154th Wing Participates In Air Show

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 154th Wing is participating in the 2015 Australian International Air Show at Avalon Airport, Victoria, Australia.  Two Hawai‘i Air National Guard F-22A Raptors from the 199th Fighter Squadron, and a KC-135R from the 203rd Aerial Refueling Squadron flew Down Under to partner with other aircraft from the Pacific Command.

Further details in this Pacific Air Forces article.

Hawaiian's N492HA Struck By Lightning

Hawaiian Airlines' 717-2BL, N492HA "Ewa ‘Ewa" (c/n 55181, l/n 5131), was struck by lightning on its way from HNL to ITO as HAL380. None of the passengers and crew were injured. The return flight to HNL was delayed as the airliner was inspected for any damage. 

News coverage by KHON.

Batik's PK-LBY

Batik Air's PK-LBY (c/n 39833, l/n 5278) is making the last trans-Pacific delivery flight for February tonight. The 737-8GP, their second this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as BTK1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

China Southern's B-1700

The other half of today's China Southern Airlines 737-800 daily double, is B-1700 (c/n 43401, l/n 5261), a 737-86N leased from GECAS. Its making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1700, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-1747

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of a pair 737-800s today. Leading off the daily double, is B-1747 (c/n 41327, l/n 5281), a 737-81B, that's making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1747, and will overnight at HNL.

Hawaiian's N375HA Delivered

Hawaiian Airlines is taking delivery of their 20th A330-243 with N375HA (msn 1606) today. It's making its delivery flight from TLS to SEA as HAL9975.

Allegiant Acquires Six More A319s

World Airline News reports that Allegiant Air will acquire another six A319-111s from Philippine-based carrier Cebu Pacific Air [5J/CEB], with deliveries expected to last through 2016. Allegiant previously purchased ten A319s in 2012.

More information in this Allegiant Air's press release.


02.28.15 Update
On a related note, CH-Aviation reports that Allegiant Air is also acquiring two A320s from Philippine Airlines, with deliveries slated for later this year.

AirAsia X To Hawai‘i?

The Pacific Business Journal reports that AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes tweeted three days ago, that AirAsia X [D7/XAX] has applied for permission to begin service to HNL from KUL.

The mainstay of AirAsia X's fleet is the A330-343 with a range of 4,600nm, but with 6822nm separating the two points, the flight would have to make a stop somewhere for fuel.

Delta To Add SEA-KOA Service

Delta Air Lines announced that they will commence daily 757-200 service between SEA and KOA, beginning on 19 December 2015.

Hawaiian Returns N589HA

Hawaiian Airlines is returning N589HA "Moli" (c/n 33422, l/n 892) to AWAS today. The 767-33AER is making its ferry flight to ATL as HAL8088. This brings the Hawaiian 767-300ER fleet count down to nine, of which five are leased.

HNL's Construction Delays

Hawaii News Now reports that revitalization construction work around HNL has been delays due to construction re-designs, and increasing costs. Two projects affecting flight operations have been delayed: the new Commuter Terminal, east of the Diamond Head Concourse; and the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal. The new Commuter Terminal, that will house Island Air and Mokulele Airlines must be completed, and their operations relocated, before the existing Commuter Terminal can be demolished, and the new Hawaiian Airlines Terminal can be built.

Jetstar Switches To 787 For SYD-HNL

Beginning today, Jetstar Airways has switched from the A330-200s to the new 787-8s on their daily SYD-HNL service [JST3/4]. Jetstar's other flights from MEL and BNE will convert to the 787s in September of this year. The A330-200s are being returned to parent company Qantas Airways, as more 787s are delivered.

Further information in this Australian Aviation article.

Garuda's PK-GNQ

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GNQ (c/n 39954, l/n 5284) today. The 737-8U3, leased from SMBC, is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011. It will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, then depart for TKK.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather-hunting Gulfstream IV, N49RF, has been based out of HNL since 13 February, probably for the winter weather systems approaching the Hawaiian Islands.

02.24.14 Update
According to FlightAware, N49RF had been flying circuits around the islands, and is heading back to LGB.

ZK-VAB

ZK-VAB (msn UE-302), a Beechcraft 1900D registered to Vincent Aviation (New Zealand) has made its way to HNL from AKL, via TBU [Fua‘amotu International Airport, Nuku‘alofa, Tonga]. It's parked on the Anderson Aviation / Pacific Avionics ramp. The owner has been placed in receivership by the New Zealand government. The aircraft was delivered new to Vincent Aviation in May 2001. MRC Aviation reports that ZK-VAB is possibly headed for Canada.

Aloha Air Cargo Returns N320DL

Aloha Air Cargo has returned N320DL "Nā Kōlea" (c/n 23092, l/n 1023) to sister company Northern Air Cargo (NAC). Aloha leased the 737-232F since August 2013.

Team member Drewski2112 got a shot of N320DL during a stop at BFI, as a white tail, when it headed back to ANC.

Heavies Taking Off From Runway 26R

With the crazy westerly winds we have been having for the past week and a half, most flights, including widebodies, were taking off from Runway 26R.  Normally, widebodies would still taxi out to Runway 26L ("The Reef Runway") or to Runway 22L during Kona winds.  The video above includes 26R takeoffs from all 3 aircraft types UPS flies to HNL, a KE 747-4B5, HIANG F-22, and an USAF KC-10 just taxiing down 26R to HIK.  The various clips were taken over several days during different times of the day.

Storm Causes Diversions

Valentine's Day 2015 was a stormy one over the Hawaiian Islands as a fast-moving winter storm front made its way down the island chain. Its effects were felt by passengers and crew of inbound and outbound flights.

