19 February 2008 - CGH-CWB, 12FEB

Woke up shortly past 9am, with the intention of having a calm breakfast and a relaxed packing, but as soon as I left my bed I went straight to the laptop to see if there where any e-mails. BINGO! Varig e-mailed me saying that my reservations wasn't valid because of the credit card used...since it wasn't issued in Brazil, and the reservation was made through varig.com.BR i needed do go as quickly as I could to Congonhas airport in order to get my ticket.

Ran downstairs, had the fastest breakfast ever, Came upstairs again, put everything in my luggage, sat on the top of it to make sure it would close properly, just like you see in tv. Ran downstairs for the second time in a row and made a flash check-out. picked a cab up and payed 30R$ to the quickest run to CGH. Finally arrived at the departure terminal, much more relaxed than 20 minutes earlier. Went straight to Varig's office and tried to buy the ticket, but the shitty card would't be accepted in any VISA machine. The employees tryied do pass it in three different machines but none was answering. Now in total despair, grabbed all my luggage (large suitcase, backpack and giant laptop case) and ran the whole terminal in search of somewhere I could take some cash from with my card. After a million tries, I managed to do it and ran again to Varig's office, where I payed the ticket in cash.

From there, I went directly to the check-in. And I must say that I've never seen ground crew working like that! Brilliantly polite, calling me by my first name and taking care of all in a matter of seconds! I was now ready to go...but....oh well, it was now 11am and the flight had its STD for 1530...damn, I'd have to wait. And I did.

You certainly don't want to know what happened in the 4 1/2 hours of intense experience...but I will tell you: I dryied the whooole time under the air conditioning of the relativelly small terminal, with no mood for any type of entertainment.

Once the boarding started, i was already melting and went to the very first bus that would take the pax to the remote stand where the 733 (PP-VQN) was parked. There was no other bus after that actually, because we were only 15. 15 pax to CWB. No wonder the crew was awesomely nice too, there was almost no work to do and the flight took only 40 minutes. Anyway, on of the stewardesses was welcoming passengers on board with a gentle brazilian smile. Warm welcome, good old safety demonstrations, in portuguese only, and a comfortable seat. A snack and beverages service followed a captain anouncement on the general conditions of the weather and scheduled flight time.

And now the photos,

GOL Boeing 737 PR-GOL:

OceanAir LearJet 45 PR-OTA and Manaca taxi Aéreo LearJet 55 PT-LXO:

InterBrasil (TransBrasil) Embraer 120-Brasilia PP-ISC:

Look how close the runway is from the buildings...

Nice reflection of the fuselage on the #2:

Loooooooooooooong flight (NOT!) and here we are, landing in CWB (one thing I noticed was the landing gear being extended very early, about 15 minutes from TD)....and look! My luck! It had to be raining so I coulnd't take any decent photos of my first arrival in Curitiba! How nice... -_-'

Poor 350d, I guess I'll have to buy a 40d and another pair of lenses, big investment, big revenue I guess too....ahah! By July I hope...

18 February 2008 - Quick spotting at GRU and São Paulo

Unfortunately I had some technological issues and I lost many of my registrations (DAMN IT! But I intend to come back in March, so I'll just try not to make such a big deal out of it), but still I managed to bring some back to life, and here they are:

Lufthansa Boeing 744 D-ABVR:

LAN Argentina Boeing 763 LV-BFU:

GOL Boeing 733 PR-GLQ:

OceanAir Fokker100 (or Mk28, as you wish :P) PR-OAD:

And as this blog has the '& More' designation, I feel free enough to publish some interesting photos of the city, some taken with my feet on the ground and some with my feet over it:

Parque de Ibirapuera:

But São Paulo isn't just a place with great views, cultural differences and exotic air traffic...it is unarguably a city of an intense nightlife, full of beautiful girls (I guess in Rio they're even better for the lucky fact they barely wear clothes...ahah!) and good restaurants.

Be right back with my CGH-CWB quick flight report...

Regards

16 February 2008 - LIS-GRU, 4FEB08

Good afternoon everybody!

Here I am, back since a looong time...

Now with an intensive report of my trip to São Paulo and Curitiba, in Brazil (the second part is taking place right now actually...).

