LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 29 February, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from its Brisbane base.

After around two-hours on the ground, VH-URR "Ambulance 604" continued from Rocky to Townsville where it was photographed above on finals in Runway 01.

VH-URR later continued back Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 29 February, RACQ LifeFlight Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-XIW completed a training flight from Toowoomba to Gladstone Airport and back.

Finally, it's worth noting that on Friday 28 February, Townsville Airlines (Flightech Air Logistics) Beech 1900D VH-RUE was noted also passing through Rockhampton Airport, also arriving from Brisbane and later departing to Townsville and Cairns.

Photo taken by Leroy  ©

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-XNF "Rescue 550" Completes Search Sorties Between Mackay and Proserpine

Over the previous couple of days, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNF "Rescue 550" has been flying down from its Cairns base to coordinate a search for a missing woman between Mackay and Proserpine.

File photo

On Friday 28 February and again on Saturday 29 February, VH-XNF "Rescue 550" completed a six, and then seven hour sortie to assist in the search.  On both occasions, it flew back to Cairns without landing in CQ.

As we've previously reported, Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd (Cobham) was contracted in 2014 to provide a new search and rescue agreement for AMSA using four Bombardier Challenger CL-604 bizjets from late 2016 for a period of 12 years.

It also appears that on Friday 28 February, the locally-based Central Queensland Rescue (CQ Rescue) (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412 VH-CQJ "Rescue 412" joined the search from Mackay Airport.

While on Saturday 29 February, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH "Rescue 521" was noted departing Proserpine Hospital for Townsville.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-007 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

During the afternoon on Friday 28 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-007 was spotted as it climbed out after completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It was flying as "Dragon 53".

A39-007 initially flew up from RAAF Base Amberley via an inland route to overhead Emerald before it then turned towards Rockhampton.  After completing the airwork at Rockhampton Airport, A39-007 returned to Amberley.

As mentioned previously, A39-007 is the most recently delivered of the seven KC-30A's of the RAAF's 33 Squadron based at Amberley.  A39-007 was delivered in May 2019 and previously operated with Qantas Airways as VH-EBI.

A39-007 is also being utilised as a VIP transport jet for current Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (ScoMo) who has named the aircraft 'Shark 1' after his beloved National Rugby League (NRL) team The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Meanwhile, a little earlier on Friday 28 February, RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 was noted completing a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport.

A30-006 looked to fly up from RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle and later depart to complete more airwork at the Gold Coast before later returning to Williamtown.  A30-003 was heard to be flying as "Wedgetail 04".

Photo taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Stewart Aviation Services LLC (USA) Gulfstream G-IV-SP Bizjet N554SL Pops Back in Mackay Airport

During the afternoon on Friday 28 February, Stewart Aviation Services LLC (USA) Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-SP bizjet N554SL was noted returning to Mackay Airport briefly before later heading back overseas.

N554SL at Mackay Airport last week  (File photo)

On this occasion, the sleek Gulfstream arrived into Mackay Airport from Brisbane and later departed to Cairns.  N554SL then departed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu) and Birmingham, Alabama, in the United States of America.

As posted below, N554SL had visited Mackay Airport over the previous weekend before then heading to Western Australia and then Melbourne.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Cessna Citation Bizjets VH-WMY and VH-MMC Back CQ Airports Once Again!

A busy couple of days (and week on the whole) for both Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 VH-WMY and Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-MMC with both bizjets noted visiting Central Queensland Airports once again over the latter part of this week.

On Thursday 27 February, VH-WMY was noted visiting Moura Airport after flying up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and Archerfield.  It then returned to Archerfield where it spent the night.

File photo

Then on Friday 28 February, VH-WMY had a busy day of flying, departing Archerfield and calling into Miles, Roma and Moura Airports before then flying South to Horsham in Victoria and back to Moorabbin.

Meanwhile, as we've posted below, VH-MMC has spent pretty much every day this week completing flights to and airwork at both Emerald and Gladstone Airports at various times.

