We captured C-GSAT on what is expected to be its last week in the skies. The nearly 30 year old Airbus A310-300 joined Air Transat in 2001 after previously flying for Emirates and Kenya Airways. We photographed this A313 on March 22, 2020 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-GSAT, the Airbus A310-300 model in general and the airline.
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C-GSAT
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C-GSAT
C-GSAT performed its first flight on November 4, 1991. The Airbus A310-308 was first delivered to Emirates on February 26, 1992 as A6-EKH. On May 4, 2000, the A313 joined Kenya Airways as 5Y-KQM. Time in Africa didn’t last long. On August 8, 2001, the airliner was delivered to Air Transat.
This aircraft is configured for a maximum total of 250 passengers. There are 12 seats in business class and 238 economy class seats.
As of the time this article was published, this airplane remains as one of just three left in the Air Transat fleet, along with C-GPAT and C-GTSY. However, the final flights for these are to take place no later than March 31, 2020.
Incidents
On December 20, 2014, this Airbus A310-300 was flying from Veradero, Cuba to Montreal, Quebec with just nine people on board. Cruising at 35,000 feet, just south of Orlando, Florida, a clogged fuel filter indication was received for the left side engine. An emergency was declared shortly after and the aircraft diverted to Orlando for a safe landing. As a result, the fuel filter system was replaced.
On a flight from Edmonton, Alberta to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on February 20, 2016, the initial takeoff was rejected. The reason was a right side thrust reverser unlocked indication. After an hour and a half delay, the flight was able to continue to its destination.
Nearly a full year later, on February 14, 2017, this A313 was flying from Toronto, Ontario to London, England’s Gatwick Airport. Over Greenland, crusing at 36,000 feet, a burning odour was detected on the flight deck. A console flood light had separated from its bracket and had started a small fire when it rested on a nylon bag below the first officer’s seat. The fire was easily extinguished and the flight carried on to its destination.
Later that year, on October 17, 2017, the airliner was flying from Paris, France to Toronto. Cruising at 36,000, just prior to starting the descent into YYZ, the right side engine lost power. An emergency was declared and the aircraft landed without incident while the right side engine was left in idle. As a result, a broken variable stator vane feedback cable was replaced.
On December 9, 2018, a burning odour was detected on the climb out of Samana, Dominican Republic on a flight to Montreal, Quebec. The odour was found to be in an aft galley oven. Apparently, the ID card of an airport worker had been left in the oven and started on fire. The issue was resolved after the removal of the plastic card and the flight continued to YUL without further incident.
Most recently, on May 5, 2019, passengers had an unexpected stop a Goose Bay, Labrador. On a flight from Montreal to Brussels, Belgium, a medical emergency occurred on board and the flight needed to be diverted.
See more aircraft at our Air Transat Fleet Page.
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Airbus A310-300
The initial variant of the A310 was introduced with Swissair in 1983. The Airbus A310-300 first flew in July, 1985 and first entered service with launch customer Swissair in 1986. In all, 255 were built between 1983 and 1998. Air Transat is, today, one of the primary operators of the aircraft model.
The Airbus A310-300 is 47 metres or 153 feet in length with a wingspan of 44 metres or 144 feet. At the tail, the A313 stands 16 metres or 52 feet in height. The flight range is 8,300 kilometres.
Air Transat
Air Transat commenced operations in 1987 and is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The airline has a fleet of 31 aircraft flying to nearly 80 destinations. The largest in the fleet is the Airbus A330-300.
As of May, 2019, the airline was to be purchased by Air Canada. The acquisition was scapped in April, 2021.