On the February 4th, monday, I was flying to GRU. It was my first flight in a whole year, which is enough to make it even more exciting. Packed my things, brought my laptop and my Canon EOS 350d with me (the lattest has been experiencing some problems due to the excessive utilization rate and the aging lenses...I guess it has to be with some small accidents that occured during her 3 years-now life :P ).

Arrived at Terminal 1 (yess! LIS has now a second terminal, which is remarkable for such a &/%$&%&/ airport, I must admit. It can have everything, but what it does certainly not have is a good performance), went straight to the special assistances check-in (since I didn't carry any large luggage with me), got my boarding card printed and ran to the security. As soon as I passed the x-Ray machines I received a phone call from my mother saying that a big friend of mine was now passing the security at LIS on her way to BSB! I waited her up and the waiting time flew inbetween so much conversation.

STD was 0930. At 0850 I arrived at the stand J03, where the A332 (THE FIRST TIME I WAS FLYING THE A330!) was parked. Walked up the stairs leading me to the door 1L and entered the fwd galley, where an awesomelly nice crew was welcoming passenger on board CS-TOI. Not even five seconds since i stepped into the plane, the captain was already out the flight deck looking for me. I went to my seat, 3D, for a few moments just to store my hand luggage, and from there straight to the cockpit.

From the schedulled time for departure (0930), the captain requested a delay to 1000, and from there to 1100. The big delay was due to a sick passenger, who had to travel on a stretcher. The M&E technicals couldn't fix it properly, because this ex-AUA aircraft was not converted to TAP's pattern, so they had to remove the last 3 seats of the Y cabin to accomodate the stretcher. Problem solved, push-back started.

Here we see CS-TOF pushing-back as TP179 to GIG:

As soon as we finished pushing-back and started rolling on the taxiway, an excelent opportunity for a unique photo of three A330's taxiing for take-off simultaniously, CS-TOE to SSA, CS-TOF to GIG and the 3rd, CS-TOI, to GRU (my flight):

CS-TOF gently running on the runway:

CS-TOE increasing its speed on runway 21:

And an overview of runway 21, as we are heading 209:

Take-off: In the tarmac you can barely spot another TAP A330, a SATA A310 and an euroAtlantic 763ER:

Climbing....direct to NARTA waypoint (note the interesting small information scheme telling the limit speeds for the landing gear and flaps operation):

Our fixed time prognostic chart:

And the captain, Carlos Garcez:

Time for a quick trip to the cabin, where lunch was waiting for me (no photos of that, but very nice service and comfort, though the C seats were not the new ones yet). Top Executive is always a nice experience, I must say...

Some talking with the cabin crew, some IFE and two snacks after I was back in the flight deck.

From there, the view to the left winglet:

Our flight became longer than initially predicted since we had to avoid some cumulo-nimbus formations in our way.

Final to runway 09R and overview of the terminals:

You probably can't see it with an eagle eye, but let me tell you what is parked over there :P:

An OceanAir 757, two OceanAir 767's, a TAM A345, a JAL 744, a VarigLOG DC-10F, a BETA Cargo 707F, a TAM MD-11, two Delta 777's, an Aeromexico 777, a TAM A332...well, the rest you'll have to imagine :P

Very short final to runway 09R

G-CIVC taking-off from 09L:

PR-OAH, PR-BRB, PR-OAK, a Varig 738, another BRA 733 and another OceanAir F100 (or Mk-28, as you wish :P):

PR-VBA and HB-JMH:

Another cockpit photo and a bonus reflection in the terminal windows:

This report is dedicated to captain Carlos Garcez and to his crew.

Be patient...I'll post the rest soon!

9 December 2007 - EU-Africa Summit

Good evening everybody!

This weekend, the EU-Africa summit was held in Lisbon, and it was inevitable that the most of the invited nations would bring some interesting material.

The 'juice' of the summit started arriving thursday (Dec 6th), but I only started shooting them on friday. We have been waiting for this summit since it was announced a few months ago, and it was not disappointing at all!

Besides all the traffic bringing the political leaders, I also got the chace to spot a few (most of them new) regulars. I must say that Ive been a planespotter for a long time, many years, and I've never seen LIS with so much traffic. There was barelly a gap between some landing or take-off...amazing!