On Thursday 27 February, VH-MMC looked to again fly towards Gladstone from the Sunshine Coast with it looking to complete airwork and then land at Gladstone Airport for a brief time.  It did this twice during the day and was noted returning to the Sunshine Coast from Gladstone Airport as the sun was setting.

Then on Friday 28 February, VH-MMC was back in the air and looked to initially complete a local out of and back to the Sunshine Coast.  It then flew up to and landed briefly at Gladstone Airport before eventually returning 'home' the to the Sunny Coast.

It appears to have been a big week of training for the pilots of VH-MMC!

Essendon-Based Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Beech B200C King Air VH-MSZ "FlyDoc 292" Calls into Rockhampton Airport

Making a surprise but welcome visit to Rockhampton Airport late on Thursday 27 February was Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Beech B200C King Air VH-MSZ.

File photo

It looked to arrive into Rockhampton Airport all the way from its Melbourne (Essendon) base, flying via Dubbo, Inverell and Brisbane.  VH-MSZ was heard to be using the radio callsign of "FlyDoc 292".

It later continued further North to Townsville where it stayed for the night.

Then on Friday 28 February, VH-MSZ returned to Essendon from Townsville, flying via Dubbo.

This King Air is a rare visitor to Queensland as it is based with South-Eastern Section of the RFDS and appears to be based out of Essendon.

Photo taken by Calen Harvey  ©

QGAir Rescue (State of Queensland) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 Helicopter VH-EGF Ferries South via Mackay and Gladstone Airports

As predicted below, on Thursday 27 February, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopter (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-EGF was noted ferrying South from Cairns via Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone Airports to Archerfield.

VH-EGF at Mackay Airport  (File photo)

As mentioned, VH-EGF seems to heading to Archerfield for planned maintenance after operating out of Cairns Airport in recent times as "Rescue 510".

As reported below, fellow QGAir Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ flew North into Cairns only yesterday from Archerfield via Rockhampton and Townsville Airports and has looked to take up operations out of Cairns also as "Rescue 510".

As we have mentioned previously, this is all part of the 'rotational system' the service utilises to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of the QGAir Rescue helicopters.  This system avoids the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King A32-670 "Beaufort 35" Also Pops into Longreach Airport

On Thursday 27 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air A32-670 was also noted visiting Longreach Airport.  It looked to arrive from its 'home' at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria.

File photo

After a little over an hour on ground, A32-670 departed Longreach Airport and continued North to Townsville.

A32-670 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Beaufort 35".

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 27 February, RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-006 "Kaos 44" departed from RAAF Base Amberley and was noted completing airwork at Wondai and then Maryborough before returning South via a coastal route.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Plus LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" Pops into Longreach and Mackay Airports Overnight

Late on Wednesday 26 February, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was noted arriving into Longreach Airport from Brisbane.

File photo

After just over an hour on the ground, VH-URR departed Longreach Airport and flew across to Mackay Airport.

After more time on the ground, now in the wee small hours of Thursday 27 February, VH-URR "Ambulance 604" departed Mackay Airport returned to Brisbane.

Malaysian-based Cirrus SR22-GTS N168EE Pops into Longreach Airport - Plus Much More - UPDATED!

Updated and re-posted!

During the afternoon on Wednesday 26 February, Malaysian-based but American-registered Cirrus SR22-GTS N168EE was due to land at Longreach Airport from Darwin and Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.  It however looked to divert to Trepell with the evening light quickly fading.

Napapol Pethlert / http://www.johorflyingclub.com/

It appears that N168EE then called into Longreach Airport from Trepell early on Thursday 27 February before continuing to the Gold Coast.

The sleek little Cirrus looks to have originally arrived into Australia via Darwin from Kupang in Indonesia earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, noted actually arriving into Longreach Airport on Wednesday 26 February was Wagga Air Centre (Mabena) Cessna 310R VH-LGK which arrived from Wagga Wagga, Orange and Charleville Airport as 'WA658' / "Wagga Air 658".

