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News Archive 2006
This page contains an archive of news items relating to the BAe 146, Avro RJ, and Avro RJX regional jetliners built by BAE Systems, from 2006.
BA CitiExpress to become BA Connect
Another year, another re-organization plan for British Airways' troubled regional subsidiary, British Airways CitiExpress. In the latest plan, BACX will be rebranded as British Airways Connect and switch to a single-class, low-fare model. The airline itself will adopt the new name from February 1, but the new service levels will be introduced on March 26. CitiExpress has had a troubled history ever since British Airways merged what had been profitable individual subsidiaries with each other and with its own Gatwick-based regional services. British Airways' new chief executive, Willie Walsh, is understood to have given BA Connect two years to become profitable or face closure. The airline operates fifteen Avro RJ100s and four BAe 146s, but five RJ100s are scheduled to be sold to Swiss by March.
[2006-01-11]
Rocky new year for CitiExpress Avro RJ100s
British Airways CitiExpress' Avro RJ100s have had a rocky transition to the new year. On December 29, RJ100 G-BXAR (msn E3298) got stuck in the mud at Birmingham while undertaking high power engine runs, sustaining damage to the lower fuselage in the process. The hapless aircraft was further damaged on the following day, when one of the vehicle aiding in her extrication struck her, damaging the elevator. Then on January 11, RJ100 G-BZAU (msn E3328) was evacuated on the runway at Edinburgh following a suspected engine fire. She had been preparing to depart on flight BA8703 to London City when passengers reported seeing flames shooting out of an engine. As a precaution, the captain shut off the engines and evacuated the passengers. The incident inspired the usual apocalyptic media headlines ("Terrified passengers flee burning plane!") but no problems were found in a subsequent inspection, and the aircraft was returned to service.
[2006-01-13]
Northwest confirms plans to withdraw its Avro RJ85s
Mesaba has stated that it has been informed by Northwest Airlines that the entire fleet of Avro RJ85s it operates on behalf of Northwest Jet Airlink is to be withdrawn from service. Mesaba has already parked nine of the 35 RJ85s in early November, although two of these have since returned to service. Although Northwest had initially instructed Mesaba to park the entire fleet by year's end, the remaining aircraft will now remain in service until the second half of 2006. They will now be withdrawn between May and December.
[2006-01-15]
Asian Spirit to expand internationally
Philippine airline Asian Spirit is planning to add international services to its network of domestic routes. The new service will link Davao, on the island of Mindanao, with Palau, in Micronesia. The airline is also studying several other international routes. Asian Spirit operates two former National Jet Systems BAe 146-100s on lease from BAE Systems. It had also leased a series 200, but she was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident in November 2005. Two more series 200s should arrive this year, and Asian Spirit has options to lease another three. It has also been in talks with Druk Air to acquire that airline's two series 100s, which have been parked since they were replaced by Airbus A319s.
[2006-01-19]
Transwede to fly for SAS
Transwede will fly its Avro RJ70 on a new route from Stockholm Arlanda to London City on behalf of SAS. The new service, to begin on February 13, will be flown twice daily on weekdays, and once on Sunday. The service complements the London City service SAS began last fall from Copenhagen, using Dash 8Q-400s. It is not clear whether the RJ70 will be painted in SAS' own colors, or whether she will be reconfigured from her current high-density charter seating. This will be the first 146/RJ service into London City from Sweden since Malmö Aviation abandoned the route in 2000.
[2006-01-20]
 | | Flightdeck modified with LCDs, with detail view (BAE Systems) |
LCD flightdeck modification for BAe 146 certified
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has obtained the approval of UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a modification package that replaces some electromechanical indicators with LCD Flat Panel electronic displays on early-build BAe 146s. The modifications were flight-tested on BAe 146-300 G-UKAG (msn E3162), the last of six aircraft to be delivered to Eurowings under a lease agreement signed last year. The CAA has recommended approval to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), whose certification should be received shortly. The modification package replaces several instrument displays with Collins FPI-920 flat panel LCDs. The new displays provide most of the advantages of EFIS but at a fraction of the cost. Nearly 140 early-build BAe 146s are eligible to be upgraded. BAE Systems is reporting substantial interest in the upgrade. Eurowings has signed for six aircraft, and Air Dolomiti for three. Talks are underway with several other operators.
[2006-01-27] |
Maintenance cost reductions for the BAe 146 and Avro RJ
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has received the approval of the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for its Maintenance Optimisation Programme (Systems) for the BAe 146 and Avro RJ. The program revises the maintenance intervals for the 146 and RJ based on an extensive study of in-service experience. Under the program, the interval between 'A' checks is increased from 500 hours/cycles to 625 hours/cycles, and that between 'C' checks is increased from 4,000 hours/cycles to 5,000 hours/cycles. The change is estimated to reduce Direct Maintenance Cost (DMC) by about US$16 per flight hour on BAe 146s and by about US$7 per flight hour on Avro RJs.
[2006-01-27]
Lufthansa signs massive Jetspares contract
Lufthansa has signed the largest ever Jetspares support contract, a US$30 million deal covering the 18 Avro RJ85s of CityLine, the 14 BAe 146-200/300s of Eurowings, and the 5 BAe 146-300s of Air Dolomiti. JetSpares is an individually customised support program under which BAE Systems provides spares inventory, logistics, and repairs for a fixed fee per flying hour. The program has been very popular, and now covers 190 aircraft -- more than half the in-service fleet.
[2006-01-27]
CityJet negotiating to acquire Mesaba Avro RJ85s
CityJet is negotiating to acquire half of the Avro RJ85s that Mesaba is withdrawing from service. Under the proposed deal, deliveries would begin in August and continue through June 2007. The RJ85s would join CityJet's fleet of BAe 146-200s and -300s, all of which are operated on behalf of Air France. Although some BAe 146s on short-term leases may be returned as the RJ85s arrive, the bulk of the current 146 fleet would remain. The deal would thus give CityJet the world's largest 146/RJ fleet, ahead of SN Brussels Airlines (32 aircraft, comprising 6 146-200s, 14 RJ85s, and 12 RJ100s) and Swiss European (24 aircraft, comprising 4 RJ85s and, by summer, 20 RJ100s). In the meantime, the airline is taking delivery of an additional BAe 146-200, former Flybe G-JEAX (msn E2136), on lease from BAE Systems.
[2006-01-28] |
TNT adds combi BAe 146s
TNT Airways has acquired the two Combi BAe 146-200QCs operated by Axis Airways. TNT intends to maintain the two aircraft in combi configuration and use them for passenger charters beginning in March, complementing their convertible Boeing 737-300s. The first QC, OO-TAY (msn E2211, ex F-GOMA) arrived in January and entered service with TNT on January 23. Sistership OO-TAZ (msn E2188 ex F-GLNI) should follow in early February. TNT already operates eleven 146QT freighters (three series 200QTs and eight series 300QTs). A further six BAe 146-200QTs are operated on its behalf by Pan Air Lineas Aereas of Spain.
[2006-01-29] |
Latest THY Avro RJ100 returned
THY Turkish Airlines continues to gradually return its Avro RJ fleet to BAE Systems. Avro RJ100 TC-THM (msn E3264), who arrived at Southend on February 1, and then continued on to Norwich, was the latest to return. During 2005, THY had already returned two RJ100s (TC-THC msn E3236 in January, TC-THO msn E3265 in October) and its three remaining RJ70s (TC-THJ msn E1230 in June, TC-THN msn E1252 in August, and TC-THI msn E1229 in November). All are currently in storage at Kemble, along with the former TC-THB (msn E3234, returned in March 2004). A deal to lease them to Flybe fell through when the airline decided to acquire Embraer 195s instead. THY still has four RJ100s (TC-THA msn E3232, TC-THD msn E3237, TC-THE msn E3238, and TC-THH msn E3243). It recently announced a search for a regional type to replace them.
