zkojq wrote:

Does anyone know which specific B737-800 aircraft is being referred to in this article?

Aeronautical Engineers, Inc (AEI) has gained UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval for its 12-pallet position B737-800SF freighter conversion.

AEI currently has US Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aviation Administration of China, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Transport Canada Civil Aviation, Cayman, Guernsey, and now CAA approvals for its B737-800SF freighter conversion.

The first AEI B737-800SF converted freighter for which this approval will apply has recently arrived in the UK and will begin operations shortly with an undisclosed customer.

https://www.aircargonews.net/services/f ... onversion/

Probably the “Swiftair” liveried B737-800 pictured above which according to a Facebook group has been registered SE-RLJ and will be joining same-group operator West Atlantic which appear to have adopted the same livery as Swiftair now. It’s due to enter operation shortly.

darloscott wrote:

Probably the “Swiftair” liveried B737-800 pictured above which according to a Facebook group has been registered SE-RLJ and will be joining same-group operator West Atlantic which appear to have adopted the same livery as Swiftair now. It’s due to enter operation shortly.

Very interesting tid-bit, thanks for the info. I wonder if regulatory flow could be the reason it was re-liveried for delivery to a different customer based on who could get it in the air first.

wjcandee wrote:

DL757NYC wrote:

Amerijet has announced the addition of 5 757’s they will add to the fleet. Some are ex AA 757’s 2001 vintage. I looked up one 16k cycles 57k hours. AA had a good number of 757’s that were low time aircraft. You wonder why they weren’t picked up for passenger service. A dozen low time 757’s would buy carriers like Iceland Air some time for a MOM to come to market. The cargo carriers that get those low time birds will get decades of service out of them.

Yep. AJT finished proving runs like last week, and got permission from the FAA to add them to the cert days later. Nice to see a smooth, professional cert process, unlike what we saw with Eastern.

Right now, looks like all they are flying is N818NH. Presumably, others will come on board as pilots get the requisite differences training.

As to why they weren't picked up for pax service, some might yet be. Aersale bought all of the retiring, parked, 757s from AA in September 2020 (24 frames), along with 16 spare engines, and is indifferent as to whether any individual frame is converted for new owners, converted and leased to freight cos, leased or sold to pax operators, or parted out. Whatever brings the most $$. At the time, many didn't think that these aircraft were worth all that much, and were surprised by the deal (which suggests that Aersale got a good deal). Now, with more than 16 orders for PCFs out of the 24, it looks like the common wisdom wasn't correct.

Probably our resident DC-8Fs will depart MIA as Amerijet's 757 fleet comes onboard. One can always argue where in the pecking order a carrier falls but 757s and 767s out of MIA are a hard thing to beat.

Aersale indeed judged the market appropriately with their procurement of AA's 757s. There are still 200+ 757s out there, that fit a conversion profile. Plenty of great opportunities in the future for those desiring to log 757 time.

I'm looking for a source now, but an update to last weeks suspension of NCA flights from Japan to Europe: https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/f ... n-flights/

It was noted in the Russia/Ukraine thread that NCA is restarting Europe service with a stop in Anchorage. Just when it looked like supply issues were beginning to clear, this increase in flight time will undoubtedly result in a drop in weekly capacity on routes due to the aircraft being tied up on longer flight time routes, and the inevitable loss of the ability to squeeze more hours into the day.

Spacepope wrote:

I'm looking for a source now, but an update to last weeks suspension of NCA flights from Japan to Europe: https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/f ... n-flights/

It was noted in the Russia/Ukraine thread that NCA is restarting Europe service with a stop in Anchorage. Just when it looked like supply issues were beginning to clear, this increase in flight time will undoubtedly result in a drop in weekly capacity on routes due to the aircraft being tied up on longer flight time routes, and the inevitable loss of the ability to squeeze more hours into the day.

Going to be brutal now that China is temporarily closing Shanghai and Shenzhen, too. https://fortune.com/2022/03/14/china-sh ... ply-chain/

Cargojet increases 777 backlog to 6 (from 2). The original 2 were -200LRs and the new 4 are -300ERs. All Mammoth Freighters. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... er-backlog

jbs2886 wrote:

Cargojet increases 777 backlog to 6 (from 2). The original 2 were -200LRs and the new 4 are -300ERs. All Mammoth Freighters. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... er-backlog

They have the delivery about 2.5 years away, so presumably they are being cautious. The MF is nothing more than a paper airplane at the moment, so we'll see how it all goes.

