Following N67402
Jan. 5th, 2013 04:48 pmIn Baton Rouge I rented a Cessna 152 (this one) at Baton Rouge airport a few times, from a guy -- Don Weber -- who owned a few airplanes but seldom flew them. This arrangement was amazing, since it was like having my own private airplane—no one else used it—but it was also short-lived, since he decided to sell the airplane not long after I started flying it.
Since then I've checked its registration status a few times, in part because I wondered whether he really sold the aircraft or was just looking for an excuse to not rent it out any more. Well, finally the FAA database shows a change. Not only is the airplane sold, but it is being exported from the United States--to the REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA.
Wondering if the airplane has been re-registered yet in Georgia, I found the Civil Aircraft Register of Georgia. In some countries the aircraft registry is not public information, but it looks like Georgia's is. But am I reading that right? It looks like there are only 56 aircraft registered in the country of Georgia! My little Cessna is not on the list, but I can believe it might take a month or two to show up.
One little cross-check of the Georgian registry: the wikipedia page for the state airline, Georgian Airways, shows that they have a fleet of only 7 aircraft: two 737's, four regional jets, and a corporate jet. The aircraft registry mostly agrees: it shows 12 aircraft operated by Georgian airways, including three 737's, six regional jets, an Antonov AN-2 (a BIPLANE!), and a 6-seat Cessna 206. I'd say Don Weber's personal fleet rivals that of Georgian Airways!
If N67402 does — under its new Georgian registration — indeed show up on this continent... I will have to find it and fly it again.
Since then I've checked its registration status a few times, in part because I wondered whether he really sold the aircraft or was just looking for an excuse to not rent it out any more. Well, finally the FAA database shows a change. Not only is the airplane sold, but it is being exported from the United States--to the REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA.
Wondering if the airplane has been re-registered yet in Georgia, I found the Civil Aircraft Register of Georgia. In some countries the aircraft registry is not public information, but it looks like Georgia's is. But am I reading that right? It looks like there are only 56 aircraft registered in the country of Georgia! My little Cessna is not on the list, but I can believe it might take a month or two to show up.
One little cross-check of the Georgian registry: the wikipedia page for the state airline, Georgian Airways, shows that they have a fleet of only 7 aircraft: two 737's, four regional jets, and a corporate jet. The aircraft registry mostly agrees: it shows 12 aircraft operated by Georgian airways, including three 737's, six regional jets, an Antonov AN-2 (a BIPLANE!), and a 6-seat Cessna 206. I'd say Don Weber's personal fleet rivals that of Georgian Airways!
If N67402 does — under its new Georgian registration — indeed show up on this continent... I will have to find it and fly it again.