Glasgow Airport Movements 2017
September
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September 2017
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Glasgow International enjoyed its busiest ever summer with the announcement that over three million people passed through the terminal during the peak months of June, July and August. This is the first time that over one million passengers transited the airport for three months in a row with last month`s figure of 1,008,800 making it the busiest August on record. This is represents a 7% increase on the same period last year.
EU scheduled services increased by 17% on the same period last year and long-haul routes were up 16% thanks to the continued popularity of Virgin’s Orlando route and Emirates’ twice-daily Dubai service. The well-regarded UAE-based airline has now carried over four million passengers since the route was introduced in 2004 and many people expect an announcement in the not too distant future regarding the allocation of an A380, a major coup for Glasgow Airport if it happens.
Air Transat A330-243 C-GGTS takes-off on a Runway that`s `Wet, Wet, Wet!`
Although, yet again, the weather here during the month wasn`t great, it was far worse on the other side of the Atlantic with a succession of hurricanes causing death and destruction across the Caribbean, Cuba and the Southern USA, particularly Florida. Areas of Miami were flooded and millions of residents in the Sunshine State did as requested and evacuated their homes until the storm passed. It was the Caribbean islands that suffered the worst though with Hurricane Irma then, a few days later, Maria reducing many of the buildings to rubble or throwing debris from earlier strikes back into the air.
Numerous communities were left without shelter, power and drinking water and major relief efforts got underway to assist those affected. HMS Ocean and Fleet Auxiliary Support Ship RFA Mounts Bay, as well Royal Air Force heavy-lift transports were tasked with providing aid to the British territories of Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Turks and Caicos. Royal Marines and Army personnel including engineers, medics and logistics experts were sent in increasing numbers but the UK government has come under heavy criticism for its slow response to the crisis.
Numerous communities were left without shelter, power and drinking water and major relief efforts got underway to assist those affected. HMS Ocean and Fleet Auxiliary Support Ship RFA Mounts Bay, as well Royal Air Force heavy-lift transports were tasked with providing aid to the British territories of Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Turks and Caicos. Royal Marines and Army personnel including engineers, medics and logistics experts were sent in increasing numbers but the UK government has come under heavy criticism for its slow response to the crisis.
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This month I visited Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, checking out the new Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport Hotel which is the best accommodation option in the Granite City for aviation enthusiasts. Shots taken at these locations can be accessed via the above links, plus some of the early arrivals for the Scottish Airshow at Prestwick this month can be viewed at the bottom of this page after the Glasgow section. While at Aberdeen I went out on Dolphin Cruise from Aberdeen Harbour, but it turned out that the only dolphins seen over the weekend were at Aberdeen Airport, one of which was in RAF colours!
FGS Sachsen (F219), lead ship of the German Navy`s Sachsen-class air defence Frigates, was berthed at Aberdeen Harbour on Sunday 17 September. The Sachsen class are as large and just as capable as many destroyers and at €2.1 Billion for just three vessels, their construction is the most expensive shipbuilding project ever undertaken for the German Navy. Soon after this shot was taken, the warship sailed for Faslane on the Clyde prior to its participation in Exercise Formidable Shield 17 which will run between 24 September and 18 October at the UK Ministry of Defence's Hebrides Range located on the Western Isles. The purpose of Formidable Shield is to test NATO's theatre ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities and improve allied interoperability in a live-fire integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) environment. Assets from Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States are also scheduled to take part.
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The waters to the northeast, north and northwest of Scotland will see even more military activity with the second of this year`s Joint Warrior exercises (JW 172) due to take place between 30th September and 12th October 2017 and therefore overlapping with Formidable Shield.
Joint Warrior 172 will consist of a programme of exercises conducted by land forces, warships, submarines and aircraft, not only in Scotland but at various locations across the UK. Some of the Formidable Shield vessels will also take part in Joint Warrior, including FGS Sachsen. As usual, a number of warships berthed at the Glasgow docks before the exercise commenced to give their crews welcome shore leave. Also, several military aircraft and helicopters, some no doubt involved in proceedings, visited Glasgow Airport towards the end of the month. (See the Military section below for details.) |
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British Airways could face further industrial action, this time over plans to curb retirement benefits for 17,000 pension scheme members. The airline is proposing an overhaul that would limit retirement payouts, blaming low interest rates and rising life expectancy which has increased the current scheme`s deficit from 2.8bn in 2015 to £3.5bn.
