Continued from Part One:

Air New Zealand Business Premier SYD/RAR/SYD (by TheCommodore Mar 30 2010 in Trip Reports)

Returning to 3A, I found my tray table had been stowed and my drinks thoughtfully placed on the small ledge. Deciding to resume the movie being watched, I re-configured my seat, put my feet up, and settled in for the remainder of the flight to Rarotonga. The return leg of this trip report shows a video demonstration of the seat’s conversion to its lie flat position as well as the tray table release.



What a difference from the last trip to Rarotonga in June 1974, five months after The Queen had officially opened the international airport.

On that occasion we also flew Air New Zealand on its Douglas DC10 service Sydney to Auckland and onward to Papeete – both sectors on ZK-NZL. Our onward flight from Papeete to Rarotonga was on a DC-8 service (ZK-NZA).





In those days, passengers received certificates for crossing the International Date Line, and, as a child, received An Air New Zealand flight logbook. Thus began a habit of recording flights and registrations that continues to this day. Does anybody remember the green plastic Tikis and postcards that would be found on every seat, upon boarding in those days?











The onward journey to the lagoon of Aitutaki describes the fascinating early aviation history of The Cook Islands. It incorporates:

• The WWII construction of the first airstrips in the Cook Islands, 200kms north of Rarotonga
• TEAL’s Sunderland and Solent flying boats & the famous ‘Coral Route’

The Coral Route, Flying Boats and WWII Airstrips
The Coral Route, Flying Boats & WWII Airstrips (by TheCommodore Mar 28 2010 in Trip Reports)

Having stayed at the Little Polynesian in Rarotonga, the resort deserves a mention, not only because it is peaceful, beautiful and has an aura of authenticity, but also because its staff performed exceptionally during the Tsunami alert issued following the Chilean earthquake on 16 March. Can’t recommend them highly enough.

Here are a couple of photos of the resort and a link to their website.

http://www.littlepolynesian.com/site/page.php











AIR NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS PREMIER - NZ45
RAR/AKL
B777-200ER

12 March 2010

Scheduled Departure: 17.30 hrs
Departure: 17.26 hrs
Flight Time: 4 hours, 5 minutes

Aircraft Type: B777-219ER
Registration: ZK-OKH
Delivered 17 January 2007
Seats: 3A and 4A

Captain: Tony Lundell
Flight Service Director: Kirsty Jackson

The Commodore was eight years old when last in Rarotonga (1974), several months after the international airport’s officially opening. In those days, passengers stood on the apron behind a low fence as aircraft taxied up to the gate.

In those days, the family had a Yamica Super 8 movie camera and father filmed our Air New Zealand DC8 arriving. This piece of archival footage was recently cold scanned and transferred to DVD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad83ohrUTKc

The Commodore had hoped, therefore, to film the arrival of Air New Zealand’s B777 for the historic comparison, but the current renovations prevented any view and security could not be convinced to allow access to any area that might afford a clear view of the apron, sadly.

With the new terminal’s construction almost complete, returning after a 36 year absence turned out to be six weeks too early! Apparently the new lounge will provide excellent, elevated views of the airfield when it opens. Wouldn’t that rot your socks!

Raro’s current lounge is a modest but comfortable affair with a well-stocked fridge and a reasonable spread of canapés and snacks. It’s also air-conditioned, which in Rarotonga’s sometimes outrageous humidity, would be a life saver.





So, from the blind confines of the small lounge, the Commodore could do no more than listen in frustration to the unmistakable sound of a large pair of Rolls Royce RB-211’s arriving at the gate, less than 100 feet away.

Boarding was called, on time, and passengers made their way onto the apron where ZK-OKB stood, NZ’s youngest 777 in the fleet at just over two years old. At such close proximity, a wide-angle lens is definitely needed to fit the entire aircraft in.



It’s not that often that there’s the opportunity to stand on the tarmac beside the B777’s enormous engines. They are truly huge.





Stepping into the enclosed mobile stairway, a refreshing outflow of cool, dehumidified air was descending from the 777. It gave some sense of the strength of the air conditioning system that it has the capacity to cool the stairway effectively, as well as its interior!

The Business Premier cabin was not particularly busy although it was clear that several NZ pilots were being re-positioned on this flight, from conversations with the crew.



With doors shut, the safety briefing and engine start sequence began. Those Rolls Royces take a good minute or more to spool up to idle speed. You can watch the start and listen to the safety demo in the link below. Taxiing to the end of the runway, a 360 turn is completed before an impressive full power takeoff. Some great views of the island of Rarotonga can be seen on climb out. The rest of the video incorporates meal photos as well as a demonstration of the lie flat bed’s conversion from seat to bed and the electric tray table release. There’s also an image of the then named ‘Cyclone 19’ forming. It was to hit Fiji with devastating force a few days later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5a2cTLDMwA

On this return leg, the flight crew showed a great deal of interest in a book found in a small book shop in Rarotonga titled ‘Coming on a Jet Plane, A Pictorial History of the Cook Islands International Airport Rarotonga 1944 – 1994’. It charts the early development of the international airport at Rarotonga and incorporates photographs of The Queen officially opening the airport in 1974.



Our FA showed great interest as he had begun flying to Rarotonga in 1975, when Air New Zealand operated DC-8s on the route. The book ended up doing the rounds during the flight, also making a trip to the cockpit where the Captain and First Officer leafed through it.

Service throughout the flight was superb, our FA making sure a wine tasting took place with each course and that glasses were kept topped up.







During the meal service and approaching the date line, ‘Cyclone 19’ could be seen forming. It was re-named ‘Tomas’ when it struck Suva four days later on 16 March.











Examples of Air New Zealand’s in flight information channel.







Rear galley



Arrival at Auckland gate.





AIR NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS CLASS – NZ119
AKL/SYD
A320-200

13 March 2010

Scheduled Departure: 13.30 hrs
Push back: 13.06 hrs
Flight Time: 3 hours, 5 minutes

Aircraft Type: A320-200
Registration: ZK-OKI
Delivered 29 March 2008
Seats: 2A & B

Captain: Paul McCulloch
First Officer: Grant Mitcham
Take off roll: 13.18 hrs
Rotate: 34 seconds

This final leg of our journey more or less mirrored the original trans-Tasman trip from Sydney to Auckland. Once again, very nice service from a pleasant crew.

Departure and takeoff from Auckland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iaqNn-_cwQ

In-flight













Other Trip Reports by The Commodore:

Air Mauritius Business/First Class
Air Mauritius Business And First Class (Old Style) (by TheCommodore Feb 1 2010 in Trip Reports)

The Coral Route, Flying Boats and WWII Airstrips
The Coral Route, Flying Boats & WWII Airstrips (by TheCommodore Mar 28 2010 in Trip Reports)