By Matt Falcus and Chris Smith
Friday 24th March
It had been a while since I last was at Manchester and quite a bit has changed, including Singapore Airlines introducing A350s, Saudia introducing B787-9s, Hainan Airlines have recently started an A330 service and Cathay Pacific are due to transfer to the A350 in May or June, Matt Falcus expressed an interest in joining so we planned a Wednesday as this is the only day of the week when you can catch two Singapore A350s on the ground at once. Unfortunately the weather was awful on the Wednesday, so we postponed till the Friday when sunshine was forecast all day - not a difficult decision to make given this was still fresh in my memory! As it turns out neither me nor Matt required one of the A350s so no loss in that respect, but neither Saudia nor Cathay operate on Fridays so we missed out on these. I would have liked more A350s and NEOs but luckily the resident Jet2 fleet was dominated by the new builds and my first Citation Longitude was nice - well I say it was nice...does seeing the top few inches of the tail section peaking above a rooftop count as a cop?! It always puzzles me why Manchester does so poor with biz...we often have a busier day than they do!! If London can sustain four major biz hubs you'd have thought the UKs second city could manage one!
Manchester Airport
MAN / EGCC
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| 9H-BOO | Canadair CL-600-2B19 Challenger 850 (CRJ-200) | Air X Charter | |
| 9V-SMF | Airbus A350-941 | Singapore Airlines | "10,000th Airbus Aircraft" titles |
| A6-EEA | Airbus A380-861 | Emirates | |
| A6-EEK | Airbus A380-861 | Emirates | |
| A6-ETB | Boeing 777-3FXER | Etihad Airways | |
| A6-ETE | Boeing 777-3FXER | Etihad Airways | |
| A7-BCQ | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Qatar Airways | |
| B-5950 | Airbus A330-343 | Hainan Airlines | |
| CS-LTB | Cessna 680A Citation Latitude | NetJets Europe | |
| D-ABOC | Boeing 757-330 | Condor | Engine running |
| D-AGWN | Airbus A319-132 | Germanwings | |
| D-AILK | Airbus A319-114 | Lufthansa | |
| D-AIUA | Airbus A320-214 | Lufthansa | |
| D-AIUQ | Airbus A320-214 | Lufthansa | |
| D-IBAK | Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 | Stuttgarter Flugdienst | |
| D-IBJJ | Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 | Air Hamburg | |
| D-IHKW | Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ | E-Aviation | |
| EC-MKN | Airbus A320-232 | Vueling Airlines | |
| EI-DLK | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-DPB | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-DWG | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-DWJ | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-EBI | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-EMR | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-FAS | ATR-72-600 | Aer Lingus Regional (Stobart Air) | |
| EI-FJI | Boeing 737-8JP | Norwegian Air International | |
| EI-FMJ | ATR-72-600 | Aer Lingus Regional (Stobart Air) | |
| EI-FOB | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-FPA | Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900LR | SAS Scandinavian Airlines (CityJet) | |
| EI-FRH | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-FTJ | Boeing 737-800 | Ryanair | |
| EI-FTK | Boeing 737-800 | Ryanair | |
| EI-FZE | Boeing 737-800 | Ryanair | |
| EI-REL | ATR-72-212A (ATR-72-500) | Flybe (Stobart Air) | |
| F-GUGC | Airbus A318-111 | Air France | |
| F-HEPG | Airbus A320-214 | Air France | |
| G-BYAY | Boeing 757-204 | TUI | |
| G-COBO | ATR-72-212A (ATR-72-500) | Aurigny Air Services | |
| G-ECOH | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| G-ECOM | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| G-EZBA | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZDP | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZFE | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZFI | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZFS | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZOO | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZOT | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZPE | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-FBEN | Embraer ERJ-195-200LR | Flybe | |
| G-FBJF | Embraer ERJ-175-200STD | Flybe | |
| G-FBJG | Embraer ERJ-175-200STD | Flybe | |
