Planes and stuff

Still haven't been to the airport this month for some spotting so, tought that a memory from exactly 10 years ago, would be nice for this week's photo (which is already quite late...) Back in Oct, 23rd 2015, Monarch was still flying... A321 G-OZBZ arriving to runway 23, after some rain.. More of this day, HERE With its first flight in 2001, this airplane had some life but, unfortunatelly, has been scrapped in August 2024

In lack of spotting sessions recently, went for my archives to check for unpublished pics...find a few ones from November, 9th 2015...these couple of ones called my attention...after all you can't get these anymore.... Monarch's A321 G-MARA, landing on runway 05, by the end of the afternoon....

Yeah...I know it's a corny title... ;) Anyway, just as Thomas Cook Uk resumed its flights to Madeira I tought of getting this one. After all, allways liked Monarch's livery (specially on the A321) and (in my opinion) this hybrid livery looks a lot better than the regular Thomas Cook one.... Despite the good weather a few km from the airport, at LPMA it was dark and raining... Didn't managed to get the landing but, still managed a quick touch&go of my own for its departure... G-TCVB (former Monarch's G-ZBAE) pushing back to ruway 05 Departure with the beacons :) Not too shiny but still, hardly ever get them, so it's nice enough :)

One year after beeing in a dificult situation, looks like Monarch has really hit the end... Monarch has confirmed that the following companies have ceased trading and now entered administration: Monarch Airlines Ltd Monarch Holidays Ltd (ATOL Number 2275) First Aviation Ltd (ATOL Number 4888) previously trading as Monarch Airlines Avro Ltd (ATOL Number 1939) Somewhere2stay Ltd Other airline planes are beeing positioned to retrieve the passengers abroad. A320 G-ZBAP landing at Madeira's runway 05 This was taken one year ago, when it seemed like it would be its lasts flights.... Managed to keep flying for one more year, but now it looks like it's really the end of the line for Monarch....

Looks like Monarch celebrates its 49th Aniversary today! Happy Birthday and long life! A small selection of Monarch pics around here...More? Check HERE A320 G-ZBAP A320 G-ZBAH on final to runway 05 G-ZBAH departing from runway 23 A320 G-OZBY entering the apron trough "Charlie"... A321 G-OZBP with white tail on short final to runway 23 G-ZBAH

From one month ago, the sequence of Monarch's A320 G-ZBAH landing on runway 05 over runway's treshold, with some nice reflections on the fuselage all out for the stop, sill with the front wheel up

Um par de fotos do dia da Operação Estrelícia... Em dia escuro e de chuva e com tráfego habitual..."inventei" em algumas fotos, tentando alguns pannings... Ficam 2 desse dia...não são fantásticos mas, suponho que podiam ter ficado piores... (outras desse dia ficaram...hehe) Monarch A321 G-OZBM Thomson B738 G-FDZE

Heading to Amsterdam - Schiphol, Transavia B738 PH-HSE taxies on taxiway Charlie to runway 05, with a Monarch in the back, taxiing to the gate, after landing on that runway.

Ah...the colorful variety of British tails.... :) Monarch and Easyjet tails on a Madeira monday morning.... Just kidding...there were times the tails were a lot more colorful and with a lot more diversity but this one looked nice on the double to share now :)

Como referi na entrada referente ao 16703 (ver AQUI ), na passada segunda-feira foi dia de matar saudades do C-295. Numa altura em que esperávamos ouvir no rádio o "Snout" (C-295 de transporte), fomos surpreendidos pelo Medic36 em mais uma MEDEVAC do Porto Santo, com o extra de, depois de vários anos a spottar o C-295 por cá, ter sido a primeira vez que o apanhei a aterrar na 23: 16706 sobre a cabeceira da 23 com o vento fraco e a urgência, a opção foi de aterrar na pista mais próxima, evitando a volta até à 05 O regresso ao Porto Santo foi feito pela 05, com o taxi a ser feito pela pista, enquanto o A321 da Monarch G-ZBAD iniciava igualmente o taxi para o holding point da 05, no Charlie.  Descolagem no ponto certo para umas fotos :)

