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dan · Member Joined: 18 Dec 2012 Posts: 61

Introduction:
Greetings fellow members!!This trip report is about a flight that I took in 2011. Being a temporary resident of AJL since 2007, I flew on the ATRs very often. There were upto 7 flights operating to AJL in 2011, of which 5 flights were ATRs. AJL saw traffic beyond its capacity for a brief period of 13 months. Sadly, it operates just two flights today- one being the infamous AI flight to CCU and 9W to GAU, CCU.
The flight I am writing about was an Alliance air ATR-42 flight between AJL and GAU. It had been the sole flight to GAU from AJL before 9W took over. The ageing ATRs and poor patronage in the segment forced AI to stop it in late 2011 (If I am right). When I first flew on this route, its flight number was still CD, and it had a white Alliance Air livery. Eventhough they were old, these ATRs were always thrilling to fly on.
The flight that I am writing about was my last one on the AI bird to GAU. I did have a return flight to AJL, but there is just one pic of that flight. (Batteries of my camera died)
Also, some members asked me to post pics of AJL when I wrote my previous TR. I hope you like the TR and welcome your suggestions and comments.

Background:
Scouting through old pictures in my PC, I found few decent ones of the flight, I am writing about. This TR is brief because I am unable to recall all the details from this flight. The pictures suggest that it was VT-ABE (the engineer plane, sumantra sir?? Smile

) operating the route that day. I was travelling to the IIM at Shillong to attend a conference. The routing done through GAU, this flight had a convenient timing and I was able to reach Shillong before dusk.

This is an aerial picture of Lengpui from the notorious VT-SCC.

The Flight:

An hour’s drive got me to Lengpui Airport, where I got to know that there were just 5 passengers for the flight. The check-in was too quick and we all proceeded to the Security Hold area airside. While waiting for the incoming aircraft, I started chatting with a co-passenger who travelled in the North-East frequently. He told me that he had once flown as the sole passenger on this flight, the return flight being jam packed for the day he flew. I would be so happy if that happened to me (on any route, any aircraft) in my lifetime. It would almost be like a charter!!!!
Aizawl is one airport, were you are allowed to come out of the airport after check-in. You can go for security check later, after the announcement. There is a viewing gallery upstairs were you can see the Tarmac. It is also visible from the security hold area, but the windows there are tinted. I chose to spend my time there while waiting. The rivals arrived meanwhile:

Ready to leave:

I loved flying on her. Drop down screens and the rest.......

There was once a Cessna Caravan operating to and based in AJL, under the Northeast Shuttles. This is a picture of the plane from 2010.

I had flown it to CCU once. With just 9 seats and one engine, it took it almost 2 hours to get to CCU.Sadly, it crashed in 2011 after overshooting the runway. I saw it in the shed nearby engineless:

ABE arrived on time and we were asked to board within the next 5 minutes.
This is a nice garden-like area before you enter the terminal. It says,”Welcome to Mizoram”:

The little terminal:

ABE basking on the tarmac:

The AI tail looks great on her:

Our luggage:

An ad-hoc writing table??

Inside:

The aircraft was turned around in just 15 minutes. As we boarded, the only F/A, told us to sit whereever we wished and did a water service before take-off. We left before time and started a rapid ascent to crusing altitude. The F/A offered us multiple snack trays and even brought us tea and biscuits. It felt like a flight in business class.
After the snack service, she offered us toffees (like old days on IC) and refreshing tissues.

The mighty Brahmaputra before we landed:

A portion of the runway at GAU, Pretty close to the river:

At GAU:

The big birds:

I flew this bird on the return leg. This is the only pic from that flight. My camera died after I took this pic:

I will be posting more pictures of the airport interiors in my next TR. I am scheduled to fly 9W to BOM this June. Hope you liked reading this TR.
Cheers!!!
Dan

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

A blast from the oh-so-recent past!! Smile

AJL looks quaint and lovely, not to mention picturesque.

VT-ABE shud be named the "Lincoln" Plane - after Abe Lincoln Wink

(As an aside, since ur journey was to an IIM, the famous L-Square in IIM bangalore - the one where most part of All Izz Well of 3 idiots was shot, is named after Lincoln, since it is surrounded by hostel blocks A, B & E ) Wink

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Excellent report with some great photos. Never been to any of the north eastern states so it was refreshing to see a detailed TR from Aizwal.

With only 5 pax on the plane I am sure you must have felt like a first class passenger and the FA also went above and beyond to provide examplary service.

