Gallery Update: Some Surprising Catches at PDX!

After a tiring and eventful weekend hosting some of my Idaho relatives who were visiting since Friday, I had to drive them back up to PDX today so they could catch their flight home. And of course, I made another spotting trip out of it and it turned out to be a worthwhile one!

In addition to catching another one of Allegiant Air's new Airbus A320 (I know, it still sounds weird!), I got to see a unique Boeing 737-700 (one that I probably wouldn't want to fly on, unless I was piloting it!), a Gulfstream III, and finally, one of Delta Air Lines' newest narrow-body airliners, the Airbus A220.

Portland (PDX) 69

Preview:

Life Flight Network Pilatus PC-12/47E (N661LF) taxiing for departure to Richland, Washington.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8H4 (N8612K) arriving on 10L as SWA388 from Oakland.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A321-253N (N928VA) departing on 10L as ASA782 to Orlando. This frame was the first A321neo to be delivered directly to Alaska Airlines in the standard company colors.

N661LF airborne off 10L for Richland.

Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A Gulfstream III (N388MM) taxiing for departure for a test flight. My first time photographing a Gulfstream III! I've actually seen this plane parked by the FBO buildings here at PDX on numerous occasions, but never had the opportunity to properly photograph it until now. Note the hush-kits installed on the engine exhaust nozzles.

The Gulfstream III is an improved variant of the Gulfstream II, which was first built by Grumman and then in succession by Grumman American and finally by Gulfstream.

This airframe is equipped with the HUBBARD QS3 Hush-kits, an aerodynamic device used to help reduce the noise produced by aircraft jet engines, typically installed on older turbojet and low-bypass turbofan engines, as they are much louder than current high-bypass turbofan engines. 

United States Marshals Service/Department of Justice Boeing 737-7AX (N738A) arriving on 10L as DOJ232 from Las Vegas. This was quite a surprise to see, not to mention one of those rare occurrences of seeing a 737-700 without blended winglets!

These DOJ flights flying under the "Justice" call-sign are operated by the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with the transportation of persons in legal custody among prisons, detention centers, courthouses, and other locations. It is the largest prison transportation network in the world.

Cessna 208 Caravan (N707WF) arriving on 10L from Friday Harbor.

N388MM departing on 10L for a 40-minute test flight.

Even with the hush-kits installed, this jet was still loud! The hush-kits enable this Gulfstream III to be Stage 3 noise compliant, allowing it continue flying in the U.S. under current regulations..

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-243 (N393HA) departing on 10L as HAL25 for Honolulu. 

It's certainly nice to see Hawaiian's A330s back in PDX!

Jazz Air (d/b/a Air Canada Express) Bombardier DHC-8-402 Q400 (C-GGFJ) arriving on 10L as JZA8652 from Vancouver.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-790 (N611AS) departing on 10L as ASA1322 for San Jose. Note the "eyebrow" windows above the main cockpit windows, a feature no longer seen on newer 737s.

Alaska's 737-700 fleet has become a rather rare sight for PDX.

Allegiant Air Airbus A320-214 (N247NV) arriving on 10L as AAY37 from Idaho Falls. This would be the plane that takes my relatives home.

AAY37 taxiing to the gate. This airframe was the second A320 that Allegiant received directly from Airbus after ordering directly from the manufacturer.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N613CZ) departing on 10L as SKW3542 for Los Angeles. Another ex-Compass Airlines E-175!

Boutique Air Pilatus PC-12/47 (N475SS) arriving on 10L as BTQ353 from Pendleton.

N388MM arriving back on 10L after a 40-minute flight.

United Airlines Airbus A319-132 (N876UA) arriving on 10L as UAL605 from San Francisco.

N707WF taxiing for departure back to Friday Harbor.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900/ER (N878DN) departing on 10L as DAL2710 for Salt Lake City.

UAL605 about to turn towards the gate.

United Airlines Airbus A319-131 (N829UA) departing on 10L as UAL1491 for San Francisco.

N247NV departing on 10L as AAY38 for the return-trip to Idaho Falls (with my relatives on board!).

I never expected to catch two A320s in Allegiant's fleet that were directly from Airbus on these two back-to-back spotting trips to PDX!

It's still weird to think that this airframe and the airframe I saw on Friday are "new!"

And it's still weird to see Allegiant at Portland connecting to Idaho Falls as well as a few other destinations one would think Alaska Airlines ought to serve!

Allegiant definitely adds  a bit of domestic variety at PDX. As previously mentioned, Allegiant recently ordered the 737 MAX from Boeing, so we'll see a big shake-up of their fleet in a few years.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-932/ER (N889DN) arriving on 10L as DAL752 from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

C-GGFJ departing on 10L as JZA8653 for the return trip to Vancouver.

