A Look at Some of the Aircraft Involved in the Search for Malaysia Airlines MH370 at Perth and Pearce Airports

As mentioned, I recently popped over to Perth for a couple of days with the intent of capturing some images of some of the many and varied aircraft - military and civilian - that have been flown there to assist in the aerial search for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 Boeing B777-200 9M-MRO.

Nicolas Hereux / Flightaware

During the search, Perth Airport has played host to a pair of Ilyushin IL-76MD aircraft of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), 13th Transport Division, 39th Air Regiment, Dangyang, China.

One of the two IL-76's flew almost daily sorties out of Perth Airport, often departing before dawn to fly to the search area, and returning in the early part of the afternoon.

I noted that the serial numbers of the two IL-76s at Perth were 21045 (which used the callsign "Rescue 802") and 20541 ("Rescue 801").

Also at Perth during my visit were a pair of United States Navy (USN) Boeing P-8A Poseidon (B737-8FV) aircraft.  The two P-8s that were present were identified as 168438/LF-438 and 168439/LF-439 of the VP-16 ‘War Eagles’ squadron.

I noted 168438 to be using the radio callsign on "Rescue 74", while 168439 using the callsign "Rescue 75", although these were often interchanged.

Both the IL-76s and P-8s were unable to operate from the nearby Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce, where the majority of the other search and rescue aircraft were operating from.  RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft were also operating out of Perth for a period of time, although these had 're-deployed' North to RAAF Base Learmonth.

Also operating out of Perth were several civilian aircraft including several locally-based bizjets including Maxem Aviation Dassault Falcon 900 VH-PPD, as well as a pair Execujet Australia Canadair CL-604 Challenger bizjets VH-VRE and VH-VSZ.

Operating aircraft out of Pearce were confined to Hercules and Orion turbo-prop aircraft, with several examples from overseas defence forces.  I managed to squeeze in two visits to the nearby town of Bullsbrook and took the opportunity to capture some images as the visiting search and rescue aircraft departed on sorties to the search area.

The first aircraft I spotted departing early in the morning was Lockheed P-3C-III+ Orion - serial 950905 - of the Republic of Korea Navy, 613 Navy Squadron, based at Pohang Air Base, South Korea.  It was using the radio callsign of "Rescue 86".

Over the course of the search and rescue mission, a Republic of Korea Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules - serial 05-183 - was also noted being based at Pearce.

Later in the morning, a pair of Royal Malaysian Air Force Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules of the 20 Squadron, based at Subang Air Base, Malaysia, were noted departing to the search zone.  The Hercs - M30-12 "Rescue 281" and M30-16 "Rescue 282" - departed in quick succession on an almost daily basis.

Later still, one more international visitor in the form of Lockheed (Kawasaki) P-3C-II½ Orion - serial 5056 - of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, 5 Kokutai, based at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, was captured departing Pearce as "Rescue 931".

5056 was one of four Japanese Orions to be based at Pearce over the period of the search along with Gulfstream Aerospace U-4 (G-V) JA500A / LAJ500 “Umi Washi” (Sea Eagle) of the 683 Japan Coast Guard, 3rd Region, based at Tokyo-Haneda Airport, Japan, which visited for a short time.  This is a maritime patrol version of the G-V, and is equipped with a Thales high performance maritime surveillance radar and FLIR system.

Finally, there has also be a good mix of Australia Defence Force (ADF) aircraft ranging from RAAF Super King Air aircraft through to Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft including A41-211 which I captured arriving into Pearce from RAAF Base Richmond in New South Wales, and later departing to RAAF Base Amberley.

Perhaps the workhorse of the search and rescue mission though have been the eight RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion aircraft of 10 & 11 Sqns from RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia, which have been flying out of Pearce on a daily basis.

Radio callsigns used include "Rescue 102", "Rescue 103", "Rescue 104" and "Rescue 105".  The RAAF Orions have been rotated through Pearce to keep flight hours balanced throughout the fleet, due to higher than normal utilisation on search operations.

