Glasgow Airport Movements 2017
July
Glasgow International celebrated yet another major milestone last month with over one million passengers travelling through its doors in June for the first time in the airport`s 51-year history. This represents a 5.7% increase on the same period in 2016. Demand for city-breaks, plus the introduction of new routes to Brussels, Valencia, Lisbon and the Romanian city of Iasi contributed to the 16.1% increase on European routes. Overall, international traffic grew by 10.4% with the start of the busy school summer holiday period contributing to the boost, while long-haul routes included in the International category were up 12.4%.
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This month NATS, the main Air Navigation Service Provider in the United Kingdom, warned that our skies are running out of room to cope with a rapidly increasing number of flights.
Friday 21 July was the busiest day on record with air traffic controllers handling more than 8,800 flights and they expect to manage a record 770,000 flights in UK airspace over the summer - 40,000 up on last year. It was even a busy scene around midday on the 21st at Glasgow with a constant procession of planes, large and small, departing within a 20 minute period. |
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NATS director Jamie Hutchison said that the ability of the the UK's National Air Traffic Control Service to deal with the surge is being stretched to the limit amid calls for a drastic modernisation in the way aircraft are guided across UK airspace. The Department for Transport estimates that, if airspace management remains unchanged, there will be 3,100 days' worth of flight delays by 2030 - 50 times the amount seen in 2015 - along with 8,000 flight cancellations a year.
Also this month, details of two major infrastructure projects totalling almost £91 million were revealed as council chiefs submitted planning applications. Authorities in Renfrewshire, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire are currently considering proposed details for the Clyde Waterfront & Renfrew Riverside Project, which aims to regenerate the Clyde Waterfront with additional residential, industrial, business, retail and leisure opportunities. The project, led by Renfrewshire Council, includes a new bridge to replace the Renfrew / Yoker ferry which will be the only opening road bridge across the River Clyde, plus new approaches and cycle routes. Renfrewshire Council have produced an interesting 5 minute-long video on the proposals featuring computer generated graphics. A copy has been uploaded to YouTube - Click here to view.
Abbotsinch Road, which runs along the airport`s eastern perimeter, will be realigned to allow expansion and the creation of an external business park, currently referred to as the Glasgow Airport Investment Area. There will also be a new 70-metre long, two lane bridge over the White Cart Water, from Wright Street to an approach road linked with Arran Avenue.
Off road cycle-ways will include a 2km section running parallel with the busy A8 between Renfrew and the Inchinnan Business Park which will incorporate a new 100 metre-long cycle / pedestrian bridge spanning the Black Cart. It`s hoped that the project will support the continued expansion of Glasgow Airport and bring £430m in private sector investment. Renfrewshire Council said the scheme will create 365 jobs during construction and up to 10,600 jobs as a result of the Investment Area`s business opportunties. It will deliver 250 new homes and bring 60 hectares of vacant and derelict land back into use. If given the go-ahead, work on both projects is expected to start on site in 2018 with construction completed sometime in 2020.
Off road cycle-ways will include a 2km section running parallel with the busy A8 between Renfrew and the Inchinnan Business Park which will incorporate a new 100 metre-long cycle / pedestrian bridge spanning the Black Cart. It`s hoped that the project will support the continued expansion of Glasgow Airport and bring £430m in private sector investment. Renfrewshire Council said the scheme will create 365 jobs during construction and up to 10,600 jobs as a result of the Investment Area`s business opportunties. It will deliver 250 new homes and bring 60 hectares of vacant and derelict land back into use. If given the go-ahead, work on both projects is expected to start on site in 2018 with construction completed sometime in 2020.
The above slideshow features locations within the proposed Glasgow Airport Investment Area which are likely to be transformed or upgraded should the ambitious plans for the project go through. Most of the images included here were taken recently but a number of older ones, which help to illustrate the area likely to be affected, have also been included.
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On Saturday 1 July, an estimated 1,400 British Airways staff began a 16-day walk-out as part of an long-running dispute over wages and working conditions, affecting thousands of passengers on flights mainly to and from London Heathrow airport.