No more words, just watch the action:

Equatorial Guinea Government, Falcon 50, 3C-LGE:

Afriqiyah, Airbus A320-214, 5A-ONB:

Togo Government, Douglas DC-8-62, 5V-TGF:

Air Senegal Internacional, Boeing 737-7EE, 6V-AHU:

Air Malawi, Boeing 737-33A, 7Q-YKP:

Algerian Air Force, C-130, 7T-WHD:

Royal Jet, Boeing 737-7Z5 BBJ, A6-AIN:

Morocco Government, Falcon 50, CN-ANO:

TAP Portugal, Airbus A340-312, CS-TOA:

TAP Portugal, AIrbus A330-223, CS-TOE:

Angola Government, Boeing 707-321B, D2-MAN:

Ethiopian Airlines, Boeing 737-760, ET-ALN:

AIr France, Airbus A318-111, F-GUGP:

Aigle Azur, Airbus A319-112, F-GXAH:

ExecuJet, Global Express, ZS-ESA:

Burkina Faso Government, Boeing 727-282Adv, XT-BFA (Es-TAP, CS-TBY):

Mali Government, Boeing 707-3L6B, TZ-TAC:

Mali Government, Boeing 727-2K5Adv, TZ-MBA:

Tunisia Air Force, C-130, TS-MTC:

MNG Cargo, Airbus A300B4-203, TC-MCB:

Sudan Government, Illyushin 62M, ST-PRA:

Aviation-ConneXions, Boeing 727-22, P4-FLY:

Mid East Jet, Boeing 777-24Q/ER, N777AS:

(with PGA's Beech1900D registered CS-TMV lining up for departure RWY03):

Bulgaria Government, Tupolev 154M, LZ-BTZ:

Afriqiyah, Airbus A340-213, 5A-ONE

Nigerian Air Force, Boeing 737-7N6 BBJ, 5N-FGT:

Algeria Government, Gulfstream V, 7T-VPG:

Algeria Government, Gulfstream IV, 7T-VPS:

Luftwaffe, Airbus A310-304, 10-21:

Belgian Air Force, Embraer 145, CE-02:

Royal Jordanian Cargo, Airbus A310-304F, F-ODVF:

Alpcom/Dasnair, Falcon 2000, HB-IGQ:

Djibouti Government, Boeing 727-191, J2-KBA:

GainJet Aviation, McDonnell Douglas MD-83, SF-IFA:

Fotso Group Holdings, Fokker F-28, TJ-ALG:

Mali Government, BAC-111, TZ-BSB:

VIP Avia, BAe-125, YL-VIP:

Macedonia Giovernment, LearJet 60, Z3-MKD:

South African Ai Force, Boeing 737-7ED BBJ, ZS-RSA:

And that's preetty much it for me! To finish, I'd just like to post a photo of the RWY03 Final, with B727 P4-FLY in the short final and an A320 making its way to the runway's path.

8 September 2007 - From Middle East to Lisbon...

Hello everybody!

Today we had a quite busy day at LIS. Usually, saturdays at Lisbon are boring, with no interesting aircraft visiting us. Well.....it would have been boring if there wasn't a horse race and a football match in this very saturday, taking place in my city.

In between the usual flights, we were lucky enough to be visited by one of the very few Special Performance series of the Jumbo Jet, together with a 'new' 722 and another 747, this turn a -400. All belonging to some millionaire guys in Middle East. Fortunately, they spend their money in something that pleases us, spotters...

Here we go:

Dubai Air Wing Boeing 747-422 A6-MMM:

Bahrain Royal Flight Boeing 747SP-21 A9C-HMH:

Bahrain Royal Flight Boeing 727-2M7 A9C-BA:

This one brought some supporters of the Polish national football team,

LOT Embraer-175 SP-LIE:

TAP Portugal Airbus A340-312 CS-TOC:

SATA Airbus A310-304 CS-TKN:

Hope you enjoyed this short report!

17 July 2007 - The other side of the fence...

Hey everybody!

I'm back once more, this time with a summary review of the LDF (www.linhadafrente.net), the biggest aviation forum in Portugal,  visit to LIS.

Though not a very interesting morning in what concerns to traffic, i was very pleasant to get to know the inside of the airport. After a quick visit to ANA's museum, we went all the way up to LIS's former ATC Tower, in the south side of the airfield, and had some time to photograph. Later on, we were given the chance to stop in three places inside the perimeter to make more photos and we were finaly led to the fire dpt, where we could continue shooting in the building's terrace. Terrific experience!

