HISTORICAL PHOTO: Aerolineas Argentinas 737-200, LV-JTD

Aerolineas Argentinas 737-287, LV-JTD, c/n 20532/285, shot in delivery colors at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) sometime in the 1970's.  (Phil Perry collection)

The aircraft served Aerolineas for 35 years from its delivery in 1971 until its retirement in 2006 and scrapping in 2011.  In 2002, LV-JTD was converted to executive configuration and in 2004 it had the Argentine presidential seal affixed to its front door to serve on domestic presidential flights while the presidential 757 T-01 underwent repairs.   

Update: This aircraft has not been scrapped and was recently being used for fire training at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) per reader MG.  

Source:  Historias Individuales

             http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-jtd-

             boeing-737-287-cn-20523285.html

FLEET UPDATE: BQB Lineas Aereas to Add One A320 and a 4th ATR-72-500

BQB Lineas Aereas will reportedly add the first A320 to its fleet during the fourth quarter 2013.  The airline was previously rumored to be adding jet aircraft to its fleet in the first quarter of this year but those plans were not realized.  BQB was also supposed to start flying from Montevideo (MVD) to Madrid (MAD) in April with a leased 767-300 but those plans were shelved when Air Europe started to fly the route instead. 

The A320 is planned for daily flights from Montevideo to Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo - Guarulhos (GRU) plus weekly service to Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) and Isla Margarita (PMV), off the Venezuelan coast.

In September, the airline is supposed to add a fourth ATR-72-500 to its fleet to enable new service to Curitiba, Brazil (CWB), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia (VVI), Ciudad de Este, Paraguay (AGT) and Rivera, Uruguay (RVY).  Service by BQB to these cities has been rumored ever since the demise of PLUNA a year ago, especially Rivera, where the start of service has seemed imminent for the last six months.

Source:

El Observador Uruguay 30May13:  http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/251907/bqb-amplia-su-cobertura/  

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas to Lease 11 Additional 737-800's

Aerolineas Argentinas has agreed to lease 11 737-800's from three different sources for delivery over the next three years bringing its total fleet of the type to 15 examples.

The largest contract is with Air Lease Corporation for six new 737-800's to be handed over between November 2014 and February 2016 on 12-year leases.

Additionally, four new 737-800's leased from CIT Aerospace are due for delivery starting in January 2014. 

One more 737-800, an ex-Air Berlin example, is due to be delivered by AWAS in November of this year.

Sources:

World Airline News 11Apr13: http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/04/11/air-lease-corporation-announces-the-placement-of-six-new-boeing-737-800s-with-aerolineas-argentinas/

Aviacion News 23May13 & 13Jun13:   
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion052313/aviacion052313.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion061313/aviacion061313.html

Stunning Slow-Motion Video Shot at Buenos Aires - Aeroparque - Cesar Meloni

Superb slow-motion video shot at Buenos Aires - Aeroparque by Cesar Meloni.
Well-worth viewing.  

http://vimeo.com/67814853

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas to Receive Four A330-200's in July & August

The first A330-200 to be delivered to Aerolineas Argentinas on lease from ILFC, an ex-Malaysia Airlines airframe, has been spotted at Kuala Lumpur International Airport painted in the Argentine airline's new colors.   

The four aircraft, with registrations 9N-MKW, 9M-MKX, TC-ETK and TC-ECL are expected to be delivered in July and August taking up registrations LV-FNI, LV-FNJ, LV-FNK, and LV-FNL.  The planes will likely replace four older A340-300's.

Sources:  
Aviacion News 
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion061313/aviacion061313.html
World Airline News - http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/06/19/aerolineas-argentinas-to-lease-four-airbus-a330-200s-from-ilfc/

HISTORICAL PHOTOS: Aerochaco / CATA Linea Aerea Fairchild FH-227B, LV-MGV

Shots of Fairchild FH-227B, LV-MGV, c/n 567, in service with the original Aerochaco at an unknown location, probably in the late 1970's or early 1980's and with CATA Linea Aerea at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) in the 1990's or early 2000's. (Both photos Phil Perry collection)

Aerochaco operated from its Resistencia, Chaco base, some 600 miles north of Buenos Aires, to several cities in northern Argentina from 1959 until at least 1984.    

CATA Linea Aerea flew from 1986 to 2006 from Buenos Aires, including Ezeiza (EZE), Aeroparque (AEP) and Moron airports.  Several CATA F.27's / FH-227's are currently stored at Moron.

The pictured aircraft was delivered to Paraense of Brazil in 1967 and went on to fly for AeroChaco in 1978, Aeroposta, ALFA (Aerolineas Federales Argentinas) and CATA which it joined in 1997.  

Sadly, on 26Oct03 the aircraft crashed soon after taking off from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on an early morning cargo flight heading to Corrientes (CNQ).  Cause of the accident was an engine failure soon after takeoff and possible excess weight.  Five crew members lost their lives.  Link to the accident report:

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20031026-0   

Sources: Historias Individuales blog:
             http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/10/lv-mgv-
             fairchild-friendship-fh-227b-cn.html
             Flight International 26Jul80:
             http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-
             %201878.html?search=aerochaco
                   Wikipedia:
             http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CATA_L%C3%ADnea_A%C3%A9rea            

HISTORICAL PHOTO: Pampa Lineas Aereas F-27 CX-BRS

Pampa Lineas Aereas F-27, CX-BRS, c/n 27, was shot at Montevideo (MVD), presumably around 1996 when in service with the airline, and was a very early example of this type having been manufactured in 1958.  (Phil Perry collection)

This aircraft was sub-leased to Lineas Aereas del Este (LADESA) of Paraguay when it was written-off at Ciudad del Este (AGT) in November 1996 due to the no. 2 propeller detaching and damaging the fuselage beyond economical repair but with no loss of life.  The aircraft was stored at Ciudad del Este where it was last noted in 2001.  

Sources:

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19961199-0