It would seem that Air Canada has reduced their daily offerings to PDX to just flights to Vancouver. Summer-seasonal routes to Toronto are slated to resume this summer (hopefully!).

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-990/ER (N491AS) in the OneWorld livery departing on 10L as ASA28 for Newark. My second time photographing an Alaska airframe in the OneWorld livery! This was the third 737 in Alaska's fleet to receive the alliance livery.

Beechcraft C90GTI King Air (N720WB) arriving on 10L from Boeing Field.

Cessna 560XL Citation Excel (N567MC) arriving on 10L.

N738A taxiing for departure as DOJ232 back to Las Vegas.

JPATS is commonly known by it's nickname, "Con Air," which of course inspired the 1997 film of the same name.

Flight schedules of JPATS flights are kept secret from the public, and for good reason too!

The JPATS fleet have operations facilities in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Las Vegas, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, so they're commonly seen flying to and from those places.

N738A was first taken up as a VIP transport for a Saudi-based company in 2000. It was taken up by JPATS in 2018.

N876UA taxiing for departure as UAL1095 for Denver.

United Airlines Boeing 737-924/ER (N67846) arriving on 10L as UAL2226 from Chicago O'Hare.

DOJ232 departing on 10L for the return-trip to Las Vegas.

The 737-700 is a fairly new platform for JPATs, as they've been known to operate the older 737-400s as well as a Saab 2000, which I've seen a few years ago.

This is one aircraft I certainly wouldn't want to fly on unless I was piloting it!

Always neat to see out-of-the ordinary things on these spotting trips!

Gulfstream Aerospace G-VI G650 (N235BH) taxiing for departure.

UAL1095 departing on 10L for Denver.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (N8804L) taxiing for departure as SWA4077 for Chicago Midway.

N235BH departing on 10L.

SWA4077 departing on 10L for Chicago Midway.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 (N364VA) departing on 10L as ASA273 for San Francisco.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-100 (N107DU) arriving on 10L as DAL2725 from Seattle-Tacoma. My first time seeing an A220!

After waiting a few years, Delta Air Lines has finally brought their A220s into PDX for a few regularly-scheduled flights primarily on the west coast. Flights are focusing between Delta's hubs in Seattle and Los Angeles, with Portland seeing at least one daily flight each to both of those hubs. 

If Airbus hadn't bought the CSeries program, then we'd be referring to this aircraft type as the Bombardier BD-500-1A10 CSeries CS100.

Launched in early 2008 by Bombardier as the CSeries, the type was intended to compete with Embraer's larger variants of the E-Jet E2 family and partially break up the Boeing/Airbus duopoly by offering up a new mainline narrow-body option in the 100-110 seat market. This was the expected response by Bombardier as they've focused on building the CRJ family of regional jets up until they launched the CSeries.

The CS100 first flew on September 13, 2013 and entered service with Swiss Global Airlines on July 11, 2016. The CS100 received it's type certification on December 18, 2015. But Bombardier needed to score an order from a major U.S. carrier in order to break into the lucrative American market.

DAL2725 taxiing to the gate.

Delta Air Lines was the U.S. launch customer of the CSeries, placing an order for 75 airframes on April 28, 2016. This did not sit well with Boeing, as the aerospace giant filed a petition on April 27, 2017, charging Bombardier with dumping for selling the planes well-below their production costs and stating that this would hurt U.S. aerospace manufacturing, namely Boeing's 737 MAX 7. As a result, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and Department of Commerce (DoC) initially placed a 300% tariff on each CSeries jet imported into the U.S., consisting of 220% from observed subsidies Bombardier received from the Quebec government during development of the jet and another 80% anti-dumping duty.

Thankfully and rightly so, the ITC eventually came to a unanimous conclusion in early 2018 that the U.S. aerospace manufacturing and Boeing in particular was not directly threatened by CSeries, so the tariffs were overturned.

The reaction to Boeing's petition across the industry was largely negative and met with criticism, as it was seen as a back-handed compliment one aircraft manufacturer could pay to another. Many saw aerospace giant Boeing as the bully in trying to kill the CSeries sales to U.S. customers in favor of their own products. Boeing certainly was seen as the hypocrite after making such moves against Bombardier, as the former did not produce an aircraft for the market the CSeries was meant for, not since discontinuing the Boeing 717-200. Furthermore, Boeing itself also received multibillion-dollar tax breaks from the state of Washington. 

