General news

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Air Niugini has cancelled the planned F70 service from Port Moresby to Micronesia (Chuuk and Pohnpei), which was due to start in September 2020. 

The Singapore Air Force has moved their four F50-UTA aircraft to Paya Lebar air base early 2020. The five F50-MPA’s continue to be based at Changi airport. 

After TUS Airways requested that their license be suspended, the Ministry of Transport did so. The airline looks to relaunch operations as a regional carrier in February 2021 after financial support by the government and/or new investors. The airline will be renamed Ela Air Cyprus and focus on business and leisure routes. 

Alliance Airlines announced another domestic route from Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast) to Canberra, twice per week with F100 aircraft.

Fokker F27, Fokker 50 & Fokker 60

Fokker F28, Fokker 70 & Fokker 100

Obviously F50 5Y-CIW (20130) has got a new operator. It used to be part of the Bush Air Safaris fleet, but that company ceased to exist about one year ago. The new operator might be Safe Air Company, but this needs confirmation. Anyway, the aircraft is in service again, still all white. (Mads Oyen; Juba, 5 September 2020)

On 19 September F50E 5Y-MHT (20171) crashed at Mogadishu airport. The aircraft had just departed from Mogadishu for a cargo flight to Beledweyne, Somalia, when it had to return due to hydraulic problems. During the landing it veered off the runway and collided with a concrete wall. Two of the four crew were slightly injured; the aircraft is total loss. Later that day, the front section was cut off and the rest of the aircraft removed by truck. The F50 is believed to be operated by Silverstone Air Services on behalf of Saacid Airlines, a hitherto unknown Somalian airline. However, the formers operating license was withdrawn by the Kenyan authorities in November 2019.  (GoobjoogNews and JacdecNew at Twitter; Mogadishu, 19 September 2020)

As many of the Fokkers registered in Kenya are in storage or derelict, it is a pleasure to see an F50 active, like this 5Y-JXN (20239) operated by Jubba Airways. (Mads Oyen; Juba, 5 September 2020)

In September 2020 the Time Air Historical Society (TAHS) became the legal owner of Fellowship C-FTAV (11106), which has been in storage at Saskatoon after its active service with Canadian Regional ended in August 2002. The airframe was towed from its parking on the grass to a better accessible spot at the airport. There it will be prepared for transport to its new home at Lethbridge, where it will be the star of the Time Air Museum. Transport by road is foreseen for Summer 2021. See further details on https://timeairhs.ca/. (TAHS; Saskatoon 10 September 2020)

After more than 10 years sitting derelict in a corner of Subang Airport, ex-Air Niugini F28-4000 P2-ANR (11207) was eventually parted out. The salvaged parts are to be used as training and simulating aids in the APR Aviation Training Centre. (Amirudin Ab Ghani at Facebook; Subang, 1 September 2020)

Ex-OLT Express D-AOLH (11265) that served for years as a training object for the Saarbrücken airport fire brigade (see Fokkernews 31), was recently cut in two and transported to the premises of Fleugzeugmöbel.de at Marpingen, Saarland. This company produces furniture and interior art objects made from aircraft parts. (Flugzeugmöbel at Facebook; Saarbrücken, 1 September 2020)

Previously we have reported on the registration hassle of the two TUS Airways Fokkers that are currently stored at Groningen-Eelde airport. As mentioned in Fokkernews #33, 5B-DDA (11536) is slated to be transferred to Woensdrecht for continued storage, which is probably the reason why its Cypriot registration was restored to its official form. Sister ship 5B-DDE (11427) still carries the non-existing registration 5-BDDE after the failed transfer to the Guernsey register. (Menno Molenaar; Groningen-Eelde, 12 September 2020)

Very rarely seen outside its home country, Myanma Air Force F70 with serial 003 (11566) paid a two-day visit to Russia. It was captured during departure back home. (Andrey Dudarev; Moscow-Sheremetjevo, 6 September 2020)