Glw Apt 2020 September

Glasgow Airport Movements 2020

September

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Once again rapidly changing international travel restrictions have cut weak demand even further, driving huge gouges into the finances of airlines, airports, hotels and all tourism venues. It would appear that every airline’s proposed restart date is drifting to the right not just by days but by weeks or even months. Planned frequencies are also being significantly reduced. Below: Passengers queuing in the West Pier at Glasgow Airport as they wait to board their flight.

A stark measure of the current situation is the number of inbound flight plans that were submitted for Glasgow International this July - only 854 compared to 4,181 in July 2019 - a whopping drop of just under 80%. The CAA tables for the same period confirm the trend with just 68,000 passengers transiting the terminal which is down 93% on July 2019. As a comparison Edinburgh`s July 2020 tally was 169,000, down 89% with Prestwick at 14,000, a drop of 83%. August showed Glasgow recording 163,000 passengers during the month, down 82% on August 2019, Edinburgh saw 315,000, down 79% and Prestwick 13,000, a reduction of 84%.

Restrictions on people visiting other households were reintroduced in the City of Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire on 2 September after concerns about the rise in the number of Coronavirus cases, not only in Scotland, but across the UK. By the end of the month, the global number of infections had topped 32 million. More than one million people have now died since the outbreak began in China late last year with many regions still reporting surging numbers of new cases. The latest tally by Johns Hopkins University shows that deaths in the USA, Brazil and India make up nearly half that total.

In the British Isles, according to government figures, there have already been more than 400,000 confirmed cases and over 40,000 related deaths. However, the latter total includes only people who have passed away within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 and other measures suggest the number of fatalities is higher. With regard to Europe, the World Health Organisation's regional director Hans Kluge said that in two weeks the number of new cases had doubled in more than half of the member states. (Above Image © Glasgow Herald).

A new law came into force later in the month, limiting social get-togethers throughout Scotland to a maximum of six people from two households amid concerns about links between large indoor gatherings and the spread of COVID-19. As of 9 September, there had been 294 arrests for related breaches and 3,388 fixed penalty notices issued. Over the September Weekend (Friday 25 - Monday 28 September), officers from Police Scotland were called out to 405 house parties. Six people were arrested and one fixed penalty notice was issued, while many others were given appropriate advice prior to being dispersed. Not everyone is supportive of the measures. Two officers who went to a house in Edinburgh were allegedly assaulted and the windows of two police vehicles were also smashed. Two men, both aged 47, were subsequently arrested. Police Scotland also confirmed that officers responded to 1,552 reports of noise, public nuisance and disturbance between Friday and Sunday, an increase of of 41% compared with the same weekend last year.

Students were encouraged to return to universities across the UK to start the latest semester, after the government decreed that University education throughout the UK would not suffer as a result of the ongoing pandemic. The decision, however, was described as shambolic by student unions after Coronavirus outbreaks at halls of residences and other student accommodation led to total lockdowns. It`s estimated that over 3,000 students at universities from Dundee to Exeter had been forced to self isolate.

Students spoke of their worry and confusion at being locked down and in Manchester, security prevented anyone from leaving the campus. Glasgow Uni saw two Coronavirus clusters which forced hundreds there to self isolate. Apart from the virus, many students are understandably concerned about their finances, both with regard to tuition fees and accommodation costs. Some universities offered rent rebates in recognition of the difficult circumstances and handed out emergency cash to be spent on food. The National Union of Students (NUS) said students should be able to return to their families because being `trapped` in university accommodation would only add to their anxiety at an already difficult time. It called for universities to support students with food deliveries and provide access to mental health services. These shots show that at least some of the lockdown students have got their priorities right when requesting emergency rations!

The US death toll from the pandemic passed 200,000 this month with the country`s total infection rate fast approaching 7 million. Cases are rising in 24 states, Washington DC, and two territories, and there are now more than 59,000 cases of Coronavirus on American college campuses after many schools decided to open despite adopting insufficient safety measures. As usual, there`s no visible sign of concern from the White House about the deteriorating COVID situation, possibly played down even more than usual as this development coincides with the latest phase in the presidential race in which Donald Trump is trying to convince voters that the worst of the emergency has passed. In typical, delusional Trump style, the President said in an interview with a local Fox station in Detroit `I think we've done an amazing job ... in my opinion we're rounding the turn.` Just a few days before he had claimed the virus `affects virtually nobody` - a staggering comment on the eve of such a tragic milestone.

Back in Scotland, transport-wise, the Rest-and-be-Thankful near Arrochar was closed yet again this month after heavy rainfall forced mud and debris onto the carriageway. Just weeks before, both the A83 and the Old Military Road which runs below it at the foot of the glen, and is normally used as an alternative route, were closed following another massive landslide. The latest closure meant that hundreds of motorists were again faced with a 60-mile long detour.

