National Jet Express (ex Cobham) Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-IYP Calls into Moranbah Airport Ahead of New FIFO Flights Next Week - Plus More!

On Wednesday 28 June, a new airline (but not a new aircraft!) made its first ever visit to Central Queensland with the re-branded National Jet Express (formerly Cobham) Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-IYP calling into Moranbah Airport as 'JTE516' / "Jetex 516 Delta".

The visit comes as National Jet Express bursts into the Queensland resource sector market with a long-term contract to provide Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) services for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) into Moranbah Airport from and then back to Brisbane starting next week.

National Jet Express plans to initially procure two Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen turboprop aircraft for Queensland and establish a new operational base in Brisbane to support the expansion of its services.

National Jet Express is now part of the REX Group and the name was re-established in the Australian Aviation scene after the REX Group completed its acquisition of Cobham Aviation Services (Regional Services) in September 2022.

It appears that the 'loser' of the BMA contact at Moranbah Airport is Hevilift / Aerlink.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 28 June, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ flew up from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport and then Mackay Airport before continuing to Townsville and Cairns.

Rural Funds Management (A.C.T.) (formerly Capital Jet Charter) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-STE flew up from Canberra and Armidale to Maryborough Airport and then Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Friday 30 June, VH-STE departed Rockhampton Airport for Emerald Airport and then Canberra.

Gold Coast-based Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-OXF looked to fly up from Brisbane to Charters Towers Aerodrome before then heading back South towards Mitchell.

Southern Airlines Cessna 441 VH-YFD flew down from Mackay Airport to Roma Airport.  It had arrived the previous day from Emerald Airport.

And Aero Logistics Cessna 404 VH-AZU looked to fly up from Archerfield to Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 29 June, VH-AZU completed an aerial survey out of and back to Mackay Airport.

Finally, also on Wednesday 28 June, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-HLL was noted completing the Townsville to Mackay Airport and then to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It then flew back to Mackay Airport and then back to Labona and then back to Townsville all as HND2280/1/2/3/4.

It looks like fellow Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-NDC operated into Mackay Airport on Tuesday 27 June, flying down from Townsville to Labona and then Mackay Airport and then back to Townsville as HND2290/2/3.

Not really a common visitor, but Hinterland Aviation's latest Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQV appears to have operated flights into Labona each day so far this week from Cairns and/or Townsville and back.

Plus Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravans VH-ETF and VH-TFQ are currently operating their FIFO charter flights from Rockhampton Airport to Labona and back.

File photos taken by Tony Haynes  ©️