A Few Corporate Bizjets Around CQ Airport including Citation VH-JSZ and Eclipse N257AK Spotted at The Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour

On Monday 20 September, there were a number of corporate bizjets and light General Aviation (GA) aircraft around several Central Queensland Airports.

Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ was spotted arriving into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

It flew up from Archerfield and then departed to Natal Downs.

And the often visiting American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK arrived into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from Archerfield.

N257AK looks to now arrive each Monday and depart the Whitsunday each Thursday.

It's also worth mentioning that at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour, the locally-based Skydive Airline Beach is now operating Wollongong-registered Cessna 208 Caravan skydiving aircraft VH-NMV.  It arrived into Shute Harbour from Cairns and Tully on Saturday 18 September.

Their previous Cessna 208 Caravan VH-DZQ departed to Tully and Cairns on Saturday 18 September.

And also locally-based Fly Australia Airlines (Charter) continues to operate Cessna U206F VH-AEH and Cessna 172G VH-PLV on local scenic and charter flights.  There are reports that an additional two aircraft are soon to be flown to the Whitsundays to take up operations with them. 

Elsewhere in the Whitsundays, also on Monday 20 September, Air Charter Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-VKX popped into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Brisbane.  It then departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Private Pilatus Aircraft PC-24 'Super Versatile Jet' corporate bizjet VH-FGM flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from Adelaide.  It looked to stay parked on Hamo.

While down the road at Mackay Airport, Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-ILJ visited Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Further South, MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign VH-MMC popped into Rockhampton Airport while flying down from Cairns to the Sunshine Coast.

And Redjet Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-SCC flew up from the Sunshine Coast to complete airwork at Bundaberg Airport.  It then returned to the Sunny Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 20 September, several light General Aviation (GA) visitors to CQ Airports included Sunshine Coast-based Rockwell International 114 VH-KSW which arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Caboolture.

Cloncurry-based Lorraine Pastoral P/L Cessna T206H VH-LPR also arrived into Rockhampton Airport but from Hughenden. 

While up at Mackay Airport, Flightech Aviation Piper PA-31-350 Navajo VH-WZS visited from Townsville, and 

And Brisbane-based Bell Helicopter Textron 429 looked to touch down at Hamilton Island Airport after flying up from Archerifeld via Gladstone, and Mackay Airports.

https://www.instagram.com/hamiltonislandair/

VH-SUV joins fellow Bell 429 VH-EQP on the ground at Hamilton Island Airport (shown above) with both helicopters reportedly bringing passengers up for a holiday in the stunning Whitsundays.

Finally, also on Monday 20 September, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was noted arriving into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 21 September, VH-SGQ flew to Bundaberg Airport and back to Hervey Bay Airport.

And the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK flew down from Cairns and Townsville to Maryborough Airport before it later departed to Brisbane.  VH-PSK then returned to Townsville and Cairns.

Photos taken by Lee Holloway  ©️

Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQG Calls into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and Rockhampton Airports

On Monday 20 September, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQG was noted operating (for the first time) the new (one week old) Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) SKP81/83 service from Cairns to Rockhampton Airport via Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

File photo

It was then turned around at completed the SKP82 back to Prosie and Cairns.

Recently Delivered Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-SHI Pops into Central Queensland Airports - Plus More!

On Sunday 19 September, recently delivered Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.  It arrived from Archerfield and the Sunshine Coast and later departed to Archerfield.

File photo

It appears that VH-SHI visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport on Saturday 18 September, arriving from the Gold Coast and Archerfield and later departing back to Archerfield.

Of interest, VH-SHI looked to be delivered to Australia via Darwin and the Gold Coast at the end of August - as pictured above.

Meanwhile, also noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport, also on Sunday 19 September, was the familiar sight of Corporate Aviation Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopter VH-EQP.  It called in from its Southport base via Gladstone Airport.

While Brisbane-based Cessna 421C VH-DEG called into Mackay Airport from Archerfield.  It also visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Archerfield on Saturday 18 September.

And FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived from Toowoomba and departed to Archerfield before returning to Toowoomba.

Finally, also on Sunday 19 September, and on Saturday 18 September, a couple Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) / Qantas Group Pilot Academy Diamond DA-40 Star training aircraft were noted visiting some Central Queensland Airports, all flying out of their Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airport base.

VH-ERE, VH-YBR, VH-YNW, VH-PQR, VH-YTU, VH-YTE, VH-YTK, VH-EQO and VH-YTG all looked to visit Hervey Bay and/or Bundaberg Airports at different times during both days.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV Bizjet VH-NJR Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 18 September, Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV bizjet VH-NJR was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from its Brisbane base.

VH-NJR prepares to depart Brisbane for Hamilton Island Airport  (https://www.facebook.com/avminaircharter)

It looks to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 19 September, VH-NJR departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Brisbane.