The action centres on BA mixed-fleet employees who joined the company since 2010, but earn less than cabin crew colleagues on earlier contracts. In an effort to minimise disruption, the airline was given the go-ahead to wet-lease nine Airbus A320/A321s from Qatar Airways, including A320-232 A7-ADI (left). |
Under a wet lease agreement, a carrier provides aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance. Qatar Airways owns a 20 per cent stake in BA’s parent company IAG, and is also a member of the Oneworld alliance along with BA and fellow IAG carrier Iberia, but as the planes and crew were supplied by a non EU country, permission had to be sought from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was also consulted.
As the BA Strike continued, Airbus A320-232 A7-ADC (f/v) worked a Shuttle flight on Sunday 30 July.
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It wasn`t just aircraft taking-off this month - lost of recently fledged chicks took to the air for the first time and a few Mute Swan families with cygnets were cruising on the Black Cart Water. These Starlings, Willow Warbler and Magpie in mid-blink were all photographed near the northern perimeter of the airport.
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Although these Lapwings aren`t as close to the American 757 as they look, the danger of a bird-strike is often present for planes using the airport, especially with the adjacent agricultural land which acts as a magnet for wildlife. Airfield Ops are kept even busier firing-off flares during the autumn and winter months when local species are joined by Whooper Swans and geese, usually in large numbers, which feed on the fields adjacent to the airport and Black Cart Water.
Above: Clearing the way for Virgin`s `Hot Lips` on the 31st.
With water running alongside much of the airport boundary and the River Clyde only a short distance away, the on-site Fire & Rescue Service keep an inflatable dinghy in the boathouse adjacent to Abbotsinch Road and regularly practice recovery techniques on the White Cart. This training exercise took place on Wednesday 19 July.
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Jet Airliners
The highlight on the airliner front this month was the welcome return of Korean Air, with Airbus A330-223 HL8228 operating the first of several non-stop, inbound-only charter flights from Seoul. The aircraft landed slightly behind schedule at 17:05 hrs on Tuesday 26 July. Last year Hanjin Travel, a sister company to the South Korean carrier, ran a series of holiday charters to Glasgow which have obviously proved popular as an extra flight has been added. More than 1,300 South Korean tourists will visit Scotland during July and August this year and it`s hoped that the number of flights will increase for 2018.
Kilted pipers blasted out a few tunes to greet the tired passengers who had been in the air for 15 hours and the airport management team had placed a `Welcome to Scotland` banner in Korean and English in the arrivals hall. Plus, unlike the weather experienced by the 3 flights that landed last year, even the sun was shining so the Korean tourists got off to a good start. It was a different story for the local aviation enthusiasts though - despite having almost thirty A330s in their fleet, the carrier sent one of the aircraft that had visited last year!
Below: On Thursday 6 July, two airliners each experienced a last-minute delay on departure. Runway 23 was in operation in both instances. The first was Boeing 737 G-JZHU of Jet2 Holidays which was approaching `Alpha One`when the captain requested a return to the terminal due to an on board medical issue. I assumed that perhaps one the passengers had become unwell.
The other hiccup, which occurred a few hours later, was a bit more dramatic and involved the captain of Orlando-bound Virgin 747 G-VROY aborting his take-off run due to a `door open` indication. The huge jet had just started rolling when power was cut and it came to a halt almost parallel with the Westway building. The Jumbo taxied along to the far end of the runway where it vacated and continued to one of the new stands. Checks were carried out, after which G-VROY took off as normal about 20 minutes later.
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Apart from the Korean A330 on Tuesday 26th, the other noteworthy jet airliners visiting this month were Airbus A320-232 LZ-BHI BH Air, A319-112 D-AIBE Lufthansa, Embraer ERJ-190STD PH-EZX KLM Cityhopper in Skyteam colours, Boeing 737-71B(WL) F-GZTP ASL Airlines (plus other dates), Boeing 737-4K5 EC-LTG Alba Star (plus other dates) (1st); Boeing 757-231(WL) N723TW Delta Airlines (f/v), Airbus A320-232 A7-ADD Qatar Airlines (f/v) on a morning BA Shuttle flight, A320-232 LZ-BHH BH Air, Boeing 737-8K5(WL) YR-BMI Blue Air (f/v), Boeing 737-408 EC-LAV Alba Star and A320-214(WL) G-EZRI easyJet (f/v) (2nd)...
