McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 Bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 41" Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 5 July, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 41" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and later departed to Brisbane. 

File photo

Careflight (NSW) Raytheon / Beech 400XT Nextant bizjet VH-OVS as "Careflight 46", which landed at Mackay Airport late yesterday from Newcastle, flew down from there to Sydney. 

Victoria Based USA Registered Embraer 505 Phenom 300E bizjet N227SJ landed at Longreach Airport from Warrnambool then departed to Cooktown. 

Brenzil Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW visited Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

While National Jet Express Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-8QB as "Jetex 441" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane and then departed to Cairns and Horn Island as "Jetex 442" on a school holiday charter.  Later it returned to Cairns as "Jetex 444".

Jayrow Helicopters Eurocopter EC120 VH-BGB landed at Gladstone Airport from Mackay Airport.

And after arriving the previous day, Cirrus SR22 N64RU departed Longreach Airport for Darwin. 

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

A Quick Fleet Update of Flyon Helicopters at Mackay Airport – Operating Agusta A109 Helicopters

The Mackay Airport-based Flyon Helicopters has recently undergone some changes to their fleet with their Agusta A109 helicopters.  A109E VH-ZCF - which has previously operated for the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter Service - returned to Mackay Airport after being repainted at Melbourne (Essendon) over the previous couple of months.

https://www.facebook.com/FlyonHelicopters/

VH-ZCF was noted returning to Mackay Airport on Saturday 8 September from Redcliffe, Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) and Gladstone Airports.  It had left Essendon the previous day.  It looked to complete its first flight back with Flyon Helicopters on Sunday 9 September when it completed a flight from Mackay Airport to the Blossom Banks and back.

Another Agusta A109E, in the form of VH-RUA, was noted departing Mackay Airport on Saturday 29 September for Gladstone Airport and Redcliffe.  It is assumed that it has entered the maintenance hangar at Redcliffe.

While after arriving in July and being operated by Flyon Helicopters on their flights to the Blossom Banks and back to Mackay Airport, Aviation Utilities (New South Wales) Agusta A109S helicopter VH-XPB was noted heading South from Mackay Airport to the Gold Coast via Gladstone Airport and the Sunshine Coast on Saturday 6 October.  It continued to Bankstown the next day.

https://www.facebook.com/FlyonHelicopters/

One final Agusta A109E, in the form of VH-XUM, continues to operate for Flyon Helicopters out of Mackay Airport, currently being joined by VH-ZCF - as mentioned above.

We've reported previously on the launch of operations by locally-based Flyon Helicopters out of Mackay Airport predominately on Marine Pilot transfer flights for the compulsory area of Hydrographers Passage, off Mackay.  They also offer additional helicopter charter services including corporate and private charter, aerial filming and photography, mining support, including crew and employee transfers.  All Flyon activities are carried out under the AOC of Jayrow Helicopters.

https://www.facebook.com/FlyonHelicopters/

Check out Flyon Helicopters Facebook page for more information and some great photos of their helicopters in action - https://www.facebook.com/FlyonHelicopters/

RACQ LifeFlight Australia Bell 412EP VH-XCK "Rescue 566" Calls into Rockhampton Base Hospital - Plus Some Videos of the Old and New Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service Using the Hospital Heli-pad

On Tuesday 19 September, RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412EP VH-XCK was noted landing on the roof of the Rockhampton Base Hospital after flying in from near Rolleston with victims of a nasty car crash.

https://www.lifeflight.org.au/

VH-XCK is normally based at Roma Airport and uses the radio callsign of "Rescue 566"

After completing the patient transfer at the Base Hospital, VH-XCK was believed to have briefly called into Rockhampton Airport for fuel before it departed directly back to Roma Airport.

Meanwhile, local plane spotter Daniel B, who happens to work at Rockhampton Base Hospital, has shared with us a couple of nice videos featuring the new and old helipad at the Rockhampton Base Hospital, as well as the new and old RACQ-Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) helicopters.

The newer CHRS (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412EP VH-EPR is shown arriving on the helipad recently as "Rescue 300".

While the older CHRS (Jayrow Helicopters) Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-JRD is shown in 2014 arriving onto the old helipad at Rockhampton Base Hospital again as "Rescue 300".

It's a nice reminder about how vital these helicopter rescue services are to the communities which they serve.

Here in Central Queensland, both the RACQ-Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) and the Mackay-based RACQ-Central Queensland Rescue Helicopter Service (CQ Rescue) are valuable services that both serve vast areas of CQ. Donations are welcomed all year round. For more details on their Annual Appeal or on Rescue Chopper Day, please visit their websites:

Capricorn Helicopter Rescue:  https://chrs.org.au/

CQ Rescue: https://cqrescue.org.au/

While the RACQ Lifeflight website is at:  https://www.lifeflight.org.au/

Flyon Helicopters at Mackay Airport – Operating 3x A109 Helicopters Plus Bell 412 VH-KAC

I recently spent a weekend at Mackay attending meetings but was able to spend a little bit of time at Mackay Airport – and I was particularly interested in capturing some photos of Mackay Airport’s most recent arrivals in the form of locally-operated Flyon Helicopters.

