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.

File photo

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  ©