M. Wynn: "Wild Card" Aviation Photography & Images: Gallery Update: EUG Sunrise Spotting

About This Blog:

The primary purpose of this blog is to showcase the best of my aviation photography. As such, you will find links to my main aviation gallery on Facebook containing photos from aircraft spotting, some kind of aviation event such as air shows and fly-in events, as well as aviation museums. I also critique my flights on commercial airlines and the services they provide. Occassionally, you'll find personally written, independent articles based on news and current events involving aviation. And of course, I'll put up links to official and unofficial aviation-related websites when I find them. And when time permits, I'll talk and discuss about anything involving aviation. But most importantly, this is my way to document my journey into the aviation industry!

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Gallery Update: EUG Sunrise Spotting

Since I first started spotting in Eugene, Oregon one year ago, I've been wanting to get some sunrise spotting photos at Eugene Airport. I have also been wanting to catch an Allegiant Air aircraft at KEUG. But every time I considered going, the weather wasn't going to be in my favor or something else came up that prevented me from going. I also had to wait for the winter season to end so I could get the optimal condition; timing was key and today I finally got what I was looking for! Even better, I got to photograph a few things I've never seen before at EUG, making this spotting trip well worth the drive. Here's the link:

Eugene (EUG) 4

Photo preview and highlights:

Compass Airlines (d/b/a American Eagle) Embraer E-175LR (N208AN) airborne after departure from 16R as CPZ5990 for Los Angeles. This is my first time seeing the new American Eagle brand. Since I last saw an American Eagle-branded regional jet last year, it has changed from twice-daily SkyWest-operated CRJs to Compass E-Jets. With changes in operators also came changes in flight schedules; initially, Compass Airlines flew once daily to/from EUG arriving in the late-afternoon only return early-evening. As of this spring, Compass now flies twice-daily (one morning and one evening flight) for American between Eugene and Los Angeles. Also, starting this June, PDX will start seeing Compass-operated American Eagle flights to Los Angeles, replacing Delta Connection due to Delta now operating PDX-LAX flights with mainline 717s.

Horizon Air (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier DHC-8-402 Q400 (N433QX) taxiing for departure to Seattle as QXE2296. Even though I see these all the time in Portland, it was really cool to photograph a taxiing Horizon Air Q400 at ground level.

QXE2296 beginning take-off roll on 34L. According to Eugene Airport ATIS, winds were variable at the time of this photo so runway options were open on the condition that there was no other traffic.

Allegiant Air Airbus A319-111 (N304NV) arriving on 34L as AAY1016 from Metropolitan Oakland International. My first time seeing an Allegiant Airbus! While I hoped it would be an MD-80, I have waited a long time to catch an Airbus in Allegiant colors since they started acquiring them in 2012-2013. Note the two over-wing emergency exit doors; a feature that makes this Airbus A319 unique. Normally A319s just have one on each side but this airframe is former HB-JZJ of EasyJet Switzerland. EasyJet is a low-cost carrier in Europe (based in the United Kingdom with a Swiss subsidiary) and the airline crammed as many seats (156 to be exact!) as possible into the main cabin. With so many seats, EasyJet A319s have two pairs of over-wing exits instead of the standard one pair configuration in order to satisfy safety requirements. Allegiant retained the 156 seat configuration on their A319s. So basically, this is an A319 trying to imitate an A320!

Flaring prior to touch-down. Allegiant's been in the news quite a bit lately and not for the better. They're being monitored by FAA due to safety concerns and SEVERAL emergency landings and aborted take-offs. Needless to say, Allegiant is in some hot water right now, but I suppose that's the price for operating planes that were acquired for cheap and second-hand...

Smoking the mains! Airbus A319s and A320s are slated to replace Allegiant's entire aging MD-80 fleet by 2020 so I better chase after those old 'Mad Dogs' while they're still out there!

Horizon Air (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier DHC-8-401 Q400 (N414QX) in San Diego State University Aztecs college livery taxiing to the terminal after arrival from Seattle as QXE2295. First time I've seen a Horizon college-special at Eugene; too bad it wasn't the University of Oregon Ducks plane!

After a 1-hour turn-around, N304NV departs Eugene via 16R (allowing me to get this excellent angle!) as AAY1024 bound for Los Angeles.

I also learned from this trip that I cannot trust FlightAware when figuring out aircraft types on several of Allegiant's flights; with this particular flight (and the arriving flight earlier), FlightAware couldn't tell if it was an Airbus and MD-80, adding to my personal anticipation. But given that Allegiant Air is very difficult to catch due to their overall business model, I'll settle for any aircraft type in their fleet when I get an opportunity to photograph them!

N414QX airborne after departing via 16R as QXE2036 for the intra-state commuter flight to Portland International. I really appreciate getting some prop-blur here!