Careflight Queensland (Aeromed) LearJet 45 VH-CXJ Pops into Rockhampton and Gladstone Airports Friday Night

Certainly a very interesting aircraft movement into CQ late on Friday 30 May with Careflight Queensland (Aeromed) LearJet 45 VH-CXJ calling into Rockhampton and Gladstone Airports on med-evac flights.

VH-CXJ firstly called into Rockhampton from Townsville, touching down at around 8pm.  After over an hour on the ground, it departed to Brisbane.  VH-CXJ then touched down at Gladstone Airport, where local plane spotter Michael F was on hand to capture some great late night images.

VH-CXJ wasn't on the ground long, and after picking up a patient to transfer, it departed to Townsville.  VH-CXJ was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Ambulance 452".

Its actual departure time was in the wee small hours of Saturday 31 May.

Incidentally, its worth mentioning that late on Tuesday 27 May, the locally-based CareFlight Rescue Helicopter - Bell 412EP VH-XCY - was noted operating a training flight and performing circuits at Gladstone Airport without any navigation lights on.  Some locals got in contact wondering what was going on - there's your answer!

Sincere thanks to Michael for capturing and sending through these stunning images!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

More Great Photos from The Old Station Fly-in and Airshow at Raglan Last Weekend

Rockhampton plane spotter Ash B has sent through some of his absolutely stunning images from The Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show at Raglan over last weekend.  Ash actually camped on-site which gave him full access to the gathered aircraft, as well as a front-row seat for the entertainment on the Friday and Saturday nights.  As you will see Ash focused his camera mostly on the gathered aircraft and helicopters, and has captured some absolutely stunning images.  Enjoy!

Sincere thanks to Ash for taking the time to send through these stunning images!

All photos taken by Ash Burggraaff  ©

A Few Bizjets Around Central Queensland Airports This Week

A great week of bizjet action was had at various Central Queensland Airports this week, with by far the star arrival being TAG Aviation (UK) Dassault Falcon 7X G-STMT into Mackay Airport from Brisbane on Tuesday 27 May.

As mentioned below, G-STMT was on the ground for a good portion of Tuesday, before the lovely bizjet departed back South to Brisbane.

Also on Tuesday 27 May, Victorian-based Cessna 650 Citation VII bizjet VH-ING also called into Mackay Airport from Adelaide.  It departed to Melbourne (Essendon) on late Wednesday 28 May.

Up the road at Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport, on Monday 26 May, Jetstream Aviation's bright and colourful Cessna 550 Citation II bizjet VH-VDF made a quick visit from and back to the Sunshine Coast.

On Wednesday 28 May, Yulgibar Pastoral Company (of Montmorency, Victoria) Cessna 550 Citation II VH-FGK called in to Rockhampton once again.  On this occasion, it arrived from Tamworth and Melbourne (Moorabbin).

VH-FGK later departed to Baryulgil and then Tamworth in New South Wales.

Back in the Whitsundays, Jet City (Melbourne) Learjet 45 VH-LJX called in to Hamilton Island from Ayres Rock on Wednesday 28 May.  It later departed to Melbourne (Essendon).

Also on Tuesday 27 May and Wednesday 28 May it appears that Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-MMC performed some airwork at Maryborough Airport.

Finally, on Friday 30 May, Raytheon 390 Premier 1 N7088S departed its Mackay base for Brisbane.

Photos taken by 'AC' and 'IAD'  ©

Some Recent Ferry Flights of Local and International Choppers Through Central Queensland Airports

This week, on Wednesday 28 May, it is believed that Hevilift (of Papua New Guinea) Bell 212 P2-HCT called into Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast and Emerald Airports as it ferried South from Cairns.

Photo taken by the FNQ Skies Blog  ©

Meanwhile, over the course of last weekend, Calibre Aviation (Webb Helicopters) Williams UH-1H "Huey" VH-UEE ferried back into its Emerald base from Cairns.

File photo

About two-weeks ago, fellow PNG-based Bell 212 P2-PAR of Pacific Helicopters was believed to pass through Rockhampton on Tuesday 13 May heading North.  A recent photo at Redcliffe shows this big chopper to have a bright yellow livery.

