Pearl Harbor Attack 70th Anniversary

The HNL RareBirds team honors those who lost their lives in the attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, 70 years ago today. Along with the naval base, ‘Ewa Marine Corps Air Field, Kāne‘ohe Marine Corps Air Field, Hickam Army Air Field, Bellows Army Air Field, and Wheeler Army Air Field, all came under attack by carrier-based fighter-bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The USS Arizona Memorial sits above the sunken hull of the battleship, BB-39. Within the sunken hulls off of Ford Island, are hundreds of sailors and marines entombed, and the area considered sacred ground and a National Cemetery.

Qantas' VH-VZV

Qantas Airways is taking delivery of VH-VZV "Palm Cove" (c/n 34189, l/n 3856) today. The 737-838 is flying as QFA6024, and will stopover at HNL during its delivery flight from BFI to MEL.

Mahalo to team member Aeros for the above photo of VH-VZV, sitting at one of the North Ramp Hardstands, in the late afternoon sunlight.

Garuda's PK-GMS

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of their newest 737-8U3 today. PK-GMS (c/n 38071, l/n 3855) is making its delivery flight as GIA8011, and will overnight at HNL.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of PK-GMS at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

American To Co-Sponsor Honolulu Marathon

American Airlines was announced as co-sponsor of the Honolulu Marathon. It will join OneWorld® partner Japan Airlines as principle sponsors of the December race.

American Airlinesʻ news release.

Lion Air's PK-LJH

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of PK-LJH (c/n 37288, l/n 3849), a 737-9GPER. Itʻs flying as LNI1, and made its brief fuel stop at HNL today, and left for MAJ two hours after its arrival. Itʻs seen above as its taxiing to the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

Hainan's B-2501

The December edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to 1998 with Hainan Airlinesʻ B-2501 (c/n 29914, l/n 3067). This 737-44P was photographed on September 4, 1998 as it sat alongside the Circle Rainbow Air complex, while it was making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK. Itʻs also seen in their original livery. This 13-year-old "Baby Boeing"  continues to fly with Hainan, and has since been re-painted in their current livery. The area where I took this photo is where the Sky River Consulting hangar now stands.

Virgin Australia's VH-YID

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-YID "Rainbow Beach" (c/n 38709, l/n 3851), a 737-8FE. It arrived at HNL this afternoon from BFI as VBH9080 (above). This is the first Virgin Australia 737-800 we have seen, with a name under the nose logo.

AMR Files For Bankruptcy

AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. While the holding company restructures, the airline will continue to operate as usual. At some point, though, some routes and aircraft will be eliminated, and the airline operation restructured.

The website on the restructuring American Airlines.

Aloha ‘Oe Continental Airlines

Today is the final day for Continental Airlines. Tomorrow, November 30th, at 0100HST, the merger between Continental Airlines and United Airlines finalizes under a single operating certificate (SOC) owned by Continental, but using the United name. That means the CO/COA codes, flight numbers, and the "Continental" call-sign are no more, replaced by Unitedʻs coding and call-sign. UAL1 is now from IAH to HNL, which previously was COA1.

United Continental Holdings press release.

Transair Files Expansion with DoT

Transair [Trans Executive Airlines dba] (MUI) has filed a Certificate of Public Conveyance with the Department of Transportation for expansion of their cargo operations to upgrade to a 737-200C, and scheduled passenger operations with the lone passenger-configured SD360. 

The airline has purchased a 737-2B1C, N808TA (c/n 20536, l/n 289), from AerGo Capital Ltd. This 737 was originally delivered to DETA Lineas Aéreas de Moçambique in October 1971, as CR-BAC. It was re-registered as C9-BAC in October 1975. AerGo Capital Ltd acquired C9-BAC, and leased it back to Lineas Aéreas de Moçambique in 1980. TransGlobal Airways then leased the 737 in October 2006 as RP-C8015.

