NOAA's N43RF

With Tropical Storm Lowell passing  to the south-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, and Category 3 Hurricane Karina to the southeast of the islands, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is deploying N43RF "Miss Piggy" (msn 285A-5633) from its base at LAL to JRF, via LGB, as NOAA43.

Further weather coverage in this Fox Weather report.

01 September 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Storm Lowell has been upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane, and Karina has been upgraded to a Category 4.

NOAA's N42RF Returns

NOAA has deployed N42RF back to JRF for research flights into Tropical Depression 2-C. The weather system is forecasted to turn into Tropical Storm Moke (pronounced Moh-kay) within the next 12-24 hours. This WP-3D is arriving from LGB this afternoon as NOAA42.

The above photo was taken today, on short final for JRF's Runway 22L, on its arrival from LGB.

21 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Depression 2-C has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Moke today.

25 August 2026 UPDATE

With Tropical Depression Moke way off to the west of Hawai‘i, N42RF departed for LGB this morning.

PK-GLE

The Aviation Capital Group is ferrying PK-GLE (msn 2598) from CGK to P08, with stops at GUM, MAJ, and JRF. This A320-232's overnight stop at JRF is tonight. PK-GLE is seen above wearing the Citilink base livery without titles.

2598's History:

Nov 2005: Delivered to Royal Jordanian as JY-AYD "Amman", under lease from the Aviation Capital Group.

Oct 2011: Withdrawn from service.

Feb 2012: Returned to ACG as N598AG.

Jun 2012: Leased to Citilink as PK-GLE.

Jan 2020: Stored at CGK.

Sep 2023: Re-inducted into service with "PT PPA Danareksa" decals.

Dec 2025: Decals removed.

Apr 2026: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CGK.

N529HG

N529HG (msn 19000529), an ERJ-190LR owned by Regional One, is being ferried from XSP to OPF, with stops at BIK, MAJ, JRF, and ONT. N529HG is seen above wearing the Myanmar Airlines International base livery without titles. According to the conversation on the scanner, the pilots told the air traffic controller that this E190 is going to OPF for painting.

19000529's History:

Apr 2012: Delivered to China Southern Airlines as B-3145, under lease from CDB Aviation.

Oct 2020: Leased to Myanmar Airlines International as XY-ALO "Sittwe".

Sep 2021: Renamed "Hakha".

Jun 2026: Withdrawn from service, and stored at RGN [Yangon International Airport, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar].

Jly 2026: Acquired by Regional One (a Bank of Utah trustee), re-registered as N529HG, and ferried to XSP for storage.

06 August 2026 UPDATE

N529HG departed for ONT, then OPF, early this morning.

Hainan Airlines' B-228X

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-228X (c/n 66768, l/n 9702) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, with overnight stops at JRF and GUM, as CHH2285. This is Hainan's second delivery in six days.

N355FL

N355FL (msn 2553), an A321-231F owned by an undisclosed Bank of Utah trustee, is being ferried from XMN to MZJ, with stops at GUM and JRF. This white-tail A321's stop at JRF is this evening.

2553's History:
Sep 2005: Delivered to TACA International Airlines as N566TA, under lease from RBS.

Jun 2012: Sold to SMBC, and the lease was transferred.

May 2013: Airline rebranded as Avianca El Salvador.

Mar 2014: Leased to Monarch Airlines as G-ZBAI.

Nov 2016: Sold to Castlelake, and the lease was transferred.

Mar 2018: Leased to Aegean Airlines as SX-DNF.

May 2023: Returned to Castlelake as LY-BLW, and stored at TEV.

Sep 2023: Acquired by Flight Lease.

Mar 2024: Ferried to XMN for freighter conversion, registered as N355FL.

Nov 2024: Acquired by a Bank of Utah trustee.

VH-SBW

VH-SBW (msn 599), a Dash8-315 Q300 owned by the Avmax Group, is ferrying from ASP to YYC, with stops at CNS, MAJ, and JRF. Its overnight stop at JRF is tonight.

VH-SBW's History:

Jan 2004: Delivered to Sunstate Airlines, to operate for QantasLink.