An easyJet fleet of liquid hydrogen-fuelled Planes - Science Fiction or Reality?

In the ongoing battle against global warming the aviation sector has long since been regarded as one of the main contributors to the deteriorating situation. Now, aerospace giant Airbus has unveiled plans for what it hailed as the first commercial zero-emission aircraft. The company said one or more of its three ZEROe hydrogen-fuelled concept designs could be in service as passenger planes by 2035. Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury said the use of hydrogen had `the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact`, however, analysts point out that it`s not the first time that hydrogen has been touted as the saviour of modern air travel. The history of this fuel in aviation goes back to the days of airships in the early 20th Century, but the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 brought that era to an end. More recently, from 2000 to 2002, Airbus was involved in the EU-funded Cryoplane project, which studied the feasibility of a liquid hydrogen-fuelled aircraft but the idea fell out of favour - until now.

(Above image © Airbus)

These new designs are the result of a joint research project that Airbus launched with easyJet last year to consider hybrid and electric aircraft, given mounting pressure to find a way to make air travel more sustainable. Unveiling its latest blueprints, Airbus said its turbofan design could carry up to 200 passengers over 2,000 miles, while a turboprop concept would have 50% lower capacity and range. A third, `blended-wing body` aircraft was the most eye-catching of the three types. All would be powered by gas-turbine engines modified to burn liquid hydrogen, and these fuel cells would create electrical power. Airbus accepted that for the idea to work, airports would have to invest large sums of money in refuelling infrastructure.

Loganair, unlike many of its counterparts, had so far managed to weather the COVID storm relatively unscathed but early this month chief executive Jonathan Hinkles revealed that the company had been left with no alternative but to enter into a consultation process for 68 roles at risk of redundancy. Citing the Coronavirus pandemic as the biggest ever challenge in the airline`s 58-year history, he warned that staff at airports in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Inverness may be affected.

The company said 23 of the roles under threat are in Chester, which it plans to close altogether, with the remainder in Scotland. Loganair currently employs around 850 people across its network and Mr Hinkles said the company would look at relocation options for staff whose jobs were under threat. Other employees have agreed to a 20% pay cut over the winter season, while the launch of a skills retention programme would provide wages and continuity of employment until next spring for a further 40 staff for whom there is currently no work.

Ground handling agents Swissport and Menzies have been particularly badly hit by COVID-related job losses nationwide.

A very Short and Shaky Summer Season for the Waverley

It`s not only aerial re-starts that struggled this month. On Thursday 3 September, a number of passengers were injured after the paddle steamer Waverley collided with Brodick Pier on Arran. The alarm was raised at about 17:15 hrs and various agencies responded including Scottish Fire and Rescue, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland. A Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick, plus two Heli-med air ambulances were dispatched, along with the Arran Coastguard Rescue Team.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said that of the 213 passengers and 26 crew that were on board Waverley at the time, 24 people reported injuries, mostly of a minor nature. These casualties were treated at the scene but several with suspected head and spinal injuries were transferred to hospital, either on Arran by road, or on the mainland by helicopter. Most of the passengers stranded on the island were later returned to Ardrossan by an emergency sailing of a CalMac ferry.

Passengers both on board Waverley and on the pier described how she came in bow first at speed, clearly much faster than normal. The resultant impact, accompanied by a loud bang, brought the steamer to a sudden stop. Many people fell over where they stood, or were launched headlong along the decks. (Waverley accident images © Herald Scotland).

Waverley was built by A & J Inglis of Glasgow and launched in October 1946. Her maiden voyage was on 16 June 1947 and she has been sailing frequently ever since, not just in Scottish waters, but at various locations around the UK. She had only recently resumed operations after a two-year layoff, missing out on the entire 2019 season due to a lack of funding for essential repairs. An appeal was launched last June and hit its target in December after receiving a £1 million grant from the Scottish government. She is seen here at James Watt Dock in Greenock, minus funnels, at the turn of the year. They had to be removed so that her new boilers could be fitted.

Trips `Doon the Watter` on the historic vessel are very popular and many people were eagerly awaiting her return to service; then her first scheduled sailing of the year was cancelled due to an unexpected technical and administration issue. The ship, described as the world's last seagoing paddle steamer, is fast becoming one of the unluckiest! Waverley has been involved in numerous accidents over the years but only a few have been relatively serious. Recent mishaps include colliding with the pier at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and striking the breakwater at Dunoon.

The latest damage will take hundreds of thousands of pounds to repair and sourcing the necessary capital will be problematical, especially during the current pandemic. She was already operating a very short, socially distanced, summer season and usually runs at a loss. Even if she did get back in action next year, which is highly unlikely, passenger numbers would still have to be well below capacity.

