Currently one of eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft in the Air Canada fleet but that number is going to increase to 12 by the end of 2019. We photographed C-GFAJ on May 20, 2018 while plane spotting at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
For full-size, high resolution versions for any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures. See below for more detailed information on C-GFAJ, the Airbus A330-300 model in general and the airline.
Image Gallery
C-GFAJ
Airbus A330-300
Air Canada
Resources
C-GFAJ Air Canada Airbus A330-300 Image Gallery
Want to use one of these photos for your website, blog or news site? They’re free to use – take a look at our Photo Usage Policy.
C-GFAJ
C-GFAJ performed its maiden flight on October 1, 1999 and was delivered to Air Canada on November 2, 1999. The Airbus A330-343 is configured for a maximum total of 265 passengers with 37 business class seats and 228 economy class seats. As mentioned, this is currently one of eight A333 models in the main Air Canada fleet with four more on order for deliveries in 2019.
Over the past few years, C-GFAJ has experienced its fair share of problems. On June 27, 2016, the Airbus A330-300 was flying domestically between Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, British Columbia. An hour and a half before the projected time of arrival at YVR, there was a loss of the green hydraulic system. The flight continued to Vancouver for a safe landing but had to be towed to the terminal. The green system empennage safely valve was found to be leaking. As a result, an o-ring was replaced.
On February 5, 2017, the A333 was flying from Brussels, Belgium to Montreal, Quebec. The takeoff had to be rejected at high speed causing damage to the right side main tires. It was a huge snafu and more information can be found here: AC833 Incident.
A month later, there were more problems for C-GFAJ. On March 18, 2017, the Airbus A330-300 was flying from Toronto, Ontario to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. On final approach, the aircraft experienced a hydraulics failure. The airliner continued for a safe landing but had to be towed off the runway. Again, there was a leak in the green hydraulic system. Once again, an o-ring replacement fixed the problem.
Airbus A330-300
The initial variant of the Airbus A330 Family, the Airbus A330-300 took its maiden flight in November, 1992. The first A333 was introduced with launch customer Air Inter in January, 1994. Air Inter was a French airline that commenced operations in 1958 and ceased ops in 1997 when it was merged into Air France.
The Airbus A330-300 is 64 metres or 209 feet in length with a wingspan of 60 metres or 198 feet. At the tail, the airliner stands 17 metres or 55 feet in height. The flight range is 11,750 kilometres.
Air Canada
Air Canada was founded as Trans Canada Air Lines in 1937. The name was officially switched on January 1, 1965. There are nearly 190 aircraft in the main fleet with over 400 when subsidiaries are included. The largest in the fleet is the Boeing 777-300ER. The airline flies to close to 210 destinations around the world (350 with subsidiaries included).
Headquartered at the Air Canada Centre on the grounds of Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Dorval, Quebec, the airline is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Other founding members include Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways and United Airlines. There are now 27 full member airlines worldwide.
Resources