Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 Bizjet VH-NJR Pops into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Sunday 1 February, Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR visited Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

File photo

And Muirhead Pastoral Co (Collinsville) Cessna 182 VH-WTO looked to visit Clermont Aerodrome a couple of times over the weekend.

Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ Bizjet VH-JSZ Pops into Clermont Aerodrome - Plus More!

On Saturday 31 January, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield.

File photo

Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI as "Navair 173" flew from Archerfield to Moranbah Airport before then hopping down to Emerald Airport. It later returned to Archerfield.

It flew up with engineers to 'rescue' a couple of broken down QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 aircraft at both airports - VH-LQQ at Moranbah Airport and VH-84L at Emerald Airport.

While Flight One (Services) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-FOJ visited Gladstone Airport from Archerfield.

And Honeybee Air (Sydney) Cirrus SF50-G2 Vision Jet Arivee Xi VH-TEA flew down from Hamilton Island Airport to Roma Airport and Bankstown. It had arrived in the middle of last week and had also completed a couple of runs to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour over the previous couple of days.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-8HP at CQ Airports and Properties - Plus More!

Late on Thursday 29 January, Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-8HP flew from Tierawoomba to Archerfield and back and then to Keeroongooloo.  Then on Friday 30 January, it flew from there to Bundaberg Airport and then to Tierawoomba.  The busy little PC-12 is noted flying around the region to properties in CQ most days of most weeks.

File photo

Another PC-12 which is still a regular visitor to region is re-registered Hewitt Agribusiness (Brisbane) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-8HG (ex N175NG) which on Friday 30 January flew out to Longreach Airport and then across to Alice Springs and Ambalindum.

UPDATE!  Across the weekend, VH-8HG flew back from Alice Springs to Longreach Airport and then to Alpha Aerodrome (it seems!). 

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-006 "Wedgetail 13" Completes Airwork at Rockhampton Airport

On Friday 30 January, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-006 as "Wedgetail 16" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before returning to Williamtown via one at Coffs Harbour.

Later, A30-006 now as "Wedgetail 14" flew up once again from Williamtown to complete a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast and then up to complete three more missed approaches at Rockhampton Airport before then returning back to Williamtown.

Around the same time in the morning, fellow RAAF E-7A A30-002 as "Wedgetail 15" was also noted in the air out of Williamtown but only made it as far North as RAAF Base Amberley where it completed its airwork before returning back to base.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter John L for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Bizjet VH-FGJ Pops into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 29 January,  Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express VH-FGJ was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport.  It looked to arrive from and then later depart to back Melbourne (Essendon).

File photo

While  Honeybee Air (Sydney) Cirrus SF50-G2 Vision Jet Arivee Xi VH-TEA flew up from Bankstown and Roma Airport to Hamilton Island Airport.

And re-registered Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VIF (c/n 183) arrived into Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield. It then departed to Sydney and then back to Archerfield.

Of interest, also on Thursday 29 January, Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services took delivery of their brand new Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF (c/n 602) at Adelaide after it flew all the way from Stans Buochs in Switzerland via all stops!

Finally, also on Thursday 29 January, SmartLynx Australia (Skytrans) Dash-8-100 VH-QQC as SKP531 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville while fellow Dash-8-100 VH-QQB departed Rockhampton Airport to Townsville as SKP532.

New QantasLink Dash-Q400 Next Gen VH-84L (ex C-FUWE) First Flight into CQ at Moranbah Airport on a FIFO Run

On Thursday 29 January, recently delivered QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-84L completed its first ever revenue flight, and it happened to be into CQ, with it touching down at Moranbah Airport on a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight as QLK2812/3 from and back to Brisbane.

It had attempted to enter service on a flight from Brisbane to Wagga Wagga over last weekend but suffered a technical issue and returned back to Brisbane - as pictured above.  It then looked to complete a couple of test flights in the meantime.

The second-hand Dash-8-Q400 is the eighth of 12 (or 14) aircraft that the Qantas Group has purchased from Canadian operator WestJet Encore. VH-84L previously operated as C-FUWE and operated with the airline from September 2014 until May 2023.

The Dash-8 arrived into Australia via Brisbane on Sunday 3 August before then flying down to Canberra on Tuesday 13 January, with it still wearing its Canadian registration marking of C-FUWE, completing a delivery flight from Canada across the Pacific.

