China-bound Pacific Aerospace (PAC) 750XL ZK-KEC Calls into Longreach Airport

On Wednesday 17 October, Pacific Aerospace (PAC) 750XL ZK-KEC was noted passing through Longreach Airport.  It arrived from the Gold Coast and later departed to Darwin.

ZK-KEC had arrived at the Gold Coast from Hamilton (New Zealand) on Tuesday 16 October.

ZK-KEC is scheduled to depart Darwin early on Thursday 18 October for Manado (Sam Ratulangi International Airport) in Indonesia.  It is reportedly ultimately bound for China.

Photo taken by Sid Mitchell  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 Pops into Bundaberg Airport on Training Flight

Noted completing some training at Bundaberg Airport on Wednesday 17 October was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002.  It was heard to be flying as "Envoy 25" and looked to fly up from Canberra via Coffs Harbour in New South Wales.

File photo

After it was believed that A36-002 completed at least two circuits, it departed Bundaberg Airport for the South, possibly for RAAF Base Amberley before later returning to Canberra.

Photo taken by Micah S  ©

Visiting Bizjets Come and Go at CQ Airports - N60XC, VH-MMC, VH-TEY - And SOCATA TBM 700 N700BK

On Wednesday 17 October, the three visiting bizjets that have arrived into various Central Queensland Airports over the last couple of days, were all noted departing and heading their separate ways.

After arriving into Emerald Airport on Monday 15 October, American registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 N60XC was noted returning to Brisbane.  As mentioned, N60XC is becoming a regular visitor to CQ with now almost monthly visits.

N60XC photographed at Emerald Airport on Monday  (File photo)

And after arriving also into Emerald Airport but on Tuesday 16 October, the familiar sight of Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-MMC was noted returning to its Sunshine Coast base.

Meanwhile, at Rockhampton Airport, after also arriving on Tuesday 16 October from Archerfield, Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 VH-TEY (ex VH-RJB) was noted flying to Biloela / Thangool Airport where it is expected to spend the night.  VH-TEY is due to return to Archerfield early on Thursday 18 October.

Finally, becoming a familiar corporate turboprop at CQ Airports in the form of Brisbane-based SOCATA TBM 700 N700BK was noted flying from Bundaberg Airport to Moura Airport also on Wednesday 17 October.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

RACQ Central Queensland (CQ) Rescue Helicopter Rescue Service Remembers Crash Victims

The RACQ-CQ Rescue Helicopter Service (CQ Rescue) has flown over 8000 missions in the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday regions since it was established in 1996. The service is credited with having saved countless lives, and improved the outcomes for many of its patients. Some of the tasks the service attends can be intense, with the crews dealing with the trauma of road accidents and search and rescues.

However, tragedy unfortunately struck the service in 2003 when on Friday 17 October, the CQ Rescue chopper, which was on a routine medical retrieval to Hamilton Island, failed to arrive at its destination.

The wreckage of the Bell 407 chopper VH-HTD (pictured below in 2002) was discovered six metres under water, about 15 kilometres north of Mackay.

The crew, all aged 31, were very experienced at their jobs, but sadly all perished in the tragedy. A memorial stone (pictured below) was unveiled at Mackay Airport, near the RACQ-CQ Rescue building and hangar on the Western side of the Airport.

The RACQ-CQ Rescue Helicopter service is a valuable service that serves a vast area of Central Queensland. Donations are welcomed all year round. Visit the CQ Rescue website (https://cqrescue.org.au/) for details.

American Registered Gulfstream Aerospace G-V Bizjet N881HS Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport

Late on Tuesday 16 October, Singapore-based American-registered Gulfstream Aerospace G-V bizjet N881HS was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to arrive from Cairns where touched down overseas a little earlier in the day.

N881HS at Brisbane in 2016  (File photo)

N881HS is reportedly operated by Cherripo Import and Export Agencies of Singapore.

