Skywest Airlines has signed a deal with Embraer to order 40 E-175 jets. These will be operated on behalf of United Airlines.

The deal also includes another 60 firm orders which are reconfirmable, and subject to Skywest being awarded Capacity Purchase Agreements (CPA) to operate them on behalf of other US airlines.

Skywest has also taken options on another 100 E-175s, taking the total potential order to 200.

If all 100 firm orders are exercised, the order has an estimated value of USD 4.1 billion at current list prices, representing one of the most significant orders in each company’s histories. SkyWest plans to configure the E175s in a dual-class 76-seat layout, with the delivery of the first aircraft scheduled for the second quarter of 2014.

“This is truly a milestone order for Embraer. As our largest Brasilia and ERJ operator, SkyWest has now selected the enhanced E-Jet for their fleet, validating their confidence in Embraer and recognizing the tremendous capabilities of the E175 as the best aircraft in its class,” said Paulo Cesar Silva, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “I’m confident the technologically advanced E175 will become the company’s flagship, bringing greater efficiency to their operations and a higher standard of comfort to their customers.”

Ethiopian Airlines will commence Boeing 787 Dreamliner service to Brazil from July.

The fairly complex service will route Addis Ababa – Lome – Rio de Janeiro – Sao Paulo

This will be the first Dreamliner service to Brazil, and operates 3x weekly from 1st July.

The Boeing 727 is becoming quite a rare aircraft to see in action these days. Thankfully there are still a number stored and preserved around the world.

Most of the active examples are flown in cargo configuration, with only a few examples still flying passengers (see my Last Chance to Fly ebook for a list of airlines still flying 727s and other rare airliners).

So where can you catch Boeing 727s in action? Here’s a list of some of the airports which have a number of 727s based or visiting regularly.

USA
Memphis, TN – The main super hub for FedEx Express, which is the world’s largest operator of Boeing 727 aircraft. All of its -100 models are gone, but around 40 -200s are still flying and can be seen overnight at Memphis.

Detroit Willow Run, MI – Primarily a cargo airport, Willow Run is home to Kalitta Charters and its fleet of 727-200s.

Florida – A number of 727s operate out of Opa Locka in Florida, including a private example, and also out of Orlando International and Miami International airports.

Colombia
Bogota – One of the world’s busiest airports for Boeing 727 flights. Local cargo operators AeroSucre and Lineas Aereas Suramericanas operate a mixed fleet of -100s and -200s from the airport every day.

I admit, I had to do a double-take when I first read this headline. Brazil’s President, Dilma Rousseff, has announced that she wants to build 800 new airports in the country to tackle its economic slowdown.

However, after looking a little further into the reasoning, it might not be such a crazy idea after all.

The plan is to build an airport within 40 miles of every town and city of 100,000 or more inhabitants. When you think that Brazil has a population of 194 million, and is 17 times bigger than Spain, it starts to make sense.

Brazil’s economy was once booming, but has started to slow. It is also going to be an important few years for the country, as it approaches the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Many of the existing airports in Brazil, such as Sao Paulo Guarulhos, are bursting at the seams and need further capacity. Air transport in the country has grown 120% in the past ten years, and the number of people coming out of poverty has been 30 million in the same period.

It is therefore clear that the infrastructure needs to be improved and expanded. So we’re going to have a lot more places to visit in the future for spotting endeavours!

The Shorts SD-360 was a funny-looking commuter plane. Built alongside its twin Shorts SD-330 type, the 360 can be recognised for having a single fin (compared to the twin fins on the 330).

The aircraft was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland, between 1981-1991, and in total there were 164 examples built.

It was used around the world, popular with commuter and regional airlines in the UK and USA in particular. It was certainly a common sight in my youth, but sadly I never got to fly on the ‘Shed’, as it was commonly referred to. And today, it seems you hardly see them anywhere, save for a few cargo examples.

So, how many are still flying passengers, and where can you fly them? Here’s some information which is covered in the new update of Last Chance to Fly – our book on flying rarer passenger aircraft:

Airlines Still Flying Passenger SD-360s

Asia
Air Seychelles still operates a single Short 360 on its inter-island route to Praslin Island. They used to have a larger fleet of the aircraft.

Deraya Air Taxi operate two Short 360s from their Jakarta Halim base in Indonesia. These aircraft are used on commuter and air taxi flights.

Caribbean
Tiara Air of Aruba has two Short 360 aircraft in its fleet. These fly on routes around the Caribbean.

SAP – Servicios Aereos Profesionales, is a regional airline based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. They have one Short 360-100 which is used on Caribbean routes.

Central America
La Costeña is a regional airline based in Managua, Nicaragua. It has one Short 360 in its fleet, which is flown on domestic routes.

Middle East
Ayeet Aviation & Tourism of Israel operate a single Short 360 aircraft on domestic services within Israel.

North America
Pacific Coastal Airlines, based in Vancouver, have two passenger Short 360’s in their fleet. These fly on services within British Columbia from Vancouver to Comox and Campbell River.