Jly 2009: Acquired by Eastern Australia Airlines, to operate for QantasLink.

Jan 2017: Painted in the current livery, and named "Goulburn".

Mar 2025: Withdrawn from service, and stored at TMW.

Oct 2025: Ferried to ASP for storage.

Nov 2025: Acquired by the Avmax Group.

Sounds Air ZK-PLX

Sounds Air is ferrying ZK-PLX (msn 396), a PC-12/45, from BHE [Blenheim Airport, Woodburne, New Zealand] to YQT, with stops at PMR, AMZ, AKL, APW, CXI, JRF, OGG, and MCE.

396's History:

Oct 2001: Delivered to Royal Flying Doctor Service as VH-NWO.

Apr 2016: Acquired by Sounds Air as ZK-PLX.

Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CAJ

UR-CAJ (msn 8346106), an Ukraine Air Alliance An-12BK, is making a brief fuel stop at JRF from SBD as UKL5049. The flight originated in MID [Rejon Airport, Meridia, México] and is going to DRW, with stops at SBD, JRF, MAJ and POM.

14 January 2026 UPDATE

UR-CAJ is stopping through JRF from AJ as UKL5023.

2-JVDH

Nomadic Aviation is ferrying 2-JVDH (c/n 35774, l/n 3010) from PVG to P08 for storage. This white-tail 737-86D is making stops at GUM and JRF, as OMD215.

35774's History:

Sep 2009: Delivered to China United Airlines as B-5470, under lease from CDB Aviation.

Oct 2017: Painted in the "Maritime Capital - Rizhao Fantasy" special livery.

Oct 2019: Acquired by Wings Capital Partners, and the lease transferred.

Jun 2025: Withdrawn from service, and stored at PVG.

Eastern Airlines' N705KW

Eastern Airlines' N705KW (c/n 24342, l/n 363) is making a stop at JRF from OKO tonight. This 767-336ER is flying as EAL9536.

21 November 2025 UPDATE

N705KW departed for MCI as EAL9537 this afternoon.

Hainan Airlines' B-228A

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-8 in three days with B-228A (c/n 64321, l/n 9338). It's making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, with overnight stops at JRF and GUM, as CHH2288. B-228A is also the third delivery for Hainan Airlines this month.

Omega Tanker's N264DE

Omega Tanker's N264DE (c/n 46985, l/n 264) is making a stop at JRF from VCV today as OME11. It's not known if this KDC-10-30 is accompanying any fighters.

27 October 2025 UPDATE

N264DE departed JRF shortly after midnight headed west-bound.

30 October 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to JRF this afternoon.

01 November 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to its base at VCV this morning.

HDOT-A Hosts JRF Master Plan Meeting

The Airports Division of the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT-A) and aviation consultant firm Ricondo, hosted an open forum style meeting this evening at the Honol‘uli‘uli Middle School Cafeteria to give the public an introductory look at the master plan for the Kalaeloa Airport (JRF). People from HDOT-A and Ricondo were on-hand to answer questions from the public. The master plan is schedule to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027.

All three runways will need to undergo shoulder improvements, similar to what HNL went through. Runway 11/29 is temporarily closed due to the quality of the asphalt.

Million Air is undergoing the permitting process for construction of their facility that they proposed for their FBO services.

One of the issues that are being worked on is the aircraft noise issue that affects the surrounding areas of Kapolei and ‘Ewa Beach. Another community concern is the increased use of JRF, though the airport is under-utilized, and considered as a reliever airport by the FAA.

We learned that the land west of the Million Air fuel farm, that is occupied by a trucking company and other tenants, as well as the area south of Runway 11/29 are under the control of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands.

Further information can be found at the Kalaeloa Airport Master Plan website.

Hainan Airlines' B-225S

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their first new-build 737-8 since the MAX groundings, and the pandemic, today. B-225S (c/n 64317, l/n 9098) is making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, via JRF and GUM, as CHH2250. It will make an overnight stop at JRF tonight.

