Gallery Update: Chasing an Eastern Air Lines Boeing 737 in Salem

Remember when a Dornier 328JET flew into Salem earlier this month and I said that it was the largest jet I've seen at the airport? Well, today that just got trumped as I had a rare opportunity to photograph a chartered Boeing 737-800 at Salem-McNary Field! What's even more crazy about this opportunity is that it was a 737 from the newly-revived Eastern Air Lines! It's a pretty big deal when a 737 flies into Salem, but it's an even bigger deal when the 737 happens to be from an airline adorned with a name from a by-gone era in aviation! Indeed this was a rare opportunity, a west coast planespotter's dream come true, a sight of aviation nostalgia!!!

The original Eastern Air Lines ceased operations on January 18, 1991; I was born less than six months before that date so I was too young to remember this airline. It was one of the “Big Four” airlines (along with United, Delta and American, the current U.S. "Big Three") that dominated the passenger airline business in the United States for nearly 50 years. It started flying officially as Eastern from 1930 (after its predecessor company known as Pitcairn Aviation was founded in 1927) and operated until 1991, when it ceased operations during the first Gulf War. Compounded by skyrocketing fuel prices, stiffer competition, financial difficulties, debt, and eventually bankruptcy, the airline folded as a result. However, Eastern’s court-appointed Trustee and Administrator were very careful to preserve the core asset (such as the airline’s name and trademarks) to allow for the airline to one day be revived and re-launched.

And in late-2011, a professional group of airline managers got together and formed Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. by acquiring the intellectual property of Eastern Air Lines to develop a new business and financing plan to re-launch the airline. And in early 2014, the new incarnation of Eastern Air Lines filed an application with the United States Department of Transportation for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, followed by certification with the Federal Aviation Administration. The airline launched passenger services on May 28, 2015 with it's first Boeing 737-800 dubbed the "Spirit of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker" (named after the early leader of the original Eastern Air Lines) on a charter flight to Havana, Cuba from it's home base in Miami (like it's original predecessor, the new Eastern Air Lines will be based in Miami as it's operating hub). Since then the new Eastern fleet currently consists of one Boeing 737-700 and four Boeing 737-800s (all used), with plans to acquire an additional 20 737 (split between 10 -800s and 10 MAX 8s) from Boeing, as well as 20 Mitsubishi MRJ90s from Japan.

When it comes to reviving an old airline name, this is nothing new. In the past several start-ups attempted to bring back classic airline names like Pan Am (which was brought back twice and all failed) or People Express (which was brought back in 2012 and failed again in 2014). However, in the case of the new Eastern Air Lines, it appears to be succeeding. The airline is currently operating only charter flights primarily between Miami and Cuba, with additional charter destinations to the Caribbean and Latin America planned. Their aircraft are also available for charters throughout the United States as well as for professional and college sports teams; the airline is currently the “Official Airline” for University of Miami Athletics and also operates charter flights for the Florida Panthers, San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins, Oakland A's, Georgia State University, and Georgia Southern University. The new Eastern Air Lines is currently in the process of getting certified by the FAA commence scheduled operations, which will focus on the Caribbean and Latin America.

I later found out that the Eastern Air Lines 737 I saw and photographed in Salem today was chartered by country music star and American Idol Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood! She's currently on tour and performed at the Oregon Jamboree held in Sweet Home yesterday and was on her way to her next stop of the tour up in Duncan, British Columbia, near Victoria on Vancouver Island. Here's the link:

Salem (SLE) 14

Photo preview:

SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad (N25125) taxiing out for departure to Tacoma Narrows.

Cessna A185F Skywagon II (N7350N) equipped with floats taxiing to parking after arrival.

Eastern Air Lines Boeing 737-8CX (N277EA) taxiing out for departure with Carrie Underwood and her tour entourage on board as EAL6590 for Victoria, British Columbia. Airframe arrived the night prior from Burbank as EAL943. Airframe was also in Salem two days ago dropping off Underwood and her tour group coming from Nashville. Airframe previously registered as N359AM while leased to AeroMexico and before that as PR-GOJ while flying for Gol Transportes Aereos.

As of this moment, the largest aircraft I've ever seen in Salem! Note the San Francisco Giants logo on the engine cowling; nicknamed "We Are SF We Are Giant," this aircraft is also used by the Giants baseball team for their charter flights. A classic livery on a modern, 21st Century jet airliner!

EAL6590 just airborne after departing on 31 for Victoria International Airport (YJJ/CYJJ). Thanks Carrie Underwood for giving me this opportunity to photograph this elusive airline!

(Does taking these photos officially qualify me as a paparazzo???)

Robinson R44 Raven II (N441KA) arriving into Salem.