Some Movements and Photos From My Week at Bundaberg Airport

For the last week, I was in Bundaberg for cricket, and of course on my downtime, I visited Bundaberg Airport.  Bundaberg could be considered to be in the far South of Central Queensland!

I plan to prepare a more 'in depth' Blog post about the Airport, so in the meantime, here are a few photos of some movements that were spotted.

On Thursday 3 January, Bundaberg spotter Micah S photographed the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU shortly after it landed after completing some airwork.

I also spotted VH-PSU on Monday 7 January as it arrived from Brisbane.

On Friday 4 January, Seair Cessna 208 Caravan VH-VCW was spotted shortly after arriving from Brisbane.  It later departed on one of Seair's daily charters to Lady Elliot Island.

On Saturday 5 January, QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-LQJ was photographed arriving from Brisbane as QLK2321.

Nearby on the General Aviation apron, Bundaberg-based Cessna 310K VH-CKB and Goondiwindi-based Cessna T303 Crusader VH-LMS were parked.

Local Cessna 150 VH-DNY was photographed after it completed a morning of circuit-training at the Airport.

Beech E18-S VH-CIJ has been a long time resident of Bundaberg Airport - it previously wore the American registration of N3781B - and it is still parked at the Airport and not looking like going anywhere soon.

Jabiru aircraft are quite prevalent at Bundaberg Airport, with the Jabiru manufacturing factory on the Airport precinct.

The Bundaberg region enjoys a proud reputation in aviation, also being the home of pioneer aviator Bert Hinkler.  I visited the Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Hinkler House at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.

I plan to also prepare a Blog post about the Hinkler Hall of Aviation in the coming days too!

Airwork New Zealand Boeing B737-300 ZK-SLA Operating for Our Airline / Air Nauru at Gladstone Airport Sunday

A busy day at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 6 January with Airwork New Zealand Boeing 737-300 ZK-SLA touching down early afternoon operating for Our Airline / Air Nauru.

ZK-SLA arrived RON900 from Brisbane, had a quick turnaround, before departing back to Brisbane as RON901.  It is suspected that this closed charter flight to Gladstone could be a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight.

Also caught by Jamie C at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 6 January was QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOI, which is still in Tamworth Country Music Festival livery.

And, QantasLink Dash-8-Q300 VH-TQH.

Lastly, Bayswater Road-operated Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander VH-CWG was spotted arriving from the North.

And, locally-based Thorp T-18 VH-IXI (nicknamed Skippy) was also photographed by Jamie.

All photos taken by Jamie C  ©

More Christmas and New Year Bizjets into Hamilton Island

A Blog post just after Christmas summarised some recent Australian-based bizjet movements in and out of Hamilton Island Airport - LINK.  These movements have continued in the days up to, and then after New Year's Day.

The Blog post featured details of two Cessna Citation bizjets.  Cessna 650 Citation VII VH-ING arrived into Hamilton Island from Melbourne (Essendon) on Sunday 23 December.  VH-ING finally departed Hamo for Essendon on Wednesday 2 January.

We finished that Blog post reporting that Business Aviation Solutions Cessna 750 Citation X VH-RCA had arrived into Hamilton Island from Brisbane on Thursday 27 December.  VH-RCA was noted departing for Sydney on Sunday 30 December.

Also on Sunday 30 December, Linfox Aircraft Charter (Air National Australia) Gates LearJet 35A VH-LPJ was noted arriving from Bathurst in New South Wales.  VH-LPJ departed Hamo for Melbourne (Essendon) on Saturday 5 January.

Some other recent movements included Business Aviation Solutions Cessna 650 Citation VII VH-LYM, which arrived into Hamilton Island from the Sunshine Coast on Friday 4 January, along with Shortstop Jet Charter British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B VH-LMP, which arrived from Sydney.

On Thursday 3 January, Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000EX VH-WIO was noted arriving into Hamilton Island from Bankstown.  Also arriving into Hamo on Thursday 3 January was Edwards Coaches Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-KXL (file photo below) which arrived from Armidale.  It later departed to Sydney.

A couple of turbo-prop business aircraft have also been noted at Hamilton Island Airport over recent days.  FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB was noted arriving from Toowoomba on Thursday 3 January, while A & C Aviation Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu VH-TPM flew trip from Mackay to Hamilton Island and back on Wednesday 2 January.