It's air cargo, but there is a dedicated thread also - the SkyCourier was certified today. 3 LD-3's from a bigger to smaller airport. FedEX has orders for 50, maybe 5 others sold so far. Basically a flying cargo van.

https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs ... _Draft.pdf

ATSG signs for 4 additional 767-300BCF conversions with Boeing
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/atsg-ord ... 00562.html

EVA Air will conver 3 777-300ERs into dedicated freighters with Israel Aerospace Industries
https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... freighters

Great finds, UPLog!!!!

UPlog wrote:

ATSG signs for 4 additional 767-300BCF conversions with Boeing

Kind of sad. They're only doing this because IAI isn't keeping up with the work that ATSG sends them. ATSG has beaucoup slots with IAI for 763 conversions, but if IAI can't get it done, the customers won't wait, so off to QPG and/or TPE they go, to become BCFs. The two are basically-fungible, except that the BCF is more expensive but always available sooner.

Looking at that photo, I'm thinking about how everything is a people business. It's kind of a bloodless decision by ATSG to reach out to Boeing, given their decades-long relationship with IAI, which was heretofore exclusive. But business is business, and ATSG doesn't spend a nickel unless they need to, so plainly they needed to. Still, keenly aware that decisions are made by people, here are the Boeing guys handing the ATSG guys some kind of certificates in nice leather binders at some kind of "ceremony", and probably some models for their desks -- and probably bought them up a nice steak dinner somewhere -- making a big fuss. Because, hard as it is to believe, those $25 leather binders for the certificates might yield some multi-millions in business some day. Make them feel respected, cared-for, and not like they're betraying their friends at IAI, and those ATSG guys might just come back to you again without giving the other girl a call.

I do understand ATSG going to EFW for the A330s; the IAI solution is just the beginnings of a paper airplane.

UPlog wrote:

EVA Air will convert 3 777-300ERs into dedicated freighters with Israel Aerospace Industries

IAI is opening 777 conversion lines at a bunch of places outside of Israel. It will be interesting to see where the touch work on these ends up being done. Interesting that the article mentions the "old" 777s that EVA owns which might be among the feedstock. They're between 12-15 years old. Yeah. Waaaay old.

I'm really looking forward to IAI buttoning this thing up and finally delivering the first one to Kalitta. It seems like they're losing their lead a little. Dang Covid.

4 x 734F of Cargo Logic Germany and 2 x 744F of Cargo Logic Air have not flown since FRI 11March....sitting at BUD, KTW, HEL, OSR, LAX and HHN

hailstone wrote:

4 x 734F of Cargo Logic Germany and 2 x 744F of Cargo Logic Air have not flown since FRI 11March....sitting at BUD, KTW, HEL, OSR, LAX and HHN

German authorities have suspended operations of Cargologic Germany because of their Russian ownership. All 4 734 were operating for DHL.

https://www.aerotelegraph.com/cargologi ... ge-stoppen (German)

Looks like the Ukraine volume is supplanting some of the Asian volume at our favorite carriers. National has one ship in the air from DOV to Europe right now, and another recently arrived in DOV, presumably to load up for a similar mission. It's not necessarily all stuff going to Ukraine as the US is building up in Poland at the moment to reinforce NATO members. But it's fascinating how much the military uses commercial cargo charter to supplement its organic lift.

ben7x wrote:

hailstone wrote:

4 x 734F of Cargo Logic Germany and 2 x 744F of Cargo Logic Air have not flown since FRI 11March....sitting at BUD, KTW, HEL, OSR, LAX and HHN

German authorities have suspended operations of Cargologic Germany because of their Russian ownership. All 4 734 were operating for DHL.

https://www.aerotelegraph.com/cargologi ... ge-stoppen (German)

had seen that ben7x - guess the ownership and nationality of A Isaikin is a matter of discussion then - same for Cargo Logic AIr - it is the affiliation to the Volga Dnjpr Group that does it

wjcandee wrote:

