Xiamen Boeing 737 experience MF880, 2017.01.01

Time to return home. Again via Fuzhou and Beijing (a night stop at PEK) with Xiamen Airlines.

01 January 2017
MF880 (1125-1300) TPE-FOC
B-1966 Boeing 737-800

For the flight from Taipei Taoyuan airport I get a pretty new 737 with the Boeing Sky Interior. This time I'm seated in row 62, but before I get to the plane I walk around the general area a little bit. Eva Air really has a thing with Hello Kitty :D There ain't much opportunities for spotting from the terminal so I do some small duty free shopping and head for my gate. The seats on this new plane don't differ much from the ones on the older sibling. While we taxi we pass by some nice planes, unfortunately on the other side so I only get a chance to catch them when on the runway. The flight is smooth, the food exactly same as on the inbound journey. On the approach we are able to see some nice lens-like clouds over the hill tops. And that would be it, yet another transfer at Fuzhou. Unluckily they swapped the planned 787 for a 737 on the next flight. But that in a separate post.

Taipei Songshan spotting TSA/RCSS 2016.12.31

Taipei Songshan airport is located in the city, with convenient access to the MRT it's very easy to get to. It offers mostly domestic flights and flights to Japan (apart from other international destinations). TSA has a pretty decent viewing terrace located over the domestic terminal thus most of the traffic you'll witness at the gates is the same all time round. Uni Air ATRs, FAT MD80s, Mandarin Ejets. The runway is visible in the background so you may also observe some taxi ops and departure/arrivals. Unfortunately you look out through glass windows which may be a problem during rainy or very sunny weather.
At the place there are a couple of benches, charts with information about aviation and the local traffic, lavatories and there is also a fast food bar where you'll find something both to drink and to eat. And the wifi is free.
After some time the heat haze got too strong for me to even want to look at it thus I've decided to leave. The traffic forecast wasn't very optimistic either for the next 2 hours. I believe that that could be a great spot for some night pictures!

B-16821

FE28 MZG-TSA 2016.12.30

After successfully getting to Magong from Kaohsiung with Daily Air and their Twin Otter I had some time before my flight back to Taipei. Time for lunch, some peaceful thinking and well, visiting the airport inside out. Finally I could check-in for my Far Eastern Air Transport flight to Taipei Songshan.

30 December 2016
FE28 (1835-1925) MZG-TSA
B-28025 McDonnell Douglas MD83

The MD80 series was on my 'to do' list. Having the luck that some still do fly on Taiwan I knew that I must get on one. Almost easy booking on-line with FAT with a short notice (absolutely not a problem on Taiwan, the fares area rather stable). Only thing left was to get a good seat. 33 is great! It was dark during the entire flight, which being in addition short, didn't give too much time for proper photo shooting. The sound of the engines right behind the window, the spool up, mmmm, honey for my ears. All topped up with a very nice co-passenger and a pretty decent view on the Taipei 101 on arrival.

Inside the MD83

MF883 FOC-TSA 2016.12.26

Christmas came and with the New Year ahead it was time to fly out somewhere. Destination: Taiwan, via China. First stop: Beijing, the second one: Fuzhou, the last leg from Fuzhou to Taipei with Xiamen.

26 December 2016
MF883 (1825-1945) FOC-TSA
B-5302 Boeing 737-800

B-5302 is painted in the SkyTeam livery. Being after a long journey and a short night, a long layover in Beijing and having two hours in Fuzhou the flight was probably going to be a hard one, a slept through one. And so it was. After rechecking in my bag for the flight I head to the gate area. The airport in Fuzhou Changle is rather poor in shops in the international section. Majority of the traffic is domestic thus the international section is considerably smaller. Because they also don't accept Visa cards I even can't pay for anything, only if I'd withdraw cash from an ATM. Back to the flight. While waiting fro the flight I walk around and take some pictures of planes on the ramp before the sun fully goes away. The terminal is empty, the sun sets, we start boarding. I get into my seat by the window at the front (44A) and almost immediately fall asleep. I'm awaken for departure, then for the meal and the landing itself. The flight passes quickly and we arrive at the city located Songshan airport where after briefly passing immigration and picking up my bag I meet with my sister.
The cabin on this flight was rather clean and quiet, sleep quality - hard to say, decent :D
The crew? Not too much contact did I have. The meal, same as on the previous flight from Beijing, just worse. Did not eat.

Christmas spirit all around

B-5302 being prepared for my flight