Their 727 is always visible at cutter with their howling coyote logo on the tail, and usually returns in the afternoon the day after the game but may come back late tomorrow night because of the home game Sunday. I've only seen it land twice, out of pure luck of the draw. Sucks that we can't track it.
New York Rangers --- private 737 N37NY (blocked from tracking)
Ottawa Senators --- ACA 7047 or 7048
Phoenix Coyotes --- private 727 N698SS (blocked from tracking)
Pittsburgh Penguins --- BSK 392
San Jose Sharks --- Fry's Electronics 727 N724YS or 747SP N747A (both blocked)
Washington Capitals --- ACA 7021 or 7022
Are you sure about San Jose flying on a 747SP?
Too bad the Redwings don't have the MD-81 painted up with logos like the old DC-9-50, new MD-81 looks kind of generic and I assume it too is blocked from tracking.
I didn't think any of the teams still had their 727s - thought I heard Phoenix got rid of theirs too.
I think a lot of NHL teams still charter Delta too. I know when Tigers are in post season and Redwings are starting their season while Tigers are away and Redwings need to travel they end up using Delta (used to use Northwest) and vice versa in spring when Redwings are away on post season and Tigers need a plane.
tjwgrr From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2300 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (5 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 6283 times:
Quoting NASCARAirforce (Reply 5): Too bad the Redwings don't have the MD-81 painted up with logos like the old DC-9-50, new MD-81 looks kind of generic and I assume it too is blocked from tracking.
Quoting jetblueguy22 (Reply 15): Anybody know who the Wild fly? Perhaps DL or Sun Country?
The Wild flew on a Swift Air 734 last season.
Quoting n92r03 (Reply 14): I think it has something to do with specially equipped (all biz class) 319's. Someone more in the know can probably confirm/deny.
Yes, they fly on the Jetz division, the special charter VIP subfleet. Don't know if there are any changes for this year, but last year there were 5 A320s and 1 A319 in the fleet. The 320 seats 64 in all business (not sure how many seats on the 319).
JAGflyer From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 3328 posts, RR: 4 Reply 20, posted (5 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5713 times:
Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 8): All Canadian teams should be on AC Jetz, now add Colorado and Anaheim Ducks to the mix.
Last year, NJ Devils and LA Kings also on AC.
Why would an American use a Canadian carrier for their charters? Would the flights they fly for Colorado and Anaheim not be cabotage when the team is transported from the home city to an opponent's city (ie. DEN-LAX?) How about the cost to position the plane to pick up the team?
Supported the beer and soda can industry, recycle old airplanes!
silentbob From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1665 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (5 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 5648 times:
Quoting JAGflyer (Reply 20): Why would an American use a Canadian carrier for their charters? Would the flights they fly for Colorado and Anaheim not be cabotage when the team is transported from the home city to an opponent's city (ie. DEN-LAX?) How about the cost to position the plane to pick up the team?
More than half the players and GMs are Canadian, so it isn't a stretch for them to consider it before they consider an American air carrier. There was an issue two years ago (maybe three) where the FAA addressed cabotage in an agreement with the Canadian authorities. Given the number of teams using the service, I don't believe that repositioning is a big deal. There is likely another team that needs to be picked up nearby. That said, repositioning would be the same for most other carriers as well.
ONT2CGI From United States of America, joined Sep 2010, 114 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (5 months 22 hours ago) and read 5505 times:
Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 8): Last year, NJ Devils and LA Kings also on AC.
The Albany Devils (owned by the NJ Devils) did a trip to St. Johns on AC late last year(during the lockout), so it look AC still has that contract. The only thing was the flight operated to/from EWR and not ALB.
NASCARAirforce From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3099 posts, RR: 5 Reply 23, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 5110 times:
Quoting JAGflyer (Reply 20): Why would an American use a Canadian carrier for their charters? Would the flights they fly for Colorado and Anaheim not be cabotage when the team is transported from the home city to an opponent's city (ie. DEN-LAX?) How about the cost to position the plane to pick up the team?
Doesn't cabotage only affect scheduled airlines?
AC Jetz has been doing it for years with Canadian teams flying between 2 American airports between games. For example when I saw Ottawa Senators land at TPA to play the Lightning, they played Florida Panthers the day before so they flew FLL - TPA then probably went on to ATL or RDU next to play the Thrashers (this was a couple years ago - before someone calls me out and say they moved to Winnepeg) or Hurricanes.
It does seem weird for US teams to be using Air Canada, but since it is a charter flight they can get away with it.
