Gladstone Airport Spotting on Saturday

Well the rain was clearing, so we popped out to Gladstone Airport on Saturday 14 July to watch some of the morning's goings-on.

Commercial movements observed were exclusively from QantasLink, including Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOF departing to Brisbane as QLK2301. This plane was running some 3 hours late due to the poor weather moving through the coast.

Meanwhile, fellow Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOH arrived from Brisbane as QLK2336. It later departed back to Brisbane as QLK2337. Again this Dash-8 was running late.

One final arrival into Gladstone that was worth noting was Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQB. This is one of the newer Dash-8-Q400s that are operated by Qantaslink.

VH-LQB arrived from Hervey Bay after persumably diverting there while enroute to Gladstone from Brisbane due to weather. Indeed VH-LQB was noted to be operating the QLK2332 flight, and interestingly, it was noted that only 2 passengers disembarked at Gladstone. VH-LQB later returned to Brisbane as QF2335.

Some General Aviation (GA) light aircraft and helicopters noted at Gladstone Airport on Saturday 14 July included locally owned and operated Cessna 210 VH-BGH, along with fellow Cessna 210 VH-SOV which is owned by Central Skies Pty Ltd in Alice Springs, and was recently featured in a post parked outside Aerotor at Gladstone Airport.  Reports suggest that VH-SOV may have found a new home at Gladstone!

One final Cessna 210 noted was VH-EFP which is owned by Aerotor, and is shown parked outside their hangar at Gladstone Airport.

Of the helicopters that were noted, Australian Helicopters Aerospatiale AS.350BA Squirrel VH-HQO is a familiar sight at Gladstone Airport, and was preparing to depart.

While another Squirrel helicopter in the form of Aerospatiale AS.355F1 VH-ZWB was noted.  VH-ZWB seems to be operating Island transfers for Heli-Reef.

Lastly, seemingly a visiting helicopter to Gladstone was Bell 206 VH-JAQ of Stirling Consolidated at Theodore.