Post by viscount on Jun 4, 2009 22:27:06 GMT 1
THE BRITISH AEROSPACE JETSTREAM 41 AT LIVERPOOL AIRPORT
When Eastern Airways commence their Southampton and Aberdeen schedules into Liverpool on 6th July, they will be using a mix of 50 seat Saab 2000 and 29 seat BAe Jetstream 41s. While Jetstream 41s have been used before on scheduled flights linking the Isle of Man and Belfast with Liverpool, it will be good to see this British built airliner back at LJLA on a daily basis.
Jetstream 41s have been seen at Liverpool every year since 1993. Usually though a mix of the same aircraft are seen year after year, some having appeared with upto five different operators (Loganair/Manx, Manx Airlines Europe, British Regional Airlines, BA CitiExpress & Eastern Airways).
Although the Jetstream 41 appeared too late to operate into the old (north) airfield terminal, a prototype J41 G-JMAC has been preserved there on the Crowne Plaza apron since 2003.
While I know that the number of different aircraft registrations visiting in each calendar year is correct, it could be that an aircraft visited more often than detailed in the year.
Feel free to illustrate this article, as although the number of different aircraft is appear is low, there are plenty of changes to operators and colour schemes over a span of 15 years.
1993
The first Jetstream 41 to land at Liverpool was G-LOGJ at 2105 on Sunday 7th February 1993 on a Loganair flight from Southampton, diverting from Manchester due to the weather there. The aircraft night stopped before positioning across to Manchester on Monday morning at 0642. Later in the year Loganair G-LOGL also called at Liverpool, but as yet I've not located it in the 1993 magazines.
1994
No less than 10 different aircraft appeared during 1994. Further Loganair aircraft, new Manx aircraft and BAe a/c . During 1994 Loganair's cross border services were handed over to Manx Airlines Europe Ltd (within the Airlines of Britain Group) on 27th March. Later in year (date?) Manx Airlines Europe became a franchise operator for British Airways.
First in was BAe's G-OXLI for a little over an hours worth of crew training on 31st January, operating f&t Prestwick as 'WFD12'. Loganair followed with G-LOGK diverting in on 3rd February on LOG5523 from Southampton, later positioning on to Manchester. G-LOGJ followed on 23rd March for over 2 hours of crew training f&t Manchester.
The first of the new Manx fleet to appear was G-WAND on 27th March just prior to use on summer schedules. As MXE927 it arrived from Manchester on charter to the Friends of Liverpool Airport. MXE928 was a local flight charter for FoLA, before return to Manchester as MXE929, again with FoLA passengers. Manx scheduled the J41 to appear at Liverpool on Sunday morning Isle of Man flight. G-WAFT appearing on 3rd April, G-LOGJ on 17th April, G-WAWL on 24th April and G-WAWR on 1st May, with G-WAYR later in the year.
To confuse the enthusiast, the former Loganair aircraft were re-registered, so G-LOGK became G-MAJE, G-LOGL also appeared as G-MAJG, while G-LOGJ became, but did not appear as G-MAJC.
In researching this article, to my complete surprise I find that the aircraft now preserved on the north airfield by the Jetstream Club actually appeared at Liverpool as an active aircraft. Live and learn. G-JMAC called at Liverpool on 31st August on an internal BAe 'hack' flight from Prestwick to East Midlands, but was only the ground 0740 to 0800!
1995
The merging of Manx Airline's Jetstream 41 fleet into that of British Airways Express confused the spotter in 1995 as aircraft were re-registered and repainted. As an illustration of this in January, G-WAND appeared in full Manx scheme, G-MAJE in basic Loganair scheme with Manx titles and G-MAJB in full BA Express scheme and titles. All 11 aircraft in the fleet were to be seen at Liverpool on schedules and training. These being: G-MAJA, G-MAJB, G-MAJC, G-WAWR/G-MAJD, G-MAJE, G-WAWL/G-MAJF, G-MAJG, G-WAYR/G-MAJH, G-WAND/G-MAJI, G-MAJJ & G-MAJK.
BAe's G-JMAC called for a second time, near exactly a year after its first visit. G-JMAC routed from Prestwick to Manchester as 'PWK04', 30th August and only briefly on the ground 0745-0810.
1996
With 2 different aircraft in 1993, then 10 in 1994, 12 in 1995, the current record for different aircraft in a calendar year was set at 14 in 1996 and equalled in 1997.
