Pelair Saabs
 

Can anybody confirm for me if we have three (3) S-340 of Pelair at the ga? Read of EKT,KDB,???. Driving past should have stopped.

There was only 2 as of 2300 last night...haven't seen a third yet

Cheers Nigel, just spoke to someone and he thinks there is a third but couldn`t read it off.

I saw EKT pull into Sydney Monday night, and it parked next to another two Saab's that were painted up the same way but without the big Pelair signage on the side. One had the windows blocked out, the other didn't.

IIRC both EKT and KDB have the windows blocked out, but KDB doesn't have the PEL-AIR signage down the side.

I found this photo of the freighter version of KDB (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28577095@N05/3116436551/) all white and still with Regional Express titles at the front sides but no big "REX" at the rear. KDB was painted about a year ago so no repaint was required. What I know of there are two freighters allready done (EKT and KDB) and I was told that they plan to convert a few more.

REX had 8 340A's up til April 2008 (6 ex Kendells and 2 ex Hazeltons)

1 - VH-KEQ was converted into a freighter in May 2008, repainted in June and exported overseas to Solinair in Slovenia on July 5 2008.
2 - VH-EKT was withdrawn in June and converted into a freighter in July 2008, repainted in August, back in service early December.
3 - VH-KDB was withdrawn on September 19, 2008 and converted into a freighter in November 2008.
4 - VH-KDI was withdrawn on September 8, 2008 and sold to SOL in Agrentina as a passenger plane in Janurary 2009 and exported overseas.

5 - VH-EKD is likely to be sold to SOL in Agrentina as a passenger plane
6 or 7 - VH-ZLY or
6 or 7 - VH-ZRX next Pel-Air conversion
8 - VH-KDK no plans to withdraw from REX service yet (this is the first SF340 ever to fly in the southern hemisphere and be registered in AUS)

Had heard that ZLY and ZRX are to go to PelAir as pax a/c. Can't confirm however.

David.M.

I was at the GA on Saturday to get a pic of the omni DC-10 and also took a picture of this REX painted in pel air colours. (EKT):

EKT has been sitting there for the past couple of days, although when driving past tonight, i dont think she was there. Gone Walkabout.

EKT gone BNE tonight...

Maybe they along with KDK will become Saab 340A/QC (Quick Change layout), so they can be swapped between passenger layout and freight layout just like the Metros, KDO, KAN and KEU in Adelaide. There are a few Saab 340A/QC flying in Europe, Sprint Air is a good example of an operator who has some Saab 340A's that chan be changed between pax and freight and a couple of freighters.

Just found out that Rex is currently in the process of finalising the sale of another two Saab 340A aircraft to a European operator.

Had a good chat with one of the 340A Captains last night - they seem to be about 50% better than the Metro 3's in most ways.
They carry about 50% more payload and they burn about 50% more fuel per hour.
But!
They're only about 10 - 20kts faster and don't fly any higher.
The cockpit is MUCH nicer though, more room and far more advanced.

It looks like Rex will phase all its 340A's out in the next few months which will include a third freighter for Pel-Air.

* ZLY and ZRX have been sold and will go to Sprint Air in Poland. One will be a freighter and the other will remain pax.
* EKD will be sold to Sol Lineas Aereas in Argentina.
* KDK will be converted into a freighter for Pel-Air.

Another for Sol, they must have liked the first one. Any ideas if it will also be painted here in Aus before delivery? Any dates on when these aircraft will ferry out?

I have no clue. Probably before KDK's freighter conversion. I'm pretty sure that EKD will certianly be fully repainted into SOL colours at ABX, it needs a new paint job. SOL is a small regional airline in Argentina established about 4 years ago. They currently have 4 Saabs and no other aircraft types.

KDB is now in the same livery as EKT, with navy blue PEL-AIR titles over a red stripe. The words "Regional Express" still remain unlike EKT which has "Member of the REX Group" stickers. KDK is the last 340A remaining in (limited) REX service is to get its freighter conversion in a few months time once all the other A's have been sorted out. The former KDI is now registered as LV-BTP. REX also has 5 340B's on the market. JRX, XRX, YRX, OLL and OLM.

Are REX dropping those 5 x 340B's due to the downturn? Or are they being replaced with other aircraft?

Last I read REX was in a great position financially and thought they may have held onto any spare a/c until things pick up again.

