Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopter A15-309 Passes Through Rockhampton Airport Heading Home

Following a deployment to Southern parts of Australia to provide support in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) response during the ongoing bushfire emergency, on Friday 31 January, Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopter A15-309 was noted passing through Rockhampton Airport while heading North back to its Townsville base.

A15-309 lifting hay bales in Victoria

A15-309 was heard to be flying as "Brahman 39". 

A15-309 was one of several Chinooks of the Army's 5th Aviation Regiment (C Squadron) based at Townsville that were committed to Southern parts of Australia to provide support during the bushfire emergency.

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Hevilift Australia ATR 72-500 VH-FVH Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus ATR 72 VH-FVI Delivered and Re-Painted! - UPDATED!

With school returning, it is suspected that Hevilift Australia (Fixed Wing Division) ATR 72-500 VH-FVH operated a closed charter flight carrying students into Rockhampton Airport from Horn Island in Far North Queensland on Thursday 30 January.  It was noted flying as HT706

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After an hour on the ground, VH-FVH returned to Brisbane again as HT706.

VH-FVH had flown North from Brisbane the previous day but as HT705.

Meanwhile, back on Tuesday 14 January and Wednesday 15 January, fellow ATR 72-500 VH-FVI was noted flying back into Australia via Brisbane from Nelson in New Zealand before it then continued to Cairns.  It was noted flying using the Virgin Australia flight number and callsign of "VOZ9943".

It has been that VH-FVI has been acquired by Hevilift and flew into Cairns for re-painting.

VH-FVI was one of many ATR 72 turboprops that were ferried across to Nelson for storage by Virgin Australia in 2017.

As these recent photos show, four Virgin Australia ATRs remain stored at Nelson with most of them having their props removed.

UPDATES!  On Thursday 27 August, former VH-FVI was photographed now wearing the Indian Registration marking of VT-FBA, as well as the titles and livery of a new Indian-based regional airline FlyBig.

In September, VH-FVI/VT-FBA was photographed again wearing its Australian Registration marking as it completed some test flights out of and back to Cairns.  VH-FVI then departed Australia on Friday 9 October and has entered storage at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad in India.  The next week, VH-FVI was officially struck off the Australian Aircraft register and placed on the Indian Aircraft register as VT-FBA.  

VT-FBA launched services as the long aircraft in the FlyBig fleet on Sunday 3 January 2021.

Photos taken by Zac Fitzgerald and Kynan Schneider  ©️

Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP Helicopter VH-VAU Arrives into Mackay Airport in New Colours!

On Thursday 30 January, Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP helicopter VH-VAU returned to Central Queensland following a period of maintenance at Coffs Harbour in New South Wales - where it was also re-painted!

VH-VAU completes a test flight earlier this week at Coffs Harbour

VH-VAU departed Coffs Harbour for the Gold Coast before passing through Bundaberg and Rockhampton Airports and eventually landing at Mackay Airport.

VH-VAU on the ground at Mackay Airport

As the photos above show, VH-VAU now wears the distinctive yellow, blue and orange colours of the Mackay Airport based RACQ Central Queensland Rescue (CQ Rescue).  It will reportedly now have sponsor stickers applied and replace the similarly coloured and fellow Babcock Bell 412 helicopter VH-LSY.

VH-VAU had flown South to Coffs Harbour from Rockhampton Airport in August 2019 after it had operated with the locally-based locally-based Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) for a period of time as "Rescue 300".

Photos taken by Jayden Laing, 'JM' and Leroy  ©

Execujet (Taverners Aviation) Raytheon Hawker 800XP Bizjet VH-RIU Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 29 January, Execujet (Taverners Aviation) Raytheon Hawker 800XP bizjet VH-RIU was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.

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It looked to arrive from Melbourne (Essendon) and later depart to Cairns.  VH-RIU later returned to Essendon.

Meanwhile, a 'corporate' turboprop in the form Sundown Pastoral Company (of Bonogin in the Gold Coast Hinterland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NSI was noted visiting Emerald Airport also on Wednesday 29 January.  It arrived from and later departed back to the Gold Coast.

