Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Victoria) Embraer EMB-145LR Regional Jet VH-JGR (ex JetGo) Passes Through Longreach Airport - Plus More

On Tuesday 24 May, a really nice visitor to (finally) return to Central Queensland, with Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Victoria) Embraer EMB-145LR regional jet VH-JGR noted passing through Longreach Airport on what appears to be a closed tourist charter flight.

File photo

The bright-red Embraer arrived from Ayres Rock and later departed to Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 26 May, VH-JGR flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 28 May, VH-JGR departed Hamilton Island Airport for Broken Hill and Melbourne (Essendon).

Of interest, VH-JGR was previously operated in Australia by JetGo Australia also as VH-JGR.  It was originally delivered to JetGo in early November 2017 and entered service with the fledgling airline soon after.  When JetGo was placed in voluntary administration and ceased operations in June 2018, VH-JGR spent time parked up at Townsville and then Cairns until mid-November 2020 when it was ferried to Melbourne (Essendon) for operations with Australian Corporate Jet Centres.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 24 May, Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY was noted flying across from Biloela / Thangool Airport to Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to actually arrive into Bilo the previous day, flying from Archerfield via Miles Airport.  VH-TEY looks to be staying for the night at Rocky.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 25 May, VH-TEY departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Archerfield.

Finally, also on Tuesday 24 May, Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group (ex FIFO Jet P/L) Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ was noted departing Rockhampton Airport for the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It then returned to Rocky before departing to Archerfield.  VH-FAQ had arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield, Brisbane and Chinchilla Airports late the previous day.

Property Maintenance Australia P/L Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-WJA also departed Rockhampton Airport but for Emerald Airport.  It then returned to Rocky before flying down to Brisbane and then Dubbo.  VH-WJA had arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Dubbo and Archerfield late the previous day.

While Wagga Air Centre (Mabena) SOCATA TBM-850 VH-PVM flew down from Mackay Airport to Kaiuroo Station on the Mackenzie River, 220 kilometres west of Rockhampton. In the afternoon, it then departed there to Emerald Airport and then Toowoomba.

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air turboprops VH-WXB and VH-WXN were both noted in the region.

VH-WXB landed at Rolleston Aerodrome from Toowoomba-Wellcamp, Chinchilla and Roma Airports before then departing back to Chinchilla and Wellcamp.

VH-WXN visited by local Clermont Aerodrome from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.  

Photo taken by Alan Macdonald  ©

Former JetGo Australia Embraer E-135LR ex-VH-JGB Departs Australia For Good at Sydney Airport as N135PP

An interesting departure on Friday 16 August, but from Sydney Airport, was former Jetgo Australia Embraer E-135LR jet ex-VH-JGB. 

As shown, the E-135 has been placed onto the American Aircraft Register as N135PP and departed Sydney bound for Port Moresby and Guam.  It will eventually head to the United States of America (USA).

Of interest, VH-JGB and sistership and fellow E-135 VH-JZG have sat on the Corporate Aircraft Parking Apron at Sydney Airport since JetGo entered Administration back in June 2018.

VH-JGB was the second E-135 jet aircraft to be delivered to Jetgo back in October 2012.

VH-JGB taxis out at Gladstone Airport in 2017  (File photo)

Sincere thanks to Sydney-based specialist aviation photographer Grahame Hutchison for allowing us to share his great photo and information about the departure of the former VH-JGB.

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

Photos taken by Grahame Hutchison and 'Mick'  ©

Former JetGo Australia Embraer ERJ-145LR N14923 Departs Australia For Good

Interesting to note that on Thursday 13 September, former Jetgo Australia Airlines Embraer ERJ-145LR regional jet N14923 departed Australia seemingly on delivery to a new operator - possibly in Africa.

It flew from Brisbane to Townville and then Darwin (where it is pictured) before it continued overseas to Balikapan (Indonesia).

The Embraer was originally delivered to JetGo in Brisbane in April this year and was due to be registered VH-JGK.  It never wore this registration marking and instead sat idle on the General Aviation (GA) Apron at Brisbane Airport.

N14923 at Brisbane Airport  (File photo)

In June this year, JetGo Australia Airlines was placed in voluntary administration and suspended all regular public transport (RPT) flights.  Closed Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights continued for a short time although these also ceased.  The move to appoint voluntary administrators came after Dubbo Regional Council took legal action in the NSW Supreme Court to recoup what it said were unpaid debts totalling some $270,000.

Photos taken by Sid Mitchell and Lloyd Fox  ©

What Could Have Been... With JetGo Australia Airlines in Voluntary Administration Virgin Australia E-190 VH-ZPT (in JetGo Colours) Passes Back Through Australia Heading for Storage

In June, JetGo Australia Airlines was placed in voluntary administration and suspended all regular public transport (RPT) flights.  Closed Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights continued for a short time although these have since also ceased.

The move to appoint voluntary administrators comes after Dubbo Regional Council took legal action in the NSW Supreme Court to recoup what it said were unpaid debts totalling some $270,000.