This report is dedicated to Adré Garcez and Miguel Cláudio, the latest also a blogger here. Check out his report here

F-GRGD Air France (Régional) Embraer 145:

F-GTAM Air France Airbus A321-211:

CS-TTJ TAP Portugal Airbus A319-111:

CS-TNA TAP Portugal Airbus A320-211:

F-GFKQ Air France Airbus A320-111:

F-GSEU White Airbus A330-243:

CS-TKN SATA Airbus A310-304:

CS-TOD TAP Portugal Airbus A340-312:

CS-TOB TAP Portugal Airbus A340-312:

18 May 2007 - Caribbean Beauty @ LIS!

No...I'm not talking about one of those eye-catching tropical girls...I'm talking about flying machines...

Today we also had a hole in the main runway that obligated all the incoming and outgoing traffic to go to the secondary one. This A321 was already ligned-up for take-off when a follow me reported the hole, very close to runway's 03 threshold.

And back again to normal activity....

Today was a day of contrasts at my home airport. Let's see....from the CAJ A332 to bizjets and regulars, with some military aicraft in between (look at the example below...two portuguese F-16 making a low pass):

Enjoy

24 March 2007 - Spotting At LIS (10.03.07)

Here I am again after some long time of absence!

After months without 'shooting' I went to the airport in March 10th with three friends of mine, to who I'd like to dedicate this report, André, Gonçalo and Bruno.

There was nothing special about this afternoon, except the LAD flight arriving. An A340 is always pleasant to see ! Beside this, there was absolutely nothing irregular or rare at LIS this time. All that I got were common TAP A319's and A320's, but it felt so good to experience spotting again after months watching planes only through the window of my room.

I'm proud to say that I'm back in business!

15 December 2006 - My worries about the A350 XWB II

Has you may have already noticed, I'm very interested in any developments made in the A350XWB project, not just because 'my' TAP has 12+3 on ordered, but because I intend to become, in the future, an aerospace engineer and work with something that connects both civil aviation and project.

I've been searching a little about this subject and in one hand, I still don't got any idea of what the formal and definitive characteristics of the aircraft are. There have not been released any official drawings or specifications on the project. But in the other hand, I found the two main causes of the design change.

The first presentation of the 'All New A350' occurred shortly before the 2005 Paris Airshow and soon orders were announced (TAP, Kingfisher, TAM, US Airways, Bangkok Airways,...). But still, the 787 was ahead, and at the time it was becoming a real successful airliner, the most successful aircraft 'that hadn't even left the board' to date. Airbus was confident, but there were still some key costumers to catch. Emirates and SIA, months later, criticised the European consortium and asked for a revised design of the A350. This was the first reason.

It would have been like a ‘shot in the dark’ to change the billion euros project just to please some costumers without any guarantees.

Airbus made deep searches and realised that there were possible and viable changes that could turn the project into a case of success, more precisely the OIT (on-board Information Terminal, like Boeing’s EFB, a large LCD screen in each side of the instrument panel that originally wouldn’t fit into the cockpit). Nose design changes were made, cockpit was improved (from the like-A330 type to the like-A380 type, but still allowing the recognised commonality between all the fly-by-wire Airbus a/c’s), and there was still room to project an area for the crew below the cockpit. More aerodynamic concerned changes happened and the new design was revealed at this year Farnborough Air Show.

Almost half an year later the world is still waiting for more news and orders to be announced.

Airbus risked too much going for a new project intended to replace an aircraft family that has much success and keeps atracting costumers (A330/A340) instead of focusing on the A380's complicated issues they are still facing.

Maybe a bit confusing point but I think you are able to get it.

15 December 2006 - Searching through the waste...

Today I was looking at old cd's and folders and found three interesting photos that could have been great hits but the motion blurr or the contrasts didn't help.

Here they are, still interesting, but the quality...leaves a lot to be desired!

And here captain Costa Felix, with whom I've flown several times!

I suppose all these three pictures are from my flight from Fortaleza to Lisbon in August 2005, which report can be seen here: http://www.spottersblog.com/antonioavelar/184 .

13 December 2006 - Again to Amsterdam!

This trip to the liberal city of Amsterdam was an adventure just from the very beggining!

