I have been extremely bust the past months with my new project.

My company will now produce cockpit DVD's from the planning to filming and now producing them too. This is something that will give me free hands to sculpture the DVD to my own liking.
This new series is called Flight Deck Action and is filmed in High Definition using multiple cameras.
This means I will show the pilots in views you are not used to.

First release is Air Austral B777-200ER
More information and screenshots.





Enjoy the first short trailer I have uploaded.
More information and a 10 minute preview is coming shortly.

As I wrote a long time ago I'm currently training for a PPL. A Private Pilot's License.

I simply have to fly something myself now. I can not stand sitting in the jumpseat watching the crews fly all the time, I want to fly! .-)

Anyway, I'm now halfway into my training and did my first solo flight this past weekend.
A truly fantastic feeling taking off on my own. Turning right into the traffic pattern, gazing into the sun and levelling off at 1000 feet for the downwind leg.

Looking down at the airport, seeing the empy seat next to me, fantastic!

Me on approach earlier this year.  (Photo: Jan Mogren)

I made a few touch-and-go's before landing and vacating the runway.

Me on a takeoff roll..    (Photo: Jan Mogren)

The tower congratulated me over the radio as I turned into taxiway B.

There's not much flying during the swedish winter, but I'm so looking forward to spring and the better weather and longer days!

I'll keep you all updated as it progresses!

While positioning myself for an assignment  earlier this year I had the pleasure of flying Regional's (Air France)latest addition to their fleet. The EMB190.  It's a quite nice aircraft, in my opinion.

I was lucky to get the window seat with a nice view of the engine and winglet.
Here it is while we line up on runway 21 at GOT/ESGG.

A nice view as we head south

The cabin is light and fresh on these new aircraft.  2 aisle 2 setup.
Comfortable and the overhead takes my camerabag nicely. No need to have it taken away from me while boarding and placed in the hold.

Final approach into CDG

We arrived at terminal 2F and when I got my checked in luggage I went outside to find my way over to terminal 3 where my next flight was leaving from.  There were a few bus stops and the buses were marked with Terminal 2A/B, terminal 2C/D, Terminal 2E/F.
Not a word of any terminal 3.

After checking the timetables I realised that I had to take one of the buses to the train station and switch to the small train connecting terminals from there.
Ok, I brought all my luggage onto the bus and went to the train station. The train to terminal 3 was below us 2 floors down. Brought my luggage over to the elevator and pushed the button...
Nothing. The elevator was dead.

Me and another load of passengers had to carry our luggage down the stairs to the floor where the train leaves. I found the train and got on. It went fairly often so I never had to wait really.
Took my luggage again and left the train when it arrived at terminal 3.
Unfortunately I never realised how far from the terminal it stopped. A 10 minute walk with the luggage in rain, in and out of rain is more correct. Some parts of the way was covered with a roof like thing.

Finally came up to terminal 3 and went inside. Found the checkin counter and noted the time it would open to start letting passengers check in.

As the weather broke up and let the sun out, I went outside for some air and hopefully a view.
At the end of the terminal I could see aircraft taxiin for takeoff. I took some shots while I waited..

B-16703 | B777 | Eva Air

A6-EYL | A330 | Etihad - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix titles

CDG must be the worst airport in the world. Or maybe I should say, the Paris Airports are the worst in the world. Connecting between ORY and CDG is a story itself, and connecting to various terminals at CDG is just too much hassle to ever do again.
I've been though CDG too many times now. Never again!

Compare it with AMS, for example.  What a lovely place. You never have to go outside, plenty of coffeshops, restaurants, shops and screens to watch the arrival gates. Clean, friendly staff Never more than 20 minutes walk to any gate. and you can easily get one of the small trolleys to put your luggage on if you so wish. Lovely...

I spent a weekend photographing birds this spring in the very south of Sweden. The southwestern tip of Sweden has a lighthouse and the area attracts a lot of migrating birds in spring and autumn. This area is also connected to Copenhagen via the new bridge.
In fact it's so close that the arrivals for runway 04L passes straight over it.  One of the SID's also guides the outbound aircraft near this area in certain winds.

