Malaysia's 9M-MXR

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MXR (c/n 40155, l/n 4772) today. The 737-8H6, their second this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as MAS5473, and will overnight at HNL.

Question For Any Pilots

Help...if anyone out there knows the answers I'd really appreciate it:

If the aircraft (my flight HAL457 from HNL to HND ) is flying into headwinds ranging from 50-175 mph, such that even though the indicated airspeed is as high as 580 mph but the net ground speed is as low as 380 mph, why not take a slightly different route or altitude?  We were between FL 360 to FL 380 for most of the flight.  Does the plane fly efficiently with this much headwind for so much of the flight?  From what I understand the return flight from Japan to Hawaii will take only about 6 to 7 hours so there's lots of sense in that. But 9 hours into headwinds that would lift a Cessna 172 up off the ground with zero ground speed?

On The Way To HND On N382HA

Only in Hawaii...

The flight crew for HAL457 joins hands for the traditional Hawaiian blessing before boarding. What a treat this must be for our Japanese visitors returning to Japan.

Ready to board!  N382HA "Iwakeli‘i" just before we fill her up with pax returning to or on the way to a great late winter visit to Japan.

Hawaiian's N596HA

Hawaiian Airlines is ferrying N596HA "Koa‘e Ke‘a" (c/n 23276, l/n 151) to ROW for storage. This 767-332 is one of four that the airline acquired from Delta, and was registered as N117DL. "Koa‘e Ke‘a" is seen above on Taxiway C, taxiing to Runway 26L, in late 2012.

China Southern's B-1921

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1921 (c/n 41245, l/n 4766) today. The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN128. This is also China Southern's third 737-800 to be delivered this month.

Hainan's B-1927

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1927 (c/n 39207, l/n 4760) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1927, and will overnight at HNL.

We were unable to get a photo of B-1927 at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

Japan Coast Guard G-V

Japan Coast Guard's JA500A (msn 683), a Gulfstream G-V, on the KOA south ramp for a weekend layover.

Island Air Launches New Look

With the change in ownership to ‘Ohana Airline Holdings, Island Air has revamped its livery on their ATR72-212s. This new livery and re-branding was commissioned by new owner, Larry Ellison. As with the last Dash8 livery, the tail art will be different for the ATR72s.

The previous new look, as seen on N941WP, was commissioned by the previous owners of Island Air, the Gavarnie Group.

ANA's JA353K

ANA WIngs, an All Nippon Airways subsidiary, is ferrying JA353K (c/n 26104, l/n 2552) from ITM to MZJ (via HND, GUM, MAJ, and HNL) as ANA9434. The ITM-HND leg was flown with an ANA Wings flight code as AKX5564. The HNL-MZJ leg is scheduled to make a pre-dawn departure.

26104 was originally delivered in December 1993, to Rio Sul [SL/RSL], under lease from GECAS, as PT-SLS. In March 2001, ANA acquired it for its Air Nippon subsidiary as JA353K. Five years later, it was re-assigned to their Air Next subsidiary. In October 2010, it was transferred to ANA Wings.

Shenzhen's B-1935

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1935 (c/n 39140, l/n 4754) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ908, and will overnight at HNL.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of B-1935 at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

Garuda's PK-GND

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GND (c/n 41794, l/n 4761) today. The 737-8U3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL. Garuda is now making the second stop on its 737-800 delivery flights at KSA, where the crew will overnight, and leave the next afternoon for CGK.

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

Lion's PK-LOH

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LOH (c/n 38744, l/n 4762) this morning. The 737-8GP, their second this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1. It made a pre-dawn two-hour fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Air China's B-1947

Air China is taking delivery of B-1947 (c/n 41314, l/n 4756) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL. B-1947 is seen above departing from Runway 22l to MAJ.

Air China Launches PEK-HNL Service

Air China inaugurated service between PEK and HNL today. The thrice-weekly service, CCA837 [PEK-HNL] and CCA838 [HNL-PEK], is flown by their A330-243s. According to Hawai‘i News Now video, B-6070 (msn 750) made the inaugural flight.

Further details in this Air China press release.

China Southern's B-1916

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1916 (c/n 41315, l/n 4750) today. The 737-81B, under lease from ALC, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1315, and will overnight at HNL. This is China Southern's second 737-800 in as many days.

Kunming's B-1926

Kunming Airlines [KY/KNA], a subsidiary of Shenzhen Airlines, is taking delivery of B-1926 (c/n 41111, l/n 4752) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1926, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen's B-1911

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1911 (c/n 39907, l/n 4748) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA1911, and will overnight at HNL.

KOA Experimental 787-9's

N789FT just before departure this afternoon on the south ramp at Kona. Her sister, N789BZ, in the background left, has more work to do this week and next before heading home.

China Southern's B-1920

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1920 (c/n 41265, l/n 4745) today. The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1920, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-1949

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1949 (c/n 39933, l/n 4743) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH312, and will overnight at HNL. B-1949 was originally ordered by parent China Eastern Airlines, but allocated to Shanghai.