And also popping into Emerald Airport, also on Wednesday 29 January, was Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (South Eastern Section) (RFDS) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-MVS was noted arriving from Dubbo, Bankstown and Roma Airport.  It later departed to Cairns.  VH-MVS was heard to be flying as "FlyDoc 229".

UPDATE!  On Thursday 30 January, VH-MVS "FlyDoc 229" returned to Emerald Airport from Cairns before it then departed direct to Dubbo.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Australian Army MRH-90 Helicopter A40-035 Pops into Rockhampton Airport as "Destrier 104"

On Wednesday 29 January, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-035 was spotted departing Rockhampton Airport.  It had earlier arrived direct from Townsville.

After taking on fuel, A40-035 then departed to the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.

A40-035 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Destrier 104".

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

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

TAG Aviation Asia Gulfstream Aerospace G-VI (G650ER) Bizjet VP-CPU Departs Hamilton Island Airport

On Tuesday 28 January, the visiting TAG Aviation Asia Gulfstream Aerospace G-VI (G650ER) VP-CPU was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport.  It departed to Melbourne (Tullamarine).

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VP-CPU had arrived into Hamo from Auckland (New Zealand) via Cairns (pictured above) on Saturday 25 January.

Of interest, VP-CPU was again noted using the same flight number and callsign of 'TBJ93' / "TAG 93" for its flight.

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-005 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 28 January, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-005 was spotted on approach to Rockhampton Airport.

It then completed a missed approach and low overshoot and was photographed climbing out.

The KC-30A flew North from RAAF Base Amberley and also completed a missed approach at Townsville before flying back to Amberley via a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  A39-005 was noted flying as "Dragon 22".

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

AAA Aircraft / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 650 Citation VII Bizjet VH-SSZ Pops into Hamilton Island Airport

On Monday 27 January, AAA Aircraft / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 650 Citation VII bizjet  VH-SSZ was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to arrive from Sydney and later departed to the Sunshine Coast.

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Also on Monday 27 January, often visiting American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK was back in the Whitsundays, touching down at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) from Archerfield.  It originally looked to be flying up to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour but diverted to Prosie.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 30 January, N257AK departed Proserpine Airport for Archerfield.

Meanwhile, over the weekend, on Sunday 26 January, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air flying out of its Mackay Airport base for Sydney.

While the locally-based Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ departed its Bundaberg Airport base for Brisbane also on Sunday 26 January.  It returned to Bundy from Brisbane on Monday 27 January.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 Jets VH-JFE & VH-QQY on Charter Flights to Roma Airport

Early on Monday 27 January, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jets VH-JFE and VH-QQY looked to complete a pair closed charter flights into Roma Airport.  Both aircraft arrived from and later departed back to Brisbane.

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VH-JFE flew as UTY3350/3351, while VH-QQY flew as UTY3352/3353.

The reason for the charter flights is not known, although it was interesting to note that VH-QQY completed a similar flight last Monday 20 January.

Photo taken by Trevor Hardsman  ©

Former Jetstar Airways (New Zealand) Dash-8-Q300s to Resume Service with QantasLink - VH-SBI Pops into CQ Airports Last Week

This week, one of the five former New Zealand-based Jetstar Airways Dash-8-Q300 turboprops VH-SBI emerged from the paint-shop and re-entered service with Qantas / QantasLink.  And almost immediately, VH-SBI was then noted calling into Central Queensland at Bundaberg Airport.

VH-SBI arrives into Brisbane Airport recently

On Thursday 23 January, VH-SBI was noted completing two return flights into Bundaberg Airport from and back to Brisbane.

Days earlier on Tuesday 21 January, VH-SBI ferried from Townsville to Brisbane after it was earlier rolled out of the Flying Colours Paint-Shop after being re-painted into QantasLink colours (Qantas Silver Roo colour scheme).  It appears that VH-SBI has also been named 'Echuca'.

VH-SBI had ferried back into Brisbane from New Zealand at the start of December (pcitured) and entered the paint-shop just before Christmas.