Boeing's petition not only drew ire from the aviation industry both from within and beyond the U.S., but from foreign governments including Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Allegedly, Boeing's moves to squash the Bombardier CSeries may have hurt the former's chances of winning Canadian military contracts. Needless to say, the Canadian government was fiercely protective of their own aerospace industry.

In the midst of this dispute, Airbus eventually swooped in and announced a partnership with Bombardier CSeries program on October 16, 2017. Airbus would acquire a 50.01% majority stake, with Bombardier maintaining 31%, and the remaining 19% held by the Quebec government. This partnership would also allow the CSeries to eventually be built at Airbus' U.S. manufacturing sight in Mobile, Alabama and give the CS100 and CS300 access to Airbus's vast resources in terms of sales and marketing. The CSeries was formally re-branded as the Airbus A220 in July 2018, with the CS100 becoming the A220-100 and the CS300 becoming the A220-300.

Two competitors, two manufacturers. And this plane, the plane met with positive reviews by airlines and their customers who flew them was the plane Boeing tried to kill??? Sadly for Bombardier, their partnership with Airbus marked the beginning of the former's formal exit from the commercial aviation industry as they would eventually sell off their other airliner manufacturing programs. Bombardier sold their stake in the CSeries program to Airbus in February 2020.

DAL2725 pulling up to the gate. Other U.S. operators of the A220 family include JetBlue Airways and new start-up Breeze Airways.

Gallery Update: Pilatus PC-7 Sighting in Salem!

Before going up for my first flight in the Cessna 182 to start my high-performance aircraft training, I got a few ramp shots of some interesting aircraft on the ramp, including a Metroliner operated by Pak West/Sierra West Airlines. After my first high-performance training flight, I spotted a a Pilatus PC-7 doing an engine-run on the ramp near the Valley Flyers' hangar row and I just knew I had to photograph it!

Salem (SLE)

Preview:

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle (N421CJ) parked on the ramp. A locally-based twin-piston that I've seen frequently, but unable to photograph until today.

Pak West Airlines (d/b/a Sierra West Airlines) Fairchild SA-227AC Metro III (N63NE) parked on the ramp and getting fueled up. Arrived yesterday afternoon from Twin Falls as PKW928. Scheduled to depart this afternoon for El Paso with the same flight number.

While in standard Pak West/Sierra West colors, this airframe is currently registered to Career Aviation. It first flew for a now-defunct airline that was based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida called Lynx Air International, which ceased operations in 2009. It was one of seven Metroliners that flew for Lynx Air International.

Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer (N66PN) parked on the ramp doing an engine-run. My first time seeing the Swiss-built military trainer! The PC-7 design would lead to the improved PC-9, which would then in-turn lead to the development of the T-6 Texan II license-built by Raytheon and then Beechcraft, which would see use by the U.S. military.

This airframe is the 617th built, meaning it was the second-to-last to be built as Pilatus built 618 PC-7s from 1966 until around the early 2000s.

Gallery Update: Allegiant Air Sighting in Portland

Happy New Year!

This was a last-minute spotting trip I took after leaving work early, but I had to drive up to Portland to pick up some relatives who were flying in from Idaho for a visit this weekend. After finding a cheap fare on Allegiant Air for a direct flight from Idaho Falls to Portland, my relatives apparently jumped at this opportunity. That's right, Allegiant Air now has regularly-scheduled services to PDX now, which was something I don't think anyone saw coming!

A year ago, the Las Vegas-based ultra low-cost carrier announced that they would begin serving Portland initially with flights to Santa Maria and Monterey in California as well as Idaho Falls, which all began in the spring of last year. As it was still the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic leisure travel was recovering much faster than international and business, Allegiant capitalized on unique route opportunities and COVID-weary travelers itching to get out by utilizing their well-known business model to give people the opportunity to travel and recreate in and around popular outdoor attractions (which all three initial destinations had in common) after a dismal year for aviation. The California routes certainly made sense, but connecting Idaho Falls and Portland was certainly a surprise move initially; but given Idaho Falls' proximity to Yellowstone National Park along with other outdoor attractions, the unique city-pairs certainly would work (in theory!) and it has definitely given my relatives a unique opportunity! These new offerings that started last year is Allegiant's first foray into PDX.

Allegiant started service between PDX and Santa Maria on April 15, 2021 with Monterey and Idaho Falls following suit on May 28. Since then, the carrier has also started flying routes to Billings and Missoula (Montana), Des Moines (Iowa), and Grand Rapids (Michigan) on a seasonal basis as of last summer.

