Wednesday 27 August 2014 - TAG Aviation Boeing 757-2K2 G-TCSX arrives for attention by Monarch

TAG Aviation Boeing 757-2K2 G-TCSX positioned in from Manchester via an air test over
Wales after repainting into an all black scheme - the aircraft will now be fitted out....

.... in the Monarch Aircraft Engineering hangar with a business class interior prior to entering
service operating "Around the World" flights on behalf of specialist tour operator TCS Expeditions
- for more information and an artist's impression of the final scheme click here

Boeing 757-2K2 G-TCSX on short finals to Runway 15 at Birmingham Photo: Robert Jones

More photos later

Monarch Aircraft Engineering to fit out the new TCS Expeditions Boeing 757 at Birmingham Airport

Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL), the award-winning independent aircraft maintenance

provider, has secured a contract with TAG Aviation to provide full maintenance support services

for its new Boeing 757-200ER aircraft that Farnborough based TAG will be operating on

"Around the World" flights on behalf of specialist tour operator TCS Expeditions 

In addition before entering service, MAEL will fit out the aircraft’s business class cabin at its 

new state of the art maintenance facility at Birmingham Airport. This will include the installation

of new seats, galley, overhead storage and an on board wi-fi system

Ian Bartholomew, Commercial Director of MAEL, said:  "Our versatility and broad range of

maintenance services, both here in the UK and at line maintenance locations across the globe,

make us a perfect fit for TAG Aviation’s needs"

Graham Williamson, President Aircraft Management and Charter Services at TAG Aviation

Europe, said: "Ensuring the highest levels of efficiency and service are key to our operations

for TCS Expeditions and their clients, and so Monarch Aircraft Engineering’s proven track

record made them the obvious choice of maintenance partner"

Monarch Aircraft Engineering was named "MRO of the year in 2013" by the industry at the
Aviation 100 Awards and is one of the leading MROs in the EMEA region

 

Friday 27 June 2014

Saturday 15 February 2014 - diversions everywhere - and yet more challenging landings!!

Gulfstream 450 B-LCK was the star overnight diversion from Luton after a busy night as high winds
and appalling weather continued to hit the south east - other diversions included....

British Airways Airbus A320-232 G-MIDS which was operating from Belfast City to Heathrow and
was previously a BHX regular when operated by bmi in "Star Alliance"  colours....

Air Portugal Airbus A319-111 CS-TTO which arrived from Porto was another Heathrow diversion

Turkish Airbus A321-231 TC-JRR arrived from Istanbul returning to Heathrow during the morning

easyJet Airbus A320-214 G-EZUM arrived from Amsterdam - a Luton diversion while....

BA Cityflyer Embraer 190-100LR G-LCYN arrived from Zurich - a London City diversion

Austrian Airbus A320-214 OE-LBT operated their weekly IT flight from Innsbruck arriving during
a passing squall and having to perform a "go around" while....

Thomas Cook Boeing 757-236 G-TCBC also made an interesting approach on another windy day

Airbus A320-214 G-ZBAP - which had arrived as M-RAFF back on Saturday 18 January 2014 -
was a morning departure to Bournemouth for painting into Monarch colours

Thomson Boeing 757-28A G-OOBD which is being operated on behalf of "TCS and Starquest Expeditions"
and which had arrived from Orlando on Friday evening was towed to the Monarch Hangar for attention

KLM cityhopper Embraer 190-100LR PH-EXA operated their morning flight from Amsterdam - its first visit to BHX

Swiss Airbus A321-111 HB-IOH operated their morning service to Zurich while....

Airbus A321-111 HB-IOC operated an additional lunchtime flight
as Swiss upgraded their services for the "Half Term" holiday

London Executive Citation XLS G-ECAI was a morning visitor to the Elmdon apron

Sunday 16 February 2014 - "TCS and Starquest" Boeing 757-28A G-OOBD departs to Johannesburg

Thomson Boeing 757-28A G-OOBD which is being operated on behalf of "TCS and Starquest
Expeditions" was a morning departure positioning out to Malta and onto Johannesburg

Swiss Airbus A320-214 HB-IJB which wears their new style billboard titles operated their morning service to Zurich

Lufthansa "Sharklet" equipped Airbus A320-214 D-AIZW operated their morning flight to Frankfurt

Pilatus PC-12 OE-EGO which had arrived on Thursday was a morning departure

Friday 15 November 2013 - Flight Design CTLS G-CGRB makes first visit of type to BHX

Flight Design CTLS G-CGRB made a morning visit - the first visit of this type of aircraft to BHX

Other visitors to the Elmdon apron included Gama Aviation Gulfstream 550 G-MRLX....

Gulfstream 550 EI-GDL which parked up on arrival to night stop....

Netjets Citation XLS CS-DXH which spent the day parked up....

London Executive Aviation Citation II G-SPUR which brought Princess Anne in to visit an event at the NEC

.... while Citation CJ1 D-INCS made a brief afternoon visit Photos: Mike Hollick

Cross Aviation Citation XLS N575NR was an afternoon departure after a visit to the Eurojet hangar

Robinson R-66 N66EV was a lunchtime visitor to the Elmdon apron

JCB Sikorsky S-76C M-JCBA made an approach and go around to Runway 33 during the afternoon

Monarch Airbus A300B4-605R G-MONS which had arrived on Monday 4 November 2013 and has been
in their hangar ever since was pushed outside now devoid of Monarch titles and insignia....

.... it was then towed over to the terminal side of the airport of some engine runs in preparation for its
planned departure on Saturday to Tupelo in the USA where it will be parted out/scrapped Photo: Mike Hollick

Thomson Boeing 757-28A G-OOBD was a morning arrival from Luton for short term parking....

.... it is currently being operated on behalf of "TCS and Starquest Expeditions" on VIP air tours

Saturday 19 October 2013 - Air Bright "Expendables" Antonov 26B LZ-ABR is a morning arrival from Prague

Air Bright Antonov 26B LZ-ABR was a morning arrival from Prague....

.... it has recently been used in the filming of action movie "The Expendables 3"

.... and continues to wear a camouflage colour scheme with a fine set of teeth!

The rear cargo ramp lowered as it taxied onto the Elmdon apron....

.... and it was soon unloaded

Thomson Boeing 757-28A G-OOBD was an afternoon arrival from Stockholm Arlanda
- it wears "TCS and Starquest Expeditions" titles in preparation of winter operations

KLM cityhopper Embraer 190-100LR PH-EZX which is in the "Skyteam" colour scheme
operated their morning flight to Amsterdam

Tuesday 27 November 2012 - Falcon 50EX F-HCDD is a day stopping visitor to the Elmdon apron

Falcon 50EX F-HCDD was a day stopping visitor to the Elmdon apron Photo: Mike Hollick

TCS & Starquest Expeditions Boeing 757-28A G-OOBE which had been parked up at BHX
since it arrived on Sunday 18 November 2012....

.... positioned back to Luton - the aircraft which is operated by Thomson and has their
standard scheme on the other side of the fuselage is in a VIP configuration and operates
worldwide luxury tours on behalf of TCS & Starquest Expeditions

Friday 23 November 2012 - Starquest Expeditions Boeing 757 G-OOBE parked up at BHX

TCS & Starquest Expeditions Boeing 757-28A G-OOBE spent the day parked up....

.... the aircraft is in a VIP configuration but wears standard Thomson titles on the other/starboard side
and had positioned in from Luton on Sunday 18 November 2012 for short term parking at BHX