Reaching for the Skies

Monday, 25 April 2016

Penang Planespotting #002 - 16 April 2016 Part 1

It has been a long time since the Penang Planespotting #xxx was published. Time to continue the series.

Throughout the past few days, there have been rather weird movements of incoming aircraft around Penang airport. The one the caught my eye was this FedEx that was circling the Northern end of Penang Island before landing on runway 22.

A few days later, I managed to catch a glimpse of Korean Air Cargo coming in low, also using runway 22 (coming in from the North). So this was my target. Getting the touchdown moment of the Korean Air Cargo 747.

It landed at 7am that morning, too early for any good photo capture anyway.

Airbus Standoff

There seemed to be some maintenance work being carried out on Taxiway Alpha, just around the point of the acute turn of the High Speed Taxiway. This mandated all widebodies (those bigger than A320s / B737s) to land from runway 22 to allow them easy access to the terminal. Narrowbodies could land on runway 04 (from the South), but had to make a U-turn, and backtrack along the length of the runway. Lots of aircraft had to made several circles before landing.

After the AirAsia cleared the runway, it was time for Dragonair to depart.

Dragonair A330-343 (B-LBD)

Thai Airways A320-232 (HS-TXB)

Many aircraft had to wait for their turn to takeoff due to the runway maintenance. You'd usually get an aircraft or two holding short of the runway. But during this time, you could see up to 4 aircraft waiting. This one came in on 22.

Air HongKong A300F4-605R (B-LDE)

The next one got my by surprise. Looks like this one had been used for cloud seeding operations at other places before. Could be the one that participated in the Cloud Seeding operation around Penang.

Cessna 340A (N98560)

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AQI)

The next one shows one of the aircraft making a nice U-Turn on the runway. They will slow down along the runway until the High-Speed Taxiway exit, before making the turn. Some turned left, some turned right. Either way, they had to backtrack along the runway until the terminal taxiway.

Malindo B737-8GP (9M-LNQ)

Usual operations will see some ATRs and A320s with Sharklets turn onto the runway about a quarter down the runway. But due to the need for other narrowbodies to use it to access the apron, they needed to go all the way to the end.

Malindo Air ATR72-600 (9M-LMK)

These two cargo aircraft came back-to-back. Great to see them so close.

FedEx MD-11F (N594FE)

FedEx B767-3S2F(ER) (N118FE)

Tags:

penang planespotting sslee runway 22

fedex 767 penang sslee wmkp

cloud seeding cessna 340

backtrack runway

Friday, 15 April 2016

Evening Spotting Session

Had a chance to do some evening spotting session after an event. I had the camera with me, so why not. It was a great thing that those coming in were using Runway 22, saving me the trip all the way to the other end of the runway. Here are some belly and side profile shots.

China Airlines B737-809 (B-18609)

Malaysia Airlines B737-8FZ (9M-MLF)

After reviewing a few of the shots, planes were still rather high up, but with the sun backlighting the entire sky, the chances of snapping a good shot is rather slim. So a little drive down the road along the industrial area yield me much better outcomes.

Silk Air B737-8SA (9V-MGN)

Flying above a flowering tree. Silk Air was the first one that came after the change in position. Though perhaps evening sessions aren't as populated as the afternoon session, we have quite some action too (mostly ATRs and 320s). The sun went behind the clouds shortly after SilkAir landed.

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AHY) - Big Duty Free livery

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYH)

Malindo Air ATR72-600 (9M-LMF)

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYD)

Lion Air B737-8GP (PK-LFY)

There was quite a good mix of logo jets as well, starting with the newly painted "Big Duty Free" AirAsia, to the one with the "The Apprentice Asia" livery. There was also a Line logo jet too.

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AFA) - The Apprentice Asia livery

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYL)

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AHR) Line Livery

Malaysia Airlines B737-8H6 (9M-MXM)

By this time, I was wondering whether or not to call it a day, or to wait a wee bit longer. The sun had already set and there was a feeling of hunger within me. It was a long interval to the next one, which constantly made me wonder if they had change the Runway direction usage. I waited and got these 2.

