Gallery Update: Chasing ExpressJet at Eugene

Well as of my last spotting trip to Eugene a month ago, I've chased down every ERJ-145 ExpressJet is currently operating (except for one, which is currently doing sports charters out east at the moment!). However, looking back to my first time catching them inaugurating their "Aha!" branded service back in November, I did find it somewhat dissatisfying due to weather. Since then, I've thought about going back to chase down the ERJ-145 airframe (the one in the basic ExpressJet livery!) that operated the inaugural flight to Eugene for some redemption and I decided to pull the trigger today!

I was able to time the spotting trip just right and even utilized a new spotting location for some quick photo opportunities pointed out to me by a fellow plane-spotter I met in Eugene last fall. I was even pleasantly surprised to catch another Saab 2000 operated by Air Charter Express (ACE)! I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Eugene (EUG) 10

Preview:

Cessna 400 TTx T240 (N443CS) airborne off 16R for an instrument training flight.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a United Express) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER (N906EV) taxiing to the terminal after arriving on 16R as SKW5645 from Los Angeles. Airframe previously flew with ExpressJet Airlines flying under the Delta Connection and then American Eagle banner before going to SkyWest for United Express operations.

Life Flight Network Pilatus PC-12/47E (N660LF) airborne off 16R.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N284WN) taxiing to the terminal after arriving on 16R as SWA1374 from Las Vegas.

Empire Airlines (d/b/a FedEx Feeder) Cessna 208 Super Cargomaster (N788FE) taxiing to the south cargo ramp after arriving on 16R as CFS4662 from Portland.

Cessna 551 Citation II/SP (N102DR) arriving on 34L from Marysville, California. Winds calmed down briefly to allow a pair of arrivals coming in from the south to shoot a straight-in approach for 34L.

Cessna 550 Citation II (N100DS) arriving on 34L from Palm Springs-Bermuda Dunes.

N100DS taxiing to the hangar, located on the south side the airport. Definitely a locally-based Citation II!

Freight Runners Express (d/b/a Air Charter Express - ACE) Saab 2000 (N506FR) parked on the FBO ramp. My second time seeing a Saab 2000 operated by FRE/ACE and talk about a pleasant surprise! Arrived early yesterday morning as FRG327 from Pullman/Moscow on a college sports charter.

ExpressJet Airlines Embraer EMB-145LR ERJ-145LR (N844HK) arriving on 16R as ASQ7062 about 40 minutes behind schedule from Reno-Tahoe. Operating doing business as "Aha!" Airlines.

ASQ7062 clearing the runway. This was the airframe that inaugurated the "Aha!" route between Reno and Eugene last November.

Last time I saw this airframe, the weather was not the greatest and I didn't know about the spotting location that was pointed out to me. I credit a fellow spotter I met back in October and November for pointing out this spot to me that made shots like this possible.

Glad I was able to get shots of this airframe in better conditions!

So far, I've yet to properly photograph one more ERJ-145 in ExpressJet's current fleet (registered as N839HK), which is in a partial/hybrid livery at the moment working sports charters.

From a visual perspective, it would've made sense to use this airframe for charter operations and leave the "Aha!" branded airplanes in scheduled service. I would think seeing the ExpressJet branded jet flying the "Aha!" services would cause some confusion among the flying public (especially the non-AvGeek kind!).

ExpressJet and their independent "Aha!" brand has been in service for about six months now. They now serve ten routes out of their Reno hub.

News regarding "Aha!" has been rather quiet lately, but a press release from ExpressJet back in late February stated that they've identified at least 25 more markets they could serve with the E-145 fleet.

As of right now, the airline is still gathering data on the overall performance of the markets they currently serve, which will likely determine schedules and frequencies in the future.

ExpressJet also has to yet to bring their vacation package deals online, which is to be the core of their "Aha!" Airlines business model (much like Allegiant Air on a smaller scale). Apparently that's going to be the focus of the company throughout this year. With their Reno hub being an underserved multi-season destination with various attractions and events taking place throughout the year, ExpressJet/"Aha!" Airlines is in a prime position to find success.

ASQ7062 pulling up to the terminal; looks like they're either sharing or leasing gate space with Alaska Airline's regional flights. Also likely the jet bridges at Eugene are a little too high for the ERJ-145s to utilize (ironic, considering that the CRJs that serve Eugene seem to have no problem using them!).