Looks like the Ukraine volume is supplanting some of the Asian volume at our favorite carriers. National has one ship in the air from DOV to Europe right now, and another recently arrived in DOV, presumably to load up for a similar mission. It's not necessarily all stuff going to Ukraine as the US is building up in Poland at the moment to reinforce NATO members. But it's fascinating how much the military uses commercial cargo charter to supplement its organic lift.

right - just look for "CMB" callsigns on a certain flighttracking app....

wjcandee wrote:

Looks like the Ukraine volume is supplanting some of the Asian volume at our favorite carriers. National has one ship in the air from DOV to Europe right now, and another recently arrived in DOV, presumably to load up for a similar mission. It's not necessarily all stuff going to Ukraine as the US is building up in Poland at the moment to reinforce NATO members. But it's fascinating how much the military uses commercial cargo charter to supplement its organic lift.

Looking at departures, there was an aircraft with a “OTT” call sign that did a Japan - Travis - Dover -Poland and return the other day. No type given. Seems unlikely the US would contract out a Chinese domestic airline for that, but who and what was that?

CX747 wrote:

Probably our resident DC-8Fs will depart MIA as Amerijet's 757 fleet comes onboard. One can always argue where in the pecking order a carrier falls but 757s and 767s out of MIA are a hard thing to beat.

Aersale indeed judged the market appropriately with their procurement of AA's 757s. There are still 200+ 757s out there, that fit a conversion profile. Plenty of great opportunities in the future for those desiring to log 757 time.

I see that up till a couple days ago, 2158 has been flying to Latin America, which is great. Seems only 1 757 is in service so far, hoping the rest come online soon.

Navion wrote:

I just learned that Sky Lease cargo ship 903 is just finishing up a C check in Xiaman. Interestingly, it had a complete main deck floor change and a #3 engine change. It is due to be completed on March 17. Sky Lease sure maintains the heck out of their small fleet. It really seems to have paid off for them.

Good for them! Their MD-11s have been retired a couple years now, right? I do wonder if they are planning to replace those in their fleet.

TriniA340 wrote:

Navion wrote:

I just learned that Sky Lease cargo ship 903 is just finishing up a C check in Xiaman. Interestingly, it had a complete main deck floor change and a #3 engine change. It is due to be completed on March 17. Sky Lease sure maintains the heck out of their small fleet. It really seems to have paid off for them.

Good for them! Their MD-11s have been retired a couple years now, right? I do wonder if they are planning to replace those in their fleet.

Yep, the MD11s are long gone. They're not going to find any 744 Factory-Fs any time soon, so their plan appears to be to staff their aircraft heavy to minimize stops and time on the ground, maxing-out their utilization. Instead of, say, LAX-ANC-ICN-WUH-ICN-ANC-LAX, like we see with some other carriers, Sky Lease is going to fly LAX-WUH-ANC-LAX, with no more than a couple of hours on the ground anywhere. And, so far, this has worked.

Have you guys seen the E-190/195 P2F conversion announced by Embraer last week ?

It's supposed to fill a gap between turboprops and cargo jets, with a 10 and 12 metric ton payload, with a 4,260Km/3,890km range respectively

Your thoughts about the potential marketshare of these cargo planes ?

https://www.aerospacemanufacturingandde ... nversions/

docmtl

LTEN11 wrote:

[That's great for aircraft utilization, but how are they managing the Chinese requirements for crew on these flights ? Other carriers are stopping in ICN so their crews aren't isolating in China, how is Sky Lease getting around that ?

Heavy crew LAX-WUH-ANC that doesn't get off the plane, switch crew for ANC-LAX

LTEN11 wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

LTEN11 wrote:

[That's great for aircraft utilization, but how are they managing the Chinese requirements for crew on these flights ? Other carriers are stopping in ICN so their crews aren't isolating in China, how is Sky Lease getting around that ?

Heavy crew LAX-WUH-ANC that doesn't get off the plane, switch crew for ANC-LAX

14 hours dead heading, 2 hours on the ground, followed by an 8 hour flight to ANC, you would hope that there are very comfortable lie flat seats available !