The main problem was passengers joining the charter at mid point without ever crossing a border, that was a violation of the charter agreement and was the basis for the order.
As far as I know, even an ad hoc freighter operated by a Canadian carrier can't carry strictly domestic cargo between two U.S. points (or vice versa for a U.S. carrier in Canada). That's why carriers like FedEx have to contract out their domestic Canadian service to a Canadian operator.
The cabotage issue for the sports teams and similar types of charters became controversial a few years ago but was resolved and is now permitted provided no other passengers are carried.
silentbob From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1665 posts, RR: 1 Reply 27, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5152 times:
Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 24): The main problem was passengers joining the charter at mid point without ever crossing a border, that was a violation of the charter agreement and was the basis for the order.
Exactly, the biggest issue was ownership taking friends and family from one point in the US to another. A couple owners were particularly bad about doing that. A secondary issue was for players called up or sent down to the minors during the course of the trip. Fortunately though, the problem was resolved in fairly short order.
GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1993 posts, RR: 8 Reply 30, posted (4 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 4709 times:
The Nashville Predators lost their ride after last season when Swift Air filed for Bankruptcy. They kept most of their teams but requested out from Nashville and I THINK Colorado, but don't hold me to that.
Looking tonight it looks like Delta has gotten the Preds Contract.
DAL 9864, MD88 scheduled to KMSP tonight after the game with the Blues here in Nashville.
Did you know Taylor Swift has a STAR to BNA named after her? No, I'm not kidding.
CcrlR From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 2204 posts, RR: 1 Reply 31, posted (4 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 4682 times:
It does seem weird for US teams to be using Air Canada, but since it is a charter flight they can get away with it.[/quote]
Quoting silentbob (Reply 27): Exactly, the biggest issue was ownership taking friends and family from one point in the US to another. A couple owners were particularly bad about doing that. A secondary issue was for players called up or sent down to the minors during the course of the trip. Fortunately though, the problem was resolved in fairly short order.
There was a short time when Ottawa was using Delta for flights within the United States during that time. They may have just used one of DL's A319's that they use for NBA charters.
"He was right, it is a screaming metal deathtrap!"-Cosmo (from the Fairly Oddparents)
Quoting GuitrThree (Reply 30): DAL 9864, MD88 scheduled to KMSP tonight after the game with the Blues here in Nashville.
I don't think thats them. There is an AC 319 just landed at BNA, thinking the Predators might be on AC this year. We will know for sure in a little while.
GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1993 posts, RR: 8 Reply 33, posted (4 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 4634 times:
Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 32): I don't think thats them. There is an AC 319 just landed at BNA, thinking the Predators might be on AC this year. We will know for sure in a little while.
I think you are right. Looked at the "pilot resources recently used IFR flights" on flight aware and saw a 10:20 flight to MSP on Delta. Didn't realize that already happened in the AM.
Wow. I was hoping for AC. Makes for great photo ops here in the south of the Maple Leaf Tails.. Hard to believe they got a better deal on AC but if that's what it is I'll take it!
Sweet!
Thanks for the information. Too dark to take pics tonight but will get a chance or two this season during the day.
Did you know Taylor Swift has a STAR to BNA named after her? No, I'm not kidding.
sebring From Canada, joined Jul 2004, 1658 posts, RR: 15 Reply 35, posted (4 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 4599 times:
Quoting JAGflyer (Reply 20): Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 8):
All Canadian teams should be on AC Jetz, now add Colorado and Anaheim Ducks to the mix.
Last year, NJ Devils and LA Kings also on AC.
Why would an American use a Canadian carrier for their charters? Would the flights they fly for Colorado and Anaheim not be cabotage when the team is transported from the home city to an opponent's city (ie. DEN-LAX?) How about the cost to position the plane to pick up the team?
This was settled literally at the national leader to national leader level early in Obama's first year. The argument in favour of allowing carriers to fly cabotage routings in each other's country is that it would be impractical - stupid even - to have to use different airlines to fly those routes than the one that brings the team over the border. This applies to the NHL where there are seven Canadian teams. A lot of road trips to Canada involve flights to Montreal/Ottawa/Toronto on the same itinerary, carrying on to a second Cdn destination. With this ruling, a team can charter from NW, fly to Montreal, then on to Toronto, etc. rather than have to charter with a different airline for the Montreal-Toronto portion of the road trip while their US aircraft repositions empty in Toronto.
