Planes and stuff

This is a post on request from Paulo Olim, Asas Madeira Blog . ;) He asked for Aerocondor pics at Madeira. This was one of the airlines that assured the Madeira-Porto Santo flights. I don't now exactly during which years they made this route but I'll try to get exact dates and post later. I don't know if I really got all the planes they used at Madeira but I'm pretty sure I did.... The most used type was the Shorts 360...(ugly box....) with CS-TMN and CS-TLJ Sometimes they also used the Do-228, a litle plane that I allways enjoyed seeing. Only caught it once or twice and was used usually due to mechanical problems with the Shorts. The other plane they used (not for long) was an ATR-42, which they even said it would be used on regular basis for the Madeira-Porto Santo but by then, things were going really down with the company and it never made more than a few days or weeks on the route.... The "Moscas" (Flies) was also operated by Aerocondor. It...

One of the airlines that returned for the Winter season at Madeira was Primera. These couple of shots were still on the original photos folder without any processing or uploading to anywhere....

This week was looking at some Corsair shots at Madeira, and thinking that hadn't seen latey any pics from Corsair besides those famous ones from St.Marteen landings with the 747... Went to Airfleets  and noticed that indeed now they only have long-haul planes....747 and 330's..... So, I guess that pics like these are now even more Aviation History.... Photographed in 2004....

Low........

Only recently, in Lisbon, during the vacations I noticed that Sata 's CS-TKL was already wearing new colors... After that, finally took some shots of it a few days ago, as it was lining up in runway 05. (runway's slope is quite visible against the horizont)

Last Sunday, had the intention to go for the landing of TP131, TAP's A330 from Lisbon to Caracas, via Madeira. But, you know Sundays...no schedulles and no speeding up for nothing.... Didn't manage to get the landing so, decided to go for the take-off. After a small stop behind the apron to check the traffic, moved to a higher location for the A330's take-off. Rotating in runway 05 This one's is a bit far away and with less quality but it's definitely an amazing banking against the cliffs of Ponta de S. Lourenço....

Looks like Livingston is another airline passing an hard moment. Let's hope it can still maintain it's doors open.... Livingston has one of the most interesting liveries I've ever had the oportunity to photograph. Only managed to spot it once, back in 2008, at Porto Santo. That year, they were making the Italian flights to that Island (now beeing made by boring blue Neos...) Caught it in the early morning in the first of its 2 flights, arriving from Verona (after which it would depart to Milan, back to Porto Santo and return to Verona). A fantastic balcony for the spotting practise at Porto Santo. Too bad there traffic is almost non-existent... (Actually I guess that most of the traffic they receive is during winter, with diverted planes from Madeira, due weather conditions....) Departing to Milan The afternoon flight, back from Milan and preparing to return to Verona...

The same day I went for the Austrian Star Alliance , I also had the luck to get a couple of planes from Portuguese Air Force with a special meaning. Wednesdays are usually C-295 day at Madeira. This day I had the extra of getting at Madeira, not only the C-295 but also, at the same time, the AM3 C-212 that was making a Medevac from Porto Santo. The special meaning of this: The C-212 won't be lasting too long on duty with the Portuguese Air Force, as it will be replaced by the C-295 anytime soon... After delivering the evacuated person to the ambulance, taxiing back to runway 05... Early take off...

Looks like Blue Line was another airline that didn't manage to survive these "cloudy" days.... They weren't a regular airline around here but still managed to get some shots of it during the years.... Check HERE for a few more pics.... The best of lucks for all the employees on the next stage.....