I know one ADL-based Biscuit Chucker who will be very very very happy to hear that... :)

Nick those Bs are the older ones of that subtype in the fleet... they are gradually being replaced with B+s. Next one: VH-ZLS, currently in Wagga doing whatever it is they do to 'Rexify' the imports before letting them loose on the line.

Yes. They plan to phase the older B's out and replace them with 340B+'s. The only ones that will remain are the 3 A models for Pel-Air. But still expect the older B's to be in service for a while though. The ex KLM cityhopper aircraft JRX, XRX, YRX and OLL are usually Adelaide based but I did see them alot down in Tasmania last month when they were shifted to Melbourne.

Update: The third Saab 340A for Pel-Air is currently undergoing its cargo conversion at WGA. Aircraft registration is VH-KDK which is the first Saab 340 ever to fly in the southern hemisphere. All A models are now phased out.

Not quite yet, there's still one kicking around...

Oh, the suspense!

Yeah spare aircraft VH-EKD. When is it due to fly to BWT?

When the weather clears up, eh Chris??? :p:eek:

Please don't give me that plane next Sunday!

Its highly unlikely you will get it. It only sees very limited service.

But remember, there is almost no interior noise difference between the older and the newer planes. But the newer planes are much better overall in terms on comfort, etc.

I should hope not...Adam and I have a deal...right? ;)

I hope you fly on a B+ model (VH-EKH or any VH-ZL* or VH-ZR* planes with the black hamilton props). You get reclining seats, a more modern interior but you still get that beautiful noise and vibration.

EKD is the only SF34 to have the sheepskin seat covers (which I noticed late last year) but it will probably get the leather seats and overhead lockers from either KDB or KDK (which are now freighters), and much needed repaint before it goes to Sol Lineas Aereas. Aren't SOL lucky. Remember it sees only very limited service. Many major operators have phased out their 340A's.

Some of these A models were a discrace to look at with their terrible old paint jobs like this bugger that snuck up on me when I was at Adelaide last year. (http://www.myaviation.net/search/pho...hp?id=01316045) This plane is long gone.

Oh I hope I fly on the B+ models too. I love the look of the black Hamilton propellers. I hear they have active noise cancelling too? That would fit perfectly with the reclining seats and modern interior. :D

Would you like the left side or the right side? I hope you get the right side.:D

Once that door is closed to the cabin, what would you care! Just as long as you get your tea and coffee! :D

David.M.

The active noise cancelling apparently dosen't do a very good job so its not much quieter than an earlier model. The seats don't recline very far, maybe 5-10 degrees. All pax Saab 340's built from 1994 onwards are fitted with the active noise cancelling system.

It works alot better in a Dash 8 Q300 but I also flew on a 1996 Dash 8 Q200, and it was a bit noisy.

The 3rd Saab for Pel-Air is all completed. I think it went back into service yesterday. It might have allready left or will be leaving Wagga soon joining VH-KDB and VH-EKT.

Its in the PEL-AIR scheme, orange stripe as usual. All windows are filled. Since it has good paint, the aircraft wasn't repainted apart from several paint touch ups that were done to it.

I suppose the news will be out soon anyway ....
Some of you may have noticed that the Pelair Metro fleet isn't as busy anymore. Well as of yesterday the final notice was given - At the end of next month they will all be taken down to Wagga (some are on the way right now) and all but the Metro 23's will be parked. The vast majority of the Metro 3 crews, including me, are losing their jobs.
The downturn has finally got us .... :(

I have no job to go to, so that's the end of my 26 year aviation career. I'm doing one of my last trips to Sydney in one of them tomorrow night.

Sad to hear Bill. Hope something comes up for you in the near future...I find it hard to believe that a pilot with your experience will be out of work for long. All the best to you and the rest of the crews.

Metros, really? - Surely they are very reliable little aircraft. Its a shame this is happening. I see so many Metros parked at Adelaide airport (when I visit there of course).

Anyway the latest Saab is VH-KDK. They have a much bigger capacity than the Metroliners, maybe thats why. A 4th VH-EKD (the spare in the REX fleet) may also be added to the Rex/Pel-Air freight fleet if its not sold to Sol Lineas Aereas in Argentina. It may also be retired from service.

KDB and KDK currently in BNE.

I'm going to Adelaide in a few weeks. Do one of the 340AF's still sit in Adelaide during the day?

Haven't seen one in a few weeks Paul.

David.M.