So while I was shooting birds I was often staring up in the sky instead enjoying the arrivals and departures from EKCH - CPH.
Here are some shots of the traffic.

Scandinavian | A340

Singapore Airlines | B777 | 9V-SVA

Emirates | B777 - passes over on it's way to the USA.

Scandinavian | MD87 | OY-KHE in Star Alliance livery

Emirates | B777 - They often pass over within minutes of eachother

Always nice to combine my hobbies...

After getting in touch with Miguel Claudio in the evening before, I made myself ready to do some spotting and shooting before returning home in the same afternoon.
Not having all day to spend this time, I took a taxi to a spot Miguel had suggested when we spoke.
It was another day of fantastic sunny weather in Lisbon and I started taking some photos of the arrivals while waiting for Miguel to come by.

Orbest | A330 | CS-TRA - Came on approach and made a go-around

TAP Portugal | A320 | CS-TNO

Orbest | A330 | CS-TRA - second try

Orbest | A330 | CS-TRA

Then Miguel stopped by and it was a great pleasure to finally meet the person behind the blog I had followed for so long. We jumped into Miguel's car and I had the pleasure of being showed some nice spots around the field.

We stopped at a spot showing rotations and aircraft leaving the runway. Very nice even though you had to be quick and I didn't have a smaller lens with me, so I missed the big ones like A330's...

TAP Portugal | A320 | CS-TNA  - just before Vr

BA | B757 leaving the runway

EasyJet leaving the runway

TAP Portugal | A320 | CS-TNO  - Airborn and cleaning up

It was nice to spend some time at the airport with Miguel, and I was lucky with the weather. Sunny and nice.
TAP Portugal | A320 | CS-TNH


Vueling | EC-KLB

TAP Portugal | A319 | CS-TTG

TAP Portugal | A319 | CS-TTG - Humberto Delgado leaving the runway

TAP Portugal | A319 | CS-TTS

TAP Portugal | A330

After a while I had to return to my hotel and prepare for the flight back home.
Miguel was nice and drove me. Thanks Miguel!!

Left LIS the same afternoon on KLM via AMS. LIS is always nice to visit.
This time I also had the pleasure of meeting Miguel wich was great fun.

Hope we meet again somewhere...

I found myself having a stand-by day in LIS last year.  While waiting for a possible extended assignment I thought I'd do some photography at the airport.  See earlier report.

I had emailed our great blogger Miguel Claudio before I arrived in LIS hoping to meet up. Unfortunately I had not heard back from him this morning when I was getting ready for the day.

I went out of my hotel with a map in my hand and started walking. I walked along Avenida de Republica and enjoyed the aircraft flying by on the 03 approach.



CS-TNH | TAP Portugal

Nice view as they flew by.
I-NEOS | NEOS

I walked for about  30-40 minutes until I came up to Avenida de Brasil and  my friend Marco's Aviation Shop. Unfortunately he was not in at the moment so I continued to walk up towards the runway 03 threshold. I had previously been there on a nice spot.

Things have changed since my last visit and the nice location was just a memory now. So, I took some shots from the next spot I found.

CS-TOL | A330 | TAP Portugal

CS-TTC | A319 | TAP Portugal

Not the best place considering the sun, but on foot you don't move around too fast. I was happy just to be there actually. Enjoying the traffic and shooting some shots for the blog.

CS-TTH | TAP

CS-TOH | A330 | TAP Portugal - Star Alliance livery

CS-TOH | A330 | TAP Portugal - touching down on runway 03

ZS-SBK | B747-400 | Flying for Angola

EC-KDJ | B737 | Fly Ant Cargo

2 fighters came on approach and over the threshold they retracted their gear and powered on again.

And by now it was time for the white B747 to leave again.

While shooting I got a SMS from Miguel and he said maybe to meet up next morning. I started my long walk back to my hotel and had some dinner.

I had the chance to stop at MXP (Milano Malpensa, Italy) last year for a few hours. This is what I got.

