I took a farewell Beech flight today (11 April 2016) you may want to put the pictures on your blog. Flight was 2125 Christchurch to Blenheim using ZK- EAE both ways had 13 passengers for the northbound and only 9 coming home. Left at 0840 from gate 4 nice view of Kaikoura and the vineyards on the way up we landed on runway 24 at Woodbourne and parked up on gate 1. Perfect flying conditions with unlimited visibility today. Flight time was 50 mins and we kept to schedule on both sectors.
My last flight on a Beech 1900 will be on the afternoon/evening of 26 August, Hamilton-Palmerston North-Hamilton. Are you planning a final Beech flight?
Will see you on PMR-HLZ!! :)
ReplyDelete19:25pm PMR-HLZ 26TH August. although it's expensive now $345 for the flight
ReplyDeleteSee both of you on board!
ReplyDeleteHow many 1900's are in operational service considering CHC/BHE, CHC/HKK, HLZ/PMR, WLG/GIS and WLG/PMR are the only routes left?
ReplyDeleteEAB/EAC/EAE/EAP/
DeleteCHC to BHE & CHC to HKK change to Q300's from May this year
ReplyDeleteThere is still 10 B1900's on the CAA register, but how many of those being used is unknown. have only seen EAP, EAH, EAE, EAC recently
ReplyDeleteEAB is still flying too
DeleteYes only 4 now needed to cover all the current schedules soon to be two after May 1st.
ReplyDeleteThat reduction in May will be somewhat impacted on the B190's return to AKL-WAG during May/June.
ReplyDeleteIs this due to poor loading's?
DeleteLack of crews I've heard
DeletePicking it would be lack of Q300 aircraft as the last of the Air Nelson fleet head in to be repainted and fitted with the new interiors..
DeleteAs said above, it's due to crewing. Nelson are a little light on pilot numbers. Giving WAG back to the Beech and Eagle for a short while is helping to take the pressure off.
DeleteIt's so sad seeing these beechcraft go. It's nice to see EAE again - it was a frequent visitor in Taupo. Hope Q300's go well. Surely the Q300's only have a few years of life left in them!? What's gking to happen when they're done?
ReplyDeleteATR's 42 ?
DeleteI don't know why people automatically assume the Dash will be replaced with ATR 42's.
DeleteThe whole lot will be replaced with 72's.
I think its to do with the 50 seats capacity and 1 flight attendant as oppose to 2 flight attendants on the ATR72's plus different employment contacts for flight attendant/pilots with Mt Cook Airlines and Air Nelson.
DeleteQ300/ATR72's in and out of Hamilton is Q300 morning and evenings during the weekend days and all day Saturdays and Sundays, due to over nighting on the WLG/HLZ/WLZ services. Rest of the day Monday to Friday are ATR72's.
I can not see ATR 72's being used to fly into Hokitika, Timaru, Wanganui, Taupo Paraparaumu, where as ATR42 possibly could be used as they similar in size to the Q300's and as stated above only one attendant.
DeleteThe 72's and 42's use a lot of the same components and engines and there are other similarities between them so servicing them would be easier
You only need to look at the back orders for 42s vs. 72s. You will not see the 42 flying in Air New Zealand colours.
DeleteTaupo is getting a 79% loadings from both of their Q 300's flights which is always good to hear. Every time I've been out there on the weekends. It's been 45 42 48 etc. And yes it is strange to here that distinctive Dash 8 hum and not that rough b1900 sound! !! But I have to admit. I love Air Nelson over Eagle air, going back to the saab metro/emb metro years...
ReplyDeleteTook my last ride Ham-Akl-Ham 5/2/16.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed it and the small plane Air NZ era. Bantams were awfully noisy though.
At least the 3rd Level has plenty to choose from....Yet no takers for second hand 1900s? Too challenging to operate?
Last Eagle flight for me was last year sadly as little chance to get into the air this year. Am happy that the last routes are the Hamilton - Palmy routes given that is where Eagle started it's commercial operations all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteSlightly off topic, but what's the old friendship doing on a trailer at Woodbourne?