THE FAR EAST

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AUSTRALIA

East West Airlines, Ltd. - (EW/EWA)

Tamworth, New South Wales

Following a demonstration with a Series 402AP which the manufacturer leased from Philippine Airlines in June 1969, an order was announced for a single Series 475 in December 1970 for this airline. However, the deal was not concluded.

Royal Australian Air Force.

Fairbairn, Canberra

The RAAF ordered two Series 217EAs with delivery in January and February 1968.  The aircraft were initially fitted with two executive cabins of 26 and 30 passenger seats and were operated in the VIP transport rôle by 34 (ST) Squadron based at Fairbairn, Canberra.  Uniquely, these aircraft had a navigator’s position in the cockpit and were affectionately known as “Trucks” in RAAF service.  The aircraft were fitted with non-standard Rolls-Royce Spey Mk.511-14s and had a beefed up undercarriage with larger low pressure tyres for improved airfield performance and for use to destinations with runways with low bearing strengths.  The aircraft were later fitted with a more luxurious 2 X 2 29 seat cabin to the rear while the forward section comprised a galley/bar area forward with a four place table crew area.  The main cabin was fitted with four huge pivoting lounge chairs.  Between the main lounge and the rear cabin was another four place table with electric typewriter connection on one side of the cabin while on the other side was a three seat divan which folded out into a King Size bed.  Apart from operating to most Australian airfields with runways in excess of 6,000 ft length and maintaining regular ministerial shuttles between Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, the aircraft were flown to destinations throughout the Far East and Pacific and to India, Iran and even a one off trip to Glasgow in the UK in June 1973.  The aircraft were also used for special VIP flights such as carrying the Governor General, the Shah of Iran, the President of Burma and the UK Royal Family on various occasions.  Overseas points visited included Apia (Samoa), Bali (Indonesia), Christmas Island, Cocos Island, Honiara (Solomon Islands), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Manila and Zamboanga (Philippines), Norfolk Island, Noumea (New Caledonia), Nuku Alofa (Tonga), Port Moresby and Rabaul (PNG), Port Vila (Vanuatu), Rarotonga (Cook Islands), Singapore, Suva and Nadi (Fiji) and Tarawa (Kiribati) in the immediate vicinity while further afield points visited included Bangkok (Thailand), Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi (India), Guam, Hong Kong, Kwajelein (Marshall Islands), Okinawa, Tokyo (Japan), Ponape (Micronesia), Pyonyang (N.Korea), Seoul (S.Korea), Beijing, Shanghai and Shenyang (China), Srinigar (Kashmir) and Teheran (Iran) while various points in New Zealand were regular training destinations.  The fleet was retired in early 1990 having flown over 28,000 hours and carried out over 30,000 landings.

 FIJI

Air Pacific, Ltd. - (FJ/FJI)

Suva

Air Pacific ordered two Series 479FUs laid out in a 74 seat single class configuration with delivery in March 1972 and August 1973.  A used Series 413FA was later bought in June 1978.  The type inaugurated service on 2nd April 1972 and was used to operate scheduled services from Suva and Nadi to Apia (Samoa), Auckland, Brisbane, Honiara (Solomon Islands), Noumea (New Caledonia), Pago Pago (American Samoa), Papeete (Tahiti), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Port Vila (Vanuatu), Tarawa (Kiribati) and Tongatapu.  The Nadi to Papeete flight was at one time operated as a joint service with Union de Transports Aériens – UTA.  One of the Series 479FUs was leased to Air Malawi from July 1974 to November 1975.  The type was finally withdrawn in March 1984.

INDIA

Citylink Airways, (XF)

Delhi

Citylink Airways commenced scheduled services with two leased Romavia Series 561RCs on 19th November 1992. The aircraft were operated in a two class configuration on scheduled routes from Delhi to Bombay and Calcutta. Operations ceased in October 1993 and the aircraft were returned to the lessor.

INDONESIA

Bouraq Indonesia Airlines, P.T, - (BO/BOU)

Jakarta

Bouraq was reportedly operating a Series 401AK in 1995 between Jakarta and Banjarmasin

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Citra Aviation.

Obtained a Series 401AK from Pelita Air Services in September 1995 but nothing further is known of this aircraft other than the fact that it was last reported operating in a VIP configuration.

Dirgantara Air Services, P.T. - see Freeport Indonesia.

Freeport Indonesia, P.T. - ( )

Timika

In June 1987 this organisation obtained a Series 401AK which was operated on the company’s behalf by Dirgantara Air Services from mid August 1987 until late January 1992 primarily for the carriage of mining staff between Timika in West Irian and Cairns in Queensland.  The aircraft was painted in Pertamina’s colours with ‘Freeport’ titles and was later noted in Berlin and Amsterdam in May 1992.  The aircraft was subsequently sold to Pelita Air Services in March 1993.

Indonesia Air Transport, P.T. - (IDA)

Jakarta

This organisation took delivery of a Series 492GM in December 1994, a Series 488GH in March 1996, a Series 422EQ in July 1997 and a Series 423ET in April 1998.  The aircraft were used on worldwide charter flights usually executively configured.  The Series 488GH was disposed of in October 1998 and the Series 422EQ in May 2000.   The last time these aircraft was reported active was in October 2002 when one of the aircraft visited Perth in Australia and late August 2003 when the other was seen flying at Kuching.  The Series 492GM was scrapped in October 2012 while the Series 423ET remains in store at Jakarta.

