Signature Flight Support Moves In

Signature Flight Support has taken over the Landmark Aviation compound at 98 Kapalulu Place. The former bought out the latter in September 2015, and the deal was finalized on February 8th. Signature also took over the Landmark facilities at LIH, OGG, LNY, ITO, and KOA.

Air Niugini Orders 737 MAX8s

Air Niugini [PX/ANG] (New Guinea) placed an order for four 737 MAX8s during the Singapore Air Show, with deliveries beginning in 2020.

Further information in this CH-Aviation article.

China Eastern's B-7376

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7376 (c/n 41484, l/n 5764) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9002, and will overnight at HNL.

N80918 Crashes In Pearl Harbor

N80918 (msn 2687), a Bell 206 Jet Ranger owned by Genesis Helicopters with five aboard, went down in Pearl Harbor, at the water's edge of the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. One of the passengers was critically injured, and among three that were hospitalized.

The above photo was of N80918 was taken in February 2015, as it returned to HNL.

Further coverage by KHON2, and Hawaii News Now.


02.22.16 Update
News outlets report that the critically-injured passenger passed away today.

N80918 was previously with Manulele Aviation (in this 2011 photo), and served as the news helicopter for the state's NBC affiliate, KHNL, and commonly referred to as "Chopper 8".

Philippine Airlines New Long-Haul Plans

Philippine Airlines announced that they have placed an order with Airbus for six A350-900XWBs (with an option for six more). The announcement was made at the Singapore Air Show. As the A350-900s enter the fleet in 2018 and 2019, the airline will retire their aging A340-300s.

Further details in this Airbus press release.

Okay Airways Boeing Order

Okay Airways has committed to purchasing 12 Boeing 737s at an announcement made at the Singapore Air Show. The order will comprise of eight MAX 8s, three MAX 9s, and a -900ER; plus an option for eight more MAX 8s. Okay Airways is the first Chinese carrier to order the MAX 9.

Further information in this Boeing press release.

Myanmar's XY-ALF

Myanmar National Airlines is taking delivery of XY-ALF (c/n 43411, l/n 5773) today. The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI (with a stop at YVR), as UBA737, and will overnight at HNL.

Sirwijaya Air's PK-CKN

A Sirwijaya Air 737-4Q8 is being returned to it's lessor, AerCap, in the mainland. PK-CKN "Sukacita" (c/n 26281, l/n 2380) arrived last night from Jakarta via Majuro.

26281 was originally purchased by ILFC, and leased to Carnival Airlines [KW/CAA] in October 1992 as N401KW. In July 1998, it was leased to Olympic Airways as SX-BKN, and when the airline re-organized, and re-branded, five years later as Olympic Airlines, this 737-4Q8 was transferred. In July 2010, it was leased to BremenFly [8B/BFY] as D-ABRF. In November 2011, it was leased to Sriwijaya Air as PK-CKN.

N730MM

N730MM (msn 19000632), an Embraer Lineage 1000 (E190-100 ECJ), owned by Mirage Resorts, Inc. (Las Vegas, NV) has stopped off at HNL. This Lineage 1000 was recently delivered to Mirage Resorts this past December.

Mokulele Bids For SoCal EAS Contract

Mokulele Airlines is bidding for an Essential Air Service (EAS) contract for VIS [Visalia, CA] and IPL [Imperial County Airport, El Centro, CA], against two other carriers. If awarded, Mokulele would allocate a few of their Cessna Grand Caravans for the operation.

Further information in this CH-Aviation article.

Island Air Sale Approved

The Department of Transportation approved the majority share sale of Island Air by its holding company, ‘Ohana Airline Holdings (OAH), to PacifiCap. OAH will have a minority share and role. Former Island Air executives Les Murashige and Rob Maraucher will lead the transition team. The airline will also restore service to LIH, and acquire another ATR72.

Further information in this CH-Aviation report.

United's Broncos Logo Jet

The United Airlines 767-424ER wearing the orange United titles and Denver Broncos logo, N76064 (c/n 29459, l/n 873, f/n 0064), made a stop at HNL from EWR as UAL15 today. This was the team charter jet for the 2015-16 NFL Super Bowl 50 Champions, that brought them to and from SJC. The team's hashtag for the road to Super Bowl was "#UnitedInOrange".

N76064 will continue to SFO tomorrow as UAL72, and return to HNL as UAL73, then to EWR as UAL14.

Thai Lion's HS-LUO

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LUO (c/n 39879, l/n 5763) today. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before making a non-stop leg to DMK.

HPD's N92BK

The Honolulu Police Department acquired its second MD500 helicopter, N92BK (msn 0572E). This will be the third helicopter for the police department, along with N501HP and N504HP.

Hainan's B-7172

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-7172 (c/n 60689, l/n 5762) today. The 737-86N, leased from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH7172, and will overnight at HNL.

N22DG Ditches In Ke‘ehi Lagoon

N22DG (msn 33701932), a Cessna 337H Super Skymaster, ditched in Ke‘ehi Lagoon, after experiencing landing gear issues. The Super Skymaster, piloted by a 68-year-old Australian man, and was the lone person aboard, suffered no injuries. N22DG is registered to Mark Jones of Honolulu.

News coverage by Hawaii News Now.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPD

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-ZPD to BNA from BNE, via APW, HNL, and VNY. It's making its flight as VOZ9901, and will overnight at HNL.

Virgin America Announces LAX Service

Virgin America announced today that they will launch daily A320 service from LAX to HNL on May 5, 2016; and service between LAX and OGG on June 14, 2016.

Further information in this Virgin America press release.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPA

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPA is making its return flight to BNE after its maintenance check at BNA.

N745AP

Our February edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to August 2005, with N745AP (c/n 21767, l/n 585), a 737-281/Adv, seen above, taxiing out for departure to MAJ, on its ferry flight to Indonesia to join the Metro Batavia [7P/BTV] fleet.

This 737-281/Adv was originally delivered to All Nippon Airways in July 1979, as JA8453. In September 1992, it was leased to its Air Nippon subsidiary. It was sold to Westjet Airlines in September 2000, and registered as C-FTWJ. 21767 was sold to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest in June 2005, then sold two months later to Metro Batavia as PK-YTQ. In May 2006, it was damaged in a runway overrun incident at CGK, after experiencing hydraulic issues, and was last seen a year later in storage without titles.