Passenger Examples

SH3602 – YN-CGF, La Costena – Managua, Nicaragua
SH3619 – P4-TIA, Tiara Air – Oranjestad, Aruba
SH3620 – C-GPCF, Pacific Coastal Airlines – Vancouver, Canada
SH3621 – P4-TIB, Tiara Air – Oranjestad, Aruba
SH3622 – C-GPCW, Pacific Coastal Airlines – Vancouver, Canada
SH3672 – HI657, SAP Servicios Aereos Profesionales – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
SH3713 – YV396T, Comeravia – Margarita, Venezuela
SH3724 – S7-PRI, Air Seychelles – Mahe Island, Seychelles
SH3743 – PK-DSS, Deraya Air Taxi – Jakarta Halim, Indonesia
SH3757 – PK-DSH, Deraya Air Taxi – Jakarta Halim, Indonesia
SH3758 – 4X-AVP, Ayeet Aviation & Tourism – Be Er-Sheba, Israel

Last Chance to Fly 2012 – ebook
Our latest book, Last Chance to Fly, is available to buy online now. The digital version of this book lists the world’s rarest passenger aircraft types, and where to find them and fly on them.

Click here to find out more and buy a copy.

The Douglas DC-9-20 was one of the rarer variants of the type, and only ten were ever built.

It was developed for Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and their requirements for short-field takeoffs in remote airports around Norway and Sweden.

The DC-9-20 featured the fuselage of a DC-9-10, but the improved engines and wings of a DC-9-30.

Following service with SAS, some of the examples flew with airlines such as Aeropostal, Spirit Airlines, and Valujet Airlines. However, today only one example is still flying – and believe it or not, you could have a chance of flying on it!

N127NK currently flies as a platform for skydiving with Skydive Perris. It is based at Perris Valley Airport in California. Skydivers make use of the DC-9′s rear stairs, allowing them a clear drop from the aircraft. You can find out more about Skydive Perris here: www.skydiveperris.com

The remaining DC-9-20′s are:
N952VV – Fuselage remains at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
YV-11C – Stored at Caracas, Venezuela
YV-12C – Stored at Caracas, Venezuela
N129NK – Active, Skydive Perris, Perris Valley, CA

For more information about flying on the DC-9-20 and many other rare types of aircraft, see our ebook Last Chance to Fly. Details below…

Last Chance to Fly 2012 – ebook
Our latest book, Last Chance to Fly, is available to buy online now. The digital version of this book lists the world’s rarest passenger aircraft types, and where to find them and fly on them.

Click here to find out more and buy a copy.

In South America’s biggest single aircraft order ever (at list prices), GOL Linhas Aereas has announced its intention to purchase 60 Boeing 737MAX.

At list prices, Boeing says the order is worth $6bn, though airlines routinely negotiate discounts for larger orders.

GOL’s CEO, Paulo Kakinoff, stated: ”The decision to order Boeing 737 MAX is in line with our commitment to maintaining a modern and safe fleet that will allow us to sustain our competitive advantage in the long term.”

Photo from Wikipedia

LAN Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, CC-BBA, becoming the first airline in the Americas to do so. It is also only the fourth airline in the world to take delivery of the type.

The aircraft arrived at Santiago de Chile by performing a low pass, before landing and taxiing under a water cannon salute.

LAN will fly the 787 Dreamliner from its Santiago base to Buenos Aires and Lima initially. These routes start in October.

Then, as more aircraft are delivered, they will be seen on routes to Los Angeles, Frankfurt, and Madrid.

LAN Airlines’ CEO, Ignacio Cueto, stressed the importance of the delivery for the Company and celebrated the benefits this aircraft will have both for the regional aviation industry and the travel experience of passengers:

“LAN is proud to be the first airline in the Americas to receive the 787 Dreamliner,” said Ignacio Cueto, CEO LAN Airlines.   “This is not only a milestone for LAN, but also for all of our passengers that will experience an enhanced LAN in-flight experience thanks to the cutting edge technology and visionary elements of this new aircraft. The Dreamliner will make it possible for us to cover greater distances in a more environmentally conscious and highly efficient  aircraft which will help ensure our sustainable growth“.

The cabin configuration aboard LAN’s first 787-8 will be 217 seats in Economy and 30 seats in Premium Business.

Keep an eye on our 787 Routes page for more planned services.

LAN Airlines is one of the next customers that will start flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

One of the demonstrator aircraft is currently in Chile on the latest leg of its World Tour, so the airline and airports are getting their first look at this fantastic new airliner.

To coincide with this visit, LAN has announced the routes that it will be sending its 787′s on from its Santiago de Chile base. They include:

Buenos Aires
Lima
Los Angeles
Madrid
Frankfurt

These will gradually roll out over the first year of service as more aircraft come on line. The first Dreamliners will join LAN’s fleet from late 2012. The airline will eventually take 32 examples.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner World Tour continues with a bunch of new dates and airports over the next couple of weeks.

You can see the aircraft at the following destinations:

26-31 March – Santiago, Chile (including display at FIDAE Air Show)
1-2 April – Shannon, Ireland for maintenance
2-3 April – Baku, Azerbaijan
3-6 April – Moscow, Russia
6-11 April – Istanbul, Turkey
11-13 April – Madrid, Spain

The aircraft will be visiting airline customers, supply customers and demonstrating to potential customers.