THE FAR EAST

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AUSTRALIA

East West Airlines, Ltd. (EW)

Following a demonstration with a Series 402AP which the manufacturer leased from Philippine Airlines in Jun69, an order was announced for a single Series 475 in Dec70 for this airline. However, the deal was not concluded.

Royal Australian Air Force.

The RAAF ordered two Series 217EAs with delivery in Jan and Feb68. The aircraft were initially fitted with two executive cabins of 26 and 30 passenger seats and were operated in the VIP transport role 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 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 and Iran. The aircraft were also used for special VIP flights such as carrying the Governor General and the UK Royal Family on various occasions. Overseas points visited included Apia (Samoa), Christmas Island, Cocos Island, Honiara (Solomon Islands), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Manila (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), Bejing, Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi (India), Guam, Kwajelein (Marshall Islands), Ponape (Micronesia), Srinigar (Kashmir), Teheran (Iran) and Tokyo 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)

Air Pacific ordered two Series 479FUs, laid out in a 74 seat single class configuration, with delivery in Mar72 and Aug73. A used Series 413FA was later bought in Jun78. The type inaugurated service on 02Apr72 and was used to operate scheduled services from Suva and Nadi to Apia, Auckland, Brisbane, Honiara, Noumea, Pago Pago, Papeete, Port Moresby and Tongatapu. The Nadi to Papeete flight was at one time operated as a joint service with Union de Transport Aerien – UTA. One of the Series 479FUs was leased to Air Malawi from Jul74 to Nov75. The type was finally withdrawn in Mar84.

INDIA

Citylink Airways, (XF)

Citylink Airways commenced scheduled services with two leased Romavia Series 561RCs on 19Nov92. The aircraft were operated in a two class configuration on scheduled routes from Delhi to Bombay and Calcutta. Operations ceased in Oct93 and the aircraft were returned to the lessor.

INDONESIA

Citra Aviation.

Obtained a Series 401AK from Pelita Air Services in Sep95 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.

In Jun87 this organisation obtained a Series 401AK which was operated on the company’s behalf by Dirgantara Air Services from mid Aug87 until late Jan92 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 May92. The aircraft was subsequently sold to Pelita Air Services in Mar93.

Indonesia Air Transport, P.T.

This organisation took delivery of a Series 492GM in Dec94, a Series 488GH in Dec94, a Series 422EQ in Jul97 and a Series 423ET in Apr98. The aircraft were used on worldwide charter flights usually executively configured. The Series 488GH was disposed of in Oct98 and the Series 422EQ in May00. The last time one of these aircraft was reported active was in Oct02 when one of the aircraft visited Perth in Australia. Both aircraft are reportedly now in store.

Merpati Nusantara Airlines, P.T. (MZ)

In Aug71 two Series 401AK were painted in Merpati’s colours. N5032 was delivered to Jakarta. However, no import licence was granted and the aircraft was returned to American Airlines Inc in Nov71 without use. From mid 1977 to May 78 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)

This organisation obtained a Series 416EK in Jan73 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 May78 before it was sold in Jun79. A Series 401AK was painted in this company’s colours for operation on behalf of Freeport Indonesia by Dirgantara Air Services from mid Aug87 until late Jan92. The aircraft was registered to Pelita Air Services in Mar93 and sold in Sep95.

Name used on aircraft:-

PK-PJC Aron

MALAYSIA

Wirakris Udara, (M) Sdn. Bhd.

A Series 481FW was reportedly leased by this carrier from Sep92 to operate cargo flights. It had been returned to the lessor by Mar93.

PAKISTAN

AERO ASIA International (Pvt), Ltd. (E4)

AERO ASIA inaugurated scheduled services with two leased TAROM Series 561RCs on 06May93 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 26Jul93 Pasni was added to the network with Peshawar following on 01Aug93 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 Aug95. 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.

A used Series 408EF was obtained by the Central Bank of the Philippines in Feb74. 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 700 th Special Mission Wing until it was disposed of in Feb84.

Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PR)

This airline ordered two Series 402APs on 02Nov64 with an option on a third to replace its Vickers Viscount 784 fleet. This option was taken up on 28Dec65 when a fourth aircraft was optioned. Although the latter option was taken up 03May67, the aircraft was not delivered nor was a fifth aircraft assigned to this carrier. The aircraft were delivered in Apr and Sep66 and Nov 67 laid out in a 74 seat single class configuration. A Series 432FD was leased from the manufacturer from Oct69 to Feb71 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 06Aug70 of which only three were delivered in Oct and Nov71. These aircraft replaced the Series 400 aircraft which were withdrawn from service in Nov71 and returned to the manufacturer in Jan and Feb72. Two further Series 527FKs were later ordered with delivery in Jun and Jul74 while eight used examples of Series 500s were also bought. These comprised two Series 524FFs with delivery in Apr and Nov74, two Series 517FEs with delivery in Sep and Nov75, a Series 501EX with delivery in Mar77, a Series 518FG with delivery in Aug78 and a Series 516FP and a Series 523FJ both delivered in Jul80. The first Series 402AP was introduced into service on 01May66 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 11Nov71. 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 Aug89, the One-Elevens were progressively withdrawn from service starting in Feb90. By mid May92 only one aircraft remained in service as a back-up to the Boeing fleet. On 31May92 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 Nov71. After initial use as an executive aircraft, it was later fitted out in airline configuration and leased to Air-Siam Co from mid May72 to the end of Dec73. The aircraft was sold the following month.

THAILAND

Air-Siam Air Company, Ltd. (VG)

Air-Siam leased a Series 416EK from Mr Robin Loh of Singapore to operate scheduled flights between Bangkok and Hong Kong from May to Dec72.

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