Also on Saturday 18 September, Brisbane-based FIFO Jet P/L Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ was noted arriving visiting Bundaberg and Rockhampton Airports.  It flew up from Archerfield and looks to be staying at Rocky for at least the night.

Seair Pacific Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TQI Calls into Lady Elliot Island and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airports on First Day of Operations

Interesting to note on Saturday 18 September that Seair Pacific operated what appears to be their recently acquired Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TQI on one of their daily flights to Lady Elliot Island Airport.

VH-TQI looked to depart its Gold Coast base for Redcliffe before heading up to Lady Elliot Island.  It then flew across to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and back to Lady Elliot Island before then returning to Redcliffe and the Gold Coast.

It appears that VH-TQI completed an across-Australia ferry flight last week from Broome in Western Australia via Charleville Airport (and other places) to the Gold Coast. 

Of interest, fellow Seair Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LMD recently had floats applied - as shown in July below.

However, VH-LMD was recently noted with the floats removed once again.

Photos taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker Embraer E-190 VH-UYN and Fokker F-70 VH-QQY at Mackay Airport on NRL Charters

On Saturday 18 September, another pair of Alliance Airlines jets were noted visiting Mackay Airport, bringing players and support staff to the sugar city for the National Rugby League (NRL) semi final game between the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels.

VH-UYN at Mackay Airport the previous day  (File photo)

Again, it’s unclear which team travelled on which flight, but Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 VH-UYN touched down at Mackay Airport again from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast as UTY3384.

And Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 touched down at Mackay Airport from Brisbane and the Gold Coast as UTY3392.

After the game, both Alliance Airlines aircraft departed Mackay Airport, with VH-UYN returning to the Sunshine Coast and then Brisbane but as UTY3385, while VH-QQY departed direct to Brisbane but as UTY3393.

Photo taken by ‘JM’  ©️

Jampair P/L Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E Bizjet VH-NSQ Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 17 September, Jampair P/L Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to arrive from Toowoomba-Wellcamp and then Sunshine Coast before later departing to Bankstown.

File photo

Meanwhile, also on Friday 17 September, Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-ILJ visited a couple of Central Queensland Airport while on a busy day of flying.  It firstly visited Emerald Airport from Brisbane before then visiting Mackay Airport also from Brisbane.  It is reported that VH-ILJ was operating a medical retrieval flight.

While Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY was spotted parked at Mackay Airport.  It had earlier arrived from the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  VH-SIY returned to the Sunshine Coast later on Friday night - no doubt after the footy!

Finally, also on Friday 17 September, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK flew down from Cairns and Townsville to Bundaberg Airport before it later departed to Brisbane.  VH-PSK then returned to Cairns.

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXB visited Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.

Photos taken by Tony Haynes and 'JM'  ©️

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" Completes Airwork Around Bundaberg Airport

On Friday 17 September, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was noted completing a training flight including some airwork at Bundaberg Airport.

File photo

It looked to fly up from and then later return to Brisbane.

Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 Regional Jets VH-UYN and VH-UYK Spotted at Mackay Airport on NRL Charters

On Friday 17 September, a pair of recently delivered Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 regional jets were spotted visiting Mackay Airport, bringing players and support staff to the sugar city for the National Rugby League (NRL) semi final game between the Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters.

It’s unclear which team travelled on which flight, but Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 VH-UYN touched down at Mackay Airport from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast as UTY3380.

And Alliance Airlines Embraer E-190 VH-UYK also touched down at Mackay Airport from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast but as UTY3388.

After the game, both Alliance Airlines aircraft returned to their respective departure points with VH-UYN returning to the Sunshine Coast Brisbane but as UTY3381, while VH-UYK flew back to the Sunshine Coast only as UTY3389.

If interest, this is the first time that VH-UYK has visited Central Queensland and the first time an Alliance Airlines E-190 has touched down at Mackay Airport.

VH-UYK  is ex-N989QQ with the former Copa Airlines E-190 being delivered to Alliance Airlines in Brisbane at the end of June 2021.

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

All photos taken by ‘JM’  ©️

Qantas / QantasLink Starts Scheduled Services from Brisbane into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport with Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQD Touching Down

On Friday 17 September, there was another new flight service this week for Central Queensland and in particular the Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport with Qantas / QantasLink touching down in its own right for the first time in 17 years.

The first flight was completed by QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQD which operated the QLK2525/6 service into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from and back to Brisbane.

Celebrations were held at the Airport along with the traditional water-cannon salute from the local aviation rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) service.

Qantas / QantasLink will operate up to seven weekly return flights on the route with its 74-seat Dash-8-Q400 turboprop aircraft, adding more than 1000 seats each week.

All the best the this new route - and even more reasons to visit the beautiful Whitsundays region!

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©