EKT destined to freighter ops!

[David M]

Hi all,

I know the horse may have already bolted, however I found out today that one of Rex's Saab 340A's (EKT) has flown or is in the process of flying it's last sector as a passenger aircraft. This comes on the back of KEQ having already been converted a few weeks ago.

The last flight is departing/departed MEL tonight for WGA. Freighter conversion is set to begin tomorrow. Another "A" model bites the dust!

David.M.

[Adam P.]

Another "A" model bites the dust!
HOOOOORAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/adore.gif

There are another couple disappearing soon as well, I can't remember which ones off the top of my head though...

[Paul C.]

I'm pretty sure that the two ex Hazeltons VH-ZLY and VH-ZRX are the other couple dissapearing. Presumibly to Pel-Air ??

KDK, KDB, KDI and EKD will remain in service, though not forever. KDK and KDB have been fully refurbished. Still not 100% sure if they will keep KDI and EKD? - 12 of the 25 ex American Eagle 340B's have allready been delivered and a total of 13 340B+ models are in the fleet.

KEQ, now windowless is in Townsville at the Paint Shop after having its paint stripped and repainted new. I assume it will be all-white in colour with just a rego. Its interior underwent the full freight conversion at Wagga.

KDP was converted to a freighter a few years ago, though I'm not sure where it was convetred and it operates for RAF-AVIA in Europe (rego is YL-RAG). Funnily enough it still contains its windows.

[David M]

Paul,

I have heard the same regarding ZLY, but didn't know ZRX was going too.

Although Rex has 13 B+ models in the fleet the older B+ is not a WT model as classified by the company. It does have the newer interior with the larger overhead lockers and the more streamlined window surrounds etc, however it does not have the extended wingtips. I'm sure it has a lot of other differences in the flight deck.. but don't ask me what they are! :D

David.M.

[Paul C.]

Well I don't work with REX or anything like that. I'm just a spotter and happen to live near one of the regional airports they operate to.

Well about ZRX (which I flew on just a few weeks after it reentered service for REX), I read an article in an Australian Aviation magazine saying that it was going to be converted into a freighter. Turns out that is actually KEQ and it was a mistake in the magazine. But I was told by a guy who works at REX base at WGA who I got in contact with on facebook that ZLY and its lifelong twin will be converted for PelAir after EKT. You never see any of this information on the rex site.

The older B+ is EKH (No 369) (Doing my research, all Saabs with a construction number from 360 and beyond are B+'s) - and funnily enough EKH is the only one still with the KENDELL and HAZELTON logos (stickers) by the entry door.

My mum flew Burnie to Melbourne on VH-ZLQ last Saturday which I thought was a very nice looking aircraft and she said it was quite noisy, but she said that the seats were also very comfortable.

[Adam P.]

it was quite noisy,

Ask Ben S about that!!! (is he back yet?)

[Paul C.]

UPDATE: EKT is now fully done, repainted and converted, it wears a livery simmilar to the REX livery with the vertical tail design unchanged, the dark blue and red arrows and registration on the base of the veritcal tail. On the windowless fuselage is a red stripe with a large PEL-AIR logo in dark blue above the stripe. On the front sides of the fuselage the small words of 'Member of the REX Group' are displayed. Aircraft is still owned and operated by REX.

VH-KDB is now the third (and oldest) 340A undergoing its Freighter conversion. It will stay with REX and PEL-AIR.

[Brian Wilkes]

UPDATE: EKT is now fully done, repainted and converted, it wears a livery simmilar to the REX livery with the vertical tail design unchanged, the dark blue and red arrows and registration on the base of the veritcal tail. On the windowless fuselage is a red stripe with a large PEL-AIR logo in dark blue above the stripe. On the front sides of the fuselage the small words of 'Member of the REX Group' are displayed. Aircraft is still owned and operated by REX.

VH-KDB is now the third (and oldest) 340A undergoing its Freighter conversion. It will stay with REX and PEL-AIR.

Do we know what routes they will be used on or just replacing the metro fleet as a whole?

[Raymond Rowe]

EKT is sitting in a corner at Wagga . Berg of a spot for photo's tried that out 4 weeks ago.

[Rob Fluke]

Old thread but saves starting a new one

I found out the first of Pel-Air's S340 aircraft should at long last make it online in the next month or two after finally receiving CASA approval on their AOC.

Still unknown on what routes it will fly as of yet.

Flukey

[Bill S]

Old thread but saves starting a new one

I found out the first of Pel-Air's S340 aircraft should at long last make it online in the next month or two after finally receiving CASA approval on their AOC.

Still unknown on what routes it will fly as of yet.

Flukey

Yeah we were waiting for it to be put on the Pelair AOC, it'll be flying soon I think.
Got some photos if you're interested.

[Rob Fluke]

Yeah we were waiting for it to be put on the Pelair AOC, it'll be flying soon I think.
Got some photos if you're interested.

Post away on those pic :D

[lloyd fox]

Yes please, Bill if you can post a photo.

I have read that maintenance will be done in BNE,as Pelair have previously advertised for lames based in BNE.

Cheers Lloyd

[Bill S]

Here you go.

I spotted in today's Australian newspaper they're looking at Sydney and Mackay bases ... ?

[phil.l]

Cheers Bill,pictures taken at Wagga?

[Bill S]

Yep.

[lloyd fox]

Thank you Bill looks good.

[Raymond Rowe]

When i saw it 5 weeks ago it was parked in a corner and was no good for shots.There was a home built parked in the way.It was in a corner at Wagga airport.

[Paul C.]

Nice pics. I have no clue where EKT and the other 340A's (when converted) will operate out of, they could be to anywhere. They can carry 3,600kg of cargo and mail making them very handy for rural air freight services, so it could be anywhere. Apparently VH-KDI was almost sold to argentine airline SOL as a passenger plane but the sale didn't fall through. I was also told about 3 weeks ago that VH-KDB is getting converted to a freighter for Pel-Air only 10 months after a major refurbishment.

PS: I sat in the cockpit of VH-EKT way back in 1993 at an open day in Adelaide. I've also flown in it several times.

[lloyd fox]

Just arrived at BNE GA obviously ready to start ops.

[Marty H]

Was in MEL yesterday around 1300.

[Bill S]

I wonder who we have to fly it?

[David M]

EKT currently sitting in ADL near the National Jet parking bays. The a/c is scheduled to dept ADL for WGA tomorrow morning around 0900. (all subject to change)

EKT will also be based in ADL in January for about 6 weeks to operate freight runs for AaE to Sydney and back, while one of their -146's is in for a check.

David.M.

[Raymond Rowe]

Was in Melbourne today and took off at about 1520.

[Sarah C]

Was in Melbourne today and took off at about 1520.

And it was in SYD this morning, departing about 8am :cool:

[Paul C.]

Also keep a look out for VH-KDB, the latest freighter conversion for REX which was dumped from passenger service on September 19. I don't think its in freight service yet but I'm pretty sure its fully converted.

[Paul C.]

I was told that KDB has finished its freighter conversion.

REX has just sold KDI to SOL Lineas Areas in Argentina. EKD will probably also go to SOL in argentina and the remainder will probably go to Pel-Air, still not 100% sure yet though.