Conair's C-GVFK

Conair Aviation's RJ85 firebomber, C-GVFK (msn E2268, t/n 391), is making a stop at HNL as it heads to Australia for its summer forest fire fighting efforts. It's flying from YXX, and has made stops at OAK and HNL.

E2268 was originally delivered to Lufthansa Cityline in October 1995 as D-AVRH. In March 2012, Falko Regional Aircraft acquired it as G-OCLH. Aerial firefighters Aero-Flite acquired the RJ85 in December 2015 as N223AC. Conair acquired it this past February as C-GVFK.

Air China's B-7891

Air China is taking delivery of their second 737-89L in the past seven days, with B-7891 (c/n 43418, l/n 6177). It is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA47, and will overnight at HNL.

N631GT

N631GT (c/n 25685, l/n 430), a 767-375ER, is ferrying from MZJ to QPG (via LAX and HNL) on its way to be converted into a freighter. Owned by Atlas Air, it will have the Amazon.com "Prime Air" livery, and operate on behalf of the online retailer, and be re-registered as N1217A.

25685 was originally ordered by Canadian Airlines International, as C-GCAW, but was not taken up, and was sold to Guinness Peat Aviation in April 1992. In November 1992, it was leased to China Southern Airlines as B-2561, but was subsequently sold to GECAS in October 1996, and remained with CSN. In January 1997, it was leased to LAN Chile as CC-CRG.  In September 2004, CIT Leasing acquired this 767-375ER, and it remained under lease with LAN, until October 2014. During its time with LAN, it was transferred to LAN Argentina from December 2008 to October 2010 as LV-BTE. In January of this year, Atlas Air acquired this 767 as N258CT, and re-registered it as N631GT, but was stored at MZJ.

Fiji Airways Orders 737 MAX8s

Boeing and Fiji Airways announced that the airline will order five 737 MAX8s as replacement for its current 737NG fleet. The first two are slated for delivery in 2018.

Further details in this Airways Magazine article.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N705AA Modified Livery

Asia Pacific Airlines' N705AA (c/n 22462, l/n 1751) is the first of their 727-200Fs to receive the livery similar to their 757-200F, N757QM. It was flown to OPF (via PHX) in August for maintenance and repainting, and returned to service this month.

Island Air Explorers

The Island Air Explorer program has been in existence for the past several years. The annual program is open to high school and college students who are seeking a career in the aviation industry.

Further Information in this Island Air press release.

China Southern Airlines' B-7997

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7997 (c/n 43894, l/n 6171) today. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN997, and will overnight at HNL.

Air China's B-7896

Air China is taking delivery of B-7896 (c/n 60859, l/n 6168) today. The 737089L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA47, and will overnight at HNL.

Allegiant N330NV

A A319-111 formally belonging to Cebu Pacific Air is now heading to the Mainland for Allegiant Air. RP-C3193 (msn 2786) was delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in February 2006. It will become N330NV once delivered to Allegiant.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' RA-82079

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' An-124-100, RA-82079, made a stop at HNL as it transits from ARA [New Iberia, LA] to PER, as VDA2186.  It made stops at IAH, HNL, and POM.

China Eastern Airlines' B-7592

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7592 (c/n 41502, l/n 6167) today. The 737-89P is making delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan Airlines' B-1545

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1545 (c/n 60157, l/n 6166) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1545, and will overnight at HNL.

P4-SJM

Geostar's P4-SJM (c/n 30751, l/n 401), a 737-7CG BBJ, has made a stop at HNL. Operated by Sino Jet, it arrived from PEK this morning.

30751 was originally delivered to GKW Aviation in October 1999 as N800GK, then re-registered in June 2000 as N888GW. In August 2001, Silver Arrows acquired this BBJ, as P4-GJC, and operated it for Russian magnate Roman Abramovich. In February 2005, Ivanhoe Capital Aviation purchased 30751 as VP-BMC; then sold it in September 2005 to Hualalai LLC, as N888NY, and leased it to Clay Lacy Aviation. Legatum Aviation acquired it in March 2008, and registered as N737L. Sino Jet acquired it this past August.

Republik Indonesia's A-001

The Republic of Indonesia's BBJ2, A-001 (c/n 41706, l/n 3902), has made a stop at HNL. The 737-8U3 BBJ2 arrived this morning.