Rather than the current arrangement which sees the retirement payout increase in line with salary and length of service, BA is understood to be considering opening a new less-generous defined contribution scheme, under which payouts are tied to the performance of investments. There have already been 85 days of industrial action by some BA staff, mainly cabin crew so far this year. |
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At the beginning of the month, easyJet flight EZY6883 from Glasgow to Paris was grounded at Charles de Gaulle airport, after one of the passengers noticed a stowaway on board in the form of a scorpion and alerted cabin crew.
Passengers due to fly to Glasgow on the return flight were offered overnight hotel accommodation in the French capital while the aircraft was fumigated. It`s reported that the scorpion, unimpressed to say the least, sneaked out and was forced to re-book, with the angry arachnid eventually flying back to Scotland courtesy of Ryanair!
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By coincidence, Michael O`Leary`s low-cost airline went on to hit the headlines too. Halfway through the month, Ryanair announced its decision to cancel between 40 and 50 flights every day for a six week period in an attempt to improve punctuality and supposedly clear a backlog of pilots’ leave by the end of the year.
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Sources say, however, pilot retention and bad management are the real reasons with working conditions so poor that many flight deck personnel have obtained jobs with rival airlines. Norwegian alone has already taken on 140 ex-Ryanair pilots this year.
It`s thought the cancellations could potentially affect up to 400,000 passengers and the airline could be faced with a £17million compensation bill. The company initially only offered alternative Ryanair flights or refunds but European passengers’ rights rules insist an airline that cancels a flight should offer passengers “rerouting under comparable transport conditions to their final destination at the earliest opportunity” - even if that means paying for a flight on a rival carrier. |
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Many passengers, otherwise stranded, had already booked far more expensive tickets on other airlines to reach their destination and it was only after an intervention from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that Ryanair stated to the UK regulator that it would reroute passengers on other airlines "if necessary". This welcome news was short-lived , however, and on 27 September the CAA took the unprecedented step of launching an enforcement action against Ryanair for persistently misleading passengers with inaccurate information regarding their rights in respect of its recent cancellations.
Towards the end of the month, Ryanair announced its intention to cancel another 18,000 flights between November and March, affecting the travel plans of an additional 400,000 passengers. A total of 34 routes will be suspended this winter, including Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gatwick to Belfast and Newcastle to Faro. The airline said suspending more flights meant it could "roster all of the extra pilot leave necessary" in October, November and December.
"Ah wonder where that wan`s came frae? - trust us tae book wan ay they cancelled routes."
"Ah don`t know aboot you, by-the-way, but ah`m no` happy wi` Ryanair`s alternative travel arrangements - it`ll take us a fortnight tae get tae Stanstead oan these!"
"Ah don`t know aboot you, by-the-way, but ah`m no` happy wi` Ryanair`s alternative travel arrangements - it`ll take us a fortnight tae get tae Stanstead oan these!"
Early on Sunday 23 September, Air Traffic Controllers watched as a pair of Swans flew past the tower, apparently lining up for a landing on Runway 05 - Not the best timing though as a KLM 737 inbound from Schiphol was moments from touchdown on `23`. Needless to say, the birds veered off and were no doubt warned to use the correct runway next time and wait until they`re given permission to land!
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It looks as though the Airport Fire & Rescue Service is about to get a new training aid. This helicopter simulator, complete with helipad, is currently in temporary storage within one of the compounds near the Loganair hangar.
On Tuesday 26 September, the existing fuselage simulator played the main role in a major incident exercise involving not only the airport Fire crews but Scottish Fire & Rescue, Ambulance, Police and other agencies. The scenario centred on a simulated air crash on the fire training area beside Barnsford Road and it got underway just after darkness fell. |
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Even though the area was floodlit, there was no residual street lighting so it was a challenge recording the event on camera and I ended up with lots of grainy, blurred shots as my Digital SLR and compact only have a modest ISO rating. I doubt whether I`ll get the chance to photograph another event like this for a while so I`ve included the best of the bunch here.
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`Casualties` entered the purpose-built rig just before the exercise began and an aircraft fire was created by igniting several piles of wooden pallets which had been placed on the ground nearby. Units attending rendezvoused on the old runway while the Glasgow Airport appliances made their way to the site. It only took seconds for the foam cannon to extinguish any flames then, after the attending crews were briefed, fire personnel entered the plane and assisted any walking wounded, all of whom had cards detailing their injuries, to safety. I assume that the rear of the plane was designated as smoke-filled and other firefighters entered with breathing apparatus, rescuing more casualties and removing several dummies which served as fatalities.
