Tuesday 14 January 2014

My troubles of spotting Libyan Airlines in Malta


During my early years as a plane spotting in 2001 I wanted to take more planes from different parts of the world around 2002 in Malta other than Air Malta. When I was 13 in 2004 I wan't to get a photo of Libyan Arab Airlines before it was re-named to Libyan Airlines few years ago. Back then Libyan Arab Airlines normally sent out Boeing 727 I was thinking "Hmmm such an old plane I wanted a non-EU airline" Unfortunately as a kid I did not spend time at the airport for too long. When I reach my mid teenage years in 2006 I know Libyan Arab Airlines is still coming to Malta but there was a problem, before sunset in summer the bus service back home finish early evening so I got screwed. 

Before the Libyan Civil War Libyan Airlines had stopped operating Malta due to financial trouble around mid 2010 so it was only Air Malta. When the Libyan Civil War started in February 15th 2011 the airspace was closed to all airliners. In 25th August 2011 Libyan Airlines 5A-DLZ  Airbus A300-600 was destroyed during fighting actions in Tripoli Airport. I said to my self "I don't know how long the war is going on but hopefully Libyan Airlines will return to Malta otherwise I have to go to London Heahtrow, UK". After the war was over in 23rd October 2011 few airliners are back in operational to Tripoli and Benghazi. When Libyan Airlines operated Malta again here was the trouble in my 2nd photo!  


In during the Summer Malta gets dark before 8pm and Libyan Airlines arrives at 6pm but here's the problem... They always delay from Tripoli! if it's 1 hour or 2 hour delay I get very annoyed because my camera can't pick up night shots very well for aviation photography if I get the right gear for it... In Winter Malta gets dark at 5:45pm roughly so I said to my self  "That's it I'm going to take a picture at night if I can't see it in summer due to delays, I just take a photo!" The reason why Libyan Airlines always delay sometimes in Malta because I think they don't have enough planes so when it could be 1 plane is due to it's next flight to Malta and it's still on flight from another airport. This photo here is TS-INN in Tunisian registration is an Airbus A320-200 new to Condor Berlin in 1998 ex D-AICD taken in 30th December 2013 it's not only my first ever Libyan Airlines photo it's also introduced in new livery when the company changed it's name. 

Monday 13 January 2014

First ever photo of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner



When I was on my way to London Gatwick, UK from Malta on 11th January 2014 I was expecting to see Thomson Airways brand new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner it normally arrives in Gatwick in early morning from long haul flights. This aircraft I saw is G-TUIB new to Thomson Airways in 30th May 2013 one of the second Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in the fleet. Thomson Airways owns 4 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners there are no plans if Thomson will get more or the new 787-9 models.

Will there be other airliners with 787 Dreamliners operate London Gatwick? Yes Norwegian Long Haul part of Norwegian Air Shuttle will start operating from Gatwick to the United States in Los Angles in California, Fort Lauderdale in Florida and New York-JFK in New York this July. Will I see Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the future? Yes I'm in a process of flying from London Gatwick returning home to Malta in March depends if the 787 arrives or going to leave but other than that I will see it in Farnbrough Airshow this July.