Beautiful Satellite

En-route to Amsterdam (EHAM) from Oporto (LPPR) during a cloudless night. We had just left behind northern Spain and were flying over the Bay of Biscay. Notice the reflections on the Atlantic waters.

MFDU's

Left Multi Function Display Unit (MFDU) of the Fokker F100 with the primary engine parameters, thrust rating, temperature indications and memo messages.

The right MFDU with the status page and the secondary engine parameters (oil, vibration and fuel).

One World

I captured this A320-211 from Iberia with the OneWorld markings, at FL110 as it was inboud to London, Heathrow (EGLL), while we were at FL100 just after departure from London, Gatwick (EGKK), returning to Lisbon (LPPT). EC-FDB is the first Iberia aircraft wearing the special scheme.

F100...What else?

The warrior resting at stand S31 at Oporto (LPPR), after returning from Schiphol, Amsterdam (EHAM). Next flight was to Geneva (LSGG), with a new crew. We still had to complete our day with a short Oporto-Lisbon (LPPR-LPPT) leg with the aircraft that was arriving from Luxembourg (ELLX).

And here is the machine arriving from ELLX, during taxi to stand S32.

The RR TAY 650-15 under some minor maintenance at Lisbon (LPPT). This aircraft had just arrived from QAPS, at Schiphol Airport (EHAM), freshly painted.

Schiphol, Amsterdam

Already established on the ILS 18R (also knonw as the Polderbaan at Schiphol, EHAM), I captured these eolic generators appearing through the fog. Travelling as extra crew.

During our taxi-out, from stand B11 to runway 09 for the LEKKO 1N departure, this KLM MD11 leads the way to the holding point. You can hardly see, under it's right wing, a KLM A330 entering runway 09 for take off.

A couple of days after the pictures above, again at Schiphol (EHAM), this time taxing from stand B9 to runway 36L for the LEKKO 1V departure, this China Airlines B747-400 is cleared to cross runway 18C-36C at W5 interssection, as it crosses in front of us.

Here, already reached runway 36L holding point, we were cleared to line-up and wait behind this departing Malevs' F70.

Cargo Flight

Airbus A300B4 from TNT Airways arriving at Oporto (LPPR) as ''Air France ????'' on it's callsing. Always nice to see one of these flying machines.

Upper Level Traffic

Thomas Cook 757-300 just 2000ft below us.

Lufthansa's A319 D-AILU 2000ft above us with it's special logo ''LU'' (Lufthansa Kids Club).

Jet2 wingleted B757-200 crossing in front of us at 37000ft. Same day as the pictures above, however, the Lufthansa was captured during our way to Luxembourg (ELLX) and the B757's on our way back to Oporto (LPPR).

Landing AF

While waiting for line-up clearance at Charles de Gaulle (LFPG), this amazing Air Frances' B777-300 ER lands in front of us.

Approaching Lisbon - LPPT

Descending towards Lisbon on a FTM2A arrival.

Descending towards Lisbon on an ADSAD2A arrival. The city below is Setúbal, and on the left side is the Troia peninsula with it's great beaches.

We were requested to maintain heading after ADSAD due to traffic. After we crossed Cape Espichel, we were cleared for the ILS03. Early morning arrival.

Here, full established ILS03. The magnificent city of Lisbon, with its 25 de Abril bridge.

TAP overtake

This Air Portugal A319 landed behind us at Rome, Fiumicino (LIRF). On our way back to Oporto (LPPR) at FL350, I captured it while it was overtaking us at FL370. It was en-route to Lisbon (LPPT).

Spanish Airports

Captured from FL340, it's Madrid Barajas Airport (LEMD), the biggest airport in the Iberian Peninsula. En-route from Lisbon (LPPT) to Nice - Cote d'Azur (LFMN).

Some miles ahead I captured Barcelona - El Prat (LEBL) airport, also at FL340.

Finally some snow!

During a VOR/DME approach to runway 05 at Geneva (LSGG), left view.

During a VOR/DME approach to runway 05 at Geneva (LSGG), right view.

After takeoff from runway 05 we were cleared to turn left. This picture was captured after it.

On our way from Marseille/Provence (LFML) back to Lisbon (LPPT), I captured part of the Pyrenees.

Springbok @ LPPT

This is one of the B747-400 from SAA that has been doing flights for TAAG, between Lisbon, Portugal (LPPT) and Luanda, Angola (FNLU). Here captured taxing to holding point runway 03 at Lisbon, moments before it's takeoff for a 7h journey.

F-GFKJ @ LPPT

The freshly painted A320 celebrating Air France's 75 years, captured at Lisbon (LPPT-24/11/2008). Named Pays de Roissy CDG. Painted on the 20th November 2008 at Toulouse (LFBO).

Cloudy skies

A Cb (cumulonimbus) cloud, or mushroom cloud as called by many, on our way back from Barcelona (LEBL). This day there were plenty of these formations on the Iberian Peninsula, forcing us to deviate from them.

Here, at stand T18 Terminal 2 at Barajas (LEMD), these cumulus clouds already in great activity, will soon form a Cb. Captured same day as the pic above.

Strong Winds

During some journeys I captured several moments where we encountered strong winds at our cruising level. Here, on course to LTP VOR (La Tour du Pin) near Grenoble, France (LFLS), we were speeding at 550kts ground speed (aprox. 1018km/h), having a tail wind component of 104kts (aprox. 192km/h).

Here, on our way to Porto (LPPR), having Paris on our left side, we were with a slow ground speed of 321kts (aprox. 594km/h), due to the strong headwind of 110kts (aprox. 203km/h).

On this pic, over the Bay of Biscay on course to CHW VOR (Chartres, between Paris and Nantes) a strong corsswind coming from our left side of 150kts (aprox. 277km/h) is affecting us, creating a drift angle of about 16 degrees (the difference between our the heading and track) and also slowed us to 325kts (aprox. 600km/h).

Geneva, LSGG

At our stand, during flight preparations, this Qatar Airbus A330-200 comes to a stop by vacating runway 23 via taxiway D, showing its impressive wingspan.

As above, at our stand, I captured this ''Topswiss'' after its takeoff from runway 23, during gear retraction.

During our taxi for departure from runway 23 towards Porto (LPPR), I captured this amazing B747SP (HZ-AIJ) from Saudi Arabian Airlines.

PGA's Landing

Fokker F100 landing at Porto (LPPR) runway 35. We were at the holding point cleared to line-up and wait behind the landing sistership, on our way to Geneva (LSGG).

Here I captured this ERJ145 landing on runway 03 at Lisbon (LPPT), while we were waiting for our departure for a 45min flight to Porto (LPPR).