AMSA (Aerorescue) Dornier 328-100 VH-PPJ "Rescue 471" Around Rockhampton and Hervey Bay Airport

Some interesting movements over the last few days by Aerorescue (AMSA - Australian Maritime Safety Authority) / Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPJ "Rescue 471" which has been noted flying between Melbourne (Essendon) Airport and Cairns Airports via a couple of visits to Central Queensland.

VH-PPJ on a training flight at Hervey Bay Airport in 2016  (File photo)

VH-PPJ flew up to Cairns via Townsville on Friday 13 January before flying back South via a search for a missing boat off Rockhampton early on Saturday 14 January.  The Dornier didn't land at Rockhampton Airport following the search and instead continued to Brisbane.  VH-PPJ then departed Brisbane for Essendon.

Then on Sunday 15 January, VH-PPJ returned North from Essendon and landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  After being 'scheduled' to complete a local flight around the region, this was changed and instead, VH-PPJ continued North to Cairns.

Finally, on Monday 16 January, VH-PPJ flew into Brisbane from Cairns.

Of interest, as we've mentioned a few times on the Blog of late, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XND "Rescue 660" out of Cairns Airport on a full-time basis.

Photo taken by Ben May  ©