LY-AWD | B737-522 | FlyLAL

?? | DC-10 | CargoItalia

YL-BBK | B737-33V | Air Baltic

PT-MSJ | MD-11 | TAM

I-AIGL | B737-33A | Air Italy

EI-UPO | MD-11 (F) | Alitalia Cargo

LX-ICV | B747-4R7F SCD | Cargolux

HS-TNC | A340-642 | Thai

B-HUK | B747-467(F) SCD | Cathay Pacific Cargo

CN-RPB | B737-4B3 | Jet4You

EI-DMJ | B767-306/ER | NEOS

JA04KZ | B747-481F/SCD | Nippon Cargo Airlines

EI-DFJ | ERJ170 | Alitalia Express

PH-BXA | B737-8K2 | KLM

All in all, a nice stopover. The KLM above was my ride for the afternoon.
My next visit to MXP had better weather...

Stay tuned.

When I drove along the coastline of Uruguay last year, I passed this nice garden decoration.



It's an Uruguayan F27.
It's in a pretty bad shape. Engines are missing, slats, nose cone and rudders are also missing.
But there is a big stair attached to the front door.
It would be interesting to know what it has been / or is used for.

At least it was a nice surprise for me.

As one of my favourite bloggers, Miguel Claudio, once wrote; Planning is everything.
And that is true, planning can make or break a nice opportunity.
Right now I'm working on this year's planning. Trips to come and opportunities to take. For me planning is a fun part. Very time consuming, but fun.
For airports I plan to visit, I usually check maps, google earth, Aerodrome charts, weather, airline schedules,  spotting places, observation decks etc.

Something I don't want to hear when I show up at an airport is:
-"Oh, you should have been here yesterday..."

We had a fantastic day today, sunny, calm winds, -5'C and blue skies. Since I had business in the area I drove by the airport to see if there were any activity today.
Ryanair was almost ready for departure when I arrived.

EI-DCC | B737-8AS | Ryanair - lining up runway 19

The cold weather created a lot of frosted areas during the night which now melted in the sun, giving the runway a nice wet surface.

EI-DCC | B737-8AS | Ryanair - Kicking up a nice spray as she rotates

EI-DCC | B737-8AS | Ryanair - Leaving a big spray behind

Nice first day of the year.

Another year comes to an end. I hope you have had a good one, and next one will be even better.

Happy New Year everybody.

I drove up to Oslo in Norway to do a photoshoot with a rockband earlier this year. Naturally I stopped by the airport for a while before returning home. OSL has some good spots and I decided to explore them.

This spot is stunning if they are using runway 19R for landings and it's sunny. While I was there it was cloudy and they used 01L for takeoffs and 01R for the landings.

Spot by runway 01L/19R


LN-KKS | B737-33A | Norwegian - Unicef Livery

LN-KKS | B737-33A | Norwegian - taking off from runway 01L

One of many SAS B737's that took off

I drove off after a while to try the other runway.

Line of aircraft at OSL

LN-RRL | B737 | SAS - Star Alliance livery with additional 10 Years 1997-2007 sticker

TS-INC | A320 | Nouvelair - just vacating runway 01R

I would never have guessed that they would be gone before the end of the year...

LN-KKY | B737-33A | Norwegian - Acta Livery

Decided to try departures again for a while...


Just as the Acta B737 took off again.

The weather became worse and worse so I decided to shoot the last departures lined up and leave..

SAS | B737

TF-FIU | B757 | Icelandair

I didn't get much useful on this trip, but I got to check the various spots available for us spotters.
Valuable information for me next time I decide to go up, next time in sunny weather!

Had a nice little turnover at ASU recently. A little walk on the ramp gave these beauties.
ZP-CAQ | B737-200 | Delcar
This aircraft has a long and interesting history, read it here at Airfleets.net

N214AG | B737-200 | Regional Paraguaya

This aircraft started service with Lufthansa as D-ABFR, later joined Ryanair as EI-COB and continued to LAN Airlines as CC-CQT before her current operator.

Another nice view was this beautiful B707.
Fuerza Aerea Paraguaya | B707

There were two derelict L-188's near the runway.
They were still visible the old LAP titles...

ex Electra's...

