Palma De Majorca    

After two failed attempts to get away for a break with my wife, we finally managed it. Saturday 6^th found us at the unearthly hour of 0400 at LGW for the flight to PMI. I had bought two hotline tickets as the flight looked reasonable but on boarding it was very full.

My hotel for the next six days was the Marina Luz and was pretty good, as I had managed a good deal for the rooms of £19 per person half board on the internet, don't ask me how, I just accepted it. The food was really tops, my wife was impressed and she is a retired chef!! The Staff are very friendly and helpful and the hotel itself was clean and secure.

For those who don't know, the hotel is situated in a town called C'an Pastilla, a short journey from the airport and right on the flight path for the airport. We had room 419 and the balcony gave pretty good views of the aircraft movements, in fact any room on that side from the fourth and fifth floors would suffice. The down side was that the evening departures, after 7pm, tended to be silhouetted against the setting sun, so a SBS Box would be an advantage for those who possess them. Just let the staff know on booking that you are an Aviation Enthusiast, they even know what an Aircraft Spotter is!!

The first day was spent unpacking and while my wife recovered from the early start so I was forced to cop a squat on the balcony for 5-6 hours. Over 70 went "into the book" then so I was pretty pleased with that. Air Berlin, Spanair, Air Europa and Hapag Lloyd dominated the day with AB sending in 23 different a/c, Hapag Lloyd/TUI sending in 11 and Spanair 8, all in all, a good start to the holiday.

Over the next days the list started getting better and fuller and by the end of this trip over 377 different a/c were seen of which 189 were new to me. I will admit that I was not sat on the balcony the whole time and crammed in the hobby when possible, but a pleasant stroll towards Palma town takes you under the flight path and more could be added to the list.

Would I go back again? Well my wife is already planning next year's holiday and is even considering two weeks.

On a down side, as we were going to the airport I passed the GA ramp and it was stacked, much to my chagrin. Unfortunately for me, the ramp was full of Hapag Lloyd and TUI aircraft. I found out later that I should have walked down that pier for a better view, something to remember for next year.

On the up side, highlights for me were, other than the Air Berlin etc that I made, 5 AeBal B717's made in 3 days, Girjet B757, enough biz to go around (except for the ones on the biz ramp), plenty of Spanish and German aircraft to fill the log.

Biz movements

06 May.

CS-DNM Bae125, D-CHSP Ce560, D-IEFD Ce525, D-IHRA Ce560, EC-JPV LJ60, G-HMMV Ce525, HB-IAZ Fa2000, HB-IWY G4.

07 May.

CS-DHO C550, CS-DMD Be400, CS-DME Be400, CS-DRA Bae125, CS-DXD Ce560, D-BASE Fa2000EX, D-CGBR LJ55, G-JBIS Ce550, G-JMAX Bae125, G-MEET LJ45, VP-CED Ce550.

08 May.

CS-DRG Bae125, D-IPID Ce560, EC-IBD BD700, EI-IAW LJ60, G-CJAH Premier,.

09 May.

D-AAOK CL604, D-CRAN LJ60, EC-JYT CL604.

10 May.

CS-DFT Ce560, D-CWDL LJ55, EC-JNY Bae125, G-CDCX Ce750, G-FRYL Premier.

11 May.

CS-DFX Bae125, CS-DMP Be400.

12 May.

D-CFED Ce525, G-IPAL Ce550, VP-BEB BD700.

Airliner Highlights (excludes TUI/BER/JKK/AEA and other regulars).

6 May.

EC-JYB Em145 Lagun Air, SE-DRS, SE-DSR, SE-DSX, SE-DSY Bae.146, SE-RDM MD83 Nordic, TF-JXF B737 Jetx.

8 May.

EC-HNY, EC-HUZ B717's Aerolineas Balearas.

9 May.

EC-HNZ B717 Aerolineas Balearas, EC-JVJ Bae146 Orion, TF-LLZ B757 Girjet.

I0 May.

EC-HOA, EC-JZX B717 Aerolineas Balearas, EC-JOM Fok.100 Girjet, EC-JQX B737 Hola,

EC-JRT B757 Hola,TF-JXC MD Jetx.

11 May.

EC-KBI Em145 Lagun Air, SX-BSW MD Sky Wings.

12 May.

EC-JSL B737 Travel Espana, OY-GRL B757 Greenland Air.