Aside from my first time seeing Allegiant at PDX, I was also pleased to catch one of Alaska Airlines' 737s in the OneWorld livery (a new sight since joining the global airline alliance), another one of their 737 MAX 9s, and a few other worthwhile catches.

Portland (PDX) 68

Preview:

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-990 (N318AS) arriving on 28L as ASA9903 from Palm Springs. Originally supposed to arrive earlier in the morning as ASA244 but that flight was cancelled. Formerly painted in the "Spirit of Disneyland II" special livery.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 (N506AS) taxiing for departure as ASA1244 for Seattle-Tacoma.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-990/ER (N486AS) in the OneWorld livery arriving on 28L as ASA1446 from San Diego. My first time seeing the OneWorld livery on an Alaska Airlines frame! This was the second 737 in Alaska's fleet to receive the livery after joining the global airline alliance.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 (N361VA) arriving on 28L as ASA565 from Los Angeles. Former "Jersey Girl" with Virgin America.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 (N551AS) taxiing for departure as ASA1366 for Las Vegas.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 (N924AK) taxiing for departure as ASA1187 for Kailua-Kona. As more 737 MAX 9s join the fleet, Alaska Airlines is putting them on some of their longer routes, including west coast routes to Hawaii. Only my second time seeing an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9!

ASA1244 departing on 28L for Seattle-Tacoma.

ASA1366 departing on 28L for Las Vegas.

ASA1187 departing on 28L for Kailua-Kona.

Frontier Airlines Airbus A320-251N (N354FR) "Scarlet the Tanager" taxiing for departure as FFT2170 for Las Vegas.

United Airlines Airbus A319-131 (N836UA) arriving on 28R as UAL242 from Denver.

UAL242 turning towards the gate.

NetJets Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 (N417QS) taxiing to the FBO after arriving on 28R as EJA417 from Reno/Tahoe.

NetJets Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 (N781QS) taxiing to the FBO after arriving on 28R as EJA781 from Las Vegas.

Oregon Air National Guard McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle (78-0532) taxiing to the military ramp after arriving back from a sortie.

Oregon Air National Guard McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle (78-0521) taxiing to the military ramp after arriving back from a sortie.

Ameriflight Beechcraft C99 Airliner (N7200Z) operating as AMF1926 arriving on 28L. Flight attempted to fly to Redmond, but ended up diverting back to PDX due to weather.

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-243 (N388HA) taxiing for departure as HAL25 for Honolulu.

Horizon Air (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier DHC-8-402 Q400 (N435QX) in the updated University of Washington Huskies livery taxiing to the gate after arriving from Seattle-Tacoma as QXE2264. My first time seeing the updated livery for this college special! Along with a new coat of purple and the current "Alaska Horizon" titles, the "W" logo that used to be on the back of the fuselage has been replaced with the "Go Dawgs!" chant.

Allegiant Air Airbus A320-214 (N253NV) arriving on 28L as AAY37 from Idaho Falls, the flight bringing in my relatives to visit for the weekend. Also my first time catching an Allegiant Airbus with the newer sharklets! As the sharklets indicate this is one of those rare airframes in Allegiant's fleet that wasn't acquired second-hand. This was one of 12 A320s Allegiant ordered directly from Airbus.

Allegiant made the order in 2015, and it was the first time in the airline's history to order directly from the manufacturer. The airline chose to do so because it was at a point where the MD-80s and 757s were in the process of being retired, not many used aircraft were coming into the fleet, and the aircraft order was available on short-notice; in fact the new airframe orders Allegiant received in a rather short amount of time from ordering to delivery allowed the airline to accelerate the retirement of their remaining MD-80s. Allegiant received 10 of their brand-new A320s in 2017 and two more in 2018. And being newer airframes, Allegiant elected to shove more seats in their new A320s (a total of 186 seats compared to 177 found in their second-hand A320s) by utilizing the Airbus Space-Flex V2 Lavatory. On an unrelated note, Allegiant surprised the industry two days ago when they announced that they've ordered 30 Boeing 737 MAX 7s and 20 737 MAX 200s!

HAL25 departing on 28L for Honolulu.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (N8807L) arriving on 28R as SWA388 from Oakland.

SWA388 taxiing to the gate.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A321-253N (N923VA) taxiing for departure as ASA782 for Orlando.

Gama Aviation (d/b/a Wheels Up) Beechcraft B300 King Air 350i (N817UP) airborne off 28R as GAJ817 for Caldwell, Idaho.

ASA782 departing on 28R for Orlando.

Last time I saw this airframe, it was still in the Virgin America livery and nicknamed "3-2-1 liftoff."