Bundaberg Airport - Gateway to the Fraser Coast Region of Queensland

Bundaberg Airport (known as ‘Bundaberg Regional Airport’) - YBUD/BDB - is located 6km South West of the Bundaberg CBD on North Childers Road and Takalvan Street.  The airport is owned and operated by the Bundaberg Regional Council.  The Bundaberg region enjoys a proud reputation in aviation, being the home of pioneer aviator Bert Hinkler.

Bundaberg Airport was officially opened as a civilian airport on 12 December 1931.  With the outbreak of World War II, it was decided, as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, to requisition Bundaberg Airport, and develop it as a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Flying Training School.  Known as RAAF Station Bundaberg, it was initially used in 1941 by No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF (12 EFTS), until 12 EFTS relocated to Lowood Aerodrome (located at Tarampa) in 1942. No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF then operated from the base.  Other RAAF Units operated from the Airport, and it also played host to Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force Personnel and equipment pool in 1945/1946.

After the War, The Department of Civil Aviation took over Bundaberg Aerodrome in 1947. Bundaberg City Council took over the airport in 1983, and a new terminal was opened in 1986.

Passenger services to Bundaberg Airport are currently operated by one commercial airline, QantasLink, while a number of private charter operators fly into Bundaberg on regular Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charters and other charters to nearby Lady Elliot Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Over the years, Flight West Airlines, Air Queensland, Majestic Airlines, and Lloyd Aviation have all operated into Bundaberg.

QantasLink currently flys between Brisbane and Bundaberg with approximately 27 services per week, operated by a mix of Dash-8-Q300 and Dash-8-Q400 aircraft.  Q400 Next Gen VH-LQJ was recently photographed touching down on Runway 14.

Seair (Seair Pacific) is one of the largest scenic charter flight operators in Southern Queensland, specialising in charter daytrips to Lady Elliot Island - a true coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef.  Seair currently flys Cessna 208 Caravans and Britten-Norman BN-2A Islanders to Bundaberg Airport 2-3 times per day.  Cessna 208 VH-VCW is a recent Seair acquisition and was photographed as it prepared to load passengers for a recent morning transfer to Lady Elliot Island.

According to various reports, Virgin Australia has looked at establishing a new service to Bundaberg.  Locals have been lobbying the airline to commence services to and from the airport to break the Qantas monopoly on all services to and from the airport.  Virgin did fly their (at the time new) Skywest Airlines-operated ATR 72-500 VH-FVH into Bundaberg in 2011 for the Wide Bay International Airshow.  The Wide Bay International Airshow is a (usually) biennial event at Bundaberg Airport.  However, the next Airshow has recently been postponed until 2014.

To encourage commercial expansion at the Airport, the Bundaberg Regional Council conducted major works at Bundaberg Airport between 2009 and 2010, with work completed on the main runway 14/32, navigation aids, and the airport terminal and carpark.

Paid parking was introduced, with charges starting at $2 for more than 2 hours, while the passenger drop-off and pick-up areas were extended.

The terminal area has been expanded (certainly from the last time I was there!) and features three buildings each for check-in, departures waiting area, and arrivals with baggage claim carousel and hire car desks.  Each of these buildings are joined by covered walkways.

The departure area is in two sections, one with a kiosk, and the other through a security check-point.

General Aviation (GA) plays an important role at Bundaberg Airport, with the long established base of iconic manufacturing firm Jabiru Aircraft, and the bases of MicroAir Avionics and CAMit Industries all on the recently established Bundaberg Regional Aviation and Aerospace Precinct at the Airport.  Jabiru aircraft are quite a common sight, although in general, photography of aircraft in the substantial GA Areas is limited.

  

Regional Aerial Emergency Services also have their headquarters at Bundaberg Airport, with facilities housing a base for the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) and the AGL Action Helicopter Rescue Service.

A great couple of days at Bundaberg Airport - stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for a Historic Post featuring some "Beauties from Bundaberg".

Goodbye 'DJ' - Virgin Australia Successfully Transitions to New Sabre Checking and Booking System

Virgin Australia has successfully transitioned to the new Sabre booking and check-in system across its domestic and international networks.


The much hyped transition to a new reservations system is a move to align it with partner airlines, and to increase exposure of its products globally.  The migration to the new system represents a significant change in sales distribution strategy for Virgin.  The airline has now consolidated its disparate reservations systems onto Sabre to replace Navitair – introduced for Virgin Blue – and Amadeus, currently used to support the airline’s international operations.  The move to Sabre will also enhance Virgin Australia’s exposure to travel agents globally, which stands to capture greater revenue especially in the lucrative corporate sector.

Virgin had also warned passengers flying this week to turn up at airports at least an hour before a domestic flight, and three hours before an international service because checking in might be slower than usual.  However, with the successful transition, the airline has advised that customers can now check-in and make flight bookings via the Virgin Australia website.

Lastly, as part of the changes, also from this week, all Virgin Australia flight numbers will begin with the code ‘VA’ rather than ‘DJ’.

Colourful Little Jabiru J-200 19-3778 Passes Through Gladstone Airport Monday

It was a pretty quiet weekend in CQ, but Jamie C has spotted a couple of nice little aircraft at Gladstone Airport.  On Monday 14 January this bright and colourful Jabiru J-200 19-3778 passed through from and to parts unknown.

It is interesting to note the colour scheme of the Jabiru - adorned with numerous stickers for all sorts of products!

 

Meanwhile, on Sunday 13 January, Grumman American AA-5B Tiger VH-SYW, was caught by Jamie as it departed Gladstone.

