Port of Spain May 2008: Caribbean Airlines in pictures

A Boeing 737-800 arriving in Piarco (POS) [9Y-SLU]

A Dash 8-300 arriving in Piarco (POS)

A Dash 8-300 arriving in Piarco (POS)

A Dash 8-300 arriving in Piarco (POS)

9Y-SLU arriving in Piarco (POS)

9Y-SLU arriving in Piarco (POS)

9Y-GEO sitting at the gate in Piarco (POS)

9Y-GEO sitting at the gate in Piarco (POS)

9Y-GEO sitting at the gate in Piarco (POS)

9Y-GEO sitting at the gate in Piarco (POS)

A Dash 8-300 arriving in Piarco (POS)

9Y-POS seen at the gate in Piarco (POS) before a trip to Tobago (TAB)

A Dash 8-300 taking off from Tobago (TAB)

A Boeing 737-800 taking off from Tobago (TAB)

A Boeing 737-800 taking off from Tobago (TAB)

A Boeing 737-800 taking off from Tobago (TAB)

A Dash 8-300 taking off from Tobago (TAB)

A Dash 8-300 just landed in Tobago (TAB)

9Y-SLU at the gate in Piarco (POS) in an interim livery

A Dash 8-300 in Piarco (POS) in the old livery

A Dash-8-300 in Trinidad (POS)

A Dash8-300 in Tobago (TAB)

A Boeing 737-800 with winglets in Tobago (TAB)

Port of Spain May 2008: Arriving in Piarco International, Piarco Trinidad (POS) from Tobago

31MAY08 Piarco International, Piarco Trinidad (POS)

We touched down smoothly and started taxiing to the gate. The lone flight attendant welcomed us to Trinidad and wished us a pleasant onward journey. I think he is the coolest flight attendant I’ve ever flown with. It was like nothing really mattered, it seemed.

We pulled up to the gate and I could see that other Dash-8 that had taken off before us to the left; it had already deposited its load of passengers and was being boarded for another trip to Tobago.

As I left the aircraft, I was able to take a shot of 9Y-SLU [named after St. Lucia] sitting at the gate in a white paint scheme with “Caribbean Airlines” on the side and also one of the Dash-3 still in the old livery.

This is the tail of our plane.

Once in the terminal, we had the meals that we bought in Tobago. This was really good food; it was goat dinner; curried goat meat, rice, vegetables and macaroni pie. I stood on a line to get drinks from Kentucky. It took forever and when I got up there they had no Mountain Dew as they had ran out. How do you run out of Mountain Dew at 1:15p at an airport? Good grief. So I only just had a bottle of water. Lee ended up going to another place to get it. I love the Caribbean as there is never any sense of urgency at all, even at an airport; it takes a little getting used to.

I had called Alexis and advised that we had come back early and were having lunch. He showed up in a few minutes with the details of the next part of our journey.

Port of Spain May 2008: Crown Point International, Tobago (TAB) to Piarco International, Piarco Trinidad (POS)

BW1541 31MAY08 Crown Point International, Scarborough Tobago (TAB) to Piarco International, Piarco Trinidad (POS) 12:55p 1:20p DH3 9Y-WIT

Flight Time: 0:20
Seat Map

The flight attendant greeted us and ushered us forward in this 2-2 configured cabin.

We noticed that the flight still had a few open seats. We looked out and some more passengers were heading our way. Actually, we got two seats next to each other on the left side of the plane; I took the window, Lee the aisle.

By the time the door closed, there was only one empty seat on the plane. The flight attendant did a manual demo, told us the flying time was 0:20, the engines started and we departed under our own power. There was actually another Dash-8-300 (BW1535 at 12:40p) next to us which had left only moments before we did-destination Port of Spain as well. This one was still painted in the BWIA Express colors, hey our plane was still white with just the name “Caribbean Airlines” on the side. There is still one maybe two of the Boeing 737-800s that is painted white with just the name “Caribbean Airlines” on the side as well.

This was our plane.

The flight we did not take; our original flight. Nasty windows caused the image to be so bad.

We took off relatively quickly on the lone runway and made a right turn as we did so.

It was good to see the mountain range and the shores of the northern part of Trinidad.


Tobago

Northern Trinidad

It was nice to see the city below us again in all its glory.

Before long, I noticed the runway in sight and we made a left turn to line up with it.

Not sure why, but the Captain was swerving from left to right across the runway’s center line.

As we approached the airport runway, you could see a Boeing 737-800 in the Caribbean Airlines hangar.

There was also a number of helicopters from the helicopter operation that goes out to the oilfields.

Port of Spain May 2008: Departing Crown Point for Trinidad

31MAY08 Crown Point International, Scarborough Tobago (TAB)

We arrived at the airport promptly at 12:30p with our lunches in tow, cleared security with ease and settled in. Our flight BW1543 was scheduled for a 1:10p departure time. We had an awesome few hours in Tobago and could really have spent some more time there. We had done the beach, had some local food and bonded with the locals.

We noticed that they were boarding BW1541 which left at 12:55p and inquired if we could stand by for it. The agent told us to sit where he can see us and if there was any chance, he would advise. He also told us that there was another passenger before us as well.

We waited for about two minutes, then he called all three of us forward and we boarded via the hardstand.

Port of Spain May 2008: Arriving in Crown Point International, Scarborough Tobago (TAB)

31MAY08 Crown Point International, Scarborough Tobago (TAB)


We touched down smoothly at 9:49a, but were really loud as we decelerated. The airplane took the full length of the runway, then turned around on the runway and headed back to the terminal getting in at 9:53a.

The tow and fire house

The end of the runway, before we turned around.

The beach is right there as you land.

Yes, the houses are this close.

The lady next to me asked if I minded that she wait until most of the passengers have disembarked and I said no problem. Of course Lee was waiting outside, but I wanted to be nice.

As I was getting off, i snapped a picture of the airport signage. A security guard approached me and told me to delete the photo, so I did :-(.

I joined Lee later on the tarmac and told him of the bad news. We then went through the baggage claim area to meet with Alexis' brother who would be the tour guide for our short stay in Tobago.
Here is our plane sitting on the tarmac getting ready to head back to Port of Spain.