| Scotland | ||||
| By Chris Smith | ||||
| Both Aberdeen and
Loganair have been on my radar for some time now but if
the pandemic hasn't gotten in the way something else
has, until now. If I'm honest, some of the other
services could have used my support more, but from a
spotting perspective Scotland was always going to be
higher yielding. Thanks to competition on the route, the fare for the outbound leg remains the same for a one-way journey as it is for a return trip (one-way is usually more expensive), as such I chose to share the wealth and booked Eastern for the return journey, although another factor was the flight timings, with the first inbound Loganair being too early and the second too late. |
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|
Day One Tuesday 3rd August 2021 |
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| A bit of a strange
experience passing through Teesside now that I work
there. I felt half-naked without a hi-viz on, getting
ready to board an aircraft that I myself had marshalled and
unloaded just a few hours prior, and knowing all of the
staff by name, many of whom were surprised to see me flying off somewhere
on my days off! My ride was Embraer ERJ-145 G-SAJO, a new type for me and also my most recent paint-scrape when I caught it on its second visit to Teesside the week before, having seen it previously as G-RJXM with bmi regional. The only other aircraft of interest was Sir Alan Sugar's Legacy 650. Duplicates removed unless noted at another airport. |
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| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES | |
|
Teesside International Airport MME / EGNV |
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| G-SAJO | Embraer ERJ-145MP | Loganair | My flight | |
| G-SAJR | Embraer ERJ-135ER | Loganair | ||
| G-SUGR | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 | Air Charter Scotland | ||
| I noted very
clearly four aircraft parked at the piers when we passed
over Newcastle, with nothing on the remote stands, yet
wouldn't you know it FR24 was showing seven on the
ground at the time in question, making it impossible to
claim any. On arrival at Aberdeen we parked on the eastern side of the main apron due to the more common western end being full. After picking up the hire car I took a quick walk along a trail that runs parallel to the perimeter fence all the way up to the runway 34 threshold. This offers excellent views across the main apron and number crunchers will pull most of the registrations from the eastern side of the airport, although for the Loganair, NHV and Gama hangars you'll have to physically go over there, which I did. There are plenty of nooks and crannies on the eastern side, it's a bit like Cranfield in that respect - a crash gate offers good views across to the terminal and photos can be got of the GA apron. From here a Leeds/Bradford style dirt mound offers views of most of the Loganair hangar as well as NHV, Gama, and anything parked on runway 23. There are also distant views of the fire training aids from here. If no buses or coaches are present, make a quick trip around the mini bus depot to see the rest of Loganair as well as a Lynx parked on a simulated oil rig platform similar to the example found on our own burning ground. All of the major oil and gas helicopter operators have their largest bases here and there are at least four terminals, of which three are exclusively heliports. Many non-aviation oil and gas operators are also based at the airport. In fact, the only major operator invested in oil not actually present is the U.S. military!! |
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|
Aberdeen International Airport ABZ / EGPD |
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| 5N-BWE | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters Nigeria | ||
| G-BEZV | Reims Cessna F172M Skyhawk | Alexander Air Ltd | ||
| G-BMIX | Socata TB20 Trinidad | Falcon Flying Group | ||
| G-CICH | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-CIJC | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-CLGF | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-EMAA | Eurocopter EC135 T2+ | Babcock MCS Onshore | Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance | |
| G-EMPP | Diamond DA 42 M-NG Guardian | DEA Aviation | ||
| G-FBXA | ATR 72-600 | Loganair | ||
| G-FBXB | ATR 72-600 | Loganair | ||
| G-GNTB | Saab 340AF | Loganair | ||
| G-IACC | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-JMCU | Boeing 737-301SF | West Atlantic UK | ||
| G-LGNC | Saab 340B | Loganair | ||
| G-LGNK | Saab 340B | Loganair | ||
| G-MAJK | British Aerospace Jetstream 41 | Eastern Airways | ||
| G-MAJT | British Aerospace Jetstream 41 | Eastern Airways | ||
