The opportunity this summer to visit my wife's uncle and his family in Bogota, followed by a friend's wedding in Cuzco, Peru, provided a mouth watering chance to see the aircraft and airports in these far-flung places. Naturally I had endless fun planning the trip, not only around the best prices, but also the opportunities for new airlines and aircraft types.

The outbound leg was with Air France, from Newcastle to Paris CDG, then non-stop to Bogota. The airline kindly put a CRJ100 (F-GRJT) on the first leg instead of the usual CRJ700, so I got to fly a new sub-type straight away!

Newcastle was light despite the early hour. The usual morning rush of EasyJets, Thomas Cook, KLM, Jet2, British Airways and Thomson aircraft were on stand. The only aircraft of note was the FedEx ATR which arrive shortly before we left - EI-FXE.

Our flight to Paris was around 1 hour 20 minutes, and on-time. We had nearly two hours between flights, but a round-the-houses bus tour between concourses, and a slow queue through security meant our flight was being called by the time we reached the gate. Another bus took us to our aircraft on a remote stand, this time Airbus A340-300 F-GLZT - another new sub-type, having only flow an A340-500 before.

The flight to Bogota lasted 10 hours 30 minutes. After we passed the northern tip of Spain, we didn't see land again until we passed overhead Caracas in Venezuela. Still, it seemed to pass quickly and the food was good! On final approach to Bogota, whose green and leafy surroundings look very much like the English countryside, I had my camera ready to snap whatever I saw as I knew there are areas of stored aircraft around the runways. I managed to snap the entire fleet of Colombian Police DC-3 and Swearingen Metro aircraft, as well as the Air Force Museum's preserved aircraft.

Logging a few on the quick taxi to the international pier, I got a tantalising snapshot of what I'd have more time to see later in the week. First of all I had the jetlag and family duties to attend to.

LOG BOGOTA 18/6/09
HK-4438 AVIANCA / SAM Fokker 100
FAC-690 (Colombian Air Force) DC-4 (pres)
FAC677A (Colombian Air Force) DC-3 (pres)
HK-4408 AeroRepublic MD-80
CC-CXH LAN 767-300
FAC-1014 Colombian Air Force Hercules
FAC-1015 Colombian Air Force Hercules
FAC-1041 Colombian Air Force Fokker F-28
FAC-1201 Colombian Air Force 707-300
EC-KUO Air Comet A330-200
N417TA TACA Peru A319


Three days later we were back at Bogota Airport as we'd booked a two day trip to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. I got to see the inside of the main terminal for the first time, and got to appreciate the large windows and seating areas which overlook all of the action. The armed police presence made me a little uneasy, but I had no problems with binoculars and the occasional photo. On the taxi out, I again had the camera ready, and was able to snap the storage areas alongside the southern runway, which are full of older types as well as the full 727/737 fleets of AeroSucre and Lineas Aereas Suramericanas. You also see a lot of the transport aircraft used by the Colombian Air Force on the ramp opposite the terminal.

