21 October 2017
Report by Chris Smith
Photos above credit Matt
Falcus
Introduction, planning process and lead-up
With the imminent retirement of the Fokker 70 from the KLM Cityhopper fleet, and it's larger sibling the 100 being to credit for me being in the aviation game in the first place, it was only natural that a celebratory last flight was had. The Amsterdam route is often the focal point of FoDTVAs trade stall activities so my pitch to the group was that we already promote the route to every Tom, Dick and Harry - let's put our money where our mouths are and give some direct support. The rest of the committee at first was a little sceptical of how much demand there might be within the group I think, but I persevered and seven months later we were at the airport checking in. KLMs fares drop significantly on weekends when business travellers are fewer, despite this many would still blindly book a low cost carrier from elsewhere without taking into account fuel and parking costs putting the overall price on a par, with the inconvenience factor then tipping the scales way over. After a period of advertising the trip within the group, when it came time to book I had 13 interested members, which was about double my expectations as £130 whilst reasonable is still £130. We attempted to go through KLMs group booking service, and the offer they came back with was a totally unacceptable €300 if memory serves me correctly - it may even have been €600! Plan B was myself and Matt Falcus split the booking, taking six members each (one member was making their own arrangements), we then attempted a synchronised booking, but KLMs booking engine was smarter than we gave it credit for and Matts price went up three quarters of the way through the process, fortunately not enough to put us off. Another concern we had was that the Fokker 70 retirement date being only tentative, we knew if it changed it would only be by a day or two so we opted for one weekend beforehand rather than on the scheduled last day of operations (Saturday 28th October) which would have been more apt for the trip. We were also concerned that we were giving them 13 bookings they wouldn't have had otherwise and therefore the aircraft might be upgraded to an Embraer to accomodate the extra pax, which unbeknown to KLM would defeat the purpose of our trip. Luckily this turned out not to be the case. I contacted KLM to see if they could provide some kind of tour of their facilities and hangars, full credit to them they tried but it was not possible, so we settled for the Schiphol Behind The Scenes tour, a coach ride with video (in Dutch with English subtitles) around the airports inner perimeter road, stopping at points of interest including the bizjet ramp, various engineering hangars, snow clearing section, fire section and baggage section. Whilst interesting enough It's only good for spotters if you're not in a position to get to the bizjet ramp via any other means. In the lead up to the event we did have one withdrawal which meant we ran the trip at a loss, normally we would add a few quid onto the total to cover ourselves but you can't really do that when the price is already into three figures.
Durham Tees Valley Airport
As is thankfully increasingly common there was a good selection to be had at home base, with two ATRs present, one belonging to Blue Islands on a football charter, and Eastern's brand new toy, reportedly one of two gifted for free by Airbus because they owed Bristow Helicopters a favour!! An amphibious Cessna Caravan and a single Mustang bizjet.
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-IACY | ATR-72-600 | Flybe (Eastern Airways) | |
| G-ISLF | ATR-42-512 | Flybe (Blue Islands) | |
| G-LAUD | Cessna 208 Caravan I Amphibian | Laudale Estate LLP | Op for Loch Lomond Seaplanes |
| OE-FZA | Cessna 510 Citation Mustang | GlobeAir AG | |
| PH-KZB | Fokker 70 | KLM Cityhopper |
The outbound flight
We arrived at DTVA at 5am, checked in and headed to the FoDTVA office where a quick briefing was given and PFF tickets distributed to the group, we then passed quickly and efficiently through security. Incidentally I know a lot of people in the past have complained that security do not have the best customer service skills in the world to put it politely, but DTVA are currently in the process of putting staff through a world-renowned customer service programme called WorldHost, this includes FoDTVA and as I type this I'm going on a two hour taster session later today, before doing the full one day course in November, based on our experience it's fair to say the course is working - very polite and lot's of smiles all around. Once through, we got to experience the newly completed airside revamp, which has made all the difference and truly looks a million dollars. If I had to make a complaint, it would be that the subtle background music that has been introduced throughout the terminal and boosts the atmosphere ten fold doing away with the ghost town feel, is too inconsistent, sometimes it's playing and sometimes it's not but this is a minor quibble and the terminal looks and feels like a proper one once more. I'd arranged the previous day for a group photo to be taken in front of the aircraft prior to boarding, so once we were all in departures I phoned the duty manager and he escorted us out onto the ramp - this led the other passengers to believe the boarding process had begun, so we got some sly looks when we came back in!! Whilst lining up for the photo, we caught the attention of the Captain who was intrigued and came out to enquire what we were doing and joined us for the photo - a nice touch! What I didn't realise was one of our committee members, Paul Tasker, carried on talking to him in more depth about who we are and what we do, giving the crew some of our trade stall goodies...next thing I know, the Captain comes over to my seat 12C and asks if I'm Chris - the trip organiser, he then shakes my hand and invites me to join him and the First Officer in the flight deck jump seat once we are outside of UK airspace and therefore legally allowed to do so (I thought the ban on non-crew on the flight deck was universal...apparently it's illegal in the UK and at the Captain's discretion otherwise!). My conscience was bugging me a little bit in that out of 12 of us why should it be me who gets the priviledge, and yet at the same time you simply cannot refuse such an offer.
