Reminder: Monday is Last Day of American A300 Service

[Matt Molnar]

NYCAviation.com:

Monday Marks Last Day of American Airlines A300 Service (http://nycaviation.com/2009/08/23/a300s-days-numbered-at-american/)

The final scheduled flight of an American Airlines Airbus A300 will be operated on Monday, August 24th. The last flight to complete will be 1908, a PAP-MIA-JFK run scheduled to arrive at 12:49AM on the morning of Tuesday, August 25th. The last scheduled daylight arrivals at JFK will be flight 834 from STI, set for 4:05PM; and flight 928 from MIA, to arrive at 7:00PM.

[T-Bird76]

Glad I got to ride one in Jan, had a feeling it was my last trip on one. AA really got their money's worth from those planes. They were certainly worn but were always interesting to fly and much larger then then one would expect.

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PqokIsjzFx8

The A300 has such a great sound spooling up and reversing on landing.

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/6/4/4/16593_1202087446.jpg

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/4/8/5/61570_1199038584.jpg

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/2/9/9/65861_1198121992.jpg

[Iberia A340-600]

I've been flying on these for 17 years and am glad to see that American is finally replacing them as they were, in my opinion, not so comfortable to fly on. That being said, I will miss seeing them at JFK and more so at SJU where they flew me many times. Anywhere around the perimeter of the airport you could always tell when it was an A300 taking off.

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[MarkLawrence]

Talking to a lot of the MIA spotters on Saturday - there will be a large contingent out - getting lots of pictures from MIA. Andy and I got one of the last A300's on Saturday coming in from JFK.

[Delta777LR]

Well I had an enjoyment flying on the AA A300 on the JFK-SJN-JFK!

Here are my shots of the AA A300...

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/IMG_7935.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/000_3926.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/000_3927.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/000_3922.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/IMG_0630.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/IMG_0687.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/IMG_1301.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/IMG_1483.jpg

[Alex T]

Sad day as an aviation fan, to see the last Passenger Operated A300 service in the USA.

I flew on one MCO-MIA September 11th, 2007. I was heading MCO-MIA-STL and jumped at the chance to grab an A300 when I saw it was scheduled in my itinerary. Short flight, but glad I got to ride it when I did.

My ride was on N14056

Take Off at MCO...

MXfaiilLYRg

The Landing into MIA

iopKVS10SgE

Alex

[coachrowsey]

I've only flown on the A300 one time & that was on EA when they were new, but I'm kinda sad to see them go.

[moose135]

I can't say that I've ever flown on an A300, but I remember the first time I saw one - it was shortly after EA received them, I was on the Cross Bronx heading back to LI, and saw one heading into LGA. While halfway watching traffic, I kept looking at the A300, and missed the exit for the Throggs Neck Bridge, ended up going 10 miles out of my way up the NE Thruway until I found an exit so I could turn around!

[eric8669]

I've been on on the A300 three times in the last 4 years. I remember one bumpy ride into SJU

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/southpaw8669/n77080_AA_A300_jfk_101308a.jpg

[LGA777]

I have had my share of flights on AA's A-300, mainly between JFK or MIA and SDQ, probably around 10-12 flights. Most of these flights where as a non-rev, and their large capacity often was the differance between me getting on and not getting on. I know the A-300 very well, we had 4 when I was with Northeastern and worked them dozen of times at FLL, PBI, and LAX along with at least 20 flights on them at Northeastern. In addition I flew on A-300's operated by Eastern (including on a Shuttle from LGA to BOS), the Original Pan Am, Pan Am III, Lufthansa, and Thai. Though not one of my favorite aircraft or certainly not one of the prettiest they will be missed.

Regards

LGA777

[moose135]

FlightAware is showing AA834 estimated in at 3:45pm.

[NIKV69]

I was a young lad when I flew on an EAL one. Most likely down to Florida. Not a big fan of this plane but sad to see it go.

[moose135]

I got out to Firestone around 3:15, FlightAware shows they arrived at 3:56. Must have snuck in on 31L without me hearing them. :cry:

[MarkLawrence]

Travelled on an AA -605R once, and on and Emirates -605Rs twice. SAA had a lot of A300B2's back in the day and spent a lot of time on those versions. Sad to see the end of them at AA though - a couple of my shots of them.

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/2/8/8/4/24705_1209863488.jpg

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/9/1/6/31986_1212325619.jpg

[Matt Molnar]

Is the -600R the only variant AA ever operated?

[Delta777LR]

Is the -600R the only variant AA ever operated?