Manx Airlines Europe (MXE) became British Regional Airlines (BRT) on 10th September'. The British Regional fleet of G-MAJA to G-MAJK was joined on scheduled, training flights and diversions into Liverpool by two further new aircraft G-MAJL & G-MAJM to make 13 Jetstream 41s in the fleet .
The other aircraft to visit during the year was G-MSKJ of Maersk Air, which passed through on a training flight Tuesday 3rd September, routing Cardiff to Aberdeen as MSK12T/13T, on the ground at Liverpool on briefly 135-1403.
1997
The same 13 aircraft G-MAJA - G-MAJM appeared on IoM and Belfast schedules, training and diversion.
BAe communications 'hack' G-BWUI diverted into Liverpool due to Warton's weather on 28th January, inbound from Dunsfold at 1040, departing onward to Warton at 1340, both times using call-sign 'WTN43'.
1998
A regular pattern emerged, in 1998 again all 13 regulars appeared on IoM and Belfast schedules G-MAJA - G-MAJM.
1999
Same pattern with all 13 aircraft G-MAJA - G-MAJM appearing reguarly throughout the year on schedules and training.
2000
Again the same 13 aircraft G-MAJA - G-MAJM appeared regularly on schedules.
2001
British Regional Airlines withdrew from the Liverpool to Belfast schedule May 2001. Fewer Jetstream 41 aircraft were to be seen at Liverpool during the year, with only 7 different aircraft appearing: G-MAJE, G-MAJF, G-MAJG, G-MAJH, G-MAJJ, G-MAJL & G-MAJM.
2002
On 31st March British Regional Airlines became British Airways CitiExpress. In September Manx Airlines were fully absorbed into CitiExpress, the name and colours disappearing.
Only 6 different aircraft appeared, although the type was used again on the peak summer Sunday morning schedule. Only G-MAJB, G-MAJD, G-MAJE, G-MAJG, G-MAJI and G-MAJM appeared at LJLA during the year.
2003
The big change to the J41 aircraft to be seen at Liverpool was the transfer of some routes and the whole Jetstream 41 fleet from BA CitiExpress to Eastern Airways, with effect from 31st March. While some said Eastern would not survive such rapid expansion, they clearly did and their aircraft continued to be seen at Liverpool, although now on charters.
Last J41 at Liverpool with BRT was G-MAJF on 12th February which diverted into Liverpool while en route Birmingham to IoM due to the IoM weather.
First traced appearance of an Eastern Jetstream 41 involved G-MAJC which on 19th April routed Humberside to Heathrow on charter to Everton FC, taking them to an away game against Chelsea. The same aircraft brought EFC home on the reverse routing 21st April. Many of the Eastern Airways visits over subsequent years were on charter to Everton FC, the 29 seats being suitable to transport team, substitutes, training staff and manager quickly around the country without the need for many hours of coach travel. On 5th August G-MAJK routed Newcastle to Maastrict, returning by the reverse route later in the day on a private charter. G-MAJH on 12th December took Everton to an away game against Portsmouth, although the flight routed Humberside to Southampton, returning the next day. CitiExpress used Eastern J41's twice in December through Liverpool to cover for BAe.ATPs, G-MAJK on 10th and G-MAJE on 22nd.
During 2003 only 5 different aircraft appeared through Liverpool, a low point in the story, with numbers increasing again over the next few years.
Not a flying visitor, but well worth recording in this story, is the arrival by road from BAe Woodford of Jetstream 41 G-JMAC onto the former airport apron now behind the Marriott Hotel on 29th January 2003, for preservation with The Wirral Aviation Society/The Jetstream Club.
2004
BA CitiExpress continued occasional use of Eastern J41 aircraft, with G-MAJI on 4th and 19th January. However BA CitiExpress withdrew from the IoM to Liverpool route on 31st March. Other Eastern aircraft at Liverpool during the year were: G-MAJA, G-MAJD, G-MAJG, G-MAJH, G-MAJJ, G-MAJK, G-MAJM & G-MAJN making 9 aircraft. The new (formerly US) aircraft, G-MAJN was delivered in September and soon after appeared at Liverpool on 24th f&t Norwich, bringing Norwich FC to play Liverpool FC at Anfield.
2005
In 2005 a total of 10 different Eastern Airways aircraft visited Liverpool - all of them regulars for years: G-MAJA, G-MAJB, G-MAJC, G-MAJD, G-MAJE, G-MAJG, G-MAJI, G-MAJJ, G-MAJL, G-MAJM.