Once over the North Sea the stewardess invited me to go up, and once on the flight deck a fold-up picnic-style seat was pulled out, and I put on a more elaborate seat belt than those in the cabin, and was given a very unique safety briefing, telling me how to fire open the seat belt, drop the chair in an instant, unlock the reinforced cockpit door and then open it, and finally if it should be blocked how to get out the side cockpit window using the rope...something which I would like to have done regardless!! I spent the next half an hour chatting to the crew, regrettfully I didn't note the Captain or First Officers names down, nor did I remember to write down for them the URL of this website which they asked for (I told them about DTV Movements and that I was an updater after they were surprised I knew our call sign was K-L-M 16 X-Ray), but hopefully they found their way here through Google, even if they likely won't see this report - either way they should know I am truly grateful and it is an experience that will remain with me for the rest of my days. They told me they had an easy shift today, flying to Humberside next and that was it. After the following Saturday (28th), they had three days off before beginning their training on the Embraer jets, stating they would much rather remain on the Fokker because Fokker kept things simple and straightforward, with a principle of "if it's not needed, blank it out", and sure enough half of the cockpit was redundant, whereas the Embraer is all big fancy computers and hi tech equipment. On arrival at Schiphol, they slowed the taxi almost to a halt to allow me to get a shot of a company E175 landing parrallel to us, and I asked if the F70 steers using the nosewheel or the rudder, they said either but the rudder is very limiting, and proceeded to demonstrate on the next corner, with the rudder just about managing the turn with full manipulation. To influence the control of a near-full commercial flight in those ways was a rush in itself! Once on stand they asked me to read off their after-parking checklist, a small task and yet a huge priviledge nonetheless. I made them both laugh when I told them I had contacted KLM to attempt to arrange for the commemorative F70 PH-KZU to be scheduled on the flight, but they weren't able (once again a huge thank you to KLM for trying though!). I also asked if they had ever flown with the Dutch King who was recently revealed in the press to be a Cityhopper First Officer, they said because he only flies once per month it has to always be with one of a limit of five instructor pilots, he also has two bodyguards, one in the jump seat and another in the cabin. They had seen him plenty of times out on the ramp inspecting his aircraft and said he no longer flies the Fokkers. I've since learned he's in the process of converting to the 737.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
On arriving at Amsterdam, it was every man for himself, with two going to Lelystad Airport; one for the museum and the other (DTVM regular contributor David Thompson) for airside access, with both getting a great deal of enjoyment out of those respective areas. Four went into central Amsterdam and six including myself remained airside, initially going to gate G8 which offers the best view, before carrying on to the Panorama Terrace. At 4pm, we checked in for the Schiphol Behind The Scenes Tour as described above, before returning to the Panorama Terrace. One worry that was lingering over the day was the weather, with all forecasts showing rain all day and for miles around with no scope for gaps, so you can imagine our surprise when not only was the weather okay, at one point it was glorious blue sky and sunshine! There was one downpour but it was very brief, I've never known the weather forecast be so wrong. Whilst on the terrace, some nut job rocks up in his Cessna 172 and starts bashing the circuit!! At Schiphol!! The controllers must have loved that! Finally we went through to departures and hammered the duty free and had a second meal before returning home. Incidentally, the only thing wrong with Schiphol is the choice of restaurants, none seem to offer what you would call a proper meal, all seem to be snack bars and there's little variety between them too.