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYF)

Dragonair A330-342 (B-HLI)

The arrival of Dragonair marked the end of my spotting trip. It was a different feeling, seeing them with flaps down and gears down while on the glideslope to the runway. Most if not all of my Dragonair shots have been of them taking off.

Stay tuned for other sessions.

SSLee

Tags:

sslee penang planespotting line airasia

plane spottting penang big duty free airasia a320

dragonair penang sslee plane spotting

silkair landing penang wmkp

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

Monday Spotting Part 2

So here's part 2.

There the planes were, waiting in line to takeoff. Saw 2 A320s holding short of the runway. Looking towards the edge, there were no landing lights visible. I thought to myself, probably they're just getting clearance.

BUT, here's the one that came in.

HM Aerospace Diamond DA-40D (9M-HMS)

4 trainer aircraft came in that morning. HM Aerospace, for those who are training to be a pilot. They could be from Langkawi, seeing a fleet of them parked at the apron during LIMA 2015. I wonder if they were feeling the pressure of holding back a few flights :)

Tigerair A320-232 (9V-TRK)

The tiger above completed the pushback sequence, but returned to the gates shortly and stayed for about 40 minutes before departing late. Wonder what happened.

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYD)

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AQR)

AirAsia (9M-AQP)

HM Aerospace (9M-HMU) - Another trainer

Sriwijaya Air B737-8Q8 (PK-CME)

Sriwijaya has upgraded their fleet. They used to send -300s and -400s to Penang in the old scheme. We would also get the adorable -500 series too. Now however, they come in the -800 series, in this scheme.

Jetstar A320-232 (9V-JSK)

As we approach the afternoon, we get Jetstar, the grey/orange after the sea of reds. Moving back to them....

AirAsia (9M-AQR) with Jetstar in the background

Malaysia Airlines B737-8H6 (9M-MSB)

Firefly ATR72-600 (9M-FIE)

AirAsia (9M-AQD) - Time for a closeup

Lion Air B737-8GP (PK-LOH)

After about half an hour (or more) it was time for the trainers to depart. Managed to catch 3 of them. It was too hot to continue waiting there, and with no other specials or heavies coming in (Neptune Air not showing any signs of movement), it was time for me to leave.

HM Aerospace (9M-HMN)

HM Aerospace (9M-HMS)

That's all for this session. Mostly the usual ones, but with Neptune Air and the HM Aerospace trainer aircraft.

SSLee

Tags:
hm aerospace da-40
penang plane spotting sslee neptune air
lion air 737 penang wmkp sslee
plane spotting jetstar penang
tigerair airasia a320 penang

Friday, 11 March 2016

Monday Spotting Part 1

Well this was from a Monday. Not that it is a bad day to spot, it is just that there were not as many heavies as I expected. Nonetheless, one was there, so the spotting commenced:

Dragonair A330-342 (B-HLC)

Dragonair departs at about 8 to Hong Kong. Was a little late, and Thai Airways was on time, so missed the baby Thai. This usual spot for departure shots have been covered with grass and shrubs. No way to stay there for long. Had to try other locations along the runway.

Malindo Air ATR72-600 (9M-LMG)

The fun thing about this new place is that you get to see ATRs and some 320s rotating in front of you (with the exception of China Southern Airlines, which usually use quite a good length of the runway before taking off)

Tigerair A320-232 (9V-TRK)

Lion Air B737-8GP (PK-LOM)

Malindo Air B737-8GP (9M-LNP)

Malindo Air ATR72-600 (9M-LMO)

AirAsia Expedia Livery (9M-AFG)

One thing about this location is that you get to see the rotation of the aircraft. By this point, ATRs would be several 10s of feet off the ground. You also get to see aircraft turning out on the high speed taxiway.

Nepal Airlines B757

Looking up, we sometimes get traffic flying overhead, like for the case above, a Nepal Airlines 757. Sometimes a C130 can be visible too. Here are more takeoff shots.