Flight Cancellations sees Virgin Australia B737-800 VH-YFK Operate Gladstone to Rockhampton Airport then Brisbane

On Monday 31 October, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YFK was noted arriving into Gladstone Airport as VOZ1707 from Brisbane.

VH-YFK during a previous visit to Gladstone Airport  (File photo)

It then departed to Rockhampton Airport as VOZ1710 before continuing to Brisbane.

This diversion was reportedly caused by the cancellation of a pair of Virgin Australia flights in and out of Rockhampton Airport early on Monday 31 October. The VOZ1231/1234 and VOZ1239/1242 services to Rocky from and then back to Brisbane were both cancelled for an unknown reason.

Meanwhile, also on Virgin Australia, as we highlighted on our Facebook page, last Friday 28 October, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VOM diverted to Rockhampton Airport while operating as VOZ779 from Brisbane to Cairns.  It was heard to make a 'pan' radio call and was believed to have diverted to due to a sick passenger.

VH-VOM continued to Cairns a short time later.

Photo taken by Anthony Schulz  ©

And Yet More Bizjets and Corporate Turboprops Come and Go at CQ Airports

Over the course of the last couple of days, a couple more Australian-based corporate bizjets and turboprops have been noted calling into CQ Airports.

The action continues over on Hamilton Island Airport with, on Saturday 29 October, Business Aviation Solutions Cessna 650 Citation VII VH-DHN visiting from Brisbane.

While on Friday 28 October, NetJets (Australasian Jet) Cessna 501 Citation I/SP VH-FUM arrived at Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.

VH-FUM arrives at the Whitsunday Airport earlier this year  (File photo taken by Stan Wright  ©)

Also believed to have called into Hamo from Essendon a bit later on Friday 28 October was Marcplan Charter Embraer EMB- 135BJ Legacy VH-VLT.  It appears to have departed South on Saturday 29 October as it was spotted at Newcastle (Williamtown) Airport during the day.

Back on the mainland, Jetstream Aviation (Emprja P/L) Cessna 550 Citation II VH-VDF remains parked at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport after arriving from the Sunshine Coast on Thursday 27 October.

UPDATE!  VH-VDF departed Prosie for the Sunshine Coast on Sunday 30 October.

Down at Mackay Airport, on Friday 28 October, locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ departed for Brisbane.

UPDATE!  N142GZ returned to Mackay from Brisbane on Sunday 30 October.

Late on Friday 28 October, LifeFlight (ex Careflight Queensland) LearJet 45 VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" called into Mackay Airport from Cairns and Townsville.  It looked to be completing a medical evacuation flight and departed a little while later to Brisbane.

Also noted visiting Mackay Airport on Friday 28 October was Armada Aviation (of Ringwood in Victoria) Pilatus PC-12 VH-NWI.  It arrived from Bankstown and departed during the early evening for Essendon.  VH-NWI was due to call into Mackay Airport on Saturday 29 October but this flight didn't occur.

Donald Withers / http://flightaware.com/

Also on Friday 28 October, Cessna 421C Golden Eagle VH-UTC popped in from Cairns and departed to Caboolture, while Bayswater Road / Australian Aerial Mapping (AAM) Cessna 404 Titan VH-LAD arrived.

And AirServices Australia / Pearl Aviation Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-FIY was also noted completing another navaid calibration flight on Friday 28 October, flying out of and back to Mackay Airport again as 'ADA3'.

UPDATE!  VH-FIY departed Mackay Airport on Sunday 30 October for Brisbane at the completion of its visit.

Finally, the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ continues to operate out of Longreach Airport completing a flight to Winton and Muttaburra and back to Longreach on Friday 28 October.

A Couple of Photos from the RACQ-Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) Gladstone Community Day with Bell 412EP VH-EPR "Rescue 300"

On Saturday 29 October, the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) hosted a Community Day in Gladstone at the local Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC).

The day forms a part of 'Rescue Chopper Week'.

CHRS (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412EP chopper VH-EPR "Rescue 300" ventured down from their Rockhampton Airport base to Gladstone and was open for inspection during its stay in Gladstone.  Also available were photos with the CHRS crew, face painting and jumping castle for the children and a sausage sizzle.

And on Sunday 30 October, the CHRS will host a Community Day in Rockhampton at the RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service Hangar, at Rockhampton Airport, on Canoona Road, between 10am and 12noon.

Again, VH-EPR (or maybe fellow CHRS Bell 412 VH-LSY which is also currently at Rockhampton) will be on display and there will be photos available with the crew.  There is also face painting, balloons and snow cones for the children and a sausage sizzle.