VH-SBI arrives back into Brisbane Airport from New Zealand  (File photo)

In September last year, it was announced that Jetstar Airways planned to end regional turboprop services in New Zealand at the end of November due to ongoing losses and weak market conditions.  The Qantas-owned low-cost carrier (LCC) began flying in New Zealand in December 2015 to cover a gap that was left in the Kiwi market following Air New Zealand's decision to withdrawn from a number of regional routes.

These services had been operated by as many as five Dash-8-Q300 turboprops which were wet-leased from fellow Qantas Group subsidiary Eastern Australia Airlines (QantasLink) and connected Jetstar's Auckland base with Napier/Hastings, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, and Wellington via Nelson.

The five Dash-8-Q300s were individually ferried across the Tasman from Auckland via Norfolk Island to Brisbane in November and December last year.

VH-SBI now becomes the third of the fleet to have been re-painted and then re-entered service with Qantas / QantasLink.  It joins VH-TQK 'Tathra', which continues to operate inter-state, and VH-TQD 'Mount Isa', which still operates out of Brisbane into Central Queensland Airports quite regularly.  Both re-entered service during December last year.

The other two Dash-8-Q300s, VH-TQL and VH-TQM ferried to Tamworth in New South Wales where they appear to still remain parked, perhaps in storage.

Photos taken by Steve Goldsworthy and Lloyd Fox  ©

TAG Aviation Asia Gulfstream Aerospace G-VI (G650ER) Bizjet VP-CPU Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport

On Saturday 25 January, a very sleek bizjet in the form of TAG Aviation Asia Gulfstream Aerospace G-VI (G650ER) VP-CPU was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.  It touched down from Cairns - where it is pictured below arriving from Auckland.

At the time of writing, it appears that VP-CPU is staying on Hamo for at least the night.

Of interest, VP-CPU was noted using the same flight number and callsign of 'TBJ93' / "TAG 93" for all of its flights.

Meanwhile, also noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport, also on Saturday 25 January, was Hinterland Aviation Cessna 402C VH-TFK.  It was flying as 'HND430' and flew in from Cairns via Lizard Island.

At the time of writing, it is due to depart back to Cairns from Hamo during the middle part of the morning on Sunday 26 January.

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 Bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" at Rockhampton Airport

For the second time this week, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" has been noted visiting Central Queensland, this time calling into Rockhampton Airport around lunch time on Thursday 23 January.  It arrived from Townsville.

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After some time on the ground, VH-VVI then departed to Brisbane.

VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" was then due to head to Mackay Airport but 'diverted' to Mount Isa before then later returning to Townsville.

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 Bizjet VH-ZIY Calls into CQ Airports

On Thursday 23 January, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZIY was noted touching down at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It appeared to fly up from the Gold Coast after earlier flying down there from the Sunshine Coast.

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After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-ZIY then continued further North to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

During the early evening, VH-ZIY then departed Prosie and returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, over at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour, often visiting American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK was noted arriving back from Archerfield on Monday 20 January.  It departed back down there also on Thursday 23 January.

Finally, on Wednesday 22 January, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air flying out of its Mackay Airport base for Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Friday 24 January, N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King A32-670 "Beaufort 40" Pops into Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 23 January, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air A32-670 was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to arrive from Canberra having flown up from its 'home' at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria the previous day.

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After a little over an hour on ground, A32-670 departed Rockhampton Airport and flew back directly to RAAF Base East Sale.

A32-670 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Beaufort 40".

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

RAAF Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-003 Spotted at Charleville Airport - Plus New PC-24 Jet VH-JMU Also Pops in!

On Wednesday 22 January, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-003 was spotted at Charleville Airport.  It appears to have arrived direct from Canberra and was heard using the radio callsign of "Envoy 62".

After some time on the ground, A56-003 departed Charleville Airport and returned direct to Canberra.

Meanwhile, also noted visiting Charleville Airport, also on Wednesday 22 January, was the first visit of recently delivered MT Air Charters / Pilatus Australia Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-JMU.

VH-JMU at Adelaide Airport recently  (File photo)

It looked to arrive from Bankstown and Scone in New South Wales and later departed to those two places.

