Diversions Galore as Yet More Wet Weather Hits Central Queensland

Michael F has reported that during the afternoon of Saturday 2 March, a pair of QantasLink aircraft were unable to land at Gladstone Airport due to the return of yet more very wet weather to hit Central Queensland.  Cobham Aviation-operated Boeing 717-200 VH-NXO - flying as QJE1714 - diverted back to Brisbane, while Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOT - flying as QLK2336 - diverted to Rockhampton.

On Sunday 3 March, Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) ATR 72-500 VH-FVH operating as VOZ1259 was unable to land at Emerald and it was believed to have diverted to Rockhampton.  Then later on Sunday night, Townsville plane spotter Dave reported from Mackay that Jetstar A320 VH-VFJ diverted to Townsville after unsuccessfully trying to land at Mackay as JST890.  Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWT also diverted to Townsville while operating for QantasLink as QLK2520.

I'm sure there were other diversions from Central Queensland Airports that at this stage I'm not aware of.

Meanwhile, Michael F ventured to Gladstone Airport during a break in the weather on Sunday 3 March and captured some lovely images of some of the afternoon's action.  QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOB was caught at the moment of touch down on Gladstone’s Runway 10.

Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) ATR 72-500 VH-FVM was also spotted.

Michael also captured a dramatic image of Jabiru J-230 24-7347 touching down on Gladstone's Runway 10 as it contended with some strong crosswinds!

A lovely helicopter visitor to Gladstone Airport that was spotted by Michael on Sunday was Aerospatiale AS.365N2 Dauphin VH-NAR which is operated by McDermott Aviation.

Shortly after photographing VH-NAR, local HeliReef - Aviation Tourism Australia - Bell 206 VH-CKT was captured by Michael as it departed Gladstone Airport for Heron Island.

Meanwhile spotted by Jamie C at Gladstone Airport last week was KJM Contractors' Raytheon B200 King Air VH-KMS which popped in on Thursday 28 February from Brisbane.

He also caught a nice pair of ICP Savannah Ultralight – 19-5070 and 24-7567.

Some great photos!

Photos taken by Jamie C and Michael F  ©