Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Grand Caravan EX N512EX Calls into Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 11 July, Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Grand Caravan EX N512EX was noted landing at Emerald Airport from Archerfield.  It then headed South-East to a nearby property for a demonstration before returning to Emerald Airport and then up to Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 July, N512EX looked to return to Emerald Airport where it then stayed until early August!

While Leppington Pastoral Co. (NSW) Beech B300 Super King Air 350i VH-JET departed Longreach Airport for the North-West.

And Queensland Police Service (Airwing) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300 King Air 350i VH-8TT is currently based out of Rockhampton Airport and completed local aerial survey flights.  It appears to have arrived the previous day from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 July, VH-8TT completed more aerial survey flights out of and back to Rockhampton Airport.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Australian Country Choice Properties / Aero Corporate Charters P/L (Brisbane) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 Bizjet VH-ACC Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 9 July, Australian Country Choice Properties / Aero Corporate Charters P/L (Brisbane) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 bizjet VH-ACC popped into Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield.

File photo

Parker Aviation Ventures (Sydney) / Air Link (Dubbo) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom bizjet VH-PNM which had landed at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport at the start of the week, hopped from there to Hamilton Island Airport and then later departed to Canberra.

While Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-VKX flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Newcastle (Williamtown).

And South Australia-based Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-UXF continues to make weekly visits up from Adelaide and Maitland to Collinsville Aerodrome (yesterday) and then Proserpine Airport (today) and back.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 8 July, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) GA8 Airvan VH-MFI and Cessna 172 VH-WMC landed at Longreach Airport from Barkley Wayside Inn and Mount Isa.

Finally, on Thursday 9 July, an ex-Jetstar Asia Airbus A320-200 N300XT departed storage at Alice Springs for Cairns and then the USA.  It was previously registered as 9V-JSY and 9V-TRD with Tigerair/Scoot and was ferried into Alice Springs in October 2025 with plans for it to be placed on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-X3R and enter service with Jetstar Australia - which obviously did not occur.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

A Pair of Australian Army CH-47F Chinook Helicopters A15-307 "Salty 47" & A15-306 "Easy 328" Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 7 July, a pair of Australian Army Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters were spotted at Mackay Airport.  They appear to have flown down from Townsville via completing air work individually in the Whitsundays – at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and Hamilton Island Airport – before continuing down to Mackay Airport.

The two Chinooks from the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment based at Townsville, where identified as A15-307 which flew as "Salty 47" and A15-306 as "Easy 328".

After some time on the ground, both Chinooks departed for Townsville with A15-307 "Salty 47" again completing air work at Hamilton Island Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 7 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-003 as "Dragon 25" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Amberley and parked on taxiway Juliet. A bit later it departed to the North and completed a missed approach at Townsville before then returning to Amberley.

Finally, on the civilian side of movements, also on Tuesday 7 July, McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 41" flew up from the Sunshine Coast to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying across to Ayers Rock. It later returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services new Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF flew up from Archerfield to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying down to Adelaide.

Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD departed Hamilton Island Airport for the Sunshine Coast. It had arrived on Saturday 4 July from Port Macquarie and Rockhampton Airport.

Mabena P/L (Wagga Air Centre) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-A8K as "Wagga Air 669" appeared to fly South from a property near Dysart.  It had earlier flown up from Archerfield and also from Wagga Wagga the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 8 July VH-A8L 'WA669' was again noted flying in the region ultimately arriving into Longreach Airport.  Then on Thursday 9 July, it departed Longreach Airport for Isisford, Wrotham Park and then Cairns.

Photos taken by Graham Kevin Jackson  ©

General Aviation Maintenance (GAM Group) (Team Global Express) Raytheon 1900D VH-YJD Calls into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 6 July, and possibly entering service in its own right, was General Aviation Maintenance (GAM Group) (Team Global Express) Raytheon 1900D VH-YJD.

It flew up from Brisbane to Rockhampton Airport and then Mackay Airport and Townsville as 'GA845' / "Gamair 845" and was due to return South from Townsville to Brisbane via only Mackay Airport on Monday evening as 'GA847'.

Of interest, VH-YJD has been noted completing several training and test flights between Brisbane and Maryborough Airport in recent weeks with still the occasional run out to Emerald Airport in place of the  Cessna 208 Caravan VH-UJK.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 6 July, Albury-based Cessna 525 CitationJet M2 bizjet VH-JSO visited the region again this time arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Canberra and Brisbane and then later departing to Bundaberg Airport.

Parker Aviation Ventures (Sydney) / Air Link (Dubbo) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom bizjet VH-PNM departed Archerfield for Canberra before then flying up to Hamilton Island Airport and then across to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

While Arbormeta P/L (Byron Bay) Gippsaero GA8-TC 320 Airvan VH-AUM flew up from Ballina / Byron Bay Gateway to Emerald Airport before continuing to Mareeba and Cairns.

And Parklea (Air Services) (of Victoria) Leonardo AW109SP helicopter VH-87M was spotted at Longreach Airport after earlier arriving from Winton.

Finally, over the weekend, on Saturday 4 July, Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Port McQuarrie and then departed to Hamilton Island Airport.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and Liam Sellick  ©

Nexus Airlines (Aviair) Dash-8-Q400 VH-8XC Starts FIFO Charter Flights to Moranbah Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 2 June, Western Australia based Nexus Airlines (Aviair) Dash-8-Q400 VH-8XC started a new Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights run between Brisbane and Moranbah Airport - as pictured below.

