Thompsomfly is Coming to Auckland!!!

[kismet]

Well not for services anyway

I was searching the web and found this

http://www.airnz.co.nz/aboutus/mediacen ... enance.htm

UK airline Thomsonfly has awarded a US$3 million contract to Air New Zealand's engineering services division, ANZES, for the installation of a new in-flight entertainment system and heavy maintenance checks on nine B767-300 aircraft.

US$3 million seems kinda cheap for 9 planes being checked and refurbished...i think, but anyway it will be good for spotters at Auckland seeing a new visitor to the aiport, and its great for New Zealand to have won the deal too....

[ardypilot]

it will be good for spotters at Auckland seeing a new visitor to the aiport

Awesome! This is the best news I have heard all day. In fact, I might just pop down to the airport tomorrow and try and catch one of these rare beautys! Problem is- there flights are not listed on the NZAA International Arrivals page, as these flights properly are not carrying any pax!

Oh well, I guess I will just have to look up in the sky for those bright blue fuselages, and listen on my scanner for their callsign! In the mean time, if anyone knows any further details (towerguy?), then please post here.

US$3 million seems kinda cheap for 9 planes being checked and refurbished

I wonder how much it is costing them to keep the 767's out of service and fly them half way around the world and back? I also wonder what route they take from the UK? How many stops do you reckon they need to get here- I know a 747 needs only 1, and I suspect the new 777's need 0!

By the way, I have proberly flown on one of the 767's arriving here, when Thomsonfly was called 'Britannia' back in 1996

[Zöltuger]

hmmm. 767's are old hat really, but they must be prolonging them for a reason.
according to the Boeing website, the -300ER can clock up 6000nm with (presumably) a standard load. so maybe just the one stop?

[FlyingKiwi]

Hmmm interesting, I'll have to go out and have a look for one.

[AlisterC]

Very cool news, hope someone will post up some pics

[rAj]

Here she is inside the ANZES Hangar

[Zöltuger]

you got the first photo, nice work

[rAj]

Thanks Zoltuger.
I was Expecting to See it parked outside the ANZES hangar, But they Had Actually Put it into the Hangar Right Away.

[ardypilot]

Well done on getting the first photo on NZFF Raj- I was expecting to see something from you!

Did you manage to get any landing shots of the 767? I saw it flying over my house Saturday afternoon, but didn't grab my camera in time...

[rAj]

Hey Trolly,
On Saturday (11/11/06),I went out spotting from 9a.m. to 6p.m.Expecting Thompson to Arrive.But it only arrived at 8p.m. So i didn't Manage to get it.I went out to the Airport on Sunday Afternoon and Got That Shot of it in the Hangar.

[ardypilot]

went out spotting from 9a.m. to 6p.m.

Oh ok, I must have seen a different plane fly over my house then.

I was sure it was a blue 767 I saw on Saturday, but perhaps my eyes were playing tricks on me as I was expecting to see the Thompsonfly fuselage. Anyway, I must have been wrong because I remember it overhead at about 2-3pm that day. I wonder what it was that I saw...?

[Jimmy]

hmmm. 767's are old hat really, but they must be prolonging them for a reason.
according to the Boeing website, the -300ER can clock up 6000nm with (presumably) a standard load. so maybe just the one stop?

Depends on the engins, what do thompsonfly use? I once read the range can vary up to 3000nm with eather of the two engine types (or was it three differnat certified engins for the 763..)

76s are quite oldish but boeing says the 787 is going to "replace" it. So would anz be phasing out the 763 anytime soon, well soon as in quite a few years?

Well done getting that photo rAj

[Zöltuger]

i think they're phasing them out now, the A320 and 777 are taking their workload over

[Timmo]

US$3 million seems kinda cheap for 9 planes being checked and refurbished...

Maybe that is why they got the contract

[ardypilot]

There seems to be quite a few rare 767 vistors to Auckland at the moment, with the old ex-ANZ one's being painted in the Flyglobespan livery and flown off to Scotland.

And also, the 18 strong fleet of Hawaiian heavies are being serviced at NZAA at the moment. There's a photo of N58OHA sitting outside the big 'GO ALL BLACKS' hanger on page 5 of the September 'New Zealand Aviation News' magazine (which I recently discovered on sale at the airport and reckon that it's the best aviation mag this country sells)

[mavman]

NZ are leasing a B737-300 off Thomsonfly next year for a few months. It will remain in Thomsonfly's full livery with Air NZ decals beside the forward entry door (1L). Will add some colour to the local scene.

[ardypilot]

NZ are leasing a B737-300 off Thomsonfly next year for a few months. It will remain in Thomsonfly's full livery with Air NZ decals beside the forward entry door (1L). Will add some colour to the local scene.

Oh ok, I hope to snap that one some day on my camera then!

Any idea the reason behind leasing another 733 off them?

[Bluebird]

Hey Guys


Just looking at that photo and wondered how long AMS has been based at Auckland for .. Last place i saw them was Amsterdam [Schiphol] if anyone could full me in that would be great??


Todd

[ardypilot]

Just looking at that photo and wondered how long AMS has been based at Auckland for

AMS?

[Bluebird]

Hi Trolly


They do all the work on KLM just saw in that photo there is a sign saying AMS

Todd