| G-MAJY | British Aerospace Jetstream 41 | Eastern Airways | ||
| G-MCSC | AgustaWestland AW139 | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-MCSD | AgustaWestland AW139 | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-MCSH | Airbus H175 B | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-MCSO | Airbus H175 B | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-MRLI | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-NHVF | Airbus EC175 B | NHV Helicopters | ||
| G-NHVG | Airbus EC175 B | NHV Helicopters | ||
| G-NHVI | Airbus H175 B | NHV Helicopters | ||
| G-NHVV | Airbus EC175 B | NHV Helicopters | ||
| G-ORVR | Partenavia P68B Victor | Ravenair | ||
| G-RJXH | Embraer ERJ-145EP | Loganair | ||
| G-ROOK | Reims Cessna F172P Skyhawk | Rolim Ltd | ||
| G-SAJB | Embraer ERJ-135ER | Loganair | WFU | |
| G-SAJU | Embraer ERJ-135ER | Loganair | Stored | |
| G-SPHU | Eurocopter EC135 T2+ | Babcock MCS Onshore | Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance | |
| G-VIND | Sikorsky S-92A | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-WNSE | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-WNSL | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-WNST | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-WNSV | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| OY-VPS | Vulcanair P68 Observer 2 | Bioflight A/S | ||
| TF-BBJ | Boeing 737-476SF | Bluebird Nordic | ||
| UR-CQV | Antonov An-32B | Vulkan Air | ||
| XZ232 | Lynx HAS.3GMS | Falck Safety Services UK | Trainer, ex Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) | |
| XZ372 | FV | SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A | Aberdeen Airport | Fire trainer, ex Royal Air Force |
| ZA110 | Scottish Aviation Jetstream T2 | Aberdeen Airport | Fire trainer, ex Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) | |
       _CS.JPG) |
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| After completing Aberdeen, I made the two hour trip to Inverness, keen to get the longest drive out of the way early. I wasn't expecting much here but did quite well, with a nice variety of airliners and GA. Drive down to the Highland Aviation building where you can park and see all of the GA apron. When you exit this area, keep an eye out for a Buccaneer in a compound from a now defunct on-site museum, I perhaps should have investigated this area further as apparently there is also a Hunter here. There are two heliports on site, one is part of the airport and located on the south side - when you exit the airport (or before you enter) a track will take you to a crash gate at the runway 05 threshold offering excellent views of the main apron and runway, and reasonable views of this heliport, which is home to the emergency services including HM Coastguard and I presume the Police and air ambulance as well? The second heliport is easy to miss, it's within the industrial complex on the terminal side of the airport and operated by PDG Helicopters. It's very close to the Highland Aviation facility but there is no access from here, you have to go out and back in again - kind of like if you were going to the Middleton St George hospital from the hangar 3 area at Teesside. When I got there views were very limited and nothing was noted. | ||||
|
Inverness Airport INV / EGPE |
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| G-BRLP | Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk | Highland Aviation Training | ||
| G-CCTT | Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP | Highland Aviation Training | ||
| G-EZBJ | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | ||
| G-GMAH | Airbus H145 | Gama Aviation | ||
| G-GNTF | Saab 340AF | Loganair | ||
| G-LAZL | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Highland Aviation Training | ||
| G-LMRZ | ATR 72-500F | Loganair | Operates for Blue Islands | |
| G-MCGN | AgustaWestland AW189 | Bristow Helicopters | HM Coastguard | |
| G-NJAA | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | NetJets Europe | ||
| G-NJAD | Dassault Falcon 2000EX | NetJets Europe | ||
| G-SAJT | Embraer ERJ-135ER | Loganair | ||
| G-UZHZ | Airbus A320-251N | easyJet | ||
| N268JM | Cirrus Vision SF50 | HIP Flights LLC | ||
| OY-NPD | Fairchild Swearingen SA-227DC Metro 23 | North Flying A/S | ||
| PH-EXW | Embraer ERJ-170-200STD+ | KLM Cityhopper | ||
| XK532 | 632 | Blackburn Buccaneer NA.39 | Highland Aviation Museum | ex Royal Air Force |
     |
