Jet Aviation Flight Services (USA) Gulfstream Aerospace GVI (G650ER) Bizjet N650HA Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 30 December, the sleek looking Jet Aviation Flight Services (USA) Gulfstream Aerospace GVI (G650ER) bizjet N650HA was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.

It flew up from Sydney and the Ballina / Byron Bay Gateway Airport, and was heard to be using the flight number and callsign of 'JS91'.

N560HA had arrived into Sydney from overseas a couple of days earlier - as pictured above.

UPDATE!  On Monday 1 January, N650HA departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Sydney but as 'JS72'.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 30 December, Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU also flew into Hamilton Island Airport but from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and Melbourne (Essendon). It then departed back to Moorabbin.

Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.

Eagle One Aviation (Navair Flight Operations) Cessna 525B CitiationJet CJ3+ bizjet VH-X8X diverted into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport after flying up from Bankstown and being unable to land at the Sunshine Coast. It then departed Hervey Bay Airport for Melbourne (Avalon).

Finally, also on Saturday 30 December, Cirrus SR22 VH-8MK departed Hamilton Island Airport for the Gatton Airpark. It had arrived the previous day.

Emerald Air Surveys P/L (Western Australia) Diamond DA42NG Twin Star VH-PXT arrived into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour after flying all the way across from Jandakot, Kalgoorlie, Ceduna and Broken Hill.

And Cessna 182s VH-RYZ and VH-COF were noted operating the parachuting flights out of Lakeside Airpark around the Laguna Quays Resort.

Sincere thanks to Sydney-based specialist aviation photographer Grahame Hutchison for allowing us to share this great photo!

Do check out more of Grahame's fantastic images on his well-known Sydney Airport based website http://www.16right.com/

Photo taken by Grahame Hutchison  ©

A Couple of Diversions into Rockhampton Airport including Jetstar Australia Airbus A321neo VH-OFY First Ever Landing in CQ!! – Plus More!

On Saturday 30 December, some inclement weather in the South-East corner of Queensland saw a couple of nice diversions into Rockhampton Airport.

Perhaps the nicest was the first ever visit into Central Queensland by a Jetstar Airways Airbus A321-251NX (A321neo).  VH-OFY was operating as JST794 from Melbourne (Tullamarine) to the Sunshine Coast but flew up to land at Rockhampton Airport.

After taking on fuel, VH-OFY departed to the Sunshine Coast again as JST794.

Of interest, Jetstar Airways is taking delivery of as many as 18 brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft with 232 seats.  They presently operate up and down the Queensland Coast but sadly, not currently to any CQ destinations.

Meanwhile, the other diversion into Rockhampton Airport, also on Saturday 30 December, was Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YQM as VOZ1035 which also flew up from Tullamarine and was also unable to land at the Sunshine Coast.

After it also took on fuel, it too flew down to the Sunshine Coast.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that there was a third diversion from the Sunshine Coast, also on Saturday 30 December, with Eagle One Aviation (Navair Flight Operations) Cessna 525B CitiationJet CJ3+ bizjet VH-X8X diverted into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport after flying up from Bankstown.  It then departed Hervey Bay Airport for Melbourne (Avalon).

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

And Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-FMZ Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

Also on Monday 4 December, Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ visited Hamilton Island Airport from Mareeba and Cairns.

Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and Biloela / Thangool Airport.

UPDATE! On Tuesday 5 December, VH-TEY departed Rockhampton Airport for Tamworth.

Sydney-based Hawker Beechcraft G36 Bonanza VH-JKL departed Rockhampton Airport for Archerfield and then Bankstown. It looked to have arrived late last month.

Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ arrived into Mackay Airport from Archerfield, Dalby and Natal Downs.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" had a busy day in the region yet again, flying into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Brisbane before then flying up to Townsville and then back down to Mackay Airport and across to Emerald Airport before returning to Brisbane.

Solo Around Australia Female Pilot Chloe Familton Touches Down at Rockhampton Airport on Her Mammoth Journey

On Monday 4 December, the youngest woman ever to fly solo around Australia, 17-year-old Chloe Familton, touched down at Rockhampton Airport at the controls of her Cessna 172 VH-NCO.  She flew up from the Sunshine Coast.

It is expected that Chloe and VH-NCO will continue to Cairns on Tuesday 5 December - and indeed she did!

https://www.facebook.com/rokairport

Chloe's 14,100km (7600nm) journey around Australia started in Cessnock in New South Wales and will see her stop at forty aerodromes including all the way over the Albany in Western Australia and back Ceduna in South Australia and down to Cambridge (Hobart) in Tasmania.  She is also flying with a signed handkerchief that belonged to Charles Kingsford Smith, given to her by his great niece, Nina.