[2006-02-09] |
 | | Air Wisconsin's BAe 146 N607AW at Aspen in January (Stefano Pagiola) |
CRJ700s to replace BAe 146s at Aspen
United Airlines is planning to use Bombardier CRJ700s operated by SkyWest for services to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport. To date, the BAe 146 and Avro RJ are the only jet airliners certified for operation at the airport, which is at 7,820 feet AGL and is surrounded by mountains rising to over 13,000 feet. Aspen has a single, 7,000 foot runway, with landings in one direction and take-offs in the other. The critical limitation at ASE is the requirement to be able to undertake a missed approach with one engine out. Hitherto, only the BAe 146 and Avro RJ had been able to demonstrate this ability, as the loss of an engine would only entail a 25% loss of thrust. With Air Wisconsin (operating as United Express) due to retire its BAe 146s and Mesaba (operating as Northwest Jet Airlink) its Avro RJs, the future of jet airline operations at the airport had been in doubt. The latest versions of the CRJ700, which now use the more powerful CF34-8C5B1 (a version of the CF34-8C5 engine used on the larger CRJ900), may be able to demonstrate the ability to operate in Aspen's demanding environment with the required safety margins. The introduction of slats on the CRJ700 (which the CRJ200 lacked) also helps, by reducing the model's landing speed. SkyWest plans to begin operating CRJ700s on United Express services into Aspen on April 16, when Air Wisconsin is scheduled to end its 146 operations. SkyWest has already taken over ground handling at the airport. Even if it should be certified, whether the smaller CRJ700 will prove a satisfactory replacement for the 146/RJ remains to be seen. Even with the more powerful engines, it might well be weight-limited on hot days. Moreover, its luggage capacity is smaller than that of the 146/RJ, which may prove a significant constraint on a route heavily patronized by skiers.
[2006-02-10] |
 | Atlantic Airways' BAe 146 OY-RCA received the first Inflite P-RNAV
installation (CPH Aviation) |
Inflite offers P-RNAV modification for BAe 146s
Stansted-based Inflite is offering an avonics installation allowing BAe 146s and Avro RJs to meet emerging precision navigation (P-RNAV) requirements. P-RNAV requires the ability to maintain track within 1nm for at least 95% of flight time. Although P-RNAV is not required, it is in use at several congested airports, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam. P-RNAV equipped aircraft can benefit from expedited clearances and fuel savings. Inflite has already completed one installation, on Atlantic Airways' BAe 146-200 OY-RCA (msn E2045). The installation costs about US$100,000, depending on the modification status of the aircraft. It can be installed during a 'C' check. Inflite can either do the installation itself or supply it in kit form.
[2006-02-10] |
 | | The sad end of BAe 146 VH-JJU; VH-JJW awaits her turn (Gordon Reid) |
Ansett BAe 146s broken up
Former Ansett BAe 146 VH-JJU (msn E2116) was broken up at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport on February 6. VH-JJW (msn E2110) suffered the same fate on the following day. Both 146s had been stripped of useful parts several years ago, and their hulks had sat abandoned at Melbourne. VH-JJP (msn E2037) is the next 146 on death row. All three had been offered for sale by Ansett's administrator, but apparently at an unrealistically high price that found no takers.
[2006-02-10] |
Transwede begins flying to London City
Transwede inaugurated its twice daily Avro RJ70 from Stockholm Arlanda to London City on February 13. The RJ70 is flown on behalf of SAS, and has received a SAS-like livery, taking advantage of the similarities between the two airlines' color schemes.
[2006-02-15] |
EuroManx Avro RJ70s parked at Exeter
EuroManx has flown its two Avro RJ70s to Exeter for storage. EI-CPJ (msn E1258) was ferried on February 3, and EI-CPK (msn E1260) joined her on February 7. Both had spent most of their time in the past few months parked on Ronaldsway's disused runway, 17/35, although they had on occasion operated charters and scheduled services. The RJ70s had been the centerpiece of EuroManx's ambitious plans, but they were withdrawn from scheduled services in October after persistent losses forced the airline to restructure its operations.
[2006-02-18] |
 | | SN Brussels Avro RJ100 OO-DWD with Atomium colors (Tom Houquet) |
SN Brussels Avro RJ100 celebrates Atomium
SN Brussels Airlines has painted another of its Avro RJ100s in a special color scheme. The new scheme, worn by RJ100 OO-DWD (msn E3324), depicts the Atomium, a Brussels landmark in the shape of an atom. The Atomium recently re-opened its doors after modernization.
[2006-02-28] |
 | | Swiss Avro RJ100 HB-IYV emerges from the paintshop (John Mason) |
Swiss RJ100 painted in Star Alliance colors
The latest former British Airways CitiExpress Avro RJ100 to join the Swiss European fleet has been painted in Star Alliance colors. Swiss will shortly be joining the Star Alliance, and Alliance rules require examples of each type in an airline's fleet to be painted in the Alliance's colors. HB-IYV (msn E3377, ex G-CFAB) was rolled out in the new colors at East Midlands on February 17, and departed to Basel the same day. The next RJ100 to be transferred from British Airways CitiExpress will also wear Star Alliance colors.
[2006-02-28] |
 | | G-BLRA in new BAE Systems corporate colors (Stefan Jahn) |
New colors for BAE Systems BAe 146s
BAE Systems' corporate BAe 146-100, G-BLRA (msn E1017), has been repainted in a new corporate color scheme.
[2006-03-10] |
Mesaba Avro RJ85 has a gear collapse
Mesaba Avro RJ85 N517XJ (msn E2335) experienced a nosegear collapse while parked at the gate at Cleveland on March 5. She was later ferried to Minneapolis for repairs.
[2006-03-10] |
SN Brussels Avro RJ85 makes an emergency landing
An Avro RJ85 of SN Brussels Airlines made an emergency landing at Gothenburg airport in Sweden on the evening of March 10. RJ85 OO-DJN (msn E2275) had departed the airport on flight DAT2274 to Brussels, but its nose landing gear failed to retract after takeoff. The RJ85 returned to land. The nosegear failed on landing, sending out a shower sparks. None of the 22 passengers and 4 crew on board were injured.
[2006-03-16]
 | | BAe 146-300 N9070L at Bournemouth (A J Best) |
Eventful ferry flight for ex-Ansett BAe 146
Former Ansett BAe 146-300 N9070L (msn E3147 ex ZK-NZJ) made an eventful ferry flight to England. She had been acquired by OzJet parent European Aviation and registered to Trevor S. Whetter (a managing director of EAAC). As she lacked TCAS, RNAV, or Long Range Navigational equipment she was unable to obtain permits to overfly the Middle East. As a result, a westerly ferry route was selected. She departed Melbourne on March 4, passing through Adelaide before continuing to Darwin. There, some technical problems delayed her until March 6, when flew to Kota Kinabalu, and on to Taipei and then Seoul. The following morning, she departed Seoul en route to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, but a shattered windscreen forced a return to Seoul. After the windscreen had been repaired, she departed again on March 11, only to be forced to return again with another shattered windscreen! She departed again on March 16 after the windscreen had been repaired again, and the third time proved a charm. She flew Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, in Russia, and then on to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, before crossing to Nome, Alaska, and continuing to Juneau. The next day saw her fly on to Edmonton. After a day of rest, she continued on March 19 to Churchill, Iqaluit, and Keflavik. March 20 saw her fly her last leg, from Keflavik to Hurn. The ferry took an astounding 49 hrs and 45 mins.
[2006-03-20] |
More former Ansett BAe 146s get the axe
Two more former Ansett BAe 146s have been parted out at Melbourne Tullamarine. BAe 146-300s ZK-NZH (msn E3137) and ZK-NZI (msn E3143) were both parted out on March 20. Both aircraft had been seriously damaged by a gale in September 2002 while in storage at Essendon, with ZK-NZH sustaining damage to the No.4 engine pylon and ZK-NZI suffering serious nose distortion.
[2006-03-25]
SN Brussels and Virgin Express to merge and re-brand
SN Brussels Airlines is planning to merge with partner airline Virgin Express and adopt a new brand. SN Airholding, SN Brussels' parent, bought low-cost operator Virgin Express in 2005. The two airlines remained separate, however. Under a plan approved by SN Airholding's board, they are now to be combined into a single operation with a new name. Two distinct products will continue to be offered, however: a basic product for price-sensitive passengers, and an upgraded product for time-sensitive customers. SN Brussels Airlines operates six BAe 146-200s, 14 Avro RJ85s, and 12 RJ100s. In May 2005, it concluded a sale and leaseback transaction with BAE Systems Regional Aircraft covering 23 of its 26 RJ85s and RJ100s which will see the aircraft remain in its fleet for the foreseeable future. The other three RJs are on operating leases until 2009.
[2006-04-01]
 | | Flightline BAe 146 G-FLTC flying for Jet2 (Kevin Bates) |
Flightline flies for Jet2
Flightline is operating BAe 146-300 G-FLTC (msn E3205) on behalf of low-cost airline Jet2. The 146 is used primarily on the route from Manchester to London Gatwick, with three roundtrips a day. G-FLTC was ferried to Manchester on March 26 after painting in basic Jet2 colors.