It was truly a wonderful time in Perth, and up the road near Pearce, capturing some truly wonderful and unique aircraft.  We of course shouldn't forget that their mission to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft continues, and as announced this week, the aerial search is being significantly scaled back to the point that some aircraft have already returned to their home bases.  Reports suggest that RAAF Orions will remain at Pearce on standby to fly out over the Indian Ocean should the need arise.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of those onboard MH370.

A Few More 'Jumbo' Photos of Malaysia Airlines Boeing B747-400 9M-MPK at Rockhampton Airport

Rockhampton plane spotter 'IAD' has sent through a few more photos of Malaysia Airlines Boeing B747-400 9M-MPK, after it touched down at Rockhampton Airport late on Tuesday 30 October.

The jumbo had arrived direct from Singapore Airport as MH8711.  After dropping off a load of passengers, and possibly loading some too, it departed in the early hours of Wednesday 31 October as MH8752, direct to Singapore.

Incidentally, Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 9M-MKE also flew into Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 30 October, arriving from Singapore as MH8703, and later departing back to Singapore as MH8742.

Malaysia Airlines Charters to Rockhampton Airport on Monday Night

'IAD' was on the spot when two Malaysia Airlines charters touched down at Rockhampton Airport late on Monday 29 October.  Again these flight arrived from, and then later departed back to Singapore (Changi) Airport, and were in association with the Singapore Armed Forces Military Exercise Wallaby 2012.

First to touch down last night was Airbus A330-300 9M-MKE which arrived as MH8715 and later departed as MH8726.

More surprisingly was then the arrival of Malaysia Airlines Boeing B747-400 9M-MPK which arrived around 11.30pm from Singapore as MH8733.

It was the first ever visit to Rockhampton of a Malaysia Airlines jumbo, and it certainly made for an awesome sight!  9M-MPK departed in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday 30 October, for Singapore as MH8750.

Looks like a great night of action at Rockhampton - and I'm sure this will continue in the days to come!!

Some Photos from Rockhampton Airport over the Weekend as Malaysia Airlines Charters Resume Monday Night

Rockhampton plane spotters Ben O and 'IAD' have spent various times at Rockhampton Airport over the last couple of days, and have sent through some fantastic photos to share, despite the inclement weather passing through Central Queensland.

One of the highlights was the movement of the visiting Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules '730'.

As the photos below show, the Herc is making various flights out of Rockhampton Airport during the day to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in association with the Singapore Defence Force Military Exercise Wallaby 2012.

The 'resident' RSAF Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma and Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters also continue to fly various sorties to the SWBTA.

Meanwhile, the third 'wave' of charters into Rockhampton from Singapore are due to start this week.  Information suggests that there will be two Malaysia Airlines-operated aircraft arriving into Rockhampton Airport after dark on Monday 29 October.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog - and our Facebook page and Twitter feed) for more information and (hopefully) photos!

Final Malaysia Airlines Charters at Rockhampton Airport - Arrive from Kuala Lumpur - Depart to Singapore

Rockhampton spotter 'IAD' ventured to Rockhampton Airport on Monday 15 October to not only test out his new camera, but capture some images of the visiting Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 that was set to arrive that night from Kuala Lumpur.

Although when he arrived, 'IAD' found Pel-Air SAAB 340A Freighter VH-EKT parked on Gate 6!  It had earlier arrived from Mackay, operating a freight flight on behalf of Australian Air Express (AAE).  Fortunately, the SAAB soon started up and departed for Brisbane.

Eventually, Malaysia Airlines A330 9M-MKA touched down at Rockhampton as MH8713.  As mentioned, the flight touched down from Kuala Lumpur, and ferried into Rockhampton seemingly empty.

After taking a full load of passengers, 9M-MKA departed to Singapore direct as MH8793.

Later that night on Monday 15 October, another Malaysia Airlines A330 in the form of 9M-MKE also touched down at Rockhampton Airport direct from Kuala Lumpur, this time as MH8717.  It later departed also direct to Singapore this time as MH8790.

There were suspicions that these were the last of the current 'wave' of charters that touch down in association with the Singapore Armed Forces Military Exercise Wallaby, however, there was one more arrival tonight on Tuesday 16 October, with 9M-MKE touching down in Rockhampton from (presumably) Kuala Lumpur and again later departing direct to Singapore.