Since the grounding and pandemic, Hainan Air Group had 12 of 14 737-8s that were in storage, and were re-marketed by Boeing to United Airlines and GOL. Hainan Airlines took the remaining two that were allotted to one of its subsidiaries, Fuzhou Airlines. Hainan Airlines is the first of the Chinese airlines to have these new-build 737-8s, as the other major carriers still have airliners still in storage awaiting delivery.

N330GR

N330GR (msn 447), an A320-231 owned by Beijing Eternity Technologies, is being ferried by Nomadic Aviation as OMD382. It's being ferried from TUS to FOC [Changle Airport, Fuzhou, China], via JRF, MAJ, and GUM. N330GR is making a brief fuel stop at JRF this afternoon. According to the Instagram post from Nomadic Aviation, this A320 will become a maintenance trainer.

447's History:

Dec 1993: Delivered to Dragonair as VR-HYU, under lease from ILFC.

Aug 1997: Re-registered as B-HYU, after Hong Kong was handed over to the People's Republic of China.

Mar 1999: Leased to Transmeridian Airlines as N447TM.

Apr 1999: Subleased to Aeropostal.

Mar 2001: Leased Skyservice Airlines, and subleased to Roots Air as C-FRAR.

Jun 2003: Leased to Mexicana Airlines as N447MX "Minatitlán".

Mar 2004: Re-registered as XA-UAH.

Oct 2011: Leased to Sky Airline as CC-ADO.

Oct 2015: Leased to Danish Air Transport as OY-RUS.

Dec 2018: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SOF.

Feb 2020: Ferried to TUS for storage, and acquired by Elevate Jet as N330GR, a month later.

Oct 2024: Acquired by Beijing Eternity Technologies.

Honeywell International's N757HW

Honeywell International's 757-225 test airliner, N757HW (c/n 22194, l/n 5), is making a stop at JRF from PHX this afternoon, as HNW757. It's wearing the new livery with the #futureshaper titles on the tail. N757HW is heading for AVV [Avalon Airport, Melbourne, Australia], for the Avalon Airshow.

We've managed to catch N757HW at HNL a few times over the past several years.

21 March 2025 UPDATE

N757HW departed JRF for NAN this morning.

29 March 2025 UPDATE

N757HW arrived from NAN this afternoon, and will return to PHX tomorrow morning.

Ukraine AIr Alliance's UR-CAJ

Ukraine Air Alliance's An-12BK, UR-CAJ (msn 8346106), is making an overnight stop at KOA from SBD as UKL5012. The flight originated in LRD as UKL5011.

10 March 2025 UPDATE

UR-CAJ will be flying to ITO as UKL5012.

11 March 2025 UPDATE

After an overnight stop at ITO, UR-CAJ is continuing onto MAJ and TRW.

12 March 2025 UPDATE

UR-CAJ departed TRW for JRF, with a brief fuel stop before continuing onto PHX as UKL5013 (above photo).

Lynden Air Cargo's N403LC

Lynden Air Cargo's Lockheed L382G Hercules, N403LC (msn 382-4590), will be making a stop from CHS, via OAK as LYC403.

03 February 2025 UPDATE

N403LC departed JRF westbound this morning as LYC501.

04 February 2025 UPDATE

N403LC arrived at HIK this evening as LYC501.

GlobalX Cargo's N636WT

GlobalX Airlines Cargo is taking delivery of N636WT (msn 1636). This A321-231F, leased from Spectre Air Capital, is flying from XMN to MZJ, via GUM, MAJ, and JRF. It will make an overnight stop at JRF tonight. It will go to Spectre Air Capital prior to delivery to GlobalX Airlines.

N636WT departed from XMN on 11 November for GUM. There were two attempts to depart GUM for MAJ, on 19 November and 28 November, and both returned to GUM.

1636's History:

Jan 2002: Delivered to Asiana Airlines as HL7711, under lease from debis Air Finance.

Oct 2005: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Nov 2013: Leased to Air Busan.

Mar 2019: Sold to FTAI, and the lease transferred.

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at PUS.

Aug 2020: Ferried to GYR for storage.

Dec 2020: Re-registered as N636WT.

Jan 2023: Purchased by Spectre Air Capital.

May 2023: Ferried to XMN for freighter conversion.