INVERNESS REPORT – FEBRUARY 2011
Happy February!
Compared to the appalling weather of 2010, this February was positively tropical with little snow or ice, and as the month ends, spring is truly in the air. Having said that, on the third the airport was closed for half an hour due to excess water on the runway, a reason for closure I can’t recall happening before. I think it was the extreme crosswind factor that was blowing the water on to the runway! Caught a nip in the air on the last day of the month with the airport opening at -3C!
In another disappointing month for first visits, in spite of the better weather, there was little difference from 2010.
Early in the month came the sad news that Spanish Metro EC-ITP that had operated a mail flight into Inverness during the night of the tenth fatally crashed on landing in Cork later in the day. Equally sad, although not involving loss of life was the ignominious departure of Jetstream G-UIST by road on the 24th after its wings had been chopped off. It was heading for Pinewood Film Studios for a new life.
Another Tornado from R.A.F. Lossiemouth was lost this month on landing at Lossie. As with last month, the crew ejected, and in line with R.A.F. medical practice, the crew, although not badly hurt, were transferred to Selly Oaks hospital for thorough examination. In this case, the transfer was conducted by a VC-10 from Inverness. Investigation continues, but it is strongly believed that this was the first visit here of one of these magnificent beasts!
The 13th definitely proved unlucky for a party of local children hoping to go skiing in Grenoble when they were delayed for quite a few hours. Thomson had planned an A321 to operate the flight, an annual event usually carried out by a Boeing 757. The captain of the A321 decided it would be too heavy to depart from Inverness. It eventually operated in mid afternoon from Aberdeen with a split load of passengers, some of whom had been sent to Glasgow to catch another Thomson aircraft, the remainder going by Easyjet. The whole party returned together in a 757 the following Sunday.
Over the last year we have watched with dismay as various Raytheon Texans have transited through Scotland via Wick, Stornoway and Glasgow so it was with great joy we heard from various sources that two on their way to Morocco were due on the 24th. These ferry pilots are notorious for changing their minds, but this time, true to predictions, they called into Inverness for fuel. Here’s to a few more!
Edited from the daily reports:
1st: Four visitors with nothing new although Falcon 2000EX OY-GKJ was here for only the third time.
2nd: A blustery overcast day with rain showers and temp MAX +9 and MIN +2 and no aircraft!
3rd: There was snow at the start of the day, not enough to close the airport, but it came close! After a nice sunny morning, the winds picked up with very gusty crosswinds up to 52 knots causing the Easyjet from Gatwick to divert. At 1600 the airport closed for 30 minutes due to “excess water” on the runway. In spite of all this there were a few movements including the first visit of Gulfstream 450 N841WS and its saucy artwork.
8th: A trio of Tayside Aviation Grobs today, and a first visit by PC-12 LX-JFH.
10th: Metro EC-ITP was substituted for Loganair’s SAAB G-GNTB which had gone tech to operate the Edinburgh mail flight in the night. The Metro then flew to Aldergrove and positioned to Belfast City to operate a MANX2 flight to Cork. It sadly crashed on landing in fog at Cork with several fatalities.
11th: The debate goes on here, no-one can recall a VC-10 visiting Inverness, so the arrival of XV104 was a treat, albeit in the middle of the night! It was here to transfer the pilots who ejected from a Tornado at Lossiemouth yesterday to hospital in Birmingham. We now need just two A319s of Easyjet after the first visit of G-EZFW today.
13th: We missed out on a 1st visit today when A321 G-OOPE diverted to Aberdeen with a weight problem. One nice new visitor today was Ce 560XLS+ YU-BZM.
15th: More movements today including Citation YU-BZM on its second visit, and in pristine condition was Aeronavale Falcon 129.
20th: At least the young skiers got delivered back safely to Inverness after last Sunday’s bad airline planning delayed their departure. They arrived in Thomson 757 G-CPEU, an old aircraft, but a first visit here!
24th: All the quiet days so far this month were more than made up for the the visit of two Moroccan Air Force Texan 2s on delivery. First visit of a Texan 2, and first visit of a Moroccan Air Force aircraft! On a sad note, Highland Airways Jetstream G-UIST had its wings removed and was taken by road to a new life at Pinewood film Studios.
Stephen Lane, 1st MARCH 2011.
THE FEBRUARY LOG
A registration in a green box, indicates that is the first visit of that aircraft with that registration, but the frame has visited with a different registration previously. A registration in a yellow box indicates that is the first visit of that aircraft.
