Bogota El Dorado - March 2009

Bogota El Eldorado is situated at 2548 meters above sea level and has two parallel runways (13/31) of 3800 meters lengths available. Like Quito, Bogota is an important cargo destination, for national and international airlines. The Colombian police, army and air force all operate from their own compounds with fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters. Since about 10 years piston airliners are not allowed any more at El Dorado.


Colorful Centurion Air Cargo MD-11 is waiting for to be detached from the tow truck. Photographed from new Satena Embraer 170 climbing out of runway 17R bound for Villavicencio.


Aerorepublica operates 13 examples of the Jungle Jet. Embraer EMB-190 HK-4453 is pushed back from her stand.



Aer Caribe took over the former SAEP Antonov AN-32 HK-4257. Together with sister ship HK-4427 she recently received a new coat of paint.



Contrary to the other Satena aircrafts, the Embraer 170s did not receive civil registrations so far. FAC1181, one of 2 ERJs in service is returning from another flight into the interior.


Newest member of the Colombian cargo scene, Cosmos, is operating with two Boeing 727-100 freighters. This Boeing 727-30C has first flown with Lufthansa in 1967.


The Colombian Army operates the only Convair in Colombia. EJC-121, a Model 580, saw civilian life with Braniff, Republic, Seair, Purolator Courier, Evergreen and Aerogolfo Colombia before entering service with the military.

Quito - April 2009

KLM MD-11 arrives on her daily flight from Amsterdam via Curacao

Quito is situated in a valley at 2800 meters above sea level. Weatherwise you can experience all 4 seasons in one day. UIO is served by several cargo carriers, Martinair with up to three flights a day, but also American carriers, like Southern or Arrow can be seen. The Air Force(s), Fuerza Aerea, Naval and Ejercito, operate a big array of different airplane types. There are 3 competitors fighting for passengers in the local arena, namely TAME, Aerogal and Icaro. All this makes photography very interesting and colorful with many unusual angles to capture on chip.

DC-10-30F from Arrow Air arrives from Miami. N524MD was originally build for Singapore Airlines and has, before ending up with Miami based cargo carrier Arrow, been plying the passenger networks for Varig, Bangladesh Biman and World Airways.

The Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana has been using several examples of the sturdy British turboprop. Here we see HC-AUK (which also carries military serial FAE 684) on a shallow climb after taking off on runway 35, one of two active examples I noticed on my visit.



Former British Airways and South African Airways Boeing 737-236 HC-CFL of local carrier Icaro is sweeping towards runway 35.


Lineas Aereas Suramericanas Boeing 727-251(F) HK-4261 is lining up for take off on runway 35 to Bogota.