It was promptly placed on the Australian Aircraft Register and also given the name 'Bundaberg'.

UPDATE!  On Friday 30 January, VH-84L was planned to complete flights to Rockhampton, Miles and Moranbah Airports.

Photos taken by James Saunders, Darcy Stevens and Lloyd Fox  ©

Torres Strait Air Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander VH-BNG Passes Through CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Wednesday 28 January, Colville Aviation Services (Torres Strait Air) Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander VH-BNG landed at Biloela / Thangool Airport from Coominya (Watts Bridge) and then departed to Emerald, Charters Towers and Cairns Airports.

Emerald-based Amateur-built Lancair 360 VH-HIN visited Rockhampton Airport from there.

Auslink Aviation / Aircrew Training and Support Diamond DA-40 VH-END landed at Gladstone Airport from Archerfield and then departed to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before later returning to Archerfield.

RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH landed at Emerald Airport from Toowoomba before later departing to Archerfield and then back to Toowoomba.

While Townsville-based Forster Helicopters Bell Helicopter Textron 407 helicopter VH-DMF flew a couple of flights from the new Helipower Hangar at Rockhampton Airport.

And Avcair LearJet 60 bizjet VH-AVL flew up from Brisbane to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then Cairns.  It later flew down to Townsville and then Mackay Airport and then back to Brisbane.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-002 as "Mitchel 06" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport before it then returned South to complete a couple more at Coffs Harbour and then back to Williamtown.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-006 "Thumper 12" Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 27 January, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-006 as "Thumper 12" was spotted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

The KC-30A had been earlier operating out over New South Wales and then up towards Roma on air-to-air refuelling operations with fellow RAAF KC-30A A39-004 as "Thumper 11" which completed its flight from and back to RAAF Base Amberley direct.

A39-006 "Thumper 12" flew to Rockhampton Airport to complete a missed approach before it then returned to Amberley.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 27 January, RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 as "Wedgetail 02" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete four missed approaches at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before it then returned to Williamtown.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Scott H who was at the right place at the right time to capture this great photo!

Photo taken by Scott Harris ©️

Local Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 Bizjet N142GZ Back in The Air out of Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 26 January, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air out of Mackay Airport departing to Brisbane and then Sydney.

https://www.instagram.com/mas_kentungs2/

While Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Moorabbin). It then departed to Melbourne (Essendon) and then back to Moorabbin.

Of interest, on Saturday 24 January, VH-XCU flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and Melbourne (Essendon) before later departing back to Moorabbin.

And also on Saturday 24 January, Helibiz / Heli Lift Bell 205A-1 VH-WOC as "Helitack 420" departed Rockhampton Airport for the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

Jetstar Airways Airbus A320-232(WL) VH-X3A (ex 9V-JSJ) Makes First Visit to CQ at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

On Saturday 24 January, Jetstar Airways Airbus A320-232(WL) VH-X3A was noted making its first visit to Central Queensland at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport as it completed the JST832/3 service from and back to Melbourne (Tullamarine).

Photo added...

Of interest, VH-X3A is one of nine twelve recently delivered Airbus A320 aircraft that have entered service with Jetstar Airways that all previously operated with the collapsed Jetstar Asia. This A320 was previously operated by Jetstar Asia as 9V-JSJ.

File photo

9V-JSJ was ferried from Singapore to Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the middle of October last year. It was then placed on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-X3A with this registration marking 'taped' over the Singaporean registration marking.

It was 'delivered' to Jetstar on Thursday 15 January after ferrying from Alice Springs to Melbourne (Tullamarine) with VH-X3A then entering service exactly a week later.

Of interest, the collapse of Jetstar Asia has seen nine twelve of their Airbus A320 ‘classic’ aircraft joining (or for three of them re-joining) the Jetstar Australia fleet. We have provided details on all the 'original' nine A320s to join the Jetstar Australia fleet and it appears that an additional three are also now joining the fleet down under. They are VH-X3A which is ex 9V-JSJ (as described above), VH-X3R which is ex 9V-TRD & 9V-JSY and VH-X3C which is ex 9V-JSL.

Photos taken by Jonathan Williams and Tony Haynes  ©