A Special Look at Rockhampton Airport Operations from up the New Control Tower

Earlier this week, local plane spotter 'IAD' and his friend Steve McC were invited up for a look inside the Rockhampton Airport Air Traffic Control Tower.  Naturally, they took their cameras and have sent through some spectacular images from 'on high' of some of the operations at Rockhampton Airport during Exercise Talisman Saber 2013.

Looking to the South over the Rockhampton Airport apron, the broken down United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 90-0533 could be seen still parked on Gate 6.

Looking towards to North - over the cross Runway 04/22 - and further to the General Aviation area at Rockhampton Airport - the 'resident' pair of United States Navy Grumman C-2A Greyhounds 162152 / NF-32 and 162175 / NF-33 could be seen parked following Exercise Talisman Saber 2013.

Meanwhile, on the military parking apron, United States Navy (USN) Boeing C-40A Clipper (B737-7AFC) 165829 was of the VR-58 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron, was photographed departing Rockhampton.

It was soon replaced on the military hardstand by a surprise arrival in the form of Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 VH-FKG which touched down at Rockhampton as UTY613 from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Scherger and Darwin.  It departed later for Sydney, presumably on a troop charter flight.

Probably the highlight of their visit though, was the opportunity to capture a decent photo of the Omni Air International Boeing B767-319(ER) N396AX, which was parked in an awkward position right in front of the Tower.

The new Rockhampton Airport Air Traffic Control Tower was officially opened in March this year and is one of the first towers in Australia to be fitted with the latest air traffic surveillance and communications technology, integrating flight and operational data, surveillance and voice communications into one tower-specific design.  This represented a significant change for air traffic controllers in Rockhampton as they moved away from the traditional paper strips used in the old Control Tower, and towards a full digital system.

File photo

Both 'IAD' and Steve sincerely thank the staff at the Rockhampton Airport Air Traffic Control Tower for allowing them up into the tower for a look, and for allowing them take photos of the goings on at Rockhampton Airport.  And we thank 'IAD' and Steve for sending through their fantastic photos!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Steve McC  ©