Mandarin A340

Recently China Air has been using A340s from their subsidary, Mandarin Airlines, to fly their non-stop TPE-HNL flights, CI001/002. Here's a picture from a rare clear, sunny, non-raining morning (before the rains started about 30 min. later) on March 30.

Air China's B-5208

Air China's B-5208 (a 737-79P, c/n 33041), arrived today from BFI under dreary rain. Did not have a chance to get a shot of it. Bet the pilots thought they never left Seattle. :D

Airport renovations and expansions

The State of Hawaii has finally announced the renovations and expansions for all Hawaii airports. More information on the links below:
Fact Sheet
Presentation Slide Show

** Image from pdf **

Go! A first look

Mesa's "Hawaii" look. Go anticipates a June start up.

** Image from Go's website **

Island Air's N847EX

Island Air's newest Dash8-103, N847EX, lands on Rwy 26R from Buchanan Field, CA, on its delivery flight. This Dash8 wears the "Island Rhythm" tail design.

Shanghai Airlines' B-5148

Shanghai Airlines' 737-86N(W), B-5148 (c/n 34254), overnighted here amidst the rain, and last night's thunderstorm, on its delivery flight. This 738 is on lease from GECAS. It's seen here being pushed back onto Taxiway C, for departure to MAJ.

Okay Airways B-2865

Okay Airways (China) has their new 737-83N(W) on its way home from the Boeing factory. It stopped here for an overnighter, before continuing across the Pacific. It's seen here on the south ramp, minutes before it would get drenched by rain. This aircraft was ferried from MIA, under its former registration, N332TZ, when it was with ATA.

Island Air's New Era

Island Air unveiled it's new look today at a press conference and media flight that I got to attend, and ride the new bird. It included a Hawaiian blessing of their new Dash8-Q400 (N539DS) [top], a Dash8-103 (N979HA) [center] in new colors, and a CL-601 (N45PH) [above] for jet charters. About 40 guests were treated to a flight from HNL to OGG (low pass only) then back to HNL.

On a personal note, the ride on the Q400 is awesome! We made it to OGG in 22 minutes! And @ FL130? It offers a better view of Maui County in either direction.

A big Mahalo to the folks at Island Air and Communications Pacific for allowing me to attend this special event, and be on the media preview flight.

FedEx's N813DE

A Federal Express MD-11, N813DE (c/n 48600), arrived from LAX today with a little too much excitement. FDX9048 was on final for Rwy 8L when the pilot needed to go around due to an unsafe landing gear warning. It was instructed to cycle around for another approach. On the 2nd try, the ex-DL colors jet blew a tire on landing. Emergency crews were waiting the jet's arrival, and encircled it as it stopped on taxiway D. After inspections by HNL personnel, the MD-11 was towed to the FedEx ramp.

China Southern's B-5222

China Southern Airlines newest 737-700 (737-71B, c/n 29367), B-5222, arrived this afternoon from BFI on its way west to China. It's seen here taxiing to its spot on the south ramp.

Hawaiian Air's Next 4 767-300s

Hawaiian Airlines has reserved the following registrations for the four 767-300s they are acquiring, and being delivered this summer. Not sure if these reserved registrations will be applied to the 4 additions.

N594HA
N596HA
N597HA
N598HA

These are the 4 ex-DL 763s that HA is receiving (all were purchased from Wilmington Trust Co.):
Hawaiian | 767-332 | N116DL | 23275/LN 136 | On Order
Hawaiian | 767-332 | N117DL | 23276/LN 151 | On Order
Hawaiian | 767-332 | N118DL | 23277/LN 152 | On Order
Hawaiian | 767-332 | N119DL | 23278/LN 153 | On Order

New Island Air Aircraft

Island Air has one of their latest Dash-8s parked out on the South Ramp. It is the one with the female on the tail. I was driving on the North Ramp, so I couldn't see a registration or tell if it was a Q400. But it sure sticks out from the rest of planes parked there.

Air China's B-5167

Air China's 737-808 (B-5167, c/n 34701) arrived @ HNL this afternoon from BFI on it's delivery flight. B-5167 will overnight here before continuing on to MAJ for its next segment.

