AirServices Australia / Pearl Aviation Super King Air VH-FIY "Auscal 03" Arrives into Gladstone Airport

On Monday 30 September, AirServices Australia / Pearl Aviation Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-FIY was noted arriving into Gladstone Airport from Brisbane. 

File photo

It then completed a three-and-a-bit hour calibration flight of the Gladstone Airport Instrument Landing System (ILS) and other navigational aids (navaids) in the area.

VH-FIY then returned to the Gladstone Airport and at the time of writing, it appears to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 1 October, VH-FIY departed Gladstone Airport and completed a navaid check at Clermont Aerodrome before it then headed to the Whitsundays, completing airwork and then eventually landing at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.  After taking on fuel, VH-FIY then flew West to Hughenden before heading to Townsville.

For all of its flights, VH-FIY was heard to be using its usual radio callsign of "Auscal 03".

Photo taken by Terry Purcell  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2019 - Air New Zealand Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZF Back at Rockhampton Airport Monday

On Monday 30 September, the first 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charters in support the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2019 wrapped up with Air New Zealand Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZF arriving back into Rockhampton Airport direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as ANZ1944.

It taxied in and was parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron and looked to unload a full flight of personnel and their bags.

After it was refuelled, ZK-NZF was closed up and positioned across the 'ditch' home to Auckland as ANZ6008.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Scott H for taking the time capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©️

Exercise Wallaby 2019 - Heavy Jet Passenger Charters to Rockhampton Airport Start with Royal Brunei B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLD and Air New Zealand B787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZF Both Visiting on Sunday

On Sunday 29 September, the first 'wave' of heavy jet passenger charters in support the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2019 kicked off with a great pair of Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft touching down at Rockhampton Airport.

First to arrive was Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLD which touched down directly from Singapore's Changi Airport as RBA4271.

The Dreamliner was parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron and was promptly unloaded.  After a load of personnel and their bags was unloaded and the aircraft refuelled, V8-DLD departed Rockhampton Airport flying direct to Brunei International Airport but as RBA4272.

Then, Air New Zealand Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZF arrived into Rockhampton Airport, also direct from Singapore's Changi Airport as ANZ1942.  It had earlier positioned empty to Singapore from Auckland in New Zealand as ANZ6003.

It too was parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron and also looked of unload a full flight of personnel and their bags.  After it was refuelled, ZK-NZF was closed up and parked for the afternoon.

As this post is being written on Sunday 29 September, ZK-NZF has departed Rockhampton Airport and is re-positioning back to Singapore but as ANZ6005.  It would appear that ZK-NZF could be returning to Rockhampton Airport on another charter flight on Monday 30 September.

Be sure to stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Daniel B, Trevor H and Kayanne H for taking the time capture and send through these great photos and video!

Photos and video taken by Daniel Bishop, Trevor Hardsman and Kayanne Hardsman  ©️

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" Pops into Gladstone Airport - UPDATED!

Before dawn on Sunday 29 September, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was noted calling into Gladstone Airport from Brisbane on what looked to be a medical evacuation flight.

File photo

After around an hour-and-a-half on the ground, VH-URR returned to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  Late tonight on Sunday 29 September, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" was noted making what appeared to be unscheduled arrival into Mackay Airport from Brisbane.  It appeared that VH-VVI was enroute from Brisbane from Townsville having flown down there from the Tropical North earlier in the evening.  After an hour on the ground, VH-VVI departed Mackay Airport and has just landed back at Townsville.

Corporate Aviation Bell 429 Global Ranger Helicopter VH-EQP Back in CQ at Gladstone and Hamilton Island Airports

On Saturday 28 September, the familiar sight of Corporate Aviation Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopter VH-EQP was back in Central Queensland.  It departed its Southport base for a refuel at Gladstone Airport before continuing to Hamilton Island Airport.

File photo

At the time of writing, VH-EQP appears to be staying at Hamo for at least the night.

UPDATE!  After spending a week at Hamo, on Sunday 6 October, VH-EQP returned South fro Hamilton Island Airport to Gladstone Airport and then its Southport base.

Meanwhile, back on Thursday 26 September, another familiar visitor to CQ and Hamilton Island Airport in the form of Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO was noted making yet another visit to Hamo.  As per usual, it arrived from and then later departed back to Bankstown.

Photo taken by Anthony Schulz  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-UQA Arrives into Longreach Airport on Charter - Plus More!

On Friday 27 September, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-UQA was noted arriving into Longreach Airport from Brisbane as UTY598.  It appears to be operating on a closed charter flight.

File photo

At the time of writing, and after spending the night, VH-UQA appears to be staying for at least another night!

UPDATE!  Indeed on Sunday 29 September, VH-UQA departed Longreach Airport and returned to Brisbane but as UTY599.

Meanwhile, on Thursday 26 September, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY was noted also visiting Longreach Airport.  It looked to arrive from Brisbane and Winton.  After spending the night, VH-SGY returned to Winton and Brisbane on Friday 27 September.

It appears that both VH-UQA and VH-SGY may have been at Longreach and Winton in support of the Winton Outback Festival 2019.

Finally, it's worth noting that on Friday 27 September, Sundown Pastoral Company (of Bonogin in the Gold Coast Hinterland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NSI was noted visiting Emerald Airport, arriving from Keytah and later departing to Pinnarendi.  While the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ visited Rockhampton Airport on Thursday 26 September.

Photo taken by Russell Prothero  ©

Some Photos of The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Helicopters Operating out of Rockhampton Airport as Exercise Wallaby 2019 Kicks Off This Week

This week, the latest iteration of the Singapore Armed Force’s Exercise Wallaby 2019 looked to kick off in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) with the various Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopters completing systems check and familiarisation flights around and out of Rockhampton Airport.