[2006-04-01] |
Hemus Air adds BAe 146-300s
Bulgarian airline Hemus Air is adding two BAe 146-300s to its fleet, which already includes three BAe 146-200s. The first, a former Air Wisconsin example (msn E3141 ex N615AW), was ferried from the USA on March 5, routing via Keflavik and Stansted, as LZ-HBD. The second, a former
Aer Lingus aircraft (msn E3131 ex EI-CLG), is currently at Stansted undergoing maintenance by Inflite. Once delivered to Hemus Air, she is expected to become LZ-HBE. She had been ferried to Stansted in December 2005, after a period of storage at Mojave. The other two former Aer Lingus BAe 146s who are still stored in the desert may also make their way to Bulgaria, as Hemus Air has announced it intends to add four BAe 146-300s this year.
[2006-04-10]
Damaged BA Connect Avro RJ100 returns to service
Avro RJ100 G-BXAR (msn E3298), who was damaged at Birmingham last December 29, has returned to service. She got stuck in the mud while undertaking high power engine runs, sustaining damage to the lower fuselage in the process, and then was further damaged when one of the vehicle aiding in her extrication struck her, damaging the elevator. After several months of repairs at Exeter, she returned to Birmingham late on April 13 painted in the new BA Connect colors, and re-entered service the following day.
[2006-04-15]
 | | FAAM BAe 146ARA at Fresno in March (Jim McQuaid) |
FAAM BAe 146ARA explores mountain rotor threat
FAAM's BAe 146ARA has just returned from a month-long stay in California, where it participated in a program to study mountain rotors, the Terrain-induced Rotor Experiment (T-REX) program. Mountain rotors are intense low-level horizontal vortices that form on the lee sides of mountains and are an important hazard to aviation. The T-REX program is gathering data to study the phenomena. FAAM's BAe 146ARA G-LUXE (msn E3001) undertook sixteen flights in support of the program, operating from Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California's Central Valley. She arrived in Fresno on March 13 after a 2-day ferry flight from Cranfield. The 146ARA was responsible for measurements at up to 35,000 ft, complementing a Beechcraft King Air taking readings from 500 ft to 28,000 ft and a Gulfstream V taking readings at altitudes up to 45,000 ft. The 146ARA departed on its return flight on April 11, arriving back at Cranfield on April 13.
[2006-04-16] |
 | | N291UE arrives at Appleton on the evening of April 16 (Bill Wrobleski) |
Air Wisconsin ends BAe 146 operations
Air Wisconsin retired its last BAe 146 on April 16. The airline has been winding down its BAe 146 operations since last April, when bankrupt United Airlines announced that SkyWest and GoJet would replace Air Wisconsin in the United Express network by 2006. By the end of 2005, only five series 200As remained, to cover the lucrative ski season flights into Aspen. BAe 146-200A N291UE (msn E2084) flew the last departure out of Aspen on the morning of April 16, flying to Denver and then continuing to Des Moines (Iowa), Chicago O'Hare, and finally to Air Wisconsin's base at Appleton, Wisconsin. It was scheduled to operate a final Appleton-Chicago round trip, but in the event this was cancelled due to inclement weather. The last Air Wisconsin BAe 146 revenue arrival was flown by N292UE (msn E2087), which arrived back in Denver from a round trip to Des Moines, at 19:53 local time.
[2006-04-17] |
Transwede to fly for Skyways
Transwede will operate an Avro RJ100 on behalf of Skyways, beginning on August 20, flying 40 trips a week between Stockholm Arlanda and Halmstad. Transwede began operations in May 2005, using a former Azzurra Air Avro RJ70. This RJ70 is currently being flown on behalf of SAS on the Stockholm Arlanda-London City route. Transwede did not indicate where it planned to obtain an RJ100, but several former Turkish Airlines examples are currently in storage. Alternatively, it may be planning to borrow an example from sister airline Malmö Aviation, who operates nine of the type. Malmö operated a BAe 146 on behalf of Skyways from May 2003 to September 2004.
[2006-04-27]
Australia mandates BAe 146 wing inspections
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) mandating wing inspections on certain BAe 146s and Avro RJs. The AD follows the detection of a significant crack in the wing top skin of a BAe 146 during a scheduled inspection, and is intended to verify that similar cracks are not present on other aircraft with top wing skins made from the same aluminium alloy.
[2006-04-28]
 | | Atlantic Airways BAe 146 N179US at Trois Rivières (Jason Becklund) |
Atlantic Airways acquires ex-Air Wisconsin BAe 146
Atlantic Airways has aquired former Air Wisconsin BAe 146-200 N179US (msn E2041). After a short delay due to late issuance of the export certificate, she departed from Trois Rivières, Quebec, on May 2 on a ferry flight to Malmö, routing via Goose Bay and Keflavik. She will enter service with the Faroe Islands airline after maintenance by Malmö Aviation.
[2006-05-11] |
Second European Aviation BAe 146 ferried to England
The second European Aviation BAe 146-300 was ferried from Australia to England in early March. Former Ansett BAe 146-300 N9086L (msn E3135 ex ZK-NZG) departed Melbourne's Tullamarine airport on May 6 as Southern Cross 311. Unlike N9070L, her ferry flight proved uneventful. She routed via Alice Springs, Broome, Jakarta, Medan, Colombo, Ahmedabad, Al Ain, Bahrain, Sharm El Sheik, Corfu, and into Bournemouth, where she arrived on May 9.
[2006-05-11] |
 | | Inscription on N291UE's engine nacelle (Pat Doyle) |
Last Air Wisconsin BAe 146s leave Appleton
The last Air Wisconsin BAe 146s left the airline's home base at Appleton, Wisconsin, on April 23. Captain Pat Doyle, the 146 Fleet Manager, led a formation consisting of N290UE (msn E2080) and N291UE (msn E2084). The two 146s made a formation pass over the airport complex in Appleton as a final good-bye, then flew away to Canada. After clearing Customs in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they flew in formation into Summerside, on Prince Edward Island. On arrival there, they performed several low passes prior to finally touching down just prior to dusk.
[2006-05-11] |
 | | Swiss Avro RJ100 HB-IYS at Manchester (Globalpics) |
Swiss Avro RJ100 painted in special colors
Swiss European has painted the latest former British Airways CitiExpress Avro RJ100 it has received, HB-IYS (msn E3381 ex G-CFAE), in a special color scheme. The scheme, which shows the traditional seasonal migration of livestock to Alpine meadows, promotes Zürich Airport's shopping malls. HB-IYS was painted at East Midlands and rolled out on May 17, and then ferried to Basel on the same day.
[2006-05-25] |
 | | FaroeJet Avro RJ100 OY-FJE landing at Copenhagen (Bernd Hempe) |
New Faroe Islands airline leases an Avro RJ100
A new airline based in the Faroe Islands, FaroeJet, is leasing a former Turkish Airlines Avro RJ100 from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft. The RJ100, OY-FJE (msn E3234, ex TC-THB) was delivered to the airline in mid-May. FaroeJet is planning to operate between Copenhagen and the capital of the Faroe Islands, Vagar, in competition with long-time BAe 146 operator Atlantic Airways. The approach into Vagar requires flying down a narrow fjord and then making a dogleg onto the short runway, making the BAe 146/Avro RJ ideally suited to operations there.
[2006-05-25] |
New Serbian airline to lease BAe 146s
Centavia (Central European Aviation), a new low-cost Serbian airline, will start operations using two BAe 146-200s leased from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft. Belgrade-based Centavia is planning to begin flying this summer to holiday destinations in Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Spain. This autumn, the airline will begin scheduled services to Basel, Bergamo, Bratislava, Budapest, Köln, and Hamburg. The first BAe 146, a former Meridiana series 200 (msn E2210), will be delivered by the end of the month. The second will follow in July. Both will be configured with 98 seats. Should the airline prove successful, it plans to take additional examples.
[2006-05-25]
Airbus A318 tested at London City
An Airbus A318 flew a series of landing and takeoff trials at London City airport on May 13. London City's steep 5.5 degrees glideslope (compared with the normal 3 degrees) and short 1,199m (3,650ft) runway pose substantial challenges for operation there. At present, the BAe 146 and Avro RJ are the largest jetliners certified for operation at London City. The only other jetliners certified for operation at the airport are the much smaller Fokker 70 and Embraer 135. If the 107-passenger A318 were to be certified for operation at London City, it would provide substantial competition to the 146/RJ. With its greater range, the A318 would be able to reach a much larger number of destinations. On a steep approach, the A318 would use its outer two spoilers on each wing as speed brakes, allowing a stabilized descent with sufficient engine power to allow a go-around if needed. The spoilers must be partially retracted in the flare, however, to avoid speed dropping too fast when engine power is reduced. Once the A318 has been set down, the other problem will be parking it: the A318's very tall tail would not have sufficient clearance from the runway, so parking areas would have to be expanded.
