Air Pacific To End HNL Service

Fiji's Air Pacific has announced that they will be terminating the NAN - HNL - YVR route (FJI820 / FJI821) at the end of November, citing rising fuel costs.

The Fiji Times coverage of this announcement.

In the above photo from 2005, Air Pacific's DQ-FJF (c/n 28878), a 737-7X2, is seen during its push back from Gate 29, to leave for YVR.

Hawaiian's New 712s

Hawaiian AIr received the first of four "new" Boeing 717-200s that were formerly with QantasLink.

KHNL News8's article link to the new 712.

New Aloha Air Cargo Livery

Saltchuk is finally coming out with a new livery for Aloha Air Cargo. The first aircraft to have the new livery is N840AL. This aircraft arrived in HNL this morning after heavy maintenance in Costa Rica. And here it is:

Just kidding...They are being really careful to keep the new livery a secret. The whole aircraft is white to hide the livery.

So far, what is known is that the main color is lime green with the dark blue and orange from the AQ livery. "Aloha" in orange and "Air Cargo" in the lime green is written across the whole fuselage as well as the engines. The tail was covered in black plastic, but appears to be mostly lime green with the dark blue making some kind of design.

If you look closely, you can see a lime green mast/antenna on the tail cone that wasn't painted white. They even painted over the titles on the engines.

For a sneak peek, check out the picture from the airliners.net forums:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4162212/

It Doesn't Look Like This Anymore

Over the years HNL has evolved to accommodate millions of passengers and an increase in traffic that far exceeded what the original airport was designed for. Here we see a view form 2000 with the Ewa, Main, and Diamond Head Terminals.

The classic view of HNL in the 1960's with the dominant carriers, Pan American and United. The roof of the Y shaped gates was the best location to view the new jets that were increasing in frequency to the islands.

In this view facing west, we see the main John Rodgers Terminal at Honolulu International Airport as well as the Inter Island terminal around 1963. Three Pan American 707's and one United DC-8 are at their gates. No, it doesn't look like this anymore.

Mainliner Kona

United's Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Mainliner Kona departing for the mainland from the John Rodgers Airport on Lagoon Drive in the mid- 50's. What I love about this photo are the spectators viewing the Stratcruiser's departure. A true "Blast From the Past". United named various Stratocruisers with Hawaii names. Mainliner Hana Maui, Mainliner Hawaii, and Mainliner Waipahu after the birthplace of United's chariman William A. "Pat" Patterson. Click for larger image.

SunState Airlines' C-FRLP

A Dash8-Q402 being delivered for SunState Airlines (SSQ - QantasLink) arrived earlier today from YYZ, via YYB, GRR, and CCR. It is being delivered with its Canadian regitration, C-FRLP (msn 4218).

Unfortunately, I did not check any of the online flight trackers this morning, and was at HNL until 1230HST, and missed the arrival of C-FRLP, which arrived a bit after 1300HST. It will continue early tomorrow morning to MAJ, before arriving at BNE.

Boeing Strike

Since September 6th, the machinists at Boeing have been on strike, and no aircraft are being assembled. No one knows how long the strike will last. All those that were built prior to the strike have been delivered.

Here's the link to Boeing's press release concerning the strike.

Hopefully, there will be other deliveries, or ferry flights, that will pass through HNL in the mean time.

I should make use of my flatbed scanner, and scan some shots of delivery flights I got before going digital.

This Week's Blast From the Past

HNL had a wonderful open air concourse just above the central gates and garden area fronting the old control tower. From this viewing deck, passengers and visitors to the airport could spend the time watching aircraft arriving and departing. It was a great location to get that first view of a loved one, or the last chance to literally wave goodbye as passengers climbed the stairs onto their Pan Am 707, United DC-8, BOAC VC-10 or a Western 707. In the photo are two Pan American 707's, one of which is N408PA Clipper Morning Star. In the distance you see a BOAC 707 taxiing as well as a Japan Airlines DC-8 climbing off of runway 8. Click the image for a larger size.

MacAir's VH-UYN

MacAir Airlines PTY (CC / MCK) of Townsville, Queensland, Australia (TSV), took delivery of VH-UYN (msn 340B-348), a Saab 340B. It's seen in the photo above, taken yesterday, as it taxied to Runway 8R.

VH-UYN originally began with American Eagle Airlines (MQ / EGF) as N906AE, then as N348SB. It was later taken up by Chicago Express Airlines (C8 / WDY) which flew all of their flights ATA Connection, and re-registered as N316CE.