(Above image © Sky News).

Still on a nautical theme, it was reported in the media that a number of sailors on the Royal Navy`s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth have tested positive for Coronavirus. The 65,000-tonne ship, currently in Portsmouth, had been due to leave for training exercises. The Ministry of Defence said fewer than ten of the vessel`s 1,000-strong compliment had tested positive for COVID-19, after the entire crew was swabbed for the virus before its latest deployment. Those affected have been taken ashore to isolate in barracks and around 100 additional personnel are self-isolating onboard. The carrier`s departure was pushed back by 24 hours. This is the second time that the Queen Elizabeth has had to delay a sailing due to Coronavirus as two crew members tested positive back in April. `Big Liz` is pictured below alongside her sister HMS Prince of Wales at Portsmouth last month being prepared for sea.

(Above image © Steve Moyes 20/20 Aviation Ltd).

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Jet Airliners

Above: Operating a Shuttle service, British Airways Airbus A320-251N G-TTNF sets off for London Heathrow on Saturday 19 September 2020.

This year has been disastrous for aviation but last year wasn`t a good one either. The Boeing 737 MAX, the company`s latest variant of its best-selling airliner, was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after a malfunctioning flight control system caused two of the planes to crash; one in Ethiopia in November 2018 and another in Indonesia in March 2019. A total of 346 people lost their lives.

Then came the news that as of 02:00 hrs on Monday 23 September 2019, the Thomas Cook Group, including the UK tour operator and airline, had ceased trading with immediate effect. All Thomas Cook bookings, including flights and holidays were cancelled worldwide with 22,000 staff, including 9,000 based in the UK, losing their jobs as a consequence. It left not only pilots, cabin crew and ground staff with shattered career plans. Around 600 high street travel stores closed and the domino effect following such a catastrophic collapse was huge, both at home and abroad with hundreds of smaller travel agents, suppliers and reliant businesses all affected.

It was obvious that major challenges lay ahead for the aviation industry, but no one could have envisaged the unprecedented situation the world now finds itself in thanks to COVID, not just with regard to travel but in all aspects of daily life.

When Thomas Cook collapsed last year, 600,000 people worldwide had their travel plans disrupted so the British government in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) initiated its biggest repatriation effort since the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Matterhorn, around 45 airliners, some from as far afield as the USA, North Africa and Malaysia, were chartered to bring back holidaymakers stranded overseas, free of charge.

Thomas Cook was subsequently bought by Chinese firm Fosun Tourism Group for £11 million and on 16 September this year Thomas Cook restarted operations as a holiday provider. The company doesn`t have any stores so packages are being sold online or over the telephone, initially to destinations on the government’s safe travel corridor list. The new website, which is licensed by the CAA and ATOL-protected, is offering customers thousands of hotels and flight routes so they can design their own holidays according to their budget, needs and specifications. Thomas Cook has managed to keep the brand’s original logo and is employing around 50 people.

The first weekend following the 2019 collapse, saw a scheduled Virgin Jumbo and various other large airliners including two A380s, either coming, going or parked-up at Glasgow International, and there was a 24 hour period which must have seen the largest-ever number of wide-bodies (aircraft-wise) at the airport. While the mass aerial repatriation was a spectacle that attracted not just aviation enthusiasts to many UK airports, it was something that no one would ever have wished for given the sad end for what was once such an iconic British company and the detrimental impact its collapse has had on so many people`s lives.

September is usually when Renfrewshire Council hold their Doors Open Days which in recent years has included access to the old All Hallows Churchyard, a superb vantage point looking across the Black Cart Water to the Runway 23 threshold. The shot of the A380 on the right was taken from there last September but thanks to the pandemic it`s going to be a very long time before locals can access this location again.

On Wednesday 9 August 2020, all but one of the BA airliners in long term storage on Taxiway Y were towed to stands on the terminal-side of the airfield.

The only one left on the north side was A321-231 G-EUXK (above). G-EUXD is pictured below on the West Apron before it was joined by several others.

Most were parked closer to the control tower and BA Engineering hangar.

The following gallery features some of the first BA aircraft to arrive for storage back in March this year...

easyJet will dispose of at least 34 aircraft including nine A320s before the end of the year. Some deals are already complete with one batch going to United Airlines. Five Airbus A321neos, ranging from just five to nine months in age, have been sold to Chinese company Bocomm Leasing, raising $266 million in the process. The downsizing programme in total has raised $771 million, to “maximise liquidity” and strengthen easyJet`s financial position in these increasingly challenging times. Roughly 50% of easyJet’s fleet is now leased, with the remainder owned by the airline.