[2006-05-26]
 | | Interstate BAe 146 LZ-HBC landing at Bologna (Marco Finelli) |
Interstate adds a BAe 146
Dutch ACMI operator Interstate is wet-leasing BAe 146-200 LZ-HBC (msn E2093) from Hemus Air. Maastricht-based Interstate has been operating flights from Reggio Calabria airport in southern Italy on behalf of the airport's managing company, SOGAS, since December 2005. The 88-seat BAe 146 replaces a Boeing 737-500 leased from Lithuanian Airlines on services to Bologna, Roma, and Torino. The 125-seat 737 proved too large for the routes. The 146 was meant to enter service with Interstate on May 31, but certification problems delayed it by a day.
[2006-06-10] |
Flybe BAe 146 painted in special colors
Flybe has joined the logojet bandwagon, painting BAe 146-300 G-JEBG (msn E3209) in a special color scheme sponsored by on-line gambling company Mansion.com. After painting at Norwich, G-JEBG re-entered service on June 6, operating flight BE816 from Birmingham to Glasgow. On June 10, she flew a special charter flight from Luton to Frankfurt bringing the winners of an online promotion sponsored by Mansion.com to watch England play Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup.
[2006-06-14] |
Hemus Air BAe 146-300s enter service
Bulgarian airline Hemus Air has placed into service its two first BAe 146-300s. Former Aer Lingus BAe 146-300 LZ-HBE (msn E3131 ex EI-CLG) entered service in early May, and former Air Wisconsin LZ-HBD (msn E3141 ex N615AW) at the end of the month. The airline has also received two more former Aer Lingus series 300s, LZ-HBF (msn E3159 ex EI-CLI) and LZ-HBG (msn E3146 ex EI-CLH).
[2006-06-17] |
 | | Former Meridiana BAe 146 G-BVMP in storage at Kemble (Dave Rose) |
First Centavia BAe 146 delivered
Former Meridiana BAe 146-200 G-BVMP (msn E2210 ex I-FLRE) was delivered to Centavia on May 15 as YU-AGL. She had been stored at Kemble since May 2005, when she was returned to BAE Systems by Meridiana. She was ferried to Belgrade still wearing basic Meridiana colors. The second BAe 146 for Centavia will be another former Meridiana example, G-BVMT (msn E2220 ex I-FLRI), who was recently returned off-lease by Club Air.
[2006-06-17] |
Albanian Airlines BAe 146s fly to Stansted
Albanian Airlines began a service from Tirana to London Stansted on May 18. BAe 146-300 ZA-MEV (msn E3197) operated the inaugural flight. The 1,000nm, 3:15 flight is a long one for a 146. It is operated four times a week: in the mornings on Wednesdays and Sundays, and in the afternoons on Tuesdays and Fridays.
[2006-06-23]
Atlantic Airways begins Stansted-Shetland flights
Atlantic Airways began operating from London Stansted to Sumburgh airport in the Shetland Islands on June 23. BAe 146-200 OY-RCW (msn E2115) operated the inaugural flight. The twice-weekly BAe 146 service is a continuation of the Airline's service from Vagar to Sumburgh. The BAe 146 departs Vagar at 09:00 and arrives at Sumburgh at 09:55. It then continues on to Stansted at 10:35, arriving at 12:15. After a one-hour stop, she departs at 13:15 for the 1:40 flight back to Sumburgh. The final leg then takes the 146 back to Vagar, departing at 15:30 and arriving at 16:25. Advance bookings for the service have been good, with initial flights expected to be about three-quarter full.
[2006-06-23]
"Blair Force One" to replace BAe 146s?
The British government is proposing to procure two new aircraft to fly ministers and the royal family, including one Boeing 737-sized aircraft and a smaller business jet. These aircraft would replace the BAe 146s and HS 125s currently flown by No.32 (The Royal) Squadron from late 2007/early 2008. The new aircraft would cost about UKP1.5 million a year more than current arrangements. The No.32 Squadron fleet has been increasingly used by government ministers in recent years.
[2006-06-30]
Northwest agrees terms on return of Avro RJ85s to lessors
Northwest Airlines has reached an agreement with its creditors over lease terms on 13 leased Avro RJ85s. Under the agreement, which is subject to bankruptcy court approval, lease rates on the aircraft will be reduced to US$70,000 a month until they are withdrawn from service later this year. The RJ85s are sub-leased to Mesaba for operation as Northwest Jet Airlink. Although the agreement is intended to secure the RJ85 fleet for the remainder of the year, it may not last that long. Mesaba, which is itself in bankruptcy court, has once again applied for permission to nullify its labor agreements with the unions for its pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics. The airline is seeking 19.4% salary concessions, which the unions are resisting. Although the judge overseeing Mesaba's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case rejected an earlier effort to cancel the union contracts, he has indicated he would reconsider if no agreement is reached and the airline remedies the technical problems in its previous application. All three unions have vowed to strike if the judge allows the airline to rejects its union contracts, a move which would certainly kill the airline. Moreover, Mesaba may run out cash by September 1. CityJet has been negotiating to take over many of Northwest's RJ85s, but no agreement has been announced yet.
[2006-07-10]
New Spanish airline to operate BAe 146s
A new Spanish airline based at Valencia, Orionair, is planning to lease two former Ansett BAe 146-300s, G-EEWM (E3179 ex VH-EWM) and G-EEWR (E3195 ex VH-EWR). The two 146s were ferried to England in late 2005, and have been undergoing maintenance at Exeter. G-EEWR flew an air test on June 21, but suffered a cracked windscreen.
[2006-06-29]
 | | Former airBaltic Avro RJ70 G-BZFA at Norwich (Paul Garner) |
Former airBaltic RJ70 under maintenance at Norwich
Former airBaltic Avro RJ70 G-BZFA (msn E1223 ex YL-BAK) was ferried from Kemble to Norwich on May 15 for some work. She had been stored at Kemble for almost a year, having arrived there in July 2005. BAE Systems has been flying many of its stored BAe 146s and Avro RJs to maintenance centers to have outstanding maintenance carried out and to bring them up to current standards and regulations.
[2006-07-10] |
 | | Avro RJ100 G-CDUI in Ford colors at Norwich (Paul Garner) |
Avro RJ100 painted in Ford colors
Former Turkish Airlines Avro RJ100 G-CDUI (msn E3264 ex TC-THM) has been painted in the colors of Fordair, the flight department of car manufacturer Ford, at Norwich. She was returned off-lease to BAE Systems in February, and had been in storage at Norwich since then. Flightline has been operating BAe 146 G-BPNT (msn E3126) for Fordair, on a twice daily weekday shuttle between Southend and Köln.
[2006-07-10] |
 | | Former Mesaba RJ85 N514XJ at Köln (Wolfgang Zilske) |
Former Mesaba Avro RJ85s begin to return to Europe
Several former Mesaba Avro RJ85s have been ferried to Europe in recent weeks, in anticipation of being delivered to CityJet. At least four RJ85s had been ferried by the end of June, with N513XJ (msn E2329), N514XJ (msn E2330), and N521XJ (msn E2346) going to Norwich and N517XJ (msn E2335) to Exeter. N514XJ was later ferried onward to Köln. All will require a variety of modifications before joining CityJet's fleet.
[2006-07-10] |
 | | Flightline's BAe 146-300 G-FLTD arrives at Tenerife (Gabe Basco) |
Flightline BAe 146 flies for Binter Canarias
Flightline will operate a BAe 146-200 on behalf of Spanish airline Binter Canarias. Series 200 G-FLTD was ferried from Southend to Seville on July 4 to begin the three-month lease. The 146 will supplement Binter's ATR72s, providing additional capacity on inter-island flights within the Canaries and on longer flights to mainland Europe during the peak summer season. Binter is anticipating record passenger numbers. Already, the 265,000 passengers it carried in May exceeded its previous record, set last July, by over 5,000.
[2006-07-10] |
 | | OrionAir BAe 146-300 G-EEWR at Girona (Jordi Grifé) |
Orionair receives its first BAe 146
Spanish start-up airline Orionair took delivery of its first BAe 146, former Ansett series 300 G-EEWR (E3195 ex VH-EWR), in early July. Sistership G-EEWM (E3179 ex VH-EWM) should join her shortly.
