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Post by JW on Nov 7, 2019 17:23:32 GMT 12
Hi harrysone, Here is the pictures of Convair 580 ZK-KFH taken in September 2016 at Palmerston North airport. |
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Post by harrysone on Apr 13, 2020 10:54:08 GMT 12
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Post by harrysone on Sept 29, 2020 9:59:59 GMT 12
It looks like the end is coming soon:
Kia Ora Everyone,
Great to update you all on our work as we continue our recovery from Covid-19. It has certainly been a challenging time for airline and staff. We really appreciate the support of our loyal regional customers who are also doing it tough through Covid-19.
The pandemic has changed the size of our business and as such we have been required to relook at what we do and how we do it. Through that process we have decided to expedite the transition of the ATR-72 onto the Chatham Islands service. We are excited to announce that this is only a few weeks away from happening. Our beautiful Convairs will remain in operation through until 2021 when we will start to phase them out completely. It will be a sad day when we witness our last Convair service. They have been the backbone of our airline for a quarter century!
We also want to acknowledge our loyal customer base through our brand-new Frequent Flyer Programme called ‘Green Miles’. Earn points every time you fly and use them to fly anywhere on our network….even a holiday to the Chathams!
I hope you enjoy this newsletter. And thanks for your ongoing support!
Ka kite anō and safe travels!
Craig Emeny,
Chief Executive Officer
Air Chathams
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2020 14:02:40 GMT 12
That's sad to hear but, I guess, inevitable. I wonder if any (besides the one a block down from me) will be preserved in NZ? Is there much of a market for them as flyers or spares sources somewhere like Canada?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 30, 2020 14:06:15 GMT 12
I wonder if they intend to retain the DC-3 in service.
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Post by planewriting on Sept 30, 2020 15:16:54 GMT 12
The DC-3 has not been operating scheduled services now for about two years. Late yesterday afternoon however I was out at the airport for about an hour seeing my daughter off. On arrival the DC-3 was just starting up and shut down just as we were leaving. The engineers have been preparing her for the summer $99.00 scenic flight operation based at Classic Flyers. In all, the DC-3 has taken approximately 3000 passengers on Tauranga scenics. Look at www.airchathams.co.nz/our-story/fleet/the-douglas-dc-3 for details. TO MAKE YOUR BOOKING CONTACT CLASSIC FLYERS ph 07 572 4000 email enquire@classicflyersnz.com |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 30, 2020 16:13:08 GMT 12
Oh wow, I thought those scenics were run on days off their scheduled airline route flights. I did not realise it had been taken off the routes. Sad.
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Post by harrysone on Sept 30, 2020 17:35:04 GMT 12
It appears that New cockpit door regulations are the culprit forcing early retirement with the CV580s ...too expensive to fit to elderly airframes when they were scheduled to retire in 2-3 years anyway. Their Alison engines and props still highly priced items, they will fetch quite a bit but airframes probably won’t. One should be preserved for prosperity i reckon!
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Post by planewriting on Sept 30, 2020 20:54:54 GMT 12
Oh wow, I thought those scenics were run on days off their scheduled airline route flights. I did not realise it had been taken off the routes. Sad. I believe the cessation occurred when Whakatane ops were tightened up. As far as Air Chathams is concerned, regarding the DC-3 scenics is concerned, it is cheaper to base it at Tauranga than at Mangere where they paid for it be parked outside. Chief DC-3 pilot Keith Mitchell used to fly in from Christchurch, at cost, whereas as new chief DC-3 pilot, Adrian Whitehead, lives just a few miles away at Papamoa and so his flight schedule is geared to have him home to cover each DC-3 weekend. The other crew are similarly rostered so that they travel down from Auckland together by car. The airline has a house at Whakatane for crew. There is sufficient space to accommodate the regular scheduled Whakatane crews along with the DC-3 folk. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 30, 2020 21:00:03 GMT 12
OK, good stuff. I guess those flights will have been popular with the cruise ship visitors.
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Post by planewriting on Oct 1, 2020 12:06:10 GMT 12
Actually not many people from cruise ships have been on the DC-3. Many overseas visitors to Tauranga had already made bookings to go to Hobbiton or Rotorua as part of their cruise package. Most DC-3 seats are sold in advance however we sometimes can take last minute walk ups. There is now a hop on hop off bus stopping at Classic Flyers and on occasion we have managed to take such passengers.
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Post by JW on Oct 2, 2020 11:31:13 GMT 12
Still one of my all time favourite aircraft. I hope that one of the Convairs gets preserved in a museum.
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zkcif
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by zkcif on Dec 3, 2020 20:20:59 GMT 12
Reports of my demise are over stated! I have avoided becoming your next coke can & in fact had my first road trip in late 2019 from AKL to Castlecliff in Whanganui where I'm retiring under the flight path to eventually become accommodation (lieral Air BnB) I've got my own Facebook page with lots of photos www.facebook.com/zkcif/For my quick life history in 5 minutes watch this video www.facebook.com/zkcif/videos/480623502540855/ |
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 7, 2020 14:48:52 GMT 12
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Post by harrysone on Apr 19, 2021 22:13:17 GMT 12
I’ll put this here as well because it’s relevant Hi Guys, I'm looking for some enthusiastic support here: We have been talking with Duane Emeny at Air Chathams and trying to help him put together some ideas for aviation enthusiast participation with the last Convair 580 (Likely to be ZK-CIB) before she's finally withdrawn from service in early September 2021. The way things stand, KFL is now grounded (her airworthiness certificate expired in November) and CIE is expected to follow at the end of next month. - One good suggestion floated is that CIB flies a charter group from Auckland to Wellington (return) in September and provides pax services to and from Woodbourne to Omaka Airshow daily, or provide enthusiasts a last chance to go for a spin in a classic 1950's prop liner.
- Perhaps as an added to the airshow: she puts in a couple of appearances (missed approaches/flybys etc).
- Any other Pax charter ideas (between now & September), E.G. a group flight to the Chatham Islands ??
[/a] CIB_2 by Harry Follas, on Flickr[/ul] |
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Post by l29 on Apr 20, 2021 14:02:58 GMT 12
Preserved like the other aircraft on the island?
Bad idea!
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Post by harrysone on Apr 20, 2021 17:00:42 GMT 12
So are you offering up your back yard ?  |
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Post by l29 on Apr 20, 2021 19:05:00 GMT 12
So are you offering up your back yard ? I can easily offer several places that would be a hell of a lot better. Flown in and it could continue to be engine run. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 20, 2021 19:18:59 GMT 12
I honestly don't think I have ever seen a Convair in the air. Only parked at Auckland when you drive into the airport. It would be great to see one displayed at Omaka as a swansong, for sure, like the F-27 did.
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Post by markrogers on Apr 20, 2021 23:13:16 GMT 12
In the Chathams? Look what happened to the aircraft there. Salty atmosphere too.
Why not preserve it at Omaka like the Bristol Freighter, and have engine run ups and taxi around at the Classic Fighters Airshow.
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20160920_141556 by Jim ., on Flickr
20160920_141622 by Jim ., on Flickr
20160920_141642 by Jim ., on Flickr
