Pionair buys BAe 146s from WDL

[Greg Hyde]

Australia’s Pionair, which recently bought three BAe 146-300QTs freighters from WDL Aviation, has also bought two 146-200 passenger aircraft from the German airline. The first of these, D-AZFR (msn E2108), left Köln on delivery on 8 November, still wearing the basic livery of previous operator Cello Aviation but without WDL’s titles and logo. She reaching Australia, at Darwin, on 11 November. She then continued on to Pionair’s base at Bankstown on 12 November, but at the last minute had to divert to Sydney Kingsford Smith due to low visibility caused by the forest fires currently raging in the area. D-AZFR had been idle at Kökn for some time, since the end of her lease to Greece’s Sky Express and a subsequent brief stint flying for Flybe in mid August. However, prior to leaving for Australia she had her last hurrah operating a series of charters in Italy in late October and early November. Sistership D-AWUE (msn E2050) will follow D-AZFR to Australia in late November, leaving only D-AMGL (msn E2055) in service with WDL.

[Sean L]

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde

Australia’s Pionair, which recently bought three BAe 146-300QTs freighters from WDL Aviation, has also bought two 146-200 passenger aircraft from the German airline. The first of these, D-AZFR (msn E2108), left Köln on delivery on 8 November, still wearing the basic livery of previous operator Cello Aviation but without WDL’s titles and logo. She reaching Australia, at Darwin, on 11 November. She then continued on to Pionair’s base at Bankstown on 12 November, but at the last minute had to divert to Sydney Kingsford Smith due to low visibility caused by the forest fires currently raging in the area. D-AZFR had been idle at Kökn for some time, since the end of her lease to Greece’s Sky Express and a subsequent brief stint flying for Flybe in mid August. However, prior to leaving for Australia she had her last hurrah operating a series of charters in Italy in late October and early November. Sistership D-AWUE (msn E2050) will follow D-AZFR to Australia in late November, leaving only D-AMGL (msn E2055) in service with WDL.

I haven't seen D-AZFR at SYD.

[David C]

Originally Posted by Sean L

I haven't seen D-AZFR at SYD.

I don’t believe it diverted . I heard it on Bankstown ground freq getting clearance to cross rw 29R shortly after landing .

Dave C

[Greg Hyde]

This came from an overseas publication (note: Forest rather than Bush fire)

Checking the flight, it did not divert.

[Yusef D]

Are these for pax or freight ops?

[Greg Hyde]

I expect freight and spares