cptlflyer

Today's DL is nothing like 2004 DL. It's the best of what CO was back in those days.

RNE

The Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel is Millions of Dollars in Debt —cleveland.com

DELee

Doesn't sound terribly positive.

David

lincolnjkc

I wish I could find the primary source documents that the article is based on but looking at the Simmons Bank filing and a few other common pleas cases naming the ownership as a defendant over the past 4-5 years it certainly doesn't paint a rosy picture. One of the exhibits in a lawsuit from Johnson Controls over a fire alarm fix implies that the "A wing" -- I'm guessing the 2-3 story block closest to 237 -- is slated for demolition 'soon' (I'm also guessing that that's the original 1950s portion of the hotel)

On the other hand, given the hotel lease runs until 2048 and the airport's master plan has no place for an on-airport hotel (was stated during one of the public meetings that there was no need since we weren't a hub, etc.) I partially wonder if the airport is using this as an excuse to remove a potential obstacle to redevelopment in addition to solving a business problem. But the airport isn't exactly known for making decisions that improve the passenger experience (see "ground transportation center" that's as inconvenient as possible, demolition of long-term garage and perennial parking shortages, etc.)

paule123

Saw this gem in the CLE "Smart" garage a couple weeks ago.

DELee

Doesn't look terribly positive.

David

BasedinCLE

Saw this QR A340 parked at the A gates around 3:45 on April 18.

paule123

I saw it this morning parked over near parking shuttle dropoff. I was wondering if it was a diversion? private charter to the Clinic? New nonstop service to DOH?

lincolnjkc

There was a Middle East (couldn't figure out exactly whos flag was on the tail) VIP 747 parked by the FBO for a week or two in March -- wondering if that portion of the Clinic's clientele is catching up on care after two years of restrictions. Can't say I remember seeing Qatar in Cleveland though.

FlightAware doesn't show any Qatar (QTR) flights into Cleveland in the past 1000 arrivals going back to last Sunday -- nor am I seeing any QTR departures (or any 4-engined airbii either direction for that matter) so I feel like I'm either missing it and it's right in front of me or it flew in under the radar.

@BasedinCLE did you happen to notice the registration? (The wings in the pick are perfectly positioned to not see it)

paule123

I got a pic of it this morning - the number under the wing is A7-AAH

BasedinCLE

A7-AAH

CPD officer was stationed outside gate A3 where the aircraft was parked, so I’m going to assume it’s a Middle Eastern VIP visiting the Clinic.

lincolnjkc

Bizarre, A7-AAH is a Qatari A340-313 that has no recent flight history anywhere I've looked and according to at least one resource, has been supposedly parked (location unknown, but in the US that's typically somewhere Southwest, and I'm sure there are plenty of places closer to home) since February.

Flightradar24 pretends the aircraft doesn't exist, planefinder.net reports no flights, and Flightaware.com reports "This aircraft (A7AAH) is not available for tracking per request from the owner/operator"

Definitely implies a private/VIP operation

paule123

Looks like it was direct DOH-CLE
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=06a05a

https://www.planespotters.net/hex/06A05A

https://www.planespotters.net/airfra...-flight/epwq6r

guy44134

This is a Qatar Amiri Flight Airbus A340-313X (cn 528). It is quite rare for Qatar to fly to CLE. However, there was another Qatar aircraft here back in February:


Before then, the most recent pics I could find were back in May 2009, when an A330 and A340 visited CLE in a week. I would assume these are/were Cleveland Clinic related.

TWA884

It has a VIP configuration and has just departed CLE climbing through 21650 ft in a northwestern direction.