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| 4L-TGN | Boeing 737-7BK(W) | Georgian Airways | |
| 5Y-KZF | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Kenya Airways | |
| 9A-CTI | Airbus A319-112 | Croatia Airlines | |
| 9H-JOY | Bombardier CL-600-2B19 Challenger 850 (CRJ-200ER) | Air X Charter | |
| 9V-SMR | Airbus A350-941 | Singapore Airlines | |
| A6-BLM | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Etihad Airways | |
| A6-EFS | Boeing 777-F1HLR | Emirates SkyCargo | |
| A6-EUC | Airbus A380-861 | Emirates | |
| B-2075 | Boeing 777-F1BLR | China Southern Cargo | |
| B-2080 | Boeing 777-F1BLR | China Southern Cargo | |
| B-5959 | Airbus A330-323E | China Southern Airlines | |
| B-6528 | Airbus A330-223 | China Southern Airlines | |
| B-7838 | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Xiamen Airlines | |
| B-18903 | Airbus A350-941 | China Airlines | |
| B-KQR | Boeing 777-367ER | Cathay Pacific Airways | |
| C-FOCA | Boeing 767-375ER | Air Canada | |
| C-FTOH | Boeing 737-8HX(W) | TUI Airlines Netherlands (Sunwing Airlines) | |
| C-GOWG | Boeing 737-86J(W) | TUI Airlines Netherlands (Sunwing Airlines) | |
| CN-NMG | Airbus A320-214 | Air Arabia Maroc | |
| CS-TPP | Embraer ERJ-190-100LR | TAP Express (Portugália Airlines) | |
| CS-TTF | Airbus A319-111 | TAP Portugal | |
| D-AEAF | Airbus A300F4-622R | EAT Leipzig | |
| D-AEAG | Airbus A300F4-622R | EAT Leipzig | |
| D-AIUA | Airbus A320-214(S) | Lufthansa | |
| D-AIUB | Airbus A320-214(S) | Lufthansa | |
| D-AIUD | Airbus A320-214(S) | Lufthansa | |
| D-BFIL | Embraer EMB-545 Legacy 450 | Atlas Air Service | |
| D-CAHO | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+ | Air Hamburg | |
| D-CHDJ | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | Ohlair Charterflug | |
| EC-JYX | Airbus A320-214 | Vueling Airlines | |
| EC-KMI | Airbus A320-216 | Vueling Airlines | |
| EC-LRM | Airbus A320-232 | Vueling Airlines | |
| EC-LZN | Airbus A320-214(S) | Vueling Airlines | |
| EC-LZU | Gulfstream G-VI (G650) | TAG Aviation España | |
| EC-MQP | Boeing 737-800(W) | Air Europa | |
| EI-ESV | Boeing 737-8AS(W) | Ryanair | |
| EI-FPN | Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900NG | SAS Scandinavian Airlines (CityJet) | |
| EI-FZZ | Boeing 737-800(W) | Ryanair | |
| EI-IMN | Airbus A319-111 | Alitalia | |
| EI-RJO | British Aerospace Avro RJ85 | CityJet | |
| EI-RJX | British Aerospace Avro RJ85 | CityJet | Special c/s |
| EI-RJY | British Aerospace Avro RJ85 | CityJet | |
| ES-ACG | Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900NG | Nordica (LOT Polish Airlines) | |
| EW-294PA | Boeing 737-505 | Belavia Belarusian Airlines | |
| F-GKXV | Airbus A320-214 | Air France | |
| F-GRGC | Embraer ERJ-145EP | HOP! | |
| F-GTAM | Airbus A321-211 | Air France | |
| F-GVHD | Embraer ERJ-145MR | HOP! | |
| F-HBNH | Airbus A320-214 | Air France | |
| F-HMLA | Bombardier CL-600-2E25 CRJ-1000 | HOP! | |
| G-BMRG | Boeing 757-236SF | DHL Air | |
| G-ECOG | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| G-ECOT | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| G-EZBW | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZDL | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZDS | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZFY | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZPL | Airbus A320-214(S) | easyJet | |
| G-EZUO | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-GATM | Airbus A320-233 | British Airways | |
| G-OREZ | Cessna 525 Citation M2 | Helitrip Charter LLP | Op by Catreus |
| G-PRPJ | Bombardier DHC-8-Q402 | Flybe | |
| HB-IPV | Airbus A319-112 | Swiss International Airlines | |
| HB-JFL | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Nomad Aviation | |
| HB-JJF | Boeing 767-316ER | Privatair | Op for TUI Airlines Netherlands |
| I-BIXP | Airbus A321-112 | Alitalia | |
| JY-AYX | Airbus A320-232 | Royal Jordanian Airlines | |
| LX-GCL | Boeing 747-467F | Cargolux Airlines International | Cathay Pacific Cargo hybrid c/s |
| LX-OCV | Boeing 747-4R7F | Cargolux Italia | |