Yes, in fact AA was one of the launch customers of the 600R variant, which I believe the first flight was somewhere in either 87 or 88

[PhilDernerJr]

What's going to happen to the airframes? Cash for Clunkers?

[cancidas]

What's going to happen to the airframes? Cash for Clunkers?
FedEx for freighters is my guess...

[Delta777LR]

What's going to happen to the airframes? Cash for Clunkers?
FedEx for freighters is my guess...

I would say perfect for Astar Cargo, to replace those classic A300B4s but I dont see that happening. UPS, possible? would they use those GE CF6s along with the PW engines?

[Matt Molnar]

Last flight is in the air, and appropriately, it's running an hour late. :) ETA at JFK is 1:35am.

[Matt Molnar]

And now they're gone: AA 1908 arrived at 1:16 local. Trying to find out when the ferry will leave.

[LGA777]

NEWS FLASH: The unofficial last rev flight of an AA A-300 is currently enroute to JFK as AA 1582 SDQ-JFK subbed for yesterdays 763 operating about 16 hours late, ETA JFK 1213 LCL. Hopefully someone can get a shot?

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1582

http://www.aa.com/aa/gatesTimesSubmit.do

Regards

LGA777

[LGA777]

Here is yesterdays now un-official last JFK rev departure. AA 1529 to SDQ.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1 ... /KJFK/MDSD (http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1529/history/20090824/1955Z/KJFK/MDSD)

Also Gotham had mentioned ferry schedules. Here is a snipit from the Blue site.

Here are the schedules of the birds flying to the desert to their final resting place:

062: 9673/28 AUG, MIA-ROW ETD 0700
063: 9668/26 AUG, MIA-ROW, ETD 0800
064: 9670/27 AUG, MIA-ROW, ETD 0700
065: 9669/26 AUG, JFK-ROW, ETD 0730
067: NO DETAILS
068: 9674/28 AUG, MIA-ROW, ETD 0800
070: 9666/25 AUG, JFK-ROW, ETD 0730
076: 9665/25 AUG, JFK-ROW, ETD 0730
077: 9664/25 AUG, MIA-ROW, ETD 1200
084: 9667/26 AUG, MIA-ROW, ETD 0700

We know why you fly!


Looks like two left JFK this morning !

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL9665

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL9666


Cheers

LGA777

[Matt Molnar]

Neat, good catches, Ron.

[moose135]

With a HUGE assist from Ron, I was able to get out and shoot the arrival today, N14065, just after Noon on 31R:

http://www.moose135photography.com/photos/630083425_48Fgf-L.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/photos/630083003_REsfw-L.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/photos/630083321_hfZCQ-L.jpg

Thanks, Ron!

[Matt Molnar]

Awesome Moose, glad someone caught it.

[mirrodie]

...as AA 1582 SDQ-JFK subbed for yesterdays 763 operating about 16 hours late, ETA JFK 1213 LCL.

What a poignant, last bit of irony. The plane that mechanics swore was a mech ***** ends up saving the day.
Seems like the AA300's flippin the birdie at AA for getting rid of them. :borat:

[LGA777]

Great shots Moose, especially considering noon time Summer lite, I'm happy you where able to hop in the car and catch her. Ironcially I do remember flying on Ship 065 either JFK-SDQ or SDQ-JFK, one of the two. Also ironically my last flight on AA was on 1582 SDQ-JFK in July 08 but this was after the route was switched to the 763 and we weren't 16 hours late like yestedays 1582, I think it was only around 5 hours but was an after midnite arrival at JFK.

This ended up being a fitting end to AA A-300 ops as this was a prime route, with between 3-5 rounds trips a day for many years, and before B6 entered the market a huge money maker for AA especially in cargo. At one time AA operated A-300's from SDQ to JFK/MIA/SJU and I can remember seeing 5 on the ramp at once a few times. For several years I had limited access to AA's sabre system and being married to a SDQ native I often watched the flifo's on these flights with curious interest. Because the A-300's broke down so often and because of the very high load factors to SDQ AA seldom cancelled, but ran these flights many hours late instead, which I compliment AA for as I would rather be even 16 hours late than stranded for days. What happened last night with the crew timing out and operating the flight the next day was not that un-comon, and most of my AA A-300 flights where between 3 and 6 hours late. On my last JFK-SDQ A-300 ride we departed JFK around 100AM and arrived SDQ around 0430AM. So a fitting end indeed, to a great workhorse of the AA fleet and Dominican Skies.

Regards

LGA777

[PhilDernerJr]

I was on the ramp last week with a friend and we drove past an A-300. They looked so old to begin with to me...as if I was watching flight ops in the 70s.

I was never a fan of them, but I will miss any plane that we no longer get to see.