[2006-07-10] |
 | | Centavia's just-painted BAe 146-200 YU-AGL (Dacha K) |
Centavia BAe 146 enters service
Centavia began operations with its BAe 146-200 YU-AGL (msn E2210) on July 8. The first flight was a charter from Belgrade to Corfu (CNA 800), which departed at 11:30. A second rotation, to Bodrum, was flown later that same day. The airline had received its operating licence the previous day. YU-AGL was painted in Centavia's colors in Belgrade. Centavia is the first Serbian low-cost airline. It plans to operate charters throughout the summer before launching scheduled services in the fall. A second former Meridiana BAe 146 will join the airline shortly.
[2006-07-10] |
Club Air adds an Avro RJ70
Italian airline Club Air has added former EuroManx Avro RJ70 EI-CPK (msn E1260) to its fleet, replacing BAe 146-200 I-FLRI (msn E2220), who was recently returned off-lease. EI-CPK was delivered from Exeter to Verona on July 12. In addition to the RJ70, Club Air's fleet includes four BAe 146-200s and two RJ85s.
[2006-07-13]
 | | All-white SN Brussels Avro RJ100 OO-DWJ (Guy Daems) |
SN Brussels offers Avro RJ canvases
SN Brussels Airlines has announced a competition to decorate the tails of three of its Avro RJs. Artists have until August 6 to submit designs that express the feelings of summer and holidays. In the meantime, Avro RJ100 OO-DWJ (msn E3355) has been painted in an overall white color scheme, possibly in anticipation of the pending re-branding of SN Brussels and Virgin Express.
[2006-07-13] |
CityJet to acquire 23 former Mesaba Avro RJ85s
Irish airline CityJet has finally announced its plan to acquire 23 former Mesaba Avro RJ85s. Under the US$221 million deal, the airline is scheduled to receive the first RJ85 in November, with deliveries continuing through the middle of 2007. The RJ85s will progressively replace CityJet's current fleet of sixteen BAe 146-200s and two 146-300s. All will be operated on behalf of Air France, although some may fly in the airline's own colors, as at present. Aside from bringing its fleet average age down from about 19 years to 6 years, the move will give CityJet a homogeneous fleet, resulting in substantial savings in maintenance costs.
[2006-07-14]
Orionair BAe 146s enter service
Spanish start-up airline Orionair has put its two BAe 146 into service. Series 300 G-EEWR (E3195 ex VH-EWR) has become EC-JVJ, while sistership G-EEWM (E3179 ex VH-EWM) has become EC-JVO.
[2006-07-31]
KLM Engineering to work on Avro RJ85s for CityJet
KLM Engineering at Norwich has been contracted to prepare thirteen of the former Mesaba Avro RJ85s that CityJet is acquiring. KLM Engineering will work on the thirteen RJ85s that were acquired from MBIA, a bank that underwrote Mesaba's debts and repossessed them from Mesaba. KLM Engineering extended the old KLM workshops hangar at Norwich to allow it accomodate two 146-sized aircraft at a time. The ten RJ85s that CityJet is acquiring directly from BAE Systems will be prepared by Flybe Engineering at Exeter and Nayak in K&oumol;ln (five each).
[2006-07-31]
Swiss European now an all-Avro RJ operator
Swiss subsidiary Swiss European operated its last Embraer ERJ 145 service on July 31. Retirement of the ERJ 145 means that the airline now only flies Avro RJs -- four RJ85s and twenty RJ100s.
[2006-08-01]
West Air to acquire BAe 146QT freighter
Swedish cargo operator West Air Sweden is planning to add a BAe 146QT freighter to its fleet in October. The Göteborg-based airline currently operates a fleet of turboprop HS-748 and ATP freighters. The 146QT in question is most likely former Ansett series 200QT VH-JJY (msn E2113), who has been under overhaul at Exeter, having been ferried there in December. Delivery of the 146 to West Air is expected in October. The airline has also become the launch customer for the Bombardier CRJ200PF freighter conversion, with an order for two.
[2006-08-04]
 | | Awaiting the axe: VH-JJP, ZH-NZH, and ZK-NZI (anonymous) |
More Ansett 146s scrapped
A further three former Ansett BAe 146s have met an ignominious end at Melbourne. Series 200 VH-JJP (msn E2037), and series 300s ZH-NZH (msn E3137) and ZK-NZI (msn E3143) were parted out and then dragged out onto the apron to be chopped up. Two additional series 300s, ZK-NZL (msn E3175) and ZK-NZN (msn E3177), are also to suffer the same fate shortly. Two further examples, ZK-NZK (msn E3190) and ZK-NZM (msn E3173), are to remain intact for now, as efforts to sell them continue.
[2006-08-05] |
Evolavia to cease operations
Ancona-based 'virtual airline' Evolavia has announced that it will cease operations on 31 October. Evolavia has frequently contracted with BAe 146 operators to operate flights on its behalf, including Axis Airways and, more recently, Club Air. The latter is currently flying a BAe 146 for Evolavia from Ancona to Palermo (three times a week) and to Paris Charles de Gaulle (five times a week).
[2006-08-10]
 | | Centavia's BAe 146-200 YU-AGM at Norwich (Paul Garner) |
Second Centavia BAe 146 ready for delivery
The second BAe 146 for Zagreb-based Centavia is being readied for delivery by KLM Engineering at Norwich, where she was seen on August 15. BAe 146-200 YU-AGM (msn E2220 ex I-FLRI/G-BVMT) was most recently operated by Italy's Club Air.
[2006-08-16] |
 | | Royal Jet Avro RJ85 A6-RJE is rolled out of the paintshop (Paul Garner) |
Avro RJ85 going to Royal Jet
Avro RJ85 A6-RJE (msn E2299) was rolled out of Sprayavia's paintshop at Norwich on August 18, ready for delivery to Abu Dhabi-based executive charter carrier Royal Jet. She departed late that evening. Initially built for Azzurra Air as EI-CNI, she had most recently been flying for Club Air. She spent much of the summer at Exeter, entering the hangar there on 13 June. She was ferried Norwich on August 5. She will join fellow former Azzurra Avro RJ70 A6-RJK (msn E1267 ex EI-CPL) in Royal Jet's fleet.
[2006-08-18] |
Air Efata negotiating for Avro RJ100s
Indonesian airline Air Efata (also known as Efata Papua Airlines) is understood to be negotiating with BAE Systems to lease several former THY Turkish Airlines Avro RJ100s. Air Efata flies domestic services in Indonesia with McDonnell Douglas MD-80s. Unlike many recent start-ups, Air Efata is a full service airline.
[2006-08-20]
Skyways begins Avro RJ100 operations
Transwede began operating an Avro RJ100 on behalf of Skyways on August 20, using SE-DSO (msn E3221) from sister airline Malmö Aviation. The RJ100 will fly 40 trips a week between Stockholm Arlanda and Halmstad, in southeastern Sweden, providing additional capacity over the Fokker 50 normally used on the route. SE-DSO wears a special color scheme to mark Halmstad's 700th anniversary on her right side, with the left side in standard Skyways colors.
[2006-08-20] |
New Indian airline plans RJ70 operations
A new Indian airline, MDLR Airlines, has announced plans to launch operations from Chandigarh with two Avro RJ70s. The airline is being established by real estate entrepreneur Gopal Kumar Goyal, Chairman of the MDLR Group. Initial services would focus on Northern Indian destinations such as Kullu, Dharamsala, and Dehra Dun. The two RJ70s would be obtained under a lease-purchase agreement. Should operations prove successful, the fleet could increase to five aircraft.
[2006-08-30]
 | | First flight of BAe 146 G-SSSH, 3 September 1981 (S. Pagiola collection) |
A quarter century in the air!
The BAe 146 celebrates twenty-five years of flying on September 3. On that date in 1981, the prototype BAe 146, series 100 G-SSSH (msn E1001), took to the air from Hatfield. Chief test pilot Mike Goodfellow and Deputy Chief Test Pilot Peter Sedgwick were at the controls. They were accompanied by Assistant Flight Test Manager Roger de Mercado and Senior Instrumentation Engineer Ron Hammond. G-SSSH lifted off at 11:54 BST, returning to land 1:35 later.
[2006-09-02] |
 | | Will Club Air operate Avro RJ70s for Air One? (José Muñoz) |
Air One to fly to London City
In a major expansion, Italian airline Air One is planning to operate flights to London City from Milano Linate, Roma Fiumicino, Torino, and Genova. Although no formal announcement has yet been made, the flights have been loaded into reservation systems, and have begun to be advertised. Twice-daily flights from Milano's close-in airport at Linate should begin on November 20. Twice-daily flights Roma Fiumicino would follow in early January. Torino and Genova would be added in late January, with one daily flight each. The flights would be operated with Avro RJ70s. As Air One do not operate the type and have recently added Bombardier CRJ900s, the RJ70s are likely to be operated by another airline on Air One's behalf. Club Air is a likely candidate for this role, as they have previously operated flights on Air One's behalf. They already have one former EuroManx RJ70 in their fleet, and are expecting the second.
