Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros VH-VRO at Mackay Airport

The planned Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross was operating joyflights out of Mackay Airport on Saturday 31 July. The Albatross is registered VH-VRO to Warbird Aviation Australia. It is also photographed waiting for its next customer outside the Mackay Aero Club. A big crowd was present at the Aero Club to see the Albatross fly!


RPT movements that were noted included Jetstar A320 VH-VGV operating JQ887 to Brisbane and QantasLink (Sunstate Airlines) Dash-8-Q300 VH-TQE operating as QF2306 to Townsville.




Also spotted outside maintenance was Australasian Jets PA-31 VH-ZMK and Cessna 206s VH-RIH and VH-IEW. Around the corner, the Australasian Jet ramp was full with their other aircraft that fly to the surrounding islands and other charter around CQ.






At Mackay Helicopters (Aviation Tourism Australia), Bell 222 VH-TOR was being worked on. Their other big Bell 430 VH-HIA was also parked.

Skytrans Dash-8 first visit to Clermont Aerodrome

A busy night at Clermont Aerodrome on Thursday 29 July, with three FIFO arrivals, a FIFO departure, and rescue training for the local auxiliary fire brigade.

Central Airlines (CHAT) Piper PA-31 VH-BCQ (pictured below) flew in from Mackay and overnighted. 
 

Skytrans Airlines Dash-8 VH-QQE, pictured below still wearing the company's old livery, arrived and departed to Brisbane as SKP868/SKP869. 

 
Finally, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8 VH-QQD, wearing PDL TOLL titles and livery, arrived from Brisbane as SKP870 and overnighted.  This aircraft has, until recently, been operating from Darwin, and has been rarely seen in Queensland.  It is pictured on the Clermont Aerodrome apron waiting for its parking spot, and then in its parking spot with VH-QQE departing behind it.






After all the passengers and bags had been removed, the local auxiliary fire brigade had a closer look at both the outside and inside of the plane as a part of their rescue training.

Indian Bombardier 605 Challenger Biz-Jet VT-APL at Mackay Airport

An interesting visitor at Mackay Airport was a Bombardier 605 Challenger with Indian registration VT-APL. It arrived Sunday 25 July and left Monday 26 July, flying onto Brisbane.  It was spotted on Tuesday 27 July.

There may be other biz-jets bound for Mackay this week with the Queensland Mining Expo being held.

Also an L-39 Albatross Jet Fighter is coming to Mackay from Wednesday 28 July for a series of joyflights. Unsure of the rego of the aircraft coming. Pictures hopefully up next week!!

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Clermont and Longreach Airport Notables this weekend

CQ Rescue Helicopter Service Bell 412 VH-NSV popped into Clermont Hospital Sunday 25 July on a patient transfer.

Mineralogy owned and operated McDonnell Douglas MD-82 VP-CBI visited Longreach Airport on Saturday 24 July (info courtesy of Lloyd Fox from South East Queensland Aviation News). Mineralogy is Clive Palmer's iron ore exploration and mining company.

Capricorn Helicopter Rescue crash victims remembered

The five victims of Queensland's worst helicopter crash will be remembered on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.

In the early hours of 24 July 2000, Bell 206 VH-FFI was operating a rescue flight, taking a sick five-year-old boy to hospital. The helicopter crashed in darkness and heavy fog, in a field near Marlborough in central Queensland. The boy, his mum, and three crew lost their lives in the crash.

The Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service had flown to pick up the five-year-old boy with breathing problems from a remote property northwest of Rockhampton.

The Queensland Ambulance Service will honour the victims at a memorial service in Rockhampton on Saturday.

In 2003, an inquest found low fuel was to blame for the crash and heavy fog had been a significant factor.

Rescue Choppers' Funding May Suffer

In light of my blog posts about the CQ region rescue helicopters, the responsibility for these have been secretly handed to Qld Health, raising fears they could become a glorified air ambulance service. Check out the following articles about the CQ Rescue Service (Daily Mercury in Mackay) and the Capricorn Rescue Service (The Morning Bulletin in Rockhampton).

The Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service – Rockhampton

The Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) provides rapid deployment of medical or rescue teams to major accidents, incidents or search and rescue operations. It also acts as an airborne intensive care unit to transfer critically ill or injured patients to a hospital where they can get the treatment they need. Whether in the bush, at sea or on a remote road or mine site the rescue helicopter can land and board injured or lost patients.

The Service was incorporated in December 1995 and started operations on 26 January 1996. The Service is free to all people within Central Queensland at any time.


The Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service flys recently delivered Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-JRD (pictured above) which is owned and operated by Jayrow Helicopters in Victoria. This helicopter is an American built twin engine Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) machine, which has an overall aircraft size (rotors turning) of 13.46m, seating up to five passengers, and accommodating a maximum of two stretchers. As shown below, the helicopter has a maximum range (without refuel) of up to 300nm, with a normal cruising speed of up to 130kts.


Website: http://www.chrs.org.au/index.htm

Clermont Aerodrome visitors this weekend

Toowoomba registered PA-31T VH-DXD was noted at Clermont late on Saturday 17 July and is pictured below.


Also locally based Jabiru J-230 19-5510 was also noted and is shown below parked in its hangar.

Mackay Airport Spottings on Thursday

A few aircraft were noted at Mackay Airport on Thursday 15 July. These are pictured below:

Beech 350 N412KA which is apparently registered in Queensland.


Cessna 206 VH-RGE of Australasian Jet.


Cessna 402 VH-AII of Australasian Jet.


Cessna 414 VH-FKH of Gateway Aviation.


PA-31 VH-DEP which is registered locally in Mackay.

QantasLink at Moranbah Aerodrome

Noted at Moranbah Airport on Thursday 15 July was QantasLink Dash-8-Q300 VH-TQH arriving on a scheduled service from Brisbane. In the video below you will also see local aircraft including Cessna 172 VH-ELE, Cessna 150 VH-PKU, and a Jabiru parked.



VH-TQH is also pictured parked on the Moranbah Airport apron just after pulling up.


As previously posted, QantasLink operates 11 return services to Moranbah from Brisbane, with 2 of these being FIFO charters for the local mines.