On 23 October, unmarked Titan Airways Airbus A321-211 G-POWN took Rangers FC to Eindhoven for a Europa League Third Round Qualifier against Dutch side Willem II. The Gers won the match comfortably by four goals to nil which set them up to face Galatasaray at Ibrox on October 1 in a play-off for a place in the group stages. The same Titan aircraft was used to return the victorious Rangers team to Glasgow on the 25th.

As of the end of August, Air Transat consolidated its twice-weekly service to / from both Glasgow and Manchester by combining both on it`s Toronto route.

A321NX C-GOIH is pictured above, pushing back on the 17th.

The resumption of the A380 on the Emirates Dubai / Glasgow route, due to begin on 1 September, has been pushed back yet again, this time to summer next year. Currently there are four weekly Boeing 777 flights which are set to continue until the end of October. Edinburgh remains at daily from 1 October for the present, with this service being boosted by re-routed Newcastle passengers. This information is unlikely to remain current for long given the ever changing impact of COVID on international travel.

Probably the quietest ever September in recent memory for noteworthy airliners but a few football charters added a bit of interest: Airbus A321-271NX C-GOIJ Air Transat (3rd); A321-271NX C-GOIO Air Transat and A320-232 4X-ABG Israir (6th); Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EPD Emirates (Expo 2020 blue livery) (plus other dates) (9th); Airbus A321-271NX C-GOIJ Air Transat (10th); Boeing 737-484 9H-MPW Air Horizont (15th); Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EPK Emirates (Expo 2020 blue) operated a morning cargo-only flight (16th); A321-271NX C-GOIE Air Transat (17th); Airbus A320-251N G-UZLI (f/v) easyJet and Embraer ERJ-145LR G-CISK Eastern Airways (19th); Airbus A320-214(WL) OE-ICI (f/v) (Ex G-EZOZ) easyJet Europe (20th); Boeing 777-36N(ER) A6-ECD Emirates (Expo 2020 orange livery) (21st); Airbus A321-211 G-POWN Titan Airways (23rd); Boeing 737-8AS(WL) SP-RKI (f/v) Ryanair Sun, plus Titan Airways A321 G-POWN returned (25th); Airbus A320-214(WL) OE-ICD (f/v) easyJet Europe (27th); Boeing 737-8F2(WL) TC-JHA (f/v) Turkish Airlines (f/t Istanbul) plus Titan A321-211 G-POWN made another visit (30th).

Above: Having appeared on Monday 31 August, Israir Airlines Airbus A320-232 4X-ABG returned on 6 September when I managed to get this photograph. The plane is seen here about 09:00 hrs shortly before push-back. I`ve snapped some of this carriers` fleet at Corfu Airport when on holiday. Israir and Arkia both operate scheduled services to the island during the summer months.

This shot, taken a couple of years ago, shows 4X-ABF jetting off from Corfu on the return flight to Tel Aviv. This Greek island`s airport must be one of the best locations in Europe for aircraft photographers with the planes passing below the terraces of hotels and cafes as they come in to land. Although Corfu International won`t be as busy as it once was, at least for a while yet, a dedicated section on this website has additional photos and detailed information on the best vantage points. Click here to view.

Above: With KLM mostly operating four Embraer Cityhopper jets from Amsterdam Schiphol to Glasgow each day for the past couple of months, Boeing 737-8K2 PH-BGC on Thursday 10 September was the first of the carrier`s Boeing 737s that I`d seen for a while.

Boeing 737-7K2(WL) PH-BGK was on the Amsterdam - Glasgow run one week later.

Conditions were superb on the morning of Saturday 19 September when Ryanair 737 EI-DLC arrived from Dublin, however, just moments before the jet`s wheels hit the tarmac the pilot reported a bird strike. The culprit / victim was one of a flock of Canada Geese that had been flying in a northeasterly direction across the runway.

Airside Ops carried out a check as EI-DLC taxied toward the terminal but no remains were found and the aircraft was found to be undamaged.

The potential for bird strikes increases towards autumn as many species gather to overwinter in the fields surrounding the airport.

The last Emirates flight this month was operated by Boeing Triple-seven A6-EGZ on Wednesday 30 September...

Turboprop Airliners

Nothing of note here with Loganair making up the bulk of the movements as usual.

Please bear in mind that all my images are subject to copyright. They are not free to use and have been embedded with a digital watermark.