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| I was ahead of schedule at this point so I swung by the now closed (but still kept in active condition) RAF Kinloss for the Moryavia museum. I'd actually delayed this trip to coincide with the museum re-opening, but what I hadn't realised is it only opens on weekends, which is no good both in terms of flights from Teesside or to catch military flying at Lossiemouth, a major part of this trip. Nevertheless I was aware of enough exhibits parked outdoors to make if worthwhile, as well as the Nimrod on display on the base itself which is also under the care of the museum. I feel like I could have easily ventured into the museum but it would have been disrespectful so I just noted what I could from the car park. It was nice to see the Vulcan that had been in the care of the Friends of the Airport group a couple of years ago which myself and others put in a lot of hours to spruce up for the last air show! The other two cockpits we had must have been indoors. | ||||
|
Kinloss Barracks FSS / EGQK |
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| G-ASVO | Handley-Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 214 | Morayvia | ex Channel Express | |
| HA-MKE | 14 Red | WSK-PZL Antonov An-2R | Morayvia | |
| WP495 | LM-915 | Westland Dragonfly HR5 | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force |
| XH563 | Avro 698 Vulcan B2(MRR) | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force, cockpit only | |
| XR528 | Westland Wessex HC2 | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force | |
| XS713 | C | Hawker-Siddeley HS.125 Dominie T1 | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force |
| XT466 | CU-528 | Westland Wessex HU5 | Morayvia | ex Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) |
| XV240 | 40 | Hawker-Siddeley HS.801 Nimrod MR2 | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force, cockpit only |
| XV244 | 44 | Hawker-Siddeley HS.801 Nimrod MR2 | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force, on the base |
| XZ113 | A | SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force |
| XZ592 | H | Westland Sea King HAR3 | Morayvia | ex Royal Air Force |
| ZH821 | EH Industries EH101 Merlin HM2 | Morayvia | ex AgustaWestland | |
 |
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| One of the main
purposes of the trip was to top up on the Typhoon fleet
at Lossiemouth,
as well as seeing the new Poseidon's up close for the
first time. I parked in a small car park near the golf
course on the north side, and after passing through a
cul-de-sac there is a dirt track that runs right along
the northern perimeter, offering views across most of
the base and is excellent for photos when runway 23 is
in use. It was quieter than I expected, in fact I
reached the conclusion whilst here that there is no such
thing as a busy RAF base. Part of the reason for this is
Lossiemouth are gearing up to take-over Falklands duties
soon, with air crew currently isolating at Linton on
Ouse in readiness. Presumably this must be 9 Squadron
who were conspicuous by their absence. As soon as the
first of two Poseidon's that were out returned I retired
to my Premier Inn for the evening, located in nearby
Elgin. On my way there, a rather unusual customer was
parked in a petrol station - Buccaneer XW530! Glad the
tank in my hire car didn't hold the same amount as it! Whilst sat in my room I did start to think I could have condensed the trip down into just one day and come back on the LM568, I soon changed my mind when Dave text me to say it was on full emergency with the nose gear showing as raised!! I had noted the aircraft in question in their hangar on arrival in Aberdeen and wondered if an engineer had forgot to replace a bolt or something! Given it landed safely a bulb out in the cockpit is more likely! An excellent evening meal at the Brewers Fayre adjacent to the hotel capped off a cracking good day! |
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| RAF
Lossiemouth LMO / EGQS |
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| XW530 | Blackburn Buccaneer S2B | ex Royal Air Force | Preserved at a petrol station in Elgin | |
| ZA475 | AJ-G | Panavia PA-200 Tornado GR1B | Royal Air Force | Gate Guardian |
| ZJ917 | WS-R | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 1(F) Squadron |
| ZJ919 | WS-L | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 1(F) Squadron |
| ZJ939 | 939 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 1(F) Squadron |
| ZK320 | 320 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 1(F) Squadron, NATO markings |
| ZK337 | 337 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 1(F) Squadron |
| ZK349 | 349 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 6 Squadron |
| ZK424 | 424 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 1(F) Squadron |
| ZK425 | 425 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 6 Squadron |
| ZK435 | 435 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 6 Squadron |
| ZP801 | 01 | Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 | Royal Air Force | 54/120 Squadron's |