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Boeing 757-231(WL) N717TW Delta Airlines (Skyteam colours), Airbus A321-211 TF-KID Wow Air (f/v) medical diversion Keflavik to Dublin and Boeing 737-33A(QC) G-POWC Titan Airways (3rd); Boeing 767-38E(ER) C-GBZR Air Canada Rouge (f/v), A330-343 OY-VKG Thomas Cook Scandinavia (plus other dates), Boeing 737-8Q8(WL) C-GTVG Travel Service (f/v), Boeing 737-3L9(QC) G-ZAPW Titan Airways, Airbus A320-233 OY-JRZ Danish Air Transport, A321-231 HA-LXF Wizz Air (f/v) (4th); Airbus A330-243 C-GUBD Air Transat (f/v), Travel Service Boeing 737 C-GTVG returned, Boeing 737-33A(QC) G-POWC Titan, Sukhoi Superjet SU100-95B EI-FWA CityJet, Boeing 737-85P(WL) G-DRTA Jet2 (f/v) and BAe Avro RJ85 G-JOTR Jota Avation (5th)...
Airbus A320-232 LZ-BHH BH Air (plus other dates) and Embraer ERJ-145MP G-CGWV Eastern (6th); Airbus A320-214(WL) G-EZPY (f/v) and A319-111 G-EZBF (Tartan Livery) both easyJet (7th); Airbus A320-232 LZ-BHI BH Air (plus other dates), A319-112 D-AIBG Lufthansa (f/v) and Embraer ERJ-145MP G-CGWV Eastern (8th); Airbus A320-232 A7-ADI Qatar Airways (f/v), Boeing 757-231(WL) N722TW Delta Air Lines (SkyTeam Livery), Bombardier CRJ-200ER EC-HPR Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional) (f/v), Embraer ERJ-170LR G-CIXV Eastern Airways (f/v) and Boeing 737-4Y0 EC-MFS Alba Star (9th); Boeing 737-382 YR-CBK Cobrex Trans (f/v) and Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-FTP Ryanair (f/v) (10th)...
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A321-231(WL) HA-LXM Wizz Air (f/v) (11th); Boeing 737-8K2(WL) PH-BXA KLM Retro colours, Airbus A320-214(WL) G-EZRG easyJet (f/v) and Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-FTJ Ryanair (f/v) (12th); Boeing 767-375(ER) C-GEOQ Air Canada Rouge (f/v), Boeing 737-8MG(WL) G-JZHZ Jet2 (f/v) and BAe 146-200 G-SMLA Jota Aviation (13th); Boeing 757-231(WL) N705TW Delta (Skyteam colours), BAe Avro RJ85 EI-RJC Cityjet, Embraer ERJ-145LR F-HBPE Pan European Air Service and a return visit by Jota BAe 146-200 G-SMLA (14th); A320-211 D-AIPE Lufthansa (f/v) and Boeing 737 PH-BXO KLM (SkyTeam Livery) (15th)...
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Boeing 737-82R(WL) YR-BMK Blue Air (f/v) (16th); Boeing 737-8MG(WL) G-JZHY Jet2 (f/v) (17th); A319-112 D-ABGN Eurowings (f/v) (18th); Airbus A320-214(WL) G-EZRF easyJet (f/v), and another visit by Delta`s Skyteam Boeing 757-231(WL) N705TW (19th); Boeing 767-375(ER) C-GEOU Air Canada Rouge (f/v) (above) and Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EPM Emirates (Benfica livery) (20th); A320-232 A7-ADI Qatar Airways worked another Shuttle flight (21st); A319-114 D-AILT Lufthansa (f/v), Boeing 737-86J(WL) OM-NAS Alba Star (f/v) plus Titan Airways Boeing 737-3L9(QC) G-ZAPW called in and departed for Grosseto in the Tuscany Region of Italy (22nd); Fokker 100 YR-FZA FK100 Carpatair, Boeing 737-82R(WL) YR-BML Blue Air (f/v), Boeing 737-9K2(WL) PH-BXO KLM Skyteam colours, Boeing 737-8K2(WL) PH-BXA KLM Retro colours and A320-214(WL) G-EZPU easyJet (f/v) (23rd); Airbus A330-223 HL8228 Korean Air (26th)...