It flew up and back as CT865/6 and is due to return to Moranbah Airport again early on Wednesday 3 June as CT861/2 - as pictured below.

Of interest, VH-8XC flew across from Perth to Brisbane via Ayers Rock over the weekend as CT602 - as pictured below.

Nexus Airlines is an Australian regional airline based in Kununurra, Western Australia. A subsidiary of the HMC Group, it commenced operations in July 2023 and operates in Western Australia and formerly the Northern Territory.  This is its first foray outside of WA.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 2 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-002 as "Envoy 05" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Amberley on a reported training flight and a bit later, it departed to Canberra.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Dylan Hardie  ©

Melbourne-based Raytheon Hawker 800XP Bizjet VH-OFJ Calls into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 1 June, ADD Aviation Services / CML No.1 P/L Raytheon Hawker 800XP bizjet VH-OFJ visited Bundaberg Airport from Brisbane.

https://www.facebook.com/Bundaberg.Aviation.Fuel

Parklea (Air Services) (of Victoria) Leonardo AW109SP helicopter VH-87M landed at Gladstone Airport from the Sunshine Coast before it then departed to Hamilton Island Airport.

While new and just registered to Sutcliffe P/L Mackay, Tecnam P-2012 VH-HID, which landed in country last night from Norfolk Island into Brisbane and then the Gold Coast, departed to Goldie for Mackay Airport.

Finally, on Sunday 31 May, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-Q200 VH-TQG arrived into Roma Airport from Cairns before then departing to Sydney all as SKP552.

Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Bizjet VH-VGX at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 30 May, Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet VH-VGX flew down from Townsville to Mackay Airport.  It had flown up from Melbourne (Essendon) the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 31 May, VH-VGX departed Mackay Airport and returned to Essendon.

Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).

Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ visited Rockhampton Airport from Cairns via Townsville.

And Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ as "Navair 131" flew up to Mackay Airport from Bankstown.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

THREE Australian Army Airbus Helicopters H135 'Juno' Training Helicopters Arrive into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

Late on Thursday 28 May, three Australian Army Airbus Helicopters H135 'Juno' training helicopters were noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport as "Jackal" after flying up from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.  They have been identified as N52-101, N52-102 and N52-103 and were parked up for the night.

Then on Friday 29 May, the three H135 helicopters again as "Jackal" flew out of Rockhampton Airport to The Glen Airfield within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back to Rocky.  

They later all returned down to Oakey - N52-101 was noted on radar flying as "Warhorse 27".

Meanwhile, also on Friday 29 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 as "Envoy 89" flew up from Canberra to land at Coffs Harbour and Bundaberg Airport before it then returned to Canberra via a missed approach at Tamworth. 

RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air A32-675 as "Hudson 25", which landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from RAAF Base East Sale late yesterday, departed back to East Sale.

Finally, also on Friday 29 May, Australian Country Choice Properties / Aero Corporate Charters P/L (Brisbane) Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 bizjet VH-ACC departed Hamilton Island Airport for Archerfield.  It appears to have arrived into Hamo from Archerfield via Brisbane at the start of the week.

GBJ Nominees (Navair Flight Operations) Textron (Cessna) 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-IEQ as "Navair 161" looked to arrive into Emerald Airport from Bankstown.  It then departed to Cairns.

And Cairns-based Air Tour Australia Beech B200 King Air VH-LOA visited Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.

Photos taken by Darren Massie  ©

General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) / Team Global Express Raytheon 1900D Freighter VH-YJD Spotted at Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 28 May, General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) / Team Global Express Raytheon 1900D Freighter VH-YJD was spotted completing testing at Emerald Airport.

It had earlier flown in from Brisbane via Biloela / Thangool Airport and then later departed back to Brisbane.

It also seems that VH-YJD completed a test flight to Maryborough Airport from and back to Brisbane on Wednesday 27 May.

This is the first time we have seen the 'new' but second-hand Beech 1900D Freight aircraft that GAM are going to take delivery primarily for Queensland operations for Team Global Express.  VH-YJD (UE-254) was previously N254GL of Alpine Air Express in the USA and was flown over to Melbourne (Essendon) where it was placed on the Australian Aircraft Register late last month.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 28 May, Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) Central Operations Pilatus PC-24 Jet VH-FMP as "Flydoc 802" visited Rockhampton Airport from Alice Springs.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service / Coulson Aviation (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation VH-VJO as "Firescan 201" landed at Gladstone Airport from Brisbane and then departed to complete airwork to the North-East of Gladstone before then heading South to the Sunshine Coast.  It was also noted at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport the previous day.

And McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 06" flew into Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.  It then returned directly to the Sunny Coast.

Finally, also on Thursday 28 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-213 as "Stallion 64" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete a missed approach at Hamilton Island Airport and then Mackay Airport before it then flew back to Amberley. 

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

ConocoPhillips Company Gulfstream G-VII (G600) Bizjet N795CP Spotted at Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 27 May, ConocoPhillips Company Gulfstream G-VII (G600) bizjet N795CP was spotted at Gladstone Airport.  It appears to have visited from Brisbane.

While Cirrus SR22T N312GM flew into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from the Gold Coast. It later flew across to Maryborough Airport and then back to the Goldie.

Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-Q200 VH-TQG flew across from Ballera to Longreach Airport and then to Cairns as SKP551.

Finally, this week, Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 VH-A2N was spotted still parked at Rockhampton Airport after arriving into the country some time ago.

As shown, it still remains without engines...

Photos taken by 'AC' and John Lee  ©