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Biz-Jets

Stopping over from last month were Gulfstream VI N8833 (above) and Embraer Phenom G-JMBO, both of which departed on the 1st. Arriving the same day were Gulfstream G650ER VP-CYL, Bombardier Global 6000 CS-GLG, Dassault Falcon 2000EX CS-DFF, Cessna 750 Citation X D-BOOC Air X, Embraer Legacy 500 G-HARG and Embraer Phenom 300 CS-PHG (1st); Citation Mustang N759SB (f/v) (2nd); Bombardier Challenger 605 VP-BGM, Citation Bravo G-CMBC and Embraer Phenom 300 G-JMBO (3rd); Embraer Legacy 500 G-MRFX (f/v), Citation Bravo G-CMBC returned (plus other dates) and Citation Mustang G-FFFC (4th); Learjet 60 N202N and Phenom 300 CS-PHH (5th); Gulfstream IV N60GG (f/v), Global 6000 CS-GLC and Hawker Beechcraft 400XP SP-TAT (6th); Gulfstream IV N450QS (f/v) from Knock (7th); Embraer Legacy 650 G-SUGR Air Charter Scotland (8th); Gulfstream G100 OE-GKW Tyrol Air Ambulance and Eclipse 500 2-JEZA (9th); Embraer Phenom 300 M-YAIC (f/v) (10th)...

Cessna 510 Citation Mustang N759SB arrived from Oxford on 2 September.

Cessna Citation M2 G-CMTO and CitationJet CJ2 G-ZEUZ (11th); Cessna Citation XLS+ D-CANG Air Hamburg and Phenom 300 G-JMBO (plus other dates) (13th); Citation Sovereign SE-RFL and Citation M2 M-KNOX (14th); Dassault Falcon 8X G-GVOE (f/v) and Citation XLS+ D-CSCB (15th); Gulfstream IV-SP N91JS, Citation Excel G-SIRS and Citation Sovereign SE-RFL returned (16th); Bombardier Global Express XRS N93FX (f/v), Global 6000 CS-GLB, Citation XLS D-CHDJ (17th); Challenger 850 (Bombardier CRJ-200ER) 9H-AMY Air X Charter, Challenger 605 9H-VFG VistaJet, Challenger 604 T7-RAK, Cessna Citation XLS CS-DQA and Learjet 75 C-FGHL (f/v) (18th); Bombardier Global 5000 CS-GLZ (f/v) (20th)...

Learjet 60 N202N repositioned from Edinburgh on 5 September.

Raytheon 390 Premier I D-IMAU (f/v), plus Learjet 75 C-FGHL returned (21st); Citation Mustang OE-FWF (22nd); Challenger 604 D-AUKE, Citation Latitude CS-LTH, Citation Mustang OE-FZD and Citation Excel G-IPAX (23rd); Citation Latitude CS-LTM, plus Citation Excel G-IPAX returned (25th); Cessna Citation ISP N501NZ (26th); Cessna CitationJet CJ2+ G-TWOP (28th). A repeat visit by Citation Bravo G-CMBC on the 29th rounded up this month`s corporate visitors.

Above: Citation M2 M-KNOX M-KNOX parked opposite Lear 60 N202N on 17.9.20.

Above: Bombardier Challenger 605 VP-BGM, which was on a round trip from Farnborough, is adorned with some pretty unusual tail art.

I caught Manx-registered Embraer Phenom 300 M-YAIC heading for Area Juliet shortly after it landed on 10 September.

Above: Global Express XRS N93FX, an arrival from 17 September, parked on Area R. It took off into a cloudless sky two days later...

The aircraft, which had flown in to Glasgow from Teterboro, New Jersey, was repositioning to Edinburgh.

A distant view of Challenger D-AUKE and Citation Excel G-IPAX on Area J on 23 September 2020. Challenger 604 T7-RAK is pictured below on the 19th.

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General Aviation

I didn`t manage to photograph either of the vintage planes from the Aircraft Restoration Company which made brief, separate appearances at Glasgow Airport on Thursday 17 September. The first, Spitfire PR.XI PL983 (G-PRXI), emblazoned with `THANK U NHS` on the underside of its wings, did an impromptu go-around of Runway 05 at 14:25 hrs. Then, just over an hour later at 15:35 hrs, De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver AL.1 G-DHCZ, which I believe may have been operating as a camera platform / support aircraft, did a go-around of Runway 23.

(Image Credit: George Lewis Romain / ARCo)

Spitfire PL983 was built as a faster, non-armed, photo reconnaissance variant of the iconic WW2 fighter and currently sports the RAF`s wartime photo reconnaissance blue livery as originally worn. This particular veteran actually saw service in Europe during the conflict and subsequently in post war occupied Germany. Thereafter the plane changed hands many times, becoming a personal transport of an American Air Attaché then an air racer piloted by wartime Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Lettice Curtis. The Spitfire then passed to the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden where it became an external static display. Detailed information on further changes of ownership and its lengthy restoration to flying condition can be found on the Aircraft Restoration Co`s website.

