This was a quick trip to move some goods down to my brother in Southern Ontario. I managed to get some spotting in aswell, skies were clear and temperatures were cold.
The flight was ontime, leaving from Gate 26/P. There was no lineup at security, at 06:45, which was surprising, so I quickly cleared through, and relaxed in the Maple Leaf Lounge for a while before boarding the 75% full flight.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge - Winnipeg
Boarding was quick, and I was one of the last on the plane. As expected, someone was sitting in my seat 13A, so I told them to get the hell out. The A319 pushed early, we taxied to RWY 18, and rotated a few minutes early. Left turn out direct Dryden, and oncourse climbing to FL310.
Sunrise on the no1 engine of GITP
Daily news, sports, and The Simpsons was shown on the entertainment system
After the regular programming was over, airshow was switched on
Cabin view of GITP
Turning base for RWY 05
Final approach
We touched down 20 minutes early, but because gate 135 was occupied, we sat short for another 10 minutes. Then the gate cleared, we approached, and were missing a ground crew [in typical AC YYZ style]. We waited another 5 minutes, the crew shows up, but now a driver-less fuel truck is blocking our entrance.... another 5 minute wait. With no ETA on the driver, we position to gate 143 which gave us a nice taxi by AC007 (A343 in new colours to Vancouver/Hong Kong... late), a B763 C-GHPD also leaving for Vancouver, and A320 C-FFWN which had arrived from Regina or Saskatoon. A wicked time for some photos:
C-FYLG to Vancouver/Hong Kong...... late
C-GHPD - next flight to Vancouver
C-FFWN pulled up to gate 142 one minute before we positioned on gate 143
Mulitple tail shots kick ass
After getting off the aircraft, I went up to the Lounge to check email, hoard cheese and drinks, and call my brother to set up a meeting time and place.
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Spotting at Toronto: Winds were northerly, so Pearson was setup for RWY 05 arrivals, and RWY 06L departures. I sat under 05 for a while, allowing for a few good photo ops, while my brother took video of some arrivals. Abusing the rental car for a bit resulted in us missing a Cathay A346 arriving 05, diverting on the Hong Kong-New York route.
D-AIFF diverting on Frankfurt-Boston
G-ZZZA - was expecting a 744, but a ZZZ-registered Triple was just as cool
N702GC - wasn't expecting this one - from Frankfurt, for AC Cargo
After spending some time in the Lounge it was time to roam the terminal, get some night photos, and prepare for the flight. Terminal 1 was busy; it was Sunday night. Some flight cancellations were on the FIDS, mainly Boston and Halifax because of poor winter weather.
Pic of the Maple Leaf Lounge - Toronto
Night view of New Terminal One - pretty slick.. eh?
Several narrowbody Airbus aircraft at New Terminal One
C-FBEF to Montreal
C-FMSY to Montreal
The flight to Winnipeg pushed late because we were waiting for late connecting passengers, and CARA, the caterers to deliver meals. The pax eventually showed up, CARA did not... no food-for-purchase meals available. Free drinks were offered though, and most passengers took the offer. CARA had apparently had a power outage or something, and prioritized the meals to International flights. Sucked, cause I held off from buying something in the terminal, to buy something onboard. Oh well, T.S.
Again, someone was in my seat - 15A. He offered me his seat - 15D, and because it was a night flight, and the fact that there was a 300lb'er in 15C, I said, sure, whatever. As noted on seatguru.com, there's no window in Row 15.
We pushed back 15 minutes late, and were airborne off RWY 05 15 mins later. Cruising altitude was FL340, flight time 2hrs 25mins, and similar inflight entertainment. The Simpsons was played again, even the same episode [Bart goes to genius school]. We touched down on RWY 18 at Winnipeg a few minutes late, and disembarked on Gate 28/S. It seems Air Canada rarely gets a late night departure from Toronto out ontime. Almost every late night flight I leave from Toronto on AC, is late.
All in all another good trip, with good weather, and a good visit with my brother. Highlights included the Cathay A346 [from a distance], and photos of the A343 in new colours, and A320 Symphony of Voices in wicked lighting condits. I was pissed to see C-GITP sitting at the gate at YWG, cause it was trip #3 on that bird, but ya can't win'em all. Overall, Air Canada did pretty good on this trip. Aside from the CARA problem, I was impressed again with their service.
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