Australian Border Force / Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP Helicopter VH-RHJ Calls into CQ Airports Heading South - Plus More!

On Monday 6 February, a nice, rare visitor to the region in the form of Australian Border Force / Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP helicopter VH-RHJ was noted passing through a couple of Central Queensland Airports while it headed South presumably for planned maintenance.

File photo

VH-RHJ is usually based at Horn Island and operates around the Torres Strait Islands as "Borderforce 412".  It looked to fly South from there and passed through Mackay and Rockhampton Airports before continuing to the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 7 February, VH-RHJ continued from the Sunny Coast to Coffs Harbour.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 6 February, Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ visited the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield and the Sunshine Coast.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-SUW (ex P2-ZMY) arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Labona and then back to Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 7 February, VH-SUW departed Rockhampton Airport for Hamilton Island Airport and then Cairns.

Easternwell Beech B200C VH-HPP also arrived into Rockhampton Airport but from Toowoomba.  It too departed to Labona before returning to Rockhampton Airport and then back to Toowoomba.

Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQB arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport as SKP85/780.  It didn't operate a flight to Labona. 

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 7 February, VH-QQB operated two flights to Labona and back to Rockhampton Airport before positioning to Brisbane as SKP511.  Fellow Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQI flew into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane as SKP510 and operated a flight to Labona and back to Rockhampton Airport.  It remains at Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday night.

While Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQW visited the Wanella Station Airstrip near Coppabella, flying up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) and Maryborough Airports.  It then flew back down to Hervey Bay Airport. 

The Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ visited Maryborough Airport from Brisbane.

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) SAAB 340B turboprops VH-VEC and VH-VED both operated into Bundaberg Airport during the day, arriving from and later departing back to Brisbane.  This is a welcome expansion of services into the Rum City by Link Airways since they started scheduled services in November last year.

Link Airways Metro 23 turboprop VH-VET flew their Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) service into Biloela /Thangool Airport from and back to Brisbane.

Link Airways SAAB 340B VH-VEM flew into Charleville Airport from Brisbane.  It is due to return to Brisbane on Tuesday 7 February.

And Link Airways Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ arrived into the Oaky Creek Mine Site from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 7 February, VH-VEJ flew down from Oaky Creek to Emerald Airport before returning to Oaky Creek and then heading back to Brisbane.

Finally, also on Monday 6 February, sleek ElaineBrown LLC (of Anchorage, Alaska) Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP (G550) bizjet N126EB was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport for Darwin and Singapore (Seletar).  It had arrived on Friday 3 February.

And Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Essendon) and Melbourne (Moorabbin) to Wagga Wagga, before continuing up to Miles and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airports.  It then returned back down to Wagga Wagga and Essendon.

Photo taken by Ryan Hothersall  ©