At the time of writing, it appears that N881HS is staying on Hamo for at least the night.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

New Brisbane-based Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 Bizjet VH-TEY (ex VH-RJB) Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

An interesting first-time visitor spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 16 October was Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY.

The Citation looked to arrive from Archerfield where it appears to be based.

VH-TEY was registered in late August and research reveals this particular aircraft is no stranger to Central Queensland Airports.  The aircraft previously wore the registration marking of VH-RJB and was a regular visitor for its previous operator Edwards Coaches of Armidale in New South Wales.

VH-RJB departs Rockhampton Airport in June this year  (File photo)

Of further interest, the registration marking of VH-TEY is also quite familiar to CQ Airports with it worn by a Cessna 210N Centurion which made frequent visits to CQ some years back on aerial survey flights.

Cessna 210N VH-TEY in late 2014  (File photo)

The Cessna 210N was re-registered VH-RJX in late June this year.

At the time of writing, the Citation VH-TEY looked to be staying at Rockhampton Airport for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 17 October, VH-TEY departed Rocky for Biloela / Thangool Airport.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 18 October, VH-TEY departed Biloela / Thangool Airport for Archerfield.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Simon Coates  ©

Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-020 Departs Rockhampton Airport

After arriving the previous day from Townsville and then seemingly suffering a maintenance issue after departing of Oakey, causing it return to Rockhampton Airport, on Tuesday 16 October, the visiting Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-020 was photographed completing a test flight before it eventually departed back to its Townsville base.

Local photographer Russell P was at the right place and the right time to capture some photos as the MRH-90 completed what he described as a 'hover test' flight before it landed back at Rockhampton Airport.

Later on Tuesday 16 October, A40-020 was heard to depart Rockhampton Airport for Townsville as "Warhorse 249".

As we reported below, late on Monday 15 October, fellow Australian Army MRH-90 A40-021 was noted also visiting Rockhampton Airport as "Warhorse 244".  It arrived from Townsville and departed a little while later for the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.

Thanks mate!

All photos taken by Russell Prothero  ©

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Also at Emerald Airport

It's been a busy couple of days at Emerald Airport and on Tuesday 16 October, the familiar sight of Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was back after it arrived from its Sunshine Coast base.

File photo

At the time of writing, it appears that VH-MMC is staying for at least the night.

VH-MMC will be sharing the Emerald Airport parking apron with the visiting American registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet N60XC, which arrived from Brisbane on Monday 15 October - see Blog post below.

UPDATE!  As posted above, both N60XC and VH-MMC departed Emerald Airport for Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast respectively on Wednesday 17 October.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

American Registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 Bizjet N60XC Back at Emerald Airport

On Monday 15 October, American registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 N60XC was photographed back at Emerald Airport.  On this occasion, it arrived from Brisbane after looking to arrive in the capital from overseas the previous day.

N60XC is becoming a regular visitor to CQ with now almost monthly visits.  At the time of writing, it appears to be spending at the least the night on the ground at Emerald Airport.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-020 "Pegasus 9" at Rockhampton Airport

On Monday 15 October, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-020 was noted landing at Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.  It was heard using the radio callsign of "Pegasus 9".

After taking on fuel, it departed to the Oakey Army Aviation Centre but a few miles out of Rocky, it was heard to return to Rockhampton Airport with a technical problem.

At the time of writing, A40-020 remains at Rockhampton Airport.

Later on Monday 15 October, fellow Australian Army MRH-90 A40-021 was noted also arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville as "Warhorse 244" seemingly on a rescue mission to assist A40-020.

UPDATE!  A40-021 "Warhorse 244" has since departed Rockhampton Airport for Oakey.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 15 October, a pair of unidentified Australian Army Eurocopter (ARH) Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters were spotted departing Longreach Airport.

Their exact movements are not known and their dusty departure was only captured by local plane spotter Greg W as he happened to drive past Longreach Airport!

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Trevor H for taking the time to send through this information and photos!

Photos taken by Trevor Hardsman and Greg Weir  ©