Boeing 757-2Q8(WL) N710TW Delta Air Lines (f/v) and Boeing 737-8K5(WL) YR-BMH Blue Air (City of Liverpool Livery) (27th); Airbus A320-232 A7-ADE Qatar Airways (f/v) worked an evening Shuttle flight, Boeing 757-256(WL) TF-FIU Icelandair (Aurora Borealis Livery) and Embraer ERJ-195LR G-FBEJ Flybe (Welcome to Yorkshire Livery) (28th); Boeing 757-231(WL) N717TW (Skyteam colours) (29th); Airbus A320-232 A7-ADC (f/v) worked a Shuttle flight, Boeing 767-33A(ER)(WL) C-FIYE Air Canada Rouge (f/v), Ryanair`s corporate Boeing 737-73S(WL) EI-SEV, Boeing 737-8K2(WL) PH-BXA KLM (Retro livery) plus 737-9K2(WL) PH-BXO KLM (Skyteam livery) (30th); Airbus A318-111 F-GUGR Air France, plus A320-214(WL)s G-EZRK and G-EZRM easyJet both (f/v) (31st).
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Eurowings` Borussia Dortmund liveried Airbus A320-214(WL) D-AIZR followed Boeing 747 `Tinker Belle` (G-VBIG) out for take-off on Thursday 13 July. On January 12 last year, this particular Jumbo worked the last ever Virgin Atlantic 747 Heathrow service when it landed at the London airport with passengers from Miami, Florida. Borrusia Dortmund, also known as BVB or BVB 09, is the second largest sports club by membership in Germany and since July 2016 the carrier, which is part of the Lufthansa Group, has been in partnership with the football club to serve as it`s sponsor and official airline for away matches.
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Above: Air Transat Airbus A310-304 C-GTSF lifts-off on the Tuesday 25th and Emirates Triple-Seven A6-EPG arrives from Dubai a week earlier.
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Airbus A320-232 HA-LPK Wizz Air.
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Earlier this month, it was announced that Air Transat has signed an agreement with AerCap for the long-term (12-year) lease of 10 Airbus A321neo long-range aircraft. The new jets are to be delivered between spring 2019 and the autumn of 2020, and will replace the airline`s ageing Airbus A310s, including C-GSAT pictured above left, which will be gradually retired from the fleet. The A321neo LRs will be deployed to serve North and South American holiday destinations plus transatlantic routes so some may eventually appear at Glasgow. Meantime, the airline`s A330-300 and 200s, including -200 C-GUBD (below), which was only delivered in May this year, call in here during the summer months. The airliner obviously wasn`t `gubbed` on the 19th as it took-off bang on time!
Above: Delta Boeing 757-231(WL) N721TW touches down on the 13th while (below) Boeing 757-2Q8(WL) N706TW waits to lift-off from `05` on the 21st.
Meanwhile, the first Airbus 350 destined for the Atlanta-based carrier has recently made its maiden flight from the manufacturer`s Toulouse facility. Operations using the type are due to start in the last quarter of this year, following an announcement by the airline in May that it plans to defer the purchase of 10 of the 25 A350-941s it has on order by two or three years. The new airliners will be used on major long-haul routes with no expectation that they will appear at Glasgow.
Three visiting heavies caught in a traditional Scottish Summer downpour on the 29th: Delta 757 N717TW, Emirates 777 A6-EGW and Air Transat A310 C-GFAT.
American Airlines Boeing 757 N935UW lifting-off on 19 July.
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Delta 757 N709TW, which appeared on 17 July, has a "No.42 Mariano Rivera" signature on the nose in honour of the New York Yankees` best ever pitcher who played Major League Baseball for the team for 19 seasons from 1995 to 2013.
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Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-333(ER)(WL) C-GHLQ sets off for Toronto on Tuesday 11 July.
Rouge Boeing 767-375(ER) C-GEOU made its first appearance at Glasgow International on Thursday 20 July.
Air Transat A310-308 C-GFAT sets off for Toronto on Saturday 29 July.
Below: Although I`d photographed Blue Air Boeing 737-8K5(WL) YR-BMH lining up for take-off last month, it was from a distance, but it reappeared on the morning of Thursday 27 July, enabling me to get a few close-ups. In October of last year, the Romanian carrier announced that, as part of their expansion operations across Europe, Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) would become their newest and eighth European base with one 737-800 working from there over the peak 2017 summer season. To mark the occasion YR-BMH was painted in a special livery featuring `Liverpool: Cool City - Warm Welcome` on one side and `Music City` with a silhouette of a guitar and drum kit painted on the other.
