VISITORS
Newcomers to Gatwick this morning were Comlux Aviation Falcon 2000EX HB-JEG (034) & Emirates B773 A6-ECL (37704).
I have no idea what I was thinking of when I typed the c/n for G-TBEA as 1029 yesterday as it is, in fact, 0191.
FLEET NEWS
Emirates B773 A6-ECM (37703) left Boeing Field yesterday on its delivery flight to Dubai.
Easyjet B737 G-EZJJ (30245) made its last revenue flight back on 14th December as EZY2108 from Berlin/Schonefeld to Luton. It was then flown to Dublin on 16th December as EZY8010 & today it was ferried down to Filton as EZY8001 for painting all white prior to return to lessor. You may recall that B737 G-EZJK (30246) undertook a test flight from Southend on 12th January as EZY8010 & was then due to position to Stansted to become N346CL & then PR-VBI with Gol. It did not, however, go to Stansted, but positioned back to Southend instead. The reason was that the aircraft suffered a "violent pitch down during flight" over the North Sea, exceeding its maximum operating speed by 100 knots & losing 10,000 feet of altitude at the same time. The NTSB & the AAIB are currently conducting an investigation into the occurrence & it may be that the aircraft has suffered permanent damage.
Ryanair B738s EI-DYY (37521) & EI-EBB (37519) were delivered to Dublin at lunchtime today as RYR800Y & RYR800B respectively, with hex codes 4CA6FC & 4CA6FF. There is a strong rumour on one of the forums that B738 EI-DYG (33639), which suffered a bad landing at Rome/Ciampino on 11th November following multiple bird strikes, has been declared a write-off, though another list has stated that repairs are nearing completion. Can anybody confirm one way or the other, please? The aircraft has made only two visits to Gatwick.
Sterling B738 OY-SEM (33019) was ferried from Norwich to Lasham this evening in full Blue Air scheme & is to become YR-BIC.
ROUTE NEWS
Finnair has applied to operate flights from Gatwick to Halifax, St Johns, Toronto & Winnipeg between 21st June & 22nd October on behalf of Canadian travel operator Go Travel Direct. These are still subject to Canadian approval & would almost certainly be operated by B752s.
Norwegian Air Shuttle will start its Copenhagen services from 29th March in direct competition with Cimber Air & easyJet. Details are:
NAX3510 eta 08.15 days 1,2,3,4,5
NAX3510 eta 10.10 day 6
NAX3514 eta 18.55 days 1,2,3,4,5,7
According to the timetable, all flights will be operated by B733 equipment, with the exception of the Saturday service, which shows as a B738.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Ryanair has admitted defeat in its latest bid to take over Aer Lingus, having failed to persuade the latter's investors to part with their shares.
CREDITS
Ian Gawtrey, Robbie Shaw, Steve Pigg, Neil Judd, Paul Giblin, Shaun Irvine, Neil Barnes, Neil McLaughlin, John Smart, Dave Bateman, Malcolm Baldry, Jethro, FlightAware, UK Airport News, Skyliner, Tom Thumb & anybody else that I have forgotten.
Happy spotting!
John (& "Mad" Max)
MOVEMENTS SUMMARY (most from SBS)
AAW912 - A320 5A-ONA
ADR450 - CRJ9 S5-AAN
AMC116 - A320 9H-AEO
AUI501 - B735 UR-GAW
AWE730 - B752 N202UW
AWE732 - A333 N276AY
BEL2121 - B462 OO-DJL
BEL2129 - B462 OO-DJX
BMM314 - B734 CN-RMX
BTI651 - B752 YL-BDB
CIM265 - CRJ2 OY-MAV
CIM5161 - B734 SE-RJA (also CIM5765)
CLI8640 - A320 EC-HQI
CNO623 - B736 LN-RPU
CTN4494 - A319 9A-CTI
DAL012 - B764 N844MH
DAL036 - B752 N709TW (callsign displayed as DAL97 on SBS)
DAO101 - B752 G-LSAJ
EIN242 - A320 EI-CVB
EIN244 - A320 EI-DEA
EIN246 - A320 EI-CVD (also EIN248)
ELL101 - B733 ES-ABK
EXS6538 - B733 G-CELJ
EZS8532 - A319 HB-JZN
EZS8569 - A319 HB-JZQ (also EZS8571)
EZS8573 - A319 HB-JZI
EZS8575 - A319 HB-JZG
EZS8577 - A319 HB-JZL
EZY8952 - A319 G-EZDZ (also EZY5234)
ISS3531 - A319 EI-DEZ
ISS3535 - A319 EI-DEY
LZB495 - did not operate
LZB497 - did not operate
MAH612 - B736 HA-LOE
MAH614 - B736 HA-LOI
MGX720 - F100 4O-AOT
MPD230 - B738 EC-JKZ (Air Europa - also MPD232)
NAX1318 - B733 LN-KKY (callsign displayed as NAX0129 on SBS)
NAX1342 - B733 LN-KKI
NMB385 - A343 V5-NMF
OAL271 - B734 SX-BKB
QTR075 - A333 A7-AED
RYR1X - B738 EI-DHM
RYR112G - B738 EI-DCS (also RYR114G)
RYR116G - B738 EI-DAV (also RYR118G)
RYR1124 - B738 EI-DLC (also RYR1126)
RYR1182 - B738 EI-DWY
RYR5562 - B738 EI-DLS
RYR5568 - B738 EI-DLH
RYR7102 - B738 EI-DHD
RYR9228 - B738 EI-DYC
RYR9852 - B738 EI-DLE
TAP332 - F100 CS-TPF
TAP334 - A320 CS-TNA
TAP344 - A319 CS-TTR
TAP348B - A320 CS-TNM
UAE009 - A332 A6-EAN
UAE011 - B772 A6-EMI
UAE015 - B773 A6-ECL (first visit)
VIK156 - eta 22.48 (should be B738 SE-RHR)
BIZJETS, ETC
CS-DRO HS125 (NJE743R - aircraft change from the predicted CS-DRP)
HB-JEG DA2000EX (CLA018 - first visit)
N50XJ DA50 (arr 22/1)
VP-BSP DA900EX (SHE752 - callsign displayed as SHE751 on SBS)