It was reassuring to see the combined response and effort of all those involved. No doubt the debrief will come up with some aspects which could be improved upon but let`s hope that the emergency services never have to use their skills and training for a real incident of this sort.
Walkinshaw Road was closed for a time this month while it received a long overdue makeover - much of its length was resurfaced and all the large potholes filled-in. No doubt this will be well-received by residents, business workers and visitors alike as it had been a rough, potentially tyre-damaging ride to the far end for years - even worse on a bike!
Jet Airliners
The most unusual airliner to call-in this month was Bombardier CRJ-200ER ZS-NMH of South African Express Airways (f/v) on the 28th. The aircraft was still in the colours of the state-owned airline which has its HQ at O. R. Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport. In addition to Bombardier CRJ-200ERs, the SA Express fleet includes CRJ-700ERs, Dash 8s, a pair of Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias and a Boeing 737.
Jobs at the Bombardier factory in Belfast, Northern Ireland, could be at risk after the US opted to impose a 220% import tariff on the company's C-Series jet. This follows a complaint from Boeing that Bombardier was receiving unfair state aid from the UK and Canada. The diplomatic wrangling could drag on for some time before the situation is resolved.
Only one airliner called in at Glasgow in connection with the Celtic v Paris Saint-Germain Champions League match on Tuesday 12 September and this was it: French- registered `Open Skies` Boeing 757-26D(WL) F-HAVI, which I assume is leased from British Airways, brought the PSG team and apparently some of the French supporters to the city.
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner G-TUIG arrived on the 12th shortly after G-TUIF departed.
Noteworthy jet airliners visiting in September included Airbus A320-214 OE-LBV Austrian (f/v), Embraer ERJ-170LR G-CIXV Eastern Airways and Boeing 737-8K2 PH-BXA KLM (Retro colours) (plus other dates) (1st); Sukhoi Superjet 100-95B EI-FWB Cityjet brought the Scotland football team back from Lithuania after a World Cup Qualifier 3-0 victory, plus Boeing 737-86J(WL) OM-NAS Alba Star (2nd); Airbus A320-232 LZ-BHG BH Air (plus other dates) and Boeing 737-408 EC-LAV Alba Star (plus other dates) (3rd); Boeing 757-231(WL) N717TW Delta Airlines (Skyteam colours) (4th); Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-DCL Ryanair (Dreamliner colours) and Superjet 100-95B EI-FWB Cityjet again (6th)...
Virgin Atlantic A330-343 G-VINE had spent most of Friday the 15th circuit training at Prestwick but somewhat unusually night-stopped at Glasgow.
easyJet A319-111 G-EZBG `Hamburg` about to line-up for a Runway 05 departure on Wednesday 27 September.
Boeing 767-35D(ER) EC-LZO Privilege Style worked a Thomas Cook flight, plus Boeing 737-8K5(WL) YR-BMH Blue Air (City of Liverpool Livery) (7th); Boeing 767-35D(ER) EC-LZO Privilege again (8th); Boeing 757-224(WL) N14120 United (Star Alliance colours), Airbus A330-243 G-MLJL Thomas Cook, Airbus A319-114 D-AILX
Lufthansa, Boeing 737-71B(WL F-GZTP ASL Airlines France (plus other dates) and Boeing 737-4Y0 EC-MFS Alba Star. Virgin Atlantic B747-4 G-VROS arrived at 08:00 hrs as scheduled outbound for Orlando but this and subsequent Florida flights were cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. The aircraft returned to Manchester a couple of hours later. (9th); Boeing 737-73S(WL) (corporate) EI-SEV Ryanair and Bombardier CRJ-900ER OY-KFD SAS (Copenhagen - Aberdeen diversion due a hole appearing in the runway at Dyce) (10th)...
Lufthansa, Boeing 737-71B(WL F-GZTP ASL Airlines France (plus other dates) and Boeing 737-4Y0 EC-MFS Alba Star. Virgin Atlantic B747-4 G-VROS arrived at 08:00 hrs as scheduled outbound for Orlando but this and subsequent Florida flights were cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. The aircraft returned to Manchester a couple of hours later. (9th); Boeing 737-73S(WL) (corporate) EI-SEV Ryanair and Bombardier CRJ-900ER OY-KFD SAS (Copenhagen - Aberdeen diversion due a hole appearing in the runway at Dyce) (10th)...