2006
Eastern expanded their J41 fleet with further aircraft sourced in the USA. In all 11 different aircraft appeared. G-MAJA, G-MAJD, G-MAJG, G-MAJH, G-MAJI, G-MAJJ, G-MAJM, G-MAJN, along with first visits by G-MAJP, G-MAJU & G-MAJV. In a reverse to the usual transport of football teams, on 25th March G-MAJD operated f&t Dublin bringing in fans to watch the Liverpool derby game at Anfield. Of the three new aircraft, one of the first visits was G-MAJV on 9th June from Norwich to Hawarden, still wearing basic US Airways livery.
2007
With Everton now frequently using Saab 2000s when chartering Eastern Airways aircraft the number of Jetstream 41s fell to just 6 different aircraft. First visits of new aircraft to Eastern fleet were the first J41 visitors of the year, with
G-MAJY in the late evening of Sat 21st April, bringing Everton FC in from Stansted before positioning to Newcastle, while on Sun 13th May G-MAJZ brought in a passenger charter from Heathrow in the evening, then empty out to Newcastle.
Other charters, probably also football related used G-MAJF on Sat 4th August empty from Newcastle to Biggin Hill in the morning, returning the same evening with passengers from Biggin Hill and empty onwards to Newcastle. A week later on Sat 18th G-MAJN brought passengers inbound from Farnborough in the late evening positioning onward to IoM (a Saab 2000 had taken passengers to Farnborough earlier the same day).
Towards the end of the year, G-MAJN on Sat 10th November positioned in from Newcastle to take Everton FC to Heathrow in the early afternoon, returning with EFC on Sun evening 11th, routing Heathrow to Aberdeen. A few weeks later G-MAJN again transported EFC, this time on Fri afternoon 30th November, empty from Humberside, EFC to Southamton (they flew back on a Saab 2000). On Wed 12th December G-MAJJ brought in charter passengers from Aberdeen in the evening, positioning to Hawarden the next morning. One other J41 G-MAJB visited during the year, but I've not traced when.
2008
Far fewer visits by Jetstream 41s to Liverpool resulted in only three different aircraft being seen at Liverpool - an all time low in fifteen years!
G-MAJM brought in charter passengers mid afternoon of Fri 14th March from Farnborough, then positioning to Wick. The next day G-MAJP positioned in from Humberside and took the charter to London/Heathrow late afternoon - presumably a football team. G-MAJD also visited during 2008, but as yet I've not traced when.
2009
First visit of the year by a J41 brought in a belated first visit by G-MAJT on Grand National day, 4th April, on a charter f&t Aberdeen. Eastern commenced schedules into Liverpool on Monday 6th July using G-MAJU and G-MAJY. The schedule requires two aircraft, making four landings each day, Monday to Friday. During the first 4 weeks of operation during July 10 different aircraft were used: G-MAJD/MAJE/MAJG/MAJH/MAJI/MAJL/MAJM/MAJU/MAJX/MAJY. Of these G-MAJX was a first visit by the aircraft, while G-MAJW waited until September.
Also in July Eastern Jetstream 41s G-MAJP operated Glasgow-Humberside late morning of 1st July. G-MAJM on Fri 10th July brought in passengers from Dundee (they had been taken out by Saab 2000 several days earlier).
By the end of the year, 19 of the fleet had called (A,B,C,D,E,G,H,I,J,L,M,P,T,U,V,W,X,Y & Z), so the annual record of 14 has been well broken. Missing from the 2009 visitors are G-MAJF & 'JK, which did not visit during the year.
On the very last day of the year Highland Airways brought in Jetstream 41 on a charter, from Glasgow, to Shannon as HWY41P/42C. The aircraft used, G-ISAY had visited before as G-MAJN with Eastern 2004-2007. This makes a record of 20 different J41s passing through Liverpool in the calendar year.
For summer 2009 Eastern Airways fleet numbers 21 aircraft, so the previous record of 14 different aircraft in a year (set in 1996 and repeated in 1997) has been broken. Eastern have G-MAJA, G-MAJB, G-MAJC, G-MAJD, G-MAJE, G-MAJF, G-MAJG, G-MAJH, G-MAJI, G-MAJJ, G-MAJK, G-MAJL, G-MAJM, G-MAJP, G-MAJT, G-MAJU, G-MAJV, G-MAJW, G-MAJX, G-MAJY & G-MAJZ. Of these G-MAJW/X/Y/Z are slated for sale or lease, . Close examination of the list shows that G-MAJN is missing, having left 4/08 for Highland Airways as G-ISAY. Both G-CDYH and G-CDYI did not visit Liverpool while in Eastern Airways service 2006 on. G-CDYH left for Nepal in 2007, G-CDYI was pwfu at Humberside, however was restored 9.09, so may yet visit. In early 11.09 G-MAJM was delivered to Nepal.