[2006-09-25] |
Flybe begins to replace BAe 146s with Embraer 195s
Flybe began revenue service with its first Embraer 195 on September 22, when G-FBEA operated BE816 from Birmingham to Glasgow. The aircraft had arrived from Brazil on September 3, and then operated a series of route proving flights. Flybe has placed firm orders for 14 ERJ 195s, and options on another 12, and intends to replace all its BAe 146s with them. With the 195 now in service, this process is beginning. Series 200 G-JEAJ (msn E2099) was returned to BAE Systems on September 22 and ferried to Kemble. Another series 200, G-JEAV (msn E2064), is in post lease maintenance at Exeter.
[2006-09-25]
Pilot strike grounds Swiss Avro RJs
A one-day strike by pilots at Swiss' regional subsidiary, Swiss European, has grounded the airline's Avro RJ fleet. The strike called by the Avro RJ's pilot union, the Swiss Pilots Association (SPA), forced Swiss to cancel 128 flights on September 26. Disruptions extended into the following day as aircraft were out of place, forcing a further 14 flights to be cancelled. The SPA was protesting the disparity in compensation between their members and those of airline's Airbus pilots (represented by a different union). The disparities have persisted despite a 2003 court decision in favor of the regional pilots. SPA has long protested about its members, who had formerly flown for Crossair, being treated as second-class citizens within Swiss, compared to the former Swissair pilots who fly the Airbus fleet. The two airlines were merged following Swissair's bankruptcy in 2001.
[2006-09-27]
 | | Avro RJ85 D-AVRO is one of the aircraft affected (Stefano Pagiola) |
Lufthansa extends Avro RJ85 leases
CityLine has extended the leases of 13 Avro RJ85s (msns E2246, E2251, E2253, E2256, E2256, E2261, E2266, E2268, E2269, E2270, E2285, E2288, and E2293). The extensions will see the aicraft remaining in service into the next decade. This renewed commitment comes just as CityLine is introducing the Bombardier CRJ900 to its fleet.
[2006-09-29] |
 | | BAe 146 VH-NJJ in Asian Spirit colors at Adelaide (Brenden Scott) |
Asian Spirit lease fallen through?
A planned lease of BAe 146-200 VH-NJJ (msn E2184) to Philippine airline Asian Spirit appears to have fallen through. The 146 had previously been operated by National Jet Systems on QantasLink services, but was returned off-lease to BAE Systems in November 2005. After post-lease maintenance in Adelaide, she had been painted in Asian Spirit colors in March. However, she has remained at Adelaide ever since.
[2006-09-29] |
Flightline BAe 146 lease to Binter Canarias ends
Flightline's BAe 146-200 G-FLTD (msn E2042) returned to Southend on October 1 at the end of a summer lease to Spanish airline Binter Canarias. On the following day, she was ferried to Aberdeen to join the IAC fleet operating oil industry support flights.
[2006-10-02]
Transwede will operate RJ70s for Air One
Transwede has announced that it has received a contract to operate three Avro RJ70s on services from London City on behalf of Italian airline Air One. Services to Milano Linate will begin in late November, and services to Roma Fiumicino, Torino. and Genova in early 2007. Transwede will add three RJ70s to its fleet for this purpose. They will join Transwede's current RJ70, EI-COQ (msn E1254), which is already flying to London City, on behalf of SAS.
[2006-10-06]
Atlantic Airways BAe 146 crashes in Norway
BAe 146-200 OY-CRG (msn E2075) of Atlantic Airways was destroyed in a landing at accident at Storde, Norway, on October 10. The 146 was arriving from Stavanger at 07:35 local time as RC670, on a charter flight on behalf of construction firm Aker Stord, with workers for the Ormen Lange natural gas project, and was due to continue on to Molde. She failed to come to a stop on the short runway, and fell down a steep dropoff just beyond the runway end, breaking apart and catching fire. Unfortunately, three of the 12 passengers and one of the four crewmembers were unable to get out in time and died. An investigation has begun into the causes of the accident. OY-CRG was Atlantic Airways' first BAe 146. The airline acquired it in March 1988 from PSA.
[2006-10-10] |
BAe 146 parted out at Exeter
Another BAe 146 has been parted out. Series 300 G-BSXZ (msn E3174) was gradually dismantled by Casco Aero Ltd during September. Built for Taiwan's Makung Airlines (later Uni Air) in 1990 as B-1776, she had then joined British Airways franchisee National Jet Italia in 2001 as G-NJIB. Following the latter's bankruptcy, she had remained parked at Exeter. Lingering legal disputes arising from NJI's collapse prevented her from finding a new home. Since 2002, she had been registered to Flightline as a convenience, but was never operated.
[2006-10-10] |
Wing spoilers at fault in Stord crash?
The Norwegian Accident Investigation Board's investigation into the crash of Atlantic Airways' BAe 146-200 OY-CRG (msn E2075) at Storde, Norway, on October 10 has revealed that the spoilers did not deploy. The 146 overran the runway and fell down a steep dropoff beyond the runway end. Three passengers and a flight attendant died in the ensuing fire. Despite a 6kt tailwind and a damp runway, the landing appeared to be normal. At that point, however, neither of two independent spoiler systems deployed. The BAe 146 has two independent spoiler systems, one controlling a single spoiler on each wing and the other controlling a pair of spoilers on each wing. The spoilers reduce lift and help make braking action more effective. On Avro RJs, spoilers deploy automatically at touchdown, but on BAe 146s they are meant to be deployed by the crew. The investigation has not yet established the reason for the spoilers not deploying.
[2006-10-19]
Centavia route to Zagreb rejected
Belgrade-based Centavia has been denied permission to operate charter services from the Belgrade to Zagreb. The services would have been the first to link the capitals of Serbia and Croatia in sixteen years, as all links were severed during the civil war that split Yugoslavia. The airline is also planning to serve Podgorica, in Montenegro. Centavia operates two BAe 146s. They have been flying them on charters thus far, but hope to start scheduled low-cost services soon.
[2006-10-20]
BAE Systems targets executive aircraft market
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft announced an increase in its efforts to market the BAe 146/Avro RJ into the corporate and executive aviation market. The company believes the 146/RJ has a clear niche in the corporate/VIP aviation market, given its unmatched airfield performance and stage 4 noise compliance. For the price of a mid-size business jet, customers can obtain an airliner-size cabin that can operate into difficult and remote airfields. Recent 146 sales to the executive market include an Avro RJ70 and an RJ85 acquired by Royal Jet and an RJ100 acquired by Ford. During this year's National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention in Orlando, Florida, BAE Systems announced it had appointed Mr Andy Whelan, who has previously worked with Raytheon Aircraft Company, Harrods Aviation, and Jet Aviation, as a new Sales Executive to further develop this market. Corporate aircraft sales in North America will be handled by Mr Art Rink, who has worked for many years at Regional Aircraft's Herndon office, near Washington. Moncrief Oil's BAe 146-100 N114M (msn E1068) was on static display at the NBAA show.
[2006-10-20] |
Club Air returns several BAe 146s
Club Air has returned its two oldest BAe 146s off lease. BAe 146-200 I-TERV (msn E2014) was ferried from Verona to Southend on September 21, and I-TERB (msn E2012) followed on October 18. I-TERB and I-TERV had been the airline's first aircraft, when they delivered as G-DEFK and G-DEFL in October 2002. They were later re-reigstered as EI-DBY and EI-DBZ in 2003, before becoming I-TERB and I-TERV in 2004. Both are currently being offered for sale by Prisma Aviation.
[2006-10-25] |
Centavia route to Podgorica also rejected
Belgrade-based Centavia has seen its second scheduled service rejected. A week after Croatian authorities denied it permission to operate to Zagreb, Montenegrin authorities have withdrawn its permission to fly to Podgorica, in Montenegro. The denial came on the day services were to begin, a day after Centavia had operated a promotional flight on the route. Serbia and Montenegro had been the last two republics of the former Yugoslavia to remain linked, but Montenegro declared its independence on June 3, following a referendum. Centavia had offered flights to Podgorica for as little as EUR9.