Thanks to local plane spotter Michael F for sending through these great photos from the Gladstone Community Day.

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 Touches Down at Rockhampton Airport

Late on Friday 28 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 made a spectacular arrival into Rockhampton Airport.

The massive transport aircraft operated by the RAAF's 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley touched down from Darwin as "Ausy 758".

After unloading several troops and their cargo, the C-17 continued to Amberley.

UPDATE!  It appears that the C-17 came to Rocky to deliver troops and their freight who are believed to be participating alongside the Singapore Armed Forces in the bilateral ship-to-shore Exercise Trident which will be run in conjunction with Exercise Wallaby 2016 during the next week.

Meanwhile, shortly before the C-17 arrived, RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-005 completed a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport also late on Friday 28 October.

It looked to fly South to Rocky from Townsville and after completing its airwork, continued further South to Amberley.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters 'IAD' and Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSV at Mackay and Rockhampton Airports Friday

Making a rare trip South from its (normally) Cairns base on Friday 28 October was the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSV.  It flew South from Cairns to Townsville and then Rockhampton Airport before heading to Mackay Airport.  It then returned to Townsville and Cairns.

Police Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSY at Mackay Airport  (File photo)

VH-PSV could have possibly been operating one of the three-times-per-week prisoner transfer flights up and down the Queensland coast.

Of interest, VH-PSV is one of three Cessna 208 Caravans - along with VH-PSQ and VH-PSY - that the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) operated from bases in Brisbane, Cairns and Mount Isa.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

A Few Photos of RAAF Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 at Bundaberg Airport on Wednesday

As we posted below, on Wednesday 26 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DF(BBJ) A36-002 was spotted completing a training flight through both Rockhampton and Bundaberg Airports as "Envoy 28".

Local plane spotter Micah S was on hand at Bundaberg Airport to capture some of the action as the BBJ touched down in the rum city from Rockhampton and shortly after took on some 5000L of Jet A-1 fuel.

Micah even captured a quick video as the integrated stairs in the RAAF BBJ deployed prior to the crew disembarking.

Once complete, A36-002 then departed Bundy for Tamworth (New South Wales).

Sincere thanks to Micah for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos and video taken by Micah S  ©

A Visit by PM Turnbull and Deputy PM Joyce Brings RAAF VIP 34 Squadron Aircraft to Rockhampton Airport Wednesday and Thursday

A busy 12 hours or so at Rockhampton Airport with three aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) VIP 34 Squadron touching down transporting the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce in and out of town for a series of engagements.

As we reported on our Facebook page, PM Turnbull was noted visiting Western Queensland (Birdsville and Winton) on Wednesday 26 October before touching down at Rockhampton Airport later in the evening on board (RAAF) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet A37-002 which was noted flying as "Regent 86".

Early on Thursday 27 October, A37-002 departed Rocky for Canberra and it was believed that it may have departed empty.

As it departed, fellow RAAF Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet A37-001 touched down at Rockhampton Airport possibly from Tamworth as "Regent 91".

It is believed that A37-001 brought Deputy PM Joyce to Rocky to join PM Turnbull in Rocky.

Of interest, it appears that A37-001 also visited Birdsville and Winton during PM's Western Queensland tour with it noted arriving at Tamworth from Winton late on Wednesday 26 October as "Consort 93".

Meanwhile, a little later on Thursday 27 October, the larger RAAF Boeing B737-7DT (BBJ) A36-001 was spotted also arriving into Rockhampton Airport, flying in direct from Canberra as "Wisdom 87".

It is believed that PM Turnbull boarded the BBJ and departed to Brisbane a little while later.

Finally, also on Thursday 27 October, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-001 was yet again spotted in the skies above Rocky, completing yet another missed approach at Rockhampton Airport, this time as "Dragon 31".

It it believed to have flown down from Townsville and then departed Rocky for RAAF Base Amberley.

And also on Thursday 27 October, a pair of RAAF Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops were noted completing airwork around different parts of CQ.  A32-437 was noted landing at Gladstone Airport for second time this week but as "Dingo 04".  It appeared to be completing aerial survey work.

While an unidentified Super King Air flying as "Dingo 17" was heard to complete a missed approach at Mackay Airport and then Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before returning to its Townsville base.

Sincere thanks to Rockhampton plane spotters 'IAD' and Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos - and to Trevor H for providing the information contained in this post!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Kayanne Hardsman  ©