Busy times!

More Qantas Airways Charters into Mackay Airport

Before Christmas, Qantas flew two Boeing B737-800's into Mackay from where they departed to Brisbane on what were presumably, closed charter flights - possibly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights.  On Wednesday 2 January, the return flights from Brisbane to Mackay were noted as follows.

VH-VXL flew Brisbane to Mackay as QF1372, before being captured departing to Brisbane as QF6161.

Later, VH-VXU flew Brisbane to Mackay as QF1374, before being captured departing to Brisbane as QF6163.

Big thanks to Adam P for the great photos of this rare Qantas movement to Central Queensland!

And Now the post-Christmas Return of Fly-in Fly-out Workers to Central Queensland Airports

With the Christmas-New Year 'holiday' period over comes the return of dozens of Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) workers throughout Central Queensland (see our "Pre-Christmas Exodus" Blog Post HERE)

File photo

Skytrans Airlines flew six FIFO charter flights into Clermont Aerodrome from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday 26 December with a mix of Dash-8-100 and -300 aircraft.  On Thursday 27 December, Skytrans flew their 'usual' three FIFO charters into Clermont.

Skytrans also flew two charters to Emerald Airport on behalf of AERgO, with Dash-8-300 VH-QQM noted flying the SKP710/711 FIFO charter into Emerald on Wednesday 26 December and then on Friday 28 December.

On Thursday 3 January, Skytrans flew six FIFO charters into Biloela / Thangool Airport.  Dash-8-300s VH-QQP, VH-QQN, and VH-QQM were all noted at Biloela / Thangool, along with Dash-8-100 VH-QQI which was noted arriving late in the day as SKP720/721.  Each FIFO charter arrived from, and then departed back to Brisbane.

Lastly, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWQ was noted arriving twice into Emerald Airport on Wednesday 2 January, operating FIFO charter flights from Brisbane.  VH-XWQ flew as UTY412/413, then UTY414/415.

CQ Plane Spotting Heads to North Queensland!

I recently had the pleasure of travelling up the Bruce Highway to Far North Queensland for some sporting commitments - but also for some plane spotting!  I spent most of the time at Cairns Airport - even enjoying some local 'airside' hospitality during one day - but I also stopped in and took some photos at Townsville, Ingham, and Innisfail Airports.

Andy B of the FNQ Skies Blog has kindly posted some of my images from before Christmas on his fantastic blog - http://fnqskies.blogspot.com/

Air Charter CQ - A New Charter Flight Company for Central Queensland Based at Gladstone Airport

Air Charter CQ Pty Ltd is a Gladstone-based Air Charter company providing charter flights for individuals or groups requiring a fast, efficient, and most importantly, a safe transport service. Charter flights can be organised to satisfy a business arrangement or for a private trip. If necessary, all chartered flights can be timed to connect with a commercial flight arriving at, or departing from Gladstone Airport. Transportation of freight can also be organised.

Air Charter CQ also specialises in scenic flights and aerial photography. Local scenic flights can include Gladstone, Boyne Island / Tannum Sands, Awoonga Dam, Facing & Curtis Island, Agnes Waters / Town of 1770, or perhaps Great Keppel Island, while aerial photography can be tailored to fly-over most sights / locations of interest.

General charter work can be arranged to fly to locations such as Rockhampton, Mackay, The Whitsundays, Emerald, Blackwater, Longreach, or perhaps to Thangool / Biloela, while more distant locations can include most approved aerodromes in Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast, even New South Wales, or perhaps even the Northern Territory.

A subsidiary service to Air Charter CQ is 'Australia by Seaplane' which we also recently covered and was posted on the CQ Plane Spotting Blog HERE.

Currently, Air Charter CQ - including Australia by Seaplane - have access to three locally-based aircraft.  These being Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-DEP, Cessna 210 VH-SOV and the Cessna 182 Floatplane VH-RBD.

http://www.australiabyseaplane.com.au/

http://www.australiabyseaplane.com.au/

And Air Charter CQ are looking to expand further with plans for a Cessna 206 aircraft likely to be joining the local fleet sometime in the very near future.

For further information or bookings, Air Charter CQ can be contacted on (07) 4972 1940 or 0412 623 554 (mobile).