Boeing 757-26D(WL) F-HAVI OpenSkies (f/v) (arrived with Paris Saint-Germain FC for their 1st leg Champions League match against Celtic), plus Airbus A319-132 D-AGWE Germanwings (f/v) (11th); Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-FZY Ryanair (f/v) (12th); Airbus A330-343 OY-VKG Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia (plus other dates) (14th); Airbus A330-343 G-VINE Virgin Atlantic (15th); A321-211(WL) TF-GPA Wow Air (f/v) (medical diversion Keflavik > Paris CDG), Boeing 737-8K2(WL) PH-BXA KLM Retro colours and Embraer ERJ-170STD F-HBXJ HOP! (F/v) (16th); Airbus A330-243 G-MDBD Thomas Cook (18th); Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GDC Ryanair (f/v) (19th); Boeing 757-256 G-POWH Titan Airways (plus other dates) (22nd)...
BA A320-232 G-EUYJ taxis out for departure on the 13th as Air Transat A330 C-GUFR takes-off for Vancouver.
Boeing 767-36N(ER) G-POWD Titan Airways (plus other dates) (23rd); Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-FZZ Ryanair (f/v) (24th); BAe146-200 G-SMLA and Avro RJ85 G-JOTR, both Jota Aviation taking Celtic FC and fans to Belgium for a Champions League match against Anderlecht (26th); Airbus A320-214(WL) OE-IVA easyJet Europe (f/v) (27th); Bombardier CRJ-200ER ZS-NMH South African Express Airways (f/v), plus RJ85 G-JOTR and BAE146-200 G-SMLA returned with Celtic FC and fans (28th).
Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EPM arrives from Dubai on Wednesday 6 September.
Emirates and low-cost operator FlyDubai are building on their existing commercial ties with an extensive new partnership agreement. Both airlines are owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai but independently managed. By 2020, the shared Emirates and FlyDubai network is estimated to reach 240 destinations, served by a combined fleet of around 380 aircraft.
Air Transat A310-308 C-GLAT vacates Runway 23 after landing on Friday 15 September.
HOP! ERJ-190STD F-HBLH and Eastern Airways Saab 2000 G-CDEB.
Another view of Delta Boeing 757-2Q8(WL) N6710TW on the 15th. The towers of the Erskine Bridge are partially visible in the background.
These shots of Air Transat Airbus A310 C-GTSR coming in to land on Saturday 30 September were the last taken this month. The big jet`s appearance spooked a flock of Starlings and around a dozen Song Thrushes that were either contentedly perched on the telephone wires or bathing in nearby puddles.
Turboprop Airliners
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On 1 September 2017, Loganair started operations as an independent airline for the first time in 25 years. For the last eight years, the airline had been operating as a franchise partner of Flybe, which will now compete with Loganair after forming an alliance with Humberside-based Eastern Airways.
The move has placed the two sets of carriers in direct competition on a number of routes in the Highlands and Islands including Glasgow to Stornoway and flights to Shetland from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. The airlines will also be flying from Aberdeen to Orkney. |
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Prior to Loganair`s operations in conjunction with Flybe, the Glasgow-based airline had a long-running franchise arrangement with British Airways. Twin Otter G-BVVK (above & right) is still operational and a regular feature at Glasgow Airport.
Earlier this month easyJet launched the first global airline connections service by a European low fares airline. It`s intended that the advanced booking platform will make it easier for easyJet passengers to book connecting long-haul flights with several other airlines including WestJet and Norwegian, when purchasing their easyJet ticket. New partners and additional connections are due to be rolled out at other European airports in the not too distant future. A major bonus for Loganair is that easyJet.com are also now offering tickets on their behalf. |
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Tartan Twins: A pair of recently painted Saab 340s come head-to-head on the 14th.
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Fairly quiet on the turboprop front this month although Saab 2000 G-CFLU (above) and BAe Jetstream 41 G-MAJC, both Eastern Airways, are now based at Glasgow and operating a number of routes on behalf of FlyBe.
Left: US-registered Saab 340B N457X (f/v) landed late afternoon on Saturday 23 September and stopped over. I`d hoped to get a decent shot of it on Sunday morning, but it took off into the grey sky around 08:00 hrs just as I was approaching the airport. Fairchild Dornier SA.227DC Metro 23 N3533Q (f/v) stopped off for just over an hour during the afternoon of Sunday 24 September. |
Biz-Jets
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US-registered Falcon 2000 N215RE (right) is apparently now based but spends most of its time tucked-up inside the Gama hangar.
