market through the fleet replacement cycle."

The order was United's first for new aircraft since 1998. Boeing said the deal was not yet finalized and that it has not added the Dreamliners to its Orders and Deliveries'list.

UA issued requests for proposals to Boeing and Airbus six months ago (ATWOnline, June 12) and plans to take delivery of the aircraft in the 2016-19 timeframe, when it plans to retire its 747 and 767 fleets. The new aircraft will have about 19% fewer seats than the ones they replace and will contribute to a 10% reduction in seats across the entire international fleet, the airline said. Aircraft secured through the purchase rights eventually will substitute for its 777s.

"Our decision to move forward aggressively at the bottom of the business cycle clearly benefited us," CFO Kathryn Mikells said. "The orders require minimal capital over the next few years but ensure we will have the right planes to strengthen our global network over the next decade."

The firm orders will require a cash outflow of $60 million over the next three years. United said it secured "important deferral and substitution rights" from both Boeing and Airbus, along with "considerable backstop financing."

Rolls-Royce said the accompanying Trent XWB order, along with a long-term TotalCare service contract, is worth $2 billion at list prices. UA has not chosen between the GEnx and Trent 1000 for the 787s.

Regarding the reasoning behind ordering from both manufacturers rather than benefitting from the economies of scale that would accompany a larger commitment to a single type, UA said: "Neither manufacturer offers next-generation aircraft sized to optimally serve all of the current and future markets in United's network. The mix. . .give[s] us the right range of aircraft sizes needed to replace both our Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft. The economic benefit of placing the right size aircraft into each market overwhelms any benefit from ordering from one manufacturer."

It added: "The new aircraft will open up new revenue opportunities for United as the smaller size, longer range and lower operating costs of these aircraft allow the company to profitably serve a broader range of international destinations."

In a communication to employees, Chairman, President and CEO Glenn Tilton said that UA "will consider narrowbody re-fleeting next year."


(Brian Straus - ATWOnline News)

LAX to Receive Federal Money

Los Angeles International (LAX/KLAX) will receive $150 million from the US government over the next two fiscal years to support the completion of an inline baggage screening program in "several" LAX terminals by the end of 2012, the airport operator announced. Total project cost is $670 million.
(Air Transport World - ATWOline)

C-17A Delivered to McChord AFB

C-17A 08-8192 (F-214/P-192) taxies at Long Beach as she prepares to depart on her first flight November 24, 2009. (Photo by Michael Carter)

C-17A 08-8192 (F-214/P-192) was delivered to McChord AFB yesterday 12/09/2009, departing Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) at approximately 09:40am.

RAF C-17A Visits Long Beach

(Photo by Michael Carter)

Had another surprise visit by an RAF C-17A yesterday 12/09/2009 as ZZ175 (F-185/UK-5)arrived at 10:10am and parked on the Signature Flight Ramp. The aircraft departed at approximately 12:30pm bound for an unknown destination.