Transair's application and motion to the Certificate of Public Conveyance

Armée De L`Air's F-RAJB

An Armée De L`Air (French Air Force) A340-212, F-RAJB (c/n 081), arrived at HNL yesterday, and parked at Gate 34 while on a fuel stop. F-RAJB is one of two VIP transports for French government officials.

Mahalo to "HI" for the photo!

Makani Kai Awarded Kalaupapa EAS

The US Department of Transportation (DoT) awarded the Essential Air Service contract to Makani Kai Charters (a subsidiary of Schuman Aviation) to provide air service between HNL and LUP. Makani Kai will be using two of their three nine-seat Cessna 208B Grand Caravans for the flight. 

Schuman had all of their three Caravans (N687MA [c/n 208B1002, above], N865MA [c/n 208B0996], and N866MA [c/n 208B0934, a Cargomaster]) parked on the South Ramp for the past couple of months, with the termination of the Pacific Air Express venture. Only the Cargomaster (N866MA) remains parked outside the Leis Air hangar.

US Senator Daniel Inouye's press release.

Skymark Airlines' JA73NJ

Skymark Airlines is taking delivery of a GECAS-leased 737-86N today. JA73NJ (c/n 39405, l/n 3845) is making its way from BFI to HND (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as SKY73NJ. It's seen above taxiing to the Castle & Cooke Aviation ramp.

Air China's B-5621

Air China is taking delivery of B-5621 (c/n 40030, l/n 3846) today. The 737-89L is flying as CCA51. It's seen above on the AirService Hawaii ramp.

John Travolta's N707JT

This past Sunday (11/20/11), John Travolta arrived in his 707-138B. After spending a few days in Hawaii, N707JT (c/n 18740, l/n 388) departed this evening.

Sun Country's N801SY

The producers of "Hawai‘i Five-0" chartered a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for use tonight's episode "Ki‘ilua". N801SY (c/n 30332, l/n 777), a 737-8Q8, was flown in on October 20th as SCX8603 from EFP (via SFO). Filming took place over the next two days, then N801SY flew out to PGD (Punta Gorda, FL), via SFO and ELP in the wee hours of the 23rd.

The two photos show the production crew scouting out the location and 737. Production trucks lined Kapalulu Street, but the cast trailers were in another location.

Also, in tonight's episode was N6131P (c/n 66-16093), a UH-1H Huey owned by Pacific Helicopter Tours of Kahului, Maui.

North American N752NA & N755NA at OGG

We used to see North American Airlines 757s every day from OAK. Now, they only come here as charters. Shown above are N752NA (c/n 28174, l/n 865) and N755NA (c/n 30043, l/n 925), both 757-28As

NAO62 flew in from FOE (Forbes Field, Topeka, KS) and NAO66 flew in from MEM, both stopped off at OAK. NAO62 flew in the University of Kansas Jayhawks, and NAO66 flew in the University of Memphis Tigers for the Maui Invitational men's college basketball tournament going on in Lahaina, Maui.

DAL8908 brought in the Duke University Blue Devils from RDU.

ESPN's tournament preview.

QFA6027

One of Qantas' 737-400s is headed for storage on the US mainland as QFA6027. VH-TJF (c/n 24431, l/n 1863) "Brolga", a 737-476, is pictured above on HNL's North Ramp.

This 737-476 was originally delivered to Australian Airlines in May 1990, and merged into the Qantas fleet in October 1993.

Mahalo to team member Areos for the photo!

CSN3026

The last China Southern MD-90-30 to join the Delta Air Lines fleet is making its way to the US mainland as CSN3026. B-2267 (c/n 53533, l/n 2258) has the distinction of the final MD-90 to leave China. It will become N963DN when it joins the Delta fleet.

Mahalo to team member Areos for the photo!

Shenzhen's B-5619

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-87L this month. B-5619 (c/n 39125, l/n 3841) is making its island-hopping delivery flight from BFI to SZX (via HNL, MAJ, and SPN) as CSZ920.

Sorry, we were unable to get an HNL photo.