LOG BOGOTA 22/6/09
PNC-0221 Policia Nacional Colombiana Swearingen SA227AC Metro C-26A
PNC-0226 Policia Nacional Colombiana Swearingen SA227AC Metro C-26B
PNC-0224 Policia Nacional Colombiana Swearingen SA227AC Metro C-26B
PNC-3019 Policia Nacional Colombiana Cessna 208B Caravan
HK-4270 (Intercontinental Colombia) DC-9-15
HK-3150 (SELVA Colombia) Curtiss C-46 Commando 35-CU
EI-CBS AVIANCA / SAM Colombia MD-83
EI-CBY AVIANCA MD-83
EI-CBZ AVIANCA MD-83
EI-CCC AVIANCA / SAM Colombia MD-83
EI-CCE AVIANCA MD-83
EI-CDY AVIANCA MD-83
EI-CEQ AVIANCA MD-83
EI-CEY AVIANCA 757-2Y0
N522NA AVIANCA 757-236
N421AV AVIANCA 767-2B1ER
N985AN AVIANCA 767-259ER
N988AN AVIANCA 767-284ER
N691AV AVIANCA A319-112
N948AC AVIANCA A330-243
N968AV AVIANCA A330-243
HK-4467 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 50
HK-4469 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 50
HK-4470 AVIANCA Fokker 50
HK-4501 AVIANCA Fokker 50
HK-4581 AVIANCA Fokker 50
HK-4419 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4420 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4430 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4443 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4445 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4437 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4438 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4444 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4451 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4486 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4489 AVIANCA / SAM Colombia Fokker 100
HK-4608 AIRES Colombia 737-73S (winglets)
HK-4623-X AIRES Colombia 737-73S (winglets)
HK-4627-X AIRES Colombia 737-73S (winglets)
HK-4030 AIRES Colombia DHC-8-301
HK-4432X AIRES Colombia DHC-8-202
HK-4473 AIRES Colombia DHC-8-201
HK-4480 AIRES Colombia DHC-8-201
HK-4491 AIRES Colombia DHC-8-201
HK-4495 AIRES Colombia DHC-8-201
HK-4539 AIRES Colombia DHC-8-202
HK-4395 AeroRepublica Colombia MD-82
HK-4399 AeroRepublica Colombia MD-82
HK-4408 AeroRepublica Colombia MD-83
HK-4453 AeroRepublica Colombia EMB-190-100(IGW)
HK-4507 AeroRepublica Colombia EMB-190-100(IGW)
HK-4559 AeroRepublica Colombia EMB-190-100(IGW)
HK-4599-X AeroRepublica Colombia EMB-190LR
HK-4560 AeroRepublica Colombia EMB-190-100(IGW)
HK-4161 SEARCA LET 410
HK-4434 SEARCA Beech 1900D
HK-4499 SEARCA Beech 1900D
HK-4563 SEARCA Beech 1900D
FAC-0001 Colombian Air Force 737-74V (winglets)
FAC-0002 Colombian Air Force F-28-1000
FAC-1001 Colombian Air Force C130B Hercules
FAC-1010 Colombian Air Force C130B Hercules
FAC-1260 Colombian Air Force Casa 235M-100
FAC-1270 Colombian Air Force EMB110 Bandeirante P1A
FAC-1271 Colombian Air Force EMB110 Bandeirante P1A
FAC654 (Colombian Air Force) Howard 400
FAC-1261 Colombian Air Force Casa 235M-100
625 (Colombian Air Force) Junkers Ju52
ARC-801 Colombian Navy CASA 235-100
EJC-121 Colombian Army Convair 580
EJC-130 Colombian Army Cessna 208B Caravan
HK-4502 Easyfly Jetstream 41
HK-4503 Easyfly Jetstream 41
HK-4551 Easyfly Jetstream 41
HK-4109 SADI LET 410
HK-4262 Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-2F9F (winglets)
HK-4354 Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-2X3(F)
HK-4401 Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-2X3(F)
HK-1271 Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-24C(F)
HK-1273 Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-24C(F)
HK-4154 Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-51F
HK-4261 Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-251F
N129FB Lineas Aereas Suramericanas 727-2S2(F) (RE)
N131FB (Lineas Aereas Suramericanas) 727-2S2(F) (RE)
CC-CAB Servicios Los Condores SA Hawker 850XP
N59984 Marc Inc Piper PA-31 Navajo
FAC-1160 SATENA Dornier 328-120
FAC-1161 SATENA Dornier 328-120
FAC-1163 SATENA Dornier 328-120
FAC-1164 SATENA Dornier 328-120
FAC-1173 SATENA EMB-145LR
FAC-1176 SATENA EMB-145EP
FAC-1177 SATENA EMB-145EP
FAC-1180 SATENA EMB-170-100LR
FAC-1181 SATENA EMB-170-100LR
HK-4504 Aerosucre 727-2J0(F)
HK-4544 Aerosucre 727-2J0(F)
HK-4465 Aerosucre 727-222(F)
HK-4328 Aerosucre 737-2S5C
HK-4216X Aerosucre 737-230C
HK-4253 Aerosucre 737-2H6C
HK-727 Aerosucre 727-59(F)
N558KA Equipment Management Systems Beech King Air 350B
HK-4564 PAS - Petroleum Air Service Beech 1900D
HK-2485W Ingenio Del Cauca SA IAI Westwind 1124A
HK-3062P Aviones De Colombia Cessna T303 Crusader
N681TA TACA International A320-233
N494TA TACA International A320-233
HK-2522 Taxi Aereo Cusiana Ltda Cessna 402C
HP-1535CMP COPA Panama 737-8V3 (winglets)
CC-CXL LAN Airlines 767-3Q8ER
EC-IOB Iberia A340-642
CC-CPX LAN Peru A319-132
F-GLZJ Air France A340-313X
N304WL World Airways DC-10-30F
N418LA Lanco 767-316FER
N5026 Overseas Transcom Corp Inc Cessna 525A Citationjet 2
N768QT TAMPA Colombia 767-241ER(SF)
D-ALCK Lufthansa Cargo MD-11F

Our flight today was on AeroRepublic Embraer 190 HK-4507 - you guessed it, another new type for me! The flight lasted an hour, and we arrived through thunderclouds into a tropical, humid place. Cartagena is a lovely old town full of Caribbean charm and historic buildings. The airport is quite small, with services by AeroRepublica, AIRES and Avianca, plus a few US airlines. There are also a number of biz jet movements. We returned to Bogota on AeroRepublica Embraer 190 HK-4506 two days later.