REMAINDER FROM YEARS GONE BY!
Jetstream G-JXTA has been here from 01.10.2007, it still remains following the demise of Highland Airways, and currently looking the worse for wear! Latest rumour suggests it will be for the fire dump.
AIRCRAFT STILL PRESENT FROM JANUARY
NONE!
FEBRUARY DAY BY DAY
/ C/SIGN / REG / TYPE / CN / FROM / ATA / D / C/SIGN / TO / ATD /1 / HGR819 / G-SFCJ / Ce 525 / 525-0245 / Oxford / 0905 / HGR819 / Oxford / 1514
MMD11 / OY-GKJ / DA 2000EX / 195 / Billund / 1121 / 3rd / MMD11 / Northolt / 1000
PDG58 / G-PLMH / AS.350B2 / 2156 / PDG Base / 1124 / PDG58 / PDG Base / 1142
MQT61 / F-HITM / Be 400XP / RK-501 / Lorient / 1648 / MQT62 / Lorient / 1821
2 / GMA725 / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Aberdeen / 0853 / GMA725 / Stornoway / 0925
MQT61 / F-HITM / Be 400XP / RK-501 / Lorient / 1201 / MQT62 / Lorient / 1330
RHD12 / G-CGPI / EC.135T2 / 0341 / Rona / 1627 / N/S / RHD12 / Wick / 1109
3 / N1WS / N841WS / Gulf 450 / 4099 / Nice / 1022 / N1WS / Edinburgh / 1239
BGT42 / LN-BAA / Be B200 / BB-1327 / Haugesund / 1053 / BGT43 / Haugesund / 1352
GMA738 / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Aberdeen / 1317 / GMA738 / Aberdeen / 1326
MQT61 / F-HITM / Be 400XP / RK-501 / Lorient / 1329 / MQT62 / Lorient / 1421
4 / GMA745B / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Aberdeen / 1135 / GMA745B / Stornoway / 1213
GMA745B / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Stornoway / 1355 / GMA745B / Aberdeen / 1407
GMA746B / G-SASC / Be B200C / BL-150 / Glasgow / 1423 / GMA746B / Stornoway / 1510
5 / GMA753 / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Sumburgh / 0703 / GMA753 / Aberdeen / 0748
RHD12 / G-CGPI / EC.135T2 / 0341 / Wick / 1400 / RHD12 / Fidra / 1439
GMA753C / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Wick / 1952 / GMA753C / Aberdeen / 2048
6 / MLY / M-IFLY / PC-12/47E / 1022 / Goodwood / 1855 / N/S / MLY / Goodwood / 0941
7 / MQT61 / F-HITM / Be 400XP / RK-501 / Lorient / 1035 / MQT62 / Lorient / 1130
GVK / G-SIVK / Bo.105 / S.814 / Glenmoriston / 1340 / GVK / Glenmoriston / 1409
GPY / G-HPPY / Lear 40 / 45-2102 / Florence / 1354 / GPY / Farnborough / 1446
GMA767B / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Aberdeen / 1849 / GMA767B / Aberdeen / 2030
8 / P/LINE68 / G-CGNE / R-44 / 12962 / Cumbernauld / 1011 / P/LINE68 / Culter / 1037
LFH / LX-JFH / PC-12/45 / 522 / Oxford / 1207 / 15th / LFH / Oxford / 1215
V / TFY29 / G-BVHC / G.115 / 82005 / Dundee / 1216 / TFY29 / Dundee / 1403
8 / TFY21 / G-BVHE / G.115 / 82008 / Dundee / 1229 / TFY21 / Dundee / 1408
TFY20 / G-BVHG / G.115 / 82012 / Dundee / 1238 / TFY20 / Dundee / 1401
RHD12 / G-CGPI / EC.135T2 / 0341 / Oban Town / 1321 / N/S / RHD12 / Wick / 1204
9 / MORAY11 / G-BSCP / Ce 152 / 83299 / Kinloss / 1044 / 2xapp 23 / Kinloss / 1103