The Spitfire was touring the UK, flying over hospitals to thank NHS staff for their efforts during the Coronavirus pandemic. The plane took off from Duxford Airport in Cambridgeshire, at the start of its journey during which it took in 98 hospitals including 25 in Scotland. In an effort to raise funds for NHS Charities Together, members of the public can nominate names of loved ones to be written on the plane, which has enough space for 80,000.

As the response to the specially-painted aircraft was so positive when it made a flypast at the end of the Clap For Carers campaign, John Romain, founder and managing director of the Aircraft Restoration Company decided to leave the message painted on the Spitfire for the rest of the flying season.

Above: A Heli-Med air ambulance chopper about to land on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital at Govan.

The hope is that seeing the Spitfire will help to lift the spirits of people across the UK, and at the same time recognise the hospitals, communities and individuals who have been at the forefront of helping the country through the pandemic. During the 1940’s, Spitfire funds were set up by local communities around the UK and Commonwealth countries to encourage a sense of purpose and hope in the struggle against adversity. During the morning of 17 September, PL983 headed north from Cumbernauld Airport and took in numerous hospitals between Edinburgh and Elgin before landing at Inverness for a lunch stop. The afternoon saw it fly over Glasgow`s Stobhill Hospital, Gartnavel General Hospital and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, then the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, amongst others. It`s a pity there wasn`t time allocated for the Golden Jubilee Hospital at Clydebank, as I`d have been ideally placed for a photo.

These shots are all © www.aircraftrestorationcompany.com. The website has detailed information on all their aircraft and some superb photos.

Then, at 15:35 hrs on the 17th, De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver AL.1 G-DHCZ did an unscheduled go-around of Glasgow Airport`s Runway 23. This aircraft dates from 1961 and was originally produced as XP772 for the Army Air Corps. It was subsequently written-off in Sudan in May 1974, becoming an instructional airframe at Middle Wallop until going into storage with the Museum of Army Flying in 1980. Between 1983 and 1992 the Beaver was on display with the Army Transport Museum, first at Leconfield and later at Beverley, before returning to Middle Wallop as a reserve aircraft for the AAC Historic Flight. In 1998 it was sold off to Duxford based ‘Propshop Ltd’ and was given its current civilian registration in 2006.

The prototype Beaver (CF-FHB-X), seen on the left in an early ski-gear configuration promotional shot, was flown for the first time by Russ Brannock on 16th August 1947 at the De Havilland Factory at Downsview, Ontario, and some 1,657 were eventually built, together with a single Beaver 2, powered by a 550hp Leonides 502/4 engine. A turbo-prop version, the Turbo Beaver (DHC-2T or DHC-2 MkIII) was also built.

Initial sales were very slow at around three aircraft per month until an order for 970 DHC-2s was placed by the US Army, with whom it operated as the L-20, or U-6A. Thereafter, the advantages of the type were realised and it was widely exported, serving not only with the British Army Air Corps as the Beaver AL. Mk 1, but with the military arms of around 31 other nations in addition to the US, UK and Canada. (Photo credit © De Havilland Canada).

The rugged Beaver`s short take-off and landing capabilities made it ideal for bush operations from unprepared airfields, plus as it could be fitted with wheels, skis, or amphibious floats, it could operate in various roles, and in particularly harsh environments. One high profile mission came in 1958 when a New Zealand Air Force Beaver played a supporting role in Sir Edmund Hillary's famous expedition to the South Pole. Primarily used as a passenger / cargo transport in civilian guise, the Beaver was also utilised extensively in agriculture for crop-dusting and aerial crop-dressing over vast areas.

Many Beavers are still flying today, and among the best places to see them are along Canada`s West Coast and Alaska, where they often provide a lifeline to small, remote communities and individual travellers. On my last trip to Canada, I stopped briefly at the Courtenay Air Park (above) on the way to the Comox Aircraft Museum on Vancouver Island. De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver MK.1 C-FXUN (above right) was among the aircraft present. It was delivered to the US Army on 23 January 1959, being passed onto the civil market in early 1976 to become N1452Z. It kept this identity until transferring to the first of several Canadian owners approximately 20 years later. It has been operating under its current registration since 30 April 1996. Another veteran at the Air Park was Stinson 108-2 floatplane CF-GYF (above left) which dates from 1947. Beaver C-GFLT, pictured on the right at Tofino on Vancouver Island`s Pacific Rim, is operated by Sunshine Coast Air. (Air Park image © copanational.org).

(Above image © Jetphotos.com / Wikipedia).

Back on the mainland, the Vancouver waterfront is usually a hive of activity and when the weather is clear, the location with its towering backdrop of snow-capped mountains is hard to beat, whether photographing seaplanes and / or ships. While the majority of air routes are served by relatively modern types like the Twin Otter, some old hands, including the DH Beaver, appear throughout the day.

