Las Vegas Sands Corp 747-SP-31

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation's 747-SP-31, VP-BLK, has stopped over here in HNL. It is parked on the North Ramp, and arrived last evening.


***07.03.11 Update***
VP-BLK returned to LAS around 1300HST.

Saudia's HZ-AFX

The July edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to September 1998, when this Saudia Gulfstream G-IV, HZ-AFX (msn 1143), paid a visit to HNL. It was one of four Saudia airliners that was part of an aviation entourage, as members of the Saudi Royal Family came to Hawai‘i for a vacation. This G-IV, parked on the Circle Rainbow Aviation ramp, was accompanied by two 747-368s and an L-100 Hercules. Both 747-368s were parked on Taxiway F, and the L-100 was parked on the ramp adjacent to Anderson Aviation, which contained vehicles for the royal family. The four airliners are part of the Saudi Arabian Special Flight Services.

HZ-AFX continues to fly with the Saudi Arabian Special Flight Services, though it has been re-painted, and does not wear any titles. The Circle Rainbow Aviation hangar has become the Castle & Cooke Aviation hangar, since 2006.

Hawaiian Leases Three More 717-200s

Hawaiian Airlines has leased three more Boeing 717-200s from Boeing Capital Corporation, with the first model to be delivered in September. With the addition of the three 717s, it will increase Hawaiian's inter-island service by 20 flights, beginning in October. This move brings the airlines' 717 fleet count to 18.

It has not been announced where these 717s are coming from, though VCV currently has several in storage. Boeing Capital has had 20 MexicanaClick (QA/CBE) models in storage since the shutdown of the Mexican carrier in August 2010.

On a related note, Hawaiian also completed the purchase of their existing fleet of 15 717-200s, which will help in the airline in the long-term.

Hawaiian Air's press release link.

N477HA "‘Apapane" (c/n 55122, l/n 5061), is seen above on the OGG ramp, as it taxies to Runway 2, to return to HNL.

Asiana Proposes Charters From ICN

Asiana Airlines (OZ/AAR) has proposed charter flights between ICN and HNL, that would begin in mid-September, and run through mid-December. The flights will run twice per week. The aircraft type was not announced, though the announced seating capacity was 269, which would put it in the 767-300ER and A330-200 range.

Article from this morning's Star*Advertiser.

Asiana once served HNL from SEL in the mid-90s with 767-300s

JAL To Upgauge NGO-HNL

As can be seen in the screen shot from JAL's website, JL84/83 will be upgauged to a 777-200ER for one month this summer. This will be the second flight, after JL80/89, to have the 777-200ER. Checking the schedule online, the dates will be from July 20 to Aug 19, except for a few days when JL84/83 will be back to a 767-300ER.

Firefly's 9M-FFF

Firefly (FY/FFM), a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, is taking delivery of 9M-FFF (c/n 39320, l/n 3690), a 737-8FZ. It arrived earlier today at HNL from BFI, and was handled by Castle & Cooke Aviation. 9M-FFF is seen above on the 29th, on Taxiway RA, taxiing to Runway 8R, bound for MAJ as FFM5203.

This is the first new build 737-800 for Firefly, and leased from Babcock & Brown Asset Management. The current other five 737-800s are used models (three from its parent Malaysia Airlines, and two leased from GATX). The airline announced last year, that they ordered 30 737-800s to be delivered between 2012 and 2015.

China Southern's B-2261

The tenth of 16 China Southern Airlines' MD-90s bound for the Delta Air Lines fleet arrived at HNL last evening, and will depart late tonight for OAK then MZJ. B-2261 (c/n 53531, l/n 2228) is the MD-90-30 making the flight from CAN to MZJ, via SPN, MAJ, HNL and OAK, and is seen above on the Bradley Pacific Aviation ramp. When it's reeceived into the Delta fleet, it will be registered as N961DN.

N974SW

A DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, N974SW (msn 410), is making its way from the Caribbean (PLS) to NAN, that made a stop at HNL. It's following a similar flight path to its sister-ship N38585 that made the trip to Fiji in late May. N974SW's flight trek from PLS to NAN includes stops in FXE, BGE, DTN, F69, BWD, DMN, HII, CMA, HNL, CXI, and APW. Southern Cross Aviation is ferrying N974SW as SXA835.

