HNL RareBirds

17 May 2013

Aloha Air Cargo's Temporary Home

On May 14th, Aloha Air Cargo held a ground breaking ceremony for its new cargo facilities adjacent to the Ewa hardstands. The construction kicks off the major part of the modernization of the inter-island concourse.

The current ramp that Aloha was using has been blocked off for the construction of the new facilities. Accommodations have been made for their 737-200Cs to utilize Gates 31-34 after the morning rush of arrivals and departures. Their SAAB 340AFs have been allocated to the corner of the inter-island ramp next to Elliott Street and Nimitz Highway.

16 May 2013

Upcoming 737NG Deliveries

With many of the airlines around the Pacific Rim ordering Next Generation 737s, most of those airliners will stop through Hawai‘i (mainly HNL) during the first segment of their island-hopping delivery flights from Boeing Field (BFI). This post will be continuously updated as new information becomes available.

According to The Boeing Test Flights blog, these listed below are the airframes that have been assigned assembly line numbers, and currently on the BFI flightlines that are being readied for delivery. Those listed below, should make a stopover at HNL on their first segment out of BFI on their delivery flights in the near future:
4439 | B-5749 | 41303 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [05.03.13 CSN916]
4441 | PK-LBM | 38689 | Batik Airlines | -9GPER [05.03.13 PKLBM]
4443 | B-5738 | 38930 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [05.07.13 CSN738]
4446 | PK-GMY | 38884 | Garuda Indonesia | -8U3 [05.07.13 GIA8011]
4449 | 9M-MSD | 40146 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [05.09.13 MAS5473]
4450 | VH-XZF | 39370 | Qantas Airways | -838 "Cygnet" [05.10.13 QFA6024]
4014 | IN321/N521DS | 40611 | Indian Navy | -8FV (P-8I) [05.11.13 BOE202]
4453 | PK-GFX | 39928 | Garuda Indonesia | -8FX [05.13.13 GIA8011]
4447 | B-5805 | 39199 | Lucky Air (HNA Group) | -74P [05.14.13 B5085]
4454 | B-5742 | 38946 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [05.14.13 CSN805]
4455 | B-18652 | 41787 | China Airlines | -8Q8 [05.16.13 CAL1710 - ANC]
4456 | VH-YFN | 41009 | Virgin Australia Airlines | -8FE [05.16.13 VOZ9398 - LIH]
4413 | JA01GR | 39429 | Spring Airlines Japan | -81D {Stored at MZJ}
4460 | JA73NT | 41264 | Skymark Airlines | -86N
4461 | B-5752 | 38404 | Xiamen Airlines | -85C
4463 | PK-LBO | 38731 | Batik Airlines | -9GPER
4464 | B-5741 | 38945 | China Southern Airlines | -81B
4466 | B-5728 | 40020 | Air China | -89L
4468 | HL8272 | 42173 | Korean Air | -9B5ER
4470 | B-5736 | 39132 | Shenzhen Airlines | -87L«
4475 | B-5750 | 38380 | Xiamen Airlines | -85C
4476 | VH-YFP | 41011 | Virgin Australia Airlines | -8FE
º New / Modified Livery
* Special Livery / Markings
« First Flight - Added 05.13.13

On the occasion that a delivery flight stops through a Neighbor Island airport, or Anchorage, AK [ANC], their IATA airport code will noted after its flight number.

Also, a big mahalo to the PlaneSpotters.net's 737NG production list,and Airliner List for the additional production information. Currently, team member Drewski2112 is taking a well-deserved, extended break from updating his 737NG production list blog. We wish him well during his time away. He will continue to post Boeing photos on his Flickr page.

The airframes listed below, are the Pacific-bound 737NGs currently on the order books which have been assigned Construction Numbers. As each ordered 737 is assigned a Line Number, the airframe is assembled at RNT, then flown to BFI; that listing will be moved to the list at the top of this post.
JA73AN | 33904 | All Nippon Airways | -881
JA74AN | 33905 | All Nippon Airways | -881
JA75AN | 33906 | All Nippon Airways | -881
JA76AN | 33907 | All Nippon Airways | -881
JA77AN | 33908 | All Nippon Airways | -881
PK-G__ | 41605 | Garuda Indonesia | -8U3
PK-G__ | 41607 | Garuda Indonesia | -8U3
PK-LLF | 38732 | Lion Airlines | -9GPER
PK-LLG | 38690 | Lion Airlines | -9GPER
VH-YFP | 41011 | Virgin Australia Airlines | -8FE
VH-YFQ | 41010 | Virgin Australia Airlines | -8FE
VH-XZG | 39371 | Qantas Airways | -838
« Added __.__.13

Boeing 737 Order Book Pending^ (Construction Numbers and Registrations not announced):
-700: Air China (2); China Eastern Airlines (3); Hainan Airlines (2); Xiamen Airlines (4)

-800: Air China (49); China Eastern Airlines (48); China Southern Airlines (22); Hainan Airlines (7); Jeju Air (5); Kunming Airlines (2); Lion Airlines (12); Malaysia Airlines (27); MIAT Mongolian Airways (2); Okay Airways (8); Shandong Airlines (5); Shanghai Airlines (5); Shenzhen Airlines (9); Virgin Australia Airlines (41); Xiamen Airlines (15)

-900ER: Lion Airlines (112)

-MAX: Lion Airlines (201 [mixed] -8 and -9); Virgin Australia (23 -8)

^ This list does not include leased airframes.