A nice hot visit to Asuncion...

I have recently started my way to a PPL - a Private Pilot License. It's something that has become very clear in the past months, I really want to fly myself. So I have signed up with the local club and started my course. No flying yet as I am still waiting for my Training Pilot License.
 
My medical check is done and all papers are filed, so the only thing I can do is wait and study.
I can't wait to start the flying lessons.

Then comes the natural next question... Is PPL the final license or will I proceed to get an ATPL license ?

I don't know. My dream is a full ATPL and a job with an airline. But I have to be realistic too. I'm not young anymore and the market isn't at it's peak to put it gently. But it's in the bad time you have to prepare for the good times, so I'm doing my part now hoping to be ready when the good uptimes comes. And then we'll see.

I will be doing my training in a modular style, so  I will progress slowly, watching the market at the same time. 

First  goal is my PPL.  I started a new category to my blog where I will post larger happenings in my flying. 

I will continue to post my aviation photography as usual, I just wanted to explain why I haven't updated the latest months of intense photography assignments. It's been a good season and I will catch up...

Stay tuned.

A wonderful family weekend had to be cut short when a new assignment came. Took the last flight out to LIS and landed around 23.00 Local time. Took a taxi to my hotel and...They had no reservation for me.

I made it myself over the internet and I had a printout in my hand, still they found nothing in their computers. No problem, they had rooms available so they entered all my information manually and all was well.

Now, it's past midnight and I have a very early date in the morning, and then it's time for a 757 all day!

Excellent!

Ok, alarm went off at 05.00 and I was in the transfer bus leaving for the airport at 05.30.

No breakfast, as it was too early for the hotel.

It was still dark when we arrived at the airport and I walked up to the checkin counter. Handed over my passport and informed her that my destination was OSL - Oslo in Norway.

After a while she says -"there's no reservation for you on that flight"

Oh, fantastic.

I walk over to the ticket office where the company had promised me a note with information from yesterday, so I expected an additional note about the changes with the OSL flight.

No note at all for me, even after the girls double and triple checked.

Oh, fantastic.

So here I am at the airport at 06.00, tired, hungry and with no place to go.
Not very professional from the airline. I'm disappointed.

Took the transfer bus back to the hotel where I now will go back to bed and try to get some sleep instead.
Hopefully I'll be in a better mood when I wake up so I can write something about yesterday's flights.

Hope you have a better day! See ya!

Just got back into the hotel, it's almost midnight and my alarm goes off in 4 hours, so I will not make a big update today. I will save it for another day.

Here is a shot from our Boeing 737-300 of the day, cruising at FL370 just before TOD (Top Of Decent)
Cockpit at night

See you tomorrow with a better story.

I was supposed to be picked up by a girl from the company this morning, but she never showed up. So it was quickly plan B, get into the shuttle bus from the hotel instead. Went straight to check-in and checked in for both my flights planned for today. I only had 30 minutes in between them, so better do it now.

First leg of the day went to LPX - Liepaja in Latvia. A short flight where it basically was up and down it felt. Small field, few passengers and we were quickly on our way back again. A good wind in our back helped us keep the schedule and my connection.

When we had landed I thanked the crew and left the aircraft, heading for the next gate and my next flight.
When I arrived at the gate I realised it was delayed due to late incoming aircraft. So I sat down for a while and just looked at the traffic outside, a Norwegian B737 just parked next to the window where i sat. Nice.

Then it was time to board our flight to Oulo in Finland. As the bus stopped and all passengers started boarding our Fokker 50, the captain opened his window and waved, asking if I was joining them. I said yes and waved with my cameras and he just smiled. We had worked together a few days ago and that's always nice when you get to fly with people who you have met before. Makes for a better conversation, and that's good as this was a quite long flight.

Oulu Airport in the sunshine

Blue1 MD90 OH-BLC - Parked next to us.

Our Fokker 50 for this flight.

After spending many, many hours in Fokker 50, I decided to do the last leg in the cabin. Watched the engine as we took off and headed south again. Enjoyed my meal and then..

