Final call for SPM . . .

Hello again fellow readers ! It has been quite a while since my last visit here (probably 9 months !) . And yes, the title says it all, I was busying preparing for my upcoming SPM examination, probably one of the most important exams in my entire life. Even I had some free time, my laziness keeps pulling me away from updating this blog (best excuse ever? ). But for now, time to putting up a bit last updates from me before entering the exam month.

JOY : So, as usual, I didn't go anywhere, I mean flying, since I'll have to fully focus on my studies during the whole year, except December! Sounds quite impossible to me, but, yet I almost completed this 'no-fly-period' for 11 months. Instead, I did went for some spotting during these few months, as entertainment, not very frequent of course.

FRIENDS : One of my best aviation buddy, Michael did came back BKI for a few times during holidays. Went out for some 'yamcha'(sitting in a coffee shop/restaurant with friends and chit-chatting). Thanks to him for introduce some new friends who also share the same hobby to me. In the other side, I also have the chance to met a new BKI aircraft spotter not too long ago. We did went out for some spotting sessions, along with spotter Samuel and his dad.

HOPE: Last but not least, exam is just around the corner, hoping for all the best I can do. After that, there comes the ending of my secondary school's life, and it's time for me to decide where to go for further studies.

Cheers ! :0)

First 2013 spotting movement...

Hey!
Before I start a topic of my return trip back to KK, just want to share some of my recent spotting experiences for year 2013.
So not too long ago, my aviation friend, Mike a.k.a 'future pilot' (haha! sorry mike, if you saw this =P) just came back from Langkawi, since he's having a term-break after the exam in his flying academy. I think it's pretty hard for me to meet him nowadays, due to his busy schedule/classes for the whole year. Anyways, we did hang out for 'yam-cha', chit-chat a bit about his school life etc. and yes! we also went for some aircraft spotting during this time. We planned to spot during the 1st day of 2013, for MH A330-300, but unfortunately he was not able to attend this 'gathering'. It's okay then, haha...

01 JANUARY 2013
As usual, I still made my way to a place called 'Jalan Selangor', the place where we used to spot planes around, which located at Tanjung Aru Beach 3.

the red circle is the location! I think it's currently the nearest location from the runway for us to spot.

Due to cloudy weather + already been raining for the whole day, only a few spotters were shown up at the usual place. Among them were spotter Samuel Wong and his dad, Uncle Lee, that's all ! haha...(and me as well >< ) 

Okay I think it's time for me to show some 'catches' of the day...thanks to Samuel for borrowing me his 55-250mm lens, or else I think I wouldn't be able to snap photos like these! Cheers!

 First to kick start with AK's normal livery, wearing a registration '9M-AFZ', heading to Hong Kong as flight AK1645.

this one is captured during 'his' take off roll...now you know how powerful is the CFM engine used by AK's A320, just look at those heat wave!

and MasWings super early rotate

and finally the main dish of the day! Malaysia Airlines newest A330-300 '9M-MTJ' operating an extra flight, heading back to Kuala Lumpur

lucky for the passengers on-board ...!

let's move on to the 2nd spotting of the year...

06 JANUARY 2013

I was invited by other BKI aircraft spotters, for a special gathering, and the location is still the same- Jalan Selangor. Traffics for today wasn't that special, only the old a330 which arrived at early evening later. So, as I was surfing flightradar24.com, suddenly the appearance of one aircraft around KUL airspace caught my attention....it was 9M-AFP! An Airasia's A320-216, wearing the latest one Malaysia livery, was on the way to Kota Kinabalu as flight AK5104! 

2 options for me: 

1) Go for this 'one Malaysia' aircraft, missed out the spotters' gathering at 4pm

2) Missed out this 'one Malaysia' aircraft, go for the spotters' gathering

after my consideration, I think I will go for the 'one Malaysia' aircraft spotting session ! (sorry guys! ><) Ok that's it! Pack my DSLR, bring a ladder, and after having my lunch, airport time! 

Reached Jln. Selangor, and the first thing I saw was, a blue tent, a man up on a ladder, and a Proton. Yes, he is Uncle Lee, one of the spotters here, with many years of spotting experiences. Surprisingly, he also came for the 'one Malaysia' aircraft!

While waiting for 9M-AFP, I managed to spot this pretty new aircraft. 9M-MLQ heading to KUL as flight  MH2607

and no longer after that, spotter Michael (the guy standing on his car) and Waiping bro (the guy in red shirt) have arrived too...hardcore enough huh? haha....

and finally, around 1.35pm, the aircraft from KUL safely landed. Also 'her' first touch down in BKI for 2013. This aircraft used to wear the oldest special livery for Airasia, which was the 'Amazing' livery.

9M-AFP (2013)

BEFORE...captured during October 2012

9M-AFP (2007-2012)

Anyways, some side dishes while waiting for 'her' departure....

another Airasia special livery! 'Expedia' , 9M-AFG. This aircraft was based in BKI during that time. Seen here heading to Sandakan. It's really awesome that you can watch the plane rotate in front of you, with the new extended runway. 

and very unexpectedly, I just received a message from my friend, and he told me that this aircraft just suffered a tail strike few days ago during 'her' departure at Langkawi ! I was shocked the moment I heard this news. Parts of the body (Tail) was seriously damaged in this incident. Hope it's all fine over there.

like what I said, traffic was quite boring on that day, nothing much to spot during that period. 25 minutes later, the aircraft was ready for departure (yay! finally...) rolling down to runway 02 and WOOSHHH....!

back to her hometown KUL again....see you next time !

