Hey spotters.....
CO745/21JUL diverted to SJO due to WX in LIR
A/C N12327 B737-300
Matt
Moderators: jsumali2, richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
I´ve already checked the information at http://www.flightstats.com/
We are in the rainy season in all Costa Rica, so in the afternoon we can expect heavy rain somewhere.
Probably, it will spend some hours in SJO then continue to LIR and come back to IAH tomorrow morning as scheduled.
Driving time from SJO to LIR is 3 - 3.5 hours.
We are in the rainy season in all Costa Rica, so in the afternoon we can expect heavy rain somewhere.
Probably, it will spend some hours in SJO then continue to LIR and come back to IAH tomorrow morning as scheduled.
Driving time from SJO to LIR is 3 - 3.5 hours.
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting ADXMatt (Thread starter): A/C N12327 B737-300 |
Judging from the pictures, Ship 327 is a non-wingletted 733 (correct me if I'm wrong). Still, why would CO send a 733 on the IAH-LIR run? Isn't that a bit of a stretch for an older generation 737 (wingletted or not), especially with the diversion to SJO?
| Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 1): Driving time from SJO to LIR is 3 - 3.5 hours. |
It's much longer IMO, especially right now in the Summer with the rain and holiday traffic, I'd say it's between 4.5 to 5 hours.
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
I'm unsure of CO's 733 MTOWs but some 733s can (as the 73G can) go well over 3000nm. Higher gross weights can fly between 2600 and 3400nm.
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting A340313X (Reply 4): I'm unsure of CO's 733 MTOWs but some 733s can (as the 73G can) go well over 3000nm. Higher gross weights can fly between 2600 and 3400nm. |
Currently CO has 48 B737-3TO.
N12327 active with CO since June 1986
IAH-LIR is 1298nm. Source: http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/autoroute_rt.php
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- EWRCabincrew
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RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
Our 737-300s used to go EWR-SAN, EWR-SFO, EWR-SJC, EWR-SNA, EWR-MEX (list goes on). IAH-LIB is an easy run.
Also the 737-300 has the same seating capacity as the 737-700.
Also the 737-300 has the same seating capacity as the 737-700.
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- tomascubero
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RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
Hi Matt,
Once again thanks for the news and the prompt email, problem with SJO is that its really a pain for night shots and she was here just for a couple of hours, I remembered that last year when a King Air had gear trouble in LIB, we got a Champion 727 and a CO 733 but it was a Tuesday and I attend school from 8am to 3pm, and that was near midday, anyway, hoping that CO sends us at least 757's now in December when its usual to have widebodies servicing Central America, 764's in GUA and a 772 in SAL last 24/25th December.
Regards,
Tomas.
Once again thanks for the news and the prompt email, problem with SJO is that its really a pain for night shots and she was here just for a couple of hours, I remembered that last year when a King Air had gear trouble in LIB, we got a Champion 727 and a CO 733 but it was a Tuesday and I attend school from 8am to 3pm, and that was near midday, anyway, hoping that CO sends us at least 757's now in December when its usual to have widebodies servicing Central America, 764's in GUA and a 772 in SAL last 24/25th December.
Regards,
Tomas.
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- 2travel2know
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RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
Why diverted to SJO instead of MGA?
Isn't MGA closer to LIR (even by car)?
Not only that, but Has MGA better weather in the rainy season than SJO?
Isn't MGA closer to LIR (even by car)?
Not only that, but Has MGA better weather in the rainy season than SJO?
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 8): Why diverted to SJO instead of MGA? |
According to the Great Circle Mapper, SJO is closer to LIR (87 nm Still Air Distance from LIR) than MGA (100 nm Still Air Distance from LIR).
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting LTU932 (Reply 9): According to the Great Circle Mapper, SJO is closer to LIR (87 nm Still Air Distance from LIR) than MGA (100 nm Still Air Distance from LIR). |
I agree.
| Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 8): Isn't MGA closer to LIR (even by car)? |
San Jose -- Liberia: Driving: 270 km, some mountain road.
Liberia -- Managua: Driving: About 250 km
Eventually, it looks easier a ground transfer from SJO to LIR than MGA to LIR due to cross international boundaries. Peñas Blancas works from 06:00 a.m. till 05:00 p.m.
| Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 8): Has MGA better weather in the rainy season than SJO? |
Good question. Probably average weather in MGA is better as compared SJO. In other hand, SJO could have better approaching systems such as ILS. I feel a little bit unsure because I had read some months ago that approaching landing systems don´t work properly at runway 07 in SJO.
Regards.