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Blue Air first started operations from Liverpool in December 2014, with a three times weekly departure to Bucharest. Just 3 months later the airline added a twice weekly service to Bacau in March 2015 followed by a twice weekly service to Cluj-Napoca in June 2016. Blue Air has now carried over 120,000 passengers on flights to and from Liverpool in less than two years of operations.
Boeing 757-256(WL) TF-FIK arrives from Keflavik on Sunday 30 July.
Rooms with a view!
Overall, the weather this month has been poor with many lengthy wet or overcast periods and not much warmth. Pictured below is the last of July`s daily United Airlines Boeing 757s setting-off for Newark, New Jersey on Monday 31st while a Loganair Twin Otter waits its turn.
Prop-liners
Loganair Saab 340B G-LGNU (above), still in the manufacturer`s basic colour scheme, made its first scheduled flight with the airline on Monday 3 July.
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On Monday 25 July, Saab 340B G-LGNK the first passenger aircraft to feature Loganair`s new tartan colour scheme, was positioned outside the company hangar for a press photo-shoot. Next in line for a makeover are the rest of the fleet`s purple Loganair/Flybe-liveried 340s, namely G-LGNA, G-LGNB, G-LGNC, G-LGNG, G-LGNI and G-LGNJ.
The all-white Saab 2000s may be sold or returned to the lessor within the next couple of years so are unlikely to appear in the the full scheme but may have titles added. As for the three Twin Otters, G-BVVK, the only one actually owned by the airline, will receive the full treatment but G-HIAL and G-SGTS, both of which are owned by Transport Scotland, will need the go-ahead from the Scottish Government for any change to the existing colours. |
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G-LGNK was back in action soon after the press photos were taken and is pictured here, heading out from Glasgow to its next destination on the 25th.
Next in the queue for departure on Friday 21 July, Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 G-MAJC holds at `Golf One` until Orlando-bound Virgin 747 G-VLIP lifts-off.
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Colourful full page Flybe adverts featuring an aircraft towing a saltire above a typically Scottish landscape appeared in the press this month ahead of the airline`s forthcoming alliance with Eastern Airways which came about in response to the Loganair / Flybe split. Once the Scottish airline becomes independent later this year, Flybe/Eastern will compete with Loganair on a number of routes. The merger is considered a risky venture by many as both Flybe and Eastern are currently running at a loss and the potential customer base with regard to the islands is limited.
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As of 1 September 2017, Eastern Airways’ Embraer E170 and/or Jetstream 41 aircraft will be operating the following routes for Flybe, under BE-coded flight numbers: Aberdeen – Kirkwall 17 weekly (J41), Aberdeen – Sumburgh 18 weekly (E170), 1 weekly (J41), Edinburgh – Sumburgh 1 daily (E170), Glasgow – Manchester 21 weekly (J41), Glasgow – Stornoway 17 weekly (J41) and Glasgow – Sumburgh 1 daily (E170).
Noteworthy turboprops visiting during July included Saab 2000 G-CDEA Eastern Airways and Lockheed L-382G Hercules N3755P of Atlanta Air Service (4th); BAe Jetstream J41 G-MAJY Eastern Airways (5th); Saab 340A SP-MRB IG Avion (17th); ATR 72-202 SP-SPE Sprint Air (f/v) (18th); ATR 72-201 OY-RUD Danish Air Transport brought in Rosenborg FC for a Champions League match against Celtic (25th); Bombardier DHC-8-Q-402 G-PRPO Flybe (f/v) (27th); BAe Jetstream 41 G-MAJJ Eastern (28th); aab 2000 G-CDKB Eastern (29th);
Aer Lingus Regional ATR 72-600 EI-FAT heads back to Dublin on the 21st.
Below: At first glance it looks as though the starboard engine of this Saab 340 is on fire, or it`s full of passengers and Loganair have lifted the on-board smoking ban! It`s more likely that this is just the first start-up of a new engine but it certainly caught not only my attention but that of any drivers and vehicle occupants in Barnsford Road that were heading past the airport at the time.