Hoje, ao contrário da habitual entrada diária única, deixo mais uma publicação, relativa à saída do Monarch da tarde, para Londres-Gatwick, visto que a bordo, estava outro companheiro entusiasta de aviação... A321 G-ZBAD, acabado de fazer o push-back para a 05, tinha ao seu lado o Medic36 (C-295 16706) a fazer na pista o backtrack para a cabeceira da 05, a fim de descolar para o Porto Santo com prioridade em relação ao avião da Monarch Descolagem do G-ZBAD...espero que a viagem tenha sido boa ;)

With the possibility of Monarch's shut down, made an effort to catch them a few more times before it might be gone... A320 G-ZBAP was the last plane coming before the deadline to renew its license ... After all, they got an extension (glad they did...) and these days the main concern is regarding Tuifly, which, by the way, has its Basel flight of the day canceled..... On final to runway 05 smoke on! :)

After all this time coming to Madeira, I can still manage to make some first shots on Monarch.... This was the first time I got a Monarch A321 with sharklets...(and considering the news...could well be the last...hope not...) G-ZBAM already over runway 05 treshold... Following this one (about an hour later) there was G-OOBE, still "wearing" the November Moustache, wich I didn't photographed yet but, unfortunatelly couldn't wait for it....

After all the fuss about the eventual shutting of Monarch, last weekend, they're still flying but looks like the airline situation is still not quite clear, as according to some news, they still have to revalidate the licence up to Friday and financial backup is not guaranteed.... Let's wait and see (and hope for the best...) So, pic of the week dedicated to Monarch with a shot from last October, with A321 G-OZBZ reversing with a wet runway: A few more Monarch shots HERE

Like I mentioned many times before, love the late afternoon take-offs from runway 23, even if the take off is a bit early, like this one... Monarch's A320 G-ZBAH from 23 with Ponta de S.Lourenço in the back

Yesterday morning started as a dull day so, decided to try out some pannings on runway 05 take-offs... 2 out of 3 planes it's not bad (at least for me...), even if only 1 shot per plane turned out ok on these 1/25 pannings: Thomas Cook Belgium A320 OO-TCH, departing to Brussels Monarch A321 G-OZBG

A shot from yesterday afternoon...the wind was a bit strange, with tail wind on final to runway 05 and sometimes a bit crossed, after crossing the treshold... Monarch A321 G-OZBH came in for what it seemed a regular landing with a regular touchdown...but, after touchdown it gained some altitude and the crew decided to give it power to go-around....off to FUSUL before giving it another (successful) try.... climbing out runway 05, on a go-around...

Someone said that rain provides the conditions to nice pics....yeah...if it's not dull and dark... Most of last Thursday morning was on the dull side but, got lucky with the arrival of Monarch's A320 G-OZBY, after some rain and with a little bit of shy sun...all together with the new tarmac and fresh markings made some really nice refletions... Photo of the Week, with some nice red reflections...  Entering the apron, trough taxiway Charlie, after landing on runway 23

This morning we had a couple of 2 Easyjet's with special livery so made a run to the airport to get the 4 in a row British planes that were arriving around the same time... G-EZOL with the 250th special livery, arriving from London Gatwick G-EZUG with the Moscow titles, arrving from Bristol British Airways G-GATR arriving also from London Gatwick  Monarch's A321 G-MARA arriving from Birmingham Airbus rulling on these British airlines....

After a few days of intense rain, this morning the sun was shinning at Madeira airport and, for the pics, the after rain clean morning air and light it's pretty nice! Easyjet's Amsterdam special livery (G-EZDN) has been based at Lisbon for a few days and already made a few Lisbon-Madeira-Lisbon trips but until this morning didn't have the oportunity to get it... But...for now, a few shots of the Monarch's A321 arrival from Birmingham, more on the Easyjet, later.... G-OZBZ spraying some water, after landing on runway 23