14 May 2013

Qantas' VH-TJL

Another former Qantas Airways 737-476 is bound for VCV for storage from MEL. VH-TJL (c/n 24437, l/n 2176) is making a stop at HNL as QFA6027.

VH-TJL was originally delivered to Australian Airlines in November 1991, and transferred to the Qantas fleet in October 1993.

Lucky Air's B-5805

Lucky Air [8L/LKE], a Hainan Air Group subsidiary, is taking delivery of B-5805 (c/n 39199, l/n 4447) today. The 737-74P, originally ordered by parent Hainan Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as B5805.

China Southern's B-5742

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-81B in the past 11 days. B-5742 (c/n 38946, l/n 4454) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN805.

13 May 2013

Garuda's PK-GFX

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of their second 737-800 in the past six days. PK-GFX (c/n 39928, l/n 4453), a 737-8FX leased from Lombard Aviation, is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will overnight at HNL. Like last week's delivery flight for PK-GMY, the next leg will go to PNI instead of MAJ.

Rare Rainbow At HNL

Here's a rare sight caught at HNL. One morning, these rainbows appeared over the Reef Runway. On the right, you can see the rainbow splitting into two with the second rainbow going straight up instead of curving with the main rainbow. If you look closely at the coconut trees on the left, there is a faint third rainbow in between the trees.

12 May 2013

Pacific Wings To Close Hawai‘i Operations

Hawai‘i News Now announced on tonight's 10:00P broadcast that Pacific Wings will be closing down their Hawai‘i operations on June 15th. For some time, their operations had been scaling down. Their Cessna 208B Grand Caravans will probably be moved to their other mainland operations. The airline has not made a formal announcement, but employees have told our sources that they were given termination notices effective on June 15th. Their website is also not taking reservations past the same date.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now article.

As seen above with N302PW (msn 208B0984), much of their local Caravan fleet has been repainted in to this generic livery. Gone are the colorful liveries that adorned the five Caravans when they began operations in Hawai‘i.

This was N302PW in photo taken in July 2005 at OGG's Commuter Terminal.

11 May 2013

Indian Navy's P-8I Neptune

This afternoon a P-8I (737-8FV) Neptune flew in from Boeing Field as BOE202. IN321/N521DS (c/n 40611, l/n 4014) is the second of twelve on order for the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy is the first customer for the export version of the P-8 Poseidon. This modified 737 will serve as a replacement for the Russian made Tu-142MKE in maritime patrol and anti-ship roles.

10 May 2013

China Southern's B-2926

China Southern Airlines is ferrying B-2926 (c/n 27289, l/n 2593) to the mainland. The 737-31B, flying as CSN2002, is traveling from SWA [Shantou, China] to MWH [Moses Lake, WA], and made stops at GUM, MAJ, HNL, and OAK.

Qantas' VH-XZF

Qantas Airways is taking delivery of VH-XZF "Cygnet" (c/n 39370, l/n 4450) today. The 737-838 is making its delivery flight from BFI to MEL (via HNL and NAN) as QFA6024.

09 May 2013

Malaysia's 9M-MSD

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MSD (c/n 40146, l/n 4449) today. The 737-8H6 is making its delivery flight from BFI as MAS5473, and will overnight here.

08 May 2013

R22B Lands On Fort Street

Mauna Loa Helicopters' R22B, N5ZK (msn 2158), piloted by Julia Link made an emergency landing today on Fort Street between Beretania and Kukui Streets. She apparently lost power at about 3,000 feet, and was able to land the chopper with her and her passenger escaping major injury. Initial reports cite engine failure. The FAA considered the incident as a controlled hard landing.

GREAT JOB and WELL DONE to the pilot in averting a major incident!

Further news coverage in this Hawaii News Now article.

Delta 767 Aborts Takeoff

Delta flight DAL2364 from HNL to LAX had to abort takeoff right at about when it was going to rotate off Runway 8R. Scheduled departure for the 767-332ER was 11:38. Good thing it was on takeoff, and not while landing!

The aircraft, N188DN (c/n 27583, l/n 631), caused the closure of the "Reef Runway" for a couple of hours after the aborted takeoff. The passengers were off-loaded from the aircraft, and brought back to the terminal by Wiki-Wiki buses around 1:00 p.m. The aircraft was still not ready to be towed when I left work at 2:00 p.m. This also meant that the widebody flights that normally directed to Runway 8R for takeoff were taking off from Runway8L.

Link to the story on KHON2 website.

