Edelweiss

If this wasn't a blog dedicated to aviation, just by looking at the title of this message you could think that I would be writing about a flower (although it's somehow related), a beer, a grape type, a glider model among many other things. But no, today I'm writing about Edelweiss Air (which logo it's a edelweiss flower which is the origin of the airline name) that made it's premiere in LPMA/FNC.
It arrived at 11:41 from Zurich as flight WK284 and was entitled to a water cannon salute and the passengers were gifted with some souvenirs. Departed about one hour later, also to Zurich, as flight WK285.
HB-IHZ / Airbus 320-214 / Edelweiss Air
Touchdown for the first time in LPMA.
Water cannon salute performed by Madeira airport fire brigade.
Rotating on rwy 05.

(Airbus 310)²

It's been a while since the last time I saw an Airbus 310. Fortunately this week we had two at LPMA/FNC. The first one, from SATA International, came on a Monday (02/04/12); the second, from White Airways, came Friday (06/04/12) but only after about three and half hours off schedule. Initially it was expected to arrive at 18:00(local) then delayed to 19:30(local) and again to 21:30(local). This meant that I had to get my tripod so I could take a photo to the airplane.
CS-TKM / Airbus 310-304 / SATA International

CS-TKI / Airbus 310-304 / White Airways
Curiously this Airbus was in SATA's fleet until 2005, in the same year it went to White Airways.

Arriving to stand 13 after a long flight from Malabo (Equatorial Guinea)
Fast turnaround time, in less than one hour.
Ready for pushback.
Ready and cleared to taxi to rwy 05 for the final leg of the flight till Lisbon.

Finnish Airlines

This Monday we had at LPMA/FNC two Finnish airlines, Air Finland and Finnair.
I think we can say that one of the airlines brought us one unusual color scheme around here, i.e., the Air Finland's OH-AFL still with colors of Allegiant Air. About Finnair I can only say that it made the 'awesomest' approach of the afternoon.
OH-AFL / Boeing 757-204 / Air Finland


OH-LBR / Boeing 757-2Q8 / Finnair


G-TAWF / Boeing 737-8K5/W / Thomson Airways

LX-LGT / Boeing 737-8K5 / Luxair
OE-HII / Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 300 / Amira Air
According to what I've found this is Niki Lauda's private jet.

Monarch Airlines and a Medical Evacuation

Here's just three photos from today.
The Monarch's A320 came from Manchester via Gatwick, the medical evacuation was made by a Learjet 60 from FAI Air Service.
G-MONX / Airbus 320-121 / Monarch Airlines


D-CSLT / Learjet 60 / FAI Air Service