Of interest, VH-JMU is a familiar registration marking in Central Queensland, but the PC-24 was delivered into Broome and Adelaide from overseas in early December.  It now appears to be based at Bankstown.  The PC-24 has seemingly replaced PC-12/47E VH-JMU of Pegasus Air (New South Wales) which completed its last flight in late-October and appears to have since been re-registered as VH-JKU.

Photos and Video taken by Zac Fitzgerald and Tony Haynes  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 Bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" Pops into Longreach Airport Late Tuesday

Very late on Tuesday 21 January, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" was noted visiting Longreach Airport.

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VH-VVI originally departed its Townsville base and landed at Julia Creek.  It was due to return to Townsville but instead headed to Winton.  VH-VVI then popped into Longreach Airport before it then returned to Townsville.

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 Bizjet VH-WMY Calls into Moura and Roma Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 21 January, Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY was noted visiting Moura and Roma Airports during a busy day of flying.

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It looked to depart Melbourne (Essendon) to Moura Airport before heading over to Roma Airport after lunch.  VH-WMY then departed back to Essendon.

UPDATE!  VH-WMY was back at both Moura and Roma Airports on Thursday 23 January, flying in again from Essendon.  From Roma Airport, it departed to Swan Hill and Horsham in Victoria, before returning to Essendon.

Meanwhile, also noted calling into Roma Airport, but on Monday 20 January, was Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jet VH-QQY which looked to operate a closed charter flight from and back to Brisbane as UTY3360/1.

It was joined by Hevilift Australia (Fixed Wing Division) ATR 72-500 VH-FVH which also looked to operate a closed charter flight into Roma Airport, also flying from and back to Brisbane but as HT743/4.

Nice!

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 21 January, the familiar sight of Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was back in CQ, this time calling into Biloela / Thangool Airport after flying up from its Sunshine Coast base.  After some time on the ground, VH-MMC continued to Emerald Airport.

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At the time of writing, it appears that VH-MMC is staying for at least the night at Emerald Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 22 January, VH-MMC departed Emerald Airport and returned to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile, on Monday 20 January, Sundown Pastoral Company (of Bonogin in the Gold Coast Hinterland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NSI was noted visiting Emerald Airport once again.  It appears to be making almost weekly visits and on this occasion, it arrived from its Gold Coast base via Moree in New South Wales.

VH-NSI then departed Emerald Airport for Pinnarendi (YPNA) but was forced to divert and land at Mount Surprise (YMSP) due to weather.  It later returned to Emerald Airport before heading back to the Gold Coast, again via Moree.

Finally, also on Monday 20 January, Aero Optics Aero Commander 500-S VH-JAJ was noted visiting Mackay Airport.  It flew up from and then later returned to its Bundaberg Airport base.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-003 "Wedgetail 13" Completes Missed Approach at Emerald Airport

On Tuesday 21 January, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 was videoed (below) completing a missed approach at Emerald Airport.  It appears that the Wedgetail flew up from the South possibly RAAF Base Williamtown at Newcastle.

After completing the airwork at Emerald, it appears that A30-003 then returned South possibly back to RAAF Base Williamtown.  A30-003 was noted to be using the radio callsign of "Wedgetail 13".

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Of interest, earlier on Tuesday 21 January, A30-003 was noted completing a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast but as "Wedgetail 07".

Photo taken by David Geck  ©

Two Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopters Pass Through Rockhampton Airport Heading Back to Townsville

On Monday 20 January, two Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters were noted passing through Rockhampton Airport while heading North to Townsville following a deployment to the Southern states of Australia where they assisted in the relief operations during the current bushfire crisis.

A15-301 photographed operating out of RAAF Base East Sale recently

The two Chinooks were believed to be A15-301 and A15-303, and they arrived in formation from RAAF Base Amberley as "Chainsaw".  After taking on fuel, they continued 'home' to Townsville.

Four Chinooks - flown by the Army's 5th Aviation Regiment (C Squadron) based at Townsville - remain in the Southern states, along with four Townsville-based Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopters.