JetGo began life in 2012 primarily as a FIFO and general charter flight operator.  In 2014, it applied for and was granted from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) a high capacity jet Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) air operator’s certificate (AOC), allowing it to commence scheduled airline services.

We even had the pleasure of flying on the inaugural Townsville to Rockhampton and the Gold Coast and return RPT flight in 2015 - read the Trip Report HERE!

Its RPT network consisted of nine destinations in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland - including Rockhampton in Central Queensland - which were all served with an all-Embraer fleet of 37-seat ERJ-135LR and 44-seat ERJ-140LR regional jets.

The JetGo route map from its website  (https://jetgo.com/)

A pair of 50-seat ERJ-145LR aircraft were utilised in FIFO charter flights - although only one actually entered service with the airline.  At one point JetGo operating FIFO charter flights to Middlemount Aerodrome and Emerald Airport.

JetGo was also planning to launch international flights later in 2018 with larger Embraer E-190s as part of a Brisbane-Karratha-Singapore routing.  The ex-Virgin Australia aircraft - VH-ZPT and VH-ZPH - were due to be prepared for service in the Philippines before returning to Australia.

It was sad to see their first planned Embraer E-190 aircraft VH-ZPT pass through Australia recently while it completed a ferry flight from Clark International Airport in the Philippines to Nashville in the USA.

The ex-Virgin Australia aircraft was noted using the Virgin Australia flight number and callisign VOZ9948 / “Velocity 9948” and was spotted at Darwin in the Northern Territory after arriving form Clark on Monday 16 July.  It then continued to Cairns where it took off for Nadi, Fiji on Wednesday 18 July, but returned with a mechanical issue.  It eventually made it to Nadi on Thursday 19 July and has since continued to Nashville, arriving on Wednesday 25 July.

Meanwhile, the fates of their other five operational aircraft are believed to be as follows:

ERJ-135LRs VH-JGB and VH-JZG:  VH-JGB flew into Sydney from Brisbane on Friday 22 June, while VH-JZG flew into Sydney also from Brisbane back on Sunday 25 March.

Of interest, I believe VH-JGB operated the final flight into Rockhampton Airport on Thursday 31 May when it operated as JG75 from the Gold Coast to Rocky and then Townsville.

ERJ-140LRs VH-ZJE and VH-ZJG:  VH-ZJE appears to have completed the JG70 flight from Rockhampton Airport to Townsville on Monday 26 March, while VH-ZJG completed the JG39 flight from Wagga Wagga (New South Wales) to Brisbane on Wednesday 18 April.

Finally, ERJ-145LR VH-JGR completed the JG21/22 FIFO charter flight from Townsville to Osborne Mine and back on Tuesday 5 June before eventually ferrying to Cairns on Friday 13 July.

Fellow ERJ-145LR, VH-JGK, was never registered and remained parked at Brisbane Airport wearing its American registration marking of N14923.

A sad end...

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman, Sid Mitchell, Lloyd Fox and Aaron Coghill  ©

Hevilift Australia (Fixed Wing Division) ATR 42-320 VH-YWH Completes FIFO Charter Flights to Middlemount Airport

Late on Tuesday 29 May, it appears that the Hevilift Australia (Fixed Wing Division) ATR 42-320 VH-YWH completed possibly its first Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight into CQ with it noted visiting Middlemount Airport.  VH-YWH was noted using the flight number and radio callsign of ‘HT405/406’ / “Hevilift 405/406".

File photo

Then on Wednesday 30 May, VH-YWH again operated in and out of Middlemount Airport but time time as ‘HT407/408’ / “Hevilift 407/408".

It appears that Hevilift has taken over the FIFO charter flights that were previously operated by JetGo Australia Airlines which has operated their Embraer regional jet aircraft into the mining town since July last year.

Photo taken by Col B  ©

JetGo Embraer E-145 VH-JGR at Rockhampton Airport This Week as Second E-145 N14923 (to be VH-JGK) is due

Over the course of this week, JetGo Australia Embraer ERJ-145LR regional jet VH-JGR has been noted calling into Rockhampton Airport each day while operating scheduled services between Townsville and the Gold Coast via Rocky.

File photo

VH-JGR also operated a closed charter flight into Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 7 April, arriving from and later departing back to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, on Friday 13 April, JetGo will reportedly take delivery of their second Embraer ERJ-145LR regional jet into Brisbane from overseas.  As these photos show, it is currently at Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport) in the Philippines and is currently registered N14923 (cn 145318).

https://www.facebook.com/JetgoAustralia/

https://www.facebook.com/JetgoAustralia/

https://www.facebook.com/JetgoAustralia/

https://www.facebook.com/JetgoAustralia/

The aircraft will reportedly then take up the Australian registration marking of VH-JGK.

Finally, last week, Jetgo also released a timetable (shown below) and starting taking bookings on their new direct flights between Brisbane and Karratha which will kick off from Monday 25 June (subject to final regulatory approval).  The twice weekly service will utilise a two-class 98-seat Embraer E-190 jet.

