First Commercial Afriqiyah Airways A330 Flight : LGW

[Gunship]

Departing TIP today 18 Aug 09 in plus minus 15 minutes.

Arrival plus minus 1000 Z

Enjoy

[Gunship]

Getting ready :

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d180/idoitmyway69/DSC09292.jpg

[PilotsOfTheCaribbean]

That is amazing!
An A330 being refuelled and some baggage bins parked alongside.

Flying to Gatwick as well? Fantastic!

[simonchowder]

Looks like a GPU is providing ground power as well, and there a fire engine there just in case

[Gunship]

And of course stairs for the pax to board :rolleyes:

Aircraft landed 1223 local.

[smudgethecat]

Is that plus minus 12.23 or just plain old 12.23??

[PilotsOfTheCaribbean]

Imagine that!

Will its itinerary be an ongoing thing, or is this just a one off?

In case anyone is wondering those number nines on the tail represent the date of the signing of the Sirte declaration forming the "African Union," that being the 09th of September 1999. With some irony that is one "nine" more than the number to ring emergency services in the country this otherwise nondescript airliner is flying to. Perhaps 17.04.84 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Fletcher) would have been a more fitting reminder!

Maybe this "gentleman" (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090818/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_lockerbie) will be able to provide a report on the new service?

How about a new set of tail numbers? Say 19.09.89 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTA_Flight_772)

[SpringHeeledJack]

Wow, politics and sarcasm in the spotter's forum..... :rolleyes:

I imagine that Guns (who might just be involved in this new route) wanted to give a heads up to any spotters who might wish to see this exotic airline show it's face in the UK, perhaps with a bit of pride attached as well of a successful job done. That's all.

Hey Guns, it almost makes you wish that you'd stayed on the boards back then ? ..... Eish!


SHJ

[RoyHudd]

Gatwick looks dusty

[Gunship]

No worth answering cr@p but for the spotters out there it was just a "once off" and "First Commercial Flight " of an 8U A330 and it so happened that it was to LGW.

Tx to the head's up I hear there was quite a few spotters and camera's waiting. The aircraft overnight in Ben Gazi last night (out of interest).

Today we have more pax than what a A319/320 can take to CDG so for the spotters in CDG - today is the inauguration "once Off" flight to CDG.

The aircraft will be utilised on pre-route flights until it's "inauguration Long distance flight" to JHB, SA on 18 Sept 09 (inshalaha).

Now have a good day.

[Avman]

Don't take offence Gunship. Some people seem to forget that this is the spotters (or enthusiasts) forum. Others are just teasing. Keep posting and ignore the idiots ;)

[Mr Angry from Purley]

Smudge Z or local.
Hudd And yeah LGW lok's as though it's been nuked or something last time i went spoooters couldn't see a thing due big bad fence
Gun - nice plane and photo well done :\

[Charley B]

Rumour from another forum-todays arrival is an A 330 !!!!

Will hopefully see it depart if 8R stays all day:)

ETA a bit late 11.22 local time