07 May 2013

Garuda's PK-GMY

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GMY (c/n 38884, l/n 4446) today. The 737-8U3, leased from the Aviation Capital Group, is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011. It's scheduled to go to PNI instead of MAJ after its overnight stop at HNL.

Sorry, we weren't able to get a photo of PK-GMY at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

China Southern's B-5738

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5738 (c/n 38930, l/n 4443) today. The 737-81B is their airline's second in four days, and is making its delivery flight as CSN738.

photo to follow ..

Our Mission

This is the original, definitive news blog about the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) by a team of airline and aviation enthusiasts, planespotters, and photographers.

We cover airlines and airliners that are rare to Hawai‘i, and make stop overs at HNL. We also cover HNL (and airline) media events, airline news affecting Hawai‘i, rarebirds visiting Neighbor Island airports, and military rarebirds.

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(Founder & Chief Editor)

The Fine Print ...

All of the photographs on the HNL RareBirds blog are copyrighted to, and property of the photographer who posted, or submitted the photograph.

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Any person or entity, including news media outlets (print, television and/or online), who would like to use any of our photographs, for any purpose other than personal use, must contact the photographer in writing (or by email) to obtain permission to use their photograph(s). If not, your actions constitutes copyright infringement, along with a lack of morals and ethics.

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Disclaimer

HNL RareBirds is not affiliated with any airline, corporation, the Honolulu International Airport, the State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation's Airports Division, nor any other state or federal governmental agency.
We cannot promise nor guarantee that we can get every rarebird that passes through HNL, but we will do our best to document and/or photograph each one that we do catch, and provide the most accurate information and history on that aircraft.
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Spotting at HNL

This is an unofficial guide to aircraft spotting locations around the Honolulu International Airport (HNL). HNL RareBirds will not accept any responsibility for any actions taken (or conduct) by individuals while engaging in planespotting and/or photography. Each person assumes responsibility for their own actions while spotting and/or photographing around HNL (or any other Hawai‘i airport).

If you have a boarding pass, HNL offers a few open air locations in the Main Terminal, between the three concourses, that offers clear views of aircraft. The Inter-Island Terminal's walkways have been enclosed. Some of the gates also provide excellent viewing spots as well.

There are two locations on the southeast side of HNL, on Lagoon Drive, where spotting is possible. The first is at the extreme south end of Lagoon Drive, in the General Aviation parking lot. This location is excellent for watching traffic depart from the Runway 8R, “the Reef Runway”, and arrivals to both Runways 4L & 4R, during tradewind weather (which is 90-95% of the time). There is a fence to contend with, and standing on one’s car is way to overcome that.

The second location, a parking lot on Palekona Street, is a good location to watch Runway 22L departures, or Runway 4R arrivals.

The length of Lagoon Drive past Aolele Street is a No Parking Zone, none of side streets, except Palekona Street and Kalewa Street have public parking.

It's not advised to do any spotting along Elliott Street as well, since the area is a No Parking Zone.

Please do not encroach on any private property to do any spotting, unless you obtain permission.

There are several times during the course of the year when the winds shift from the northeast tradewinds to the southwesterly “Kona” winds. When these winds occur, the traffic is reversed. Landing traffic will make their final approach abeam the world-famous Waikīkī Beach for both Rwys 26L & 26R. Departing traffic will depart west-bound Rwy 26L (heavy jet) & 26R (inter-island) , or south-bound on Rwy 22L (heavy jet).

The top floor of the Inter-Island Terminal’s parking structure offer great views of the ‘Ewa end of the main terminal. While the 6th level offers a view of the Inter-Island and Commuter Terminals. However, loitering is not advised.

Four caveats:
1) You may be subject to questioning and an ID check by either the Hawai‘i State Sheriff's Department (the governing law enforcement agency of HNL), or by the private security firm that also guards HNL, especially if they see you with any kind of camera in any of these spotting locations. Please be courteous, and cooperative with them, and comply.

2) If you plan an extended stay in Honolulu, you may want to contact the airport manager’s office to apply for a hobby photographers permit. It’s free, and it will allow you to take photos around HNL, as long it is for personal use and non-commercial purposes.

3) There are no rest rooms, nor water fountains in either Lagoon Drive spotting locations. The nearest public lavatory is at Ke‘ehi Park. There are two convenience stores at the corner of Aolele Street and Lagoon Drive for food and drink. There are also a number of take-out eateries from Paiea Street to Lagoon Drive. The spotting locations can get quite warm and sunny, therefore, sunblock and drinks are strongly recommended. These locations also have little, or no shade areas. Do not litter and no alcohol consumption!

4) It is recommended to have a rental car when spotting on the Lagoon Drive side of HNL. The municipal bus line, The Bus, no longer has bus service down Lagoon Drive. The nearest bus stop is along Nimitz Highway, or outside HNL's Main Terminal. Taxi fares can run as high as US$50 between Waikīkī and HNL, each way. There also are no pay phones, so it is advised you carry a mobile phone.