Local plane spotter Steve V has been on hand at Rockhampton Airport at various times during this week and has captured some great photos as the RSAF helicopters took to the air.

Three of the four RSAF Aerospatiale / Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma helicopters were photographed completing a flight from Rockhampton Airport to Shoalwater Bay and back. They were heard to use their 'usual' formation radio callsign of "Diamond".

Single Super Puma helicopters have also been noted completing systems check and familiarisation flights and have again been heard to use familiar radio callsign of "Starling".  The RSAF Super Puma helicopters have been mostly flying in the afternoon.

As mentioned previously, all four Super Puma helicopters are reportedly flown by the RSAF's 126 Helicopter Squadron "Cougar" (126 SQN).  Their motto is "Ready and Able", with the Cougar adopted as the squadron's motif.

Formed initially on 16 September 1992 at Sembawang Air Base in Singapore, the 126 SQN consisted of newly purchased Cougar helicopters, which were an upgraded version of the Super Puma helicopters then used by its sister squadron – 125 SQN. 126 Squadron was based at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre, supporting the Singapore Armed Force's training needs in Australia, however over the last year, the Squadron moved back to Singapore with Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopters now deployed to Oakey on a full-time basis.

Meanwhile, originally completing systems check and familiarisation flights earlier in the week, were single RSAF Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters. As the week went on, and as pictured below, they started completing sorties to Shoalwater Bay and back, flying in pairs during the late afternoon and evening.

The Apaches were again heard to be using their ‘usual’ radio callsign of "Avon" and "Atom".

As also mentioned previously, all four Apache helicopters are flown by the RSAF's 120 Squadron "Kestrel" (also known as the "Red Hawks") based at Sembawang Air Base in Singapore.  The Squadron is the first and oldest RSAF operational squadron in service, first formed in 1969.  The squadron goes by the motto of "Strive To Achieve".

And after deploying direct from their base at Oakey at the start of their week, the RSAF Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopters also have been completing sorties to Shoalwater Bay and back as singles and in flights of two or even three. These flights also seem to occur from lunchtime through to the evening.

The Chinooks have been heard to be using their 'usual' radio callsigns of "Celtic" and "Cyclops".

Also as mentioned previously, the Chinook helicopters are flown by the RSAF's 127 Helicopter Squadron which is based at the Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) in Singapore, however as mentioned, with a detachment at Oakey.

The squadron goes by the motto of "Strength, Courage, Swiftness", the motto is supported by the squadron motif, a white horse in full battle armour.

Finally, it is believed that a RSAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules is still to 'deploy' to and remain at Rockhampton Airport for part of the Exercise.

It had also been speculated that heavy jet troop charter flights are due to start this weekend with as many as 10 flights expected to bring personnel and equipment in and out of Rockhampton Airport over the coming weeks.  It is being reported that Royal Brunei Airlines and Air New Zealand will be operating these charter flights once again.

Exercise Wallaby first started in 1990 in Rockhampton and is a Singapore Army exercise based within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as well as at Rockhampton Airport.  This year will reportedly see as many as 4000 Singapore Armed Forces personnel participate in the Exercise.

Be sure to stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Steve V for taking the time capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©️

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 Bizjet VH-WMY Calls into Various CQ Airports - Plus Much More!

Over the last couple of days, Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY has been noted visiting a few Central Queensland Airports during a couple of busy days of flying.

VH-WMY at Roma Airport during a previous visit  (File photo)

On Thursday 26 September, it was noted arriving into Miles Airport from its Melbourne (Moorabbin) base via Melbourne (Essendon).  VH-WMY then visited Chinchilla and Roma Airports before returning direct to  Moorabbin.

Then, on Friday 27 September, VH-WMY flew up from Moorabbin and Essendon to the Gold Coast before continuing to Miles and then Hamilton Island Airports.  From Hamo, VH-WMY then flew back direct to Moorabbin.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 27 September, Corporate Aircraft Charter (South Australia) Cessna 550 Citation II bizjet VH-ZLE was noted visiting Mackay Airport.  It flew up from Brisbane and later departed to the Gold Coast before returning to the capital about an hour later.

While, after arriving into Bundaberg Airport last Sunday 22 September, the seemingly becoming 'resident' Avcair (Earth Commodities) Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ departed Bundy also on Friday 27 September bound for Brisbane.  It then returned to Bundaberg Airport later in the evening and looked to be planned to make an early morning departure to Coffs Harbour on Saturday 28 September.

Finally, also on Friday 27 September, Professional Jet Aviation Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-CDG was noted visiting Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It arrived from and later returned back to its Gold Coast base.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft A47-001 Back in CQ and Spotted at Mackay Airport now as "Mariner 03"

As predicted below, on Friday 27 September, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft A47-001 was back in CQ flying down from Townsville and completing airwork at CQ Airports while on a 'return' flight to RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.

Local plane spotter 'JM' was on hand and captured some great photos as the Poseidon completed a missed approach at Mackay Airport.

It looked to earlier fly down from Townsville and Hamilton Island Airport before completing airwork at Mackay Airport.  From there, it looked to continue South to also completed airwork at the Sunshine Coast and possibly Tamworth in New South Wales, before it returned to Edinburgh.

On Friday's flight, A47-001 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Mariner 03".

As posted below, A47-001 - flying as "Mariner 02" - headed North on Thursday 27 September with it completing airwork at RAAF Base Amberley and Rockhampton Airport while heading up to its overnight stay at Townsville.

Thanks mate!

All photos taken by 'JM'  ©