All photos taken by Jamie C  ©

A Busy Day at Biloela / Thangool Airport - Skytrans FIFO - GAM AeroCommander - Toll Metro

On Thursday 3 January, Biloela / Thangool Airport experienced one of its busier days with no less than six Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights operating from back to Brisbane by Skytrans Airlines Dash-8's.

Over the course of the afternoon and into the evening, Dash-8-300s VH-QQM, VH-QQN and VH-QQP all called in, with VH-QQP appearing to visit Thangool twice.  Dash-8-100 VH-QQI was also noted calling in later in the day.

But that wasn't all to visit Biloela / Thangool Airport on Thursday 3 January with the scheduled QantasLink flight from and back to Brisbane, as well as the usual two freighter aircraft also touched down.

QantasLink Dash-8-200 VH-SDE operated the QLK2398/2399 service flying from and back to Brisbane.  Of interest, QantasLink currerntly operates 7 flights each way between Brisbane and Biloela / Thangool, with an early morning flight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, a late afternoon service on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday supported by a midday service on Sunday.  The vast majority of these flights are operated by either Dash-8-200 or Dash-8-Q300, with the occasional Dash-8-Q400 noted touching down as well.

Finally, the two freighters to touch down at Biloela / Thangool Airport on Thursday 3 January included the usual General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) AeroCommander 500-S.  On this occasion, VH-UJL, touched down at Biloela / Thangool in the early evening from Rockhampton and Gladstone.  It had earlier operated in Bilo from Brisbane and departed to Gladstone.  On this occassion, VH-UJL taxied to a position at the Airport where the aircraft would remain overnight before its early morning return flight to Gladstone.

As soon as the engines shut down on the Shrike, Toll Freight staff began unloading the aircraft in preparation for the arrival of the Toll Metroliner from Emerald.  Just after dusk, the Toll Express Freight Metro III arrived from Emerald.  VH-UZP was operating tonight's flight, having flown through Biloela / Thangool earlier in the day whilst enroute to Emerald from Brisbane.

VH-UZP was parked and the freight from the Shrike VH-UJL, as well as other parcels were loaded.  Soon after it continued on its week-nightly run to Brisbane.

What a busy day!

Some Movements from Gladstone Airport This Week

A fairly quiet week at Gladstone Airport this week, with some small General Aviation movements, as well as a Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 popping in on a scheduled service.

Most of the action occurred on Tuesday 8 January, with Edwards Coaches Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-RJB spending the day at Gladstone Airport after arriving from Brisbane.

Also noted on Tuesday was Shadforth’s Civil Engineering Contractors Cessna 414A VH-SMX, which arrived from and later departed back to the Sunshine Coast.

Lastly, Emergency Management Queensland (Queensland Government) Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-ESH popped into Gladstone on Tuesday 8 January, on its way North from Archerfield to Cairns.  It departed Gladstone for Mackay, Townsville, and then Cairns.

Incidentally, on Wednesday 9 January, sister-ship VH-EZJ travelled down the Queensland Coast, popping into Rockhampton Airport while on its way from Cairns to Archerfield.

Then on Friday 11 January, Virgin Australia flew Embraer E-190 VH-ZPG into Gladstone on a scheduled service from and back to Brisbane.  VH-ZPG touched down as VOZ1713, and departed as VOZ1716.

Lastly, on Saturday 12 January, Jamie C captured this beautiful Cessna 180 VH-VGW as it passed through Gladstone Airport.

Thanks Team!

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A MRTT A39-002 Returns to Rockhampton Airport on Friday

For the second day in a row, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-002 touched down at Rockhampton Airport on Friday 11 January while on a training flight from Amberley.

Rockhampton Plane Spotter 'IAD' was on the scene and reports that the KC-30 spent about 15 minutes parked on taxiway 'Juliette' before eventually departing off Runway 15 bound for Amberley.

Also spotted by 'IAD' at Rockhampton Airport on Friday 11 January were Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YVA.

Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) ATR 72-600 VH-FVP.

And QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXG.

A great day - despite the heat haze!

All photos taken by IAD  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A MRTT A39-002 at Rockhampton Airport Thursday

A nice mid-afternoon surprise on Thursday 10 January, with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-002 touching down at Rockhampton Airport on a training flight from Amberley.

Rockhampton Plane Spotter 'IAD' was lucky enough to just catch the MRTT as it taxiied out and took off back to Amberley.  While on the ground at Rockhampton, the MRTT was believed to have had a crew change.  What a great catch - and what a great start to the Plane Spotting year!

All photos taken by IAD  ©

Cairns-based Barrier Aviation Remains Grounded by The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

Wednesday 9 January:  The Federal Court has granted an extension of the suspension imposed on Barrier Aviation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to Friday 15 February.

CASA says that it continues to work with Barrier Aviation to determine whether defects in the operator’s safety management and maintenance practices will be sufficient to lift the suspension by the due date.

Barrier Aviation’s air operator’s certificate was suspended on Sunday 23 December 2012.  “This action was taken because CASA believes permitting Barrier Aviation to continue to fly poses a serious and imminent risk to air safety,” CASA said on issuing the suspension, adding: “CASA believes Barrier Aviation has been operating aircraft with serious and known defects”.

The Cairns-based airline has operated a fleet of 43 Piper and Cessna aircraft on essential services to remote regions in Australia’s far north for the last 20 years.  It is believed the greatest area of concern was maintenance performed on six aircraft at Horn Island.