Now, noted visiting Longreach Airport on Thursday 27 February, was FlightTech Air Logistics / Townsville Airlines AeroCommander 500-S VH-WZQ.  It arrived direct from Ballarat in Victoria and later looked to depart to Cooktown.  It appears that the AeroCommander has been in Victoria since May last year when it popped into Longreach Airport while heading South!

Also on Thursday 27 February, Brisbane-based Hewitt Cattle Australia P/L SOCATA TBM 700 VH-PGA also arrived into Longreach Airport, touching down from Archerfield via Moura Airport.

UPDATE!  On Friday 28 February, VH-PGA departed Longreach Airport for Ambalindum in the Northern Territory.

While Austrek Aviation Beech B200 Super King Air VH-ZGD and Brisbane-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VTF were was also both noted visiting Moura Airport also on Thursday 27 February.

And Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH was noted visiting the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour and Bundaberg Airport (twice) during a busy day of flying out of and back to its Toowoomba base also on Thursday 27 February.

Finally, an interesting arrival into Theordore Aerodrome late on Wednesday 26 February was CJ Aerospace (Altitude Aviation) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-EEL.  It looked to arrive from Bankstown and Archerfield.

After staying for the night, VH-EEL returned to Archerfield early on Thursday 27 February.

Of interest, VH-EEL was previously operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) as VH-FDD and also operates alongside another former RFDS King Air, VH-FDF, which flys with Altitude Aviation at VH-NQF.

Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ Out and Back at Bundaberg Airport - Plus Citation Ultra VH-MMC Back at CQ Airports Again!

On Wednesday 26 February, the locally-based Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ was noted departing its Bundaberg Airport base for Brisbane.  Some hours later it then completed the short hop up to the Sunshine Coast.

File photo

A little later in the day, VH-CCJ then departed the Sunny Coast and returned to Bundaberg Airport.

Meanwhile, yet another visit into CQ on Wednesday 26 February by the Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC.

It once again made an early morning arriving into Emerald Airport from the Sunshine Coast before then returning to the air and completing a flight from Emerald Airport to overhead Gladstone Airport where it completed airwork before returning back to Emerald.  Later, VH-MMC then completed a local flight around Emerald Airport, where it looked to complete several circuits before landing.

VH-MMC then made a late evening return to the Sunshine Coast from Emerald Airport.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 27 February, VH-MMC returned to Gladstone Airport yet again but this time flying up directly from the Sunshine Coast.  It looked to complete more airwork and looked to land at Gladstone Airport for a short time.

As reported below, VH-MMC did a similar pattern of flights on Tuesday 25 February - plus it completed airwork at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 23 February too!

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-EZJ Passes Through Rockhampton Airport Heading North

On Wednesday 26 February, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ was spotting passing through Rockhampton Airport while ferrying North to Cairns.

It originally departed from Archerfield and was spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport where it refuelled before continuing to Townsville and then Cairns.

VH-EZJ looks to have spent much of February undergoing planned maintenance after it had originally flown South from Townsville in December last year.  VH-EZJ also looked to complete at least one sortie out of Archerfield around the South East corner in recent days as "Rescue 500".

It seems that VH-EZJ could be now heading to Cairns Airport to replace fellow QGAir Rescue Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopter (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-EGF which has been operating in Far North Queensland as "Rescue 510".  I presume that VH-EGF will ferry South in the coming days to Archerfield where it will undergo planned maintenance.

UPDATE!  Indeed on Thursday 27 February, VH-EGF ferried South from Cairns to Archerfield via Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone Airports.

As we have mentioned previously, this is part of the 'rotational system' the service utilises to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of the QGAir Rescue helicopters.  This system avoids the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

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  ©

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

Certainly an interesting couple of days for Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC with it again noted back in Central Queensland, and again with it noted completing airwork at various CQ Airports.

File photo

Early on Tuesday 25 February, VH-MMC initially flew North from its Sunshine Coast base to Emerald Airport and touched down for a period of time.  It then took to the air again and completed airwork around Emerald Airport before landing once again.

