NAGOYA - JapanCommuter is currently busy updating its fleet. While the airline is busy replacing its Martin 2-0-2 piston engined aircraft with the modern NAMC YS-11 turboprops, the airline is also replacing its Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle jetliners.
The first Caravelle entered service with JapanCommuter on January 8, 1960 with both Caravelle I and Caravelle III variants starting operations. Soon after, the Caravelle IA entered the JapanCommuter fleet. A total of five Caravelle I, three Caravelle IA and one Caravelle III were operated by the airline. All aircraft were replaced after only 11 months of operations in December 1960 with the modernized Caravelle VI-N variant. This variant required only two pilots compared to three for the earlier models, had a slightly lower fuel usage and chapter 2 noise certification. The last of ten Caravelle VI-N variant was retired on May 13, 1966. JapanCommuter also ordered ten Caravelle VI-R jetliners. This model was similar to the VI-N, but with new engines with reversers and spoilers in wings. Only five jets are remaining in the JapanCommuter fleet, with its days being counted.
JapanCommuter expects to retire the last Caravelle jet in September this year. For those who want to fly the Caravelle, the jet is used on selected flights from Nagoya. JapanCommuter is replacing its Caravelle fleet with British BAC One-Eleven jets. These jets are slightly slower, but have a lower fuel usage and use the less noisy Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans.
Topic: Last chance to fly the Caravelle in Japan! (Read 50 times)
