Cessna 172 Missing

N174LL (msn 17261220), a Cessna 172, owned by Lani Lea Sky Tours and Flight School, with three people on board, en route to HNL from MKK has disappeared off of the northwest coastline of Moloka‘i, around 18:55HST. The US Coast Guard has sent a C-130 to search the area for the aircraft.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those aboard, and their families.

Playback of N174LL's departure out of MKK from FlightRadar24.com.

Further coverage by Hawaii News Now.

Island Air's N681WP

Island Air's first Dash8-Q400 Next Generation, N681WP "Ola Kūpono" (msn 4543), is making its final leg of its delivery flight from  OAK to HNL today, as SXA356. The delivery flight originated at YZD [Toronto / Downsview Airport], and made stops at DLH [Duluth International Airport, MN], PDX, MMV, and OAK for its journey from Toronto to Honolulu.

Jiangxi Air's B-1558

A 737-85C for Xiamen Airlines low cost carrier, Jiangxi Air, is making its way to China. B-1558 (c/n 42935, l/n 6220) will be the fifth 737 to join the fleet.

JASDF's 20-1102

Japan Air Self-Defense Force's 20-1102 (c/n 24731, l/n 839), a 747-47C VIP transport for the nation's prime minister, arrived this morning from Tokyo. It flew in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and his staff, as he will visit various sites around O‘ahu, including the USS Arizona Memorial with US President Barack Obama on December 27th.

LZ-AWH

LZ-AWH (msn 2914), an A320-232, recently acquired by Ansett Worldwide (AWAS), is stopping through HNL as it ferries from CRK [Clark Air Base, Philippines] to Argentina (via GUM, HNL, PVR [Puerto Vallarta, México], and SAL [San Salvador, El Salvador]).

2914 was originally delivered to Air Deccan in October 2006, lease from PAFCO, as VT-ADS. A year later, the airline rebranded as Simplifly Deccan; and the A320 was sold to AWAS, remaining with the airline. In March 2009, it was leased to SriLankan Airlines as 4R-ABH. In October 2011, it was leased to TransAsia Airways as B-22312, until this month.

Mele Kalikimaka! 🎄

The HNL RareBirds team wishes you all a very Merry Christmas! 🎄

Hawaiian Airlines Launches HND-KOA Service

Hawaiian Airlines launched its thrice-weekly A330-243 service between HND and KOA today. N393HA "Lehuakona" (msn 1422) made the inaugural flight for Hawaiian's second route pairing out of HND.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Island Air's Q400s

Island Air is preparing to take delivery of its first Dash8-Q400, N681WP (msn 4543), as it makes its way from YYZ to HNL. This is the second time around with the Q400 for Island Air, which briefly had N539DS in 2006. N681WP will be the first of three delivered by April 2017, and part of a total of seven Q400s for the airline, that will replace the current five ATR72-300s.

Further details in this Island Air press release.

Hainan Airlines' B-1549

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1549 (c/n 60158, l/n 6210) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1549, and will overnight at HNL.

Batik Air Malaysia's 9M-LCK

Baitk Air Malaysia is taking delivery of 9M-LCK (c/n 38318, l/n 6191) this evening. The 737-8GP, which has decals marking the 178th 737 for the Lion Group, is making its delivery flight from BFI as MXD1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

China Eastern Airlines' B-7589

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7589 (c/n 41503, l/n 6208) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL.

Middle Tennessee Team Charter

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team has chartered an Atlas Air 767-300ER to make its trip from BNA to HNL, as the team will play the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors in the Hawai‘i Bowl on Saturday, December 24th. N661GT (c/n 30110, l/n 775), a 767-36NER, is flying as GTI8645. The team will return to BNA following the game, as GTI8646.

Allegiant Air's N329NV

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of N329NV (msn 2876). The A319-111 is making its ferry flight from CAN to IND (via GUM, MAJ, HNL, and ONT) as its previous Philippine registry, RP-C3198.

2876 was originally delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in September 2006 as RP-C3198, and was recently acquired by Allegiant.

Hainan Airlines' B-1548

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1548 (c/n 43419, l/n 6202) this afternoon. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1548, and will overnight at HNL.

N319CR

N319CR (c/n 28406, l/n 141), another former China Airlines 737-809, is also ferrying from TPE to GYR, with stops at GUM and HNL. 

28406 was delivered to China Airlines as B-18608, and sold to Mid American Aerospace [Cedar Rapids, IA].