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 10): San Jose -- Liberia: Driving: 270 km, some mountain road. |
And also: lots of traffic on the Interamericana Norte, especially on weekends and during rush hour when near Puntarenas.
| Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 10): SJO could have better approaching systems such as ILS. I feel a little bit unsure because I had read some months ago that approaching landing systems don´t work properly at runway 07 in SJO. |
I believe SJO has a CAT II ILS/DME (correct me about the CAT II if I'm wrong) on RW07, plus a VOR/DME approach for RW07. It's RW25 that only has a visual approach (basically a VOR/DME to RW07, but then the aircraft circles over Belén to land on RW25). Now, if any potential NIMBY problem could be sorted out, then you could install an ILS on RW25 to alleviate all the congestion the airfield has when RW25 cannot be used for landings due to WX (although there may be an obstacle clearance issue on the approach path which may shut this down). My proposal in the mean time: Install an ILS at LIR (preferably a CAT III one because of LIR's location near the jungle and the high possibilities for fog), upgrade SJO's ILS to at least CAT IIIa to reduce the required minima which currently affect all operations into SJO, because once it gets foggy, the airport basically shuts down, and I don't even want to count the average number of aircraft holding over PARZA or goarounds when that happens (though I did manage to see an A346 do a goaround at SJO and fly over my house because of weather
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- tomascubero
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RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting LTU932 (Reply 11): I believe SJO has a CAT II ILS/DME (correct me about the CAT II if I'm wrong) |
Actually, SJO has a lame CAT I ILS/DME. The rest I totally agree with, though discussing with what should be done for RWY25, its actually quite simple, just get a Backcourse for the current ILS if they dont want to place a new one. I do agree some terrain and structures could end this off, but I believe a steep glideslope could be certified if this was the worst case, since I do know some exist, such as LCY. But again, I'm not going to comment on these issues since they are quite complex and are for the DGAC to decide, I really hope something is done because its scary to see a fully loaded A300 or A340 land with 18-25kts of tailwind because there are no conditions to circle visually to RWY 25. I've witnessed them and they have taken literally the whole 9882' the RWY measures, having to do a 180 at the end and taxi back to the terminal. Also, it would be a treat for spotters since RWY 25 landings would be much more common
, like this one:
Photo © Tomas Cubero Maingot - SJO Spotter
Regards,
Tomas.
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting Tomascubero (Reply 12): Also, it would be a treat for spotters since RWY 25 landings would be much more common , like this one: |
And for the crowd near the fence, because of the proximity of the runway.
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 8): Why diverted to SJO instead of MGA? |
We try not to get another country involved if at all possible.
There may be passengers onboard who may not have a visa for nicaragua. So they may not be able to leave the airport should ground transport become necessary if the WX didn't clear or the crew timed out.
It is just easier all around.
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting ADXMatt (Reply 14): We try not to get another country involved if at all possible. There may be passengers onboard who may not have a visa for nicaragua. So they may not be able to leave the airport should ground transport become necessary if the WX didn't clear or the crew timed out. It is just easier all around. |
Ok I know this is a little bit off topic, but would CO do if an airport like POS which is the only airport on an island and 6 hours away from IAH on a 737 became unavailable when they were already over Trinidad? There are not many airports served by CO in that region and after over 6 hours of flying I’m sure the 737 doesn’t have much more flying left in it. Besides TAB, there isn’t anything close by. What does CO plan for something like this?
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting CO777DAL (Reply 15): CO do if an airport like POS which is the only airport on an island and 6 hours away from IAH on a 737 became unavailable when they were already over Trinidad? There are not many airports served by CO in that region and after over 6 hours of flying I'm sure the 737 doesn't have much more flying left in it. |
IAH-POS is 2285 nm and CO runs the leg using B737-800 which has been certified as "short to medium range airline" according Aerospace Publications. The high gross weight version of the B737-800 establishes a maximum of 2940 nm when it has been completely loaded.
| Quoting CO777DAL (Reply 15): Besides TAB, there isn't anything close by |
TAB has a runway 9000 feet long... OK, but no ILS.
Some airports served by CO in the vicinity are BON, CUR, SXM and ANU, but lie at least 415 nm from POS. Hard, but even possible.
| Quoting CO777DAL (Reply 15): What does CO plan for something like this? |
I don´t know.
Regards.
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- 2travel2know
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RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 16): Some airports served by CO in the vicinity are BON, CUR, SXM and ANU, but lie at least 415 nm from POS. Hard, but even possible. |
CO still flies to CCS. CCS is closer to POS than any of those airports.
For emergency diversions, around POS you also have PMV, BLA, PZO, GND, UVF, FDM, BGI even GEO..
RE: CO 737-300 In SJO -now-
| Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 17): CCS is closer to POS than any of those airports. |
Yes.
POS-CCS: 341 nm
Thank you !!
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