NOTICE TO READERS: Editor Traveling until May 31

Dear Loyal Readers:

I have posted few news items since the beginning of February because I was preparing for an extended trip to the United States, which I started on March 8.  I plan to return to Argentina in the middle of May and start posting regularly again approximately the end of May.   

During my visit to the U.S. I plan to access a few old photos and scan a number of slides from my collection taken at Aeroparque (AEP), Ezeiza (EZE) and Montevideo (MVD) in the 1970's through 1990's which ought to provide some very interesting material for the blog in addition to the usual postings.     

In the meantime, I might do the occasional post if there is some very interesting news to convey.

Otherwise, you should plan on seeing regular postings in about two months' time. 

Best Wishes,

Phil Perry

Editor - Argentina Airline News, Photography & Spotting

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas A340 & A330

As reported earlier, Aerolineas Argentinas is looking to acquire four ex-Iberia A340-300's owned by ILFC.  The transaction has been held up because neither party wants to bear the cost of reconfiguring the aircraft from the 47 business class seats previously flown by Iberia to the 20 desired by Aerolineas.  The four A340-300's would replace four company-owned Aerolineas A340-200's which were manufactured back in 1994 and 1995 and two A340-300's currently leased from ILFC at a high monthly rate.   

Aerolineas is also analyzing the acquisition of four A330-200's, two of which are ex-SABENA and ex-Malaysia, plus three Gulf Air A330's.

Source:  http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion020713/aviacion020713.html

Austral considering adding 2/3 more Embraer 190's to serve additional Brazilian Cities

There have been recurring rumors that Austral is considering acquiring 2/3 more Embraer 190's to add service to the Brazilian cities of Belo Horizonte (CNF), Brasilia (BSB), and Curitiba (CWB).  

The specific aircraft that would be taken up are c/n 589, that was originally ordered by bankrupt Ukrainian carrier Aerosvit, and c/n 593 and c/n 608 not taken up by Estonian Airlines.

Austral reports average utilization of 12 hours per day for the current Embraer 190 fleet. However, aircraft LV-CET recently came out of its 6,000-hour "Basic Check 1" after approx. 27 months and 800 days in service (was delivered on 04Oct10), which would yield an average daily utilization of 7.5 hours. Additionally, the author of this blog has observed that most aircraft turnarounds by Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral aircraft at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) take 90-120 minutes so the claim of 12 hours per day utilization seems doubtful.

Sources: http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/noticias-en-austral-lineas-
             aereas.html
             http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-e190-383.htm

Possible Door of Crashed Air Class Metro, CX-LAS, found by Fishing Boat

On the morning of 11Feb13, the Uruguayan fishing boat "Dartesa I" caught in its fishing nets what appeared to be the door of an aircraft, some three miles east of Isla de Flores, near the "exclusion zone" established last year for the search of the remains of Air Class Metro, CX-LAS.  The aircraft crashed into the Rio de la Plata sea on 06Jun12 with the loss of its two crew members while operating a freighter flight from Montevideo (MVD) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).

Last September the professional diver, Hector Bado, had located the remains of the CX-LAS' fuselage, Flight Data Recorder, and Cockpit Voice Recorders (both of which yielded no information) when further search operations were called off by the Uruguayan Navy.  Since then, Judge Mariana Mota had ordered resumption of the search for more remains of the aircraft but the Navy had not complied, sparking accusations of a possible cover-up.  More recently, before the recent discovery, the Navy finally relented and was making plans to start the search again with Mr. Bado.

Mr. Bado has reasoned that the finding of the door a couple of miles east of the fuselage's location suggests that it might have detached from the aircraft in flight.  Although not an aviation expert, he has further speculated that the door might be the rear cargo door and that it detached and hit the aircraft's tail causing the plane to crash.  Further fueling this theory is the ATC recording of the plane's copilot asking "What happens if we go to 8,000 feet?" which is the altitude at which they would have started pressurizing the aircraft.  There have been rumors that the rear cargo door had had problems which would fit in with the co-pilot's comment.

Source:  http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/243385/una-puerta-
            atrapada-en-redes-de-pesca-reabre-misterio-aereo/

Austral MD-81, LV-WFN, One of the Oldest MD-80's, Flown to Moron Museum for Display

LV-WFN at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 23Jan11.  (Phil Perry Photo)

On 26Feb13, Austral MD-81, LV-WFN (c/n 48025/952) was flown from Cordoba (COR), where it had been stored since retirement from the airline's fleet over a year ago, to the Museo Nacional de Aeronautica at the Moron Air Force Base just west of Buenos Aires for preservation and future display.  The approx. 700km / 438 mile ferry flight was flown with the aircraft unpressurized and with the landing gear down. 

