Queensland Government Aircraft - And More - At Mackay Airport This Week

Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) aircraft - Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY and Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ - have both been noted calling into Mackay Airport over recent days.

File photo taken by 'AC'  ©

VH-SGY initially called in from Brisbane on Wednesday 21 October and returned to Brisbane later in the day.  It then operated a return flight to Cairns in the very early hours of Thursday 22 October - I suspect on a medical retrieval flight.  VH-SGY then called back into Mackay Airport later on Thursday 22 October, returning to Brisbane during the afternoon.

VH-SGQ called into Mackay twice on Wednesday 21 October while operating what looked to be a days worth of the usual three-times-a-week prisoner transfer flights on behalf of the Queensland Police Service.  It also called into Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns while on a busy day of flying.

As mentioned below, VH-SGQ also called into Mackay briefly on Monday 19 October from Bundaberg.

Also calling into Mackay Airport in the wee small hours on Thursday 22 October was Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Bell 412 VH-ESD which had operated a med-evac flight South from its Townsville base to the Mackay Base Hospital.  It departed Mackay Airport back to Townsville as "Rescue 521".

Finally, a couple of interesting light General Aviation (GA) visitors to be noted departing Mackay Airport on Wednesday 21 October including Air Charter CQ / Australia by Seaplane DHC-2 Beaver VH-IDO which departed back to its Gladstone base.  While Mile High Aviation Piper PA-34-200 Seneca II VH-SRT was noted visiting the Sugar City for the day from its Maryborough base.