Athens Airways to take delivery of the fourth ERJ-145 (SX-CMD)

Last updated 12/7/2009 19:30

Athens Airways is expected to take delivery of the fourth (out of 4 ordered) Embraer ERJ-145 next week. The plane is ex FlyBe G-EMBM (msn 145196) and is leased from Aircraft Solution ERJ-145 Llc. Its registered SX-CMD and its name is "Spiros Basileiou" (Σπύρος Βασιλείου).

A brief history on its delivery process:
ERJ-145 of FlyBe registered G-EMBM was parked since January 2009 in EXT (Exeter, UK).
On 24/5/2009 a ground power unit and a bowser were attached to the plane.
On 26/5/2009 it was towed in front of the maintenance hangar and later that day it did a test flight including some ILS approaches at EXT.
On 27/5/2009 it departed from EXT to LPAR (Alverca, Portugal) in order to have checks and maintenance at its engines.
On 25/6/2009, having completed the maintenance in Portugal, it arrived at NWI (Norwich, UK) for painting to full Athens Airways colors. (see photo below for -probably- the last shot of G-EMBM in FlyBe colors in NWI)
On 4/7/2009 the painting works were completed and it was ferried from NWI for EXT, using callsign ATW4010.
On 9/7/2009 its UK registration of G-EMBM was cancelled and was reregistered as SX-CMD (written on the plane but still has a sticker of G-EMBM over it)

It is expected to be ferried from EXT to ATH on 13/7/2009 (if no further delay is encountered during the deregistration proccess)
Thanks to John for many of the info above.

Thanks to Keith for the photo.

Embraer ERJ-145 / G-EMBM / being towed to spray area in NWI, minutes after its arrival from LPAR (Alverca, Portugal), in order to be painted to full Athens Airways colors (photo 26/5/2009)

Thanks to Mike Lee for the photo.

Embraer ERJ-145 / G-EMBM / parked in EXT in full Athens Airways colors but still with the old registration on a sticker over the SX-CMD, awaiting delivery to ATH next week (photo 10/7/2009)

Update 12/7/2009
Added another photo of G-EMBM in EXT waiting its delivery next week.

Thanks to Tim and John for the photo.

Embraer ERJ-145 / G-EMBM / parked in EXT in full Athens Airways colors waiting delivery to ATH next week (photo 10/7/2009)