The Aviation Herald reports that United's Flight 15 [EWR-HNL] encountered turbulence that resulted in seven injuries, as the 767-424ER approached the islands.

KHON News reports that a total of seven Maui-bound flights were diverted to HNL, and one to KOA.

Air China's B-1768

Air China is taking delivery of B-1768 (c/n 41110, l/n 5276) this afternoon. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern's B-1788

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1788 (c/n 39740, l/n 5275) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9003, and will overnight at HNL.

9 Air's B-1716

9 Air is taking delivery of B-1716 (c/n 39829, l/n 5202) today. The 737-8GP, leased from Transportation Partners (Lion Group), is making its delivery flight from VCV (where it was stored as N387DC) as B1716, and will overnight at HNL.

Shenzhen's B-1756

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1756 (c/n 40823, l/n 5264) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ123, and will overnight at HNL.

N636AM

N636AM (c/n 24594, l/n 336), a former American Airlines 757-223, is making a ferry flight from VCV to CAN, by way of YVR, HNL, and SPN, this afternoon. The stop at HNL will only be for a few hours for fuel. It appears that this 757-223 will be converted to a freighter.

This 757-223 was originally delivered to American in in January 1991 (f/n 636). It had Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets installed in October 2008. It was withdrawn from the American fleet in August 2012, and placed in storage at ROW. Four months later, it was moved to VCV for storage. It was sold to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest in December 2014.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPR

Virgin Australia's E-190, VH-ZPR "Dundee Beach" (msn 19000424) is making a ferry flight from BNE to BNA (via APW, HNL, and VNY) as VOZ9901 for maintenance. It arrived today from APW, and will overnight at HNL, then depart for VNY tomorrow.

Hainan's B-1786

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1786 (c/n 39220, l/n 5268) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1786, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-5826

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-5826 (c/n 39313, l/n 5272) today. The 737-76D, their second 737NG delivery within the past 13 days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHS584, and will overnight at HNL.

Trans Air's N810TA

Trans Air is taking delivery of their fourth 737-200F with N810TA (c/n 21116, l/n 427), this afternoon. The 737-275F is making its delivery flight from MNL to HNL (via GUM and MAJ).

21116 was originally delivered to Pacific Western Airlines [PW/PWA] (Canada) in October 1975 as C-GDPW (f/n 742) in the Combi configuration. It was transferred to Canadian Airlines International fleet in April 1987, when the two airlines merged. In November 1995, it was leased to Canair [CWW] (Canada), by POLA. In August 1997, POLA leased it to Royal Aviation Express [RXP] (Canada). In April 1999, it was converted to a full freighter, and acquired by Transmile Air Services [TH/TSE] (Malaysia) as 9M-PML. During its time with Transmile, it was also painted in the DHL logo jet livery, the Poslaju National Courier livery, and a basic livery. In July 2014, Trans Air took ownership of 21116, registered it as N810TA, but was placed in storage at MNL, until a few months ago

Donghai Airlines' B-1771

Donghai Airlines' B-1771 (c/n 41803, l/n 5274) journey to China started today after arriving from BFI as DZ283. B-1771, a 737-8Q8, has been leased through AerCap, and will continue its transit tomorrow.

Viva Aerobus' XA-VAH

Mexico-based Viva Aerobus [VB/VIV] is about to receive their 6th A320-232. XA-VAH (c/n 3743) was delivered to Jetstar as VH-VQB back in January '09, leased from ILFC, then AerCap (May '14). It arrived from Seletar, Singapore [XSP/WSSL] (via GUM), and will continue on to Generál Mariano Escobedo International [MIT/MMMY] as VIV6800.

No More Antonovs?

According to an article in the January 2015 Air Force Magazine, the United States, and definitely HNL (and Kalaeloa and MCBH Kāne‘ohe Bay) is much less likely to see An-124s used as charter aircraft for US military transportation.  We may have seen the last of them for awhile.  

The U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) used to charter the An-124s over the past 13-14 years to get "big stuff" overseas as a last resort, thru a CRAF sponsor, but this has dropped significantly in the past few years. Much of this is due to the Fly America Act.

Editorial
In my opinion the continued sour relations between the US and Russia is a major factor as well. After all, why should we contribute to Putin's economic growth as long as he continues to buzz our borders and naval formations. 

Batik's PK-LBW

Batik Air is taking delivery of PK-LBW (c/n 39834, l/n 5267) late this evening. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as BTK1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

SilkAir's 9V-MGI

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MGI (c/n 44225, l/n 5260) this afternoon. The 737-8SA is making its delivery flight from BFI as SLK8880, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong's B-1746

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1746 (c/n 41622 l/n 5266) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1746, and will overnight at HNL.

Air China's B-1761

Air China is taking delivery of B-1761 (c/n 41102, l/n 5265) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

Kitty Hawk's N252US

Our February edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to 1998, and Kitty Hawk's 727-251F, N252US (c/n 19971, l/n 655), seen above on HNL's Cargo Ramp.

N252US was originally delivered to Northwest Airlines in November 1968, with their fleet number 2252. It remained with the airline until it was stored at Smyrna, TN in October 1994. It was picked up by Nations Air in June 1997, but never saw service. Kitty Hawk acquired this 727-251, and converted it to freighter in September 1997, then leased to Ansett Air Freight (Australia), but it was returned to Kitty Hawk, where it was placed into inter-island air cargo service at HNL for a short period of time. The airline took a try at hauling cargo, but the venture was short-lived. It was then sent to the mainland for their cargo operations, and was painted into their blue and white livery. N252US was withdrawn from service, retired, and stored at ROW in July 2011.