A few more shots of N506FR. This airframe is the 6th Saab 2000 off the production line. Airframe first delivered to Crossair as HB-IZC in August 1994 before being transferred to Swiss in March 2002. Returned to Saab Aircraft in September 2003 as SE-006 before being operated by Soder Air starting in December 2003. Returned to Saab Aircraft once again in June 2004.

Airframe then spent time in the U.K. as G-CDKA with Eastern Airways starting in March 2005. British Airways leased this frame starting in May 2015 to be operated under this BA CityFlyer regional brand until June 2018 when it returned to regular Eastern Airways operations. Airframe was withdrawn from use in July 2020 due to pandemic repercussions and went into storage. Leasing firm Jetstream Aviation Capital took on the airframe in October 2021 before leasing it Freight Runners in December 2021.

Gallery Update: Two Saturday Metroliner Sightings at Salem

I had plans to go flying today. However, the flying club had a group fly-out today and were running a little behind schedule. And I was fine with them being late, because I was planning on being out at the airport early anyways to chase down two Metroliners scheduled to fly into Salem. One was operated by Ameriflight and other by Pak West/Sierra West Airlines. Both flights were chartered by non-profit "Fetch Fido A Flight," an organization that works with animal shelters and rescues in transporting pets and animals to no-kill shelters and get them put up for adoption.

While the sighting of Sierra West Airlines' Metroliner on a given day is nothing out of the ordinary, the sighting of an Ameriflight Metroliner certainly is. For starters, Ameriflight doesn't fly into Salem on the weekends and when they do, they're usually a Portland-based Beechcraft 99. So it's pretty unusual to see one of their Metroliners in Salem!

In addition to the two Metroliners, McNary Field was buzzing with General Aviation activity given how nice the weather was for this time of year. There were even a few GA highlights! I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Salem (SLE)

Preview:

Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six (N2461M) taxiing for departure to Portland-Mulino.

N2461M departing on 34 for Portland-Mulino.

Diamond DA-42-NG Twin Star (N449TS) arriving on 34 from Portland-Hillsboro.

Beechcraft C23 Sundowner (N9335S) arriving on 34 following a local flight. This is actually my first time seeing a member of the Beechcraft Mustketeer family!

Ameriflight Fairchild SA-227AT Expediter (N240DH) going around on 31 after coming in too high on final approach as AMF7147 from Denver-Centennial.

AMF7147 arriving on 31 after flying a right-pattern following the go-around. 

AMF7147 taxiing to the ramp.

It's so weird seeing one of Ameriflight's Metroliners in Salem, when the usual sighting is a Beechcraft 99!

N449TS taxiing out for a local flight.

N449TS departing on 34.

Beechcraft D55 Baron (N7803R) departing on 34 for Troutdale.

Oregon Army National Guard Sikorsky HH-60M (S-70A) Black Hawk (14-20693) making a low approach over 34.

N240DH taxiing back out, still as AMF7147 for a long trek to Dallas-Fort Worth, which is where this particular airframe and crew are likely based at.

Pak West Airlines (d/b/a Sierra West Airlines) Fairchild SA-227AC Metro III (N733BH) arriving on 31 from Colorado Springs as PKW836.

AMF7147 airborne off 13 for Dallas-Fort Worth.

PKW836 taxiing up to the ramp.

Airframe first flew for Big Sky Airlines as N160MC until going into storage in Billings, Montana until it was taken up by Aerocon, a Bolivian Airline that started up in 2005, with registration CP-2500. Aerocon ceased operations in 2015 and the airframe eventually made its way to Pak West/Sierra West Airlines.

Columbia Helicopters Boeing-Vertol 107-II (N190CH) executing a missed-approach over 31. First time seeing one of these in flight!

Sukhoi Su-29 (N29VB) taxiing out for departure.

N29VB airborne off 34 for a local aerobatics flight.

N190CH executing another missed-approach over 31.

The BV-107-II is a civilian model of the CH-46 Sea Knight (previously used by the Navy and Marine Corps), which remains in limited use. The civilian model was designed for use by helicopter airlines, a concept that's been overall unsuccessful. Furthermore, the civilian version is commonly referred to simply as the "Vertol."