VH-MMC then later departed Emerald Airport to a position overhead Rockhampton before it continued down and completed airwork at Gladstone Airport.  VH-MMC then returned to Emerald Airport, again overhead Rocky.

Around sunset, VH-MMC then departed Emerald Airport and returned direct to the Sunshine Coast.

Of interest, and as mentioned below, VH-MMC completed airwork at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 23 February, flying up from and back to the Sunshine Coast.  It also looked to complete a pair of local flights out and back to the Sunny Coast on Monday 23 February.  Perhaps some post maintenance flight testing?

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 26 February, VH-MMC returned to Emerald Airport and complete two more local flights with one extending to Gladstone Airport again for more airwork.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 27 February, VH-MMC returned to Gladstone Airport yet again from the Sunshine Coast, completing more airwork and landing for a short time.

Meanwhile, also noted calling into the region again this week, and at my local Clermont Aerodrome, also on Tuesday 25 February, was Redjet Aviation Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU.  The smart little Navajo seems to be completing weekly flights into Clermont from and back to its Toowoomba base.

Finally, on Monday 24 February, a couple of familiar corporate bizjets were noted returning to the Whitsundays region once again.

Linfox Express Charter / Air National Australia Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 VH-LEF was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon) and seems to have remained parked.

UPDATE!  After staying for almost a week, on Sunday 1 March, VH-LEF departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Essendon.

While American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK called into Mackay Airport briefly after flying up form Archerfield before it then continued up to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour where it looks to have remained parked.

UPDATE!  N257AK returned to Archerfield late in the afternoon on Thursday 27 February.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Re-painted and Re-registered Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC (ex VH-AAD) Noted at Emerald Airport

An interesting visitor noted at Emerald Airport on Tuesday 25 February was recently re-painted and re-registered Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC.  It looked to fly in from Archerfield and then complete a flight out of and back to Emerald Airport, flying via airwork at Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 26 February, VH-AAC was noted returning to Archerfield from Emerald Airport.

Of interest, the PC-12 is actually a familiar visitor to the region, having flown into various CQ Airports under its previous registration marking of VH-AAD.

As shown above, VH-AAC recently underwent a re-paint at the Flinders Aviation facility at Redcliffe near Brisbane and presumably has now been re-registered.  It is assumed that a 'new' VH-AAD will be arriving into Australia soon.

Photos sourced from https://www.facebook.com/flindersaviation/

Pacific Sky Aviation Inc (Canada) Viking Aircraft (De Havilland) DHC-6-400 Twin Otter C-GVKI Calls into Rockhampton Airport

A nice surprise arrival into Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 25 February with Canadian registered Pacific Sky Aviation Inc Viking Aircraft (De Havilland) DHC-6-400 Twin Otter C-GVKI touching down from Cairns.

The distinctly coloured special mission Viking 'Guardian 400' demonstration aircraft is presently on a world tour and stopped in at Cairns around a fortnight ago before it ultimately heads to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth during the Australian leg of the world tour.  Indeed after refuelling at Rocky, it departed to Tamworth in New South Wales.

C-GVKI has reportedly undergone a six month modification program to develop the aircraft and is full of special mission equipment from the companies noted to the right of the cabin door.

Viking has developed the Guardian 400 in response to worldwide military and government agency demand for a medium-range maritime patrol, search-and-rescue and critical infrastructure platform based on the new Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft.  It is also the only special mission aircraft capable of operating on five different types of landing gear.

Read more at:  https://www.guardian400worldtour.com/

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

Photos taken by Michael Malick, Trevor Hardsman and Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Armada Aviation (Victoria) Pilatus PC-12s VH-NWI and VH-XAQ Make Late Night Visit to CQ Airports

Interesting to note late on Sunday 23 February that a pair of Armada Aviation (of Ringwood in Victoria) Pilatus PC-12 turboprops VH-NWI and VH-XAQ were both noted visiting Central Queensland Airports while seemingly ferrying from Lilydale in Victoria to Cairns.