Or a nice comfy floor!

wjcandee wrote:

LTEN11 wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

Heavy crew LAX-WUH-ANC that doesn't get off the plane, switch crew for ANC-LAX

14 hours dead heading, 2 hours on the ground, followed by an 8 hour flight to ANC, you would hope that there are very comfortable lie flat seats available !

Or a nice comfy floor!

their both factory freighters so will have recliners and 2 full beds as far as I'm aware

Not sure there is enough attention on it yet, but the mass flight cancellations and lockdowns due to Covid in Shanghai and Shenzhen will have an impact on global air freight.

Already many factories and warehouses have been forced to close, and disruptions all along with the logistics chain due to the restrictions are leading to issues that will be felt far outside China.

wjcandee wrote:

LTEN11 wrote:

[That's great for aircraft utilization, but how are they managing the Chinese requirements for crew on these flights ? Other carriers are stopping in ICN so their crews aren't isolating in China, how is Sky Lease getting around that ?

Heavy crew LAX-WUH-ANC that doesn't get off the plane, switch crew for ANC-LAX

Not sure how that is legal. Those are long duty days right there considering turn times in WUH aren’t less than 2 hours….

C-FHNM finally left DHN today, after being scheduled to leave for the last two days. I'm guessing that most of the cabin outfitting was completed at MIA, and DHN was only for paint, given that it arrived in an Air Transat livery and likely left in an OWG livery. The passenger aircraft that took its place in the paint shop is N918WN, which is headed to Avelo. I would think that most of the cabin outfitting was completed at McConnell.

With that said, there was a THIRD former SunExpress plane that arrived at DHN on Monday that I missed, ferried by Nomadic. This one is EI-GWP, and it is likely at DHN for paint only, given its lengthy stay at MIA. Under the same ownership as EI-GWX, so I'm guessing that these two are both headed to somewhere together. EI-GWX has been there for three weeks, so it should be done very soon, if it's not already ready, as indicated by the arrival of this one. N616AJ is the other SunExpress bird, but by eightcone and I's process of elimination, we think that it is headed to Express Air Cargo in Tunisia, separate from this pair.

Maleth Aero A340-600 9H-PPE filed LAX-SBD 10PM - 10:51PM as MLT346P for cheaper parking fees.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/MLT346P

bigb wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

LTEN11 wrote:

[That's great for aircraft utilization, but how are they managing the Chinese requirements for crew on these flights ? Other carriers are stopping in ICN so their crews aren't isolating in China, how is Sky Lease getting around that ?

Heavy crew LAX-WUH-ANC that doesn't get off the plane, switch crew for ANC-LAX

Not sure how that is legal. Those are long duty days right there considering turn times in WUH aren’t less than 2 hours….

I agree. My "Giant" airline counts dead heading as duty time. So that's a long duty period and the Chinese NEVER get the plane out on time. We always stop in ICN to change crews.

UPlog wrote:

Not sure there is enough attention on it yet, but the mass flight cancellations and lockdowns due to Covid in Shanghai and Shenzhen will have an impact on global air freight.

Already many factories and warehouses have been forced to close, and disruptions all along with the logistics chain due to the restrictions are leading to issues that will be felt far outside China.

In late January I received documents from the USA shipped to SIN by UPS. The documents were delayed in the Louisville UPS-hub for 3 days and in the Shenzhen UPS-hub for 5 days "experiencing transit delays". I think it is going to be a lot worse this time.

wjcandee wrote:

Looks like the Ukraine volume is supplanting some of the Asian volume at our favorite carriers. National has one ship in the air from DOV to Europe right now, and another recently arrived in DOV, presumably to load up for a similar mission. It's not necessarily all stuff going to Ukraine as the US is building up in Poland at the moment to reinforce NATO members. But it's fascinating how much the military uses commercial cargo charter to supplement its organic lift.

Just to close the loop, both those National ships flew to Poland, and it looks like another one will leave DOV tonight. Also saw a Western Global 744 heading for WRI, perhaps to undertake a similar mission.

wjcandee wrote:

As of today, seems like N415JN may now be broken in ORD. Been there 5 days.
On the "good news" side, their newest MD11, N783SN, is now on its first revenue run, having left RSW for ANC around dinnertime in Florida.

Could it be? WGN emerging from the darkness? Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. But...