| G-FBJK | Embraer ERJ-175-200STD | Flybe | |
| G-GDFT | Boeing 737-36Q | Jet2.com | |
| G-JECF | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| G-JECG | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| G-JECR | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| G-JZHB | Boeing 737-8K5 | Jet2.com | |
| G-JZHF | Boeing 737-8K2 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZHL | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZHM | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZHN | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZHR | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2.com | |
| G-JZHS | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2.com | |
| G-JZHT | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-LGNS | Saab 2000 | Flybe (Loganair) | |
| G-LSAC | Boeing 757-23A | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-LSAD | Boeing 757-236 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-LSAJ | Boeing 757-236 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-LSAK | Boeing 757-23N | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-MDBD | Airbus A330-243 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-MLJL | Airbus A330-243 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-OZBO | Airbus A321-231 | Monarch Airlines | |
| G-TAWF | Boeing 737-8K5 | TUI | |
| G-TAWL | Boeing 737-8K5 | TUI | |
| G-TAWM | Boeing 737-8K5 | TUI | |
| G-TAWU | Boeing 737-8K5 | TUI | |
| G-TCDD | Airbus A321-211 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-TCDL | Airbus A321-211 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-TCDY | Airbus A321-211 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-TUID | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | TUI | |
| G-TUIE | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | TUI | |
| G-VGAL | Boeing 747-443 | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-VRAY | Airbus A330-343 | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-VROM | Boeing 747-443 | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-VYGK | Airbus Voyager KC2 (A330-243 MRTT) | Thomas Cook Airlines (AirTanker Services) | |
| HB-IJB | Airbus A320-214 | Swiss International Airlines | |
| LN-DYT | Boeing 737-8JP | Norwegian Air Shuttle | |
| LN-NGF | Boeing 737-8JP | Norwegian Air Shuttle | |
| LN-NHD | Boeing 737-8JP | Norwegian Air Shuttle | |
| LN-RRB | Boeing 737-783 | SAS Scandinavian Airlines | |
| M-ISKY | Cessna 550 Citation Bravo | Mysky LLP | |
| N13138 | Boeing 757-224 | United Airlines | |
| N292AY | Airbus A330-243 | American Airlines | |
| N705TW | Boeing 757-231 | Delta Airlines | |
| OE-LWL | Embraer ERJ-195-200LR | Austrian Airlines | |
| OH-LKK | Embraer ERJ-190-100LR | Finnair | |
| OO-DWL | British Aerospace Avro RJ100 | Brussels Airlines | |
| OY-KAW | Airbus A320-232 | SAS Scandinavian Airlines | |
| OY-NCP | Dornier 328JET-300 | British Airways (Sun Air of Scandinavia) | |
| PH-BCD | Boeing 737-8K2 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BGA | Boeing 737-8K2 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BGT | Boeing 737-8K2 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-CDH | Boeing 737-86J | Corendon Dutch Airlines | |
| TC-JTG | Airbus A321-231 | Turkish Airlines | |
| TF-ISV | Boeing 757-256 | Icelandair | |
| ZH106 | Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 | Royal Air Force - 8/54(R) Squadron's |
We called into City Airport & Heliport (Barton) on the way back, and it was a productive and worthwhile visit but the place was incredibly quiet for such a perfect flying day, the main grass apron had less aircraft than normal, the eastern grass ramp was completely empty, and the three main hangars all had less aircraft in than previous visits...many would no doubt be up flying but not that many. We didn't attempt airside access as neither of us had hi-viz and also the Friends of Barton Aerodrome has recently been formed and anyone wishing for access for reasons other than flying needs to be a member at a cost of £12 for a year. I would have happily paid it given our own association with a friends group (I'd have tried to negotiate free access first given we are "colleagues") but the reception area under the tower was locked up for the most part of our visit!! The biggest frustration here was we just missed two Army Air Corps Apaches!
