VISITORSSwiftair MD82 EC-JUF (53168 ex B-28015, N802NK) made its first visit this morning in an all white scheme & using a Small Planet A/L callsign. It had been leased to the United Nations for operations in Uganda & the Sudan.Making their second visits were Air Europa B738 EC-LPQ & Gulfstream 200 EC-KRN. FLEET NEWS Aer Lingus A320 EI-DET (2810) was noted at Shannon yesterday in full Brussels A/L scheme awaiting delivery.ROUTE NEWS Air China is now expected to operate a B773 to Gatwick in place of an A332 on 25/7, 13/8, 22/8 & 10/9 (one more date than previously posted). It will also operate a second A332 flight on 14/8.MISCELLANEOUS ITEMSYesterday's Comet feature generated some welcome feedback. Firstly, Ian Hiles, who was lucky enough to be on the flight, reminds me that the last ever commercial passenger carrying flight of a Comet took place on 09/11/80, when Dan-Air's G-BDIW left Gatwick as DA8894 & performed overshoots or low passes at LHR, Brize Norton & Lyneham prior to landing back at Gatwick. G-BDIW survives as part of the excellent collection at Hermeskeil, Germany. Paul Smith has kindly dug back through his logs from his days working for the BAA at Gatwick & adds a date of 30/04/71 for G-AYVS. In addition, his log also shows Comet 4 XV814 (6407) of the RAE Bedford on 11/07/72, though it is not clear whether this landed or just performed overshoots (unfortunately, the relevant copy of Hawkeye fails to cast light on this as it went unrecorded). It has been a while since I have felt the need to comment on another bizarre idea from my favourite eccentric, Michael O'Leary, who seems to have been overdoing it again with the Liffey Water or something rather stronger. This latest one involves a proposal that his aircraft will still fly with fee-paying passengers even if all the toilets are out of order. Apparently, announcements would be made at the departure gate warning passengers to go in the terminal & apologising for any inconvenience caused. Thank goodness I don't need to rely on Ryanair to take me where (& when) I want to go.Due tomorrow:A7-AFE A313 etd 13.10 as QAF008A7-MED A319CJ eta 14.20 as QAF010 (third visit)B-LNL A332 eta 05.47 as CRK875 (second visit)G-GMAB HS125 etd 07.15 as GMA671I-SEAE DA2000 eta 08.10 (second visit) Regulars - HVN145/VN-A150, UAE15/A6-EGRNAX flights - 10G/NGB (second visit) 12J/NGA, 32A/NOQ, 34G/DYH, 36C/KKL, 38W/DYE, 51M/NOF, 55Q/DYA, 4441/DYK, 5818/NORCREDITSIan Hiles, Ian Gawtrey, Paul Smith, Chris Mellon, Mark Howard, Les Wallis, Neil Judd, Simon Shoubridge, Mr Anon, Jethro, Skyliner, ATDB, Robin Williams & anybody else that I have forgotten.Happy spotting! John (& my cat Mad Max) http://www.flight/global.com/airspace/blogs/john_dyer/default.aspxMOVEMENT HIGHLIGHTSAIRLINERSADH300 did not operateADH302 A320 EI-DSRAEA1013 B738 EC-JBJAEA1015 B738 EC-LPQ (second visit)AEW225 B737 UR-AAQ (third visit)AMC116 A319 9H-AEGANP293 did not operateAUI501 B738 UR-PSCAWE732 A333 N276AYBAW270P B733 G-ZAPZ (also BAW2797)BER8596 B737 D-AHXF (also BER8598) BRU851 B735 EW-250PABTI6G1 B733 YL-BBY (aircraft change from the predicted YL-BBO)CCA851 A332 B-6115 (third visit)CRK875 A332 B-LNKCTN494 A319 9A-CTICTN494H A319 9A-CTGDLH4HV B735 D-ABINDLH898 B733 D-ABXMEIN23A A320 EI-DVI (also EIN236/242/244)EIN232 A320 EI-DEA EIN248 delayed to 22.25ELL103 B735 ES-ABLENT254P A320 LY-COM (third visit)EZS43LJ A319 HB-JZSEZS128X A319 HB-JZOEZS463R A319 HB-JZLEZS467C A319 HB-JZIEZS8481 A319 HB-JZNFLI410 B462 OY-RCEHCC501 A320 OK-HCB ISS355 A319 EI-DFP (also ISS351)JAT212 B733 YU-ANKLLC116C B733 LY-SKWLLC9939 MD82 EC-JUF (first visit)NAX6EX B738 LN-DYRNAX10G B738 LN-NOZ (also NAX12J)NAX14X B738 LN-NOCNAX18Z B738 LN-DYINAX32A B733 LN-KKXNAX36C B738 LN-NOH (also NAX31F)NAX51M B738 LN-NOXNAX55Q B738 LN-NIANAX59T B738 LN-NOINAX351L B738 LN-NGANAX4441 B738 LN-DYKNAX5818 B738 LN-NOU PGT1451 B738 TC-AAL (also PGT493)RYR2MK B738 EI-EKTRYR2MU B738 EI-EVF (also RYR8GR)RYR2NE B738 EI-DWSRYR5YE B738 EI-EMBRYR6MN B738 EI-DHY (also RYR5YX)RYR6NL B738 EI-EPARYR6XB no etaRYR8BZ B738 EI-EFWSDM297 A319 VQ-BAQSTU2759 A320 LX-STC (also STU2135)SWG200 B763 CS-TFTTAP332 A320 CS-TNKTAP334 A320 CS-TMWTAP344 A319 CS-TTRTAP346 A320 CS-TNHTCX53CU A332 OY-VKF (also TCX1517) THY1981 B738 TC-JGZTHY1997 A321 TC-JRBTSC728 A313 C-GTSXTSC740 A332 C-GTSZTSC776 A332 C-GGTSUAE9 B773 A6-EGOUAE11 B772 A6-EMLUAE15 B773 A6-EBB GA & OTHER MOVEMENTSA7-AFE A313 (QAF008, stand 233M)A7-HJJ A332 (arr 14/7)EC-KRN Gulf 200 (EXU281, second visit, stand 233L)G-EHGW Ce550 (GOJ316P, but showing GOJ313B on SBS, dep as GOJ316A still showing GOJ313B on SBS)G-GMAB HS125 (GMA671)OM-LBG Ce525B (arr 14/7, dep today as OPJ400)YR-DPH Ce560XLS (arr 15/7, dep with reg as c/s)ZS-AOL Gulf 550 (arr 14/7)
Hi,
I saw this unusual visitor parked this morning (16-07-12) while walking from Concord house house to work. Apologies for poor quality as this pic was taken with my phone. Iberia (air Nostrum) CR2 EC-HHV. Any idea why it visited? Best regards,
Regret no idea why it was here. It arrived the day before & sister ship EC-JNX is due tomorrow. Air Nostrum CRJ2s were regular visitors to Gatwick during the period 1998 to 2006
John
John thank you very much for the info. I am also very disappointed at the level of visitors for the Olympics though I do hope we will still have some surprises on the way! Looking forward to seeing the Ukrainian IL-62 later.
Regards,
Nick