At about 0500 in friday morning I started my last preparations to my trip. One hour an a half later, at 0630, I arrived at Lisbon International Airport and went stright to the check-in. As I was not travelling alone, i decided to wait for my fellows André Costa and André Cassio for the check-in, but when we finally appeared in front of the lady behind the counter desk we saw her finishing a phone call and heard 'humm...I'm so sorry...but the flight is already closed!'

Damn!! The flight closes only 25 minutes before departure, but there were still 30 minutes left! The day was starting pretty well, and we tried to check if PGA Portugália Airlines could accept us on their flight via OPO, but they couldn't!! Then we were said to go to the 'special assistance' check-in counter, and they managed to re-open the flight for us...we still have gor to run all the way to the gate, but when we finaly thought everything was going back to its course, the gate girl wasn't able to contact anyone who could drive us to the aircraft (wich was TAP's A319-11 CS-TTL)!

After all this, we still had to find our luggage and transfer our reservation to the second flight of the day, at 1430!

But the trouble continued, and as we were finaly trying to laught at all that we had been through that morning, in our approach to EHAM, we heard a voice in the PA 'Ladies and Gentlemen, we are very sorry to inform you that due to bad weather in Amsterdam, we will divert to Rotterdam!'....God! This wasn't my lucky day at all!

At least we had a fantastic cabin crew and there were not any issues with car rental and hotel at Amsterdam!

Next day, time to go plane spotting in the best airport in the world for aviation photography!

KLM Asia Boeing 747-406M PH-BFM:

Emirates Sky Cargo Boeing 747-47UF/SCD N497MC:

Jade Cargo Boeing 747-4EV/ER/SCD B-2440:

JAL Cargo Boeing 747-446BCF JA8902:

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA:

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH.AOC:

KLM Boeing 777-206ER PH-BQF:

KLM-Boieng 767-306ER PH-BZM:

KLM MD-11 PH-KCB:

Our return flight was schedulled to be TP661 in sunday afternoon, but as we got our arrival in Amsterdan delayed for oine day, we decided to change our flight to the next day.

I'll get the change to tell you the rest in the part II of this report (yes, the adventure doesn't stop here!!...)!

18 November 2006 - I'm Back!

Hello everybody!

After some months of absence, I'm back to this blog.

First of all, I should tell you that in the last three or four months I've been to my home airport only once (excluding the times when I went there to fly, as I'll soon show you)! I've lost so many interesting things, but fortunatelly, my life returned to it's normal 'path', after some problems.

Going back to August 1st...

Here I am at home, making the last preparations to go to LIS. Today I'm flying to Natal, in northeaster Brazil (once more...and I must confess I'm starting to get bored!)

I arrived at the airport at lunch time, and went straight to the check-in...and I've never seen such an efficient and fast check-in, made by a real professional, a young lady with a bright smile and simpathy to give and sell (a translations of the popular portuguese phrase 'dar e vender'). In a few minutes I was heading to the passport control in my way to the boarding gate (Gate 23).

As a pax flying with a 'dog ticket', like my father always says, I didn't want to be responsible, in any way, for the delay of the flight, so I did as I do everytime I fly: walked fast from the passport control to the gate without stopping in any of the duty-free spots or restaurants.

But to complete my 'boarding routine', I waited till I was the last passenger in the boarding room to get to the aircraft.

At the 1L door, the Cabin Supervisor Piconez was welcoming the travellers on board the A310-304, Reg. CS-TEH, named 'Bartolomeu Dias'.

In my boarding pass, in the 'seat' field, an handwritten 'Jump' indicated that I'd probably be asked to make the whole flight in the cockpit, what didn't happen. Then, after some confusion resulting from the big number of pax travelling with discount tickets (and no assigned seats -  There were no free seats as well), I was 'stowed' in seat 8B, reserved for crew rest, but used by no one but me that day! (The crew agreed to renouce to their rest periods because if they didn't there would have been about a dozen passengers walking around the cabin with no place to seat).

One hour ahead of the schedulled time for departure, 1625, the captain Lemos da Costa taxied the full wide body jet to runway's three threshold and pushed the thottles forward. In less than 40 seconds we were rotating and leaving Portugal.

Gear Up, heading (+/-) 210, and my camera was ready for some action with unique photo oportunities of the Alverca AB (LPAR).

