We’ve a real assortment of news this week and a fun fact about a much-loved aircraft
2Excel - UK-based company will retire its B727 in favour of specially modified B737-800 as part of a new contract with Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), for global oil spill dispersant services. Details of the replacement programme were announced on 22 May 2025. Like the B727-200 currently fulfilling the oil dispersant role, the B737-800 will be operated by 2Excel on behalf of OSRL, which prepares and delivers rapid response services to oil spills of any scale across the globe. Two aircraft will carry modified equipment, allowing them to operate in icy conditions. They will enter service in 2028. The passenger charter operations remain unaffected.
Qantas – the Australian flag carrier received its first A321XLR, registration VH-OGA. In keeping with tradition, the aircraft is named “Great Ocean Road”. Routing XFW-BKK-SYD, it arrived on 2 July. Before you say that registration belongs to a B767-338ER; when an aircraft leaves a fleet, either to be scrapped or used by another airline, it is given a new one. So, yes, QF can re-use it!
Still no news on when the first A350XLR will enter service. Project Sunrise is still very much part of the airline’s future plans. Some spotters at LHR have recently noted the poor time keeping for QF1/2 SYD-SIN-LHR and return. Faring worse is QF9/10, MEL-PER-LHR and return, which is best described as erratic!
In other news….
Emirates – congratulations go to Andy Peoples on his promotion to A380 Captain. His first flight in the left-hand seat was back “home” to MAN. Well-deserved after he lost his job with the collapse of Thomas Cook. Also, when laid off during the pandemic, he returned to the UK and worked as a supermarket delivery driver. The list of guys from UK is growing.
SDTV – congratulations to Chris on his appointment to the board of Aviation Generation. Four years ago, he started as a spotter before signing up to YouTube. Today he has 70,000 subscribers. What sets him apart from the rest is his involvement with the education side. He is frequently invited by tutors to talk with students about aviation from his perspective. If he is streaming during lesson time, then some will come into his live chat. This all started with his LCY live streams, being close to University of East London. He's now involved with BA and furthering the work of Aviation Generation. This organisation introduces children and young adults to aviation. Also providing training for those interested in becoming part of the support services such as ground ops, loading, marshalling. He has now expanded his profile with the introduction of live streams from military airfields and is working with SEN to set up a camera feed. Due to the educational nature of his live work, Chris has permission from OFCOM to broadcast live ATC on the internet, something that is banned in the UK.
Nomadic Group – you may recall we featured this ferry company in a previous blog. The next in their Cockpit Casual video series is now available on YouTube. Under the title “A Life Nomadic” the 4-part series covers their latest exploits. Parts 3 and 4 are due for release week commencing 7 July.
And finally….
Bermuda based carrier Freedom II LLC visited BHX recently with its B757-23N, VP-BBE. The aircraft was carrying Guns ‘n’ Roses on their UK tour. It’s configured as a VIP charter, with 62 seats.
Which leads us into this week’s question for all keen-eyed enthusiasts. What makes the 757 so different to other commercial aircraft? The clue’s in the picture above….
Information courtesy of KeyAero, FlightAware, FR24, SDTVLive, Nomadic Group
Images courtesy of 2Excel, Freedom II
©TPSC, LadyJet2 and photo/diagram suppliers