Finally, New Zealand-based Piper PA-24 Comanche ZK-BAZ was noted arriving into Longreach Airport on Tuesday 6 May from Archerfield.

ZK-BAZ at Bourke - http://bazflyer.blogspot.com.au/

The owners of ZK-BAZ - calling themselves the 'Bazflyers' - are writing about their adventures on the following Blog - http://bazflyer.blogspot.com.au/

Some interesting movements!

And Toll Freight Aviation Metro VH-UZI Also Calls Into Gladstone Airport - TWICE!! (Updated!!)

Also noted visiting Gladstone Airport early on Thursday 29 May was Toll Freight Aviation Metro III Expeditor VH-UZI which seemingly diverted to the port city while operating the early morning TFX110 flight from Brisbane to Biloela / Thangool Airport.

File photos taken by Jamie  ©

It is believed that thick inland fog meant the Metro was unable to land at Thangool. 

VH-UZI departed Gladstone direct to Emerald on the continuation of the TFX110 flight.

UPDATE!  VH-UZI has again touched down at Gladstone Airport, this time early on Friday 30 May.  It was this time operating as TFX162 which normally flys from Brisbane to Rockhampton and Mackay.  The reason for the diversion is not known, however it was noted that VH-UZI departed Gladstone and flew direct to Mackay Airport.

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWR Calls into Gladstone Airport on FIFO Duties

Making a slightly unexpected, but more than welcome visit to Gladstone Airport late on Wednesday 28 May was Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWR which touched down as UTY650 from Brisbane on a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight.

Local plane spotter Michael F popped out to the Airport and captured a great shot of VH-XWR as it sat on the Gladstone Airport apron for the night.

It departed back to Brisbane early on Thursday 29 May as UTY651.

It's also worth noting that over the course of Tuesday 27 May and Wednesday 28 May, Alliance operated Fokker F-70 VH-JFE into Mackay Airport twice on scheduled services for QantasLink.  Certainly a rare change of equipment!

Photo taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

Vincent Aviation (Australia) Grounded and Receivers Appointed

The Australian arm of New Zealand-based regional airline Vincent Aviation has entered receivership, with all flights cancelled with immediate effect and the futures of the airline’s 80 staff thrown into question.

A statement from Vincent Aviation stated that on Wednesday 28 May, receivers and managers of Vincent Aviation (Australia) were appointed and immediately took action to cease trading while an urgent assessment of the business and its operations is undertaken.  Thus, all flights have been cancelled effective immediately until further notice.

The statement makes clear any likelihood of Vincent returning to the air, at least in the near term, is slight.

Vincent’s Australian operations are based in Darwin. It employs 80 staff in Australia, operating a fleet of four SAAB 340 and five Beech 1900D turboprops and a single BAe 146-200 on a mix of RPT and Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) and other charter services.

Flight tracking websites recently showed that Vincent Aviation’s New Zealand-registered BAe 146-200, ZK-ECO, which has been noted numerous times in Central Queensland operating FIFO charter flights from Brisbane, flew from Brisbane to Wellington on Wednesday afternoon.  Moreover, unconfirmed reports suggest that the airline’s SAAB 340s and Beech 1900Ds are being ferried to Townsville for storage.

Vincent Aviation was founded by managing director Peter Vincent in 1990, and is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand. The appointment of receivers to the Australian operation does not include or affect the New Zealand operations of Vincent Aviation Limited.

File photos taken by 'AC' and Don Williams  ©

Another Royal Australian Navy-marked MRH-90 Helicopter A40-028 Calls into Rockhampton Airport

For the second time in a week, an Australian Defence Force (ADF) NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter has called into Rockhampton Airport.  This time the MRH-90 noted calling in on Tuesday 27 May was A40-028.

A week ago, A40-025 was spotted at Rockhampton Airport.  Reports suggest that '025' - which flew South to Oakey - ferried crew to pick up '028' - which is a brand new machine - and ferry the helicopter North to Townsville.

As these great photos by local plane spotter Phil M show, A40-028 wears Royal Australian Navy (RAN) markings.

A40-028 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Destrier 28".

Meanwhile, Phil also captured a couple of photos of Surveillance Australia / Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Dash-8-200 VH-ZZI which also called into Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 27 May.

Thanks Phil!

All photos taken by Phil M  ©