Biz-jet movements for September included Bombardier Global 6000 CS-GLC, Falcon 2000LX G-PULA, Gulfstream 200 G-GZOO and Citation XLS CS-DXP (1st); Cessna Citation Bravo G-IPLY (plus other dates) (2nd); Gulfstream 200 G-GZOO (3rd); Gulfstream V-SP CS-DKI, Bombardier Challenger 300 9H-VCN and Citation XLS+ D-CXLS (4th); Cessna Citation XLS+ G-CHUI and Phenom 300 G-JMBO (5th)... |
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After a long spell under cover N215RE exited the hangar on the 30th and headed State-side.
Bombardier Global 5000 C-GJCB (f/v), CitationJet CJ2 D-INOB and Citation Mustang G-FFFC (plus other dates) (6th); Dassault Falcon 2000 N717FM (f/v), Cessna 650 Citation III OY-EDP and Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 EI-WFI Westair Aviation (7th); Bombardier Global 6000 N60XC (f/v), Bombardier Global Express N887WM (f/v), Learjet 35A D-CFTG and Citation XLS+ G-CHUI Air Charter Scotland (8th); CitationJet M2 G-CMTO (9th); Falcon 50EX M-CICO (10th)...
Bombardier Global 6000 N60XC and Global Express N887WM, both first-time visitors, are seen here on Taxiway `Y` on Friday 9 September.
Israel Aircraft Industries IAI-1126 Galaxy (Gulfstream G200) 4X-CLL (f/v) (11th); Airbus A319-115(CJ)(WL) D-ALEX K5-Aviation (f/v), Gulfstream 5 N721MC, Falcon 7X M-CELT, Bombardier Global Express D-AXTM (f/v), Global 6000 EC-LTF, Learjet 35A D-CFOR, Cessna 550 Citation II F-HBZA (f/v) and Citation Excel G-IPAX (12th); Gulfstream GV-SP N688CB (f/v) and Cessna Citation CJ2 D-IMAX (13th); Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign SE-RFH, Learjet 35A D-CFOR, Citation Mustang OE-FDT (f/v) and Citation CJ3 G-YEDC (14th); Cessna 680A Citation Latitude CS-LTC (15th)...
Corporate Jet movements continued with Challenger 350 9H-VCK VIstaJet, Cessna 680A Citation Latitude CS-LTB, CitationJet CJ2 M-ICRO, Raytheon Hawker 750 CS-DUA and Beechcraft 400XTi-Nextant G-SKBD (16th); Citation Latitude CS-LTC and Citation XLS CS-DXT (17th); Learjet 45 G-GMAA Gama Aviation (18th); Raytheon Hawker 750XP 9H-BSA, Cessna Citation XLS+ SE-RHD (f/v), Gulfstream G100 OE-GKW (f/v) and Embraer Phenom 300 D-CMMP (f/v) (19th); Cessna Citation XLS CS-DXO (20th)...
A closer view of Global 6000 N60XC (f/v).
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Bombardier Global 6000 N141QS and Falcon 2000EX G-SMSM (21st); Dornier Do326JET-310 D-BADC of ADAC (Aero-Dienst), Bombardier Global 6000 CS-GLG (f/v), Global 5000 N117QS (f/v) (right), Falcon 900EX D-AZEM, Citation XLS CS-DXT, plus Learjet 45s G-GMAA and G-XJET (22nd); Challenger 350 9H-VCD, Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign SE-RFH and Citation Bravo G-CGEI (23rd); Embraer Legacy 650 G-SUGR, Gulfstream V-SP CS-DKK (24th); Falcon 900B N999EH (f/v), Challenger 350 9H-VCJ VistaJet and Citation Bravo G-CGEI (25th), IAI-1125A Astra SPX C-FRJZ (f/v) (27th); Cessna CitationJet CJ4 F-HATG (f/v) and Citation XLS+ D-CBBB (28th)...
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Bombardier Challenger 350 9H-VCB VistaJet, Raytheon Hawker 800XPi CS-DRU NetJets Europe, Citation Bravo G-CGEI and Citation Excel G-IPAX (29th); Bombardier Global 5000 VT-JSK (f/v), Falcon 2000EX CS-DLH, Citation Bravo G-SPRE and Air Hamburg Citation XLS D-CFLY (30th).