This is a significant aircraft in the history of Austral as it was the first MD-80 series plane delivered to the airline (of an original order of three examples).  The aircraft was delivered with registration N10027 on 08Jan81 and was re-registered LV-WFN on 16Dec93.  Its first flight was on 26Aug80 and it accumulated 70,445 flight hours over 60,351 cycles in its service life.  

LV-WFN was delivered with 155 economy-class seats, reconfigured to 140 economy and 8 first-class seats in 2004 and again to 160 economy-class seats in recent years.

The plane was delivered with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-209 engines which were replaced with two -219 variants on 30Dec95 for standardization of the fleet.  These will soon be replaced with two -217A's when the plane goes on display.     

One 737-200 in full 1975 Aerolineas Argentinas colors and two BAC-111's are also stored at Moron, but one of the latter is located in a restricted area and the other is in somewhat derelict condition. 

Sources:  http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/02/28/australs-mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-81-lv-wfn-

              is-being-preserved-in-argentina/

              http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/02/traslado-del-md-81-al-museo.html

              http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md80-48025.htm

ROUTE UPDATE: BQB Lineas Aereas to add Service from Montevideo (MVD) to Rivera (RVY), Curitiba (CWB), & Foz de Iguacu (IGU)

BQB Lineas Aereas' recent addition of a third ATR-72-212A to its fleet has allowed the carrier to introduce service to new points, such as daily flights from Montevideo (MVD) to Porto Alegre (POA). 

New service will also be added from Montevideo (MVD) to Foz de Iguacu (IGU) on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls with two weekly flights effective 21Mar13, and from Montevideo (MVD) to the northern Uruguayan city of Rivera (RVY) continuing on to Curitiba (CWB), south of Sao Paulo, with three weekly flights effective 11Mar13.  This last service's start date depends largely on the completion of renovations at the Rivera (RVY) airport.          

Source: El Observador 21Feb13
           http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/244160/bqb-presento-nuevos-
           vuelos-al-sur-de-brasil/

ROUTE UPDATE: Air France Resuming Service to Montevideo (MVD) after 12-Year Absence

Airlineroute.net reports that Air France will resume service to Montevideo (MVD) effective 16Apr13 after having been absent from Uruguay since 2001.  

The new service will be a 5-times weekly extension of Air France's existing 777-200 flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Buenos Aires (EZE), much as in 2000 and 2001 when the flight extended once per week to Uruguay.  Montevideo (MVD) flights will operate every day except Mondays and Saturdays southbound and Tuesdays and Sundays northbound. 

The schedule will be:

Flight   Routing  Dep   Arr      Routing   Dep      Arr       Freq.  Type

AF394  CDGEZE 2320 0805+1 EZEMVD 0945+1 1040+1  x16   777-200ER 

AF393  MVDEZE 1400 1500    EZECDG 1700     1100+1  x27   777-200ER

Additionally, with the start of the northern winter and southern summer schedule effective 30Oct13 several flights per week will be operated by 777-300ER's. 

As a side note, the editor of this blog remembers that Air France flew 707-300's to Montevideo (MVD) in the 1970's, also as an extension of their Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) flights but is not certain of this. 

Sources: http://airlineroute.net/2013/02/07/af-mvd-s13/

             http://airlineroute.net/2013/02/08/af-ezemvd-w13/

             Both via Eric Trum

BQB submits paperwork to add two 737NG's to its fleet

BQB Lineas Aereas recently submitted paperwork to the Uruguayan Civil Aviation Directorate (DINACIA) to add two leased 737NG's to its fleet.  The first one will reportedly be a 737-700 that formerly flew for the Czech airline Smart Wings, which is a subsidiary of Travel Service with both carriers controlled by the Icelandair group. 

BQB plans to fly the planes on some of the former PLUNA routes, such as Montevideo (MVD) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Santiago (SCL) and Caracas (CCS) with the latter not previously flown by PLUNA. 

BQB was supposed to add an A320 to its fleet in February but there has been no further news about that. 

Sources:  Aviacion News 27Dec12

              http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2012/aviacion122712/

              aviacion122712.html

              Aviacion News 24Jan13

              http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion012413/

              aviacion012413.html

Argentina denies Uruguay use of shorter "Papix" Air Route between Montevideo (MVD) and Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP)

At least since early last year, when the Leadgate management group was still running PLUNA, Uruguay has requested Argentina to authorize use of the "Papix" air route between Montevideo (MVD) and Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).