B-5167 and B-5168 (another 737-808) were both leased from Icelandair.

Ex-US Airways N374US

N374US, an ex-US Airways 737-3B7 (c/n 22953) passed through HNL on its way to somewhere in Asia. The flight originated in Tucson, AZ (TUS) with a stop at OAK. It left for MAJ today. Was not able to get a shot of it while here.

HNL Rumors and changes

This is not a rarebird report, but a juicy rumor. I've heard that later on this month, there will be an announcement by the State of Hawaii regarding renovation and expansion at HNL. The amount being thrown around is in the billions of dollars and the first phase done in about 2-1/2 years.

There also have been a few recent ground handling changes. Aloha has been steadily losing contracts, recently losing the under wing handling for ATA to Worldwide. Although Worldwide has picked up a lot of ground handling contracts, they will also be losing their largest account in HNL, Continental. Apparently, a new company from Guam will be taking over passenger service and cargo. Harmony also has switched their ground handler. Hawaiian now does passenger service, loading, and cleaning for Harmony.

N5601C & Crew Lost

Hawaii Air Ambulance's Cessna 414, N5601C, was involved in a crash while on approach to Kahului (OGG) yesterday. The pilot, and 2 nurse/paramedics perished in the crash.

This photo was taken on 08 September 2005 as it taxied out to Taxiway C from its ramp, for a Rwy 4R departure.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and co-workers of those lost in the crash.

Today's Honolulu Advertiser article

Arizona Cardinals and AA 762

Today's special HNL visitors, HP's Arizona Cardinals 752 (N908AW) and an AA 762 (N332AA).
N908AW was at Gate 19 and N332AA was at Gate 20. Now for the pictures:

Here's N908AW closed up and ready to pushback. ETD is supposed to be 9:15am, but ended up leaving more than 30 min. late. You can also see the AA 762 tail on the right.

The clouds moved in later in the day when I took this picture of N332AA. Fortunately I was able to get a better picture when the sun came back out.

Sayonara JA103A

An All Nippon Airways Airbus A321-131 (JA103A c/n 963) made a stop @ HNL on its way to San Jose, CA (SJC, its next stop). It was parked @ HardStand 1A, and was getting ready to leave when I got shots of it. It did the island hopping route: FlyteComm tracked it from Guam (GUM), Majuro (MAJ), Honolulu (HNL), then onto San Jose (SJC), and Winnipeg (YWG).

Air Canada's Silver Bullet

AC's bare metal liveried 767-233ER, C-GDSP (c/n 24142), is being used on ACA043/044 (to/from YVR). It's seen here departing Rwy 8R yesterday.

AC has decided to keep their 762s with the "toothpaste" blue-green color. The bare metal scheme six-week experiment was not well-received.

Murray Aviation DC-8-71F

Keeping on the theme of "the old days" ... this DC-8-71F belonging to Murray Aviation (Willow Run, MI) is doing cargo runs on behalf Asia Pacific Air and Pacific Air Cargo. N872SJ (c/n 46040), was converted to a -71 when it still was with United (N8096U). Had a chance to walk around this classic, they don't make 'em like these anymore.

This bird has had a colorful history beginning with UA, then moving onto life as a cargo hauler for Tampa Colombia, Mas Air, Florida West, and Southern Air, before finding its way to Murray Air

Would sure like to take one last ride on one of these or a 707.

HNL Airport Diagram

Here is the Pacific Chart Supplement for HNL. In case you can't find 21 19'N 157 55' W, or figure out just where Kilo taxiway is. Just click to enlarge the chart.

** Image from AirNav **

Welcome to HNL!

HNL over the years has grown from a small field known as John Rodgers Field to the international airport that it is today. It has seen the likes of United, Hawaiian, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Aloha, BOAC, CP Air, American and a few carriers that remain only in our memories such as Pan American, Braniff, and TWA. We have a very unique an storied aviation history at HNL and indeed in all of Hawaii itself.

As United Airlines once called Hawaii..."Our little corner of the Pacific".

E Komo Mai
Enjoy!