Batik Air Malaysia's 9M-LND

Batik Air Malaysia is taking delivery of 9M-LND (c/n 38316, l/n 6159) tonight. The 737-8GP is making its late night delivery flight from BFI as MXD1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

UNC Tar Heels Team Charter

The fifth-ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team chartered a Sun Country 737-800 for its road trip against the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. N821SY brought the Tar Heels from RDU to HNL (via LAX) as SCX8661; the aircraft returned to LAX as SCX8662, as the team will stay for the Maui Jim Maui Invitational basketball tournament, that begins on Monday, November 21st.

N81GG Crashes On Molokaʻi

N81GG (msn 100346D), a Hughes 369D owned by local attorney Gary Galiher, crashed on Molokaʻi yesterday, and claimed the lives of Galiher and a passenger.

Our condolences and prayers go out to the Galiher ʻohana and his passenger's ʻohana.

Russian Air Force RA-85655

A TU-154M of the Russian Air Force arrived this afternoon. RA-85655 (c/n 89A798) visited a year ago in December. It flies under the "Open Skies" Treaty which promotes the international aviation industry.

Nok Air's HS-DBX

Nok Air is taking delivery of HS-DBX "Nok Tawan" (c/n 61297, l/n 6162) today. The 737-88L is making its delivery flight from BFI as NOK6900, and will make an overnight stopover at LIH.

JA24MJ

Mitsubishi's MRJ90, JA24MJ (msn 10004) has made a stop at HNL, as it makes its way from NKM [Nagoya, Japan] to MWH [Moses Lake, WA]. This MRJ90STD is the second test aircraft to ferry across the Pacific for testing and certification.

Hainan Airlines' B-1542

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1542 (c/n 41380, l/n 6149) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1542, and will overnight at HNL.

Qantas VH-QPH in New Livery

After getting a new coat of paint in Victorville, California, VH-QPH (msn 695) is making its way back to BNE as QFA6004. The new livery update coincides with Qantas' 787 operation starting up in late 2017.

Boise State Broncos Team Charter

The Boise State Broncos have chartered an Alaska Airlines 737-990ER for their road trip to HNL from BOI (via OAK). N487AS (c/n 44108, l/n 5597), which flew as ASA9680, brought the team today, for its game on Saturday against the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors.  The team will return to BOI that evening, following the game on ASA9681, N474AS (c/n 40715, l/n 5431).

China Eastern Airlines' B-1535

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1535 (c/n 41481, l/n 6151) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

Kunming Airlines' B-7089

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-7089 (c/n 60166, l/n 6146) today. The 737-8LY is makings delivery flight from BFI as KNA7089, and will overnight at HNL.

Batik Air Malaysia's 9M-LNC

Batik Air Malaysia is taking delivery of 9M-LNC (c/n 38314, l/n 6117) tonight. The 737-8GP is making its late night delivery flight from BFI as MXD1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto PNI.

C-FFDO

Bombardier's CS300 Flight Test Vehicle 8, C-FFDO, is back at HNL from a non-stop flight from HND, and due to return to the mainland. While in Asia, it stopped at ZUH and HND.

Hawaiian To Resume JHM Service

Hawaiian Airlines announced today that the airline will resume daily service between HNL and JHM (2 round-trips) and OGG and JHM (1 round-trip), using their ‘Ohana by Hawaiian subsidiary, beginning on January 18, 2017.

Hawaiian Airlines built and operated JHM from 1987 to 1993 using Dash7s, before selling the airport to the state. 

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

China Eastern Airlines' 2-ADET

China Eastern Airlines is returning one of their leased A319-112s. Registered now as 2-ADET (msn 1601), is ferrying from PVG to the US mainland to Castlelake Leasing. It was delivered to China Eastern in October 2001, under lease from GECAS. In August 2004, it was sold to Novus Aviation Capital; and sold to Castlelake, some time in 2013. photo to follow ...

Aloha Airlines' N746AL

Our November edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to September 2004, with Aloha Airlines' 737-76N, N746AL "Kaha‘i" (c/n 29905, l/n 372), seen above departing from Runway 8L to a west coast destination.

29905 was originally purchased by GECAS, and leased to LAPA [MJ/LPR] (Argentina) in October 1999 as LV-ZRP. In October 2002, it was leased to Aloha Airlines as N746AL, with Blended Winglets added a year later. It flew with Aloha, until the airline's closure in March 2008. In October 2008, it was leased to VARIG as PR-VBU, operated by GOL. The ownership was transferred to AerCap in 2009. In 2013, it was integrated into GOL's fleet, and continues to fly in Brazil.