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Visit to the Mound

by | Sep 29, 2024 | Airport News, Spotting, Spotting Locations, Spotting News

Prestwick Mound

A quick vist to the mound yesterday, for a couple of pictures of the Colombian ATR42. There were a few people about, the weather was kind and the ATR42 was coloutful as you can see from the photograph above.

What else was there, there were a couple of Australian C-130’s, an RAAF C-17 arrived – the usual contingent of RCAF C-130’s was there along with a USAF C-5. Although everything except the ATR42 was old, it was not bad weather wise and there were lull’s in the heat haze so there was a chance for some reasonable photo’s.

The Global Airlines A-380 was being worked on, so guessing that it will be heading to Dresden soon. Global Airlines are still aiming for an early 2025 service, not really sure what early means here. But there is it would seem some progress on that front, not sure if it will just be an on the day departure or if there will be advanced warning on that front.

 

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Global Airlines – The Old Story

by | Sep 13, 2024 | Airport News, Aviation News, Spotting

Global Airlines Narrative

As an enthusiast you’ll appreciate that Global Airlines, founded in 2021 by travel expert James Asquith. And from a glance at the Global Airlines web site it will be driven by his passion for travel and his dissatisfaction with the subpar experiences he’s had on countless flights. With his experience visiting 196 countries by age 24, James knows the airline industry well and aims to fix these issues by focusing on exceptional customer experience. Remember the magic of flying as a child? Global Airlines is committed to bringing that feeling back. Now, with a top-tier team of aviation experts, Global Airlines is ready to take off—while you simply sit back and relax.

The Vision – James Asquith

We are revolutionising commercial flying. We’ve all suffered for far too long with long security queues, late flights, lost luggage, inedible food and constant poor customer service. Global Airlines offers fast relief from the aches and pains associated with commercial air travel. We bring joy at every interaction and delight at every touch point. Take a deep breathe, welcome aboard.

Ready to take off?

Reading the blurb on the Global Airlines web site, they are going to be starting a scheduled trans Atlantic service in 2025. With that in mind, how are they doing up to now? Well they have acquired their first Airbus A-380 and have managed a trans Atlantic flight (positional). But the aircraft is sitting at Prestwick Airport, with no significant visible change. There has been some minimal activity around the aircraft, but nothing that would lead you to believe that it is anywhere near service ready.

Given Mr Asquith and his top-tier team’s vision, the remediation of all that is problematic for the regular flyer – the timescales may be somewhat optimistic. But we can all live in hope, it’s what dreams and nightmares are made of. Global Airlines has been silent on progress since early June, but they still have time to meet the tight timescales.

The Aircraft

Was stored in an arrid storage facility and is now parked in the damp, salty and corrosive Prestwick environs. The deterioration of the aircraft will only accelerate, it may well never leave Prestwick and end up being broken up in situ.

The Airline

Global Airlines went dark in June, nothing of any substance since. For a company that will need to establish and maintain a nearly 80% load factor to break even. They do not seem to be particularly bothered about generating interest in the business, they have spent even less time explaining how they will mitigate things outwith their control – like lost luggage and security delays.

The Future

I’d like to think that this would be a successful venture, but in truth I don’t see any progress – maybe I just don’t read the right stuff. The approach taken by Mr Asquith seems to me to be incredibly naive, this is someone who has no airline experience except as a passenger. And he is going to change the aviation industry, I don’t think so. Even if he surrounds himself with experienced airline people, most of them are going to be new to the world of startup airlines.

There seems to be issues with the airline name, although Mr Asquith decided on it years ago – running a search for “Global Airlines” doesn’t return the expected results.

I’d just love to see his business plan and given where all this seems to be headed, I’d really love to see his business continuity plan. Although before you get started on one of them, you should have customers that you care about.

The funding required for a project like this is immense, getting not one but four A-380’s getting them liveried fitted out as required. Along with the requirement for an AOC and all the hundreds of pre-requisites, will cost a lot. I’d go for a nine digit number and the first digit is not a one. I’ll carry on watching this with interest, but suspect that the A-380 will lie at Prestwick longer that the Norwegian 787’s.

 

A Journey to the Heart of Scottish Whisky Country

by | Mar 25, 2023 | Airport News, Aviation News, Spotting

Loganair’s Islay Flight: A Journey to the Heart of Scottish Whisky Country

For whisky enthusiasts, Islay is a must-visit destination in Scotland. Known as the “Queen of the Hebrides,” Islay is home to eight working distilleries that produce some of the most famous single malts in the world. Getting to Islay, however, can be a challenge, especially if you’re traveling from Glasgow. Fortunately, Loganair offers a convenient and comfortable flight service that connects Glasgow to Islay throughout the year.

Loganair is a Scottish regional airline that has been in operation since 1962. It operates a fleet of 44 aircraft and serves more than 40 destinations across the UK, Ireland, and Europe. One of its key routes is the Glasgow to Islay service, which runs multiple times a day and takes just 30 minutes.

The flight departs from Glasgow Airport, which is easily accessible by public transport or car. The airport has a range of facilities, including restaurants, shops, and lounges, making it a comfortable place to start your journey. Once you’ve checked in and passed through security, you’ll board your Loganair plane and take your seat.

Loganair’s planes are comfortable and modern, with plenty of legroom and overhead storage space. On the Glasgow to Islay route, you’ll typically fly on a Saab 340, which seats up to 34 passengers. The plane is well-suited to the short flight, and you’ll enjoy great views of Scotland’s west coast as you make your way to Islay.