| ZP804 | 04 | Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 | Royal Air Force | 54/120 Squadron's |
| ZP805 | 05 | Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 | Royal Air Force | 54/120 Squadron's |
_CS.JPG) _CS.JPG) _CS.JPG) _CS.JPG) _CS.JPG)    _CS.JPG) _CS.JPG) |
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|
Day Two Wednesday 4th August 2021 |
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| After a small lie-in followed by another visit to the Brewers Fayre for a fry-up, I returned to Lossiemouth in the hope there had been a few changes, which there had with three more Typhoons and the P-8 that was still out when I left the evening before now present, leaving only ZP803 to be seen and given it hasn't flown since May must have been inside the big Boeing hangar on the western side of the base. The KC-135 that performed two missed approach procedures was a big bonus! | ||||
| RAF Lossiemouth | ||||
| 63-8878 | D | Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker | U.S. Air Force | 351st ARS/100th ARW, 2x O/S |
| ZK301 | 301 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 2(AC) Squadron |
| ZK308 | 308 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 1(F) Squadron |
| ZK427 | 427 | Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force | 2(AC) Squadron |
| ZP802 | 02 | Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 | Royal Air Force | 54/120 Squadron's |
_CS.JPG) _CS.JPG) |
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| I had no spare time to play with by the time I got back to Aberdeen so I had a very quick blast around the eastern side again, before dropping off the hire car and checking in for my flight, with the remainder of the logging done from departures. I was both pleased and frustrated when Eastern subbed the usual Embraer for a Jetstream - pleased because it meant variety, having already enjoyed my first Embraer on the outbound leg, but frustrated because...well, it's a Jetstream!! The riggers were also all too aware of the switch with many voicing their discontent! That said the journey time didn't seem all that much less than with the jet and despite warnings of turbulence the flight was relatively smooth. | ||||
| Aberdeen International Airport | ||||
| EI-FPE | Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900NG | CityJet | Op for SAS Scandinavian Airlines | |
| G-CGCI | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-CKXL | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-CLHW | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-CLNH | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-EMEC | Airbus H175 B | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-EMED | Airbus H175 B | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-EMEE | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-EUPO | Airbus A319-131 | British Airways | ||
| G-IACA | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-IACD | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-IACF | Sikorsky S-92A | Bristow Helicopters | ||
| G-LGNC | Saab 340B | Loganair | ||
| G-LGNI | Saab 340B | Loganair | ||
| G-LMRD | ATR 42-500 | Loganair | ||
| G-MAJA | British Aerospace Jetstream 41 | Eastern Airways | My flight | |
| G-MCSB | Sikorsky S-92A | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-MCSF | Airbus H175 B | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-MCSK | Sikorsky S-92A | Babcock MCS Offshore | ||
| G-SAJR | Embraer ERJ-135ER | Loganair | Positioning to Teesside | |
| G-WNSG | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-WNSU | Sikorsky S-92A | CHC Scotia | ||
| G-ZDEA | Diamond DA 42 Twin Star | DEA Aviation | ||
| LN-WDJ | Bombardier DHC-8-402NG | Widerøe | ||
| OY-NCO | Dornier 328-300JET | Sun-Air of Scandinavia | ||
| PH-EXU | Embraer ERJ-170-200STD+ | KLM Cityhopper | ||
        _CS.JPG) |
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| Back at base we had to hold on the taxiway for a while until the Ryanair to Corfu had taxied, then again while Swissport boarded the Loganair about to go in the opposite direction. During this time I was trying - and largely failing - to have a conversation with my colleagues through the aircraft window who were also surprised, if a little bemused, to see me on-board! I didn't hang around and went straight home to get ready for my 5am start the next day. | ||||
| Teesside International Airport | ||||
| G-AWOT | Reims Cessna F150H | North East Aviation | t/a Purple Aviation | |
| EI-EMP | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | ||
| G-RJXH | Embraer ERJ-145EP | Loganair | ||
| G-SAJG | Embraer ERJ-145EU | Loganair | ||
| So ended a great little trip that exceeded expectations with loads of new frames in the book! | ||||
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