| LX-SEH | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | Luxaviation | |
| LZ-FBD | Airbus A320-214 | Bulgaria Air | |
| N19XE | Fokker F-27-500 Friendship | Preserved | |
| N14102 | Boeing 757-224(W) | United Airlines | |
| N156DL | Boeing 767-3P6ER(W) | Delta Airlines | |
| N196DN | Boeing 767-332ER(W) | Delta Airlines | |
| N240LG | Dassault Falcon 900EX | UIM Aircraft LLC | |
| N515TJ | Raytheon 400A Beechjet | Blackburn International Inc | |
| N555LB | Gates Learjet 24 | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport | KLM c/s, modified fuselage inside terminal |
| N642UA | Boeing 767-322ER | United Airlines | |
| N66056 | Boeing 767-424ER | United Airlines | |
| N776LA | Boeing 777-F16LR | LATAM Cargo Chile | |
| N808NW | Airbus A330-323E | Delta Airlines | |
| N809NW | Airbus A330-323E | Delta Airlines | |
| N819NW | Airbus A330-323E | Delta Airlines | |
| N824NW | Airbus A330-302 | Delta Airlines | |
| N852NW | Airbus A330-223 | Delta Airlines | |
| N923FD | Boeing 757-204SF | FedEx Express | |
| N929L | Douglas DC-9-32 | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport | KLM c/s, fuselage inside terminal |
| OE-LXC | Airbus A320-216 | Austrian Airlines | |
| OH-LZF | Airbus A321-211 | Finnair | |
| OK-EMA | Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign | Travel Service Airlines | |
| OK-NEM | Airbus A319-112 | CSA Czech Airlines | |
| OK-TVS | Boeing 737-86N(W) | Travel Service Airlines | |
| OY-KFI | Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900NG | SAS Scandinavian Airlines | |
| PH-AJX | Dassault Falcon 7X | Flying Group | |
| PH-BFB | Boeing 747-406 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BFG | Boeing 747-406 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BFN | Boeing 747-406 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BFU | Boeing 747-406M | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHD | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHE | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHF | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHG | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHH | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHI | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHL | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BHM | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BVI | Boeing 777-306ER | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-BVP | Boeing 777-306ER | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-CBN | Reims/Cessna F172N Skyhawk | Cantonair Holland BV | Circuits! |
| PH-CDF | Boeing 737-804(W) | Corendon Dutch Airlines | Special c/s |
| PH-CGC | Dornier Do228-212 | Netherlands Coast Guard | |
| PH-CKA | Boeing 747-406ERF | KLM Cargo (Martinair Holland) | |
| PH-CKC | Boeing 747-406ERF | KLM Cargo (Martinair Holland) | |
| PH-EXG | Embraer ERJ-175-200STD | KLM Cityhopper | |
| PH-EXO | Embraer ERJ-175-200STD | KLM Cityhopper | |
| PH-EZI | Embraer ERJ-190-100STD | KLM Cityhopper | |
| PH-GGY | Boeing 737-8EH(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HSD | Boeing 737-8K2(W) | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-HSE | Boeing 737-8K2(W) | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-HSF | Boeing 737-8K2(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HSW | Boeing 737-8K2(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HXF | Boeing 737-800(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HXI | Boeing 737-800(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HXJ | Boeing 737-800(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HXK | Boeing 737-800(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HZO | Boeing 737-8K2(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-HZW | Boeing 737-8K2(W) | Transavia Airlines | |
| PH-MPS | Boeing 747-412BCF | Martinair Holland | |
| PH-MYX | Cessna 650 Citation VII | ASL BV | |
| PH-OFE | Fokker 100 | KLM Cityhopper | PWFU, displayed on Panorama Terrace |
| PH-OYI | Boeing 767-304ER | TUI Airlines Netherlands | |