--came the coffee and dessert....

The vibrations made the cup slowly move from one side to the other and it created rings in the cup..

Shortly before sunset we started our approach to runway 18 once again.
Gear down..

and another day of flying was over.  Tomorrow, I really want good weather. pleeaassseee...

Started the day with some music at the hotel while getting ready. The TV was blasting some western pop music when I heard a line that just fit so perfectly... It was Kylie Minogue singing:

You're such a rush, it's never ending

...and I couldn't say it better. This job is a rush, and I love it!

Checked in as usal and went through security. Going through security is a mission itself with all my camera gear. Pick it all up from the camerabag and send it through the scanner again, in separate boxes etc...
Anyway, when I was putting it all back into my bag I realised something was missing. My new headset was gone!! Where on earth was it ? I realised I never took it out at the screening. So it could be back at the hotel.
But, no... I don't remember seeing it there either. And if it had been on the floor next to my camerabag, I could not have missed it for the world. My new 300$ headset is white and big. It completely shuts out all exisiting sounds while filming. A necessity to have control of the audio.
So, that means I must have forgotten it on yesterday's B757. I went through the scenario again and again in my head.
Yep, that's where it is.  Like always it's a matter of seconds.
We had just landed and I needed a crew shot. We were delayed and the new crew had already walked onboard, eager to prepare for their flight and maybe, gain a little time.
The cleaners were eager to get onboard as well, to prepare the cabin for the next set of passengers.

And in all this mess I'm giving directions to "my" crew to position in the cabin for the crewshot.
With everybody around me stressing how late they were, I said I only need 5 seconds for my shot, if only my crew can get here. 
At last they positioned themselves where I wanted them and *click* I had my shot.

Now we all had to leave the aircraft quick. I grabbed my bag and cameras and walked out. 
Said goodbye to the crew in the gate and packed my cameras in the bag.
This is where I today see that my headset wasn't there. It was still in the business seat on row 1 or 2.
I can see it in front of me. Stupid me, but it was such a rush I simply forgot them.
I should have reacted when I packed my bag in the gate, but didn't.
Note to myself: Always check your bag before closing it. Is it all there ?

Back to today, I spent a lot of time trying to locate my missing headset. I mean somebody must have found them and usually that means the cleaners or the cabin crew.
If the cleaners find it, they (usually) bring it back to their manager. (That's the way they do it here).
If the cabin crew finds it, they give it to the police.

None of the above had any records of any headset being found.  Not before my flight, not after my flight.
So, they are gone. History.  And I loved them so.... I had finally found what I had been looking for for years. And they are now in the hands of some lucky worker at the airport. That's my guess.

Today it was time for a Boeing 737-500. I love the jumpseat in 737's so I was looking forward to it. We got airborne from runway 18 and headed south. Today's destination was MUC - Munich Airport in Germany.

Nice view as we head for Munich.


Nice reflection.

We flew as xxx221

The cruise part of the flight was quite uneventful, but still there was plenty to see.

Crossing traffic

Throttles

As we approached MUC we were told to fly a heading of 260 instead of following the STAR. (Standard Terminal Arrival Route). 
We shortly got the reason for it. We had an Air Berling just ahead of us calling with an Medical Emergency onboard. So the ATC got busy getting him quickly on the shortest approach route possible while determing if he wanted to stop on the taxiway or taxi to the gate.
They selected to continue to the gate and have all medicals waiting for them there.

While we flew on heading 260 we passed the airport nicely.
View of MUC

As we continued on our heading we came close to the ordinary approach pattern and got an TRAFFIC alert on our TCAS warning system. Almost at the same time came orders to turn for final approach rescuing the situation.

TCAS Warning (Apologies for the quality)

We were cleared to land on runway 08L.

We passed the Air Berlin with the medical emergency on our way to the stand.
Air Berlin 737

Next to us was this beauty.

EI-CHH KD Avia Boeing 737-317

On our way to the runway for departure we passed this sweet Boeing 737. It belongs to the Royal Prince of Thailand.

