Argentina Aviation Adventure 2006
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Jorge Newberry Aeroparque
A tip for enthusiasts: Do not bother using public transport to reach the Aeroparque. Public transport is slow, often jam-packed, and not air-conditioned. The affordability of taxis is such that public transport makes no sense for the visiting aircraft enthusiast whose time is valuable, and it makes no sense to put one’s belongings and comfort at risk for the sake of a few dollars taxi fare. The convenient Aeroparque is only 5 miles from Avenida 9 de Julio, and depending on time of day and traffic, it usually takes 10-20 minutes by taxi. A word of caution: During rush-hour, bumper-to-bumper traffic can increase travel time to 30 or 45 minutes. During the course of my several days in Buenos Aires, I took the taxi to and from the Aeroparque most early mornings and late afternoons. On each occasion it cost 12-15 Pesos to go the airport ($4-6 US). But coming from the Aeroparque back to central Buenos Aires cost 25-30 Peso ($8-$10 US). Only at the end of the visit did it become apparent that if one hails a taxi at the Aeroparque before the taxi joins the queue, the price back to town is only 12-15 Pesos!!
The Aeroparque’s superb location close in to the city is such that the vast majority of domestic Argentine flights operate from the Aeroparque instead of the remote Ezeiza airport. As expected, Aerolineas Argentinas and sister company Austral wield the biggest presence at the Aeroparque, with flights operated to all major cities in Argentina as well as to close-by neighboring countries (Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile). Aerolineas Argentinas flights start at 0500 am and continue until midnight, and traffic is brisk during the early morning, mid-day and late afternoon peak periods. No enthusiast can ever complain that the Aeroparque is quiet, as general aviation and biz jet traffic is busy throughout the day, and the occasional military movement also spices up the non-stop action. One hardly has time to change films, run for a snack, or visit the facilities, in fear of missing a movement (no pun intended)! For Boeing 737-200 fans, this airport probably has more –200 action than any other airport on the planet! Throughout the day, Aerolineas, Austral and Lan Argentina 737-200s come and go with great regularity, and the oldest Aerolineas 737s date from the early 70s, and have been in continuous service with the airline for some thirty years!
During the past decade, a number of private Argentina start-up airlines have come and gone, and to date, only one non-government airline offers competing domestic jet service against Aerolineas Argentinas, that being Lan Chile’s new, low-cost domestic Argentine airline called LAN Argentina. Southern Winds’ demise and the end of the LAFSA scheme opened the door for Lan Argentina to enter the Argentine domestic market, which started flying in June of 2005. Lan expects their Argentine operation to grow to a 27% domestic share this year (2006). From their Aeroparque base, Lan Argentina’s fleet of five Boeing 737-200s serve Bariloche, Cordoba, Mendoza, Iguazu Falls, Rio Gallegos, and Comodoro Rivadavia, with most one-way fares in the $70-80 US range. Cordoba is the cheapest with a $66 US one way fare!
Lineas Aereas del Estado (LADE) is the airline transport arm of the Argentine Air Force, which operates a fairly extensive domestic network using its fleet of Twin Otters, F27s, F28s, and Boeing 707s.
LADE (pronounced LAAH-DAY) is notorious for flight cancellations and delays, and although their fares are extremely reasonable, it was not possible to sample their services as our tightly scheduled travel plans could not recover from an unplanned delay. LADE’s F27 and F28 flights operate intermittent scheduled services from the Aeroparque during busy holiday periods, but detailed examination of the LADE website at www.LADE.com.ar or a prolonged visit to a LADE ticket office is necessary to get the exact flight times.
LADE is famous among Boeing 707 fans for operating the world’s last (safe) fare-paying passenger Boeing 707s, which operate from El Palomar Air Base near Buenos Aires.The problem is that it is impossible to determine in advance when the 707s will be operating on a schedule route. The 707s are added to the schedule with no notice for short periods throughout the year, but it is impossible to communicate with LADE by email or phone to make advance travel plans! LADE does not have a commercial focus, and passengers’ basic needs to make advance travel plans is not an area of concern. They simply cannot provide any information on their 707 schedule unless it is in the schedule the day you call! Even the local Argentine spotters are keen to ride the 707, and admit it is impossible to get a clear answer as to the aircraft’s schedule from LADE. During the time of our visit, LADE was operating a weekly whistle-stop service between the Aeroparque and Ushuaia with an F28, but when compared to the several flights a day operated by Aerolineas Argentinas, and the high probability of delay on LADE, it was not an option for us. The LADE F27 was operating twice weekly tourist flights from the Aeroparque to Mar Del Plata (and points beyond), and day returns were not possible.
The only foreign airline that serves the Aeroparque is Uruguayan flag carrier Pluna, which operates numerous daily scheduled flights across the River Plate with their Boeing 737-200s, 737–300, their 757, and their ATR42 “Little Plunita!” The hops across the river to Montevideo and the summer-beach resort of Punta Del Este, both in Uruguay, take about 30 minutes and are excellent value for the $70 one-way fare!
The Aeroparque action is further spiced up by the occasional visit of an Argentine Navy F28, or a stray military aircraft like an ultra-rare Argentina Air Force Guarani, or the Presidential Boeing 757, which can be seen sitting idle for days on end at the military parking area on the south end of the field. The largest aircraft that operates commercially from the Aeroparque is Pluna’s Boeing 757 (with a daily late-afternoon scheduled service to Montevideo during the busy summer season). Aerolineas Argentinas A310s have been know to visit the airport on fog diversions from Ezeiza.
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