Geoff R.

Visited Kemble (Cotswold) Airport today to see that 9M-MMI had already been moved to the scrapping area. Soon it will be no more! 9M-MMI IMG_6524 by helosrgreat, on Flickr[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/39845522@N04/8350061087/] Geoff

Flee - Many thanks for updating this thread and starting the 2013 one. I just spotted one typo - MSN 5430 should be 9M-AQR It's interesting MH took delivery of more aircraft than all of AirAsia last year! If you just look at AK and MH its 7 vs 22 (plus 2 MAS Kargo). Two of AK's aircraft were transferred last year so a net gain of 5 A320s. 17 of MH's aircraft were sold or WFU last year so a net gain of 5 pax aircraft. Geoff

An article in the Financial Times today reports that shares in AirAsia "fell about 27 per cent last year - underperforming the Datastream Asian airlines index significantly, as well as the FTSE Bursa Malaysia". AirAsia Indonesia had a 5 per cent operating margin whilst its Malaysian business had a 19 per cent operating margin. AirAsia has 112 aircraft with more than 300 on order. It expects its fleet to grow to 200 aircraft in five years and 300 in 10 years. The article also discusses the threat posed by Lion Air which could trigger a price war in the Malaysian market which could hit AirAsia's profits. The rather negative article claims "investors may be worried that he (TF) is spreading himself too thinly". However, TF is reported as saying he spends 80% of his time on AirAsia but football is a source of greater worry. Maybe after beating Chelsea last night he is not worrying so much about QPR even if they are still bottom of the table. Geoff

Can anyone tell me where the following airframes that have been withdrawn from service are currently stored? A330 9M-MKF 9M-MKG 9M-MKH 9M-MKI 9M-MKX B747 9M-MPO 9M-MPQ Also, when were MKX and MPQ withdrawn from service? Thanks Geoff

I did five economy flights last November on United (three internal and two transatlantic) and I was very happy with the service. All flights departed and arrived on time or ahead of schedule. Service at check in and onboard was very good so I would be happy to book with United again. Yes you have to pay for food on internal flights if you want it, but the catering on the transatlantic flights was better than MH or BA long haul economy. Geoff

Any news about Eaglexpress since performing Hadj charters in September and October? Geoff

I'm not surprised they are going to order more ATR72s but I wasn't expecting a figure of 36. I wonder over how many years the aircraft will be delivered and if the contract, when it is signed, is made up of orders and options. A signing ceremony at LIMA in March? A good month for ATR with Avation PLC signing for 7 and AviancaTaca for 15 plus 15 options. Geoff

Good news as far as I am concerned - the more companies that are fined the better for this practice. Whatever Air Asia X say to me this type of advertising is intentionally trying to mislead the customer. Geoff

Peter The aircraft were WFU in 1975 and as no reports of them have been seen it is probably reasonable to assume they were scrapped. It is also reported FM1056 and FM1057 were reserialled FM-1504 and FM-1505 respectively. The reserialling of aircraft started in January 1975 so if the new serials were applied to the ex NZ aircraft it would have only been for a short time before their withdrawal. The only aircraft I have a photo of with the new serial range is FM-1501. Unfortunately I don't have any photos of FM1056/FM-1504 or FM1057/FM-1505 so I to would be interested to see any photos people have. FM-1501 (ex FM1051) is the only Dove that remains as far as I know and resides in the TUDM Museum. The aircraft were used for communications and VIP transport, but later, in the early 1970's they were also used as advanced multi-engine trainers at the RMAF Flight School at Alor Star. The aircraft used at Alor Star for training had a dayglo red or orange band on the rear fuselage. Hopefully other people can provide more detailed information. Regards Geoff

You would think the travelling public should have the right to know but don't expect to hear from the DCA. In the interests of safety they will keep it secret Geoff

Mir - thanks for that information. I searched on their facebook page and found photos of these two aircraft posted in July 2011. However, the Bulldog in the photo is 9M-ERR not 9M-EZZ. Also a photo taken in 2010 shows the off-white coloured Bulldog with a bare silver Bulldog airframe alongside it. So it would appear that they have three Bulldogs. Geoff

These are unidentified aircraft for me too. Also heard that an ex PDRM Cessna U206 went to MIAT. True? If so anyone know which one? Geoff

Interesting information. Does anyone have photos of these aircraft? Geoff

Yep very plain and not anything like as good as the current livery which stands out amongst others at airports.

If this was true them Air Asia could get aircraft impounded outside of Malaysia for operating illegally, there insurance cover would probably be invalid and the pilots flying the aircraft would be flying illegally so could face being prosecuted. The story sounds unlikely to me but if it is true they should be grounded until it is renewed and heavily fined.

Great catch - new registration. Skyliner website reports it was ferried YPQ-YYR-KEF-LUX-DLM-DWC 1st to 2nd October. Canadair CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-200LR c/n 7625 ex C-GNBE/D-ACRP/I-ADJD/C-GJYW. Geoff

The two Y-12s were 9M-TAB and TAE. Islanders TAC and TAD were around for quite a few years so I'm surprised there are no photos about. Geoff

Berjaya, I think, used to operate two BN-2B Islanders (9M-TAC and 9M-TAD) in the 1990s. Despite much searching I have not been able to find a photo of either of these aircraft. Anyone here got a picture they can post? Waiting in hope! Geoff

I agree it's a great shot but to be truly "classic" you need a couple of radial piston engines instead of those PT6s. Geoff

Not a special livery but 9M-AQM has "Thank you Louis Gallois" painted on the front port door in appreciation of the former Airbus CEO. Anyone photographed AQM? Geoff

Peter Thanks for the background. Malaysian companies and individuals seem to prefer to operate US registered biz-jets rather than putting them on the Malaysian register gauging by the growing number at Subang. I guess first of type certification costs in Malaysia may also be a factor. Geoff

Good detective work there Mir. So looks like it has replaced 9M-ABC. I wonder if will be put on the Malaysian register. Geoff

It's registered to "Bank of Utah Trustee" and is only six months old. Anyone know who's the real owner of this US$50 million aircraft? Geoff

Thanks Mir Geoff

Thanks for posting the photos Muhamad. Can you identify the 737s and F50 in the background? Geoff