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This page contains recent news items related to the BAe 146, Avro RJ, and Avro RJX regional jetliners built by BAE Systems (formerly British Aerospace), in reverse chronological order. Items older than a month are moved to the archives.
Last updated: 1 July 2008
BAe 146-200 G-TBIC (msn E2025) now sports large Aer Arann titles on the front fuselage. She rejoined Nex Aviation on June 29 after a period of maintenance at Southend. She had departed on June 2, leaving sistership EI-CNQ (msn E2031) to soldier on alone. [2008-06-29] |
The BAe 146-200 to be converted to freighter configuration under the relaunched QT program took to the air from Bacău on June 25. The former Flybe series 200, G-JEAJ (msn E2099) was fitted with a large cargo door on her port rear fuselage, as well as with an E-class interior consisting of a 9G bulkhead, Load Master seat, smoke detection systems and Ancra Cargo Handling System. The modification was undertaken by Aerostar, while the door was constructed by Avioane Criaova. Following her successful first flight, G-JEAJ was ferried to Southend for painting. BAE Systems has been negotiating with several potential customers for the new 146QTs, but has yet to announce any orders. [2008-06-27] |
Aerocondor returns BAe 146 to Tronos
Peruvian airline Aerocondor is returning its BAe 146, series 200 OB-1885-P (msn E2087 ex N293UE), to lessor Tronos. The airline was hoping to restart jet operations with the 146 following the grounding of its four Boeing 737-200s by the Peruvian Civil Aviation Directorate (DGAC) on June 11. Ultimately, however, the airline decided to withdraw from scheduled passenger operations and focus on its tourist overflights of the Nazca lines. Tronos is negotiating with two potential customers in Latin America to take over the aircraft. Aerocondor never operated the 146, as she has not yet been certificated by the DGAC.
[2008-06-24]
The first of three former Mesaba Avro RJ85s acquired by Dubai's Air Wing was delivered in late June. RJ85 N511XJ (msn E2325) departed Calgary on June 18 after maintenance and painting in Dubai Air Wing colors. She transited through Europe and then Malta. Her arrival in Malta proved eventful, as she hit hard on the nose-wheel and bounced. The pilot elected to go around, and then held off the airport to check the landing gear before returning to land, this time without problems. Later that day, N511XJ continued on her delivery flight. [2008-06-23] |
The Bahrain Defence Force has taken delivery of former Blue1 RJ100 OH-SAM (msn E3386) as A9C-AWL in mid May. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has confirmed that the Avro RJ100 sold in November 2007 to an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer for VVIP use has been acquired by . aircraft. The aircraft, was delivered to the Bahrain Defence Force during January, and is currently undergoing VVIP conversion. She had been withdrawn from service by Blue1 in December 2007, and subsequently converted to VVIP configuration. She joins two Avro RJ85s already operate by the Bahrain Defence Force, also in VVIP configuration. [2008-06-22] |
Peruvian airline Aerocondor is pinning its hopes for its future operations on its BAe 146. Following a series of mishaps, the airline was forced to ground its four Boeing 737-200s by the Peruvian Civil Aviation Directorate (DGAC) on June 11. Although the airline had announced on the previous day that it was withdrawing the 737s from use "because of high fuel prices" this is thought to have been an effort to deflect the pending DGAC grounding order. Without its 737s, the airline has been forced to cancel most of its services, with only flights to Cajamarca being retained, as well as charters for the oil industry and tourist overflights of the Nazca lines. Barring a reversal of DGAC's grouding order, the airline's only hope of resuming jet services lies with its sole BAe 146, series 200 OB-1885-P (msn E2087 ex N293UE). Although a company press release indicates that flights continue using the airline's other aircraft including its "Fokkers, Antonovs, and Bae-146 (sic)", Aerocondor is in fact still awaiting certification by the DGAC for the 146. Whether this certification will be forthcoming in light of the DGAC's safety concerns over Aerocondor's operations is an open question. Aerocondor had presented the recently painted 146 to the press on June 4, together with its newly acquired Boeing 727 freighter. The 146 is configured with 88 seats in a single cabin. [2008-06-14] |