I've heard that 15 NHL teams are using Jetz this year, which is a logistical nightmare for AC given the compacted schedule and late planning start. AC also flies the NBA Raptors and MLB Blue Jays. Others have explained why the charter issue became contentious, but I believe the question of hangers-on was just a pretext by American unions trying to force the newly elected Obama to take a pro-labour stand. The owners countered that ths US charter sector was subject to bankruptcies and other upheavals, and some US carriers are loathe to flip six or seven aircraft like AC into long-term executive configuration. AC does this because in the winter quarters, there is a sharper downturn in domestic ASMs than US carriers experience. AC prefers to do this to flying that capacity to beach hotspots where margins are notoriously small.
Quoting GuitrThree (Reply 33): Hard to believe they got a better deal on AC but if that's what it is I'll take it!
It seems to be a business AC wants to be in, and a lot of US carriers don't want to be in. If carriers like DL do some sports chartering, it is truly a small sideline, whereas AC operates it as a full-time subsidiary with a sales force soliciting contracts. Also, AC's 320 flight is pretty well full amortized, so it's not like there is a huge cost sitting the planes on the ground for a day or two during a road trip.
GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1993 posts, RR: 8 Reply 36, posted (4 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 4561 times:
Quoting sebring (Reply 35): It seems to be a business AC wants to be in, and a lot of US carriers don't want to be in. If carriers like DL do some sports chartering, it is truly a small sideline,
Well DL is a BIG player in the NFL. I think they fly more teams than any other carrier. But, that being said, most ALL games are on Sunday. A few are Monday and Thursday but if the majority is on Sunday. I think it's pretty easy to plan to take a specific number of aircraft out of rotation on Saturday and Sundays for just over 20 weekends to provide this service. The NBA, NHL, and MLB travel all kinds of crazy schedules for months and I can see a big problem with scheduling here.
Did you know Taylor Swift has a STAR to BNA named after her? No, I'm not kidding.
I think Delta is the largest charter carrier in the US and they do have a dedicated charter department and fleet of 8 VIP 319s, not a small operation at all at DL and many more charters are flown on all other equipment from DC9 to 747.
ChrisNH From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 3819 posts, RR: 2 Reply 38, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 4401 times:
I'm only guessing, but the Boston Bruins might be using DL A319s. I saw one came into Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA last night (from Westchester County, as DL 8955) and go to Newark as DL 8845.
I know the Bruins are playing the Rangers tomorrow night at MSG. And I know that in the past the Bruins like using Hanscom rather than Logan.
71Zulu From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 2765 posts, RR: 0 Reply 40, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4302 times:
I'm thinking the 8955 HPN-BED was the NY Knicks coming in after their game against Brooklyn, and the 8845 was a ferry to the next gig. The Knicks normally fly N37NY but maybe it is gone tech and DL is covering for them.
robsaw From Canada, joined Dec 2008, 188 posts, RR: 0 Reply 43, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 4147 times:
Some NHL teams, including the Vancouver Canucks, are none too pleased when they found out the AC aircraft were NOT in the usual AC Jetz all-business configuration (as AC reasonable re-configured them to standard passenger configuration during the lockout).
71Zulu From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 2765 posts, RR: 0 Reply 44, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 4099 times:
You know I thought it was odd that most of the AC hockey flights we tracked were on 319s yet there was only one 319 in the Jetz configuration, guess this article explains it. Hope AC can work something out because there is really not many other options for the teams, Swift seems to be maxed out and DL is tied up with the NBA.
GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1993 posts, RR: 8 Reply 45, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 4054 times:
Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 42): Well, that flight number not showing up now, but there shows a flight to EWR as SWQ 2101, never seen Swift use a flight number like that before.
Swift in the past used flight numbers that matched the tail number of the aircraft used.
SWQ 801 was the 737 N801TJ
SWQ 802 was the 737 N802TJ
SWQ 767 was the 767 N767MW
I could be wrong but I thought they had a third 737 but can't remember. Their current website only shows two.
Boy are they. They filed for Bankruptcy and asked the bankruptcy judge to end a few of the teams contracts, one being the Nashville Preds (for sure), and the other I think the Av's of Colorado. Correct me on the later if need be.
Did you know Taylor Swift has a STAR to BNA named after her? No, I'm not kidding.
KBUF From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 463 posts, RR: 0 Reply 48, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 3567 times:
...except the Thrashers don't exist anymore.
As for the other teams:
Devils' next road game is Sunday at Montreal, Wild's next road game is Friday at Detroit, and Canucks' next road game is also Friday, at Anaheim. So we should have the latter two tomorrow. Probably won't get the Devils until Saturday.
