VISITORS
Centreline Air Charter's Citation 525 G-SEAJ (0113 ex N111AM) was on a first visit this morning as was Rossiya A320 VQ-BDY (1657 ex EC-ICK, EI-DIH, EC-JND, VT-WAW, EC-KBQ), while this evening brought a further newcomer, namely A109C N109TK (7650 ex D-HCKM, N109TW), registered to Botany Aviation Inc & reportedly based at Foxdale on the Isle of Man. No sign so far of Cl601 G-LWDC (3031), which was expected to make a first visit this evening.
A further CSA flight arrived today in the form of A321 OK-CED (0684) inbound from Prague via Bodo. Unfortunately, this aircraft has visited several times in the past. John Travolta's B707 N707JT (18740) departed this evening after a three-day stay & may be the last 707 we ever see here, though hopefully he will bring it back across the Pond one day.
FLEET NEWS
Astraeus B752 G-OJIB (24292) returned from painting at Norwich as AEU008P this morning in an all white scheme with Saudi Arabian titles. It then departed at lunchtime as AEU108 bound for Jeddah. G-STRX (25621), which has worn Saudi Arabian titles for a few days now, ferried across from RAF Brize Norton early this afternoon as AEU737P & departed this evening as AEU004P, presumably also for Jeddah & Hajj duties.
EasyJet. For anyone still needing A319 G-EZFJ (4040), it reappeared at Gatwick this afternoon operating EZY916Y from Faro & then flying a Toulouse rotation as EZY5337/8 before heading off to Munich this evening as EZY5385, so may well now be based again.
Rossiya. A first visit from one of the airline's A320s today prompted me to review Rossiya's minibus fleet:
EI-DXY A320 (0525 ex N451LF, F-GJVV, C-GTDB, PH-VAD, N601LF, D-AKNX)
EI-DZR A320 (0427 ex C-GNVW, C-FNWB, C-GVXC, C-GJUL, N265AV)
VP-BIQ A319 (1890 ex N917FR)
VP-BIT A319 (1761 ex N909FR)
VP-BIU A319 (0649 ex C-FYJD, N574SX)
VP-BTQ A319 (1149 ex N310NB) leased from S7 A/L & returned
VP-BTT A319 (1167 ex N312NB) leased from S7 A/L & returned
VQ-BAQ A319 (1560 ex N903FR)
VQ-BAR A319 (1488 ex N901FR)
VQ-BAS A319 (1863 ex N913FR)
VQ-BAT A319 (1876 ex N916FR)
VQ-BAU A319 (1851 ex N915FR)
VQ-BAV A319 (1743 ex N907FR)
VQ-BBM A320 (1578 ex EC-HZU)
VQ-BDQ A320 (1767 ex EC-IEQ, VT-WAY, EC-JST, VT-WAX, EC-KDD)
VQ-BDY A320 (1657 ex EC-ICK, EI-DIH, EC-JND, VT-WAW, EC-KBQ)
The number of visits that each aircraft has made to Gatwick is as follows:
EI-DXY (15), EI-DZR (4), VP-BIQ (8), VP-BIT (11), VP-BIU (6), VP-BTQ (23), VP-BTT (43), VQ-BAQ (5), VQ-BAR (6), VQ-BAS (3), VQ-BAT (3), VQ-BAU (0), VQ-BAV (0), VQ-BBM (0), VQ-BDQ (0), VQ-BDY (1)
Despite the fact that the ex Aer Lingus B735s are mainly used on the Gatwick flights, the "missing" four aircraft should turn up in due course.
Thomas Cook A320 G-TCAC (1411), which left Manchester on 15/10 on winter lease to Skyservice, became C-FRAA again the following day.
ROUTE NEWS
None today.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
UK Airport News reports that "Gatwick Airport has been named the best major UK airport at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards. It beat competition from Heathrow and Manchester airports to win the accolade". No comment!