Citation Bravo G-IPLY rolling down Runway 23 on Saturday 9 September.
CS-LTC was one of two Portuguese-registered Citations to arrive on the 17th.
An Austrian and two German corporate jets were together on Area Juliet on the morning of the 15th: Citation Mustang OE-FDT, Learjet 35A D-CFOR and Citation CJ2 D-IMAX, only the Mustang visiting Glasgow International for the first time.
Gulfstream V-SP N688CB (f/v), a night-stopper from the 13th, is seen here being prepared for departure the following afternoon.
Global Express N887WM, Gulfstream 5 N721MC and Global Express D-AXTM on Taxiway Yankee on the 12th. Air Transat A330 C-GITS arrives from Canada.
I assume the appearance of French-registered Citation II F-HBZA (f/v) on the 12th was connected with the Celtic v Paris Saint-Germain match later that day.
Falcon 900B N999EH, seen here on the 27th, made its first visit to Glasgow when it touched-down two days previously.
Bombardier Global Express D-AXTM (f/v) photographed in the sunshine on the 12th.
VistaJet Challenger 9H-VCK arrived on Saturday 16 September and relocated to the Gama apron on the 28th.
Cessna CitationJet CJ4 F-HATG (f/v) and Citation XLS+ D-CBBB were alongside on the executive ramp on the morning of the 28th.
A nice first-time visitor to finish the month with: Bombardier Global 5000-BD-700-1A11 bearing the Indian registration VT-JSK called in on Saturday 30 September.
General Aviation
The highlight for many this month was the appearance of Beech 18 N184KP which arrived on Friday 15 September and night-stopped, departing around 10:20 hrs the following morning. I`d imagine the last of this type to grace the airfield would have been Loganair`s old workhorse G-ASUG, which is now on display at the Scottish National Museum of Flight at East Fortune.
Swiss-registered Beech 58P Pressurised Baron HB-GGP visited on Thursday 7 September.
Aerospatiale AS.365 N2 Dauphin II G-PDGO (1st); Mooney M.20J G-OBAL, Eurocopter EC135T1 G-SCAA, plus Sikorsky S-92A G-MCGF and AW189 G-MCGR both HM Coastguard (2nd); King Air 200s M-OTOR and G-WVIP, plus AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGT HM Coastguard (4th); Aérospatiale AS 355F1 Ecureuil 2 G-BVLG and AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGT again (5th); King Air 350 G-LBSB, Piper PA-42 Cheyenne OK-OKS (f/v) and AS355F1 Ecureuil 2 G-BVLG (6th); Beech 58P Pressurised Baron HB-GGP and Sikorsky S-92A G-MCGF HM Coastguard (7th); Eurocopter EC155B1 G-CFOJ (f/v), Eurocopter AS350B2 Ecureuil G-PDGF, AgustaWestland AW109SP GrandNew G-MAOL and AW189 G-MCGT HM Coastguard (8th); AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGT HM Coastguard (10th)...
Apart from visits by BH Air airliners in summer, not many Bulgarian-registered planes visit Glasgow. P-180 Avanti II LZ-ASO (f/v) arrived here on the 11th.
Piaggio P-180 Avanti II LZ-ASO (f/v), Piper PA-31 Navajo G-UCAM (f/v) and AS355F2 Ecureuil 2 G-PDGT (11th); Raytheon T-6B Texan II N3000B plus King Air 200s G-WVIP and M-OTOR (12th); Piaggio P-180 Avanti II PH-TCN and AS350B2 Ecureuil G-PLMH (13th); King Air 350 G-SRBM and King Air 200GT M-OTOR (14th); Beech 18 N184KP (f/v) (15th); Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 Ecureuil 2 G-BVLG (16th); Pilatus PC-12 2-DARE (f/v) and Grob G115E Tutor T.1 G-CGKR (f/v), the latter now based (19th); Pilatus PC-12 2-DARE returned, plus King Air 350 F-HPGA (f/v), Cessna 182T F-HTLV (f/v) and Cessna 172 Skyhawk G-NALA (f/v) (21st)...