Another HNL RareBirds Blast From The Past

A fine mix of 747’s, DC-8’s and DC-10’s surrounding the Diamond Head terminal in the mid 1970’s. You don’t see stairs being used for 747’s and DC-10’s these days let alone in the area seen here. Two of United’s aircraft do not yet have the "stars and bars" livery on their fuselage. The Japan Airlines 747 is likely inbound from LAX and continuing on to Tokyo. Visible also is the tail of a Korean Air 747. Photo credit State of Hawaii Archives

MLW Air / Pace Airlines N767MW

This 767-277 (c/n 22694/32) was seen at Kahului today. No info about it's mission.

Ex-Spirit Airlines N520NK

Another ex-Spirit Airlines A319-132 is on its way to Indonesia. This one was the "Spirit of Atlantic City". Now in Manadala colors, it landed here on a tech stop at about 9:10 AM.

N520NK (msn 2784) flew from VCV to HNL, then onto GUM and CGK. Like N521NK that stopped through HNL a few days ago, N520NK is owned by ILFC, and leased to Mandala.

Evergreen International 747-273C - N470EV

Parked on the Hazardous Cargo Pad today was Evergreen's N470EV. This aircraft was modified by Evergreen into the experimental Supertanker to fight wildfires. However, they never received certification to actually use the aircraft to fight wildfires and reconverted back into a normal freight. Evergreen did leave the red tail with the number 947 instead of repainting it back into the normal Evergreen colors.

Island Air N808WP

Island Air's N808WP has gotten a hybrid livery, with the new Island Air titles replacing the old ones, the bird of paradise removed, and the orange cheat lines repainted in a light blue.


Here's what N808WP looked like in the previous livery.

Shenzhen's B-5402

Shenzhen Airlines has taken delivery of B-5402 (c/n 35531), a 737-87L(W), and its making its way from BFI to SZX via HNL, MAJ, and SPN, as CSZ5402.

B-5402 is seen above a few hours before departure on the 12th.

UPS 747-400Fs

UPS has put 747-400Fs on UPS076, which flies from ONT to HNL and HKG, then back to ONT via ANC as UPS075. The other flights are primarily handled by MD-11Fs, and 767-34AERFs.

UPS has eight 747-44AFs that are new builds plus two 747-45EMs. The latter pair were acquired from EVA Air (BR / EVA - Taipei), and N578UP (c/n 27154) has undergone its frieghter conversion, while N579UP (c/n 26062) awaits its freighter conversion.

N578UP is seen above being towed to the UPS ramp, after a spot was cleared so it can be loaded for the HNL-HKG leg. It can also be seen in its EVA colors in this Airliners.net photo link.

Mandala's N521NK

Mandala Airlines (RI / MDL - Indonesia) is leasing a former Spirit Airlines (NK/NKS - Miami, FL) Airbus A319-132, N521NK (msn 2797), is being ferried from MIA to CGK (Jakrta, Indonesia), via TUS, HNL, and GUM. Once known as "The Spirit of New York / LaGuardia", N521NK was returned to its lessor, ILFC, and is now being leased by Mandala.

N521NK can be seen in its full Spirit Airlines colors in this Airliners.net link.

N521NK is seen above being readied for its next leg to GUM.

Photo by MKU ADX.

USCG HH-65C Down

A Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Barbers Point (at Kalaeloa Airport) based US Coast Guard HH-65C Dauphin helicopter crashed off the southern coast of O‘ahu last evening. The crash took the lives of three of the crew members, while a fourth is missing, which occurred during a training mission. There are four Dauphins at CGAS Barbers Point, that are assigned to the Coast Guard's 14th District.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims. A big thank you for serving and protecting our country, and for their sacrifice for our country.

Read more in The Honolulu Advertiser's article link.

Shown above, is USCG Dauphin #6505 during the "Blues On The Bay 2007" airshow doing a rescue demonstration. Not sure which of the four went down.

Air China's B-5398

Air China is taking delivery of B-5398 (c/n 36490), a 737-89L(W). It's continuing onto MAJ and SPN today, before arriving at PEK, as CCA058.

B-5398 is seen above, being prepared for the HNL-MAJ leg by the ground handling crew, about an hour prior to departure.

HANG's 76-0063

A McDonnell-Douglas F-15A "Eagle", 76-0063 (c/n 0249/A215), of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th FS was enshrined in the Pacific Aviation Museum, located on Ford Island (in Naval Station Pearl Harbor). The retired fighter was transported via barge, from a dock at neighboring Hickam AFB through Pearl Harbor to Ford Island where it will displayed alongside a retired US Navy Grumman F-14 "Tomcat".

76-0063 is seen above departing Rwy 8L in a photo taken in 2005.