Flyon Helicopters has predominately operates Marine Pilot transfer flights for the compulsory area of Hydrographers Passage, off Mackay, 24 hours per day 7 days a week.  They also offer additional helicopter charter services from their Mackay Airport base including corporate and private charter, aerial filming and photography, mining support, including crew and employee transfers.  All Flyon activities are carried out under the AOC of Jayrow Helicopters.

Flyon Helicopters currently operates three Agusta A109E Power helicopters – VH-XUM, VH-RUA and VH-ZCF – with the latter recently delivered following a period of time operating for the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter Service, specifically operating out of Bundaberg Airport as “Rescue 522”.  Bell 206 VH-DPS is also currently at Mackay Airport operating in what looks to be a 'back-up' role.

Much to my surprise, Flyon has also recently taken delivery of (former) Kestrel Aviation Bell 412 VH-KAC.  I spotted the helicopter undergoing a local test flight on Saturday 26 August around Mackay Airport.  It has since been noted competing transfer flights to Hay Point Coal Export Loading Point and to the Blossom Banks.

Check out Flyon Helicopters Facebook page for more information and some great photos of their helicopters in action - https://www.facebook.com/FlyonHelicopters/

Meanwhile, after I visited, on Sunday 27 August, Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia (formerly Australian Helicopter) Bell 412EP VH-PXY ferried into Mackay Airport from Cairns and Townsville.  After overnighting, it continued to Gladstone Airport, the Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour on Monday 28 August where it looks to have headed for planned maintenance.

VH-PXY had previously been operating out of Horn Island in Far North Queensland as “Rescue 700”.

It appears that fellow Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP VH-VAU has replaced VH-PXY operating out of Horn Island now as "Rescue 700".

VH-VAU spent a large portion of this year operating out of Mackay Airport and then Rockhampton Airport with the locally-based CQ Rescue and Capricorn Helicopter Rescue services.

RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412 VH-XCN Takes up Residence at Bundaberg Airport

Some interesting 'shuffling' of helicopters operated by RACQ LifeFlight Rescue around the Fraser Coast with Bell 412 VH-XCN taking up residence at and now operating from Bundaberg Airport as "Rescue 522".

Local plane spotter Micah S was on hand recently and captured some photos as it departed recently on another medical evacuation flight.

Meanwhile, the Agusta A109E Power VH-ZCF and both Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopters VH-BKV and VH-EHQ that had previously operated out of Bundaberg Airport with LifeFlight at various times have all gone is separate and different directions.

VH-EHQ was transferred to LifeFlight's Mount Isa base where it is now operating as "Rescue 400".  The former Mount Isa-based LifeFlight Bell 230 VH-XCW was noted flying into Archerfield via Roma Airport last Thursday 20 July.

VH-BKV flew into Tasmania in late June and commenced operations out of Hobart Airport.  It has also been re-registered to Rotor Safety (Skyplan Australia) based at Rosny Park in Tasmania.

And finally, VH-ZCF has been acquired by Flyon Helicopters at Mackay Airport and operates alongside fellow Agusta A109E helicopters VH-XUM and VH-RUA on helicopter marine pilot transfer operations and other general charter work.

https://www.facebook.com/FlyonHelicopters/

VH-ZCF was delivered to Flyon at Mackay Airport last Tuesday 18 July.

All Flyon activities are carried out under the AOC of Jayrow Helicopters.

Sincere thanks to Micah S for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of VH-XCN at Bundaberg Airport.

Photos taken by Micah S  ©

Jayrow Helicopters Sets Up at Mackay Airport with New Marine Pilot Transfer Contract

Over the last month or so I've noticed that four helicopters have flown into Mackay Airport and are now operating out of there on flights to positions out to sea off Mackay.  The four helicopters are operated by Jayrow Helicopters and reports suggest that Jayrow has recently been awarded a contract to operate marine pilot transfer flights from Mackay Airport to the Blossom Banks and White Tip Reef Base.

The first chopper to arrive was former Melbourne (Essendon) based Agusta A109E VH-XUM.  It was then joined by fellow A109E VH-RUA.

Over the last couple of weeks, a pair of Bell 206s have arrived into Mackay Airport with VH-DPS followed by VH-NEW both arriving from Emerald.

It has been interesting to note that VH-XUM, VH-RUA and VH-DPS are being used on flights out to sea from Mackay Airport with VH-NEW soon to follow.

Jayrow Helicopters was established in 1965, and is regarded as a leader in the helicopter industry.  They are the oldest helicopter company in Australia and currently has established bases in Victoria, Northern Territory and Western Australia.  They can operate all over Australia and hold many firsts pioneering many uses for helicopters in Australia.

Jayrow was the first off-shore operator, the first heli-firefighter, the first to support the mining industry, the first helicopter operator on the Antarctic, the first heli-ambulance, the list goes on.  In fact, Jayrow Helicopters is no stranger to Central Queensland having operated Sikorsky S-76A VH-JRD for the Rockhampton-based Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) during recent times.

File photo

Check out the Jayrow Helicopters website:  http://www.jayrow.com.au/Default.php