Very smooth and comfortable flight, with an unexpected, but always welcome meal (and I must say it was absolutelly fabulous, considering the average meals served on board today, but as usual as in all TAP long haul flights) made up by a portion of pasta with chicken, cheese and tomato, a salad and the small sqaure of cake.

After some four hours of flight I was hungry again, and went to the rear galley to eat a succulent steak with smashed potatoes and some type of vegetable. To complete, a typical desert, leite creme, one of my favourites! TASTY

IFE:

Turning the pages of the Atlantis magazin (recently awarded as one of the best airline magazins in the world...in not he best...I can't remember), with some stops to read some interesting articles.

The movie in exibition was 'Ice Age 2': good to help the time going by in the 6 hours of flight, which seemed pretty fast.

But there is nothing like the 'home-made' entertainment like the iPod!

Finaly, and in the impossibility to visit the cockpit, another meal was served, together with an interesting and usefull documentary, titled 'Destination: Brasil'

Landing at 2040, local time.

This trip helped me confirming that lately I've been loosing my 'hand' to make some good photography (which I guess I've never made, but, anyway..now they're getting worse), and I tell you...the afternoons spent at LPPT make me really good! I am already noticing the lack of those afternoons when I use my camera!

Five days later I was ready to return to Lisbon.

Check-in? But what’s that? If the one made at Lisbon was efficient, this one was beyond that! I arrived at the airport (NAT/SBNT), and when I noticed it, I was with my boarding pass in hand and walking to the passport control! But I still had some minutes to attempt a photo of the ‘India’ from the observation deck.

Boarding complete, window seat, lie-flat, dinner served. In a few minutes, even before the lights were turned off, I was k.o.!

I woke up in the beginning of the descent, in the end of the breakfast service, and went directly to the cockpit…at last!!!!

Landing in runway 03, at 1120, local time. When leaving the plane (as said in those safety videos shown on the beginning of the flight, when referring the use of life jackets by adults), one of those opportunities to photograph the engines and other stuff!

17 July 2006 - My worries about the A350 XWB

First impression: Horrible!

My first hopes for this project are that Airbus decides to make some design improovements to the aircraft, that now is a mere european imitation of the Dreamliner, with similar formal charactheristics, even though the great difference in terms of pax capacity.

And I agree when it is said that there is now a gap ti fill between the A320/737 and the A350/787, speaking of pax capacity again.

Now, I'm worried about the reaction of the possible and acctual clients on the aircraft (my TAP included).

For now, I consider this is an announcement that shouldn't be a target of critics and speculation, and I think we should wait to see and observ more specifications and schemes of the XWB that may come out soon.

5 July 2006 - Spotted by the Spotter!

Woke up at 5am again to go to the airport, in order to photograph, once more (I'm starting to think I might be obcessed with it ) TAP wide-bodies arriving from their long-haul flights. Today, not just for this, but also to regist some extra moovement originated by the World Cup semi-final (and let's hope Portugal kicks France's @$$!).

Most of the WC2006 moovements are already registed by my friend Miguel Cláudio (http://www.spottersblog.com/miguelclaudio/244/), but before his arrival at his spotting place to make some great photographs of the arriving aircraft, I had the lucky of photographing, between others, the 'you never know when it comes' US Navy DC-9 (MD C-9B Skytrain II)

TAP Airbus A340-312 CS-TOD (with the Strobe bonus!):

A few hours later, this very same a/c hitted one of the airport hawks while in the take-off run. Luckilly, any part of the bird was ingested by the engines or made any type of damage to the A340, but caused two missed approaches, performed by CS-TOE and CS-TNJ.

TAP Airbus A310-304 CS-TEW:

TAP Airbus A330-223 CS-TOF:

And yes Miguel, I really enjoyed this one! TAP Airbus A330-223 CS-TOE:

A private Gulfstream G-IV:

1 July 2006 - Trip to Amsterdam (September 2005)

In the weekend from September 9th to 11th I flew to AMS.

The sole day I had the opportunity of go spotting was Saturday, nothing bad at all! I photographed a lot of Cargo a/c plus the always present KLM Fokkers and 737's!