Brisbane to Karratha flights will initially operate on Mondays and Thursdays changing to Mondays and Wednesdays from September.  The return Karratha to Brisbane flights will initially operate on Tuesdays and Fridays changing to Wednesdays and Fridays from September.

The new services are being established with support from the City of Karratha.

From late September Jetgo is planning to add flights between Karratha and Singapore, however considerably more work is needed before these flights can commence.

Photo taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

JetGo Australia Embraer ERJ-145LR Regional Jet VH-JGR Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

Late on Sunday 25 February, JetGo Australia Embraer ERJ-145LR regional jet VH-JGR was noted calling into Rockhampton Airport from the Gold Coast on the scheduled JG73 service.  It appears that the larger 50-seat ERJ-145LR was a late substitute aircraft for the usual 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140LR which normally operates these flights.  VH-JGR then departed to Townsville.

Then on Monday 26 February, VH-JGR returned to Rockhampton Airport, arriving from Townville on the scheduled JG70 service.  Local plane spotter Kayanne H was on hand and was able to capture some of the first photos we've featured of VH-JGR in Central Queensland.

VH-JGR then continued to the Gold Coast.

Of interest, ERJ-140LR VH-ZJG operated the return JG73 service from the Gold Coast to Rocky and Townsville.

VH-JGR continues to operated one-to-two times each week from Brisbane to either Emerald or Middlemount Airports and back on a closed Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight on behalf of Middlemount Coal.  Some flights have been noted landing at Emerald Airport due to reported runway works at Middlemount Aerodrome.

Finally, it is believed that JetGo will soon take delivery of their next Embraer ERJ-145LR regional jet which will be registered VH-JGK (ex N14923) (cn 145318).

Sincere thanks to Kayanne for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Final Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPH Departs Australia - For Good?

On Wednesday 21 February, Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPH was noted departing Brisbane Airport for Apia (Tonga) as VOZ9901.  It is reported that it will continue to Honolulu (Hawaii), Van Nuys (California) and Nashville (Tennessee) in the coming days for post-lease maintenance.

It has also been reported (including by us!) that VH-ZPH may eventually ferry back from Nashville to the Philippines where it could possibly be prepared to return to Australia later this year and operate for JetGo Australia Airlines.  Former Virgin Australia E-190 VH-ZPT departed Australia for Darwin and Clark International Airport at Manilla in late January in preparation for some future delivery back to Australia for JetGo where it will launch the airlines planned International services between Brisbane and Karratha in Western Australia and onward to Singapore.

Meanwhile, VH-ZPH is the final Virgin Australia E-190 jet to be withdrawn from the fleet and be transferred to other operators or storage.  It follows VH-ZPD, VH-ZPF, VH-ZPE, VH-ZPG, VH-ZPJ, VH-ZPL, VH-ZPB, VH-ZPA, VH-ZPM, VH-ZPI ,VH-ZPC, VH-ZPQ, VH-ZPK, VH-ZPR, VH-ZPN, VH-ZPO and VH-ZPT which have all departed Australia since February 2016.

As reported several times, Virgin Australia announced its decision to phase out the E-190 from service in June 2016 as part of plans to rationalise the airline group’s fleet to help cut costs. Other changes include the withdrawal for some of its ATR 72 turboprop fleet and the transition of low-cost carrier subsidiary Tigerair from an all-Airbus A320 operator to the Boeing B737.

VH-ZPH was the eighth of eleven new aircraft ordered by Virgin Blue in November 2006. It entered the Australian register in July 2008 and was delivered to the airline in August 2008.  VH-ZPH was noted wearing the name 'Hastings Highness' and was configured to seat 6 Business Class and 92 Economy Class passengers.

VH-ZPH operated its first revenue flight for Virgin Blue on Monday 25 August 2008 when it operated as DJ1231 from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport.

With Virgin Blue being renamed and re-branded as Virgin Australia Airlines in May 2011, VH-ZPH returned from maintenance and re-painting in Alverca do Ribatejo, Portugal in April 2014.  It looked to take up the name 'Honeymoon Cove'.

As we posted on our Facebook page, VH-ZPH operated its final revenue service for Virgin Australia on Saturday 3 February when it operated as VOZ1102/1105 from Brisbane to Newcastle (Williamtown) Airport.  A 'hangar party' was then held during the afternoon following VH-ZPH's final touch down back at Brisbane.

Of interest, it appears that VH-ZPH's final flight into Central Queensland was on Sunday 28 January when it operated into Mackay Airport and back from Brisbane as VOZ607/610.

VH-ZPH departs Mackay Airport some time ago  (File photo)

Sincere thanks to Brisbane-based plane spotters Dylan H and Dom for allowing us to share their great photos from the historic final touch down by Virgin's final Embraer E-190 jet.

Photos taken by Dylan Hardie, Dom and 'AC'  ©