LOG CARTAGENA 24/6/09
N516NK Spirit 319
HK-4454 Aero Republica EMB-190
HK-4506 Aero Republica EMB-190
EI-CFZ Avianca MD-80
EI-CEP Avianca MD-80
HK-4520 Aires DHC-8
N225DC Gulfstream
N188DC Gulfstream
CC-CAB HS125
N59984 PA-31
ARC801 Casa CN235

After one last night with the family, the next afternoon we were back at the airport to move on to our next country. A couple of hours yielded some more of the homegrown Avianca, AIRES and AeroRepublica fleets. Our flight that evening was on TACA Airbus A320 N494TA to Lima, Peru. The flight was delayed an hour, but only took 2 hours 30 minutes. We arrived fairly late at night, and stayed in a small hostel close to the airport ready for our early morning flight.

As I mentioned, I'd planned our flights on some of the more interesting aircraft and airlines. Given the choices of flying from Lima to Cuzco, I could have paid a fairly high price for one of the numerous LAN Peru A319s, but that would be boring. So I opted for the cheaper option of Star Peru, and the chance to give the 737-200 a swansong after many happy memories in the 1980s. We turned up for our 7.30am flight to find that it had been rescheduled to 9.20am, and was apparently flying first to Puerto Maldonado - a resort in the jungle - before taking us to Cuzco. Well, at least it's another airport to visit!

LOG LIMA 26/6/09
CC-CWN LAN Airlines 767-316ER
CC-CPL LAN Peru A319-132
CC-CQL LAN Peru A319-132
CC-CYE LAN Peru A319-132 'oneworld'
CC-CYF LAN Peru A319-132
CC-CQK LAN Peru A319-132
OB-1879-P Star Peru Bae 146-100
OB-1841-P Star Peru 737-204
OB-1823 Star Peru 737-2T2
N239LC LC Busre EIRL Swearingen SA227AC Metro III
N139LC LC Busre EIRL Swearingen SA227AC Metro III
N781C LC Busre EIRL Swearingen SA227AC Metro III
N470TA TACA Peru A320-233
N471TA TACA Peru A319-132
N480TA TACA International A319-132
N492TA TACA International A320-232
N494TA TACA International A320-233
N496TA TACA International A320-233
N567TA TACA International A321-232
EC-JHP Iberworld A330-343X
AT-530 Peruvian Navy Antonov AN-32B
OB-1859-P Amazon Sky SAC Antonov AN-26B-100
OB-1667-P Aero Transporte Beech 1900C
N598AJ (Amerijet International) 727-212(F) (winglets)
FAP-324 Peruvian Police Antonov AN-32
FAP-300 Peruvian Air Force / SAN Falcon 20F
FAP-352 Peruvian Air Force / TANS 737-282
FAP-325 Peruvian Air Force Antonov AN-32B
FAP-370 (Peruvian Air Force) DC-8-62F(CF)
FAP-382 Peruvian Air Force C382E-37C Hercules
FAP-356 Peruvian Air Force 737-528
N115GS LC Busre EIRL Swearingen SA227AC Metro III
N479TA TACA International A319-132
C-GHML Flightexec Challenger 604
N831LA - DC-10-30F
OB-1780-P (Aero Continente) F-28-1000
OB-1779-P (Aero Continente) F-28-1000


Once we boarded the aircraft (OB-1841-P, last seen at DTVA as EI-CJG with Ryanair!), it was a great hark back to times gone by. The -200 seems to spacious inside. Then we realised all was not well. My wife's seat wouldn't move from its reclined position "ah yes, it's damaged" was the steward's helpful response. Then, once taxying an overhead locker popped open leaving a stewardess to force it shut, buckling the plastic slightly. Next, roaring and creaking(!) down the runway, the cockpit door flies open and tray tables start to drop down. All the while I'm snapping pictures of Lima's storage ramps out of the window while my wife goes white with fear.

Admittedly, I did feel a little uneasy about the aircraft - especially with the bit of turbulence as we flew over the Andes. Puerto Maldonado was reached after 1 hour 10 minutes, and proved to be quite a remote little stip. Only one aircraft on the ground - a LAN A319 we'd seen in Lima earlier. Plus a preserved Antonov AN-2 looking a little grotty.

