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.

Photos taken by Lloyd Fox and Liam Sellick  ©

Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 Bizjet VH-87X Pops into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 13 April, Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-87X was spotted visiting Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

It arrived from and then later departed back to the Sunshine Coast.

While Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQI flew up to Middlemount Aerodrome from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and Maryborough Airport. It then departed to Rockhampton Airport.

Like many of the other Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter fights into CQ, we probably won’t report on these much anymore.

And Torres Strait Air Britten-Norman (Bembridge) BN-2A-26 Islander VH-IZH flew up from Watts Bridge following planned maintenance to land at Biloela / Thangool Airport, Emerald Airport, Charters Towers Aerodrome and then Cairns.

Finally, also on Monday 13 April, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-209 as "Stallion 27" flew out from RAAF Base Amberley to complete a missed approach at Charleville Airport and up to Rockhampton Airport where it landed for a bit.  It then departed up to Mackay Airport where it completed another missed approach before then landing at Townsville.

Photo taken by Fraser Coast Aviation and Plane Spotting  ©

Teen Pilot Rose Donald Touches Down in CQ in Record Breaking 15000km Trip Around Australia in Cessna 172 VH-DWE

On Monday 13 April, teen pilot Rose Donald touched down in Central Queensland on the latest leg of her reconrd breaking 15000km trip around Australia.  She flew up from Caloundra in her Dino Air / Interair (Victoria) Cessna 172 VH-DWE to land at Bundaberg Airport.

UPDATE!  On 14 April, VH-DWE departed Bundaberg Airport for Biloela / Thangool Airport and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then heading across to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

Pilot Rose, 17, is currently on a 15,000km journey which will take her right around the Australian continent as she raises funds for Little Wings, a charity which provides free transport for sick kids living in rural Australia.

The flight could also potentially earn her the record-breaking title of the youngest female pilot to fly solo around Australia in a small aircraft.

Pilot Rose and VH-DWE originally departed from Melbourne (Essendon) on Easter Monday.

Cirrus Design Corp. SR22T N51GH at Mackay Airport for Demonstration Flights - Plus More!

On Saturday 11 April, Cirrus SR22T N51GH flew up to Mackay Airport from Archerfield. It was then noted completing some local flights.

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Then on Sunday 12 April, N51GH departed Mackay Airport and departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 11 April, Avcair LearJet 60 bizjet VH-AVL flew into Gladstone Airport from Brisbane. It then flew to Townsville and Mackay Airport and then back to Gladstone Airport and Brisbane.

It is believed that VH-AVL is completing medical evacuation flights and given its frequent visits, we probably won’t report on it much more - similarly to the LifeFlight Challenger bizjets and their almost daily medical evacuation flights in and out of CQ.

Finally, also on Sunday 12 April, Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from and then back to Sunshine Coast.

New QantasLink Dash-Q400 Next Gen VH-84J (ex C-FQWE) First Flight into CQ at Gladstone Airport

On Sunday 12 April, recently delivered QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-84J completed its first revenue flight into CQ, with it touching down at Gladstone Airport as QLK2336/7 from and back to Brisbane. It had earlier flown up from Canberra after spending some time operating in the Southern states.

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VH-84J then returned to Gladstone Airport for an overnight stay as QLK2340. It is expected to leave early on Monday 13 April as QLK2329. It is scheduled to also then visit Bundaberg and Moranbah Airport later on Monday 13 April.

The second-hand Dash-8-Q400 is the tenth of 12 (or 14) aircraft that the Qantas Group has purchased from Canadian operator WestJet Encore. VH-84J previously operated as C-FQWE and operated with the airline from June 2014 until November 2025.

The Dash-8 arrived into Australia via Brisbane on Thursday 26 March - as shown below.  

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

Photos taken by Quentin Cowman, Vernon Harvey and James Saunders  ©

A Pair of RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft Complete Airwork at CQ Airports - A34-001 "Wallaby 16" & A34-004 "Wallaby 17" - Plus More!

On Friday 10 April, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft were noted completing airwork at a couple Central Queensland Airports.

File photo

Spartan A34-001 as "Wallaby 16" flew up from RAAF Base Amberley to complete a missed approach at Gladstone Airport before then completing a couple more at Bundaberg Airport and then Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before then returning to Amberley.

At the same time, A34-004 as "Wallaby 17" flew up to a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport before then flying low level down the Burnett River to the coast and up to Agnes Water before it climbed and flew west to Thangool and then flew low level back to Amberley where it completed more approaches there. 

Meanwhile, also on Friday 10 April, Belle Boats P/L (Victoria) Cirrus SF50 bizjet VH-L4S visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Archerfield. 

After arriving over a week ago, Linfox Global Charter / Air National Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-LEP finally departed Hamilton Island Airport for Melbourne (Avalon).

Revesco Aviation (Western Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJC flew into Mackay Airport from Perth via Mount Isa.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 April, VH-NJC departed Mackay Airport and returned West via Mount Isa.  It was spotted above during its stay!

National Jet Express Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-IYJ flew into Mackay Airport from Brisbane as 'JTE440'.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 11 April, VH-IYJ again as 'JTE440' departed Mackay Airport for Cairns.  It later returned to Mackay Airport and then back to Brisbane but as 'JTE441'.  The flights are believed to the rugby league football charter flights.

And three Queensland Police Service (Airwing) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300C Super King Air 350 Kingair turboprop aircraft have all been in and out of Central Queensland Airports over the course of the week.