That's all for my current updates. Thanks for reading and cheers ! =D

Penang to Kuala Lumpur

Hi all, sorry that I have forgot to update my blog as i was quite busy these few weeks.
Anyways, so long, my vacation at Penang was scheduled 3d2n, only managed to walk around the shopping malls, and tried some of their local foods, that's all.
My return flight was AK6115, ETD 1455 but delayed 30 minutes again, normal things when you travel on such a budget airline. And luck was beside me this time! My flight was operated by 9M-AQN, a 3 months old aircraft, also the 1st Airasia plane to wear the new livery. With no dirt on its shiny wings! :D

Goodbye Penang! I'll truly missed the local foods here! 

. . . . . . .

Kuala Lumpur to Penang

So after 4 hours of waiting time at KUL LCCT, AK6114 bound for Penang was ready for the departure! with 30 minutes delayed...quite surprised to know that the ABL(Asean Basketball League) plane was scheduled for my flight! Wearing a registration '9M-AFE', also one of the special liveries among all the Airasia's aircrafts. =D

and I would like to wish all my blog viewers

a Merry Christmas! and Happy new year!

Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur again

Hi guys, I just came back from my recent penang + KL trip! and for your info, all of my flights are AKs, Airasia of course. Budget traveler this time haha...

Part 1: BKI-KUL on AK5135 

It's 4am, and I already woke up just before my alarm managed to call me up, I guess most of the people will have the same situation like me on the day of your vacation/trips, because of too excited about that! Haha...so, for some 'aviation lovers' like me, the first thing I do is.......turn on the internet, open up my computer, and check! check what? check the aircrafts that will most probably to operate my flight. After searching for a while, it's time for me to turn off the computer and start doing the final check for the things that I'll have to bring....Camera, checked! charger, checked! boarding passes, checked! etc. Meanwhile my mom and my sisters already woke up and start preparing as well. Time flies, it's 5.10am, and we're ready to go to the airport!

Last check at my bags...

and we're on the way to BKI T2 (aka LCCT, mainly for Airasia)...almost no cars along Jalan Kepayan

We reached Terminal 2 around 5.30am, and the first thing we saw is a long queue in front of the security check section, most of them were passengers on board AK1518 bound for Taipei, ETD 0605. There was a tour guide leading all her 'team members' (or tourists I should say haha..) for the security check and Immigration check as well.

and not sure what happened, BKI T2 during that time is filled with 'smokes' and some pungent smells around the check-in area. Hope it's all fine there.

busy checking boarding passes....

the immigration counter

First aircraft in my sight after entering the waiting hall, 9M-AFF, an Airbus 320-214, will be operating AK1518 to Taipei today

most of the passengers already boarded the plane when the final call was made

before they closed the gate, one passenger's name on the flight was called for a few times, but after 5 minutes the person still didn't show up at the gate, still at home I guess.

pushback...

off she goes....rwy 20 departure...have a safe flight :)

and the sun began to rise...a new day started!

9M-AQE beside.....heading to Miri later

 Little transmile air B732 in the other side, I believe this plane did help me to transport my aircraft model parcels here before...haha

finally, boarding call was made, even though the SDK flight is 5 mins earlier than our departure time

The queue as usual before boarding, with more people behind haha!

Good morning all! Are you ready to fly? XD

9M-AQF will bring me to KUL today

as we know, taking photos in the tarmac are not allowed for those LCC airlines like AK, but, rules are meant to break anyways, I don't care and just took out my camera, snap here snap there, but very unfortunately, I was being spotted and warned by an airport security(too bad)...but I didn't give up! I use the back door to enter the aircraft instead, while the airport security continue to 'spot' other passengers' movement hehe....these are what I managed to snap after that XD 

9M-AHZ to Penang!

Sun already rise...

after settled down in my seat, 22B, no window seat for me this time because 22A was occupied by my sister

window view, taken by my sister of course haha...

Passengers onboard AK6492 bound for SDK, and their aircraft was.....

Ace the skyrider! wearing a registration 9M-AFL, also currently AK's latest livery...how I wish she would bring me to KUL, but too bad then...

taxiing to runway 02! Didn't expect that rwy 02 was active that time! If not I would probably choose the seats at my right hand side, a better view of KK city!

2 MH's B738 with Boeing sky interior at the gates, going to KUL I guess

Take off 

So here we go! with ace the skyrider below, bon voyage... :)

love the shadow of our aircraft. . .

bank left

30 minutes after took off, B.O.B service started...with this 5 bucks Milo, to start my day~ today will be a great day for me =D

As for a LCC airline, no IFE will be provided during the flight, no matter you go on which route (except AAX haha)...so most of the people will prefer sleeping or listening to songs until the landing

Meanwhile I decided to take photos around... but their inflight magazine, which is Travel 3 Sixty December issue did entertained me for a while before descending. One of my friends did shown me a passage about  Pilot's perspective, wrote by a famous captain, which is Captain Lim Khoy Hing, a former Airasia Airbus A320 and Airasia X A330/340 pilot. I really enjoy reading his stories and experiences that will be featured every month in Travel 3 Sixty. For this month's issue, he talks about how the airline industry prepares for and deals with both the predictable and unpredictable moods of mother nature. You can check it out here too, at page 120. or his official website: www.askcaptainlim.com

Not long after that, we're ready for the landing

Getting nearer. . .

Safely landed at KLIA! at 9.20am local time, 15 minutes ahead schedule

MAS B777-200ER, always heard some rumors that MH will be order some B77W, but until now the stories still goes on. . .with no result 

Since we will have to wait for another 4 hours until our next flight to Penang, so we're almost the last person to leave the plane

Goodbye 9M-AQF, thanks for the safe ride

Walk along to the arrival hall . . .