Qantas' VH-TJY

Qantas Airways is sending VH-TJY "Maryborough" (c/n 24434, l/n 1912), a 737-476, to VCV for storage. It's flying from MEL to VCV (via SYD, APW, and HNL) as QFA6027.

VH-TJY was originally ordered by Australian Airlines however it was taken up by Qantas and delivered in April 1996.

China Southern's B-5762

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their fourth 737-81B this month with B-5762 (c/n 38950, l/n 4548). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN62, and will overnight here.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of B-5762 at HNL.

Tropical Storm Flossie

With Tropical Storm Flossie approaching Hawai‘i, none of the airports, nor airlines, have released any advisories relating to the storm that is due to hit the islands early tomorrow morning. Hawai‘i Island, then Maui, are due to receive the leading edge in the early morning hours, and the rest of the island chain will receive effects of the storm as the morning (and day) progresses.

We will do our best to update this post as we see information released by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation and airlines serving the state.

If you are traveling through Hawai‘i tomorrow, please contact your airline for flight updates. It is safe to assume that ITO, KOA, MUE, OGG, JHM, HNM, LNY, and HNL could see flight delays or further cancellations, due to the arrival of Tropical Storm Flossie. It appears that Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, go!, and Mokulele Airlines are operating their inter-island flights as scheduled. Flights from Asia are also operating as scheduled.

07.28.13 22:38HST Update:
WestJet has cancelled WJA1864 [YVR-HNL] for 07.29.13.

07.29.13 06:34HST Update:
In their 05:00HST advisory, NOAA has announced that Tropical Storm Flossie has taken a more northerly track, and appears to headed straight toward Maui. Hawai‘i News Now has a page dedicated to flight cancellations.

07.29.13 11:35HST Update:
Mokulele Airlines announced on their Facebook page that flights to/from JHM and HNM are cancelled for today.

Current list of cancelled flights, as of 07.29.13 16:25HST:
HNL-LAX: AAL270, AAL162, UAL1226, UAL1228, UAL1230, UAL1030
LAX-HNL: AAL31, UAL1227, UAL1231, UAL1233
HNL-SFO: UAL396, UAL235, UAL72
SFO-HNL: UAL560, UAL73
AAL123 DFW-HNL
AAL008 HNL-DFW
ASA827 OAK-HNL
ASA833 PDX-HNL
ASA834 HNL-PDX
ASA836 HNL-OAK
ASA837 SJC-HNL
ASA838 HNL-SJC
ASA851 SEA-HNL
ASA880 HNL-SEA
ASA892 HNL-SAN
ASA895 SAN-HNL
UAL154 HNL-MAJ
UAL145 IAD-HNL
UAL707 DEN-HNL
UAL769 HNL-DEN
UAL014 HNL-EWR
UAL200 HNL-IAH
UAL218 HNL-ORD
WJA1864 YVR-HNL
WJA1865 HNL-YVR
OGG-LAX: AAL254, UAL1191, UAL1157, UAL391, UAL671
LAX-OGG: AAL253, UAL1176, UAL336, UAL531, UAL1181
OGG-SFO: UAL422, UAL1726, UAL1728
SFO-OGG: UAL980, UAL1725, UAL1727
ASA831 SMF-OGG
ASA841 OAK-OGG
ASA847 SAN-OGG
ASA863 SEA-OGG
ASA889 SJC-OGG
ASA812 OGG-SJC
ASA820 OGG-SMF
ASA862 OGG-PDX
ASA866 OGG-SEA
AWE031 OGG-PHX
AWE429 PHX-OGG
WJA1852 YVR-OGG
WJA1853 OGG-YVR
AAL265 LAX-LIH
ASA848 LIH-SJC
ASA850 LIH-SAN
ASA854 LIH-SEA
ASA855 SAN-LIH
ASA875 SEA-LIH
ASA881 SJC-LIH
UAL785 LAX-LIH
ASA806 KOA-SEA
ASA843 SEA-KOA
ASA825 OAK-KOA
ASA826 KOA-OAK
UAL1721 SFO-KOA
UAL1652 KOA-SFO
UAL1205 KOA-LAX
UAL1296 LAX-KOA
Alaska Airlines is sending ferry flights to Hawai‘i to replace some of the cancelled flights.

N384WA

An ex-World Airways MD-11F, N384WA (c/n 48435, l/n 478), is heading off to Asia after being stored in the Mojave desert. It arrived from MHV, via LAX, yesterday afternoon.

48435 was delivered to Varig in December, 1991 where it flew as PP-VOQ. It then was converted to a freighter in 1999 and taken up by Gemini Air Cargo as N702GC where it flew from January, 2000 until the company ceased operations in August, 2008. It was leased two months later to World Airways as N384WA until the lease was up in April of last year.

*** 07.28.13 Update ***
N384WA left HNL for QPG [Paya Lebar Air Base (RSAF), Singapore)] early this morning.

Shanghai's B-5832

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-5832 (c/n 37907, l/n 4545) this morning. The 737-86D is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH532, and will overnight here.