A bit of trivia for the football fans among you. It is reported that David Beckham was held for three hours at Los Angeles airport on Thursday on his return from playing for England against Belarus. He was detained while Customs pulled apart twelve (!) holdalls. The report quoted that "David wasn't pleased. He ranted at airport security. He even asked his handlers to do something, but there was nothing they could do". All I can say is that some days you are the pigeon, David but other days you are the statue!
CREDITS
Ian Gawtrey, Paul Giblin, Allan Huse, Dave Long, Robbie Shaw, Paul Mutton, Jethro, Skyliner, David Beckham & anybody else that I have forgotten.
Happy spotting!
John (& "Mad" Max)
MOVEMENTS SUMMARY (most from SBS)
AAW912 - A332 5A-ONF
ADR450 - CRJ9 S5-AAL (aircraft change from the predicted S5-AAK)
AEA1013 - E195 EC-KYP (also AEA1015)
AMC116 - A320 9H-AEO
AMC118 - A319 9H-AEM
AUI501 - B733 UR-GAL
AWE732 - A333 N277AY
AZW722 - B762 Z-WPF
BEL2121 - B463 OO-DWA
BEL2129 - B463 OO-DWD
BMM314 - B738 CN-ROJ
BRU851 - B735 EW-253PA
BTI651 - B752 YL-BDB
CIM5265 - B737 OY-MRF
CIM5763 - B737 OY-MRU
CIM5765 - B737 OY-MRH
CTN4494 - A319 9A-CTI
CSA7116 - A321 OK-CED
DAL12 - B763 N1602
EIN23A - A320 EI-DEF
EIN24D - A320 EI-CVB
EIN236 - A320 EI-DEB
EIN246 - A320 EI-DEK (also EIN248)
ELL101 - B735 ES-ABL
EZS8469 - A319 HB-JZI (also EZS8471)
EZS8473 - A319 HB-JZK (also EZS8477)
ISS3531 - A319 EI-DFP (also ISS3535)
MAH612 - B737 HA-LOA
MAH614 - B738 HA-LOC
MGX710 - F100 4O-AOT
MXA1594 - B762 XA-MXO
NAX1304 - B733 LN-KKS (also NAX1306)
NAX1318 - B738 LN-NOO
NAX1332 - B738 LN-KKR
NAX3514 - B738 LN-NOQ
NAX3521 - B738 LN-NOM
QTR075 - A332 A7-AFP
RYR9GW - B738 EI-DPY
RYR112G - B738 EI-EFI (aircraft change from the predicted EI-DWC - also RYR114G/116G)
RYR118G - B738 EI-DWC (aircraft change from the predicted EI-DPW)
RYR1124 - B738 EI-DLC
RYR1126 - B738 EI-DLX (aircraft change from the predicted EI-DAC)
RYR1182 - B738 EI-DWH (also RYR1X)
RYR5371 - B738 EI-DYD (aircraft change from the predicted EI-DYB)
RYR5562 - B738 EI-DAO
RYR9852 - B738 EI-DPG
SAS4623 - B735 LN-BUE
SDM297 - A320 VQ-BDY (first visit)
TAP334 - F100 CS-TPA
TAP348 - A319 CS-TTO
TRK473 - A321 TC-TCF
TSC652 - A313 C-GTSH
UAE009 - B773 A6-ECA
UAE011 - B772 A6-EMG
UAE015 - B773 A6-EBI
VIK83P - B733 SE-RHT
VIK164 - B738 SE-RHX
VIK166 - B733 SE-RHU
VIK366 - B737 C-FYLC
BIZJETS, ETC
CS-DHL Ce550 (NJE458B - aircraft change from the predicted CS-DHG)
CS-DXU ce560XLS (NJE802Y - aircraft change from the predicted CS-DXD - third visit)
G-ODAG Ce525A (arr late 17/10 as EDC834P - third visit - dep today)
G-SEAJ Ce525 (CLF5 - first visit)
M-BWFC Ce560XLS
N109TK A109C (first visit)
N480QS Gulf 4 (second visit)
N707JT B707 (arr 15/10 & dep today)
N808T Gulf 4 (arr 16/10 & dep today)