2010
Eastern jetstream 41s continued to call at Liverpool on the Southampton to Aberdeen route twice daily throughout the year. From a start of 20 aircraft, G-MAJK (to Greece 3.10), G-MAJT (to Greece 12.10) & G-MAJV (to Colombia 2.11) left the fleet during the year. However these three aircraft did appear during 2010 before departure, so in all 20 J.41s appeared at Liverpool during the year: G-MAJA,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,P,T,U,V,W,X,Y & Z.
2011
Of the 17 aircraft in the fleet during January, no less than 10 were used on flights through Liverpool during the month: G-MAJA/C/D/E/F/H/I/L/P/U/W/X. Several aircraft left the fleet during the year, G-MAJG and G-MAJY not appearing. The 15 aircraft appearing being: G-MAJA/B/C/D/E/F/H/I/J/L/P/U/W/X & Z. The scheduled services between Liverpool, Southampton and Aberdeen ceased July 2011.
2012
From 15 Eastern Airways aircraft in 2011, down to none at all in 2012.
2013
The only Jetstream 41 to make a visit(s) during 2013 was Eastern's G-MAJF
2014 & 2015
No visits by Jetstream 41s.
2016
On Monday 12th September Eastern Airways aircraft G-MAJB called, bringing in a crew to collect an EMB-145 and then take it out on a charter the following morning. G-MAJB arrived and departed to Humberside, and operated as T3 022P/023P
2017
Eastern Airways operated a private charter on Sunday 21st May using G-MAJU as EZE/T3 9605 with passengers from Campbeltown to Liverpool arriving around midday, the aircraft then positioning out as EZE 971P to Bristol.
2018
After just single visits in 2016 and 2017, no visits by Jetstream 41 aircraft at all in 2018.
2019
On Thursday 28th February Eastern Airways, operating the Cardiff-Valley link with Jetstream 41 G-MAJB diverted into Liverpool due to a weather problem at RAF Valley at 1806. The passengers were off-loaded at Liverpool and continued their journey to Anglesey by road. The aircraft departed for Cardiff empty as T3 044P at 1859. The same sequence of events occurred again 3 weeks later, on Tuesday 19th March, this time G-MAJZ arrived mid afternoon inbound from Cardiff, diverting due to weather at RAF Valley and landed at 1716. The passengers continued their journey by road, while the aircraft departed empty for Cardiff at 1758, this time as T3 206P. By the end of the year the Cardiff to RAF Valley scheduled service diverted into Liverpool a further 3 times. Each time the aircraft arrived in late afternoon as T3/EZE 18V and returned to Cardiff 3 hours later (so presumably with the return passengers aboard) as T3/EZE 19C. The dates being Friday 16th August G-MAJU, Friday 19th October G-MAJB, Thursday 28th November G-MAJY. Poor weather was responsible each time, likely thick sea-fog rolling in across the exposed airfield with an on-shore breeze.
2020 & 2021 Without the Cardiff-Anglesey scheduled service in 2019 there would have been no Jetstream 41s visiting Liverpool at all in 2019. Indeed in 2020 and 2021 the type did not appear at Liverpool John Lennon at all.
2022
A revival in demand for charters using the Jetstream 41 in 2022, with 5 visits by the type, but only using 2 different aircraft. G-MAJA arrived on Friday 10th June as T3/EZE 9702 with passengers from the Isle of Man. The aircraft later returned to the Isle of Man, possibly with the same passengers returning. G-MAJB on 24th August as T3/ZEZ 9441 brought in the Newcastle United FC team for a game at Tranmere Rovers. Newcastle FC were back on Merseyside a week later, this time using both G-MAJA and G-MAJB to transport team and club officials to face Liverpool FC at Anfield. G-MAJA operated from & to Newcastle, while G-MAJB only brought passengers inbound, then positioned out home to Humberside. Finally on Thursday 20th October G-MAJB arrived at 10:22pm with British Aerospace passengers from Farnborough, using Liverpool due to Warton being shut by that time of night. The aircraft positioned to Humberside the following morning.
updated April 2023, at which time no Jetstream 41s had used JLA by the end of February 2023. However in late April G-MAJZ did operate a charter, so the account of visits will continue into this year.
