Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-VQX Problems at Mackay Airport

Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-VQX seems to have had problems this week, with it noted arriving into Mackay Airport on Sunday 20 January as JST884 from Brisbane.  It then remained at Mackay Airport until early on Tuesday 22 January when it departed on a positioning flight to the Gold Coast as JST7981.

From the Gold Coast VH-VQX operated a scheduled return service to Adelaide, and now remains on the ground at the Gold Coast.

QantasLink / Cobham Aviation Radio Callsign and Code Change

Eagle-eyed and eagle-eared enthusiasts would have noted that on Monday 21 January QantasLink's regional partner Cobham Aviation has made a change to their radio callsigns and flight codes.  Cobham Aviation operates Boeing B717-200 aircraft on behalf of QantasLink in Central Queensland, as well in regional areas of Western Australia.

These aircraft had previously flown using their aircraft registration as their call sign.  From today, the Cobham Aviation B717-200 fleet will fly under the "Q-Jet" callsign, with the flight code of 'QJE'.

Incidentally, in Western Australia, Cobham Aviation also operates a fleet of British Aerospace (BAe) 146 / Avro RJ70/100 aircraft.  These aircraft will reportedly now fly under the "JetEX" callsign, using 'JTE' as their flight code.

Finally, Cobham Aviation also operates the four Australian Air Express (AAE) BAe 146F (Freighters).  It is as yet confirmed if the AAE 146's will also gain a code or not.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-210 Overflys Rockhampton Airport

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-210 conducted a missed approach on Rockhampton Airport's Runway 15 on Monday 21 January.  The Globe had earlier departed from Amberley.

Rockhampton Airport plane spotter 'IAD' ventured to the Airport, and has sent through a few photos below of the C-17A as it overflew Rockhampton at low level, before departing to Gladstone.  From overhead Gladstone, A41-210 returned to Amberley.  It was noted using the radio callsign of "Stallion 24".

Meanwhile, 'IAD' also photographed Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YFE as it sat on the Rockhampton Airport apron preparing for departure to Brisbane as VOZ1244.

Thanks mate!  It capped off a great Monday!

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

McDermott Aviation / Heli-Lift Australia Bell 214B-1 Big Lifter Helicopter P2-MSA at Longreach and Emerald Airports Monday

Early on Monday 21 January, the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach posted a photo of McDermott Aviation / Heli-lift Australia Bell 214B-1 Big Lifter helicopter P2-MSA sitting on the ground at Longreach Airport.

I was pleasantly surprised to find P2-MSA being refuelled at Emerald Airport later that day!

P2-MSA has seemingly been working in Papua New Guinea, and is perhaps better known by its previous registration of N28065 while it worked in Australia.

American Gulfstream Bizjet N760CC at Emerald Airport Monday

Gulfstream G-V-SP (G500) N760CC popped into Emerald Airport twice on Monday 21 January.  I was tipped off of its arrival this morning, however, it was on the ground only very briefly.  It then returned this afternoon, but as I was in the Dentist's chair, I missed it!  

 

The movements of the Gulfstream are not known, however, I did hear on the radio that it was departing Emerald this afternoon for Sydney (where it is pictured above late last week), with a planned cruising altitude of 45000 feet!

Some New (and Familiar) Charter Aircraft to Visit Central Queensland Airports This Week Too!

While sourcing the information for the bizjet post below, it was worth noting the wide range of Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) and other general charter aircraft that flew into Central Queensland over the course of a week.

Starting at Emerald Airport, Fugro Spatial Solutions have had a pair of Cessna aircraft operating survey flights out of the airport during the week.  Cessna 404 VH-AZU and Cessna 441 VH-LEM are two of a sizeable survey fleet that Fugro operates around Australia.  I believe both aircraft have moved on but it wouldn't be surprising to see at least Fugro aircraft back again soon!

Familiar visitors to Emerald Airport this week also included Argyle Charter Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH (file photo below) on Thursday 17 January, while Kergil Enterprises PC-12/45 VH-YDO arrived from Mackay on Friday 18 January.

One other interesting visitor to Emerald Airport this week was General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) Rockwell (AeroCommander) 690A VH-YJG, which was noted flying into Emerald from Archerfield on Friday 18 January.  VH-YJG was noted operating a similar flight on Thursday 17 January, however on that day, it flew from Archerfield to Moranbah and return.

Also at Moranbah Airport during the week, there were quite a number other Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charters. Most of these were operated QantasLink with their Dash-8-Q400s flying in from Brisbane. Late on Wednesday 16 January, and then early on Thursday 17 January, Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) operated their ATR 72 charter from Townsville to Moranbah and return.  These were operated by ATR 72-600 VH-FVN.

This week, Skytrans operated their 'usual' FIFO charters to Clermont Aerodrome, as well as their FIFO charters to Emerald Airport on behalf on AERgO.  On Wednesday 16 January, Skytrans operated a FIFO charter flight into Biloela / Thangool Airport with Dash-8-300 VH-QQP (file photo below) noted operating the SKP7210/7211 return flight.

Lastly, some other general and FIFO charter flights that have brought some other interesting aircraft to CQ this week including...

Nitro Drilling (Nitro Aviation) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NDT was noted flying into Rockhampton, Moranbah, and Bundaberg on Thursday 17 January, and then Middlemount on Friday 18 January.  VH-NDT makes an appearance at an airport in CQ most weeks!

Australasian Jet Piper PA-31-325 VH-ZMJ flew into Hamilton Island from Archerfield on Thursday 17 January.  It later departed for Mackay, where I believe it is still parked.