N142MD

N142MD (c/n 29104, l/n 139), a former China Airlines 737-809, is ferrying from TPE to the SGT [Stuttgart Municipal Airport, Stuttgart, AR], with stops at GUM and HNL. It will be placed into storage at SGT.

29104 was delivered to China Airlines in December 1998 as B-18607, and was recently acquired by GECAS.

JA22MJ

Another of Mitsubishi's MRJ90 test jets, JA22MJ (msn 10002), has made a stop at HNL as it transits from NKM to MWH (via SPN, MAJ, HNL, and SJC) for testing and certification.

VP-BEN

VP-BEN (c/n 28530, l/n 390), a white tail 777-212ER, is ferrying from VCV to KUL(?), via HNL. It made a stop here this afternoon. After searching the Bermudan registry website, it did not give any information as to the current owner, nor previous registries. Aeros808 reports that the VP- registry is a decal over "9M-_GA". Searching for any 777-200s going to Malaysia turned up blank. The playback on FligthRadar24.com only showed its Mode-S Code, 42433E, as the only aircraft data.

28530 was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines in March 2002 as 9V-SQI. In June 2008, it was sold to Pembroke Aviation, then leased back to Singapore. It was withdrawn from service in December 2014, and flown to VCV for storage, where it was registered as EI-FGT.

Mahalo to Skyliners.de for getting us Boeing construction number and line number.

Air China's B-7897

Air China is taking delivery of B-7897 (c/n 60861, l/n 6196) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA47, and will overnight at HNL.

N573UA

N573UA (c/n 27313, l/n 554), a former Japan Airlines 767-346, is ferrying from HND to SBD, via HNL, with a quick fuel stop. It was delivered to Japan Airlines in October 1994 as JA8399, and was recently acquired by Unical Aviation [City of Industry, CA].

China United Airlines' B-1572

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1572 (c/n 61685, l/n 6192) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA572, and will overnight at HNL.

N118WF

N188WF (c/n 24690, l/n 1885), a 737-4Y0, is ferrying from TNA to CLW (via GUM, MAJ, HNL, and OAK). It's owned by Southern Air Consultancy [Bungay Suffolk, United Kingdom].

24690 was originally purchased by Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA), and leased to Pegasus Airlines in July 1990 as TC-AFL. Later, that December, it was leased to Futura under several Spanish registrations, and sub-leased twice to TransBrasil, also sub-leased to Ryan International Airlines, Nordic European Airlines, Aer Lingus, and Corsair. In April 1998, it was acquired by GECAS, and remained with Futura, and sub-leased to Nacional Transportes Aéreos, Ryan International, Merpati Nusantra, and Jetairfly. In January 2009, it was leased to Sriwijaya Air as PK-CJW, until September 2015, where it was stored at CGK.

China Eastern Airlines' B-2212 & B-2213

China Eastern Airlines is ferrying a pair of A320-214s, B-2212 (msn 1316) and B-2213 (msn 1345) from XIY [Xi‘an Xianyang International Airport, China] to MZJ, as they are being returned to Aircastle. B-2212 is flying as CES905, and B-2213 is flying as CES906, and has made stops at SPN and MAJ. The former was delivered in November 2003, and the latter delivered in January 2004.

Hawaiian Airlines To Add More Aircraft

Hawaiian Airlines announced today that they will purchase an additional A330-243, and lease an additional two A321neos. These additions will increase their A330-243 fleet to 24, and have a total of 18 A321neos on order. The moves are being done in order to accelerate the retirement of their 767-300 fleet.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

China United Airlines' B-1573

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1573 (c/n 61695, l/n 6180) this afternoon. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA573, and will overnight at HNL.

ATI's N820BX

Our December edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to March 2005, with Air Transport International's DC-8-71, N820BX (c/n 46065, l/n 460), seen above on Taxiway RT.

46065 was originally delivered to United Airlines as a DC-8-61, in June 1969 as N8098U. In November 1983, the JT3D-3B power plants were replaced with CFM56-2C1s, and upgraded to a DC-8-71. It remained with United until the early 90s. In January 1993, ATI acquired this airframe, and converted it into a freighter, as N820BX. ATI operated it for Burlington Air Express (BAX) and BAX Global. This DC-8 is currently owned by ATI's parent company Cargo Air Management (CAM), and continues to fly for ATI.