Alternatively, Air Charter CQ can also be contacted via email  at holts@tpg.com.au, or you can check out their website at http://www.airchartercq.com.au/.

CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot: Virgin Australia / Virgin Blue Special Colour Schemes

This historic post has ballooned from what I originally thought - I had prepared a couple of photos to post of some old Virgin Blue aircraft in special colours - but after further research I have found several more examples of both Virgin Blue and also Virgin Australia aircraft that have been painted in special colours over the years - some that Central Queensland Plane Spotters may have been able to photograph!

Virgin Blue started operations in the year 2000 with two aircraft operating on a single route.  The airline quickly grew and so did the number of aircraft it operated - for some time, it operated ex-Ansett Boeing B737-300 VH-CZQ, flew in a white colour scheme, and eventually featured a red-nose.

The red-nose has become a feature of the newer Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 aircraft, with VH-YIE spotted in Cairns recently sporting a red nose.

One other aircraft has been recently spotted wearing a red-nose, however this aircraft was one of the first aircraft the Virgin Blue acquired to wear a full special colour scheme.  Boeing B737-700 VH-VBY was delivered to Virgin's Brisbane base in a special blue colour scheme to commemorate the fact that it was Virgin's 50th aircraft.

Since then, VH-VBY was (unfortunately) re-painted into Virgin Australia livery - and recently spotted wearing that red-nose.

Other Virgin Blue to wear a full special colour scheme were Boeing B737-800s VH-VOI and VH-VOJ.  VH-VOI wore Gillette Mach-3 shaver colours.

VH-VOJ was painted in a colour scheme promoting the State of Queensland - also to commemorate Virgin Blue being established in Queensland with Government assistance.

VH-VOJ also spent some wearing a red-nose!

Both aircraft were spotted on occasion in Central Queensland at Rockhampton, Mackay and Hamilton Island Airports.

Funnily enough, as the new white Virgin Australia aircraft were being delivered some of the older red Virgin Blue aircraft were adorned with white-nose cones - as shown in the photo below of VH-VON.

Over the years, there were a couple of other Virgin Blue Boeing B737-800 aircraft to wear special colours, with VH-VUA painted with a South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League team flag on its nose.  Later VH-VUA also had special decals added to promote the Black Eyed Peas Band, and their performance in the aircraft which they dubbed "Mile High Karaoke".

To promote the release of the film "Avatar", Virgin Blue added decals to their Boeing B737-800 VH-VUL.

Later, Virgin Blue took delivery of three new aircraft that were all-white and later had decals applied to promote Virgin's sponsorship of the Australian Football League (AFL).

Boeing B737-800 VH-VUY and Embraer E-190 VH-ZPQ had matching decals promoting that Virgin Blue was the official carrier of the AFL.

Boeing B737-800 VH-VUZ had decals applied to promote Virgin's sponsorship of the Gold Coast Suns AFL team.

Lastly, for the AFL Grand Final, Virgin have added a short-term special sticker to the underside of their new Airbus A330-200 aircraft was shown on VH-XFD.

Since, all of these aircraft have been repainted into Virgin Australia's standard livery.

One other special livery to adorn Virgin Blue and Virgin Australia aircraft has been the Boeing B737-800 and Embraer E-190 aircraft that were painted in Pacific Blue colours as shown on B737-800 VH-VOX and E-190 VH-ZPM.

The B737-800s often flew domestic-Australian routes, and were sometimes substituted onto International services for Pacific Blue.

Recently, the B737-800 aircraft have been repainted, and the Pacific Blue colours on the fuselage removed.  Smaller titles "Airline of Virgin Blue" were added and then 'edited' as shown on B737-800s VH-VOQ and VH-VOX.

Some of these aircraft to wear Pacific Blue colours and Airline of Virgin Blue colours have now been repainted into Virgin Australia livery - VH-VOQ, VH-VUF, VH-VUG are examples.

One last livery that is worth mentioning - despite the fact we are unlikely to see it Central Queensland - has been Pacific Blue's B737-800 ZK-PBF which was painted in Polynesian Blue colours of Western Samoa.

ZK-PBF has been recently been repainted into a new Virgin Samoa colour scheme based on the white Virgin Australia colour scheme.

Some great photos and some great colour schemes!