Up until recently the seaplane link from Vancouver to Victoria Inner Harbour Airport on Vancouver Island was, according to the Official Airline Guide, Canada's busiest air route by the number of weekly flights. Beavers pictured below are Saltspring Air`s C-FZZJ, Harbour Air`s C-FWAC and C-FJIM of Tofino Air.

The Vancouver Harbour Control Tower is the only one in Canada specifically for a water aerodrome. At 142 metres (466 ft) above ground level it`s the highest control tower in the world and is located on top of the Granville Square building (not shown) in Downtown Vancouver's Financial District. The prominent landmark was completed in 1973, having been built above the tracks of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and stands adjacent to the city`s Waterfront Station.

Back on the subject of charity fundraising, Kickboxing champion Carl Thomas, 35, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, completed a marathon while pulling a 1.25-tonne Cessna up and down the airfield at Elvington, near York. Mr Thomas had hoped to use a lighter plane, but after that became unavailable he decided on this one. The plan was to cover the marathon distance in 24 hours by completing two-mile loops of the airfield without any assistance at the turns. After building up momentum he managed to reach speeds of 2 miles per hour. (Images © Newschain UK).

The feat is part of his efforts to raise £250,000 for Ollie’s Army, a charity that supports a family who have two children with Batten’s disease, a fatal disorder of the nervous system. Mr Thomas is undertaking 10 charity challenges and hopes to raise £1 million over 10 years. He has previously run 10 marathons in 10 days and cycled 1,500 miles in 10 days.

Resident Piper PA-28R-201 Cherokee Arrow III G-EGPF previously bore the Swedish registration SE-GVV.

Lights and helicopters getting a mention this month are King Air 200 G-CWCD (1st); AgustaWestland AW109SP GrandNew G-DAYF (f/v) (3rd); Agusta AW109SP GrandNew G-SGRP (6th); Pilatus PC-12s OY-EUR and G-OMSL (7th); Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain G-IFIT, King Air 200 G-DXTR, Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga II G-JAFS and Agusta A109S Grand G-DAYD (9th); Pilatus PC-12s G-OMSL (plus other dates) and M-YBLS, plus Sikorsky S-76-C++ G-XXED (f/v) call-sign `TQF 1` of the Queen`s Helicopter Flight (10th); Cessna 182R Skylane G-BKKP (13th); Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II G-RVLX and King Air 200 G-FLYW (16th); King Air 350 G-SRBM (17th); Pilatus PC-12 G-KARE and King Air 200 G-CDZT. I also saw Charity Air Ambulance H135 G-SCAA heading east above the Clyde at Erskine in the afternoon although it may have been inbound to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital at Govan, rather than the airport (22nd); Cessna T303 Crusader G-CMOS (f/v), plus Czech Sportcruiser G-DVOY did a go-around of Runway 23 on the 23rd. Lastly, King Air 350 G-SRBM visited on the 25th.

Below: Czech Sportcruiser G-DVOY did a go-around of Runway 23 just after 14:00 hrs on the 23rd before returning to Cumbernauld Airport...

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Military

The first military visitor this month was RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III ZZ171 `Ascot 803` which called in on Thursday 10 September. Army Air Corps Westland Apache AH.1 ZJ197 (f/v) call-sign `Machete One` appeared late on Friday 11 September, staying until 00:30 hrs the following morning. The advanced attack helicopter`s departure was in between training go-arounds of Runway 23 by RAF Beech Shadow R1 (Super King Air 350C) ZZ417 `Snake 47` which took place at 00:25 and 00:45 hrs on the 12th. I didn`t manage to photograph ZJ197 when it visited Glasgow Airport but it was identical to the machine shown above which put on an impressive display at last year`s Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford. More shots and information on the event, possibly the last for a while, can be viewed here: RIAT 2019.

Almost a year ago to the day, on the afternoon of Saturday 7 September, I was at the old churchyard under the `23` approach, thanks to the Renfrewshire Doors Open Day, when a pair of Apache gunships overflew the airport from west to east. They remained quite high and even a long telephoto lens was insufficient to enable identification. I assumed they were British rather than U.S. Army machines.

I took the following shot of US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk 87-24584 (0-24584) when it called in at Glasgow a while back. It was probably around 15 years ago but I don`t have the exact date to hand. The twin-engine, medium-lift utility UH-60 entered service with the U.S. Army in 1979. It was first used in action during the USA`s invasion of Grenada in 1983, then Panama in 1989 and of course Somalia, the conflict which featured in the book and movie, Black Hawk Down. In 1991, during the Gulf War, Black Hawks participated in the largest air assault mission in U.S. Army history although this record was broken in 2003 during the initial invasion of Iraq. UH-60 Black Hawks continue to serve with US forces in many theatres and have been exported to numerous countries throughout the world.

