New Brenzil Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet VH-CRW Pops into Hamilton Island Airport

Brenzil's new Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW has made its first visit to Central Queensland, touching down at Hamilton Island Airport on Wednesday 5 March.

ichobean / http://flightaware.com/

The smart looking aircraft was only delivered to Brenzil in Brisbane half-way through last month, and will probably replace their Dassault Falcon 2000EX VH-KRW (ex VH-CRW).

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFE at Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday for QantasLink

A nice surprise for Rockhampton plane spotters on Wednesday 5 March with Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFE touching down mid-morning as UTY2638.

VH-JFE at Gladstone Airport in 2013  (File photo by Jamie C  ©)

It would appear that VH-JFE was operating to Rocky on behalf of QantasLink.  It departed back to Brisbane as UTY2639.

This was also the first visit of an Alliance aircraft to Rockhampton for this year!

Meanwhile, we've noticed that Alliance are operating weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights to Emerald Airport every Wednesday.  So far, Fokker F-70 VH-QQX and F-100 VH-XWT have operated the services departing Brisbane to Emerald and back as over the last three weeks as UTY1070/1071.  This flight seems to have taken over from the Vincent Aviation BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO which was operating this charter flight to Emerald and Middlemount for several months.

Alliance also flys to Emerald around every nine days on another FIFO charter run using Fokker F-50s and F-70s on the UTY650/651 from and back to Brisbane.

Helicopter Action at Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday - Army Blackhawk A25-111 and Rescue Choppers VH-XCY & VH-EPR

In the space of 10 minutes, local plane spotter 'IAD' captured some superb images of three great helicopter visitors at Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 5 March.

Possibly the nicest of these was a visiting Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk helicopter, which popped up from the Rockhampton Airport apron and departed to the North.  The Blackhawk - serial A25-111 - was heard to be using the radio callsign "Redback 111".

The other chopper turned out to be a pair of Central Queensland-based rescue helicopters, including the resident Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) Bell 412EP VH-EPR which was spotted departing Rocky for Blackwater Hospital as "Rescue 300".

The other rescue chopper that was visiting Rocky was Gladstone-based CareFlight Queensland Bell 412EP VH-XCY, which had earlier arrived (presumably) on a medi-evac task from Curtis Island.  It departed back to Gladstone and was heard to be using the radio callsign "Rescue 544".

A stroke of luck for 'IAD' on Wednesday, and we sincerely thank him for taking the time to send through these great photos!

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) Agusta AW139 Helicopters VH-ESH & VH-EZJ Ferry Through Central Queensland Airports Again!

Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-ESH was photographed passing through Rockhampton Airport on Monday 3 March by local plane spotter 'IAD'.

It arrived from Archerfield, and after taking on fuel, departed further North to Cairns.

And then on Wednesday 5 March, fellow EMQ AW139 VH-EZJ ferried South from Cairns to Archerfield, however via Mackay and Gladstone Airports.

VH-EZJ at Rockhampton Airport last month

It was just over a month ago that both choppers were spotted flying in opposite directions with VH-ESH flying South for maintenance in Brisbane, while VH-EZJ flew North to replace it!

Thanks to 'IAD' for capturing these great images!

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ Back at Central Queensland Airports!

Making yet another visit to Central Queensland this week was Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ.

VH-CCJ at Gladstone Airport on a previous visit  (File photo by Jamie C  ©)

VH-CCJ firstly arrived at Gladstone Airport from Brisbane early on Monday 3 March, before it later departed to Mackay.  VH-CCJ returned to Gladstone later on Monday and stayed overnight.  VH-CCJ then departed Gladstone to Bundaberg and Brisbane on Tuesday 4 March.

Surveillance Australia / Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Dash-8-202 VH-ZZB at Rockhampton Airport

Making another visit to Rockhampton Airport on Monday 3 March was Surveillance Australia / Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Cobham Aviation) Dash-8-202 VH-ZZB.

It was captured departing Rocky by local plane spotter 'IAD' flying as "Customs 22".  Of note too is that VH-ZZB has been 're-branded' and now wears the "Australian Customs and Border Protection" titles.

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

A Few Interesting Light Aircraft Have Also Popped Into Gladstone Airport - GAF Nomad VH-ATO and Snoopy Flies Again!

There has also be a few interesting light aircraft to pop into Gladstone in recent days, starting with Cessna 310 VH-NFE - operated by the Aero Dynamic Flight Academy on the Sunshine Coast - which visited for the day last Wednesday 26 February.

As posted below, Cessna 150 VH-ZPY was spotted arriving into Gladstone Airport earlier last week complete with children's cartoon character Snoopy adorning the tail, along with the titles "Curse you Red Baron!"

On Friday 28 February, Snoopy took the air again, departing Gladstone for parts unknown.

Later on Friday 28 February, a real highlight for local plane spotter Jamie and Tash was the arrival of Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) N-22C Nomad VH-ATO.

VH-ATO is one of the last airworthy Nomads left in the world, and it currently flown predominately around Australia on aerial survey flights by Bayswater Road Aerial Surveys / Australian Aerial Mapping.  Early on Saturday 1 March, VH-ATO departed Gladstone for the North, with information suggesting that it later arrived at Mackay. 

On Sunday 2 March, a familiar visitor was spotted at Gladstone Airport in the form of local Mooney M20F VH-WBH.   

VH-WBH was joined by a nice little amateur-built Cavalier SA 102.5 registered VH-SLZ, which is seemingly based on the Sunshine Coast.

Also spotted on Sunday 2 March was this bright little 1980-build Cessna 180 VH-IHG.  It is registered to a farming property in Rolleston. 

And finally, Mackay-based Cirrus SR22 VH-TTV was captured departing back to Mackay.  It had arrived from there on Friday.

As usual, some great photos, and a great coverage by Jamie and Tash of some of the more unusual visitors into Gladstone Airport.  Thanks guys!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash  ©