LOG PUERTO MALDONADO 26/6/09
CC-CYE LAN Peru A319-132 'oneworld'
237 - AN-2 (pres)

We were back in the air after 15 minutes, this time for a 40 minute hop to Cuzco. The cockpit door flung open again on takeoff, but we were half expecting it this time. Cuzco airport is around 10,000ft above sea level, nestled in a narrow valley, so it was a short and interesting descent!

After a thoroughly enjoyable week in Cuzco, attending our friend's wedding and visiting Machu Picchu, we were back at Cuzco airport, which is now quite modern with the addition of a pier. It gets very busy on a morning, with many LAN A319s, and a few Star Peru flights. As far as I'm aware, there are no flights on the afternoon or evening.

LOG CUZCO 1/7/09
CC-CPE LAN A319
CC-CPF LAN A319
CC-CPI LAN A319
CC-CPL LAN A319
CC-CPM LAN A319
CC-CQL LAN A319
OB-1841-P Star Peru 737-200
OB-1879-P Star Peru 146-100
OB-1864-P Los Andes DHC-6
PNP-504 Police Mil-8

Fully anticipating another dilapidated 737-200, I was relieved to see a BAe 146-100 pull up on stand. More joy for me, as another new sub-type, having flown all other 146 variants. This aircraft was OB-1879-P and much more modern inside (although still a 1980s vintage). The flight back to Lima was much more comfortable, although the visual approach was a little bumpy.

We had two days in Lima, during which time my camera was stolen in a shopping mall. Then back to the airport for our flight home. This time in the international section of the terminal.

LOG LIMA 3/7/09
PH-BQF KLM 777-206
HP-1562CMP COPA Panama EMB-190
CC-CRV LAN 767-300
CC-CXC LAN 767-300
N506NA AVIANCA 757-200
OB-1651 Transportes Cielos AN-24
OB-1815P Aero Condor Cessna 208B
OB-1903-P Aero Transporte Cessna 208B
OB-1687-P Aero Transporte PA-42
EC-IZY Iberia A340-600
OB-1887-P Amazon Sky AN-26
OB-1749 - DC-10-30
? Centuron DC-10

There were many stored aircraft at Lima which are still eluding me, including a large fleet of former AeroContinente 737-200s and 727s, as well as a number of old DC-8s and Antonovs. Ask me in the future and I may have tied them up.

Our journey home was on KLM Boeing 777-200 PH-BQH. We took off just after darkness for a 12 hour flight to Amsterdam Schiphol. The interior and in-flight entertainment on this aircraft are fantastic, even compared to the Air France A340. The first few hours of the flight were quite bumpy as we passed over the Andes, equator and tropics. My wife, who was clinging to the armrests for a lot of the time, was not very happy at having to get up when the crew started asking 'is there a doctor on board!?'. Newly qualified, she was less than enthusiastic at attending a man who'd fainted.

The next afternoon we landed at Schiphol and had four hours before our flight to Durham Tees Valley on Fokker 70 PH-KZG. Luckily it was 'cargo day' at Schiphol, so I made a number of new frames, despite it being very quiet overall.

LOG AMSTERDAM 4/7/09
OO-CBC Cargo B 747-400
OO-CBD Cargo B 747-400
B-2439 Jade Cargo 747-400
B-2441 Jade Cargo 747-400
B-KAH Cathay Cargo 747-400
B-KOP Cathay Pacific 747-400
TC-JIH Turkish A340-300
G-BPEJ Open Skies 757-236
C-FLOX ArkeFly 757-200
PH-TFA ArkeFly 737-800
PH-TFB ArkeFly 737-800
PH-TFC ArkeFly 737-800
CN-ROT Royal Air Maroc 737-800
TC-AAJ Pegasus 737-800
N806NW Delta A330-300
SU-GBT Egyptair A321
HA-LOF Malev 737-600
EC-KDG Vueling A320
PH-AAX Amsterdam Airways A320
YR-BGB TAROM 737-300
JY-AYN Royal Jordanian A319
N738MA Miami Air/Arkefly 737-800
JA709J JAL 777-300
TF-AAB MASkargo 747-200
EI-FXJ Air Contractors ATR42

Naturally nothing but an Eastern Airways J41 at DTVA when we landed.

I've put a bunch of pictures of Bogota and Lima - mainly of the stored aircraft, to help me tie up, at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38345444@N03/sets/72157621544572542/   for Lima
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38345444@N03/sets/72157621377296305/   for Bogota

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