Evening all,

After a hiatus since March 2020 I thought it was high time to spend some of the money I was owed by BA. I decided after some recent reports and also on the numbers of aircraft I needed that it would be beneficial to head to the UAE again. This is my first visit since January 2019.

In order to be allowed into the UAE you need a negative PCR test within 72 hours of travel. This was booked very easily through the BA Website and despite being suggested that the result would take 48 hours mine was back in a little over 12 hours.

Armed with that and my proof of vaccination I headed to LHR yesterday afternoon for my overnight flight to Dubai. Terminal 5 was much quieter than when I went to Aberdeen in September.

Having checked in and got through Security in under 15 mins I settled down in the T5 First Class Lounge to catch a few frames before departure.

Heathrow 28th November 1730 – 2030

B-LQF A359 CPA*

B-207V B789 CHH*

D-AIJD A320N DLH*

D-AINX A320N DLH*

G-XWBG was the ride to Dubai. We pushed back at 2035 and after a steady taxi down to 27R we lined up and made a rolling departure. The flight was smooth and we touched down at 0717 local this morning at Dubai.

Immigration was both quick and easy. You need to show your Proof of Covid Negatiove Test before they will allow you onto the Transit train to Immigration. Once this is done no one else has asked for any documentation at all.

Noted here whilst taxying and collecting the hire car were the following 0730 – 0855

5X-NIL A338 UGA*

A6-FME B738MAX FDB

A6-FMS B738MAX FDB

B-LRA A359 CPA

HS-XTG A333 TAX

N855FD B777F FDX

SU-GEA B738 MSR

TC-LGE A359 THY*

VN-A870 B789 HVN

VT-ANK B788 AIC

VT-PPL A321 AIC

9H-AVA BD700*

9H-GOA LJ60*

9H-KLS BD700

9H-VJX BD700 VJT

A6-KAH EMB190

CN-TJS Bae125

CS-CBA CL350*

G-YFOX Da2000

M-CPAY Da900LX*

N4CE Da7X

N450AZ G280*

UP-HA001 Bae125*

VP-CIG Da7X

VT-JUI CL350*

VT-SBK Da900EX

From here the short drive to Sharjah was made. Noted from either end of the runway, The VIP area and the Petrol Station on the E88 were the following between 0930 – 1000

5Y-SNL B767

9V-SFM B744F SIA

A6-ATE A321N ABY*

A7-AIA A321 QTR

EI-XLF B744 SDM

N627UP B748F UPS

SU-TMK B738 FEG

VP-BHX A320 Yamal A/L*

VQ-BOY B738 Yakutia Airlines

VQ-BSM A321 Yamal Airlines

VT-GHB B738 AXB

7Q-MAG G450

A6-AAM A318CJ

A6-SHJ A320CJ

HB-JWC CL650

LY-BGH Bae125

N940XX TBM940*

VP-BRT BBJ

ZS-AKF CL350

Next it was up the E11 towards Ras Al Khaimah. Before getting there the former Umm Al Quwain airfield is passed on the left hand side. Parked by the road both in very poor condition

LY-ADP An2*

TL-ACN IL76*

About 10km up this road and on a small road to the right is the Al Jazirah Flying Club. The airfield is in the middle of an Industrial complex. There is an unmarked yellow Pa28 in the car park as you drive up to the Club House. Parked on the apron in front of the Club House was:

A6-SKY Be90*

There was no sign of any of the microlights based here.

Just across the road there is a small helipad which despite 3 pads was unoccupied.

Next stop was Ras Al Khaimah. Noted on a drive up and down the perimeter road were the following:

Active aircraft

A6-ADD DHC8 ABI

AP-BOE A321N ABQ*

Stored

5A-DNI IL76*

9G-RAC DC8

9G-SIM DC8

A6-HLA DC8

A6-ZYA B737*

AP-ESC DC9

EX-54000 IL76*

N162AT L1011

N164AT L1011

N194AT L1011

N212AR L1011

N389LS L1011

N722LA B727

RA-76366 IL76*

RDPL-34155 IL76*

UP-AN204 An24*

N12RW G159*

SP-SEF Mil 2*

Final stop of the day was Fujairah. I am staying at the Novotel Fujairah. I am in Room 2310 on the 23rd Floor. From here all the storage aircraft can be seen as well as 75% of the runway.

Noted here between 1430 and 2230

Active

2254 C208B UAEAF*

2276 DHC6 UAEAF* (still plotting as A4AD4F N400GZ)

A6-HMS A320CJ

AP-BMH B777 PIA

EX-76005 IL76*

N814RT DHC6 Manta Air colours*

UR-FSC IL76 FSU

Stored

3X-GGT IL76*

4L-GAS B707

5A-DQB IL86*

5X-TUA C130*

5X-TUB C130*

5X-TUE C130*

5X-TUF C130*

EK-26050 An26*

EK-76155 IL76*

ER-IAV IL76*

EX-017 AN24*

EX-019 AN24*

EX-151 An12*

EX-152 An12*

EX-153 An12

EX-155 An12

EX-86916 IL76*

RA-76817 IL76*

RDPL-34157 IL76*

ST-AQR IL76

TL-AEB B727

UN-76499 IL76*

UP-AN606 An26*

UP-B2703 B727

UP-B2704 B727

UP-I6205 IL62*

UP-I7624 IL76*

UP-I7641 IL76*

UP-I7644 IL76*

UR-CCY An12*

UR-PAS An12*

VP-CGF L1011

XT-DMT B747

OTT

A4O-OVE A320N OMS*

S2-AEQ B738 BBC* (last one)

VT-ILJ A321N IGO*

VT-IUH A321N IGO*

VT-TVC A321N VTI*

I will report back tomorrow with further airfield visits in the UAE.

Mark Paulin

 

Photograph credit: Szabo Gabor