Back to this month`s military movements: On Tuesday 15th September 2020, German Air Force Airbus A319-133(CJ) 15+02 (f/v) call-sign `GAF 884` did a touch-and-go on Runway 23 at 10:45 hrs, plus Grob G-115E Tutor T1 G-BYWS of the University Air Squadron (UAS) called in for a time. It was followed by G-BYXA on the 16th which returned on the 22nd. Boeing C-17A Globemaster III ZZ174 `Ascot 6681` overflew just west of the airport at 37,000 ft about 19:50 hrs on Thursday 17 September as the light began to fade. FR24 showed that it had taken off from Keflavik, no doubt returning to base after a flight to the USA or Canada.

UAS Grob Tutor G-BYWI visited Glasgow on the 23rd, then on Friday 25 September, RAF C-130J Hercules ZH888 `Comet 132` did a spot of training. Next was RAF P-8A Poseidon ZP801 `Stingray 02`with a single touch-and-go at 15:45 hrs on the 28th. This month`s military activity wrapped-up on Tuesday 29 September with Tutor G-BYYA and RAF C-17 ZZ174 `Ascot 6645` which did a couple of circuits of Runway 23 before landing. The above shots were taken from my back window.

Construction & Development

The scene on the east side of Abbotsinch Road is changing rapidly with several roundabouts in place and much of the road network being edged and surfaced. The most obvious change, however, is the construction of the new bridge which will span the Black Cart Water on the south side of the existing stone structure. It`s currently supported by hydraulic jacks on concrete pillars and, as of late September, the end pieces had been added.

The operation to move it into place would be worth seeing but that may be a few weeks away yet as work continues on the bases.

Even though preparation work for the new bridge began on the east side of the river first, the support on the west side (below) is more advanced...

The new footpath / cycleway on the west side of the Black Cart will rejoin the A8 Old Greenock Road just before it reaches the 23 runway lights. I believe the original intention was to have the route continue past these lights and run parallel with the main road towards Inchinnan but the landowners had refused to give permission.

The following slideshow features additional views of the development and other locations around the perimeter...

As the country`s financial situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate, Wildstone, the UK’s largest outdoor advertising firm, may well be regretting their funding for the advertising tower which has just been completed overlooking the M8 Motorway at the White Cart Viaduct. At a cost of over one million pounds, the structure had been due for completion by the end of 2018 after work began that summer but following various delays, adverts could be about to start streaming soon.

A stainless steel Paisley pattern teardrop design now adorns the entire 40 metre-high (131ft) structure, the art work having been chosen to reflect an area rich in history and famous for its textiles and material design. Technicians have already switched the giant LED screens on, but a date has still to be fixed for the formal advertising launch. Adverts will be visible to both eastbound and westbound traffic. (Above images © Daily Record / Andrew Neil; Glasgow Live).

The land on which Scotland`s tallest advertising hoarding now stands, belongs to Glasgow Airport and it`s estimated that well over a million motorists drive past the location every week. As unemployment figures continue to rise, however, it remains to be seen whether many of the potential customers still have money to spend in response to the forthcoming ad campaigns. The reception, so far, has been mixed with many on social media seeing the screens as an uneccssary distraction for motorists at what is already an accident black spot on a very busy motorway.

Scottish Water, the country`s biggest user of energy, has set out its plan for decarbonising five years ahead of the government's target. More renewable energy, tree planting and peat bog restoration will help the organisation reach net-zero by 2040 but the shift to green electricity requires major investment and bills will rise as a consequence. More than a billion litres of water is consumed daily in Scotland and shifting it around uses lots of energy. The whole operation generates the equivalent of approximately 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide - roughly the same as 40,000 car journeys around the world. I took the aerial view above in March last year. The Erskine water treatment plant, which is situated opposite the Titan Crane, can be seen on the left.

Scottish water operates 239 drinking water treatment works and 1,827 waste water sites across Scotland, but already some sites, like the Erskine waste water treatment works, at the Clyde / Cart confluence, are being redesigned to be powered by solar panels. Others facilities are being replaced by ones using more efficient treatment methods.

Scottish Water owns a significant amount of land across the country and says it has already seen a 45% reduction in operational emissions since 2007 with 53GWh of renewable energy produced annually on its sites. It plans to increase that figure, using 2007 as the baseline, to 60% by 2025 and 75% by 2030. The legislation stipulating the reduced carbon emission targets will also cover the Scottish government, local authorities and organisations like Police Scotland and the fire service.