10 / FTL4143 / EC-ITP / Metro III / BC-789B / Edinburgh / 0317 / FTL4142 / Aldergrove / 0409
RHD12 / G-CGPI / EC.135T2 / 0341 / Wick / 1051 / N/S / RHD12 / Bell Rock / 0912
MORAY11 / G-MPBH / Ce FA152 / 0374 / Kinloss / 1126 / MORAY11 / Kinloss / 1202
CLB126 / G-FPLE / Be B200 / BB-1256 / Wick / 1344 / CLB126 / Teeside / 1448
NJE040W / CS-DXK / Ce 560XL / 560-5633 / London City / 1832 / N/S / NJE242C / Northolt / 0843
OWO / OY-TWO / PC-12/47 / 863 / Billund / 1939 / OWO / Billund / 2012
11 / RRR2080 / XV104 / VC-10 C.1K / 834 / Brize Norton / 0015 / RRR2080 / Birmingham / 0050
EZY763 / G-EZFW / A319-111 / 4380 / Gatwick / 1513 / EZY764 / Gatwick / 1611
BND410G / G-REDJ / AS.332L2 / 2608 / Aberdeen / 1603 / BND410G / Aberdeen / 1709
12 / MQT61 / F-HITM / Be 400XP / RK-501 / Lorient / 0956 / MQT62 / Lorient / 1111
GMA102T / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Aberdeen / 1211 / GMA102T / Aberdeen / 1301
13 / OWO / OY-TWO / PC-12/47 / 863 / Billund / 0928 / OYO / Venice / 1038
YZM / YU-BZM / Ce 560XLS+ / 560-6037 / Vnukovo / 1247 / YZM / Luton / 1431
NJE382B / CS-DSB / DA 7X / 43 / Northolt / 1528 / N/S / NJE9NB / Luton / 1007
NJE259Y / CS-DXI / Ce 560XLS / 560-5621 / London City / 1719 / NJE153G / London City / 2016
14 / NO ARRIVALS
15 / N64VB / N64VB / Be B.58 / TH-605 / Blackpool / 0910 / N64VB / Sleap / 1009
FNY55A2 / 129 / DA 10MER / 129 / Cork / 1020 / N/S / FNY55A2 / Liverpool / 1325
BND410C / G-REDK / AS.332L2 / 2610 / Aberdeen / 1445 / BND410C / Aberdeen / 1601
YZM / YU-BZM / Ce 560XLS+ / 560-6037 / Zurich / 1448 / N/S / YZM / Geneva / 1028
MORAY02 / G-MPBH / Ce FA152 / 0374 / Wick / 1620 / MORAY02 / Kinloss / 1641
NJE747L / CS-DRJ / 125-800XP / 258760 / Vnukovo / 1819 / NJE009G / Vnukovo / 2101
16 / RHD12 / G-CGPI / EC.135T2 / 0341 / Stornoway / 1709 / 18th / RHD12 / Wick / 1033
FLJ666 / G-RAAL / Phenom 100 / 50000151 / Geneva / 2057 / N/S / FLJ667P / Oxford / 1035
17 / GMA845 / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Stornoway / 1235 / GMA845 / Aberdeen / 1326
GMA845B / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Aberdeen / 1753 / GMA845B / Aberdeen / 2150
18 / GMA854 / G-SASC / Be B200C / BL-150 / Stornoway / 1110 / GMA854 / Glasgow / 1158
NJE2BA / CS-DLE / DA 2000EX / 127 / Farnborough / 1211 / NJE2BA / Farnborough / 1420
NJE189N / CS-DMT / Be 400XP / RK-532 / London City / 1654 / N/S / NJE4TC / Munster / 0958
19 / HLE02 / G-SPHU / EC.135T2 / 0245 / Glasgow H/P / 1830 / 26th / HLE02 / Glasgow H/P / 0001
20 / TOM8FB / G-CPEU / B757-236 / 29941 / Grenoble / 1208 / TOM8FB / Manchester / 1251
21 / NO ARRIVALS
22 / LOP22 / ZF349 / Tucano / S113/T84 / Kinloss / 1052 / 1052 / 2xapp23 / 1052
NOH18 / ZE701 / 146-CC2 / E1029 / Kinloss / 1211 / 4xapp05 / Kinloss / 1302
BND410C / G-REDN / AS.332L-2 / 2616 / Aberdeen / 1252 / BND410C / Aberdeen / 1405
23 / NO ARRIVALS
24 / HKB178 / TG/07 / Texan 2 / PM-7 / Keflavik / 1310 / HKB178 / Bournemouth / 1456
