A Quick London Dash
By Chris Smith
I'd been checking my shifts at work on a day-by-day basis at the start of the week and it got to Wednesday when I noticed I had the rest of the week off! I'd previously advised my boss that I had a week of leave left to take and to just give me it when convenient - I guess that must have been this week!! Unfortunately I had some appointments spread sparsley across my days off, making it tricky to work in a trip; plus I had planned to forfeit any small, pointless trips to cater for the larger ones later in the year now my mortgage is squeezing my finances, but aviation cold turkey was biting, and I was able to offset the cost of a hotel. One of the aforementioned appointments was at 0830 on the Friday morning when I had some engineers coming to look at my boiler, and depending on how long it took them to diagnose and fix a problem would dictate whether or not the trip was a go - if 1200 came and I was still at home, the trip was off.
When looking at potential destinations; my two favourite airport hotels were immediately ruled out on price - Luton Holiday Inn Express and Heathrow T4 Premier Inn, although both were still quite reasonable, I just couldn't personally justify it. This left three Travelodge's - East Midlands where cargo movements seem to be undiluted on a Friday (I was concerned some cargo only runs Mon-Thu) and two in the vicinity of Stansted, all were within budget the day before the trip, and I took a gamble on that still being the case for at least one of them on the day. All three offer basic views of movements if you don't mind bulb spotting.
Day One
Friday 31st January
Usual dash round East Midlands to break up the drive, a C-17 was hammering the circuit and gave the illusion of floating down the final approach, otherwise not much doing - Airborne Colours had just had a changeover with one Lufty CRJ replacing another. As you drive in a huge new freight terminal is almost complete rumoured to be for UPS, it's at the eastern end and isn't far behind the DHL one size-wise. The car park for West Atlantic/RVL Aviation staff offers a view across the new bizjet ramp where resident Rolls-Royce Gulf G-TAYC parks, albeit through a semi-transparent blast fence.
East Midlands Airport
EMA / EGNX
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| D-ACNB | Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900NG | Lufthansa Regional (Lufthansa CityLine) | |
| D-ACNW | Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900NG | Lufthansa Regional (Lufthansa CityLine) | |
| D-AEAN | Airbus A300F4-622R | DHL Worldwide Express (EAT Leipzig) | |
| G-DHKO | Boeing 757-223SF | DHL Air | |
| G-REXA | Beech 250 Super King Air | RVL Aviation | |
| G-TAAS | AgustaWestland AW109SP Grand New | Sloane Helicopters | Derbyshire Leicestershire Rutland Air Ambulance |
| G-TAYC | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | Executive Jet Charter | Op for Rolls-Royce |
| G-TREC | Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III | Sovereign Business Integration (Eagle European) | |
| N972FD | Boeing 757-28ASF | FedEx Express | |
| ZZ178 | Boeing C-17A Globemaster III | Royal Air Force - 99 Squadron | |
| SE-MHG | British Aerospace ATP-F | West Atlantic | |
| British Aerospace ATP-F x2 | West Atlantic | One white, one grey | |
| OTT | |||
| G-HPIN | Bell 429 Global Ranger | Harpin Ltd (GB Helicopters) | Bagby based, noted heading north over the M1 at 3pm |
I was itching to call in at Cranfield, an overlooked gem which I have a great affinity for, but due to the late departure I couldn't fit it and Luton both in before dark.
Luton was busy but with mostly routine traffic, though the bit that wasn't routine was above average. I followed my usual M.O. of parking in the long stay, getting the shuttle bus to the terminal and walking back on myself - the car park is free for an hour and this must have been reduced recently because I really struggled to get back in time, making it through the barrier with less than 30 seconds on the ticket!! So I may need to rethink this strategy in future. Like East Midlands, construction continues apace here; the terminal is still one big construction site yet never appears any different and a very fancy new bridge is taking shape over the entrance road, positioned perfectly to be taken out by the first movement to descend too far below the glidepath.