This route is 53 nautical miles shorter than the existing route which requires the airline to overfly Argentine territory for a longer period of time.  This has resulted in greater fuel consumption and higher Argentine overflight charges totaling some US$ 1.4 million per year for the ex-PLUNA.

The "Papix" route which would route aircraft directly from Colonia, Uruguay thirty miles across the Rio de la Plata to Buenos Aires would save 3-5 minutes flying time with lower fuel consumption and much less time overflying Argentine territory. 

The Uruguayan aviation authorities at the Civil Aviation Directorate (DINACIA) thought that they had a preliminary agreement for this new routing but Argentina recently decided not to allow it, apparently to avoid losing most of the overflight charges that they are now collecting. 

The "Papix" route was to be one of the first steps in the restructuring of airspace over Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay that is to be designed and implemented by an unnamed American company with the idea of making air routings shorter and more efficient and economical.   

Source:  El Observador Uruguay 23Jan13

            http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/241935/trancazo-k-a-la-ruta-

            aerea-que-le-conviene-a-uruguay/

ROUTE UPDATE LAN replacing 787 with 767-300ER on Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE‏) Route

The worldwide fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft has been grounded due to battery fires on board two aircraft, the cause of which has not been determined yet, meaning that the possibility of fires on other aircraft remains a real danger.

Like other operators, LAN has grounded its three 787's until the problem has been defined which could be many months or even longer if the lithium ion batteries currently being used need to be replaced with more conventional batteries and the battery compartment needs to be redesigned, as well.

At the time of the grounding, LAN was flying the 787 from Lima (LIM) to Los Angeles (LAX) and Santiago (SCL) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) too.  The Chilean carrier is reportedly using the 767-300ER as the replacement aircraft on the latter route.   

Sources:  http://airlineroute.net/2013/01/18/787replacement-19jan13/
              http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/LAN-Airlines

ROUTE UPDATE: Air Europa announces Madrid (MAD) - Montevideo (MVD) Service Effective 03Jun13

Air Europa announced on 24Jan13 that it will start flying from Madrid (MAD) to Montevideo (MVD) three times weekly effective 03Jun13 with 299-seat A330-200 aircraft, replacing the Iberia A340 service being suspended in late March.

Flights will initially operate from Madrid (MAD) to Montevideo (MVD) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, returning to Spain on the following days; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  Assuming that bookings are healthy, the Spanish airline would increase the service to five weekly flights in the "near future".

A determining factor in Air Europa's decision might have been the decision just this past Monday 21Jan13 by ANCAP, Uruguay's national fuel company, to reduce the price of Jet A1 fuel to the same level of neighboring countries. The higher price weighed especially heavily on operators of long-distance routes, such as Montevideo (MVD) - Madrid (MAD) and reportedly played a role in Iberia's decision to drop the route. 

Uruguayan authorities are pleased not only by the new service but also the backing of the Grupo Globalia tour operator group that moves a lot of leisure traffic and will hopefully bring more European tourism to Uruguay.

Editor's Comment:  Will this mean that BQB Lineas Aereas' planned new service from Montevideo (MVD) to Madrid (MAD) with 767-300's will be suspended ? 

Source:   El Observador 24Jan13 

             http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/242118/air-europa-confirmo-    

             tres-vuelos-semanales-entre-madrid-y-montevideo-desde-junio/

FLEET UPDATE: BQB Lineas Aereas Receives 3rd ATR-72, CX-LFL - Photos

BQB Lineas Aereas ATR-72-212A, CX-LFL, newly arrived at Montevideo (MVD) on 22Jan13. The new "flying saucer"-like terminal which opened a few years ago is in the background. (Amilcar Carriqui Photo)

CX-LFL in another view at Montevideo (MVD) with the old terminal in the background. (Amilcar Carriqui Photo)

The excellent Uruguayan aviation blog, Aviacion Civil Uruguaya, reports that BQB Lineas Aereas' third ATR-72, CX-LFL (c/n 570), a -212A model, arrived at Montevideo (MVD) Carrasco International Airport on 22Jan13.  The aircraft previously flew for Air Nostrum since its delivery to the Spanish carrier in 1999.

BQB is using the new aircraft to serve new routes that the airline has taken over from the now-defunct PLUNA, such as Montevideo (MVD) - Asuncion (ASU).

Sources: Aviacion Civil Uruguaya

             www.planespotters.net

Photos:  Amilcar Carriqui via Martin Blanco of Aviacion Civil Uruguaya
             http://aeronavescx.blogspot.com.ar/