Exercise Wallaby 2019 - Air New Zealand and Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787 Dreamliners ZK-NZH and V8-DLC Back at Rockhampton Airport

And just like that, on Wednesday 16 October, the second 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2019 wrapped up with both Air New Zealand and Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft touching down once again at Rockhampton Airport.

The Air New Zealand Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZH was again first to touch down, this time flying into Rocky direct from Singapore's Changi Airport but as ANZ1948.

After again unloading and re-loading full flights of passengers and their bags, ZK-NZH made a night-time departure from Rockhampton Airport and returned to Singapore but as ANZ1949.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 17 October, ZK-NZH positioned empty back to Auckland from Singapore as ANZ6010.

Soon after the Air New Zealand Dreamliner departed Rockhampton Airport, after dark also on Wednesday 16 October, the Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLC also arrived back into Rockhampton Airport from Singapore but as RBA4273. 

On this occasion, the Royal Brunei Dreamliner also unloaded and re-loaded full flights of passengers and their bags.  V8-DLC then departed back to Singapore but as RBA4274.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 17 October, V8-DLC positioned empty back to Brunei from Singapore again as RBA4274.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Scott Harris  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2019 - Second Wave of Heavy Jet Charters into Rockhampton Airport Commence - Air New Zealand and Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787 Dreamliners ZK-NZH and V8-DLC Call In

During the early afternoon on Tuesday 15 October, the second 'wave' of heavy jet charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2019 kicked off with Air New Zealand Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZH touching down direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as ANZ1946.  It had earlier positioned direct to Singapore from Auckland as ANZ6007.

As per usual, the Dreamliner touched down and taxied in and parked on Gate 6 on the southern end of the parking apron.

After unloading and re-loading full flights of passengers and their bags, ZK-NZH made a night-time departure from Rockhampton Airport and returned to Singapore but as ANZ1947.  It was even interesting to note that some local Singaporean beer was imported!

ZK-NZH is expected to turn around and head back to Rockhampton Airport where it will touch down in the afternoon on Wednesday 16 October.

Soon after the Air New Zealand Dreamliner departed Rockhampton Airport, then after dark also on Tuesday 15 October, Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLC also arrived into Rockhampton Airport but as RBA4271.  It looked to arrive empty direct from Brunei as RBA4271.

After it was loaded with a full flight of passenger and their bags, V8-DLC departed to Singapore's Changi Airport but as RBA4272.  It too is expected to turn around and head back to Rockhampton Airport where it will touch down again after dark on Wednesday 16 October.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Photos taken by 'IAD', Scott Harris, Trevor Hardsman and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Great Photos of Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-NUU 'Pink Lady' at Bundaberg Airport Operating for Virgin Australia Airlines

Photographed visiting Bundaberg Airport on Sunday 13 October was Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jet VH-NUU which continues to operate various Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights, as well as Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) services into Central Queensland Airports on behalf of Virgin Australia Airlines.

Local plane spotter Dan B of Dan Beck Photography was on hand at Bundaberg Airport as the Fokker arrived from Brisbane as VOZ2973.  It later returned to the capital as VOZ2972.

As can be seen and as mentioned previously, Alliance Airlines is continuing its partnership with Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) by operating this specially themed Fokker F-70 VH-NUU in full BCNA colours - supporting Australians affected by breast cancer.  The distinctively coloured F-70 named 'Pink Lady' has been designed by Lila Design in Tilburg, The Netherlands (EU).

VH-NUU will surely attract some attention during its work flying around regional Australia.  More about BCNA at:  http://www.bcna.org.au

Sincere thanks to Dan B from Dan Beck Photography for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Dan B  ©

PNG Registered Pacific Helicopters Bell 212 P2-PAP Spotted at CQ Airports Heading South

A lovely surprise visiting helicopter photographed at CQ Airports on Sunday 13 October was Papua New Guinea (PNG) based Pacific Helicopters Bell 212 P2-PAP. 

It was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from the North, and after taking on fuel, it was photographed below departing to Bundaberg Airport.

P2-PAP was also photographed on the ground at Bundaberg Airport (above) receiving fuel.

It later departed and continued to the South.

Sincere thanks to Trevor H and Dan from Dan Beck Photography for allowing us to share these great photos!

Photos taken by Trevor Hardsman and Dan B  ©

RAAF Beech B300 Super King Air Turboprop A32-426 "Hudson 28" Calls into Longreach and Mackay Airports

On Saturday 12 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B300 Super King Air turboprop A32-426 was noted visiting a couple of Central Queensland Airports.