Hope you enjoy the photos:

KLM Cityhopper Fokker 70 PH-KZH:

KLM Cityhopper Fokker 70 PH-KZB:

KLM Boeing 737-306 PH-BDI:

KLM Boeing 737-406 PH-BDU:

KLM Boeing 777-206ER PH-BQG:

Martinair Boeing 767-31AER PH-MCH:

KLM McDonnell Douglas MD-11 PH-KCD:

KLM Boeing 747-406 PH-BFA:

Northwest Airbus A330-323X N808NW:

KLM Boeing 777-206ER PH-BQC:

Northwest Airbus A330-323X N809NW:

Netherlands Government Fokke 70 PH-KBX:

RAM Boeing 757-2B6 CN-RMT:

JAL Cargo Boeing 747-246BSF JA8169:

Martinair McDonnell Douglas MD-11F PH-MCU:

Martinair Boeing 747-21ACSCD PH-MCF:

Nothwest Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10 N238NW:

30 June 2006 - TAP Portugal stuff

The world of TAP!

Born in 1945 and serving the country, and the world, for more than 60 years, TAP Portugal is part of the Star Alliance and is the European Carrier No 1 in Brazil (now with the demise of RG it'll, unfortunately, climb to the 1st position!). Growing each year a lot, increasing the route network and upgrading the fleet, TAP is portuguese flag carrier, and I'm proud of that!

Part of my 'collection':

Some few thing you'll see when travelling with TAP Portugal:

9 June 2006 - At last, TAP Star logojet is flying!

Today, June 9th, the first TAP aircraft painted in Star Alliance colors began its commercial services, operating the LIS-CDG flight today, as TP flight number 424.

The aircraft (ex-Air Malta 9H-AER), registered as CS-TNP and named 'Alexandre O'Neill' was painted in a total of three days and presents a small innovation in the painting, featuring a slightly modified version of the logo as well as the same logo version below the registration, in the rear fuselage.

[Photos soon] Photo here:

9 June 2006 - Lisboa: What is regular is good!

What is regular is good! If you want to visit Lisbon, don't leave before 'shooting' the ones you'll probably get here in just one morning, instead of waiting at your home airport for them for years!

TAP Airbus A310-304 CS-TEZ, no longer with us, but still an example of the remaining A310's:

TAP Airbus A340-312 CS-TOA:

TAP Airbus A340-312 CS-TOC:

TAP Airbus A340-312 CS-TOB (also got Delta, but this morning it was probably flying the JNB-MPM-LIS daylight route):

TAP Airbus A320-214 CS-TNK, as well as the NB fleet, composed by 17 A319's, 15 A320's and 3 A321's:

8 June 2006 - The 'All New A350'

My opinion on the A350 is simple: premature!

It's a project that has big possibilities of becoming a worldwide success, but it was lauched too early, when the aircraft it's intended to 'replace' is passing the highest moment of its life in terms of  sales and production (i'm talking about the A330, being prefered by airlines more than ever).

The comparison I'm going to settle next may be quite unfair or even unbalanced, but what happens between the A330 and the A350 is similar to what happens with the Boeing 737 famili: the older series (-300/-400 and -500) have been replaced by the 73NG (-700/-800 and -900), due to new demands of the market and possibilities of improoving the systems because of the new technologies and matherials taht became available,...

Back to Airbus, the A330 is still a very young and modern aircraft, that is capable of adjusting itself to the real necessities of the many sectors of the industry. As I have already said, the A350 came as a complement/substitute to the A330/A340 family, but even more as a (very) direct competitor to the 787, what, with no doubts left, was a decisive factor when launching the new Airbus.

I mean that Airbus should have waited longer before lauching the project, and take advantage of the fabulous period the A330/A340 is going through (just as an example, we have Qantas, Air China, Thai, TAP Portugal, El Al, Finnair, SAA, Kingfisher, EgyptAir, Jet Airways,...).

Boeing's 787 has a decisive advantage. the end of productions of Boeing 757 and 767, what doesn't happen in any way in the european company.

Recently, the announcement that Qatar AW might drop the orders of the A350 it's a very hard and unexpected measure, but understandable and perfectly justified. in the case of other airlines, like TAP, if Airbus takes the option of suspend the A350 program, there will not be much more viable solutions: or we get the A330's or we have to be able to negociate with Boeing...or, who knows, ilyushin, for some 96's

4 June 2006 - TAP Portugal and the A330