Aviation Appreciation Station

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Hey Bigtime, do you know if the new Westjet Max took off out of YYC this afternoon? I thought I might have seen it around 1:30 this afternoon but I was on the other side of the airport and I wasn't sure.

I'm not BigTime, but as far as I am aware (and according to FlightAware) WJ has not taken delivery of the Max 8 yet.

So probably not.

[GoinAllTheWay]

nm....wrong aircraft

[Bigtime]

WeetJet has not taken delivery of a MAX yet, but we are really close. Like maybe this week close. Two of their MAX’s were in the air in Washington state today.

[GoinAllTheWay]

US hits Bombardier with 220% duty:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bomb...duty-1.4308590

The U.S. Department of Commerce has clobbered aerospace giant Bombardier with a hefty 220 per cent duty on the sale of its CS100 commercial jets to a U.S. airline following a trade complaint from an American rival.

Yikes....

[Manhattanboy]

Just want to say to Bigtime and others that although not a true aviation buff I really do enjoy popping into this thread from time to time. Thanks for the interesting stories.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

WeetJet has not taken delivery of a MAX yet, but we are really close. Like maybe this week close. Two of their MAX’s were in the air in Washington state today.

Is WestJet doing anything special to mark their arrival?

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Just want to say to Bigtime and others that although not a true aviation buff I really do enjoy popping into this thread from time to time. Thanks for the interesting stories.

Agreed with this, I know hardly anything about aviation, but really enjoy visiting this thread. Some very interesting stuff gets posted by some extremely knowledgeable people.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Is WestJet doing anything special to mark their arrival?

I haven’t heard anything yet. Heck to the casual observer you wouldn’t even know it’s a MAX versus the Next Gen 737’s.

However I’d at least expect some tweets and Facebook stuff from them when it happens.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

WeetJet has not taken delivery of a MAX yet, but we are really close. Like maybe this week close. Two of their MAX’s were in the air in Washington state today.

That is why I was curious. I know the Max should arrive any day and that it was doing some test flights over the last few days so I thought that maybe today was the day.

[Ryan Coke]

Maybe very soon (Max arrival), if everything goes as planned....

[Art Vandelay]

Look for C-FRAX (301) to be delivered to YYC Thursday evening (28th) and FNAX (302) the next day. *subject to change*

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

That is why I was curious. I know the Max should arrive any day and that it was doing some test flights over the last few days so I thought that maybe today was the day.

787-9 is still 18ish months away, but the improvement in their international routes will be significant . Their antique 767 fleet is ready for the boneyard.

[Bigtime]

WestJet announced the name of their new Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC), Swoop:

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases...648165093.html

"The name Swoop denotes exactly what we plan to do," said Bob Cummings WestJet Executive Vice-President, Strategy and the executive member responsible for the launch of Swoop. "It's a powerful verb that demonstrates we plan to swoop in to the Canadian market with a new business model that will provide lower fares and greater opportunity for more Canadians to travel."

It will be headquartered in YYC.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I haven’t heard anything yet. Heck to the casual observer you wouldn’t even know it’s a MAX versus the Next Gen 737’s.

However I’d at least expect some tweets and Facebook stuff from them when it happens.

With what the states is doing with Bombardier they should just quietly bring it in. But they won't, And we will eat it up.

[Bigtime]

Financial Post article on Swoop, we may even see advertising in the cabin to keep prices low:
http://business.financialpost.com/tr...-carrier-swoop

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Financial Post article on Swoop, we may even see advertising in the cabin to keep prices low:
http://business.financialpost.com/tr...-carrier-swoop

Sounds like a good plan to me. Sell advertising space on the overhead bin doors similar to advertising on the boards at hockey rinks.

[Phil1111]

Originally Posted by Flacker

787-9 is still 18ish months away, but the improvement in their international routes will be significant . Their antique 767 fleet is ready for the boneyard.

Just started construction of a new 125,000 sq/ft hanger worth $50 million to service them.
https://globalnews.ca/news/3762084/w...ional-airport/

[stazzy33]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Not as common anymore, but there are still airlines that name their planes. I recall Lufthansa having names on theirs (Virgin Atlantic too), and I think WestJet may even have one or two named after long time employees that have passed away.

Icelandair names their planes after volcanos in Iceland, good luck pronouncing any of them though.

[stazzy33]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Article in the Herald/Sun about getting the KLM 747 "City of Calgary" here:

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...tliner-to-city

Nice job on the article Bigtime! Hopefully your campaign to bring the 747 here is a success, and that you get some special access to share with all of us!

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by stazzy33

Nice job on the article Bigtime! Hopefully your campaign to bring the 747 here is a success, and that you get some special access to share with all of us!

While I'd love to take credit this is really a bunch of the other folks on our facebook group. When the possibility of the article came up some of them knew I've done media interviews in the past and asked if I'd go for it.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as I mentioned it is gaining some traction over in the Netherlands too. KLM is very spotter/aviation enthusiast friendly so it may actually come to be.