Monday, June 24, 2013

Some Photos of Recent Central Queensland Helicopter Action

A few helicopters have been spotted in recent days at various Central Queensland airports, with a pair of Reid Heliwork Robinson R-44 helicopters spotted performing aerial survey work over Gladstone on Friday 21 June.


R-44 VH-HZQ was first to be spotted landing at Gladstone Airport by local plane spotters Jamie C and Tash C.



Fellow Reid Heliwork Robinson R-44 VH-HIB was close behind.



Reid Heliwork is based at Emerald and has been flying since the late 1990's.  Reid Heliwork operations include general charter, aerial survey, aerial photography and filming, aerial mustering, feral animal control, powerline and gas pipeline inspections, agricultural spraying and seeding and fire lighting.  Reid Heliwork currently operates a fleet of Bell 206 Jetranger and Robinson R-44 helicopters that operate all over Queensland and often interstate.



Tash also captured more stunning images of the Gladstone-based Careflight-operated Bell 412EP helicopter VH-XCY as it returned to Gladstone Airport from yet another flight on Friday 21 June.






Meanwhile, up the road at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 22 June, local plane spotter Don W captured a great photo of the new Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service (CQ Rescue) Australian Helicopters-operated Bell 412EP VH-CQJ as it passed through Rockhampton Airport on its North-bound journey to Mackay.  It is believed that VH-CQJ had earlier arrived from Bundaberg. 


As we've reported, Australian Helicopters has been selected as the new helicopter provider to support both Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service (CQ Rescue), based at Mackay Airport, and Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS), based at Rockhampton Airport, to assist with emergency response on behalf of Queensland Health. 

Don also captured  lovely image of the soon-to-be-replaced Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-JRD on Sunday 23 June. The CHRS chopper - "Rescue 300" - is owned and operated by Jayrow Helicopters.


Finally, on Monday 24 June, McDermott Aviation Bell 214B-1 Biglifter Helicopter N234PH was spotted passing through Rockhampton Airport again.




The movements of the big Bell chopper are unclear, however N234PH passed through Rockhampton late last week heading North, so presumably it was heading back South when spotted on Monday.

Sincere thanks to our fantastic contributors - Jamie C and Tash C at Gladstone, and 'IAD' and Don W at Rockhampton - your time and effort are sincerely appreciated!!

Photos taken by Jamie C, Tash C, ‘IAD’ and Don Williams  ©

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