File photo

Flying as "Hudson 28", the Super King Air originally left RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria and landed at RAAF Base Amberley for a short time.  It then flew up to Longreach Airport where it landed and spent a couple of hours on the ground.

A32-426 "Hudson 28" then flew up to Mackay Airport where it appears to be spending the night.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 13 October, A32-426 "Hudson 28" departed Mackay Airport for Amberley, Coffs Harbour and East Sale.  It then flew into Melbourne (Essendon).

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" Pops into Mackay Airport Twice!

During what turned out to be a busy day of flying on Saturday 12 October, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was making two visits to Mackay Airport on what could have been both medical evacuation flights.

File photo

VH-URR originally called into Mackay Airport from its Brisbane base before it then later continued to Townsville.  VH-URR then flew to Cairns before it returned South to Mackay Airport.  VH-URR then returned to Brisbane.

Emerald Airport Runway and Taxiway Resurfacing Project Commences

Pre-construction works began at Emerald Airport in late September as the Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) prepares to resurface the main runway, taxiway and apron bays as part of a $16 million capital investment.

CHRC Mayor Kerry Hayes said the main runway's existing asphalt surface was almost 20 years old and approaching the end of its functional life.

The construction phase for the resurfacing was expected to take around three months and would involve night works.

The entire program also includes a $3 million upgrade to the general aviation area, which will commence at the same time and is expected to be completed by February 2020.  These works will involve reconstructing the general and eastern aviation apron, and the refuelling area, in addition to widening the taxiway apron.

The works are jointly funded by the Australian Government, and through the Queensland Government's Building our Regions program, in association with Central Highlands Regional Council.

American Registered Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP (G550) Bizjet N360LF Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport

During the late afternoon on Friday 11 October, American-registered but Australian-based Gulfstream Aerospace G550 bizjet N360LF was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Sydney.

N360LF departs Sydney Airport on a previous visit  (File photo)

At the time of writing, N360LF, which appears to be normally based at Sydney, appears to be spending the night parked on Hamo.

Photo taken by Grahame Hutchison  ©

Hevilift Australia ATR 72-500 VH-FVM Pops into Rockhampton Airport Again on Charter

After heading North a couple of weeks ago, during the afternoon on Friday 11 October, Hevilift Australia (Fixed Wing Division) ATR 72-500 VH-FVM was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport once again, this time arriving direct from Horn Island as HT706.

File photo

After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-FVM departed Rockhampton Airport for Brisbane, again as HT706.

VH-FVM had flown North from Rocky to Horn Island in the middle of September (pictured) on what was thought to have been a closed charter flight transporting boarding school students between home and school in Rocky.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©️

Airmed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-SQY Pops into Bundaberg Airport

On Thursday 10 October, AirMed Australia Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQY was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport from Bankstown via Armidale and Archerfield. It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Airmed 921".

File photo

After being on the ground for around an hour, VH-SQY departed back to Bankstown in New South Wales again as "Airmed 921".

The sleek little bizjet has recently has its operator details updated to AirMed Australia - a New South Wales (NSW) based organisation that has been providing patient transport services by air and by ground for over a decade.  They promote themselves as one of the few providers that have extensive air and ground assets positioned around NSW, thus enabling them to provide our customers with a true "bed-to-bed" service.

To find out more about AirMed, visit their website at:  http://airmed.com.au/

Meanwhile, the seemingly Bundaberg Airport-based Avcair (Earth Commodities) Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ, flew back to Sydney from Bundy also on Thursday 10 October.  As mentioned below, it completed two return flights to Sydney and one to Brisbane on Wednesday 9 October.

A couple of interesting corporate turboprop aircraft also noted at CQ Airports also on Thursday 10 October, included Brisbane-based SOCATA TBM 700 VH-PGA, which landed on a property South-West est of Baralaba before later heading across to Rockhampton Airport.  It then departed to the South-West.

UPDATE!  VH-PGA was noted visiting Emerald Airport - amongst other places - on Friday 11 October before ending the day back at Archerfield.

Plus Canberra-based SOCATA TBM 700 VH-YZZ departed Gladstone Airport for its Canberra home also on Thursday 10 October.  Had arrived from Ballina on Sunday 6 October.

Photo taken by Greg Weir  ©