| PH-PBA | Douglas C-47A Dakota | Dutch Dakota Association BV | |
| PH-TDS | Diamond DA40D Diamond Star | Vliegclub Schiphol | |
| PH-TFB | Boeing 737-8K5(W) | TUI Airlines Netherlands | |
| PH-TFF | Boeing 737-86N(W) | TUI Airlines Netherlands | |
| PH-TFK | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | TUI Airlines Netherlands | |
| PH-TFL | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | TUI Airlines Netherlands | |
| PK-GIA | Boeing 777-3U3ER | Garuda Indonesia | |
| PZ-TCR | Airbus A340-313 | Surinam Airways | |
| SE-RIL | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | Waltair Europe | |
| SP-LNC | Embraer ERJ-195-200LR | LOT Polish Airlines | |
| SP-SBG | Mil Mi-2 Hoplite | Schiphol Airport Fire Service | PWFU |
| SU-GEJ | Boeing 737-800(W) | EgyptAir | |
| TC-ATF | Airbus A321-211 | AtlasGlobal | |
| TC-CPM | Boeing 737-82R(W) | Pegasus Airlines | |
| TC-COR | Boeing 737-800(W) | Corendon Airlines | |
| TC-JIZ | Airbus A330-223 | Turkish Airlines | |
| TC-JNO | Airbus A330-343E | Turkish Airlines | |
| TC-JSY | Airbus A321-231(S) | Turkish Airlines | |
| TC-NBE | Airbus A320-251N | Pegasus Airlines | |
| TC-TJP | Boeing 737-8BK(W) | Corendon Airlines (Travel Service Airlines) | |
| TF-ISN | Boeing 767-319ER | Icelandair | |
| VP-BBL | Boeing 747-83QF | AirBridgeCargo Airlines | |
| VP-BBP | Boeing 747-8HVF | AirBridgeCargo Airlines | |
| VP-CKL | Gulfstream G-VI (G650) | Jet Aviation Business Jets (HK) Ltd | |
| VQ-BUU | Boeing 747-4EVERF | AirBridgeCargo Airlines | |
| VT-JEM | Boeing 777-35RER | Jet Airways | |
| VT-JET | Boeing 777-35RER | Jet Airways | |
| VT-JEU | Boeing 777-35RER | Jet Airways | |
| XA-AMR | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Aeromexico | |
| YL-BBM | Boeing 737-522 | Air Baltic | |
| YL-BBN | Boeing 737-522 | Air Baltic | |
| YL-CSD | Bombardier BD-500-1A11 CS300 | Air Baltic | |
| OTT | |||
| 5B-DCY | Airbus A320-214 | Cobalt Air | |
| C-FCAF | Boeing 767-375ER | Air Canada | |
| D-ABYT | Boeing 747-830 Intercontinental | Lufthansa | Retro c/s |
| PH-ERM | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer III | Pharmair BV | |
Nothing of note had changed on arriving back at DTVA, border control asked all passengers what the reasons was for their trip to Amsterdam as they always do, and by the time I got to the front of the queue they'd noted the pattern and gotten wise to us! Gordon from Special Branch was on duty and as always took the time to have a bit of crack (verbal crack - not the type normally associated with Amsterdam!!) and a laugh.
All in all a very special day out, words literally cannot describe how good it was, if a little sad because of the motive for the trip, I know I won't have seen my last operational Fokker but they will be very sorely missed. I was concerned going out at 6am and not returning until nearly 10pm would lead to a very long day, but it zipped along and was over in no time.
After initially being sceptical that there would be enough demand for the trip within the group, the feedback has been that they wish for it to become an annual event, albeit moved to a summer date - and I'm more than happy to oblige!!
The Durham Tees Valley Airport experience was seamless - which it always has been - but this time around it was seamless with good customer service and decent amenities thrown in to complete an all-round excellent experience. On returning, I was at home (9 miles away) just 30 minutes after touching down on runway 23, and that's bearing in mind I stopped to talk to Gordon as well! We will never be the biggest, but we will be the best.
A thank you of the highest order must go out to KLM for their outstanding customer service, they went above and beyond in every aspect and made us feel truly special!
All photos above from Chris unless otherwise stated, click here for more from Chris or here for Matt's - apologies for the quality of some of Chris', despite playing with settings the conditions weren't always ideal and I simply can't throw them away under the circumstances!
Stats
Chris: 96 frames | 4 scrapes
Matt: 56 frames | 19 scrapes