City Airport & Heliport
EGCB
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-ASHX | Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee | Powertheme Ltd | |
| G-AVER | Reims Cessna F150G | LAC Flying School | |
| G-AWVA | Reims Cessna F172H Skyhawk | Barton Air | |
| G-AYGC | Reims Cessna F150K | Alpha Aviation Group | |
| G-BAKH | Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee | Private | |
| G-BEZZ | Jodel D112 | G-BEZZ Group | |
| G-BLDK | Robinson R22 | Flight Academy (Gyrocopters) | |
| G-BNTP | Cessna 172N Skyhawk | Westnet Ltd | |
| G-BOIL | Cessna 172N Skyhawk | LAC Flying School | |
| G-BPVA | Cessna 172F Skyhawk | South Lancashire Flyers Group | |
| G-BSTZ | Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee | Air Navigation and Trading Company | |
| G-BTJA | Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe | Private | |
| G-BTNV | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Private | |
| G-BTRS | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Airwise Flying Group | |
| G-BTRT | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Romeo Tango Group | |
| G-CFZX | Rotorsport MTOSport | Gyro-1 Ltd c/o Flight Academy | |
| G-CGOM | Flight Design MC | Private | |
| G-CGVD | Vans RV-12 | RV12 Flying Group | |
| G-CGVT | Cosmik EV-97 TeamEurostar | Mainair Microlight School | |
| G-CIRB | LSA EV-97 Eurostar SL | Private | |
| G-CIRZ | Red Ikarus C42 FB80 | Mainair Microlight School | |
| G-CJDA | Red Ikarus C42 FB80 | Mainair Microlight School | |
| G-GURU | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Avro-Marine Ltd | |
| G-HALC | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Halcyon Aviation | |
| G-HINZ | Jabiru SK | Private | |
| G-IHXD | Reims Cessna F150M | Air Navigation and Trading Company | |
| G-ISHA | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III | LAC Flying School | |
| G-JODL | Jodel DR1050-M Excellence | Private | |
| G-KNYT | Robinson R44 Astro | Private | |
| G-LACB | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | LAC Flying School | |
| G-LCMW | TL 2000UK Sting Carbon | Private | |
| G-LYFA | Yak-52 | Fox Alpha Group | |
| G-MHGS | GlaStar | Private | |
| G-NWAE | Eurocopter EC135 T2 | Babcock MCS Onshore | North West Air Ambulance |
| G-NWEM | Eurocopter EC135 T2 | Babcock MCS Onshore | North West Air Ambulance |
| G-OBIO | Robinson R22 Beta | SD Helicopters LLP | |
| G-OGAN | Europa | Private | |
| G-PLAN | Reims Cessna F150L | G-PLAN Flying Group | |
| G-POLC | Eurocopter EC135 T2+ | NPAS Barton | |
| G-RACO | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | GRACO Group Ltd | |
| G-SGSE | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | Private | |
| G-SPVK | Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel | SD Helicopters LLP | |
| G-TIFG | Pioneer Ikarus C42 FB80 | The Ikarus Flying Group |
OTT
Noted OTT over the course of the day:
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| A6-ETG | Boeing 777-3FXER | Etihad Airways | |
| A7-BEH | Boeing 777-3DZER | Qatar Airways | |
| C-FKAU | Boeing 777-333ER | Air Canada | |
| C-GHPQ | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Air Canada | |
| D-AIGL | Airbus A340-313X | Lufthansa | |
| D-ALPD | Airbus A330-223 | Air Berlin | |
| D-ALPF | Airbus A330-223 | Air Berlin | |
| EC-KDG | Airbus A320-214 | Vueling Airlines | |
| EI-DEA | Airbus A320-214 | Aer Lingus | |
| EI-EFD | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-EGB | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| EI-FNJ | Airbus A320-216 | Aer Lingus | |
| EI-FRV | Boeing 737-8AS | Ryanair | |
| F-HPJA | Airbus A380-861 | Air France | |
| G-EZFM | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZUD | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-GDFK | Boeing 737-36N | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZHD | Boeing 737-808 | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JZHO | Boeing 737-800 | Jet2.com | |
| G-LCYI | Embraer ERJ-170-100LR | BA Cityflyer | |
| G-VAHH | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-VCRU | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-VIIB | Boeing 777-236ER | British Airways | |
| G-VNEW | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-XLEC | Airbus A380-841 | British Airways | |
| G-XLED | Airbus A380-841 | British Airways | |
| G-YMMH | Boeing 777-236ER | British Airways | |
| KAF343 | Boeing C-17A Globemaster III | Kuwait Air Force | ex Newcastle |
| N172DN | Boeing 767-332ER | Delta Airlines | |
| N178UA | Boeing 747-422 | United Airlines | |
| N26952 | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | United Airlines | |
| N734AR | Boeing 777-323ER | American Airlines | |
| N816AA | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | American Airlines | |
| PH-BQK | Boeing 777-206ER | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| SU-GDL | Boeing 777-36NER | EgyptAir | |
| TF-FIV | Boeing 757-208 | Icelandair | |
| TF-ISJ | Boeing 757-256 | Icelandair | |
| VT-JEV | Boeing 777-35RER | Jet Airways | |
| YR-BAJ | Boeing 737-430 | Blue Air | |
| YR-FZA | Fokker 100 | Carpatair | |
| ZK-OKP | Boeing 777-319ER | Air New Zealand | |
| ZZ337 | Airbus Voyager KC3 (A330-243 MRTT) | Royal Air Force - 10/101 Squadron's |
Click here for Matts Manchester photos, here for Chris' Manchester photos and here for Chris' Barton photos.
| Stats | MF | CS |
| Framed | 78 | 83 |
| Paint scrape | 08 | 04 |
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