Civilian Aviation

Continuing my week away , into February when for the first 2 days the weather was pretty grot, early morning sun soon turned to cloud:mad: the last 2 days made up for it though and some of these were taken by the poolside - much to the amazement and amusement of the other hotel guests who wondered what sort of holiday photos i was going to have to show my friends!
All the pics were taken using my sigma 18-250 zoom, I left the canon 100-400 at home, if I'd started waving that around at the poolside I would probably have been in trouble


one that did arrive when it was sunny.


then it clouded up completely until the evening, and of couse a Germania 737 arrived in an unusual colour scheme which wasnt done justice by the weather


likewise this Hamburg AW A319 could have arrived in better weather , another arrived on Tuesday morning in bright sun but it made a very short approach turn and by the time i saw it I was too late (it was to the east of me rather than the west and crept in over the back of the hotel)


Thomas cook put in this 757 with an advert for Egypt on the side (they also had an A321 in similar markings the same day)


a spanish flight for a change!


the Condor lovehearts 757, again when the weather wasn't at it's best


a few more of the less common airlines in Fuerteventura..
















Primera operated several flights on the tuesday morning


Another one which made a short approach turn, an Air Berlin 737 which I just caught on my way down to the poolside


an Air Berling 737 on a more conventional approach path (Air Berlin put in 2 or 3 flights most days)

.... sometimes using A321s:


more German flights








and some italians, 2 Meridiana A 320s, one in old colours and 1 in new






and a Thomas Cook Scandinavia arrival


and finally 2 of the local Canaries airline, binter's ATR72 in different schemes:




then on Wednesday it was off to the airport and back to the wet english weather

but at least i managed a few photos at the airport (to follow)

Great stuff Andy, some interesting schemes there but what a pity about the weather.

Can you post some details about the hotel please, the wife's pestering me about going on holiday somewhere.

Thanks Mike, yes it was a pity, all the locals said it was normally warm and sunny this time of year so guess we were unlucky.

I stayed at the Barcelo Furteventura hotel booked via Thomsons wich is in the eastern part of Caleta del Fuste, right on the edge of the beach bay.

If you look at google earth then you need to be east of the main north-south road to get side on views of the aircraft so look for accomodation in that area and you should be okay (you can plot the extended approach line on google earth if it helps!). We had a top floor room in block 3 (we booked a superior room as it included free use of the spa and other bits and pieces) and all that block overlook the flight path so if I wasnt by the pool I could sit on the balcony and watch the aircraft landing.I measured the distance and we were 700m from the flightpath which was pretty good for near side on shots. got to say it was an excellent hotel with an extensive buffet breakfast and evening meal (we went half board but if you want B&B or self catering somewhere there are loads of places to eat). There are only about 3 or 4 hotels on that side of the resort but alternatively lots of apartments to rent if you want to go that way and they are quite cheap this time of year, as I said just make sure you are well east of the main road.

I noticed some bike hire shops and a few people cycled towards the airport along the coast road which is very quiet - just tell the missus you're taking her to see the chipmunks, by that i mean the little squirrelly things not the former RAF trainers - there are loads on the rocks by the sea and they will even feed from a hand! so cycling is one way to get around otherwise there are plenty of cars for hire, a small car for one day is about 45 euros but cheaper per day if you hire for longer. If you want to tour then you could see most of the island in 2 days - we didn't but we went for a trike ride up into the hills (we were driven as my wife wouldn't let me self drive ) there's not a massive amount to see apart from mountains and other tourists.

hope that helps a bit, if you want more info let me know.

Thanks for that Andy, it's a pity that there's not much to see on the island as she likes having day trips to places when were on holiday - it sounds ideal for me but I'm not sure if she'd be too happy ! She loves retail therapy, any decent shops there to keep her amused? She actually quite like watching aircraft but only for 2 hours max.

I'd thought about Skiathos but that seems to have the same problem. We've done St. Maarten, but that cost an arm and a leg - it was on my list of things to do for about the previous 20 years, a once in a lifetime kind of thing. If you ever have the money then go, you will not be disappointed ! She was talked into that one as the island is a duty-free haven (especially for jewellery), a few things to see around the island and day-trips to St. Barts and St. Kitts.

We went to Zante and had a hotel within easy walking distance of the airport but it was pretty quiet, she liked it there as we could take organised trips to other islands and the main town was really interesting for her.

Lanzarote was great for me, but nothing much for her to do or see - the airport was busy and just a 10 minute walk along the beach.

I need to find somewhere that's :- a) Near the end of a busy(ish) runway with some interesting stuff. b) Warm and sunny. c) Not too far away (4/5 hours max.) d) Plenty of shops and things to do.

Any ideas?

I've sent you an e-mail Mike

andygolfer wrote:I've sent you an e-mail Mike

Received and replied to.

Another nice set Always like the strong German presence of airlines at Fuerta

Woodford wrote:Another nice set Always like the strong German presence of airlines at Fuerta

thanks, it would be very quiet without the Brits and the Germans, in fact I doubt the economy there would survive with out them (and us)