N412SN, which had been broken at ANC for 3 weeks, flew ANC-ICN in the last 24 hours.
N415JN, which had been broken in ORD for 9 days, flew ORD-ANC-ICN, arriving a couple of hours ago.
512JN, 581JN, 799JN, 542KD, 781SN and 783SN, which had been flying, still are flying.
So that's 8 out of 13, with 545JN still broken in ANC for 3 weeks, 543JN, 546JN and 411SN in SHV, and 513SN at TPE in maint,

On the 747 side, N344KD, which had been at SHV for a week, took off for WRI this evening.

AngMoh wrote:

UPlog wrote:

Not sure there is enough attention on it yet, but the mass flight cancellations and lockdowns due to Covid in Shanghai and Shenzhen will have an impact on global air freight.

Already many factories and warehouses have been forced to close, and disruptions all along with the logistics chain due to the restrictions are leading to issues that will be felt far outside China.

In late January I received documents from the USA shipped to SIN by UPS. The documents were delayed in the Louisville UPS-hub for 3 days and in the Shenzhen UPS-hub for 5 days "experiencing transit delays". I think it is going to be a lot worse this time.

We use UPS for a lot of shipping stuff at work and when looking at incoming and outgoing stuff, it appears UPS, at least domestically, is in a bit of a meltdown recently. Not sure where the hang up is, but with how closely air and ground are operated (the opposite of FX) it could really be anywhere.

AlisCargo picked up two additional B777-200ERs, first one is ex Alitalia c/n 32859, and will get another ex AZ bird next month.

On WGN's Instagram page today they reposted a screenshot of an MD-11 taken from a flight simulator. If the real planes are broken then the computer generated ones will do

N965UW wrote:

On WGN's Instagram page today they reposted a screenshot of an MD-11 taken from a flight simulator. If the real planes are broken then the computer generated ones will do

LOL!!!

wjcandee wrote:

Could it be? WGN emerging from the darkness? Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. But...

N412SN, which had been broken at ANC for 3 weeks, flew ANC-ICN in the last 24 hours.
N415JN, which had been broken in ORD for 9 days, flew ORD-ANC-ICN, arriving a couple of hours ago.
512JN, 581JN, 799JN, 542KD, 781SN and 783SN, which had been flying, still are flying.
So that's 8 out of 13, with 545JN still broken in ANC for 3 weeks, 543JN, 546JN and 411SN in SHV, and 513SN at TPE in maint,

And...will miracles never cease? 545JN left ANC today after being there for 22 days! Headed to ICN!

And this will be a big miracle if the thing flies reliably. She broke at HSV from December 19 to January 5 (17 days). She then made one round-trip to HKG (with stops), then did an air-return to ANC on the return part of her next trip (this one to/from China), on the way from ANC-HSV. That was January 13. IIRC, that was the number 3 engine failure. On February 9, after 27 days in ANC, she flew to RSV. She was in RSV for 11 days. She left there on Feb. 20, and then did one round-trip to Vietnam, returning to LCK. She quickly left LCK for ANC and Points East, only to immediately break in ANC on February 23. After 22 days there, she left tonight for ICN!!

So, to summarize:
HSV Broken 12/19/21-1/5/22 (17 days)
Round trip to HKG.
Flew to China, then Air Return to ANC when headed to HSV.
ANC Broken 1/13-2/9.
RSW Broken 2/9-2/20.
Round trip to Vietnam.
Flew LCK to ANC.
ANC Broken 2/23-3/17.
Left ANC for ICN tonight (3/17).

From 12/19 to present (basically 3 months), she has accomplished 2 successful round-trip missions.

Let's hope she's finally fixed. Wagers, anyone?

And just to keep our running totals accurate, N542KD, which had been flying regularly, just flew to RSW tonight. So one in, one out.

N396AN B763 leased from CAM, delivered 4/5 days ago ILN-CVG to DHL, for DHK, is scheduled return CVG-ILN today. Maint? cheers!

Behind a paywall, but looks like CargoFacts recently published an article on the recent conversion for Express Air Cargo at DHN (TS-ICD). They cut off the preview shortly before listing the msn of the aircraft, but if it's a BlackRock conversion, as it says before the end of the preview, it has to be N705BR (msn 30704) or N290BR. Can't see behind the paywall though to see which one it is.