King Air 200GT M-WATJ (22nd); AgustaWestland AW109SP G-IWFC (23rd); King Air 90GTx G-MOSJ and AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGR HM Coastguard (24th); AW189 G-MCGR returned (25th); SOCATA TBM-930 N930ZB (f/v), King Air 200GT M-WATJ and another couple of visits by AW189 G-MCGR (26th); Raytheon T-6B Texan II N3000B, King Air 200 G-GMAE (f/v) and new resident Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior G-CDDG (f/v) (28th); Piaggio P.180 Avanti D-IKSI (f/v), plus repeat visits by Pilatus PC-12s 2-DARE and M-YBLS (29th); Piaggio P-180 M-ONTE and Bell 206 Jet Ranger G-XBOX (30th).
Eurocopter EC155B1 G-CFOJ made its first visit to Glsgow International on the 8th and along with Ecureuil G-PDGF was involved with transferring passengers from Bombardier Global 6000 N60XC and Global Express N887WM, also first-time visitors. that had parked up on the far side of the airfield on Taxiway Y.
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Pilatus PC-12 2-DARE made several appearances this month and is seen here on Friday 29th.
Military
Royal Navy AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin HM.1 ZH826 (f/v), call-sign `Senator 501`called in late afternoon on the 1st. Boeing CH-47D Chinook HC.3s ZH903 (f/v) call-sign `Ultimate Two`and ZH895/HJ `Ultimate One` both landed as `Ultimate` flight on Taxiway Y` at 1525 hrs on Tuesday 5 September and remained on the ground for about an hour.
Embraer EMB 121 Xingu 85 French Navy, call-sign `French Navy 1953` landed just before 20:00 hrs on Thursday 6 September and night-stopped. The Xingu (pronounced `Shingoo`) is a product of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, who named the aircraft after one of the country`s major rivers, which, after flowing for almost 2,000 km connects with the Amazon River at the head of the Amazon delta.
KC-130J 168071 (f/v) call-sign `Bronco 31`of the US Marine Corps landed at 17:00 hrs on Saturday 23 September and night-stopped. The BH tail code identifies this aircraft as belonging to VMGR-252 based at Cherry Point MCAS in North Carolina. The Herc tanker departed at 13:10 hrs the following afternoon. According to Flightradar24, Army Air Corps BN-2T-4S Defender AL.2 ZH002 called in on the afternoon of the 26th.
On Monday 25th, Royal Navy EH101 Merlin HM.1 ZH826 / CU-68, call-sign `Kingfisher 501, landed at 14:25 hrs and took off an hour later. It was back on the morning of the 27th (above) and with HMS Somerset at Faslane and HMS St Albans berthing at the KGV later that day, it`s a reasonable assumption is that the chopper was attached to one of the RN vessels taking part in Joint Warrior.
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Late afternoon on Thursday 28 September, I was on the south bank of the Clyde at Newshot Island photographing a French warship heading for the KGV Dock when another Royal Navy Merlin appeared and flew very low overhead as it lined up for a Runway 23 approach. A second EH101 touched-down half an hour later and both night-stopped. The machines were Merlin HC.3 ZJ994(AC), call-sign `Jungly One`and ZJ123(G) `Jungly Two` (f/v).
RAF BAe-146-100 CC.2 ZE701 also visited on the 28th and remained until 17:45 hrs the following day.
Merlin HC.3 ZJ994(AC), call-sign `Jungly One` over Newshot Island, positioning for finals on the 28th.
RAF Airbus KC.3 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) ZZ334 (f/v) descends over Renfrew on approach for Runway 23, Friday 29 September 2017.
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The tanker was on the ground here from 08:10 until 17:30 hrs.
Another large military aircraft making its inaugural appearance at Glasgow Airport on the 29th was C-160D Transall 50+76 of the German Air Force. The Transall was designed and produced as a joint venture between France and Germany and the name is an abbreviation of the specially formed consortium Transporter Allianz, comprising the companies of MBB, Aerospatiale and VFW-Fokker. As well as serving with the French and German Air Forces, the type has been exported to South Africa and Turkey, as well as a small number of civilian operators. The Transall, which first flew in 1963, will gradually be replaced in French and German service by the Airbus A400M Atlas.
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EH101`Jungly One` ZJ994(AC) got airborne at 08:40 hrs on the 29th, but made two return visits later that day. `Jungly Two` ZJ123(G) remained at Glasgow until 16:20 hrs. The Merlin Mk.3 is the Sea King HC.4 replacement primarily used by the Royal Marine Commando Helicopter Force (CHF). No.846 NAS (Naval Air Squadron) reformed with ex-RAF Merlin HC.3s on 30 September 2014 and 845 NAS followed suit on 9 July 2015.
