Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-300s VH-QQL and VH-QQM Start Flying to Labona Airstrip at Carmichael Coal Mine - VH-QQL Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 29 May, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-300 VH-QQL was spotted at Rockhampton Airport.  It earlier flew down from Cairns and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport as SKP85/780 and then completed a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) run to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site and back to Rockhampton Airport as SKP771/2.

As mentioned previously, VH-QQL was delivered to Skytrans Airlines at Cairns in November 2022, wearing the Canadian registration marking of C-FNCU.  It first flew in British Airways livery as G-NVSB flown by various operators before going to Voyageur Airways on the behalf of the United Nations.  It looked to actually make its first visit to Labona in early February and was spotted (below) operating the SKP85/86 flight between Cairns and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport on Friday 10 February - possibly its first visit into CQ.

File photo

While making what we believe was its first visit into CQ since it was delivered just last month in April 2023, back on Thursday 11 May, was Skytrans Airlines other recently delivered Dash-8-300 VH-QQM.  It looked to also complete the Cairns to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and back run as SKP85/86.  VH-QQM also completed the SKP85/86 run on Thursday 18 May and has also this week been noted completing flights Labona from Townsville Airport and back for the first time.

Of interest, VH-QQM was delivered to Cairns wearing the Canadian registration marking of C-FTAK of Voyager Airways.  The Dash-8-300 has been operated by and for various regional airlines of Air Canada since 1990.  Hopefully we will see VH-QQM at Rockhampton Airport soon!

Meanwhile, also on Monday 29 May, the visiting FlyPelican (Pelican Airlines) British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3206 (Jetstream 32) turboprop aircraft VH-OTQ 'PE990' departed Mackay Airport for Townsville as it continued its closed tourist charter flight.

Colville Aviation Services (Torres Strait Air) Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander VH-BNC looked to fly up from Watts Bridge to eventually call into Biloela / Thangool Airport and then Charters Towers Aerodrome after a period of undergoing planned maintenance.  

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 30 May, VH-BNC continued from Charters Towers Aerodrome to Mareeba.

Edwards Coaches Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-OXY landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from its Armidale base before then continuing up to Cairns.  VH-OXY then flew back to Armidale.

Seair Pacific (Istlecote) Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TLH flew up from Maryborough Airport to Middlemount Aerodrome.  It then flew down to Rockhampton Airport and then Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

And 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.

Finally, also on Monday 29 May, Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM landed at Longreach Airport from Moree before it then departed to Vanrook Station. 

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY departed Mackay Airport to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour before then flying down to Broken Hill, Waikerie, Melbourne (Essendon) and then Melbourne (Moorabbin).

While McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY visited Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville before then departing to Brisbane.  Fellow LifeFlight Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" visited Roma Airport from Brisbane.

Photos taken by John Lee and 'AC'  ©