ARUBAspotter: mei 2015

dinsdag 26 mei 2015

Welcome back home Arawak!

After a longer than expected absence, today Tiara Air Aruba N.V. Boeing 737-322 P4-TIE named "Arawak" finally returned to its home base Aruba. The aircraft went to Miami for a maintenance job that could not be carried out here on Aruba. I decided to skip lunch today so I could race to the airport and shoot a nice series of its landing. So, at 14:10 I left the Tiara Air office at Bushiri to arrive just in time to tune in to Beatrix Tower to hear the crew reporting they were in left base at 9NM inbound. Just enough to take off my work shoes and shirt to climb a little sand hill and spot the Boeing 737 coming in on final.
I was happy as child to see our baby back on the island. Tiara Air will (re)start operations soon again! Welcome back Arawak and many many superb flights!

Tiara Air Aruba Boeing 737-322 P4-TIE "Arawak" arriving home @ Aruba, 25 May 2015 14:29 LT Aruba

donderdag 21 mei 2015

Amari 1 departing Aruba: A Once in a Lifetime Occurrence

Today His Highness Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani left Aruba after a leisure visit to Bonaire, Los Roques (Venezuela), and Aruba.
He travelled with a private Airbus A340-541 with registration A7-HHH operated by Qatar Amiri Flight, which is the private VVIP airline owned by the Amiri Diwan operating exclusively for the Royal Family and high ranked government staff of the State of Qatar. The vast majority of its fleet is painted in the standard livery of the commercial flag carrier of Qatar, Qatar Airways.
After work on my way back home, I drove by the airport and saw the aircraft was being prepared for departure. So I decided to stay around and catch this bird. Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I share these photos with you despite the less than usual quality due to poor lighting conditions.

Qatar Amiri Flight with call sign "Amiri 1", Airbus A340-541 reg. A7-HHH being prepared for departure to Qatar at TNCA, 21 May 2015

Qatar Amiri Flight with call sign "Amiri 1", Airbus A340-541 reg. A7-HHH taxiing for departure to Qatar at TNCA, 21 May 2015.

Qatar Amiri Flight with call sign "Amiri 1", Airbus A340-541 reg. A7-HHH departing Aruba to Qatar, 21 May 2015 19:14hrs. LT Aruba.

Official Page of Qatar Amiri Flight: http://www.amiriflight.gov.qa/

More about thsi airframe at http://www.planespotters.net
State of Qatar: His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani

His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on Wikipedia

zaterdag 16 mei 2015

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA Emergency Landing in Aruba

KLM Airbus A330-203 with registration PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" with 203 people on board inbound from Amsterdam as flight KL765, made an emergency landing today at Reina Beatrix, Aruba. The crew declared an emergency with Curaçao Control at approximately 100NM inbound Aruba. Local authorities closed the access roads to the airport area while the airport fire brigade and ambulances were on extreme alert. The crew informed the tower they were suspecting a fuel leak at the left side of the aircraft and confirmed they had both engines running. At 16:39 (LT Aruba) the A330 landed safely on runway 11 and stopped on the runway for further inspection by the fire brigade. Both engines were still running and the firemen confirmed there was a fuel leak at engine no. 1. The pilots shut down the engine immediately stopping the fuel leak. Firemen had to clean the fuel spil on the runway. After they confirmed there was no smoke and no further imminent danger, the aircraft taxied at 16:52 (LT Aruba) on one engine via taxiway A to gate 1 at the terminal. The outbound flight to Bonaire and Amsterdam was cancelled this evening as the engine cannot be repaired today.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba. Fuel leaking from engine no. 1.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba. Firefighters on extreme alert facing the aircraft on the runway.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba. Cleaning the fuel spil.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba. Checking engine no. 1.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba. Taxiing to the gate on one engine.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba.

KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" at TNCA Aruba. Bonus panorama photo taken with my mobile phone (Samsung S5)

More info on airframe KLM Airbus A330-203 PH-AOA "Dam - Amsterdam" on Planespotters.net