Best guess is that N705BR is the Express Air Cargo 738, and N290BR is the Compass Air Cargo 738, given that it is the replacement 738 for 858AM, which was formerly in the Compass livery and was a BlackRock conversion. The Express Air bird has been out of paint for longer, and we do know that 705 was out of conversion well before the completion of 290. Trying to make sense of these three, but I think that makes the most sense given the information I have. So, the mystery of N616AJ remains, and it seems that it is definitely not the Express Air Cargo conversion.

https://cargofacts.com/allposts/carrier ... 737-800fs/

Looks like N903AR is almost done with heavy maintenance at TAECO (HAECO Xiamen). She flew a test flight as TAECO01 a few hours ago; a pretty-impressive profile, including a missed approach. So if she passed that, I guess she'll be back in service soon for Sky Lease Cargo. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N903AR

Former South African 747-400 ZS-SAW "Bloemfontein" seems to be flying again.
The later B-HUS for Cathay Pacific Cargo was stored at MZJ on September 30, 2019.
Flown to Kansas City on January 17, 2021 and flew MCI to Fort Lauderdale yesterday as LGT254F for Longtail Aviation with new registration VP-BYK.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... k#2b321e59

Skyliner Aviation is saying VP-BYK was the former KLM PH-BFT, but I think that's an error. Looks like she's still at MCI after 15 months.

N396AN B763 is re-regd G-DHLA now for DHK, of course in DHL colors at ILN today. Cheers!

wjcandee wrote:

Looks like N903AR is almost done with heavy maintenance at TAECO (HAECO Xiamen). She flew a test flight as TAECO01 a few hours ago; a pretty-impressive profile, including a missed approach. So if she passed that, I guess she'll be back in service soon for Sky Lease Cargo. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N903AR

And N903AR left TAECO at XMN about 17 hours ago (as of 6pm EDT on 3/20/22), and is almost to JFK now. Back in business after 5.5 weeks of heavy maintenance. Looks like she picked up some cargo in XMN before leaving for JFK (via ANC).

May she run hard and reliably for the next couple of years!

Iemand91 wrote:

Former South African 747-400 ZS-SAW "Bloemfontein" seems to be flying again.
The later B-HUS for Cathay Pacific Cargo was stored at MZJ on September 30, 2019.
Flown to Kansas City on January 17, 2021 and flew MCI to Fort Lauderdale yesterday as LGT254F for Longtail Aviation with new registration VP-BYK.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... k#2b321e59

Skyliner Aviation is saying VP-BYK was the former KLM PH-BFT, but I think that's an error. Looks like she's still at MCI after 15 months.

Brilliant news. This is the ex-N251KW which we spoke about on this forum a year or more back, and she sat quietly ever since then.
Another Rolls-powered machine gracing the skies, fantastic.

Spacepope wrote:

We use UPS for a lot of shipping stuff at work and when looking at incoming and outgoing stuff, it appears UPS, at least domestically, is in a bit of a meltdown recently. Not sure where the hang up is, but with how closely air and ground are operated (the opposite of FX) it could really be anywhere.

I noticed the same thing. And dumb stuff. Like I sent a UPS Letter to a person on Staten Island from Manhattan. Pickup fine. Goes to the origin terminal. Goes to the destination terminal on SI. Goes to the destination station on SI. Then, when "Out for Delivery" would be next, it shows up in Elmhurst, Queens -- "Sorry your package suffered a sorting error." Ya THINK? Didn't get delivered until the following day. Bad, because what was in it was important, or I wouldn't have sent a letter by UPS. Nobody died, of course, so whatever, but that's not the kind of error I have seen from UPS in a long time.

The ex Pacific Air Express Boeing 757-200F VH-PQA has been registered N511KW and appears to joining Samaritan's Purse. Lets hope that's not bad news for one of the less busy DC8s that are still active.

Just did a quick check of FR24 for Air Bridge Cargo and there doesn't appear to be anything airborne anywhere in the world. Presumably they're all still on the ground at SVO since my last update? If it's not worth their while to be operating any Russian domestic routes, or routes to countries that are less enthusiastic on sanctions, does this mean that we might see an attempt to return them to their respective lessors?