[Edited 2013-01-23 20:51:55]
"Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup."-Terry Pegula, February 22, 2011
burnsie28 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 7421 posts, RR: 9 Reply 51, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3308 times:
71Zulu From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 2765 posts, RR: 0 Reply 52, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3155 times:
The decision by Air Canada to reconfigure the Jetz aircraft has cost them their first customer,
Canucks Take to the Air with Flair
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks have cut ties with Air Canada and signed on with a new airline for their charter travel.
When the Canucks departed the South Terminal at Vancouver International Airport on Thursday afternoon, it was on a plane operated by Kelowna-based Flair Air.
longhauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 4316 posts, RR: 36 Reply 53, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 3086 times:
Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 52): The decision by Air Canada to reconfigure the Jetz aircraft has cost them their first customer,
I think you mean the decision not to reconfigure the Jetz aircraft. While this is unfortunate, it was predictable. With the hockey season so short, it was not economically feasible to reconfigure the aircraft. Apparently it costs something north of $100,000 to do the reconfiguration, back and forth.
However, that being said, the Jetz product is more than just the size of the seats. There is something to be said to have a major airline at your back. And I wonder if the Canucks will regret that decision.
Having flown a few Jetz charters when on the A320, one of the "promises" is that weather notwithstanding, there will be NO delays. Period. It takes a very large company to make such a guarantee. I wont go into the specifics, but rest assured, for every operation there is a "backup" nearby. You simply cant have a team late for its game.
And once on the B767, I was drafted for a "rescue mission", pick up a team and drop them off somewhere else.
That is one of the selling features of having large airlines like Delta offering team charters. Some of the smaller team charter airlines have large airlines on retainer ... just in case. I know Flair Air does not, as earlier this winter I did a flight to SXM and there was a Flair Air B737 and passengers sitting there looking for seats back to YYZ. Apparently the aircraft had been sitting there 30 hours ... so far.
Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down .... Barefoot Blue Jean Night
CcrlR From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 2204 posts, RR: 1 Reply 54, posted (4 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2786 times:
Saw this earlier today, A white 767 leaving stormy ORD. Must be for the Blackhawks flying to MSP to play the Wild Wednesday. The Stars' 767 is in DTW by the way if you asked.
connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3892 posts, RR: 13 Reply 55, posted (4 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2625 times:
Quoting 71Zulu (Reply 8): All Canadian teams should be on AC Jetz, now add Colorado and Anaheim Ducks to the mix.
Last year, NJ Devils and LA Kings also on AC.
Well, the Canucks have severed their relationship with AC, for one, since AC have reconfigured their mainline aircraft with less J and more Y. AC Jetz aircraft are not always available, particularly this year since the schedule was made up late in the day and Jetz frames may have been committed elsewhere already.
Quoting JAGflyer (Reply 20): Why would an American use a Canadian carrier for their charters? Would the flights they fly for Colorado and Anaheim not be cabotage when the team is transported from the home city to an opponent's city (ie. DEN-LAX?) How about the cost to position the plane to pick up the team?
Per several other contributions, the cabotage argument has been resolved and IIRC it revolves around who is travelling from Point A to B to C and back to A. I don't believe teams are allowed to insert a substitute (due to injury, for example) on the B to C leg, that player has to go commercial.
threepoint From Canada, joined Oct 2005, 2093 posts, RR: 8 Reply 56, posted (4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2363 times:
Quoting longhauler (Reply 53): However, that being said, the Jetz product is more than just the size of the seats. There is something to be said to have a major airline at your back. And I wonder if the Canucks will regret that decision.
Having flown a few Jetz charters when on the A320, one of the "promises" is that weather notwithstanding, there will be NO delays. Period. It takes a very large company to make such a guarantee. I wont go into the specifics, but rest assured, for every operation there is a "backup" nearby. You simply cant have a team late for its game.
I realize that Flair is nowhere near the size of AC and lacks the widespread support in many airports, but - with three B737s - they should be in a position to support the Canucks should one of their aircraft suffer a snag. One can reasonably assume that the hockey charter is considered a high priority at the airline this winter. Given that the team's travel this season is only half the regular number of games, and spread across "only" half the continent, I think the managed risk the Canucks have decided to take is a wise one.
Vancouver is the NHL team that spends by far the most time in the air, so a Y-configured aircraft for multiple 3+ hour legs was not really an option for them, whereas it might be a consideration for a team like the Senators or Leafs who tend to fly very short legs within the eastern conference.
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