kric777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2002, 242 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 4388 times:
I'm sitting in RIC ready to depart for ATL, and there is a Qatar Airways A340-500 sitting in the cargo area. We don't get exotic metal like that very much at RIC, so I had to do a double take. In searching the database, the only Qatar Airways A345 I could find is the Amiri flight (A7-HHH). I'm not close enough to see the reg# to confirm that that is the bird that is here. Anybody know why it's here? Obviously, the short answer is that the emir or some other bigwig from Qatar is in town, but does anybody know what for? I was in DC all week, and the weather was OK, so it wouldn't be a diversion from IAD.
Corey07850 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2519 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 4282 times:
VCU has some sort of campus or something in Qatar, maybe there is some relation?
DeltAirlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8771 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 4185 times:
The wife of the Emir of Qatar is the commencement speaker at VCU's commencement today.
atcsundevil From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 666 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 3520 times:
This is when I wish I still lived in Richmond! But then I remember I can wear shorts and a t-shirt in January living in Phoenix, and realize it's much better here
Very cool find though! SAM 2800 and 2900 make occasional touch-and-goes (or used to) and that was a fun thing to see. I also remember when a Delta 772ER stopped in as a charter flight. And of course the British Airways 772ER bringing Her Majesty to visit the colonies. RIC does get its occasional visit from an interesting bird! I just wish there were more photos posted on a.net! Especially of the gorgeous new terminal...one of the best looking terminals inside and out in the world, in my opinion. I've seen a lot of terminals all over the world too!
YVPHX From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 227 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 12 months 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1957 times:
The Qatar A345 was in PHX about 6 months ago as well. It was here for a couple days then left. I Believe someone in the family is at a hospital here in PHX. The plane had a grand total of 6 passengers and 5 bags on an A345. Sure was a fantastic piece of equipment to see in town.
atcsundevil From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 666 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (2 years 12 months 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1678 times:
Quoting YVPHX (Reply 5): The Qatar A345 was in PHX about 6 months ago as well. It was here for a couple days then left. I Believe someone in the family is at a hospital here in PHX. The plane had a grand total of 6 passengers and 5 bags on an A345. Sure was a fantastic piece of equipment to see in town.
Really? Well then I blew that one too! It was hard not to miss the 747SP Amiri Flight that was here for about 6 months. I know that was because someone special was seeking medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic. For an A345 to have 6 passengers and 5 bags...sounds more like a YV flight haha! I have a buddy who worked on the YV ramp and is now at ZK (you probably know him), so I usually have him keep an eye out for me for anything fancy that comes in. I would have liked to see the Delta A333 that came in a few times last month and the Eva Air 77W for the Dodgers charter, but I'm out in Queen Creek and only come to the PHX TRACON once or twice a week so I miss a lot of the exotic metal that comes through. The YV ramp is the perfect place with the int'l gates being part of your ramp! Must be pretty nice.
YVPHX From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 227 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 12 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1498 times:
It was a nice treat to see the Eva 773 and the Monarch 752 as well. don't work the ramp anymore, but I sure saw some exotic metal that came in.
I remember the day the A345 came in. Was unloading bags and I caught it out of the corner of my eye. Literlly dropped what I was doing to go see what it was. It was odd to see that, thinking it was a diversion. Talked to a Service Air guy and told me the passenger and bag count. The people were to accompany the family member at the Mayo Clinic.
As for the A333, I believe it is regular schedule service on Fridays now. don't quote me on that. Most people think PHX is A320/A319 or 737 country, but it has been seeing its fair share of wide bodies lately. I will be tickled S**Tless when the HA A332 comes.
atcsundevil From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 666 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (2 years 12 months 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1275 times:
Quoting YVPHX (Reply 7): I remember the day the A345 came in. Was unloading bags and I caught it out of the corner of my eye. Literlly dropped what I was doing to go see what it was.
I would have done the same! I wish I had been able to catch it in PHX since I don't get back to visit RIC too often anymore. Would have been a real rarity since there aren't too many A345s out there.
Quoting YVPHX (Reply 7): As for the A333, I believe it is regular schedule service on Fridays now. don't quote me on that.
I actually think it's just a spring thing taking the snowbirds back north. NWA in the past sent the occasional 742/744s to cover the increased capacity from about February to April. If it were a regular thing, I would be absolutely thrilled!
Quoting YVPHX (Reply 7): Most people think PHX is A320/A319 or 737 country, but it has been seeing its fair share of wide bodies lately.
It certainly sees plenty of A319/A320s and 737s, but there are plenty of A321s, 757s (-200s and -300s), 767s, the daily 747, and the awesome occasional widebody visitors!
Quoting YVPHX (Reply 7): I will be tickled S**Tless when the HA A332 comes.
You read my mind buddy! I can't wait until they start bringing them here. I think they're supposed to start SAN and LAS, but I'm hoping they'll have an mx swap soon and put it on the PHX run. That's gonna be really awesome to have it as a regular!
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