Fokkernews May 2024 (issue 77)
General news
A hitherto unknown Fokker 50 operator seems to be established in Ethiopia. Two F50s, white with a red tail and large 'Red Stars' titles were seen parked at Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia from July 2022 on. Any further info is most welcome.
Recently Air Niugini took delivery of their third Boeing 737-800. Together with the eleven Airbus 220s on order these will form the replacements of the current Fokker 70 and 100 fleet.
Fokker F27, Fokker 50 & Fokker 60
| c/n | type | new registration | registration | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20335 | 50 | D6-AIB | R'Komor. The airline's permit was temporarily suspended due to disagreement between the CAA and the airline over F50 maintenance. Shortly after the permit was restored, the F50 was substantially damaged in an accident on 5 May 2024, only three months after a previous runway excursion. When accelerating at Mohéli airport for a flight to Anjouan, the crew rejected takeoff at high speed, presumably due to a burst tire or landing gear malfunction. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and came to a stop between the vegetation with the right main gear collapsed. There were 52 persons on board, a number of whom were injured, varying from serious to minor. | |
| ?? | 50 | ET-AYZ | Red Stars Aviation. See photo section below. | |
| ?? | 50 | ET-AZG | Red Stars Aviation. See photo section below. |
Fokker F28, Fokker 70 & Fokker 100
| c/n | type | new registration | registration | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11106 | 1000 | C-FTAV | Time Air Historical Society (TAHS). After having been disassembled at Saskatoon, the F28 started its final journey on 26 April. A convoy of three trucks and seven other cars brought it to Lethbridge, a 700 km trip that took four days. The Society members will reassemble and restore it for preservation. It will become the showpiece of the TAHS Museum in Lethbridge in the stunning Time Air Silver Jubilee livery. | |
| 11334 | 100 | VH-FNC | Virgin Australia Regional Airlines. This F100 has not flown since 30 April 2024, so apparently it receives some maintenance prior to the planned delivery to Alliance Airlines. |
This 54-year old cargo Friendship 500 is still extant, but in a rather poor condition. D-ACCS (10434) had its last flight with SkyTeam in 2002 and is stored in open air since. (Simon Kurz; Karlsruhe / Baden Baden, 23 April 2024)
The very last built F50 has ended its operational life in a very unlucky manner. On 5 May R’Komor D6-AIB (20335) overran the runway after an aborted take-off from Moheli airport (Comores). It ended up in the bushes with considerable damage to undercarriage and fuselage. (Comores Infos and Moheli Matin; Moheli airport, 5 May 2024)
The number of unidentified F50s in East Africa has increased by two. Fortunately both Red Stars Aviation aircraft were photographed recently, but as yet we do not know their construction numbers: ET-AYZ (Paul Williamson; Addis Ababa, 21 May 2024) and ET-AZG (Tamas Vekony; Dire Dawa, 25 May 2024)
The Time Air Historical Society has transported former Canadian Regional F28 C-FTAV (11106) from Saskatoon to Lethbridge. Pictured are the convoy on its way and the “last flight” when the F28 was lifted off the truck. (Alex Praglowski; en route in Canada and Lethbridge, April 2024)
One of the F70s of Fly AllWays, PZ-TFC (11579), received minor damage when its horizontal stabilizer was hit by the winglet of taxiing Northern Air Cargo B767 N379CX. The flight to Georgetown, Guyana, was done by a replacement aircraft. (Waterkant; Paramaribo, 15 May 2024)
Credits
All photographers named above, Aviation Herald, Aviation Safety Network, Aviator.aero, Merv Crowe, Frank Ellemers, Facebook, Walter de Groot, Jan Homma, Greg Hyde, Thomas Jung, Time Air Historical Society on Facebook, Henk Wadman.
Maak jouw eigen website met JouwWeb