Biz-Jets
Tupolev TU-204-300A RA-64010 (f/v) (not photographed) which had arrived on Thursday 29 June was still parked on Stand 81. The Russian-built aircraft departed 10:40 hrs on Sunday 2nd. Other night-stopping corporate jets from June were Citation Mustang D-ISRM, Dassault Falcon 2000EX N147CJ plus Falcon 2000 N215RE which was still inside the Gama Aviation hangar.
Chinese-registered Gulfstream V-SP B-8269 (f/v) lifting off on 6 July.
Biz Jets visiting Glasgow International during July included Falcon 2000EX CS-DLF, Bombardier Challenger 850 D-AJOY Air X, Challenger 300 C-FFBC and Cessna CitationJet CJ2 G-PEER (1st); Bombardier BD700 Global Express N797KK, Cessna Citation Encore+ D-CAWR, Embraer Phenom 100 9H-FOM (f/v) (2nd); Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650 G-SYNA (f/v), Bombardier Challenger 300 C-FFBC and Citation Mustang G-FBKJ (f/v) (3rd); Gulfstream V-SP B-8269 (f/v), Bombardier Global 6000 N151QS (f/v), Global 6000 EC-LTF, Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650 D-AHOS (f/v), Raytheon Hawker 750 CS-DUA, Citation Excel CS-DXF, Embraer 500 F-HBOD (f/v) and Learjet 31A D-CAMB (f/v) (4th); Citation Mustang G-FFFC (plus other dates) (5th)...
Swiss-registered Falcon 7X HB-JOB about to land at Glasgow International for the first time, Thursday 6 July 2017.
Falcon 7X HB-JOB (f/v), Cessna CitationJet CJ4 D-CEFE, Citation Excel G-ZENT and Embraer Phenom 300 G-JMBO (6th); Challenger 604 N637TF (f/v) and EMB-135BJ Legacy G-LALE (7th); Falcon 2000EX N449SA (f/v), Bombardier Global 5000 N110QS (f/v), Cessna 650 Citation III OY-NLA, Challenger 350 9H-VCG VistaJet, Beechcraft 400XTi Nextant G-FXCR, Cessna Citation XLS+ D-CKHK (f/v) and Learjet 35A D-CCAA (8th); Gulfstream G550 CS-DKH, Gulfstream IV-SP N888ES (f/v), Canadair Challenger 604 N637TF and Learjet 35A D-CGRC (9th); Bombardier Global 6000 EC-LTF, Falcon 2000 N215RE, Gulfstream G-V-SP CS-DKD, Cessna 560 Citation Encore+ D-CAWR, Citation Mustang OE-FLG and Citation XLS+ G-CHUI (10th)...
Falcon 2000EX N449SA lifts-off on Monday 10 July, passing Gulf` 4 N888ES parked on Taxiway Yankee. Both were first-time visitors.
Bombardier Challenger 350 9H-VCG VistaJet and Citation Bravo OE-GPS Tyrol Air Ambulance (11th); Bombardier Challenger 604 N637TF departed but returned later, Citation XLS CS-DXJ, Learjet 45 M-ABJA and Learjet 35A D-CTWO (12th); Bombardier Challanger 600 N65PX (13th); Falcon N215RE, a temporary Gama hangar resident, took off just after midday but returned in the evening. Gulfstream G550 CS-DKI NetJets and Learjet 45 C-GMCP (14th); Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650 D-AZUR Air Hamburg (15th); Learjet 35A D-CCCA (16th); Bombardier Challenger 350 9H-VCL VistaJet and Embraer Phenom 300 D-CHGS (f/v) (17th)...
Bombardier Challenger 605 PH-HWM and Phenom 300 D-CHGS (18th); Falcon 900EX N900LW (f/v) and Falcon 2000EX CS-DLH (19th); Bombardier Challenger 300 N184BK, Gulfstream IV-SP N305CF (f/v), Challenger 350 9H-VCK VistaJet, Citation Mustang M-USTG (f/v) and Phenom 300 G-JMBO (20th); Cessna Citation Encore LN-IDC (f/v), Citation CJ3 G-YEDC, Citation Mustang G-FBKB, Phenom 300 G-JMBO and Embraer ERJ-145LR F-HBPE of Pan Europeenne arrived with FC Marseille (21st); Challenger 300 N945AC, Falcon 7X N570RF (f/v), Citation XLS D-CSUN Air Hamburg and Learjet 45 D-CSOS (22nd); Embraer 135BJ Legacy 650 D-AZUR Air Hamburg and Phenom 300 G-JMBO (23rd); Cessna 680 Sovereign N54DT (f/v) (25th)...
