ATA's N331TZ

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" recognizes the 10th anniversary of the closure of American Trans Air (ATA), with this November 2005 photo of N331TZ (c/n 30660, l/n 1330). This 737-83N is seen above, departing from Runway 8L. ATA shut down its operations on 02 April 2008, three days after Aloha Airlines closed its doors.

30660 was delivered to American Trans Air in June 2003, leased from ILFC as N331TZ. It was returned to ILFC in early 2006, then leased to SpiceJet [SG/SEJ] (India) in April 2006 as VT-SPH "Saffron". In March 2012, it was returned to ILFC, and two months later, leased to T'Way Air [TW/TWB] (Republic of Korea) as HL8286. In May 2014, this 737-83N was acquired by AerCap, and the lease transferred to T'Way, where it continues to fly today.

ATA's N187AT

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to January 1998, with American Trans Air's (ATA) L-1011-385-1 Tristar 50, N871AT (msn 193C-1077), seen above taxiing on Taxiway RT to Runway 26L.

This Tristar was originally delivered to Delta Air Lines in May 1974 as N707DA, built as a Tristar 1. In March 1984, it was sold to Boeing, and was converted to a Tristar 50. In July 1985, American Trans Air took delivery of this L-1011 as N187AT. It flew with ATA until October 2001, where it was stored at VCV. It's been reported that this Tristar 50 was scrapped in November 2002.

ATA's N561TZ

Our January 2013 edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us to November 2004, and this ATA Airlines [TZ/ATA] 757-33N, N561TZ (c/n 33526, l/n 1032, f/n 561), that was photographed on HNL's South Ramp, as it was on a  team charter assignment.

N561TZ was originally delivered to ATA in July 2003, under buy back and lease program with Boeing Capital Corporation (BCC). It flew with ATA, in a one-class Y247 interior seating layout until the the airline's demise in April 2008. Continental Airlines leased this 757 from BCC in December 2009, and registered as N77871 (f/n 871). Later, it had Blended Winglets installed, and the interior re-configured to an F24Y192 layout. N77871 was absorbed into the United Airlines fleet (f/n 0871) when the two carriers merged in 2010.

We were fortunate to get a photo of N77871 while here at HNL, this past December 7th, and is seen above departing Runway 22L, destined for LAX as UAL1636, when the "Kona Winds" were blowing. It's one of the few opportunites that we're able to get "then & now" photos of "HNLRareBirds Classic" subjects.

Continental 757-33N

Ex-ATA N550TZ, Continental's N73860 (c/n 32584/972) made a tech stop this morning on its way to Cleveland as CO1941 after receiving new paint, interior and winglets in Hong Kong. I believe that this is the fourth (or possibly third) ex-ATA metal that Continental acquired.

ATA 757-300?!?!?

Yesterday around 1030am, a once regular visitor returned after spending some time in storage at Victorville. Still in its colors, ship n560TZ is probably on its way to somewhere in asia for maintenance. It flew in as a CO3171 from Victorville to Honolulu and now is currently in Guam.

Delta's N752AT

While waiting for my return flight to HNL from OGG on my honeymoon, I saw this Delta Air Lines 757-212, N752AT (cn 23128). I had a feeling this was a former ATA bird, and was correct. Upon further research, it was orginally delivered to Singapore Airlines in the mid-80s. It was then picked up by ATA in the mid-90s, then acquired by DL in the late-90s, and even wore the classic "widget" livery.

It was not so much an OGG RareBird, but one of the few shots I got at OGG. The registration tipped me off, since Delta's registrations usually end in N___DL, DN, DA or MH.

N752AT is seen above at OGG's Gate 7, being prepped to return to SLC as DAL1196. I wish the sun was a lot higher, so I could have gotten better lighting.

AQ & ATA Rest In Peace

It seems to be happening way too fast. This was the scene at Aloha's final arrival. Such a sad moment in history. Employees of Aloha all gathered around the last flight were all kind of emotions where exchanged. What my pictures dont show are the other supporters that came out to bid Aloha good bye. On the opposite side of the 732 where the employees of Hawaiian, showing some aloha to there fellow ohana. People from United, Swissport, WFS, Sherrifs, and various other airport staff also came out to witness history. Thank you Aloha for your 61 years of fabulous service.


Tonight a similar story showed again. This time it was ATA's turn to be placed into the pages of history. ATA's last flight nationwide was to take off from Honolulu. Word came down the line as we were servicing N517AT, a 757-200, that this flight would be the last flight of ATA. At first we thought that it was a late April Fool's joke. We soon found out from operations that this was no joke. This was for real. TZ4586 for PHX lifted off around 0030. What a way to see a airline go. I had the privilege of waving off the last ATA flight out of HNL.




ATA was our main contract at night. With them gone now, Im not sure of our employment situation. We also service Air Canada and Air Pacific. Air Canada has reduced flights for this month to five days a week. Air Pacific had two days per week. We where servicing ATA every night. After seeing what Aloha's employees had to go though, I would have never thought that a similar situation hit so close to home so quickly.

ATA's DC-10-30s

ATA Airlines began New Year's charter flights between HNL and KIX, as AMT6400 (KIX_HNL), using ex-NW DC-10-30s.

ATA has also substituted DC-10-30s on AMT4755/AMT4754, between HNL and LAX.

ATA Brings In Hawai‘i Bowl Teams

Both the Boise State University Broncos (Western Athletic Confernce) and the East Carolina University Pirates (Conference USA) chartered ATA Airlines' L-1011s to bring their respective football teams to HNL for the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl on December 23rd at Aloha Stadium (and will be aired on ESPN at 2000EST).

Both teams arrived late yesterday ... The Broncos arrived on AMT6471 from BOI (Gowen Field, Boise, ID), and the Pirates arrived on AMT6469 from ISO (Kinston Regional Airport, Kinston, NC) with a fuel stop at OAK.


Update 12-24-07 (07:00)
The ECU Pirates beat the BSU Broncos 41-38 in the final seconds with a walk-off field goal. Both the Pirates and Broncos returned to their respective cities last night aboard their ATA L-1011 charters after the game. The Broncos returnd to BOI on AMT6472, and the Pirates returned to ISO on AMT6470.

Huskies Charter ATA's N702TZ

The University of Washington Huskies chartered ATA Airlines' N702TZ, an ex-Northwest Airlines DC-10-30 (msn 46912) to bring their football team, cheerleaders and band to HNL, as the Huskies football team faced off against the University of Hawai‘i Warriors. The flight arrived from SEA as AMT6317.

N702TZ still wears the old NW "bowling shoe" colors with small ATA titles in the forward section. It was originally delivered to Korean Airlines as HL7316. It was taken up by Northwest in the late '90s, and registered N234NW.

The Warriors battled back to beat the Huskies 35-28, to complete a perfect 12-0 regular season, and await a BCS bowl bid.

Mahalo Aeros for the photo!


Update 12-03-07 (21:30): The Huskies returned to SEA on Monday 12-03 on the same DC-10 listed as AMT6318.

ATA L-1011

Also on the North Ramp was an ATA L-1011-500 (N164AT). ATA only has painted the L-1011s in partial new colors (no tail logo or stripe on the engines) and only small titles on the front. Not sure what flight this aircraft flew in as, but it most likely came in as a military charter.