Fog in Gladstone Causes Flight Diversions and Alliance Fokker F-70 VH-JFE to Call in for Virgin!

There was fog in parts of Central Queensland early on Wednesday 8 October, and reports suggest that some early morning RPT services into Gladstone and Rockhampton Airports were unable to land and returned to Brisbane Airport.  In particular, the early morning Virgin Australia service from Brisbane to Gladstone - VOZ1707/1710 - which is usually operated by a Virgin Australia Regional Airlines ATR 72 - returned to Brisbane without landing.  As a result, later that morning, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jet VH-JFE was captured touching down at Gladstone as a delayed VOZ1707 service from Brisbane.

After a short while, VH-JFE was noted returning to Brisbane as VOZ1710.

While he was at Gladstone Airport on Wednesday 8 October, local plane spotter Anthony S also captured a pair of CQ-based rescue helicopters that were in town assisting emergency services after a fatal light aircraft crash in nearby Calliope.  Gladstone-based Careflight Bell 412EP VH-XCY and Rockhampton-based Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) Bell 412EP VH-EPR were both spotted, with VH-EPR departed back to Rockhampton.

A surprise visitor on Wednesday 8 October was New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Cessna U206G VH-NPW ("Park Air 5").  It's movements are not known, but it certainly was a welcome visitor to Central Queensland again!

A very common visitor Central Queensland Airports was again spotted at Gladstone Airport on Wednesday in the form of J.M. Kelly (Project Builders) Cessna 310 VH-FFA.  It arrived from and departed back to its Rockhampton base.

Finally, Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation SAAB 340B VH-VEF - which has only recently entered service - was also noted parked on the lower Gladstone Airport apron on Wednesday as well.

Sincere thanks to Anthony S for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Anthony Schulz  ©