Carmichael Builders Piper PA-31-325 VH-FHQ (file photo below) arrived into Gladstone Airport from Archerfield on Thursday 17 January, with the Navajo later departing 'home' to Dalby.

Shadforth's Civil Engineering Contractors Cessna 414A VH-SMX arrived into Gladstone Airport from Roma on Wednesday 16 January.  VH-SMX departed Gladstone for the Sunshine Coast on Thursday 17 January.

Ostwald Brother Civil Piper PA-31 VH-AYT (file photo below) was noted arriving into Mackay Airport on Monday 14 January.  On Wednesday 16 January, VH-AYT departed Mackay for Moranbah Airport.

Victoria-based AeroCommander 500-U VH-TQA ventured North through CQ on Thursday 17 January.  Departing the Gold Coast, VH-TQA passed through Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville, before arriving at its destination, Palm Island.  A photo of VH-TQA can be found on the FNQ Skies Blog - HERE.

What a busy week - especially Thursday!!

A Few Bizjets at Central Queensland Airports This Week

The bizjet action in Central Queensland this week has generally been provided by some very familiar aircraft.  The Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP VH-SGY had been out and about this week on a tour of North and Central Queensland. After spending time in Townsville,Cairns and the surrounding areas, VH-SGY eventually ended up at Mount Isa. On Thursday 17 January, VH-SGY arrived into Emerald Airport from the Isa, and stayed overnight.  On Friday 18 January VH-SGY departed Emerald for Rockhampton Airport (where is pictured below - file photo), before eventually returning home to Brisbane.

Another familiar sight at Central Queensland Airports is one of the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) aircraft - Raytheon 1900D and Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU.  VH-PSK was noted in CQ at various times and locations during the week - Don W caught it at Rockhampton on Friday 18 January - while VH-PSU ventured North to Townsille via Longreach on Thursday 17 January, before making its way home to Brisbane on Friday 18 January via Mackay, Rockhampton, and Gladstone on Friday 18 January.

Flight Options (Australia) (Aeromil Pacific) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-SJP has also been noted at Emerald Airport this week, arriving from the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday 15 January. After a couple of days on the ground, VH-SJP departed back to the Sunshine Coast on Thursday 17 January (file photo below).

An aircraft that is becoming a familiar sight in Central Queensland is Edwards Coaches Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-RJB (file photo below), and on Thursday 17 January it touched down at Mackay Airport from the Gold Coast.

After spending the day on the ground, VH-RJB departed heading North to Townsville.

No report on bizjets would be complete without some Hamilton Island Airport bizjet movements!  On Wednesday 16 January, Sundyne Cessna 650 Citation VII VH-SSZ visited Hamo, arriving from, and later departing back to Sydney, while Henadeck Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 VH-YNE arrived into Hamilton Island from Bankstown.

Lastly, J. M. Kelly (Project Builders) Cessna 550 Citation II VH-JMK departed Rockhampton for Brisbane and Toowoomba on Thursday 17 January, returning back to Rockhampton in the early evening.

Joint Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 - Dates for your Diaries!!

Information sourced from the Australian Government - Department of Defence website - LINK

Exercise Talisman Saber (also spelled Talisman Sabre, the spelling alternating between US and Australia) is a biennial joint Australia-United States military exercise designed to train the respective military forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve the combat readiness and interoperability between the respective forces.  This exercise is a major undertaking that reflects the closeness of our alliance and the strength of the ongoing military-military relationship.

Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 is a US led Australian supported exercise conducted primarily in Australia to improve combat training, readiness and interoperability, across a wide spectrum of military activities.  The exercise forms part of the ADF’s extensive training program to ensure the ADF is prepared to protect and support Australia and its national interests. The exercise also contributes to the ability of Australian and US military forces to work together efficiently and safely.  By working with the US military forces, the exercise strengthens proactive and responsive strategies and enhances measures to defend Australia and its national interests.

Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 is scheduled to take place from Monday 15 July to Monday 5 August 2013.  During this period, the exercise participants will conduct preparatory training prior to commencing a more intensive period of tactical training. Military personnel and units will be deploying to exercise start positions prior to the exercise commencement.  Military personnel will also take some time to redeploy post completion of the exercise.  Additionally, US military forces may be taking the opportunity to conduct some unilateral training on Australian ranges both pre and post the exercise.

Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 is conducted at designated ADF training facilities throughout Queensland, and in adjacent maritime areas of the Coral Sea.  Key sites include the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Central Queensland, Townsville Field Training Area, port facilities in Queensland (Brisbane, Gladstone and Alma Ports), as well as Rockhampton and Cairns Airports.

Thursday's Tiger Airways Melbourne to Mackay Flight Diverts to Brisbane Airport

For reasons unknown, Tiger Airways Airbus A320 VH-VNG, which was operating Tiger's scheduled TGW382 flight from Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Mackay, landed at Brisbane Airport on Thursday 17 January.

After spending just over an hour on the ground in Brisbane, VH-VNG departed Brisbane for Mackay as TGW8162.  After turning around, VH-VNG eventually departed Mackay as TGW383 for Tullamarine nearly 2½ hours late.

On Thursday 17 January, Tiger also operated A320 VH-VNK into Mackay flying the scheduled return service from and back to Sydney - TGW386/387.

A Couple More Photos of the Colourful Little Jabiru J-200 19-3778 at Gladstone Airport - Close Up!!

We reported earlier in the week about Jabiru J-200 19-3778, which passed through Gladstone Airport on Monday 14 January wearing a unique colour scheme with stickers of some well known food and drink brands adorning the fuselage.

We had a comment and an email requesting any more 'close up' images - well Jamie C had a look through his camera and this is what he found!

Thanks Jamie for the great photos as always!

All photos taken by Jamie C  ©