China Southern's B-5759

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their third 737-81B this month with B-5759 (c/n 38949, l/n 4541). It's making its delivery flight this morning from BFI as CSN759, and will overnight here.

Shandong's B-5757

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-5757 (c/n 40039, 4542) this morning. This 737-89L was originally ordered by parent company Air China, but then allocated to Shandong. B-5757 is the second 737-800 for Shandong this month. It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG5757, and will overnight here.

Alaska Air Signs Biofuel Agreement With Hawai‘i BioEnergy

Alaska Airlines announced this morning that they are partnering with Hawai‘i BioEnergy LLC to purchase biofuel for their 737NG fleet that could begin in 2018.

Further information in this Alaska Airlines press release.

Xiamen's B-5790

Today, Xiamen Air is taking delivery of their second 737-85C within the past five days. B-5790 (c/n 38402, l/n 4537) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA5790.

QFA93 VH-OQJ A380

Qantas flight QFA93, an A380-842 (VH-OQJ "Bert Hinkler", msn 062), with direct service between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (YMML/MEL) and Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX), diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance early this morning. The aircraft was in HNL for just over an hour, and continued on to LAX. This is now the third Qantas diversion into HNL this month, and of those three, the second A380 this month.

FlightAware's QFA93 flight info.

China United's B-5839

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-5839 (c/n 40952, l/n 4536) today. The 737-89P, originally ordered by parent company China Eastern Airlines, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA839.

China Southern's B-5760

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-81B within the past 5 days today. B-5760 (c/n 38957, l/n 4533) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN76, with its first overnight stop at HNL.

Okay Airways' B-5841

Okay Airways is taking delivery of B-5841 (c/n 41789, l/n 4532) today. The 737-8Q8, leased from ILFC, is making its delivery flight from BFI as OKA5841.

VP-CBE

This all-white A330-202 belongs to Hong Kong Jet, a VIP charter company of the Hainan Air Group. VP-CBE (msn 1321) was originally slated to be delivered to Air Asia X in July 2012, but was never taken up. 

Solaseed's JA807X

Solaseed Airlines is taking delivery of JA807X (c/n 39431, l/n 4526) this evening. The 737-81D, leased from AWAS, is making its late night delivery flight as SNJ807X. It's scheduled to depart for MAJ tomorrow morning.

We were unable to get a photo of JA807X at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

Xiamen's B-5789

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-5789 (c/n 38401, l/n 4527) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA5789.

China Southern's B-5761

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5761 (c/n 38958, l/n 4527) this morning. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN61.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-82081

This An-124-100 arrived the previous night carrying two CH-53Es and a generator from NGF [Kāne‘ohe Bay MCAS] as VDA4814. RA-82081 (c/n 9773051462165) departed for NKX [Miramar MCAS] this morning with the same flight number.

Shanghai's B-2833

Shanghai Airlines is returning B-2833 (c/n 27152, l/n 560) to Aircastle, which they had under lease since it was delivered to the airline in June 1993. The 757-26D is making its ferry flight from PVG to the mainland (via SPN and HNL) as CSH2833.

Qantas' VH-OJT

Qantas flight QFA16, VH-OJT "Fraser Island" (c/n 25565, l/n 1233), with direct service between Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX) and Brisbane (YBBN/BNE) diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance early this morning. The 747-438 was in HNL for just over an hour, and was parked at gate 27. This is the second diversion for Qantas here in HNL this week. Earlier this week, a QFA A380 diverted to HNL for medical as well.

Apologies on the picture quality as I only had my cell phone available.

FlightAware's QFA16 flight info.

Hainan's B-5288

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery B-5288 (c/n 39201, l/n 4519) today. The 737-74P is making its delivery flight as B5288, and seen above after arriving from BFI.

Shandong's B-5783

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-5783 (c/n 39112, l/n 4522) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG5783.

Hawaiian Launches Taipei Service

In the wee hours of the morning, Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated thrice-weekly A330-243 service between HNL and TPE, with HAL807. Pre-boarding festivities included a lion dance, Hawaiian music and hula by the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders, and remarks by Governor Neil Abercrombie and V.C. Chu, of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and Hawaiian's CFO Peter Ingram.

We were unable to attend the event.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Qantas' VH-XZH

Qantas Airways is taking delivery of VH-XZH "Mclaren Vale" (c/n 39372, l/n 4521) today. The 737-838 is making its delivery flight from BFI to MEL (via HNL and NAN) as QFA6024.

QFA12 VH-OQD A380

Qantas flight QFA12, an A380-842 (VH-OQD "Fergus McMaster", msn 026) with direct service between Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX/LAX) and Sydney International Airport (YSSY/SYD) diverted to Honolulu due to a passenger requiring medical assistance early this morning. The aircraft was in HNL for just over an hour and was parked at gate 29. Today's flight, however, will continue onto BNE instead of SYD due to the crew's flight duty time limitations would have exceeded the acceptable time allowed.

Apologies on the picture quality as I only had my cell phone available.

FlightAware's QFA12 flight info.

