Omni Air's N342AX visits Shannon

Omni Air international have chosen the B767 as the successor to the Dc10 as it embarks on a re-equipping program to replace it's aging Dc10s. The first B767 to join the fleet is N342AX which made it's first trans Atlantic trip with an OAE flight number last weekend. The airline has also taken the opportunity to introduce a new livery featuring a gold and silver tail logo.

The aircraft is no stranger to Ireland. Originally built for Air France as F-GHGJ in 1993 the aircraft was returned to ILFC as N361LF in 2002. It arrived in Dublin for treatment with SR Technics as N361LF and was subsequently delivered to Air Holland as PH-AHR using trip number HRN 960 on August 20, 2002. Zoom Airlines operated the aircraft as C-GZMM from 2004 until they went out of business last year at which point it became N225LF. N342AX was delivered to Omni Air and ferried Miami - Atlanta on August 10.

Pictured above N342AX (msn 27136) is seen on finals to Shannon's R24 last Saturday evening after the 8 hrs 45 minute flight from Las Vegas McCarron.

Omni International N558AX

Omni Air International's latest fleet addition B757-23N, N558AX, msn 27971 visited Shannon this morning as RCH 826. Although the aircraft was registered to Omni in November as N558AX it had flown up to this morning using the hex code of it's previous identity. This morning's flight was the first noted arrival in Shannon using the correct hex code of A71D39. As with the other B757 aircraft in the Omni fleet, the numerical portion of the registration add up to 18. Pictured is N558AX taxiing up Delta 2 on arrival. 

Shannon runway blocked after tyre burst

Shannon's runway 24/06 was out of operation today for just over 1 hour at lunchtime following a tyre burst incident. The aircraft concerned was an Omni Air International Dc10 N621Ax operating as RCH 759 which landed at approximately 12:53. The aircraft pictured above got stuck at the intersection of Taxiway Alpha and the runway. Attempts to move the aircraft with the tyre in the deflated condition were to no avail and the decision was made to change the tyre in situ.

Several aircraft took up a holding pattern in the DERAG hold, eventually taking the decision to divert due fuel considerations. Ryanair flight 1Rs diverted to Cork as did Citation X N84EA, using call sign 'Jetspeed 94'. The Citation returned to Shannon once the runway reopened at approximately 14:10.

The 'Why ME?' award of the week must go to the crew of BMI 40Y, the Birmingham - Knock flight operated by B737 G-OGBD which had diverted into Shannon earlier due to the weather conditions in Knock and which eventually got out of Shannon just before 15:00.