Gee what's wrong with sitting at home in Arizona, wish I could...the Downside Risk for a few Jack on the rocks...mmm :ok:

Indeed, Ironbutt57, mmmmm, good!:)

AU is a nice gig for a retirement job, work a few months, take a month or so for vacation.
Pay is not bad either, and the management seems agreeable to the arrangement.
It could also develop into a permanent position for those so inclined...and the salary for this ain't bad either.;)

Sorry to disappoint you old man. I've been in command for 20+ years now in both military and commercial ops. And I might add for a major carrier not for a UK banned dump that can be taken out by a misplaced catering truck! :yuk:

Beware of the Skygod.
Methinks that besides being a better person, CMF is a better aviater as well.:yuk:

>>I've been in command for 20+ years now in both military and commercial ops. And I might add for a major carrier....<<

ROFLMFAO.....:p

As may be suspected, the catering truck was probably parked.

Aw, kids.. I told you not to fight.. :ok:


Never mind me, its cool to look at grown-ups fighting about "thinghs".

From today's Cyprus Mail online edition:

Cyprus’ first 747 to land in Larnaca on Monday
By Leo Leonidou

THE FIRST Cyprus-registered Boeing 747 is expected at Larnaca airport on Monday, it has been announced.

One of the biggest planes ever to land on the island, the Air Universal Cyprus Boeing 747-200B series, registration number 5B-AUD, is expected at around midday. According to Nicos Pavlides, the airline’s Director of Engineering, “the final details of the flight plan for the arrival have not yet been finalised. The plane, purchased from All Nippon Airways of Japan, will be offloading some equipment and spares at the airport and then continuing on to Paphos where it will remain for a few days.”
Air Universal, first set up in Jordan 2002, was registered in Cyprus in 2004. The company is currently in the final stages of obtaining its air operator’s certificate, which will clear the airline to fly commercially from Cyprus. A recent delay has been caused by a memorandum of understanding not being signed on time between Cypriot and Greek civil aviation authorities.

Pavlides went on to say that: “After we obtain the certificate, we plan to introduce a second sister 747 to our Cyprus operations and have future plans for more planes. The basic idea is to join Larnaca and Paphos airports with destinations in the United States, Canada, Australia, China, India and Latin America.”

The company has just reviewed and finalised its business plan and final destinations, with details to be announced shortly.

Last year, the airline’s president Talal Abu Reyal said: “We want to connect the West and the East using Larnaca airport as a hub.”
He said he had selected Larnaca as his base because of its geographical location at the crossroads of three continents. This was combined with the fact that Cyprus had recently joined the EU, also a strong selling point in its favour.
Abu Reyal added that Universal’s long-haul scheduled flight plans would not clash with Cyprus’ domestic carriers, which fly only short-to-medium routes to Europe and the Middle East.

The Boeing 747-200B series can carry up to 480 passengers, is 232 feet in length, 60 feet high and has a wing span of 196 feet. It is powered by four General Electric CF6-50E2 engines, one of the most reliable jet engines in operation.


Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2006

Good News. Air Universal seems to be heading in the right direction.

Here's an article from today's Cyprus Mail online edition, which I am sure will "clear" this matter up and answer your question. :hmm:


Air Universal 747 blocked from landing in Cyprus
By Leo Leonidou

THE FIRST Cyprus-registered Boeing 747 has been refused permission to land at Larnaca or Paphos Airports.

One of the biggest planes ever to land on the island, the Air Universal Cyprus Boeing 747-200B series, was expected on Monday but has been repeatedly refused a permit from Civil Aviation Cyprus.

A source close to the airline explained that the plane was ready to fly to Larnaca from Karachi, but a telex was sent by the Cypriot authorities to their Pakistani counterparts asking for the plane to be denied permission to land in Cyprus.

“They are saying that Air Universal Sierra Leone is on a European Commission blacklist of 92 airlines considered to be unsafe and are thus refused entry into European airspace.”

The source said that Air Universal Cyprus and Air Universal Sierra Leone are “two completely different companies with different aeroplanes, shareholders, management and staff.

“The only link they share is the Chairman.”

He added that the plane would not be carrying passengers but would be offloading some equipment and spares at the airport.

To complicate matters, the jumbo was cleared to land in Athens in the early hours of yesterday morning.

“This proves that the civil aviation authorities in Cyprus are wrong,” he said. “Why is the plane allowed to land in Greece, which is also an EU country?”

Airline industry expert Gerry Butt said this could possibly be a case of mistaken identity.
“If Air Universal Cyprus and Air Universal Sierra Leone are completely different, then I don’t understand what the problem is.”

But Makis Constantinides, the Permanent Secretary at the Communication and Works Ministry said there “is a link between Air Universal Cyprus and Air Universal Sierra Leone, and that link needs to be looked into. We have been liaising with the European Commission and expect their response any moment now.”

When asked to comment as to why the aircraft was given clearance to land in Athens, Constantinides declined.

The jumbo is currently still in Athens awaiting flight instructions.

Air Universal, first set up in Jordan 2002, was registered in Cyprus in 2004. The company is currently in the final stages of obtaining its air operator’s certificate, which will clear the airline to fly commercially from Cyprus.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2006

I dont see Air universal on the blacklist at all.
Am I missing something here?

It is just that all airlines from Sierra Leone are banned. Its funny how Air Universal flies regularly to Amsterdam for Maintenance checks by KLM. A double Standard for sure.

is She still stuck in Athens?

I saw it yesterday (27/4/06), in Athens (LGAV) airport, near the cargo appron.:}

Locust, there has been no recent news about further developments, as reported by the english-language Cyprus press.

But, reading the other articles regarding the rebranding of Helios and about the accident report due out soon, it is obvious that there is a big shakeup in the Cyprus CAA. They must get things up to speed, if they are to become a southern European base for Arab airline operations.

Also, while I am not privy to any behind the scenes negotiations and know nothing concrete about this, if I were involved with the Greek CAA (not Cypriot), I would approach the Arab airlines and offer Athens as an even better alternative for them. I wonder if the Greek government has thought of this!

Locust, I agree with you. And I am speaking very generally about Arab airlines, not just this one. Watching and reading the news from this neck of the woods reveals closer and closer business ties between the Greeks and the Arabs, which is why this popped into my mind in the first place. And, let's face it, Athens is in just as good a position as Cyprus, so why not fish for the business. It seems that all the Middle East airlines are looking to expand and to increase flights to Europe. Athens sounds like a pretty good option to me, and they have a super infrastructure with a new airport. I am told that their rates are high, but I'd bet something could be worked out!

ANy updates? did she make it to Cyprus?

Saw two parked up at KHI this week!

Was in ATH yesterday, she's still parked there !:confused:

I believe Captain Jaser the current DFO is ex DG CAA Jordan. Maybe they have a new face for the European operation. Declaring medical incapacitation? i doubt that. Somebody just wants to hurt the poor guys.