Gulfstream IV-SP N888ES (f/v) on Taxiway Y. This biz jet arrived on Sunday 9 July and stayed until the afternoon of the 14th.
Falcon 900EX N50NU (f/v), Falcon 2000EX CS-DFG, Citation Excel CS-DXF and Citation XLS CS-DXM (26th); Gufstream IV-SP N478GS, Challenger 850 9H-YOU (f/v) and Learjet 45 G-XJET (27th); Gulfstream V-SP N128GV (f/v), Bombardier Challenger 605 9H-VFI VistaJet (f/v), Challenger 604 HB-JRB Challenger 300 SE-RMC (f/v) and Raytheon Hawker 800XP N125XP (28th); Falcon 2000EX CS-DLH and Bombardier Challenger 850 D-AJOY (29th); Challenger 350 9H-VCB VistaJet, Cessna Citation Bravo G-CGEI and Falcon 2000 N215RE returned and went back into the Gama hangar (30th); Bombardier Challenger 300 SP-SIS (f/v). Falcon 900EX N131DS (f/v) and Learjet 31A D-CURT (31st).
A biz-jet from the Netherlands: Bombardier Challenger 605 PH-HWM taxis to Area Juliet on Tuesday 18 July.
N888ES was joined by Portuguese-registered Gulfstream G-V-SP CS-DKD on the 10th.
Night-stopping Falcons: 900EX N900LW (f/v) and 2000EX CS-DLH on the executive ramp, Thursday 20 July.
On 9 / 10 July, Beechcraft 400XTi Nextant G-FXCR effectively blocked the RAF`s new T-6C Texan II from view, preventing any side-on shots while parked.
Above: Embraer ERJ-145LR F-HBPE of Pan European Air Service flew in from Lyon on the 14th. It was back on Friday 21 July bringing FC Marseille to the city for their Freindly match against Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox Stadium on Sunday. Another pair of night-stoppers on Taxiway Yankee, arrivals from the 22nd are pictured below: Challenger 300 N945AC and Falcon 7X N570RF (f/v).*
Gulfstream V-SP N128GV (f/v), Taxiway Y, Friday 28 July 2017.
General Aviation
"Ah`ve telt ye before - if it disnae start jist boot lumps oot ay it!"
Eurocopter EC135 T2+ G-WASC (f/v) and Aerospatiale AS355F2 Ecureuil 2 G-PDGT (1st); Pilatus PC-12 M-YBLS and Cessna F406 Caravan II G-FIND (2nd); Pilatus PC-12 VP-CPX and G-MCGT HM Coastguard (3rd); Pilatus PC-12 M-YBLS, Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage D-EIIC (f/v) and Cessna 425 N425HB (4th); Pilatus PC-12 VP-CPX (plus other dates) and King Air 350 M-SPEK (5th); BN-2B Islander G-HEBS Hebridean and Aerospatiale AS355F1 Ecureuil 2 G-NETR (7th); King Air 200 G-MEGN (8th)...
"The big guys can wait their turn!"
Sikorsky S-76B G-TRMP Trump and Aérospatiale Ecureuil 2 G-NETR (9th); Piaggio P-180 M-ONTE (11th); SOCATA TBM-910 N910YW (f/v), SOCATA TBM-930 M-ATTI, King Air 200 G-BVMA, Cessna 208 Caravan floatplane G-LAUD (plus other dates) and Sikorsky S-92A G-MCGF HM Coastguard (12th); Diamond DA-62 F-HGOY (f/v) (13th); Bell 206 Jet Ranger III G-DOFY (f/v) (14th); King Air 200 G-JASS (15th); AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGR HM Coastguard (f/v) (16th)...
King Air 200 G-WCCP and Cessna 182T N1424C (22nd); Mooney M20J G-OBAL and Pilatus PC-12 VP-CPX (23rd); Piaggio P180s D-IRBS and M-ONTE, plus King Air 200 G-CIFE (f/v) and Piper PA-28 Cherokee Cruiser G-BRBW (24th); King Air 200GT M-WATJ, King Air 100 N3532 and Cessna 172P G-NWFG (f/v) (25th); King Air 200GT M-OTOR (26th); King Air 90GTx G-MOSJ, Cirrus SR-22 G-GCVV and Eurocopter AS.365 N2 Dauphin II G-PDGO (27th); King Air 200 G-MEGN (29th); Robinson R66 Turbine G-OHAS (30th); Cirrus SR-22 N150ZZ (31st).