London Luton Airport
LTN / EGGW
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| 9A-JSC | Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 | Jung Sky | |
| 9H-LDN | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 | TAG Aviation Malta | |
| 9H-VJZ | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 | VistaJet Malta | |
| A6-CBO | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express XRS | DC Aviation | |
| A7-CGB | Gulfstream G-VI (G650ER) | Qatar Executive | |
| A7-CGS | Gulfstream G-VII (G500) | Qatar Executive | |
| A7-CGT | Gulfstream G-VII (G500) | Qatar Executive | |
| B-KHK | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | MetroJet | |
| CS-CHG | Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 | NetJets Europe | |
| CS-DGR | Cessna 650 Citation VII | AirJetSul | |
| CS-DXG | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | NetJets Europe | |
| CS-EJA | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | Executive Jet Management Europe | |
| D-IVVB | Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2+ | Atlas Air Service | |
| EI-DLX | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-EFE | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| G-CGOA | Cessna 550 Citation II | XJC | |
| G-DSMR | Gulfstream G-VI (G650) | TAG Aviation | |
| G-ESNA | Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 | Air Charter Scotland | |
| G-EZDJ | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZGA | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZIM | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZOK | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZPB | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZPD | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZUS | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZWJ | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-GLOB | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | ExecuJet | |
| G-JAGA | Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 | Luxaviation UK | |
| G-LEGC | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Luxaviation UK | |
| G-SALD | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 | Esselco Aviation LLP | |
| G-SMHA | Dassault Falcon 7X | Concierge U | |
| G-SMSM | Dassault Falcon 2000EX | Luxaviation UK | |
| G-STMT | Dassault Falcon 7X | TAG Aviation | |
| G-UZHD | Airbus A320-251N | easyJet | |
| G-UZHE | Airbus A320-251N | easyJet | |
| G-UZHW | Airbus A320-251N | easyJet | |
| G-WUKE | Airbus A320-232 | Wizz Air UK | |
| G-WUKI | Airbus A321-231 | Wizz Air UK | |
| G-WUKJ | Airbus A321-231 | Wizz Air UK | |
| G-WUKK | Airbus A321-231 | Wizz Air UK | |
| G-WUKL | Airbus A321-231 | Wizz Air UK | |
| G-XXRS | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express XRS | TAG Aviation | |
| HA-LVG | Airbus A321-271NX | Wizz Air | |
| HA-LXE | Airbus A321-231 | Wizz Air | |
| HA-LXL | Airbus A321-231 | Wizz Air | |
| HA-LXT | Airbus A321-231 | Wizz Air | |
| N99FG | Dassault Falcon 900EX | CNH America LLC | |
| N168NW | Gulfstream G-VI (G650ER) | TVPX ARS Inc | |
| N280C | IAI Gulfstream G280 | Cutrale North America Inc | |
| N283CK | Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 | TVPX ARS Inc | |
| N667LC | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | Loews Corp | |
| N744C | Dassault Falcon 8X | Cutrale North America Inc | |
| N777QX | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | QX Maritime LLC | |
| N805TM | Gulfstream G-VI (G650ER) | Toyota Motor Co | |
| N878SC | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 | The Whitewind Co | |
| N934JM | Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 | MCH Air LLC | |
| N996MS | Dassault Falcon 7X | Planet Nine | |
| N2237X | Dassault Falcon 7X | UAML Corp | |
| OE-FZD | Cessna 510 Citation Mustang | GlobeAir | |
| OK-PBK | Ce525B CitationJet CJ3 | Queen Air | |
| PH-STB | Dassault Falcon 900C | Exxaero | |
| SP-TTA | Beech Hawker 400XP | Smart Jet | |
| VP-BVV | Boeing 737-73U BBJ1 | GainJet Ireland | |
| VP-CMC | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | Malridge Investments Ltd (Jet Aviation Business Jets) | |
| VQ-BZM | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | GainJet Aviation |
As I was wrapping up at Luton the weather took a turn for the worse contrary to the forecast and by the time I reached Stansted it was still in play coupled with complete darkness so I went straight to the hotel to bulb spot. I got a perfect room with an excellent view (runway 22 was in use) - but wouldn't you know it the cloudbase was too low!!! Many a flight went begging. Things improved towards the end of the evening but by now departures had slowed to a trickle meaning an earlier than hoped for alarm was set. Incidentally I went against my better judgement and booked the more expensive - but much better - Bishop's Stortford Travelodge; had I gone with Great Dunmow I would have made nothing!
London Stansted Airport
STN / EGSS
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| A6-EQK | Boeing 777-300ER | Emirates | |
| N331UP | Boeing 767-34AERF | UPS Airlines | |
| TC-IZE | Boeing 737-86J | Pegasus Airlines | |
| TC-IZI | Boeing 737-8GJ | Pegasus Airlines | |
| VP-BWR | Boeing 737-79T BBJ1 | USAL Ltd |
Day Two
Saturday 1st February
I spotted mostly from the hotel room during the morning to try and compensate for the losses sustained last night. With the creation of easyJet Europe, Ryanair Sun, Malta Air/Buzz etc I've become very slack with the low cost fleets, though Stansted seemed to have mostly old bangers based. Highlight was my first Russian reverse-engineered 757 - the Tu-204, which for Russian tech was surprisingly quiet. Jet2 seem to have overtaken easyJet as the second big presence here. When I did leave the hotel, I went to Stansted Airport itself for the first time in three years and in that time the north side has been made strictly off limits to spotters due to abuse by some of the less caring visitors. Whilst I do believe rules should be respected; I can't justify driving 220 odd miles and then have nothing to show for it; so without ever stopping I made a couple of circuits of the north side, trying to memorise the details of any aircraft that could not be read off, then left. Unfortunately between then and my next stop I was second guessing myself so a few bits were dropped.
