Thursday 31 January 2013

Good Bye Wind Jet


Wind Jet Airbus A320-200 EI-DFO was new to Canadian Airlines International ex C-FLSJ in 1992 it went to other airliners throughout the 90s until it went to Wind Jet fleet in 2004 ex Air Arabia A6-ABX. After Wind Jet shut down in August 2012 few of the A320 planes went to Malta for storage use encase another airliner want's to buy one. In my opinion I wish Air Malta would buy few former Wind Jet aircraft to upgrade Air Malta fleet.

This photo EI-DFO two engines have been taken out, one landing gear door is open and the aircraft is very dirty. There is another Wind Jet aircraft unfortunately it's in the old Luthansa Technik  my camera wont reach that far but this plane here stored in Park 4 next to the new Luthansa Technik.

Last year I filmed Various Planes in Malta July last year with one Wind Jet arrived and taxied to parking that's the only footage I had before I found out Wind Jet company shut down. The reason why the company was shut down is because a lot of Wind Jet older Airbus A320s planes from the early 90s and few A319s had a lot of technical problems as you can see why there were so many in Malta last summer and now only two left stored. Soon they decide to scrap it or re-used to different airline companies.      

What happen to TAM Linhas Aéreas PT-MSN?

Photo taken 30th September  2011
What happen to this aircraft? I'll explain. This plane PT-MSN is an Airbus A340-300 was new to TAM Airlines 2007 in Brazil. After when TAM announced they ordered new Airbus A330-200 couple of years ago they wan't to replace every A340 TAM has.









After arriving in Malta in September 2011 this plane was meant to be a Luthansa Technik stop, in that
month all Airbus A330 arrived in TAM they say good-bye this is poor A340 this plane is only 5 years old... So far PT-MSN has stayed in Malta for 2 years this year as I count the beginning of 2013 this plane is still in storage in Malta.






Here is my latest photo taken 24th January 2013. Engines and windows are all covered up still no idea what to do to the plane... scrap it or fly it again. All we have to do now is wait and see.


Virgin Atlantic in Malta


It was Friday 25th January 2013 on a freezing cold heavy rainy day in Malta a British airliner Virgin Atlantic nick name Bubbles registered G-VFIZ Airbus A340-600 flight VS845P departed Malta runway 31 to London Heathrow, United Kingdom after staying a week in Malta for Luthansa Tech stop.

Bubbles was new to Virgin Atlantic fleet in 2006 it operated long haul flights to USA, Hong Kong, Sydney and Tokyo but seeing this aircraft operated first short haul flight in Malta. I have missed Airbus A330 which was latest and new to Virgin Atlantic fleet because I was in UK.

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Which Air Malta colours you prefer?

Today I like to make this blog of what Air Malta livery you prefer. This photo here is my favorite of 2006 of four Air Malta planes. I wish if Air Malta's Boeing 737-300 replaced with another Airbus planes so it makes four Airbus if it's A319 or A320.

How did I take this photo? I was boarding Air Malta to London gatwick, UK taken September 2006.




This is my recent photo taken in April 2012 full of Airbus planes after Boeing 737-300 left in 2009. Here is a tip get a decent photo of Air Malta planes like this around 2:30pm & 3pm. A spotting location is in Triq-Hal-Far, Gudja. Back last year these photos was taken on my Kodak C340 as you can tell the quality is poor 5 megapixels until October 2012 I bought a new Fujifilm Finepix S2980 14 megapixels. So compare this photo to this next photo.
To this my latest photo taken 26th January 2013. 


The new 2012 design I don't like because it's too colorful  he name of Air Malta shows "Malta" and the Maltese cross on the left side looks they can't fit enough room in my opinion.

This Airbus A320-200 registered 9H-AEK is taxing to depart runway 31. There are couple of Airbus A320s still in 1990 colour.




1990 Air Malta colour started with Boeing 737-200 before Airbus A320-200 arrived. This plane 9H-AEO was new to Air Malta in 2006 till it changed the livery to Valletta's Capital of Culture 2018 in Spring 2012.

Photo taken 29th January 2013.






Here is Airbus A319 taken early morning 30th January 2013 around 6am.

Air Malta has almost finished all Airbus A319s new Air Malta colour but there is only one plane is still in old Air Malta colour.






Yes 9H-AEJ is the only Air Malta's Airbus A319 is still in old 1990 Air Malta colour in Air Malta hanger. This was taken today 30th January 2013 as I boarded Air Malta flight to London Gatwick, United Kingdom.

There is no spotting tip.You have to be lucky to board an early morning Air Malta flight then climb up the stairs and quickly take a photo before you get in the plane.



So what Air Malta colour do you prefer. 1990? or 2012? My answer is 1990.

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Cargo/Military visitors in Malta International Airport Summer 2012

Welcome to my first blog of Aircraft Aviation in Europe. We are going to take a look at new aircraft in my home country in Malta.

Note: These photos from 2006-2012 are from Kodak C340 camera you will see some poor quality image in couple of blogs but two months ago I bought an upgraded camera Fujifilm Finepix S2980 with good quality images.

Taken in Malta 30th June 2012
Air Atlanta Icelandic TF-ATX is a Boeing 747-200F was new to British Airways G-BDXM in 1977. In 2002 British Airways retire their Boeing 747-200 for scrap of cargo use. This plane is only in Malta for cargo and left unfortunately I don't know where it was heading.  








Taken in Malta 5th July 2012

Next is Star Away International probably the oldest aircraft still operational the McDonnel Douglas DC-8 first flew in 1959. This plane was brand new to Alitalia I-DIWW in 1970. This aircraft transferred lots of times I can't explain more but it recently join Star Away International from African International Airways in 2009 as 3D-AIA. ZS-OSI stayed in Malta for re-fuel and rest for a day to continue her cargo.


Taken in Malta 11th July 2012
Here is Qatar-Air Force A7-MAB a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III new in 2009 departing Malta runway 31 I think it was on route to Doha. I have a video you can Click Here to see her take off.

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog of Aircraft Aviation in Europe. Soon you will my collection of photos of passenger airliners, cargo & military aircraft. At the mean time you are welcome to visit my Youtube page.