HKB176 / TH/08 / Texan 2 / PM-8 / Keflavik / 1313 / HKB176 / Bournemouth / 1452
P/LINE68 / G-CGNE / R-44 / 12962 / Prestwick / 1327 / P/LINE68 / Culter / 1428
NJE590R / CS-DXN / Ce 560XLS / 560-5685 / Lossiemouth / 1519 / NJE6BR / Southampton / 1637
RHD12 / G-CGPI / EC.135T2 / 0341 / Stornoway / 1549 / N/S / RHD12 / Wick / 1006
N9HF / N49HF / PA46-310P / 46-08125 / Bremen / 1700 / N/S / N49HF / Bremen / 1430
25 / IXR125B / F-HBER / Ce 525B / 525B-0183 / Le Bourget / 0834 / IXR125B / Le Bourget / 1540
MQT61 / F-HITM / Be 400XP / RK-501 / Lorient / 1042 / MQT62 / Lorient / 1147
GMA920 / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Stornoway / 1155 / GMA920 / Glasgow / 1237
N6AD / N926AD / PA46-350P / 4636152 / Hawarden / 1200 / 27th / N6AD / Hawarden / 1133
NJE7GZ / CS-DHR / Ce 550B / 550-1114 / Southampton / 1934 / N/S / NJE7GZ / Trondheim / 1310
26 / GMA942 / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / Wick / 1258 / GMA942 / Glasgow / 1446
27 / MLY / M-IFLY / PC-12/47E / 1022 / Goodwood / 1920 / N/S / MLY / Goodwood / 1013
28 / MORAY11 / G-MPBH / Ce FA152 / 0374 / Kinloss / 1105 / 2xapp23 / Kinloss / 1110
ICAO DE-CODE
3LET / ICAO 3-LETTER DECODE / COU /CALLSIGN / OPERATOR /
BGT / BERGEN AIR / BERGEN AIR TRANSPORT / LN
BND / BOND / BOND OFFSHORE HELICOPTERS / G
CLB / CALIBRATOR / FLIGHT PRESCISION LTD / G
EZY / EASY / EASYJET / G
FLJ / FLAIRJET / FLAIRJET LTD / G
FNY / FRENCH NAVY / FRENCH MARINE NATIONALE / F
FTL / FLIGHT-AVIA / FLIGHTLINE / EC
GMA / GAMA / GAMA AVIATION / G
HGR / HANGAR / HANGAR 8 LTD / G
HKB / CLASSIC / HAWKER BEECHCRAFT CORPORATION / N
IXR / X-BIRD / IXAIR / F
LOP / LOP / LINTON-ON-OUSE FTU / G
MMD / MERMAID / AIR ALSIE / OY
MQT / MOUSQUETEER / AIR ITM / F
NJE / FRACTION / NETJETS EUROPE / CS
NOH / NORTHOLT / 32 (TR) SQUADRON, RAF / G
PDG / OSPREY / PLM/DOLLAR HELICOPTERS / G
RHD / RED HEAD / BOND AIR SERVICES LTD / G
RRR / ASCOT / RAF HQST / G
TFY / TAYSIDE / TAYSIDE AVIATION / G
TOM / TOMSON / THOMSONFLY LTD / G
BY CLASS
SINGLE Engined Aircraft
REG / TYPE / CN / VISITED / REG / TYPE / CN / VISITEDG-BSCP / Ce 152 / 83299 / 9 / N49HF / PA46-310P / 46-08125 / 24>25
G-MPBH / Ce FA152 / 0374 / 10,15,28 / N926AD / PA46-350P / 4636152 / 25>27
G-BVHC / G.115 / 82005 / 8 / LX-JFH / PC-12/45 / 522 / 8>15
G-BVHE / G.115 / 82008 / 8 / OY-TWO / PC-12/47 / 863 / 10,13
G-BVHG / G.115 / 82012 / 8 / M-IFLY / PC-12/47E / 1022 / 6>7,27>28
VISITED 10(9) 1ST VISITS 4(1) (February 2010 in brackets)
The trio of Grobs from Dundee certainly helped pack out an empty apron!
TWIN Engined Aircraft
REG / TYPE / CN / VISITED / REG / TYPE / CN / VISITEDN64VB / Be B.58 / TH-605 / 15 / G-SASC / Be B200C / BL-150 / 4,18
G-FPLE / Be B200 / BB-1256 / 10 / G-SASD / Be B200C / BL-151 / REGULAR
LN-BAA / Be B200 / BB-1327 / 3
VISITED 5 (10) 1ST VISITS 0 (0) (February 2010 in brackets)