And I just realized that I'm overdue for a Preighter update...

zkojq wrote:

Just did a quick check of FR24 for Air Bridge Cargo and there doesn't appear to be anything airborne anywhere in the world. Presumably they're all still on the ground at SVO since my last update? If it's not worth their while to be operating any Russian domestic routes, or routes to countries that are less enthusiastic on sanctions, does this mean that we might see an attempt to return them to their respective lessors?

I've been keeping up with any foreign leased Russian jet bigger than a A320/737 as I hoped they would head to VCV during my spring break. Yet somehow there's been 0 Russian lease returns/seized jets to VCV in the last 3 weeks

Anyways, here's ABC's foreign leased fleet. Although the list below doesn't show all of their aircraft, the entire 747/777 fleet is grounded. VQ-BFE may have been seized in HKG as it was supposed to leave on March 18 back to SVO for storage as RU548 but was still on the ground as of March 23, 2022.

AirBridgeCargo
744F:
VP-BIG - GECAS (Stored KJA-SVO (RU548) 3/2)
VP-BIK - GECAS (Stored KJA-SVO (RU540) 3/2)
VP-BIM - Aircastle (Maintenance LGG-SHJ (RU9409) 2/11)
VQ-BWW - Aircastle (Stored PVG-SVO (RU398) 3/3)

748F:
VP-BBL - GECAS (Stored DXB-SVO (RU9594) 3/5)
VP-BBP - Voyager/BOC Aviation/Intrepid Aviation (Stored PEK-SVO (RU222) 3/2)
VP-BBY - Voyager/BOC Aviation/Intrepid Aviation (Stored BAH-SVO (RU9391) 3/4)
VQ-BFE - Altavair AirFinance (Seized (?) ICN-HKG (RU139) 3/1)
VQ-BFU - Altavair AirFinance (Stored DXB-SVO (RU9569) 3/6)

77F:
VQ-BAO - DAE Capital (IST-SVO (RU614) 3/1)

I think ABC's strategy is to try to play it safe. They don't want to anger Russia or the lessors, so they won't give the aircraft back (pleasing Russia), but they can tell the lessors that because of their government/cancelled Bermuda registrations, they can't fly them (and therefore won't, even within Russia), hence 'pleasing' the lessors. The airline is in a lose-lose situation and trying to make the best of it (from my pov).

Russia has been re registering all their planes. To the RA code

A Flightglobal article shows the current situation about AirBridgeCargo, Atran, CargoLogicAir and CargoLogic Germany
https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/c ... 31.article

Iemand91 wrote:

Former South African 747-400 ZS-SAW "Bloemfontein" seems to be flying again.
The later B-HUS for Cathay Pacific Cargo was stored at MZJ on September 30, 2019.
Flown to Kansas City on January 17, 2021 and flew MCI to Fort Lauderdale yesterday as LGT254F for Longtail Aviation with new registration VP-BYK.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... k#2b321e59

Skyliner Aviation is saying VP-BYK was the former KLM PH-BFT, but I think that's an error. Looks like she's still at MCI after 15 months.

Clearly not the ex-KLM 747
(To be fair; Skyliner has changed it and now also says it's ex N251KW)


https://twitter.com/JackLinFLL/status/1 ... 4841731078

https://twitter.com/JackLinFLL/status/1 ... 2972134401

Iemand91 wrote:

Iemand91 wrote:

Former South African 747-400 ZS-SAW "Bloemfontein" seems to be flying again.
The later B-HUS for Cathay Pacific Cargo was stored at MZJ on September 30, 2019.
Flown to Kansas City on January 17, 2021 and flew MCI to Fort Lauderdale yesterday as LGT254F for Longtail Aviation with new registration VP-BYK.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... k#2b321e59

Skyliner Aviation is saying VP-BYK was the former KLM PH-BFT, but I think that's an error. Looks like she's still at MCI after 15 months.

Clearly not the ex-KLM 747
(To be fair; Skyliner has changed it and now also says it's ex N251KW)


https://twitter.com/JackLinFLL/status/1 ... 4841731078

https://twitter.com/JackLinFLL/status/1 ... 2972134401

Yep! The Rollers on the wing should eliminate any doubt.