Australian Border Force (ABF) Cobham Aviation-operated Dash-8-202 VH-ZZA Spotted at Bundaberg Airport

Surveillance Australia / Australian Border Force (ABF) Cobham Aviation-operated Dash-8 turbo-props continue to operate Customs and immigration surveillance flights out of various CQ Airports and on Tuesday 17 January, Dash-8-202 VH-ZZA was spotted resting quietly on the Bundaberg Airport apron by local plane spotter Micah S.  It had earlier arrived from a sortie using it 'usual' radio callsign of "Borderforce 11".

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is the Australian Government agency that is tasked with border protection and national security duties. It was established on in July 2015 after the merger of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (of which VH-ZZA and the other Cobham Aviation operated Dash-8s and other aircraft and helicopters operated on behalf of) and some parts of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

Meanwhile, not quite aviation related, but all eyes have been on Bundaberg Port lately with the ex-Royal Australian Navy (RAN) amphibious heavy lift ship HMAS Tobruk (L 50) which arrived in the rum city in mid-December last year.  Thousands of locals turned out to see the ex-RAN ship enter the Burnett River on her final journey.  HMAS Tobruk docked for the last time in preparation for two years of work that will allow her to be sunk off the coast of Elliott Heads and turned into a dive site.

Micah S recently took a flight over Bundy which included the Port area where the HMAS Tobruk is currently docked.

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

Photos taken by Micah S  ©