The delivery of a new aircraft is always a highlight in a VA history. Typically, an aircraft is chosen for its performances, according to expectations from crew members, and passengers.
Après la livraison du tout premier appareil aux couleurs de la compagnie en juillet 2002, l'élégant Canadair Régional Jet CRJ100-ER, un deuxième avion "house colours" le Beech BE58 vient renforcer la flotte en septembre 2002. Le 09 octobre 2002 c'est au tour du Boeing 737-400 de prendre son envol dans sa livrée Littoral Airlines. Et le plus attendu de tous : l'ATR42-500 sorti d'atelier de peinture le 04 novembre 2002, rejoint le siège de la compagnie pour une longue carrière. Le 03 janvier 2003, le cinquième appareil le Canadair Régional Jet CRJ200 ER arrive enfin au Terminal Bravo à Lille : il est plébiscité par les pilotes.
Then, the delivery flow goes on with the arrival of highly expected Airbus 320-200, who leaves the painting workshop on February 1st 2003. Rating classes for the pilots are mandatory. The electric flight controls era leads to a modernization of the fleet.
The fleet size increases again with the delivery of the Fokker 70 on April 27th 2003, who is very appreciated by the pilots. July 1st 2003 is an important milestone in the history of the company, with the delivery of the Boeing 777-300, also called “triple-7”, another heavy aircraft after the Boeing 747.
On July 2nd 2003, the first two single engine aircrafts enter the fleet: the famous Piper PA28 R201, as well as the preferred aircraft of the company, also well known in many pilot schools, the Trinidad TB20 GT. Those 2 single engine aircrafts enter the fleet under the colors of Littoral Airlines, another nice paint job that announces the arrival of the Airbus 319, very common in the Airbus family. The delivery of the Cessna 182 with its red, blue and yellow colors will not be missed, thus satisfying every VFR aficionados.
On July 28th 2003, the ERJ170 was delivered. During the weekend of November 16th 2003, a memorable date, the BAe146, the Bell206 from Jet Ranger and the Aerocommander 680 are delivered, which sets the number of aircraft in the fleet to 17.
Those shiny colors remind the southern origins of the company. They are a ray of sun in the grey skies of the north of France. Therefore, the company has its own fleet with a “Littoral touch” in harmony with its visual identity. All of this is the result of the work of the Technical department, which was also helped by some other pilots from time to time, in case of needs. This audacious livery design, uncommon flag of Littoral Airlines helps the pilot to promote our company high in the virtual sky. Discover the pictures of those aircraft that we all enjoy to pilot.
In 2004, the Technical department is so productive that the fleet reaches the number of 45 aircrafts by the end of the year. Among them, we can find The Beech King Air 350, the B737-200, The A340-500, the A310-200, the C208 Caravan, the B737-800, the Douglas DC7, the presidential Cessna 550, the B727-200, the B767-200, the B757-200, the Lockheed Super Constellation, the Caravelle, the Boeing 7E7-800 Dreamliner, the A318-121, the A380-800, the Fokker 100, the Dash 7, the DR400-180 Regent, the A320-211, the Fokker 38, the famous Concorde, the CRJ900, the DC10-30, the B707-200, the A300-600, the B737-500 and the Falcon 2000. Then, helicopters enter the fleet with the EC120 Colibri and the AS350 “Ecureuil”…
Few years later, in order to diversify its important activity made from passenger transportation, VIP division, and aero club, a Cargo division is created, obviously to take care of freight transportation.
So on May 17th 2008, a C17 cargo, but also a 747 cargo enter the fleet, with a brand new livery dedicated to Cargo division. The cargo fleet livery shows a formation flight of three wild geese on a blue background, and, close to the tail, the word “Cargo” is mentioned in red color. Other cargo versions of some aircrafts then joined the fleet, such as the A300-600, the ATR72-500, the Boeings 737-300, 757-200 and 767-300, the BAe146, the Dash 8-Q100, the DHC7 and MD-11F, for the pleasure of cargo missions’ pilots!
Since then, not only the fleet has been continuously renewed, but also improved. So in 2009-2010, we can notice the arrival of the DR221, the BAe146-200, the Zivko Edge 540, the Beechcraft King Air 200, the A320 Project Airbus and the B737-800 Open Sky Project.
During June and July 2103, 13 more aircrafts are joining the fleet under a special livery celebrating the 10th anniversary of the company. At the same time, the direction of Technical department releases to pilots a set of Littoral Airlines liveries compatible with most famous add-ons (payware or freeware), such as PMDG, POSKY/iFly, PSS/Blackbox, IFDG, Level D, Wilco Feelthere, ISDT, Flight1, etc.
In 2013, the fleet is composed from totally 65 aircrafts, from DR221 to Airbus 380, thus fulfilling requirements and expectations from both passengers and crews. However, the maintenance is still very active, due to the continuous renewal of the fleet, as well as the painting of new liveries for older aircraft, which occupies almost full time the Technical department, as well as some “suppliers”. The transition between FS9 and FSX is therefore ensured, and retrofitting of previous aircrafts (modernization of panels such as B747-400F with iFly panel, transition from 2D to 3D cockpit, installation of FMC to some aircrafts who didn’t have before) is not forgotten.
The year 2013 saw the highly expected delivery of the B777-300ER on December 18th, as well as the first two aircraft developed for X-Plane: the DA42 Twin Star and the Eclipse 550, of course with the Littoral Airlines livery. The day before, on December 17th, the livery for PMDG B727-800 was unveiled, thus closing a hyperactive season for the Technical department.