HS-HRH 99-999 B737-448 Royal Flight

We only had 3 minutes left of our slot time when we were cleared to line up on runway 08R and wait. A Dash8 had just landed and we had to wait for it to vacate the runway.

Runway 08R at MUC

We took off and followed our SID Eggenfelden 3E departure. Flying home we were almost full with 116 passengers. The 2 hour flight felt like 15 minutes. It's a great place for stories in the cockpit...

We started our descent and our initial runway 36 was replaced with runway 18. With a wind of 270 at 10 knots it would give us a nice crosswind.

Autopilot panel as we approach rwy 18

Short final runway 18

The captain, who was the pilot in control this leg, had to fight it as we came low enough to catch the turbulence created by the forest next to the runway. He gently placed the Boeing on the runway and activated the reversers. 

It was a nice day in a nice aircraft. The B737-500 is a nice machine. This particular aircraft had served with Aer Lingus for many years before she was stored back in 2004. Now she's happily flying the blue skies again with her new owner...

I love these before lunch departures. gives me time to have a decent breakfast at the hotel before rushing off to "work".  Anyway, it was a nice day with some clouds but the sun broke through now and then.
Our aircraft was already at the gate, it had been there over night.
My office for the day.

As an eager flight simmer, I always check when they load the FMC. This time i noticed that the first officer also got the annoying "Insufficient fuel" notice when entering the approach into BCN.  As I wasn't sure if the refuelling was done etc and I wanted to see how he managed to clear it and not get it back the second after. 
I was getting my equipment up and next time I looked it was gone and he checkedthe route and was happy with it. Typical, I missed it. Anyway, time to get airborn.

We took off from runway 18 and climbed like a rocket up to our cruising altitude FL390.
Captain relaxing while passing the Alps.

It was a pretty long flight so I decided to go back for a while to have my meal in the seat, but first the captain borrowed my camera...

Right seat for me is left.

Enjoyed my meal and came back in time for this shot as we passed over Marseille, France

MRS

After Marseille it wasn't long until we started our descent into Spain and Barcelona. During the descent I noticed something was wrong and our captain called up the approach and informed that we were low on fuel, only carrying 100kg extra and requested a straight in approach without delays.  No delayes were reported and we continued our approach.

BCN as we pass the field on our downwind for Runway 07L

Just as we turned base ATC told us to turn right 270 degrees. Which was away from the approach again.
Both pilots started moaning a bit but we were routed back again shortly and caught the ILS.

Short final for runway 07L at BCN

We were cleard to land very late because of another aircraft on the runway.

Barcelona after vacating the runway.

It was my first landing at Barcelona, and I was a bit surprised over the amount of traffic. Many, many russians.

Transaero B747 VP-BGU

We parked and the passengers left the aircraft. 

We got delayed due to slow loading of luggage, so we missed our slot time. Next slot was over an hour away and the new passengers had already boarded the aircraft.

Now I got the explanation for the low fuel. The fuel calculations were wrong on the papers. If you manually calculated all figures it was correct, but the computer missed by 1000 kg. Captain immediately started writing a report to prevent it from happening again.

Flyglobespan B737 passed by while we waited.

Czech airlines B737 OK-DGN

Blue Air B737 YR-BAE in Metro 2008 colours

Aerolineas Argentinas A340

We nearly missed our next slot time, which had been moved forward without us being notified, so it was a very quick startup and we were on our way again.

Lining up on Runway 07R at BCN

One of the best things about crossing Europe is all the traffic. With Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) they can come very close at times and I love it!

Lufthansa A340 passing below

Emirates B777 crossing our way below.

I didn't have my big lens in the cockpit so I just took these for fun with my 55mm lens.

The day passed and the sun got lower and lower on the horizon and it was time for us to descend again.

A look at our instruments

Reducing to idle during descent.

As we were vectored for the ILS runway 18, Captain tried to verify the signal but didn't succeed.
Quickly we switched to a visual approach and because of that little delay we were a bit high.

Final approach runway 18.

The first officer took us down to the correct approach path smootly and we touched down on runway 18.

A long day ended well, and had some "extras" to it. Lovely!