C-GITS 2 Airbus A330-243 Air Transat FRA 29AUG99

            Replacing and earlier scanned photo with a better version, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 14-Aug-24.

First flown with the Airbus test registration F-WWKY, this aircraft was delivered to ILFC International Lease Finance Corporation and leased to Air Transat as C-GITS in Apr-99.

It famously became known as the 'The Azores Glider' on 24-Aug-01 when, due to a fuel leak, it ran out of fuel over the Atlantic Ocean while operating a service from Toronto to Lisbon (see note below).  It was repaired and returned to service.

In Oct-09 the aircraft was sub-leased to Garuda Indonesia Airlines for a Haj Pilgrimage operation, returning to Air Transat in Dec-09.  Similar operations for Garuda were carried out between Oct/Dec-10, Sep/Dec-11, Sep/Nov-12, Sep/Nov-13 and Aug/Nov-14.

The aircraft was sub-leased to Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia as OY-VKK in Dec-18 and returned to Air Transat as C-GITS in Apr-19.  It was withdrawn from service and stored at Montreal-YUL in Mar-20 as a consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In Oct-21 the aircraft was moved to Marana, AZ, USA for further storage.  It was returned to AerCap as N271AD in Apr-22 and permanently retired.  It was broken up at Marana in Apr-24.  Updated 14-Aug-24.

Note: While en-route from Toronto to Lisbon the crew became aware of a fuel imbalance between the left and right-wing main fuel tanks. Being concerned about the lower than expected fuel quantity, the crew declared an emergency and decided to divert to Lajes Air Base on the island of Terceira in the Azores.  At a distance of 135 miles/216km from Lajes, the right engine flamed out.  When the aircraft was about 85 miles/135km from Lajes and at an altitude of about 34,500 feet, the left engine flamed out.  The crew carried out an engines-out visual approach and the aircraft was successfully landed at Lajes Air Base.  All eight mainwheel tyres burst during the landing causing damage to the wheels, undercarriage and flaps.  Investigation later determined that a low-pressure fuel line on the right engine had failed, probably as the result of coming into contact with an adjacent hydraulic line.

Taken on: August 29, 1999

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