Quite a nice idea. The 2010 edition seems to have some special surprises, like a DC-3 mass fly-in*. I am #1 candidate - even willing to dress up like a stewardess** if need be***! But something warns me we had better not count on it. Politics is so variable, you know, almost as bad as women.
Anyone here knows more about CS-TMT's ETOPS status ?
I've read it flew from BRU to PAP but via Canada. BRU-PAP straight is 4663mi, which should be within its range bearing in mind it only had 60 pax on-baord (but of course tons of cargo and materials and probably heavy bags in cabin).
If it flew via Canada, I assume it doesn't even have an ETOPS 120 ? That would be strange since this bird flew regulary to Afghanistan on behalf of the Royal Australian A.F
There could be several reasons why the A333 landed in Halifax before flying to PAP.
I think BAF602 landed in Canada to refuel or even to pick up additional crews or equipment.
There were more than 60 people on board of this aircraft to start with (in addition to the 60 emergency workers there was also a EU co-ordination team on board, a consul and not to forget several media crews who got a seat on the plane), in addition to that it had a good cargoload.
I tought the BAF A333 was one of the lattest airplanes that landed in Port au Prince. A short time later, the airport was closed because it was too full and there wasn't enough Kerosine anymore to refuel the airplanes. Don't know if this is true, but this is what they said on the radio.
The A333 from BAF (flight BAF602) did get clearance to land on PAP after being held in a holding pattern for above 1 hour. It was actually one of the first to arrive on Haiti from foreign countries (outside the Americas). It is currently still the largest jet sitting on the tarmac in PAP, closely followed by the Air China A332 (which allready departed) and the Icelandair B752 (also still on the tarmac).
The plan is to use the A333 to evacuate people from the Island, in first instance Belgians will be asked if they want to leave but others will also have the chance to board. About 250 people (if uninjured, otherwise the capacity will be reduced) could get the oppurtunity to fly to Brussels (with probably a stop somewhere between PAP and BRU). After this the plane will return to PAP, I'll guess with additional cargo and relief crews.
In mean time, the Belgian Red Cross has chartered a plane that was set to leave for PAP from OST arround 22h00 CET. The flight will be operated by Kallita Air and will leave OST to OSL to pick up additional equipment before flying to PAP. The flight will be operated under flightnumber CKS 216. The Equipment is a Boeing 747.
Flight BAF602 is en route to BRU where it's expected arround 19h30CET. On board are 106 people from different nationalities, including 24 Belgian B-FAST members who are returning. Some B-FAST members remained in Port-au-prince to provide the (Flemish) medical team assistance. Military personnel will leave BRU today and will be heading to POP to provide security for the medical crews on scene.
continental060 wrote:
The other plane is a A310 CA-01 as BAF665
The plane is currently in Canada (Gander Int'l YQX) where it arrived this night. It seems that no flightplan either to PAP or one of the Dominican's airports is filed...
The flightplan has been filed to PAP. The A310 will leave Gander in Canada as flight BAF665 arround 17h10CET (Belgian Time). It is scheduled to arrive at Port-au-Prince (PAP) after a flight of 5 hours arround 16h12EST (Local Haiti Time).
Flight BAF623 (A310) left BRU this morning and has arrived at SDQ after a quick stop at YHZ.
Flight BAF605 (C130) left BRU this noon and is en route to YQB and is probably on his way to PAP or neighbouring airports.
However I found another flight, flight BAF633 (C130) which left KEF this noon and is en route to YQX, don't know if this is also en route to PAP?
Maybe a mod can split the last posts in a new thread regarding the Haiti flights? Thx!
The Belgian army leases an A330 from Hi Fly, at a cost of 12 million euros/year that includes up to 1.500 flight hours.
According to "De Morgen", the A330 has flown only 1.050 hours in 2010, and 1.162 hours in 2011. Without any rebate in the cost of the lease, of course.