Polet Aviakompania (Polet Airlines) Antonov AN-124 Due Into Rockhampton Airport This Week

It has been rumoured and reported that a Polet Aviakompania (Polet Airlines) Antonov AN-124 will be touching down at Rockhampton Airport about mid-morning on Thursday 28 November.  

Polet Antonov AN-124 RA-82068 at Rockhampton Airport in September  (File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©)

The Antonov will be transporting the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters back to Singapore following the conclusion this week of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2013.

It is expected that the Antonov - should it arrive as expected Thursday morning - will depart early Friday morning.

The final 'wave' of heavy jet troop charters between Rockhampton and Singapore is also expected to commence some time this week or next week.  One reports suggests that a Qantas Airways Boeing B747-400 will again be operating at least three of the charters.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) B737 Wedgetail A30-004 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport Monday

Local plane spotter 'IAD' has captured some absolutely stunning photos as Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft - A30-004 - performed a spectacular missed approach at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 25 November.

A30-004 - using the radio callsign of "Wedgetail 01" - was heard to depart North to Townsville.

Sincere thanks to 'IAD' for sending through these spectacular photos of such a stunning movement into Rocky on Monday!

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ at Central Queensland Airports Again This Week!

Making yet another visit to Central Queensland this week was Earth Commodities Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ.

Gladstone plane spotting family - Jamie C, Tash C, and Kyresha C - all captured some great images as VH-CCJ followed its 'usual' operating pattern in CQ by firstly touching down at Gladstone Airport from Brisbane early on Monday 25 November.

After a short time on the ground, VH-CCJ then departed to Mackay.  After a couple of hours in Mackay, VH-CCJ then popped into Rockhampton.

After Rockhampton, VH-CCJ then returned to Gladstone Airport - bathed in the lovely afternoon sun - and taxied to a parking spot where it was to stay the night.

 

Thanks to Jamie, Tash, and Kyresha for the great images of a great little bizjet!

They inform me too that they captured a lot more photos of other visiting aircraft into Gladstone so stay tuned for more stunning images from Central Queensland premier plane spotting family!!

Photos taken by Jamie C, Tash C and Kyresha C  ©

Brand New Hawker Beechcraft 350i N841KA Pops into Rockhampton Airport Sunday

A nice arrival into Rockhampton Airport on Sunday 24 November was brand new Hawker Beechcraft 350i Super King Air N841KA.

The Super King Air has only just arrived into Australia from overseas, and was noted arriving into Rocky from Moura and the Sunshine Coast.  

It later departed to Brisbane.

Local plane spotter ‘IAD’ reports that the pilots advised that this aircraft was soon to be added to the Australian Aircraft register – possibly as VH-FIW.  It is suspected that VH-FIW will be operated by Pearl Aviation for AirServices Australia on navaid calibration duties.

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Gladstone Airport Runway 10/28 to Close Next Weekend for ILS Testing

The Gladstone Airport Corporation informs local aviators that due to scheduled testing of the recently installed Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Gladstone Airport, Runway 10/28 will be closed during daylight hours on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December to all aircraft other than scheduled RPT services and emergency aircraft.

The photos below from Jamie C show the progress of the installation of the ILS antenna and equipment over recent weeks at Gladstone Airport.

If required, similar restrictions may also apply the following weekend.

Gladstone’s coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects have provided $10.5 million
for the installation of the ILS at Gladstone Airport.  The system - to be operational on Runway 10 - will significantly improve the ability of aircraft to land at the airport during adverse weather conditions, meaning fewer flight diversions to Rockhampton.

frothy / http://www.pprune.org/

frothy / http://www.pprune.org/

There should a NOTAM available this week for further information.

Photos taken by Jamie C  ©

Light Aircraft Struck by Lightning During Recent Storms at Gladstone Airport

As we alluded to in a recent Blog Post - link HERE - a light aircraft parked on the General Aviation apron at Gladstone Airport was in fact struck by lightning during a nasty thunder-storm that passed through Gladstone on Thursday 14 November.

I have received the above two photos which clearly show that after-effects of the lightning strike with damage shown to the parking apron as a result of the lightning 'bolt' exiting the aircraft through the landing gear.  The aircraft type is reported to be a Cessna.

As mentioned in the previous Blog Post, an Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 - VH-FWI - was also struck by lightning while operating a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) flight into Gladstone on Thursday 14 November.  It was approximately 100kms to the South of Gladstone when it was stuck.