Continental Express ERJ-145

Operated by ExpressJet on behalf of Continental. ExpressJet has a fleet of over 270 ERJ's that will be reduced in the upcoming months to around 200.

TAGS: plane spotting, aircraft spotting, ERJ-145, Continental Express Airlines, regional jets

Small

A-340 making its ways into the pattern as a mid-afternoon storm moves off to the east.

TAGS: clouds, aircraft pictures

Cessna TU206

Don't see a ton of these landing at Pearson. Great looking Cessna amphibian. Based on this report from the TSB, not all landings for this particular aircraft are as smooth as this one:

Synopsis
At 0936 eastern daylight time, a Cessna TU206G amphibious float-equipped aircraft, registration C-GGSG (the aircraft in the picture), was approximately three nautical miles west of Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA), Ontario, on approach to Runway 05, and was cleared to land and hold short of Runway 33L. About one minute later a Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 aircraft, registration N773NC (Flight No NWA971) was authorized to taxi to position on Runway 33L for departure. Shortly thereafter, the airport controller advised NWA971 that a Cessna 206 would land and hold short of Runway 33L, and then issued the take-off clearance.

After the Cessna 206 touched down on Runway 05, the controller issued taxi instructions to the pilot, with instructions to hold short of Runway 33L. The Cessna pilot then informed the controller that he was going around because of a landing gear problem. The controller immediately instructed the Cessna pilot to commence a hard left turn. At the same time the Northwest Airlines flight crew, just after becoming airborne, observed the Cessna and initiated a right turn. The spacing between the aircraft was approximately 100 feet lateral and 100 feet vertical over the threshold of Runway 15R, with NWA971 being higher. There were no injuries as a result of this incident.

TAGS: plane spotting, aircraft spotting, cessna, transportation safety board

Toronto Plane Spotting

What's left of Fedex Hill. Fedex Hill, used to be one of the good spots at YYZ for spotting. It's called Fedex Hill because the Fedex ramp is to the right in this picture...oh, and it used to be a hill - providing excellent unobstructed views of touchdowns and rotations. Taking off from runway 23.

TAGS: plane spotting, aircraft spotting, YYZ

Sucked into the Vortex

Took advantage of an interesting cloud formation and American DC-9 on final to mess around again with the 'effects' button on Paint Shop Pro - again!

TAGS: Paint Shop Pro, interesting, photo editing

Gusting to 35

Although I haven't been able to find any specific research backing this up, it seems that this spring/summer have been exceptionally windy. Judging both by shaky (and at least one missed) approach(es), flying pool umbrellas, swimming lawn chairs, difficult bike rides, and heavy weaving in crosswinds on the 407. In this case strong winds from the north making the approach 33L a little more interesting than usual.

TAGS: Air Canada, Boeing 767, Pearson Airport;wind

Aaaargh!!

Powerful approach to runway 24 and good reflection too!

El-Al Boeing 767

El-Al Boeing 767-200 ER. It arrived some 20 minutes after another El-Al Boeing 767-300 ER. According to Wickipedia, that means that 25% of El-Al's 767 fleet arrived in Toronto within 20 minutes of each other. Here's more from Wickipedia on El-Al:

At least six (formerly two) undercover agents accompany each international El Al flight, sitting amongst passengers whilst holstering firearms. All El Al pilots are former Israeli Air Force fighter pilots, and all El Al flight crew members are trained in hand to hand combat. In fact, most El Al employees have served in the Israeli army (since national service is compulsory in Israel).

TAGS: El-Al, Boeing 767, Israel

Air Canada 767

Just about to touchdown on runway 33L. Another gusty day in TO.

TAGS: Air Canada, Boeing 767, Pearson Airport

Shuttle America ERJ 170-100

Very nice looking United Express/Shuttle America Embraer on short final. Shuttle America has over 40 these aircraft in their fleet flying for United Express and US Airways Express.

On a different note, the Shuttle America web site is interesting. It's what happens when companies leave web site design solely to web site designers. Very cool. Slow. Tricky to use. Probably impossible to optimize. Not really what web information gatherers are looking for any more.

TAGS: Shuttle America, Embraer Regional Jet, United Express

A340 Thrust Reversers

Wide open pivoting door thrust reversers on Air Canada A340. Rolls Royce engines.

Eye Care by Air

This unique DC-10 is the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. From the Orbis website:

As a nonprofit organization, ORBIS International strives to eliminate avoidable blindness and restore sight in the developing world, where 90% of the world’s blind live.

At the heart of ORBIS's sight-saving work is the Flying Eye Hospital, a DC-10 aircraft converted into a state-of-the-art teaching facility.

The Flying Eye Hospital carries a laser treatment facility and an operating room where doctors participate in surgeries performed by our volunteer surgeons. These operations are broadcast both to the on-board classroom and to remote conference rooms attended by local doctors eager to enhance their skills.

This unique aircraft is flown by volunteer pilots to developing countries, where the 25-member ORBIS medical team and visiting volunteer doctors perform surgeries in order to train local ophthalmologists. In addition to our surgical work on the aircraft, ORBIS also conducts nursing, biomedical engineering and system support training.

While in Canada, the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital will make scheduled stops in Toronto and Ottawa. In each city, the DC-10 aircraft will be open for tours where there will be an opportunity to see its state-of-the-art surgical facilities, meet the dedicated crew, and mingle with Canadian volunteer medical professionals who are actively contributing to ORBIS Canada's dream of bringing vision to the world.

TAGS: Orbis, Flying Eye Hospital, eyes

Red White and Blue

Bold colours on BA's 777 and Air France A340. Blow up the BA picture and you can see high tech paint job not easily visible at 200 knots.