Sri_Bom

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Thank you Dan, for an excellent trip report!
The pictures were real eye-candy. All of them. AJL is a real exotic airport for most of us: you sure are lucky to have had an in-depth experience at the airport. And yes, thank you for remembering our requests for more TRs and descriptions featuring AJL! We also really look forward to your June trip, and more interior pictures from AJL.
Dan and Balagopal: my (crazy) notes have indeed listed `ABE' as the `Lincoln' plane. I have never had an opportunity to fly on this plane. DEL only sees a single AT4 in action, and when I have had a chance to fly an AT4, it has never been ABE.
Thank you for pulling pictures out from a journey four years back, and putting in the words to describe it, in such a beautiful manner. Your memories and notes are just perfect: I wish I could do something similar!
As usual, a trip report on an exotic airport, replete with some history of the place, and the planes operating there, is a treat for the senses.
What a nice picture of Lengpui from the air!
Wow, a viewing gallery with tarmac views at AJL, and all three FSCs then, represented by ATRs! The airport looks extremely well-maintained: the landscaped outdoors provide a grand complement to the incredibly lovely natural greens.
2011 also marked the first time I would try out Air India Regional's AT4s, incidentally, on what was then the airline's longest AT4 route, DEL-JLR. And yes, the on-board snack! You were lucky to have multiple snack trays, and the beverage runs. Toffees, wow! I guess this would be a NE route specialty. None of the DEL-based routes had them.
It is nice to see tarmac views, and officials tolerant to photography of a really beautiful airport at AJL. Nice pictures of GAU as well! I have sweet memories of my only trip to the beautiful city, circa September 2002.
Thank you very much, Sir: please write more from your memories, even if they do not have pictures to go with them.
Cheers, Sumantra.

TKMCE · Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 957

These Cat II A routes are a nightmare from an airline commercial perspective. Most of the routes have next to no traffic on a sustainable basis. Instead of arm twisting airlines to operate them with Cat IIA, how about giving funding to operators for assisting them to operate these routes as UK does for its PSO routes ? Interestingly the original four ATR 42s were bought by Alliance with NEC funding I think.

No wonder IXA GAU wins the popularity stakes on Cat II A by a big margin.

AI does it nicely with its CCU AJL IMF triangular but is there traffic between AJL and IMF???

Earlier 9W used to to have a BLR CCU GAU JRH and BLR CCU GAU IMF on alternate days which was also for the Cat II A obligations.

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

TKMCE · Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 957

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Very Nice report dan, love to see those airports in East India.

dan · Member Joined: 18 Dec 2012 Posts: 61

Thanks a lot everyone!!!!!! I am glad you liked the TR.
Would anyone know if AJL can expect an expansion project? Are the airlines even remotely expected to start new services or frequencies? Seems almost impossible, but the loads are always great on the CCU segment.
Cheers
Dan

TKMCE · Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 957

Load are great on CCU AJL especially on AI because half the pax are for IMF anyway. Will it sustain a full A319??? I doubt it except may be during school holidays.

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

- Wow, what terrific pictures Smile

- The viewing gallery in Aizawl (or balcony) looks amazing.
- Makes me want to visit the NE even more ......
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dan · Member Joined: 18 Dec 2012 Posts: 61

Thank you stealthpilot. Posted them on your request and glad that you liked them. North East is a great place if you want a break from work. Quiet and serene.
cheers
Dan

jbalonso777 · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 11:06 am Post subject:

Wow, this TR is from not so long ago, yet so much has changed!

Stunning TR man, thanks so much for sharing!

Felt nice to see the IT planes, how I wish they were still flying around today, but alas, a sucky management undid them right to the ground.

Aizwal airport looks fantastic! The airport almost looks like a tea garden bungalow in the Dooars! Beautiful.

Also, nice variety of ATRs at AJL - IT is being missed for sure! I agree, the ATRs are always fun to fly on and I would prefer this bird over the Airbus A320 any day Razz

I too have near empty ATR experiences: one in early 2014 on 9W BLR-MAA and one on CD in 2006 GAU-CCU. I loved the ariel pic of the airport from VT-SCC too!

Thanks for this TR, I hope there is more from you from this part of our wonderful country! Very Happy

Regards
Jish
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dan · Member Joined: 18 Dec 2012 Posts: 61

Thanks jbalonso777!! Nice to hear from you after so long.
A great trip has been planned this july, an odd routing but too much fun.
Will definitely post that TR on Air India( again ) Confused

.
Regards
Dan

Max737 · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:26 pm Post subject:

Some real nice shots! keep up!
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