China Southern's B-2817

One of China Southern Airlines' 757-21Bs, B-2817 (c/n 25258, l/n 389) was sold to Aviation Capital Group (ACG), and the aircraft is being ferried from CAN to VCV, via SPN and HNL. B-2817 was delivered to China Southern in August 1991. It will be registered as N852AG when it arrives at VCV.

Qantas JetConnect's ZK-ZQG

Qantas Jetconnect is taking delivery of another 737-838, ZK-ZQG "Ernest Rutherford" (c/n 39140, l/n 3683) today. It's flying from BFI as QFA6024, and on its first leg to HNL.

Sorry, no HNL photo, though Sabian404 got a photo of it at BFI.

Garuda's PK-GFP

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of their second 737-800 in a week. PK-GFP (c/n 38821, l/n 3684), a 737-8U3, is making its way across the Pacific as GIA8011, with an overnight stop at HNL today. It's seen above on the 22nd, taxiing to Runway 8R on Taxiway RT to depart for MAJ.

Delta 747-400 Makes Emergency Landing At PMDY

On Thursday, 16 June 2011, a KIX-bound Delta Airlines 747-400 from HNL, DAL277, made an emergency landing at MDY/PMDY (Henderson Airfield, Midway Island, Papahānaumokuākea Wildlife Reserve, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands), after the pilot reported a crack in the windshield. The 747 made a safe landing, and the passengers were put on a substitute aircraft several hours later. The aircraft also suffered a few bird strikes when it landed. Delta said the 747 is repaired, and they hope to get it off of MDY early tomorrow morning.

The 747-451 involved was N663US (c/n 23818, l/n 715, f/n 6303), seen above on Taxiway C, earlier this year.

Initial report by the Honolulu Star*Advertiser. Slideshow on KITV.com, and a video of the 747 taxiing at MDY.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Southwest!

Potential Hawai‘i entrant Southwest Airlines celebrates its 40th birthday today!

The airline is still studying the possibility of serving Hawai‘i when they take delivery of 737-800s next year. Reports are, that these -8H4s will be built ETOPS-capable.

Pictured above is Southwest's N747SA (c/n 29799, l/n 306) at LAS.

United Computers Crash

Across the nation, the United Airlines reservations computer network went down, causing their whole flight schedule to be delayed, in some cases it resulted cancellation of flights. The computer crash made it impossible for passengers to check in, check their bags, and receive their boarding passes. The network was partially restored late Friday night (Hawai‘i time), but UAL expects to have complete restoration by this weekend.

National coverage by CNN and local coverage by the Honolulu Star*Advertiser.

RAAF's KC-30B

This A330-203 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker/Transport) for the Royal Australian Air Force was in town this morning on its way down to Australia. A39-002 (c/n 951) is the second of five KC-30B's that the RAAF will receive. This delivery flight originated from LEGT (Madrid/Getafe, Spain), and stopped at LAS, before arriving here yesterday. A39-002 is seen above taxiing to depart for Australia.

China United's B-5448

China United Airlines is taking delivery of a GECAS-leased 737-86N, fresh from the Boeing assembly line. B-5448 (c/n 38021, l/n 3679) is making the island-hopping delivery trek. The flight is not listed, so we are not able to provide a flight number, though it did arrive about 1245HST, and is being handled by Castle & Cooke Aviation.

Garuda's PK-GFO

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GFO (c/n 39403, l/n 3674), a GECAS-leased 737-86N. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011. PK-GFO is seen above taxiing to Runway 8R, on Taxiway RT, to depart for MAJ, the next morning.

Happy Birthday US Army!

Today, the United States Army celebrates 236th birthday! Thank you for protecting our country!

Air China's B-5572

Air China is taking delivery of their newest 737-89L, B-5572 (c/n 40072, l/n3670) today. It's flying as CCA51 from BFI to PEK, via HNL, MAJ, and SPN. B-5572 is seen above on Taxiway RT, about to depart for leg #2: MAJ, the next morning.

N176SG

A 747-338 has escaped the scrap yard! This classic 747 previously flew for Qantas as VH-EBW (as someone wrote in permanent marker on the nose wheel door) for almost two decades before being retired. It sat in storage at Marana Regional Airport (AVQ/KAVQ) in Arizona for two years before returning to the skies. It is now registered as N176SG (c/n 23408, l/n 638), and is owned by the Bank of Utah.


***06.17.11 Update***

N176SG left this afternoon (above), at 1325HST, bound for CGK. It's been reported that this 747-338 will be used for Hajj pilgrimage charters out of Indonesia.