An Australian Army Chinook loads hay bales on Kangaroo Island

The ADF is continuing to support Emergency Management Australia in firefighting efforts around the country by providing transport and other capabilities including aviation, logistics, engineering and accommodation.

Defence Images...

Canadian-Registered Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 Bizjet C-FXWT Departs Hamilton Island Airport

On Monday 20 January, Canadian-registered Morningstar Partners Ltd. Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 bizjet C-FXWT was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to head across the country and touch down at Broome in Western Australia.

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C-FXWT had arrived into Hamo from the Gold Coast on Thursday 16 January.

Linfox Express Charter / Air National Australia Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 VH-LEF Departs Hamilton Island Airport

On Saturday 18 Janaury, Linfox Express Charter / Air National Australia Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 VH-LEF was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport.  It had arrived into Hamo from the Gold Coast the previous weekend.

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VH-LEF departed Hamilton Island Airport for Melbourne (Avalon) before it then flew across to Adelaide and then back to Melbourne (Essendon).

Of interest, after arriving on Thursday 16 January, Canadian-registered Morningstar Partners Ltd. Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 bizjet C-FXWT remains parked at Hamilton Island Airport.

Photo taken by Ryan Hothersall  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-002 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday!

Certainly a nice surprise weekend visit on Saturday 18 January by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-002 which was noted completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

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After flying from RAAF Base Amberley to Darwin via Alice Springs the previous day, on Saturday, the KC-30A departed Darwin and flew to Townsville where it landed for a short time.  A39-002 then returned to Amberley via the missed approach at Rocky.

A39-002 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Dragon 17".

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E Bizjet VH-UYX Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 17 January, Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to arrive from Bankstown via Sydney and was believed to have visited on a human tissue transfer flight.

VH-UYX later departed back to Sydney before flying to Melbourne (Essendon) and then back to Bankstown.

As shown above, also visiting Rockhampton Airport, also on Friday 17 January, was the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ.  It arrived from and later departed back to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 17 January, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK was also noted visiting Rockhampton Airport twice during a busy day of flying out of and back to Cairns.  VH-PSK also visited Rockhampton Airport on Monday 13 January.

Also on Friday 17 January, Wolff Aviation Hawker Beechcraft C90GTi VH-VWG was also noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived from Townsville and departed to Toowoomba.  VH-VWG had also visited Rockhampton Airport on both Wednesday 15 January - from and back to Toowoomba - and on Thursday 16 January as it headed North from its Toowoomba base.

Finally, noted arriving from its Monto Airport base, also on Friday 17 January, was Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-EZD.  At the time of writing, it was due to depart to Hamilton Island Airport on Saturday 18 January.

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Aerorescue / Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPG Pops into Longreach Airport - UPDATED!

Another interesting visitor into Longreach Airport also on Friday 17 January was Aerorescue (ex-AMSA) Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPG.  It looked to call in directly from Darwin where it has been parked for some time.

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After taking on fuel, VH-PPG departed Longreach Airport for HMAS Albatross at Nowra in New South Wales.  It has reportedly been acquired by the locally-based Air Affairs (Australia).

Of interest, VH-PPG is one of five Dorniers that Aerorescue previously operated for AMSA - Australian Maritime Safety Authority - at various ports around Australia.  The other Dorniers are registered VH-PPF, VH-PPJ, VH-PPQ and VH-PPV.

As seen below, a new search and rescue agreement was signed in October 2014 seeing Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd (Cobham) contracted to provide four Bombardier Challenger CL-604 bizjets from late 2016 for a period of 12 years.

UPDATE!  In late February, VH-PPG was photographed at HMAS Albatross now wearing titles of Air Affairs (Australia).

Air Affairs (Australia) was established in 1984 with headquarters based at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park at Nowra in New South Wales.  They have been providing target services, fire surveillance and precision engineering support services to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), other military forces and Governments since 1995.

Since October 2015, Air Affairs (Australia) has been providing specific services to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under the Jet Air Support Contract which provides Training Support Tasks including Aerial Target Towing and Tactical Flight Missions in various locations across Australia.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Calum Gibson  ©