Flight 126 B737-200 (AEP-BRC)

8 February 2004

Aerolineas Argentinas flight AR1692
Boeing 737-236
LV-ZIE
seat 16F

Duration: 01:48

SABE 081600Z 07007KT 9999 FEW022 26/16 Q1020=
SABE 081700Z 09008KT 9999 FEW022 27/16 Q1019=
SAZS 081800Z 29022G30KT 9999 SCT030 23/09 Q1013=
SAZS 081900Z 29025G32KT 9999 FEW030 22/03 Q1013=

We checked for our flight to Bariloche at the ground level of the Jorge Newbery Airport, locally known as Aeroparque. Ground level was still a bit old-style dark brown and little bit crowded. The departure level upstairs was quite a different experience: a new spacy bright terminal level with lots of glass. After passing customs we had a nice view over the apron. A better name for Aeroparque would probably be “Boeing 737-200 Airport”. The apron was almost exclusively parked with B737-200’s: many from Aerolineas Argentinas, Southern Winds, and American Falcon. The only exceptions were probably the odd Aerolineas Argentinas MD-80, an American Falcon F-28 and an AeroVIP Jetstream. Our B737-200 LV-ZIE arrived at gate 6 at 12:24. After a quick turnaround we boarded the flight at 13:09. It was a warm afternoon, so the air conditioning was running on full power with moisture on the ceiling as we made our way to seat row 16. Push back was commenced at 13:34 and we started taxiing four minutes later. Since there was work in progress on the taxiway parallel to the single runway 13/31, we had to hold short of the runway at taxiway 4 because of a departing Aerolineas Argentines Boeing 737 in front of us. A few minutes later we were cleared to enter the runway. We turned right onto the runway, backtracking up until the threshold were we made a 180-degree turn.Throttles were advanced at 13:44 after lifting off the runway, we made a procedural left hand turn, away from the city centre and over the Rio de la Plata river. At 13:50 we passed over a local airfield in the vicinity of Buenos Aires. About half an hour into the flight a light meal was served which included (cold!) beans, quiche, bread and cheese. During the flight I noticed that we a window shade of a Boeing 727 which used to be in Aerolineas’ fleet. Cruising altitude was FL310 and at 15:19 we started our descent into Bariloche. Descent over mountainous terrain was a little bit bumpy. At 15:30 we could see the airport as we approach on base leg. After a right hand turn we positioned ourselves for a runway 29 approach and landing. After landing we taxied to the apron were we arrived at 15:35. We deplaned three minutes later through the rear air stairs