Merpati Nusantara Airlines, P.T. - (MZ/MNA)

Jakarta

In August 1971 two Series 401AK were painted in Merpati’s colours.  One of these was delivered to Jakarta.  However, no import licence was granted and the aircraft was returned to American Airlines Inc in November 1971 without use.  From mid 1977 to May 1978 Pelita Air Services Series 416EK was used to operate a scheduled service from Denpasar to Darwin in Australia.

Pelita Air Services, P.T. - (EP & 6D/PAS)

Jakarta

This organisation obtained a Series 416EK in January 1973 for ad hoc charter work and also to fly on behalf of Pertamena Oil.  The aircraft operated a scheduled service for Merpati Nusantara from 1977 to May 1978 before it was sold in June 1979.  A Series 401AK was painted in this company’s colours for operation on behalf of Freeport Indonesia by Dirgantara Air Services from mid August 1987 until late January 1992.  The aircraft was registered to Pelita Air Services in March 1993 and sold in September 1995.

Name used on aircraft:-

PK-PJC - Aron

MALAYSIA

Wirakris Udara, (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Kuala Lumpur

A Series 481FW was reportedly leased by this carrier from September 1992 to operate cargo flights. It had been returned to the lessor by March 1993.

PAKISTAN

AERO ASIA International (Pvt), Ltd. - (E4/RSO)

Karachi

AERO ASIA inaugurated scheduled services with two leased TAROM Series 561RCs on 6th May 1993 over the routes Karachi to Islamabad and Lahore initially both flown twice daily. The aircraft were operated in a 109 seat all economy layout. On 26th July 1993 Pasni was added to the network with Peshawar following on 1st August 1993 by which time a third Series 561RC had been leased. By early 1994 Faisalabad and Multan had been added to the destinations served and the fleet raised to five aircraft. The fleet was standardised at four aircraft and these were registered in Pakistan in August 1995. Additional were leased at various times both from TAROM and Romavia. By early 2000 domestic frequencies had been considerably reduced and the international destinations of Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and Muscat added to the network. By 2002 the fleet had been withdrawn and the four aircraft put in storage.

PHILIPPINES

Philippine Air Force.

Nichols Air Base-Manila

A used Series 408EF was obtained by the Central Bank of the Philippines in July 1974. After fitting out as a corporate aircraft in the USA it was delivered to the Nichols Air Base near Manila in July of the same year. From here it was operated by the Philippine Air Force on Presidential and VIP flights by 702 Squadron of the 700th Special Mission Wing until it was disposed of in February 1984.

Philippine Airlines, Inc. - (PR/PAL)

Manila

This airline ordered two Series 402APs on 2nd November 1964 with an option on a third to replace its Vickers Viscount 784 fleet.  This option was taken up on 28th December 1965 when a fourth aircraft was optioned.  Although the latter option was taken up on 3rd May 1967, the aircraft was not delivered nor was a fifth aircraft assigned to this carrier.  The aircraft were delivered in April and September 1966 and November 1967 laid out in a 74 seat single class configuration.  A Series 432FD was leased from the manufacturer from October 1969 to February 1971 to replace one of the initial aircraft lost in an accident.  Four Series 527FKs laid out with 94 seat single class cabins were ordered on 6th August 1970 of which only three were delivered in October and November 1971.  These aircraft replaced the Series 400 aircraft which were withdrawn from service in November 1971 and returned to the manufacturer in January and February 1972.  Two further Series 527FKs were later ordered with delivery in June and July 1974 while eight used examples of Series 500s were also bought.  These comprised two Series 524FFs with delivery in April and November 1974, two Series 517FEs with delivery in September and November 1975, a Series 501EX with delivery in March 1977, a Series 518FG with delivery in August 1978 and a Series 516FP and a Series 523FJ both delivered in July 1980.  The first Series 402AP was introduced into service on 1st May 1966 and the type was used on international services from Manila to Denpasar, Hong Kong, Saigon and Taipei while the type was used domestically on routes from Manila to Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo.  With the arrival of the Series 500s, the type was mainly employed in flying domestic routes to the numerous Philippine Islands following its introduction to service on 11th November 1971.  Destinations served from Manila included Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legaspi, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga while many of these points had direct flights between them.  Internationally the type also served Bandar Seri Begawan, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu and Xiamen from Manila in the early days.  With the introduction of Boeing 737-300s in August 1989, the One-Elevens were progressively withdrawn from service starting in February 1990.  By mid May 1992 only one aircraft remained in service as a back-up to the Boeing fleet.  On 31st  May 1992 RP-C1185 operated the last One-Eleven service for Philippine Airlines when it flew into Manila from Legaspi as PR278, so ending twenty-six years of uninterrupted One-Eleven service with this carrier.

Name used on aircraft:-

RP-C1183 - Imelda

SINGAPORE

Mr. Robin Loh took delivery of a used Series 416EK in early November 1971. After initial use as an executive aircraft, it was later fitted out in airline configuration and leased to Air-Siam Co from mid May to the end of December 1972. The aircraft was sold the following month.

Flightways Air Services. Pte Ltd. - (FS/FSI)

Singapore

This company, which was a subsidiary of Flightways Air Services Pty Ltd of Perth, Australia, used a Series 401AK of Flightway Inc to operate scheduled services between Singapore and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean by May 1987 until Feruary 1988 with ‘Flightways’ titles and FW on the fin.

THAILAND

Air-Siam Air Company, Ltd. (VG)

Bangkok

Air-Siam leased a Series 416EK from Mr Robin Loh of Singapore to operate scheduled flights between Bangkok and Hong Kong from May to December 1972.

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