Asiana OZ214 Crash Landing at SFO

As I'm sure you've all heard by now, but just in case you didn't, Asiana flight 214 from ICN to SFO has crashed on landing on Runway 28L. The aircraft involved was a 777-28ER, HL7742 (c/n 29171, l/n 553).

Thoughts and prayers to all on board.  Unfortunately, two passengers perished in the accident. The photos of the fuselage are stunning ... the 777 is one well-built airplane.  

Find the audio transcript of SFO ATC communicating to arrivals and departures right up to the time of the incident and shortly thereafter.  For those in the know, it is chilling to listen to.

One residual effect of the accident, is that some Australia and New Zealand flights may need to stop at HNL for fuel, as some are flying weight-restricted out of SFO.

Happy Independence Day

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a Happy Independence Day!

Lion Air's PK-LKT

Lion Airlines is taking delivery of PK-LKT (c/n 38733, l/n 4517) this morning. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight as LNI1.

 Mahalo to team member hal763 for the photo.

Hawaiian's A330 Flight Simulator

Hawaiian Airlines becomes the first airline to house their very own flight simulator in Hawai‘i. The Airbus A330 simulator is a state-of-the-art Class D version that features electropneumatic struts, high-definition projectors, and a full A330 flight deck. The $10million, 10-ton simulator will keep Hawaiian's pilots in the islands for simulator flights, instead of sending them to Miami, FL. With 13 A330-243s in their fleet, and another nine on order, the airline felt it was the right move.

We were privileged to participate in today's media event, and even got to do a take off and landing on HNL's Runway 8L. Each media invitee had a 15-minute demo flight in the flight simulator.

We extend a warm mahalo to the folks at Hawaiian Airlines for inviting HNL RareBirds to the event.

Video to follow ...

Korean Air Cargo's HL7374

Our July edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to November 2004, and this Korean Air Cargo MD-11F. HL7374 (c/n 48410, l/n 495) was one of the Korean Air Cargo MD-11Fs that had seasonal twice-weekly cargo flights between ICN and HNL that operated for over a year.

HL7374 was delivered to KAL in May 1992 as passenger airliner, then converted to a freighter in August 1997. Pegasus Aviation bought this MD-11F in February 2005, then leased it to Varig LOG [LC/VLO] as PR-LGE in June 2005 for a four-year period. In January 2010, Pegasus leased 48410 to Avient Aviation [Z3/SMJ] (Zimbabwe) as Z-BVT, which has since been placed in storage at ZRH as of February 2013, as the airline ceased operations two months later.

Malaysia's 9M-MSF

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MSF (c/n 40148, l/n 4512) today. This 737-8H6 is their second delivery flight within the past 11 days, and is flying as MAS5473.

June 2013 Deliveries

Here were the 22 737NG delivery flights that stopped through Hawai‘i during June 2013:
4475 | B-5750 | 38380 | Xiamen Air | -85C [06.04.13 CXA5750]
4476 | VH-YFP | 41011 | Virgin Australia Airlines | -8FE [06.04.13 VOZ9518 - LIH]
4477 | VH-XZG | 39371 | Qantas Airways | -838 [06.05.13 QFA6024]
4482 | PK-GFU | 38040 | Garuda Indonesia | -86N [06.05.13 GIA8011]
4483 | B-5806 | 39200 | Lucky Air | -79P [06.07.13 B5806]
4484 | 9M-LNH | 38732 | Malindo Air | -9GPER [06.08.13 MLO1]
4486 | B-5782 | 39111 | Shandong Airlines | -85N [06.11.13 CDG5782]
4485 | B-5747 | 38961 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [06.11.13 CSN7]
4490 | PK-GFV | 38885 | Garuda Indonesia | -8U3 [06.11.13 GIA8011]
4488 | B-5737 | 39133 | Shenzhen Airlines | -87L [06.12.13 CSZ903]
4491 | B-5781 | 39332 | Shandong Airlines | -85N [06.13.13 CDG5781]
4498 | B-5745 | 39848 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [06.14.13 CSN3]
4494 | VH-YFQ | 41010 | Virgin Australia Airlines | -8FE [06.18.13 VOZ9502 - LIH]
4495 | 9M-LNJ | 38690 | Malindo Air | -9GPER [06.18.13 MLO1]
4498 | B-5745 | 39848 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [06.19.13 CSN9]
4502 | 9M-MSE | 40147 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [06.20.13 MAS5473]
4493 | B-5840 | 41304 | China United Airlines | -89P [06.21.13 CUA840]
4504 | B-5755 | 40043 | Shandong Airlines | -89L [06.22.13 CDG5755]
4503 | B-5779 | 39726 | China Eastern Airlines | -89P [06.23.13 CES299]
4505 | B-5746 | 38952 | China Southern Airlines | -81B [06.25.13 CSN201]
4514 | PK-LKU | 38691 | Lion Airlines | -8GP [06.28.13 LNI1]
4511 | JA73NU | 38046 | Skymark Airlines | -86N [06.29.13 SKY73NU]

-700: 1
-800: 19
-900ER: 2

China: 10
Australia: 3
Indonesia: 3
Malaysia: 3
Japan: 1