London Stansted Airport
STN / EGSS
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| 01-0041 | Boeing C-40B (737-7DM BBJ1) | US Air Force | |
| 9H-BIG | Airbus A340-313X | Air X Charter | |
| 9H-QAS | Boeing 737-8AS | Malta Air | |
| A6-SSV | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 | Empire Aviation Group | |
| EI-GJB | Boeing 737-800 | Ryanair | |
| EI-GXI | Boeing 737-800 | Ryanair | |
| G-CIAU | Canadair CL-600-1A11 Challenger 600 | Inflite Aviation | Preserved - Stansted Airport College |
| G-FXMR | Raytheon Nextant 400XT | Flexjet (Flairjet) | |
| G-JZBD | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZBG | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZBM | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2.com | |
| G-JZHK | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZHZ | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2.com | |
| G-POWV | Airbus A321-211 | Titan Airways | |
| G-RUKA | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair UK | |
| G-WZAP | Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 | Hagondale Ltd (SaxonAir Charter) | |
| HZ-SK2 | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | Sky Prime Aviation | |
| N631FE | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | FedEx Express | |
| N919SB | Gulfstream G-VI (G650) | Corporate | |
| OE-LDD | Airbus A319-112 | Austrian Airlines | |
| OY-JJB | Dornier 328-310JET | Sun Air of Scandinavia | |
| RA-64010 | Tupolev Tu-204-300A | Business Aero | |
| SP-RKB | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair Sun | |
| SP-RSC | Boeing 737-800 | Ryanair Sun | |
| TC-CPE | Boeing 737-82R | Pegasus Airlines | |
| VP-BGV | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Sirius Aero | |
| VP-CKK | Boeing 737-9JAER BBJ3 | National Air Services | |
| VP-CFO | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 | Wings of Grace Ltd | |
| VT-ANT | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Air India | |
| OTT | |||
| (G-HMDX) | MD Helicopters MD902 Explorer | Specialist Aviation Services | Magpas HeliMedix |
| YR-BMO | Boeing 737-883 | Blue Air |
I always seem to visit GA fields on weekdays when they tend to be much quieter - so being a Saturday I decided to swing by both Peterborough airfields given they were along the way home anyway - sods law heavy cross winds meant both were quieter than usual!
I've said it before; but I don't understand why Peterborough Business Airport is the quieter of the two airfields, it has a hard runway and with minimal investment could be upgraded to a Gamston/Blackbushe sized facility catering to the lower end of the bizjet market of which there must be demand within the region. Whereas I've been allowed out onto the ramp unescorted in the past, on this occasion they arranged for a member of staff to show me around. Unfortunately both hangars were closed.
Peterborough Business Airport
XHV / EGSF
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-ATHR | Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee | Azure Flying Club | |
| G-BGAE | Reims Cessna F152 | Aerolease | |
| G-BGKU | Piper PA-28R-201 Cherokee Arrow III | Aerolease | |
| G-BGNT | Reims Cessna F152 | Aerolease | |
| G-BNJB | Cessna 152 | Aerolease | |
| G-BOZI | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Aerolease | |
| G-BYDB | Grob G115B | Private | |
| G-GCCL | Beech 76 Duchess | Aerolease | |
| G-GDOG | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Mutley Crew Group | |
| G-HALJ | Cessna 140 | Private | |
| G-OPTI | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Rio Leon Services Ltd | |
| G-PHIZ | Piper PA-30-160 Twin Comanche | Private | |
| G-RAFC | Robin R2112 Alpha | RAF Charlie Group | |
| G-ROBA | Grob G115D2 | Social Infrastructure Ltd | |
| G-WIZR | Robinson R22 Beta | Helimech Ltd |
I mentioned above that Sibson is the busier of the two Peterborough airfields, I may have to revise that statement, there seems to have been some downsizing here, the blister hangar has been removed and I have doubts over whether the engineering company is still here as well as the skydive school. There was no aircraft on site for the latter and from experience of our own short-lived skydive operation I would have expected at least minimal activity even on a no-fly day.
Peterborough/Sibson Airport
EGSP
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-BAEP | Reims Cessna FRA150L Aerobat | Peterborough Flying School | |
| G-BAXU | Reims Cessna F150L | Peterborough Flying School | |
| G-BAXY | Reims Cessna F172M Skyhawk | Peterborough Flying School | |
| G-BGMJ | Gardan GY 201 Minicab | G-BGMJ Group | |
| G-BLAF | V-Star SA900 | Private | |
| G-BMHS | Reims Cessna F172M Skyhawk | Private | |
| G-BMIG | Cessna 172N Skyhawk | Private | |
| G-CIYO | Groppo Trail | Private | |
| G-HIVE | Reims Cessna F150M | Peterborough Flying School | |
| G-RVUK | Vans RV-7 | Private | |
| G-YOGI | Robin DR400/140B Major | G-YOGI Flying Group |
Gamston despite being mid afternoon on a Saturday was the quietest I've ever seen, on the plus side two still went in the book and I've finally discovered the identity of the DA 42 fuselage dumped near the VOR for the last couple of years - only to realise I didn't need it!!
Retford Gamston Airport
EGNE
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| 2-SNOW | Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage JetProp DLX | JetProp Aviation | |
| G-AVZV | Reims Cessna F172H Skyhawk | Private | |
| G-BRPV | Cessna 152 | Eastern Air Executive | |
| G-CDKR | Diamond DA 42 Twin Star | Private | Fuselage only |
| G-DJET | Diamond DA 42 Twin Star | DEA Aviation |
In all, an enjoyable drive out and whilst it was by no means a waste of time or money, I did end up wondering why I'd bothered.