A collection of Air Canada Express craft laid up and out of work at YHZ. The Dash 8-300 on the right, looks like it could be put back into service at anytime. The smaller Dash 8-100 on the right (and larger below) is one of 25 of the type retired in May 2020, when model was retired from revenue service. Its openings have been taped up, and covers placed on the propellers to preserve the aircraft during its lengthy storage period.

Air Canada Express is operated by Jazz Aviation – Canada’s third largest airline, and Based out of Halifax.

A MasAir 767 made a brief stopover tonight for fuel. The flight was from Frankfurt to Mexico City.

MASAir is a Mexican Cargo airline, and operates out of Mexico City. The Companies fleet consists of 3 Boeing 767’s. It runs a regular scheduled service between LA, Miami, Mexico CIty and other South American destinations.

This lyushin-76TD is operated by Russian cargo airline Volga Dnepr. It arrived in Halifax on Friday, and spent the weekend near the gateway terminal, in a spot excellent for viewing. UPDATE: Scheduled to depart on the 15th. There is no word on a departure time.

The design went into operation in the early 70’s, however this example is an upgraded civilian example from 2004. Size wise, this plane is slightly smaller then a C-17.

Having produced a couple of maps of ship traffic tracks in the harbour, I set out to do the same with the ADSB data i have been collecting. the result is Above, and is 5 days of Air traffic (arrivals in red, departures in green).

Shown are 325 flights. EHS, Cougar, and the coast Guard all conducted various training flights which are responsible for some of the weirder tracks visible. Lifeflights tracks to and from the hospitals are the tracks exiting the bottom center of the image.

You can see clear arrival tracks for Runway 23 and Runway 14 – runway 05 and runway 32 are less used.

I also pick up portions of international flights, flying great circle routes to Europe. those are shown in blue on this second map. – the range on these is much greater, as all these flights are happening above 20,000′

From the roof of my house.

The Snow Birds have announced a cross Canada tour. From the release:

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will cross the country to salute Canadians doing their part to fight the spread of COVID-19. This unique mission is being aptly dubbed Operation Inspiration.
The team’s signature nine-jet formation, with trailing white smoke, will fly over cities across the country starting in Nova Scotia this weekend and working west throughout the week. The team will release anticipated locations, routes, and times on their social media platforms each day. Flyovers will occur at an elevation no lower than 500 feet above all obstacles.

Routes will be posted to the Snowbirds facebook page, and will target residential Neighborhoods and Hospitals.

this post will be updated with more details as they become available.

This past Saturday, I swung by the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum out by the airport. Despite passing it regularly, I had never actually stopped in.

The museum is worth the stop – its small, but has alot of aircraft, but the exhibits are well done. Admission is by donation (8$ for adults suggested)

Find the Museum at:
20 Sky Blvd, Goffs,
NS, B2T 1K3

Exit 6 off Highway 102
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The RAF demo team began a North American tour with a demonstration over the Harbour Today. The Team was the final Act that featured RCAF aircraft in use on the East Coast.

The red arrows then performed. The RCAF uses the same Hawk jet as its primary jet training aircraft.

I went out to towards the airport to Visit the Atlantic Aviation Museum, and then spent some time Plane Spotting. It was a productive outing.