"Little and Large!"
Piaggio P180s D-IRBS.
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Cirrus SR-22 G-GCVV was parked outside the Gama hangar on the 27th.
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Military
Beechcraft T-6C Texan II N2824B (f/v) flew in from Keflavik just after 15:00 hrs on Sunday 9 July and night-stopped. Unfortunately for local photographers, including myself, it s allocated space was alongside an adjacent biz jet parked in front of the UAS hangar which effectively ruled out a side-on view. The two-seat trainer was on delivery to the RAF and had its allocated serial number ZM323 taped over, although `323` was visible on the tail. It was en route to appear at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at Fairford which was on between 14-17 July.
The T-6C is set to become the basic trainer for both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots. and the contract for the supply of ten aircraft was signed by Affinity Flying Training Services and Beechcraft Defense on 4 February 2016. The new trainers will replace the Shorts Tucano T1 aircraft. I wasn`t around to get a better shot when N2824B set off on the last stage of its journey at 10:25 hrs on Monday 10th.
I managed a few distant heat haze-affected shots on Tuesday 18 July, as the aircraft continued along to the far end of the runway after landing on `05` The fuel tanker was parked in front of the aircraft by the time I`d driven round to Area J so I`m still waiting for an uncluttered close-up. The Texan II, which arrived at at 12:50, remained on the ground until 17:05 hrs.
BAe 146-200 C.3 ZE707 arrived at 11:30 hrs on Monday 10 July but went tech. Possibly connected, AW-109SP Grand New GZ100 of 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF dropped in briefly at 18:15 hrs and the RAF transport jet finally got underway just after 22:00 hrs. Another RAF BAe 146-200, serial number ZE700, made a brief stop on the evening of Wednesday 19 July.
Alenia C-27J Spartan MM62223 (46:88) of the Italian Air Force (f/v) arrived at 14:10 hrs on Tuesday 11 July and went straight to Taxiway Y where the crew spent some time checking the starboard engine. The aircraft also took on fuel, remaining on the ground for just over an hour before continuing its journey. It belongs to 98 Gruppo, 46 Brigata Aerea, which is based in Pisa in the Tuscany region.
The C-27J was developed and manufactured in Italy and is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in U.S. service). The design incorporates the engines and various other systems which are used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. In addition to the standard transport configuration, specialised variants of the C-27J have been developed for other roles including maritime patrol, search and rescue, and intelligence gathering.
US Air Force Gulfstream C-37A, serial number 01-0028, call-sign `Spar 34`, landed at 10:40 hrs on Friday 14th and parked overnight on Area R.
Below: A couple of interesting military visitors appeared on Monday 17 July, but I only managed to get a couple of `record shots`. First to arrive was Dassault Falcon 10MER, serial number 129 of the Marine Nationale (French Navy) which touched down at 10:25 and inconveniently parked alongside DA-62 F-HGOY which screened the new arrival from view. The Falcon taxied out and took off soon after midday.
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In the afternoon, the world`s only Textron AirLand Cessna E530 Scorpion, reg number N531TA made a return visit, having called in last month. The attack jet demonstrator landed at 14:10 hrs and remained on the ground for around 2 hours. I had to settle for this distant telephoto shot taken from the house as it made its approach for Runway 23.
C-146A Wolfhound 15-3086 US Army, Saturday 29 July 2017.
Two US Army Beechcraft C-12V Hurons, serial numbers 95-0098 and 10-0260 (f/v), made a fuel stop in the the early afternoon of Monday 25 July. Dornier C-146A Wolfhound 11-3031 US Army (f/v) landed at 13:00 hrs on Thursday 27th for a fuel stop, departing two hours later. Irish Air Corps CASA CN235MPA, serial number 252, called in later that afternoon.
On Saturday 30 July, another US Army C-146A Wolfhound, serial number 15-3086, call-sign `Rich 1050`, made a brief stop for fuel in the early afternoon.
The rooftop helipad of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital at Govan is visible in the background in this shot.