[2006-10-27]
Turmoil continues at Mesaba
Turmoil continues to grip Avro RJ85 operator Mesaba as it struggles to cut costs. The airline claims it needs to reduce costs by a further 17.5% to survive, but the unions claim these cuts are too deep, particularly coming on top of earlier cuts and, for the pilots, the reductions in pay that will follow the pending withdrawal of the RJ85s. An earlier bankruptcy court ruling that the airline could break contracts with its unions and impose new terms was reversed on appeal on September 14. With cash dwindling, Mesaba secured a new court ruling allowing it to impose terms on October 16. This prompted a threat to strike from the pilots' union -- a move which would all but surely kill the airline. The airline was then able to secure an injunction against a strike, on October 23. Negotiations continue. In the meantime, Mesaba's Avro RJ85 fleet had dwindled to 10 aircraft by October 25.
[2006-10-27]
Swiss returns to Basel
Swiss has announced a major expansion of service from Basel's EuroAirport. Predecessor Crossair had operated a substantial hub there, boasting at one point of "1180 jumps!" (possible connections). Following Crossair's merger with the remnants of bankrupt Swissair to form Swiss, however, the Basel hub was all but dismantled. Only a handful of point-to-point routes remained, operated by SAAB 2000s or Embraer ERJ 145s. The withdrawal of these types saw some Avro RJs return to the airport, but the route network remained limited. The vacuum allowed EasyJet to step in, and the low-cost airline now operates a substantial route system from EuroAirport. Now Swiss is planning to introduce several new routes from Basel from January. New destinations include Barcelona (5 times a week), Budapest (4 times a week), Manchester (3 times a week), Nice (4 times a week), Prague (4 times a week), and Warsaw (3 times a week). The new services will begin in January, and will be operated by the airline's Avro RJs. Swiss also announced plans to boost services from Geneva, which has also been neglected in recent years. Flights to London City will be increased from 4 to 6 daily from December 15, and a new daily service to Prague will be introduced from the same day.
[2006-10-30]
West Air begins BAe 146 cargo operations
Swedish cargo operator West Air Sweden has taken delivery of former Ansett BAe 146-200QT freighter VH-JJY (msn E2113) as SE-DRN. Malmö Aviation is operating the aircraft on their behalf. She entered service on October 29, on the Oslo - Tromso - Svalbard route. The 146 joins an all-British freighter fleet that also includes nine HS-748s and eight ATPs.
[2006-10-30] |
QantasLink ends BAe 146 operations
QantasLink operated its last BAe 146 service on October 31. The airline once flew a large fleet of BAe 146s, but has been gradually replacing them with Boeing 717s. The 146s had been operated by National Jet Systems (NJS) on QantasLink's behalf. NJS retains a sizeable BAe 146 fleet for its own use.
[2006-11-01]
 | | LTU BAe 146-300 D-AWBA at Düsseldorf (Al Batros) |
WDL BAe 146 flies for LTU
LTU is wet-leasing BAe 146-300 D-AWBA (msn E3134) from WDL Aviation for six months for flights from Düsseldorf to Rome and Lisbon. She began operating for LTU on November 1, after being painted in the company's colors at Köln. This is the second time that a BAe 146 flies on LTU routes. In 1995, the airline leased BAe 146-200 G-MIMA (msn E2079) from Manx for several months, for operations from Stuttgart.
[2006-11-02] |
Flybe buys BA Connect
Flybe has announced that it has agreed in principle to acquire BA Connect from British Airways. The deal would include all of BA Connect's operations except for the services from London City, which would retained by British Airways along with the Avro RJs necessary to operate them. The Manchester-New York service, operated by a mainline Boeing 767 with BA Connect cabin crew, is also excluded, as are ground handling operations. The move would more than double Flybe's size, making it Europe's largest regional airline. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, except for the fact that British Airways will receive a 15% stake in Flybe. British Airways and Flybe hope to complete the deal within three months. There would then be an accelerated transition period, until Flybe is in full control by the start of the summer schedule on March 25, 2007. BA Connect currently operates ten Avro RJ100s and four BAe 146s, in addition to eight Bombardier Dash 8-300s and 28 Embraer ERJ 145s. British Airways will retain some (perhaps all) the RJ100s. Flybe has indicated that it planned to replace BA Connect's entire current fleet with additional Embraer 195s and Bombardier Q400s. Whether any of BA Connect's RJ100s or BAe 146s will ever wear Flybe colors is thus unclear, and will likely depend on how rapidly the airline can ramp up ERJ 195 deliveries.
[2006-11-03] |
SN Brussels rebranded as Brussels Airlines
Despite rumors that the SABENA name would be revived, the name Brussels Airlines has been chosen for the new airline created by merging SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express. The new name will be adopted officially on March 25, 2007, with the two airlines continuing to fly under their current brands until then. The new color scheme, which has so far been painted only on an Airbus A319, is broadly similar to the current SN Brussels scheme, but with a new 'b' logo replacing the old 'S' logo.
[2006-11-07]
Centavia ceases operations
Belgrade-based start-up Centavia has ceased operations and returned its two leased BAe 146-200s to BAE Systems Regional Aircraft. The airline's plans to begin low-cost flights were dealt a crushing blow when both of its initial routes, to Zagreb, in Croatia, and Podgorica, in Montenegro, were denied -- the latter on the day services were to begin. The airline appears to have fallen victim to persisting animosities between the republics of the former Yugoslavia, as well as their desire to protect their national carriers from low-cost competition. The two 146s, YU-AGL (msn E2210) and YU-AGM (msn E2220), were ferried from Belgrade to Southend on November 9, and then on to Kemble.
[2006-11-09]
Flightline BAe 146 lease to Jet2 ends
Flightline's BAe 146-300 G-FLTC (msn E3205) operated its last flights on behalf of low-cost airline Jet2 on October 31. She is now once again available for ad hoc work.
[2006-11-12]
Airlink named preferred bidder for Air Botswana
South African airline Airlink has been named the preferred bidder for Air Botswana by Botswana's Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB), beating out rival bids from Lobair Botswana (Pty) Ltd and African World Airlines (Pty) Ltd. No details of Airlink's bid or of its plans for Air Botswana were made public. Airlink already operates Swaziland Airlink, which provides scheduled services from Swaziland. Air Botswana's fleet includes two BAe 146-100s, which are mainly used for services from Maun to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
[2006-11-13]
 | | Air One Avro RJ70 SE-DJX at Linate (Andrea) |
Air One begins London City flights
Air One began scheduled services from Milano Linate to London City on November 20, using Avro RJ70 SE-DJX (msn E1223). The former airBaltic RJ70 is operated on Air One's behalf by Transwede. The RJ70 is configured with five-abreast seating, but the middle seat of three is not sold in the business class section of the cabin. SE-DJX arrived at Linate from Malmö on the evening of November 18. Transwede will also lease the two other former airBaltic RJ70s as SE-DJY and SE-DJZ to operate Air One's planned services to London City from Roma Fiumicino, Torino, and Genova, which are due to start in early 2007.
[2006-11-20] |
 | Druk Air's BAe 146-100 A5-RGD landing at Bangkok's new
Suvarnabhumi airport on November 6 (Paul Massey) |
Druk Air BAe 146s back in service
Bhutanese airline Druk Air has placed its two BAe 146-100s back into service to deal with heavy demand for travel to the Mountain Kingdom during the autumn tourist season. Additional flights have been scheduled to Bangkok, while flights to Delhi and Kathmandu have been split into separate services. Druk Air had parked its two 146s in 2005, following delivery of new Airbus A319s. The 146s are still in the airline's old colors, but appear to have had new-style titles applied.
[2006-11-23] |
 | | OrionAir BAe 146-300 EC-JVO at Luxembourg (Mike Moro) |
Logos added to Orionair BAe 146s
The practically anonymous, all-white color schemes worn by the BAe 146s of Spanish start-up airline Orionair have been slightly enlivened by small Orionair tail logos. Orionair operate two former Ansett BAe 146-300s, EC-JVJ (msn E3195) and EC-JVO (msn E3179).
[2006-11-23] |
Another BAe 146 for Eurowings
The love affair between the Lufthansa Group and the BAe 146/Avro RJ continues. Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings, which operates as Lufthansa Regional, is adding another BAe 146 on lease from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft, and extending the leases on seven examples it currently operates. The new addition is former National Jet Systems/QantasLink series 200 E2184. She had been in storage at Adelaide in Asian Spirit colors, for a lease that fell through, and was recently ferried to the United Kingdom. The lease extensions cover series 200s D-AEWD (msn E2069), D-AEWE (msn E2077), and D-ACFA (msn E2200), and series 300s D-AQUA (msn E3118), D-AEWA (msn E3163), D-AEWB (msn E3183), and D-AHOI (msn E3187). With the addition of E2184, Lufthansa Group airlines will operate an astounding 62 examples of the BAe 146/Avro RJ family -- CityLine operates eighteen Avro RJ85s, Eurowings operates four (soon five) 146-200s and ten 146-300s, Air Dolomiti operates five 146-300s, and Swiss operates four RJ85s and twenty RJ100s.