...and Finally, a Few from Prestwick
The Scottish International Airshow was held off the Ayr seafront and Prestwick Airport over the weekend 2nd / 3rd September 2017, but I didn`t bother to attend due to a fairly small flying program, previous problems with traffic congestion before and after the event, and a none too favourable weather forecast on the Sunday which would have been the only day available to me. Instead, I went down to the airport on Friday 1 September for a few hours hoping to catch some of the participating aircraft that arrived early. Catalina G-PBYA , or more accurately a Canadian-built Vickers PBY-5A Canso, 433915 `Miss Pick Up` had arrived the previous day and made a couple of flights over the seafront at Ayr on the Friday morning to publicise the event.
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Belgian Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16AM Fighting Falcons FA-134 and FA-123 did an overshoot and break before landing. They were preceded by their support aircraft in the shape of Embraer ERJ-145LR, serial number CE-03, call-sign `BAF 615`. It didn`t stay for the duration of the show and took off just before 11:00 hrs, a couple of hours after landing.
The Belgian Air Force, or Belgian Air Component to be more accurate, currently has four of these VIP ERJ-145s in its inventory.
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RAF Typhoon FGR.4s ZK354 and ZK352 landed just after the Belgian F-16s cleared the runway. Tucano T1s ZF289 and ZF512, plus Grob G115E Tutors G-BYXM and G-BYXZ arrived late afternoon, after I`d set off for home.
This particular Boeing A75N1 Stearman, registration number G-BTFG. has been painted in US Navy colours and dates from 1940. This type of biplane was mass produced in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s and used primarily as a military trainer with over 10,626 built. Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934, after which the model was also referred to the Kaydet. As well as the US Navy, the Stearman was also used to train pilots for the United States Army Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force throughout World War II. After the conflict ended, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civilian market. In the immediate postwar years they became popular as crop dusters, sports planes, and for aerobatic and wing walking use in airshows.
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The de Havilland Dragonfly was the last of the company`s series of bi-planes and production began at their Hatfield Aerodrome site in 1936.
The Dragonfly was designed as a twin-engined luxury biplane and bears a distinct family resemblance to the Rapide, although it is much smaller. The Dragonfly's fuselage was a new construction developed from the highly successful Comet Racer. Sixty-six `Dragonflies` were built in total between 1936 and 1938, and G-AEDU, which is owned by Shipping & Airlines Ltd, dates from 1937 and is one of only two flying examples in existence. She is powered by two 145hp Gipsy Major 10 Mk1-IIIs with two-blade wooden Hoffman propellers. |
After I left early afternoon, the most noteworthy additions arriving for Saturday`s display were P-51 Mustangs G-SHWN and G-BIXL, Spitfire PR MK.XIX PS915 and DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 G-CIGE. The RAF involvement in the show consisted of Eurocopter AS350BB Squirrel HT1s ZJ273, ZJ275 and the Hawks of the Red Arrows: XX177/XX322/XX242/XX310/XX278/XX245/XX311/XX323/XX319/XX204/XX232, plus Dornier Do228 C-FPSH which was the jumping-off platform for the RAF Falcons parachute display team.
Also taking part in the show and arriving on the Friday were Polish-built MiG-15UTI (PZL-Mielec SBLim-2) N104CJ, Yakovlev YAK-3M G-OLEG, Van's RV-8s G-MAXV, G-CJSM, G-EGRV, G-CIBM and G-SOUT, Aerotek Pitts S-1Ds G-PIII and G-IIIP and RotorSport UK Calidus Autogyro G-DISP. There was also an unconnected military movement in the shape of Canadian Armed Forces Airbus CC-150 Polaris (A310-304) serial number 15002 which landed at 18:20 hrs.
Boeing 777-F28 F-GUOB of Air France Cargo visited in the morning and a Cargolux Boeing 747, LX-ECV, appeared as scheduled in the afternoon.
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The only biz-jet present was Vistajet`s Bombardier Challenger 300 9H-VCD which took off during the morning after night-stopping.
Several light aircraft not connected with the show were buzzing about and Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter D-FIBE was in one of the hangars.
Aérospatiale AS 355F1 Ecureuil 2 G-NETR of PDG Helicopters.
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HM Coastguard AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGT.
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Evektor-Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar G-CENW and Van's RV-7A G-VANN.
Please bear in mind that all my images on this website and my blog are copyright. They are not free to use and have been embedded with a digital watermark.
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September 2017
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