[Alex T]

How funny that plane registration wise was the last A300 flight since that as I mentioned earlier was what I flew in 2007!

Alex

[moose135]

They just won't die - they added an extra flight today, JFK-STI-JFK. Flt 9236 departs JFK around 1pm, not sure when the inbound (Flt 9237) arrives.

[T-Bird76]

They just won't die - they added an extra flight today, JFK-STI-JFK. Flt 9236 departs JFK around 1pm, not sure when the inbound (Flt 9237) arrives.

That's not a normal AA flight number, perhaps a charter. According to AA.com its scheduled to return to JFK at 9:11 pm.

[mirrodie]

It's really nice to see how they won't quit.

Perhaps its an extra, not a charter, for another in-ops issue?

[moose135]

Perhaps its an extra, not a charter, for another in-ops issue?
From the A.net thread, that's what it sounds like, mentioned that it was an "extra section".

[AA 777]

I'd put my money on the fact that a 763 was out of service and they subbed the 'bus

[mirrodie]

I think its a great way for the Abus to go out. Covering for a 767's folly. Nice.

[AirtrafficController]

Here is a great farewell video of the AA A300:
http://www.jetvideos.net/video/view.php?id=1593

[AA 777]

Here are a couple of mine from the day....

http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/AA_1529_A300_N14065_Water_Cannon_JFK_MS_0600.jpg

http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/AA_1529_N14065_Water_Cannon_JFK_MS_0603.jpg

http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/AA_A300_Poster_JFK_MS_0151.jpg

http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/A300_Cake_JFK_MS_0145.jpg

The poster is the same as the certificates that all the pax received ....they took a lonnnnnng time to design! Picture on the cake is also mine :mrgreen:

[fly.mcs]

I once saw the American Airlines Airbus A300B4-605R as an ugly looking aircraft among the airline's entire fleet, with its two-tone color scheme, seemingly far-aft "American" titles, & its round fuselage, resembling that of a long barrel. Over time, this aircraft has become one of my favorite and it is sad to see them retired. I have always had a passion for aviation, & I still do not understand it, but shortly after my cousin was killed on 11 September 2001, this passion grew much stronger. And as you all remember, not too long after, on 12 November 2001 (a day before my birthday), American Airlines lost N14053, an Airbus A300B4-605R in the Rockaways; I will never forget this day. I did my own personal research about the Airbus and learned so many new things; I can't remember if I read it or if it was my instinct that AA was going to retire their Airbus fleet after the accident, but I knew my opportunity to fly the A300 was slipping away...

In the second quarter of 2005, my mother spoke of vacationing in the Caribbean. As we normally fly with Delta Air Lines, I knew this was my chance to fly the A300 since our travel agent usually books through American Airlines. We decided on San Juan, Puerto Rico, so I took down all Airbus flight numbers from KJFK to TJSJ, and had my seat numbers ready. The travel agent & my mother found it strange that I had flights picked out :) , but I walked out of there thrilled about our upcoming trip!

OUTBOUND
American Airlines AAL#699, Tuesday 9 August 2005, KJFK-TJSJ; N7055A
http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/2/9/6/0/65464_1252092069_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=528103&nseq=165)

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/3/2/7/38899_1252091723_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=528104&nseq=164)

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/6/8/5/39952_1251660586_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6658047&nseq=1)

TJSJ/SJU SPOTTING
Thursday 11 August 2005
http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/2/2/2/1/30420_1252089122_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=529552&nseq=161)

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/7/2/6/46518_1252088627_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=529563&nseq=160)

INBOUND
American Airlines AAL#610, Saturday 13 August 2005, TJSJ-KJFK; N11060
http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/2/7/5/0/84314_1252090057_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5799465&nseq=121)

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/1/5/3/10566_1251669351_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6658162&nseq=0)

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/2/4/4/90555_1251670442_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5798920&nseq=0)

Although it was some years ago, I remember these flights very well. What I found most enjoyable was the cabin layout, very similar to that of the 767. I immediately noticed and loved the unique wing design, especially the flaps! And the sound of the engines was amazing. I will never forget the friendly cabin crew & my brief experience on the A300. Though American will not have these birds anymore, I hope to continue seeing this aircraft type in the future.

KJFK/JFK SPOTTING
Saturday 4 March 2006
http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/2/6/5/3/62446_1251658356_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6658014&nseq=2)

AMERICAN AIRLINES A300 MEMORIBILIA
http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/thumb/27250431.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1252268542&Signature=sAWbNDdzY4clyOVWzzVS%2BgsD2%2Fg%3D (http://twitpic.com/g82kf)