Her aircraft is VH-NCO, a gorgeous 1980 Cessna 172 - the last Cessna 172 type to be produced before an eleven-year hiatus in 1986.

We wish Chloe all the very best as she completes this incredible journey!

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOW 'Dasher-8' in Special Christmas Colour Scheme First Flight into CQ at Rockhampton Airport

Breaking cover on Monday 4 December and immediately calling into Central Queensland was QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOW which has had special Christmas themed stickers added.  It completed the QLK2372/3 service from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport and back.  

VH-QOW then flew to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and back to Brisbane.

The aircraft has been dubbed 'Dasher-8' and is designed to bring festive flair to passengers during the month of December.

Additionally, a Qantas Boeing B737-800 dubbed 'Roo-dolph' will also feature a special seatback Christmas message and Frequency Flyers travelling on either aircraft will receive double Qantas Points!

Photo taken by Steve Vit and Lachie Fuge  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-004 "Dragon 06" Arrives into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 4 December, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-004 was spotted as it arrived into Rockhampton Airport.

The MRTT flew up from Sydney as "Dragon 06".

At the time of writing, it appears that A39-004 "Dragon 06" is staying at Rockhampton Airport for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 5 December, after some former Rockhampton locals boarded the plane as crew. A39-004 "Dragon 06" was photographed Rockhampton Airport for RAAF Base Amberley.

Of interest, the RAAF currently has seven KC-30A MRTT aircraft are flown by 33 Squadron based at RAAF Base Amberley.  The Squadron is responsible for aerial refuelling and long-range passenger transport and is controlled by No. 86 Wing, which is part of Air Mobility Group.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 4 December, fellow Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-003 as "Envoy 74" landed at Bundaberg Airport from Canberra and Coffs Harbour.  It then departed to Mackay Airport and Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 5 December, A56-003 "Envoy 74" flew down from Cairns and landed at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and Gladstone Airports before then continuing to the Gold Coast and then eventually back to Canberra. 

Photos taken by Janet Johnson and Steve Vit  ©

Nauru Airlines Boeing B737-319 VH-XNU at Mackay Airport on Behalf of Bonza Airline - Plus More!

On Sunday 3 December, Nauru Airlines 'classic' Boeing B737-319 VH-XNU was noted arriving into Mackay Airport from the Gold Coast operating a flight for Bonza Airline as RON1609.

VH-XNU arrives into the Gold Coast prior to departing to Mackay Airport

It later returned to the Gold Coast as RON1610.

This seems to be the first time that VH-XNU has operated for Bonza, and certainly into Central Queensland.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 3 December, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" flew down from Townsville to Gladstone Airport and then to Brisbane.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" flew into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane before then departing to Cairns. Later it flew down to Mackay Airport and then back to Brisbane.

Finally, also on Sunday 3 December, Aero Professional Services SOCATA TBM700 VH-VSV departed its Denison Downs (Emerald) base for the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

UPDATE!  VH-VSV looked to return to its landing site on Thursday 7 December.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ "Navair 188" Calls into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 2 December, Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ as "Navair 188" visited Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Bankstown.

File photo

MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and then departed to Sunshine Coast. 

And Auscott P/L Beechcraft B200GT King Air VH-NMW visited Bundaberg Airport from Toowoomba and Archerfield.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-8HP Flys into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 1 December, Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-8HP flew up to Mackay Airport from Redcliffe. 

Auscott P/L Beechcraft B200GT King Air VH-NMW landed at Bundaberg Airport from Toowoomba and Moree.  It then departed back to Toowoomba. 

AERgO Asset Management Beech B200 King Air VH-XGV as "Navair 173" landed at Emerald Airport from Mount Isa and then departed to Brisbane. 

Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-MRZ as 'HND430" flew from Rockhampton Airport to Bowen Aerodrome.  It looked to return later in the day.

And the Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ flew up from Archerfield to Rockhampton Airport and then Townsville.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 1 December, Air Charter Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-VKX visited Bundaberg Airport from Brisbane. 

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Brisbane. 

And fellow LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" flew down from Townsville to Mackay Airport and then out to Mount Isa and then back to Townsville.

Finally, also on Friday 1 December, newly registered Aerostar Aviation (SA) Beech B300 Super King Air 350 VH-8HA, which had left Texas in the United States last week and arrived in Australia yesterday from Penang, landed at Roma Airport from Darwin and then departed to Warwick and Parafield in South Australia.