Queensland Government Raytheon Hawker 850XP Bizjet VH-SGY at Rockhampton Airport Wednesday

The Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY was noted calling into Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 28 January.

File photo taken by ‘IAD’  ©

VH-SGY was on election campaign duties, bring the Deputy Premier to Rocky from Cairns.  After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-SGY returned to Cairns where it looked to be staying for another night having originally arrived there late on Tuesday 27 January.

More Great Photos of Palmer United Global Express Bizjet M-ATAR at Bundaberg Airport Tuesday

Local plane spotter Micah S has also sent through some stunning photos he captured on Tuesday 27 January as Clive Palmer / Palmer Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet M-ATAR called into Bundaberg Airport.

The Global Express had made the short hop from Hervey Bay / Fraser Coast Airport, where it had earlier arrived from the Sunshine Coast.

After a couple of hours on the ground, M-ATAR departed North to Mackay - see the Blog Post below for some photos from the sugar city!

My sincere thanks to Micah for sending through these great photos of such a great visitor to Bundy!

All photos taken by Micah S  ©

A Few Photos of Palmer United Global Express Bizjet M-ATAR at Mackay Airport Tuesday

As mentioned below, Clive Palmer / Palmer Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet M-ATAR called into a couple of Central Queensland Airports on Tuesday 27 January, including Mackay Airport.

The beautifully presented bizjet called into the sugar city from Bundaberg and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport while transporting Palmer United Party State Leader John Bjelke-Petersen during this the final week of the Queensland State Election campaign.

As pictured below, M-ATAR departed Mackay for Townsville.

At the time of writing, it looks like M-ATAR was due to call into Roma Airport during another busy day of flying on Wednesday 28 January.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

A Few Other Lighter Movements Around Central Queensland Airports on Tuesday

Aside from the State election jet traffic mentioned below, there were a few other interesting 'light' movements that were noted at Central Queensland Airports - particularly on Tuesday 27 January.

Firstly, calling into Gladstone and Bundaberg Airports, and presumably also on election campaign duties, was the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ.

It later departed Bundy for Brisbane.

Also on the Fraser Coast at Hervey Bay Airport, on Tuesday 27 January, Brisbane-based Beech 36 Bonanza VH-FWL visited for most of the day from Archerfield, while Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-OMS visited again from its Toowoomba base.  In fact, VH-OMS has also visited Maryborough and Roma over the last couple of days.

Seair Pacific (Istlecote) operations continue through the Fraser Coast to Lady Elliot Island and also on Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) runs to Middlemount and Wanella Station near Coppabella.  Cessna 208 Caravans VH-LMZ and new acquired VH-TLZ (formerly of Broome Aviation in WA) were noted operating through Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

File photo

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK again called into various CQ Airports on Tuesday 27 January, noted flying into Maryborough, Rockhampton and Mackay Airports while on another busy day of flying.

Finally, Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH was spotted on the ground at Mackay Airport on Tuesday 27 January after arriving from its Toowoomba base.

VH-WPH departed later in the day for Rockhampton.

Looks to be a busy week - and perhaps more to come!

Photos taken by Tom Houghton and 'AC'  ©

A Pair of RAAF Aircraft Conduct Airwork at Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday

While no election traffic came to the beef capital, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft were noted conducting airwork at Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 27 January.

File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air A32-651 was first to be noted at Rocky Airport, initially conducting several missed approaches before landing while the crew had some lunch.

A32-651 then departed Rockhampton to Gladstone and later West via Blackwater before being noted conducting airwork at Barcaldine.  The Super King Air was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Dingo 45" on its flight that started at Townsville.

Also noted conducting a missed approach at Rocky on Tuesday 27 January was RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-001 (shown above) which was heard to use the callsign of "Wedgetail 03".

JetGo Australia Embraer E-135LR Jet VH-JGB Flys into Mackay Airport Tuesday

And still on the Queensland State Election hustings, Queensland Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk was noted touching down at Mackay Airport from Cairns late on Tuesday 27 January on board JetGo Australia Embraer E-135LR VH-JGB.

Sister-ship VH-JZG at Mackay over the weekend  (File photo taken by 'AC'  ©)

It was noted touching down at JG31 and looked to be staying the night in the sugar city.

Palmer United Global Express Bizjet M-ATAR Calls into Central Queensland Airports Tuesday

The Queensland State Election campaign has entered its final week, and the campaigning is certainly hotting up with Palmer United Party State Leader John Bjelke-Petersen calling into Central Queensland Airports on Tuesday 27 January.  He was noted flying in Clive Palmer / Palmer Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet M-ATAR.

M-ATAR initially flew into Hervey Bay / Fraser Coast Airport from the Sunshine Coast, before it flew on to Bundaberg Airport, where it was photographed touching down mid-morning.

The Global Express remained parked at Bundy for a couple of hours before it departed North to Mackay and later Townsville.

Sincere thanks to Tom H - who was at the right place and the right time - for sending through these great photos!

All photos taken by Tom Houghton  ©

Pro-Sky Flight Training to Withdraw RA-Aus Flight Training from Gladstone Airport

News has surfaced that RA-Aus flight training at Gladstone Airport with Pro-Sky Flight Training Group will unfortunately come to an end within weeks.

At this stage, no new students will be accepted by Pro-Sky for RA-Aus flight training at Gladstone, however current students who are progressing with their flight training will be able to continue until awarded with an Recreational Pilots Certificate.

Pro-Sky will be continuing flight training from their Maryborough Airport base, along with, on occasion, Bundaberg.  More information about Pro-Sky can be obtained by visiting the groups' website http://www.pro-sky.com.au/ .

But all is not lost for prospective pilots in the Gladstone region with Gladstone Flying Training and Air Charter continuing to offer RA-Aus and General Aviation (PPL) flying training at Gladstone Airport.

For more information about Gladstone Flying Training and Air Charter, they can be contacted at the flying school at Gladstone Airport, or by phone on 0408 984 007, or by email info@gftair.com.au .  Their website can be found at http://gftair.com.au .

File photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

And a Few More Photos of JetGo Embraer E-135 VH-JZG at Mackay Airport Saturday

We've received a few more great photos from Mackay Airport as JetGo Australia Embraer E-135LR VH-JZG touched down at Mackay Airport from Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport on Saturday 24 January.

As mentioned below, the Embraer brought Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and associated media to Mackay where he campaigned with local candidates ahead of next weekends Queensland state election.

After a couple of hours on the ground at Mackay, VH-JZG was prepared and later departed for Bundaberg Airport.

Sincere thanks to the Mackay spotters for sending through these great photos of a great visitor to the sugar city!

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©