Flightline is operating BAe 146-200 G-FLTB (msn E2024) on behalf of BA CityFlyer, on the airline's new London City-Dublin route. G-FLTB had been on lease to Sweden's Skyways until May 28, when she was ferried back to Southend. She had British Airways titles applied, and was then ferried to London City on June 1. She began service on the same day, operating flight CFE39Y to Dublin. [2008-06-02] |
New Paraguayan airline Regional Paraguaya presented its BAe 146 to the press at a ceremony at Asunción's Silvio Pettirossi Airport on May 26. The 146, series 200 N610AW Ciudad de Asunción (msn E2082), was freshly painted in the airline's colors. Regional Paraguaya hopes to start operations within 45 to 60 days. [2008-05-31] |
Star Perú received certification from the Peruvian Civil Aviation Directorate (DGAC) for their first BAe 146-100, OB-1877-P (msn E1199 ex A5-RGE). The airline placed her into service on May 22, operating a flight from Lima to Tarapato. On the following day, the 146 also began services to Cajamarca, in northern Peru. OB-1877-P is configured with a 10-seat, 4-abreast business class section -- the only business class available on domestic flights in Peru -- and a 62-seat, 6-abreast economy class section. The airline had operated certification flights to Pisco and Cuzco with DGAC inspectors on board on April 17. It then flew a demonstration flight to Cajamarca for the local press and other guests on April 18. Although all the requirements had been made, over a month elapsed before the actual certification was received. Star Perú is now in the process of seeking certification for its second 146, which it expects to receive in July. [2008-05-31] |
Airliner cabins to be tested for contaminated air
The United Kingdom's Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority have commissioned a study into possible air contamination of airliner cabins. There have been persistent reports of problems on a number of types, including the BAe 146 and Boeing 757, possibly leading to adverse health impacts on flight crew. The study, to be lead by professor Helen Muir of Cranfield University, will install senstive detectors on-board two BAe 146s and two 757s (a passenger version and a freighter version of each), as well as an Airbus A321, to carry out in-flight tests.
[2008-05-31]
Asian Spirit to merge with Seair
Philippines BAe 146 operator Asian Spirit is to be merged with rival domestic airline South East Asian Airlines (Seair). Both airlines are being acquired by Filipino businessman Alfredo M. Yao. Yao reportedly bought Asian Spirit from its owner, the Airline Employees' Cooperative (AEC), for about PHP1 billion (US$22 million) in late March, and is negotiating to acquire Seair. Yao is chairman of one of the largest fruit-juice makers in the Philippines as well as of a private business bank. He plans to merge the two airlines under a new brand name, and to expand their combined fleet with at least five new aircraft. Asian Spirit currently operates two BAe 146-100s.
[2008-05-31]
Swiss has added special 'The airline for all fans' markings to several of their Avro RJ100s, including HB-IYW (msn E3359), -IXN (msn E3286), -IXP (msn E3283), -IXT (msn E3259), -IXV (msn E3274), and -IXW (msn 3272). The markings celebrate the airline's sponsorship of the Euro 2008 football competition that will be played in Switzerland and Austria, beginning on June 7. [2008-05-31] |
Skyways BAe 146 lease ends
Sweden's Skyways has ended its lease of Flightline's BAe 146-200 G-FLTB (msn E2024). She was ferried back to Southend on May 28, in anticipation of an upcoming lease to BA CityFlyer.
[2008-05-29]
After some minor delays, former CityJet BAe 146-200 EI-CNQ (msn E2031) joined Nex Aviation on May 19, doubling the airline's fleet. Like sistership G-TBIC (msn E2025), EI-CNQ is flown on Flightline's AOC on behalf of Aer Arann. She wears small Aer Arann titles on the front fuselage -- an improvement on G-TBIC's completely anonymous white color scheme, but a far cry from the colorful 'celtic rings' livery worn by Aer Arann's ATRs. EI-CNQ had been withdrawn from use by CityJet in early April and flown to Norwich for storage. [2008-05-25] |
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