Upon arrival at Islay Airport, you’ll be struck by the island’s rugged beauty. Islay has a population of around 3,000 people and is known for its wild landscapes, historic sites, and, of course, its whisky. The airport is just a few miles from the island’s largest town, Bowmore, and you can easily hire a car or catch a taxi to get to your accommodation.

Loganair’s Glasgow to Islay service is a great way to explore Scotland’s whisky country. Whether you’re a seasoned whisky drinker or a curious beginner, Islay’s distilleries offer something for everyone. From Lagavulin’s smoky, peaty malts to Bruichladdich’s experimental spirits, you’ll discover a range of flavors and techniques that are unique to the island.

In addition to whisky, Islay has a rich cultural heritage that’s worth exploring. The island is home to numerous historic sites, including the ancient Kildalton Cross and the medieval Kilchoman Church. You can also visit the beautiful beaches, go bird-watching, or take a hike in the hills.

Overall, Loganair’s Islay service from Glasgow is a fantastic way to experience Scotland’s west coast. With convenient flight times, comfortable planes, and stunning scenery, it’s a journey you won’t forget. So why not book your ticket today and discover the magic of Islay for yourself?

 

MH370 – Will it be found?

by | Mar 16, 2023 | Airport History, Airport News, Aviation News, Book Reviews, Spotting, Spotting News, Wrecks and Relics

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The disappearance of the Boeing 777-200ER remains one of the most puzzling aviation mysteries of all time. Despite extensive search efforts, the wreckage of the plane has never been found, and the fate of the 239 people on board remains unknown.

The initial search for the plane focused on the South China Sea, where it was believed to have crashed. However, subsequent investigations suggested that the plane had flown off course and may have ended up in the southern Indian Ocean. This led to a massive search effort involving more than two dozen countries, but no trace of the plane was found.

The disappearance of MH370 raised many questions about the safety of air travel and the ability of modern technology to track planes. The plane’s communication systems were deliberately turned off, suggesting that someone on board had hijacked the aircraft. This has led to theories that the plane was intentionally diverted and may have been flown to a remote location.

The search for MH370 was one of the most expensive and extensive in aviation history, costing an estimated $150 million. The search involved advanced underwater search technology, including autonomous underwater vehicles and towed sonar systems. Despite these efforts, the wreckage of the plane has never been found, leading some to speculate that the search was not thorough enough or that the plane may have been deliberately hidden.

The disappearance of MH370 has had a profound impact on the aviation industry. It has led to increased scrutiny of airline safety procedures, including the use of satellite tracking systems and cockpit security measures. It has also raised concerns about the need for improved communication and coordination between airlines and aviation authorities.

In addition to the technical and operational questions raised by the disappearance of MH370, there have also been emotional and psychological impacts on the families of the passengers and crew. For many, the lack of closure and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones has been devastating.

In conclusion, the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 remains one of the most baffling aviation mysteries of all time. The extensive search efforts have failed to locate the wreckage of the plane, leaving many questions unanswered. The incident has had far-reaching implications for the aviation industry and has led to increased scrutiny of safety procedures and technology. Despite the passage of time, the search for answers continues, and the families of the passengers and crew remain in search of closure.

Prestwick and the C17

by | Jul 11, 2022 | Airport News, Aviation News, Database, Online Logging, Spotting, Spotting Locations

Prestwick, long used as the jumping off point or arrival point for transports crossing the Pond. The main recognition started during the second world war, when it’s excellent fog free record was pointed out by Captain Duncan Macintosh. During the war years, there were huge numbers of Lend Lease aircraft transiting through Prestwick.

Still used as a stopover location for trans-atlantic traffic, now experiencing a revival for military traffic especially given the situation in Ukraine. It is unlikely to see the kinds of volumes of visitors it attracted in the 1960’s and 70’s, but there has been more traffic about that is obvious.

Conveniently placed, Prestwick has over the years seen it’s fair share of traffic – both East and West bound. The table below is the C17 traffic for the past few years and is an extract from my Prestwick historical log going back to 2016, there have been a lot through over that time. As to searching the table, by default any search string will be automatically search any field, however there is a drop down at the right side of the search box – this can be used to filter searches.

 

The C-17 at Prestwick

Prestwick – 2021 Log

by | Jun 28, 2022 | Airport News, Aviation News, Book Reviews, Online Logging, Spotting

So the testing of the tables and the search facility continues, this data set now comprises a full year of visitors to Prestwick. The based aircraft are not incorporated in the log, mainly due to the fact that each one would add 365 rows to the table – and a search would likely return 365 rows of data.

In order that the table is displayed properly it is at the bottom of the post, where it should be out the way of the rest of the post. The next test will be to break the year down into individual months, I’m going to experiment with various layouts and content to see what works best.

Some additional search and filtering tips, there is now a dropdown at the right hand side if the search bar. This allows the fields searched to be toggled on or off, this will allow more controlled searching and should make life a little easier.

It is possible to order the data by any of the column headings, simply click on the heading to order by alphanumeric ascending or decending – this will work on search results if required.

The data comes from a number of public sources, I have automated some of the data collection and hope to improve it over time.

Additionally I have started on the automation of the building of the logs but there is still some manual intervention required, it is still a manual proces to put it in the database – but eventually I may be able to automate some of the steps.

Visitor Log Prestwick (EGPK) 2021