[2006-11-23]
First CityJet Avro RJ85 painted
The first former Mesaba Avro RJ85 has been painted in Air France colors pending its delivery to CityJet. RJ85 N521XJ (msn E2346) was rolled out at Köln on November 6.
[2006-11-23]
More Mesaba Avro RJs head across the Atlantic
The steady flow of former Mesaba Avro RJ85 crossing the Atlantic continues. N515XJ (msn E2333) was the latest to make the crossing. She transited through Halifax on November 16, heading for Keflavik. N519XJ (msn E2344) was also at Halifax that day, a technical problem preventing her from continuing her journey.
[2006-11-23] |
Iranian start-up uses BAe 146s
Taban Air, a new Iranian airline, has started operations with a BAe 146-300 wet-leased from Hemus Air. Taban Air is based in Mashhad, in northwestern Iran. Its fleet also includes a Tupolev Tu-154 leased from Kolavia. Some reports indicate that a second BAe 146 is also being operated, but only LZ-HBD (msn E3141) has been confirmed so far.
[2006-11-30] |
 | | TAM BAe 146-100 FAB-098 at Southend (Richard Vandervord) |
Bolivian Air Force picks BAe 146s
The Bolivian Air Force has acquired two former Air China BAe 146-100s from Aircraft Holdings Network. The first, B-632L/N76HN (msn E1076) was inspected by Bolivian personnel at Southend in late November, and had a Bolivian flag and the registration FAB-098 applied. The two 146s will be operated by Grupo Aéreo de Transporte 71, also known as Transporte Aéreo Militar (TAM). TAM operates airline services to isolated communities within Bolivia, with Fokker F27s, Convair 580s, and Lockheed C-130s.
[2006-11-30] |
Interstate ends BAe 146 service
Dutch ACMI operator Interstate's contract to operate a BAe 146-200 (wet-leased from Hemus Air) on services from Reggio Calabria airport in southern Italy has ended. From November 5, the contract was taken over by ItAli, using an MD-80. Interstate had been operating the flights on behalf of the airport's managing company, SOGAS, since December 2005 -- initially with a Boeing 737-500 leased from Lithuanian Airlines, and then with the BAe 146 from June. The BAe 146 has returned to Hemus Air.
[2006-11-30]
 | Two Mesaba Avro RJ85s parked at Minneapolis-St Paul
after being withdrawn from service (Alex Pan) |
Mesaba ends Avro RJ operations
Mesaba operated its last Avro RJ85 services on the morning of December 1, when three RJ85s that had overnighted at other airports returned to Detroit. The last ever Mesaba RJ85 revenue flight was NW3517 from Rochester to Detroit. The final withdrawal date for Mesaba's RJ85s has shifted several times since bankrupt Northwest announced its intention to reject the leases on the aircraft in September 2005. At first, Northwest directed Mesaba to park all 35 RJ85s by December 20, 2005, and several were flown into storage at Marana. Most of the fleet remained in service, however, and by early 2006 the target retirement date had slipped to the latter half of 2006. In July, an agreement with lessors called for services to continue through December 2006. Since that time, the fleet has been gradually reduced, to 10 aircraft by late 2005. At that point, the last services were to have been flown December 18. This was ultimately then brought forward to December 1. The routes formerly operated by the RJ85s are currently being flown either by Pinnacle's CRJs or by mainline DC-9s, though some have been dropped entirely. Without the RJ85s, for example, Northwest will be unable to operate its highly profitable ski season flights into Aspen.
[2006-12-06] |
No more BAe 146/Avro RJ operations in North America
The withdrawal of Mesaba's last Avro RJ85 brings to an end all BAe 146 and Avro RJ airline operations in the USA, with the single 146 remaining in service being Moncrief Oil's executive-configured BAe 146-100 N114M (msn E1068). North America had been the scene of some of the earliest BAe 146 sales. Air Wisconsin placed the launch order the series 200, and took delivery of its first aircraft in June 1983. Later that year, PSA's large order for twenty 146s was instrumental in giving the type credibility. Other US airlines to order new-build 146s included AirCal, AirPac, Aspen, Discovery, and Presidential. Several others acquired second-hand examples, or took over 146 fleets through mergers. The Avro RJ also saw early successes in the USA, with Business Express ordering twenty RJ70s in 1991, although in the event only three were ever delivered. Then came Northwest's massive order for RJ85s, which eventually covered 36 examples -- over 20% of the entire RJ production run. Over the years, BAe 146s and Avro RJs have flown in the colors of all major US airlines: American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, and United. The end of BAe 146/Avro RJ airline operations in the USA also means the end of the type's airline operations in North America, as the last Canadian 146s were withdrawn from service by Air Canada's Jazz subsidiary in 2005. In Mexico (which is also in North America), only one airline ever operated 146s -- AVIACSA, which operated three 146s from 1990 to 1992. Indeed, at present there isn't a single BAe 146 or Avro RJ in airline operation anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, a dismal situation which will hopefully soon be rectified when Bolivia's TAM take delivery of two former Air China BAe 146-100s.
[2006-12-06]
Johnny Johnstone O.B.E.
Mr J.A. "Johnny" Johnstone, former Marketing Director on the HS/BAe 146 has passed away. Mr Johnstone was instrumental in keeping the HS 146 project alive at Hatfield during its early days of the project and after its revival in 1978.
[2006-12-06]
WDL flies for Atlantic Airways
WDL Aviation is operating BAe 146-200 D-AMGL (msn E2055) on behalf of Atlantic Airways, helping to cover for the loss of OY-CRG (msn E2075) at Stord on October 10. D-AMGL had been operating on behalf of Air Nostrum, but returned to Germany on November 28.
[2006-12-06]
 | Club Air BAe 146s I-FLRU and EI-CNJ parked at Verona after the
airline's grounding (Eric Cesa) |
Club Air shuts down
Verona-based Club Air ceased operations on December 12, after Italian civil aviation authority ENAC withdrew its operating certificate. The company had been in financial straits for some time, with a loss of EUR1.7 million in 2005. A hoped-for infusion of new capital from an investor group from Naples fell through. Club Air started operations in 2002 with two BAe 146s. The airline's fleet had reached as many as seven BAe 146s and Avro RJs at one point, but by early December had dwindled to only two: BAe 146-200 I-FLRU (msn E2204) and Avro RJ85 EI-CNJ (msn E2300). Former BAe 146 operator Meridiana has been contracted by BAE Systems to undertake post-lease maintenance of Club Air's 146s and to ferry them back to the United Kingdom.
[2006-12-13] |
BA resurrects Cityflyer name
British Airways is apparently bringing back the CityFlyer name for its new subsidiary. The new BA CityFlyer will take over BA Connect's Avro RJ100 fleet and London City services when the rest of BA Connect is acquired by Flybe.
[2006-12-15]
 | THY returned Avro RJ100 TC-THH to BAE Systems on
November 8; she is now stored at Kemble (Michael Brazier) |
THY ends Avro RJ operations
Turkish Airlines (THY) ended Avro RJ operations in early December, and returned their last aircraft, RJ100 TC-THA (msn E3232) to BAE Systems. THY initially ordered five RJ100s in 1993, and then added several more later, as well as four RJ70s. The airline lost no less than three examples to landing accidents; fortunately, two of the losses did not result in any fatalities. At one point, the airline briefly grounded its remaining RJs because of suspected corrosion, but later put them back into service. The airline's mechanics, who were evidently not enamored of the RJ, got into trouble when they sacrificed a camel at Istanbul Airport to celebrate the RJ's retirement.
[2006-12-15] |
FaroeJet shuts down
Avro RJ operator FaroeJet abruptly ceased operations on December 16. FaroeJet had operated a single Avro RJ100, OY-FJE (msn E3234), on scheduled services between Copenhagen and Vagar, as well as on charters. Like many start-ups, however, it proved to be under-capitalised. Competitor Atlantic Airways has taken over the lease of OY-FJE.
[2006-12-17]
Deadline for BA-Flybe deal pushed back
The deadline for the completion of the deal for Flybe's takeover of BA Connect has been pushed back to January 31. The two airlines had earlier indicated that they hoped to complete the deal before the end of the year.
[2006-12-19]
Continue to January 2007 news.
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