On Friday, VH-8PD visited Rockhampton Airport from Mount Isa.

 

VH-8PH visited Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.

And VH-8PE has also been around this week too!

Photos taken by Scott Harris and 'AC'  ©

VistaJet Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 Bizjet 9H-VJX 'VJT972' Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 9 April, VistaJet Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet 9H-VJX as 'VJT972' / "Vistajet 972" was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.

It flew down from Cairns and then departed to Townsville where it was photographed above and seemingly staying for parking.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 12 April, 9H-VJX as 'VJT972' / "Vistajet 972" returned to Hamilton Island Airport from Townsville before then departing to Sydney.

While Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY hopped from Mackay Airport to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour before it then departed to the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Swan Hill, Horsham and Waikerie.  It was due to fly back to the Sunshine Coast later. 

Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up to Natal Downs from Archerfield and Toowoomba-Wellcamp and this afternoon returned to those places. 

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-009 as "Wallaby 43" flew into Bundaberg Airport from RAAF Base Amberley. The same Spartan A34-009 but as "Wallaby 41" was noted completing a low level flight up the Fraser Coast out of RAAF Base Amberley but on Wednesday 8 April.

Finally, also on a quiet Wednesday 8 April, re-registered Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-NFH was noted departing Longreach Airport for the South.  It had arrived from Moree and Toowoomba the previous day.

Of interest, it appears VH-NFH was only placed on the Australian Aircraft register late last month and was previously registered as VH-DNG.

UPDATE!  In mid-May 2026, VH-NFH was re-registered to Gulf Coast Aviation at Moree.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Real Time Aviation - Brisbane - Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ Bizjet VH-JSZ Calls into my local Clermont Aerodrome - Plus Much More!

On Tuesday 7 April, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield and Dalby. 

File photo

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Raytheon B200 King Air VH-NSN as "Machflight 242" flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast. 

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

This is the reverse a flight it did late last week.

Meanwhile on Monday 6 April, NQ Heli-Worx (Townsville) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 VH-8GK visited Hamilton Island Airport possibly from Townsville.

Fellow NQ Heli-Worx (Meridan Helicopters) Aerospatiale AS350 B2 Squirrel helicopter VH-MHE as "Energy 401" has been operating out of Rockhampton Airport around the Stanwell Power House over the weekend. 

And Brisbane based Beech 58 Baron VH-L2G, which flew up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport last Friday, returned South to Bundaberg Airport and then Toowoomba. 

Finally, very late on Friday 3 April, Air Link (Dubbo) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SEQ flew up from Brisbane and Archerfield to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport - touching down just after midnight on Saturday 4 April.  It then departed back to Archerfield.  Sneaky!

LifeFlight and QGAir Rescue Helicopters Pass Through CQ Airports Heading to All Corners of the State - Plus a Few Bizjets Around too!!

On Wednesday 1 April, LifeFlight Leonardo SPA Helicopters AW139 helicopter VH-LF4 landed at Longreach Airport from Archerfield and Roma Airports and then departed to Mount Isa.  It will operated there as "Rescue 400".

Then on Thursday 2 April, fellow LifeFlight AW139 helicopter VH-LF3 also passed through Longreach Airport arriving from Mount Isa and departing for Roma Airport and the Sunshine Coast.

While also on Wednesday 1 April, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESZ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and then departed to Archerfield.  It will operate there as "Rescue 521".

Then on Thursday 2 April, fellow QGAir AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ also passed through Rockhampton Airport arriving from Archerfield and departing to Townsville.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 2 April, there were several corporate bizjets noted around various Central Queensland Airports.

 Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ departed Longreach Airport for Cairns and Mareeba.  It appears to have arrived from those places on Tuesday 31 March and was photographed below on Wednesday 1 April.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X A56-001 "Envoy 18" popped into Charleville Airport arriving from Canberra and departing to Moree and then back to Canberra.

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services new Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and then departed to Hamilton Island Airport - BUT it diverted into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before then departing there and heading back to Archerfield. 

Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR visited Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

Linfox Global Charter / Air National Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-LEP arrived into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon). 

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  It then departed to Melbourne (Essendon).

And McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-ZPY as "Machflight 73/121" visited Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.

Finally, on a relatively quiet Wednesday 1 April, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ, which landed at Natal Downs on Monday, hopped to Clermont Aerodrome and then Emerald Airport before later returning to Clermont Aerodrome and then departing there to Archerfield.

All photos taken by Liam Sellick  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 "Envoy 12" Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 31 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 was spotted on the ground at Rockhampton Airport.

It was flying as "Envoy 12" and arrived from Canberra and RAAF Base Williamtown then departed back to Williamtown.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 31 March, National Jet Express Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-8QB as "Jetex 440" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane and then departed to Cairns and Horn Island as "Jetex 442" on a school holiday charter.  Later it returned to Townsville as "Jetex 445".

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXB flew out from Sunshine Coast to Rolleston Aerodrome and then down to Injune Aerodrome and then back to the Sunshine Coast.

Finally, on Monday 30 March, NQ Goldfields Beech 58 Baron VH-SNZ visited Clermont Aerodrome from Charters Towers Aerodrome again.

Vee H Aviation (Link Airways) Beech B200GT Super King Air 250 VH-VEW also made its usual Monday run up from Brisbane to the Oaky Creek Mine Site and then Clermont Aerodrome and then back to Brisbane.

And Consolidated Pastoral Company P/L Cessna 421C Golden Eagle VH-UTC landed at Longreach Airport from Mount Isa then departed to Archerfield.