Aerlink Freight ATR 72-212(F) VH-AK3 (Ex 2-PADY) Calls into Rockhampton and Mackay Airports for Training - Plus More!

On Thursday 20 June, a great first-time visitor into Central Queensland was Aerlink Freight ATR 72-212(F) VH-AK3 which flew up from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport as HT895.  After completing some training, it continued to Mackay Airport again as HT895 where it was to stay for the night.

File photo

UPDATE!  On Friday 21 June, after more training, VH-AK3 departed Mackay Airport and returned to Brisbane.

VH-AK3 was delivered in an all-white livery as 2-PADY and was painted at the start of April.  Its visit to the region was to provide training to ground crews for when the Aerlink ATR freighter will take over Qantas Freight services in the next week replacing the Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe 146 quad-jet services.

UPDATE!  Late on Thursday 27 June, Aerlink ATR 72-212(F) VH-AK3 operated its first freight flight for Qantas Freight, departing Mackay Airport for Rockhampton Airport and then Brisbane as QFA7492/3.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 20 June, Air Link (Dubbo) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SEQ visited Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and the Sunshine Coast.

While LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" landed at Emerald Airport from Brisbane.  It then departed to Mackay Airport and then to Townsville.

Comet-registered Cessna 208B Grand Caravan VH-RTC departed Hedlow Airfield to Red Rock Station, Longreach Airport and further West. 

Beech 95-B55 Baron VH-MYM flew from Gayndah Aerodrome to Taroom and then Emerald Airport. 

Air Link (Dubbo) Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS, which had flown up to Cairns from Brisbane this morning, arrived into Rockhampton Airport from there then departed back to Brisbane. 

Brisbane-based Beech 58 Baron VH-VSA visited Moura Aerodrome from Archerfield.

Tillair Services / ACTAS P/L Cessna 208B Caravan VH-POV visited Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.

Finally, also on Thursday 20 June, several light aircraft were noted visiting Charters Towers Aerodrome with some ferrying school children home at the end of the school term.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Airs VH-NSN as "Machflight 242", VH-ZSY as "Machflight 121" and VH-PUY as "Machflight 73" all arrived from Cairns and departed to Horn Island.

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Private Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-DWX arrived into Charters Towers Aerodrome from Cooktown and Cairns.

And Samaritan Aviation (Papua New Guinea) Cessna U206G Stationair P2-SAA visited Charters Towers Aerodrome from Mareeba and Cairns.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©