VH-XAQ at Adelaide Airport in 2015  (File photo)

Both PC-12s were due to call into Longreach Airport from Lilydale but looked to divert to Charleville Airport for fuel.  Both then continued to Longreach Airport before heading into Cairns, where they touched down in the wee small hours of Monday 24 February.

It then appears that VH-XAQ departed Cairns and ferried all the way back to Melbourne (Essendon) – perhaps ferrying the crew from VH-NWI home to Victoria?

I still remember the days of seeing VH-XAQ often at Jandakot Airport in Perth when it was operated the Jandakot Flight Centre (JFC) as shown in the photo above.

Interesting!

Meanwhile, also on Monday 24 February, the familiar sight of Brisbane-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-VTF departed Archerfield and was due to land at Theodore Airport.  It however, diverted to Biloela / Thangool Airport due to weather.  VH-VTF later returned to Archerfield from Bilo.

Finally, back at Longreach Airport, late on Sunday 23 February, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was noted arriving from Brisbane and Winton.

After staying for the night, on Monday 24 February, VH-SGQ departed Longreach Airport and returned to Winton before continuing to Cairns and Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 25 February, VH-SGQ departed Proserpine Airport for Brisbane.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Stewart Aviation Services LLC (USA) Gulfstream G-IV-SP Bizjet N554SL Departs Mackay Airport - Plus More!

After arriving at the end of last week, on Sunday 23 February, the visiting Stewart Aviation Services LLC (USA) Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-SP bizjet N554SL was noted departing Mackay Airport and returning to Brisbane.

N554SL at Mackay Airport on Friday  (File photo)

The sleek Gulfstream had arrived into Mackay Airport from Brisbane on Friday 21 February.

At the time of writing, it appears that N554SL will continue to Karratha in Western Australia on Monday 24 February.

Meanwhile, a gaggle of other locally-based corporate bizjets came and went from various Central Queensland Airports also on Sunday 23 February.

The locally-based Greensill Aviation Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ was yet again noted flying out and about from Bundaberg Airport this time to Townsville and back.

While Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport for Melbourne (Essendon) and then Melbourne (Moorabbin).  It arrived from there on Friday 21 February.

And for me locally, the familiar sight of Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY called into my local Clermont Aerodrome from Dubbo in New South Wales.  It later departed to Essendon.

Finally, the familiar sight of Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC flew up from its Sunshine Coast base to complete airwork at Gladstone Airport before eventually landing there for a short time.  VH-MMC then returned to the Sunny Coast.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Rainy Weather Sees Diversions from Hamilton Island Airport - Qantas B737-800 VH-VXD Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

Rainy and windy weather rolling through parts of Central Queensland on Sunday 23 February, saw a pair of scheduled flights bound for Hamilton Island Airport unable to land and forced to divert to other Central Queensland Airports.

Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VXD was operating as QFA866 from Sydney to Hamilton Island Airport and was forced to divert to Rockhampton Airport after being unable to land at Hamo following some holding and at least one attempt at landing. 

It was spotted below taxiing in and then departing.

After being refuelled, VH-VXD continued up to Hamilton Island Airport where it landed safely.

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YVC was operating as VOZ1281 from Sydney to Hamilton Island Airport and was forced to divert to Mackay Airport after also being unable to land at Hamo also following some holding and at least one attempt at landing.

VH-YVC was also refuelled and continued up to Hamilton Island Airport where it landed safely.

Finally, later on Sunday 23 February, bad weather at the Sunshine Coast forced McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air P2-LNJ to divert and land at Rockhampton Airport.

The King Air was flying from Cairns to the Sunny Coast but turned around just South of Rocky before heading to Rockhampton Airport where it landed and was parked for the night.

UPDATE!  P2-LNJ didn't hang around long, departing Rockhampton Airport for the Sunshine Coast before dawn on Monday 24 February.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Stewart Aviation Services LLC (USA) Gulfstream G-IV-SP Bizjet N554SL Arrives into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

Spotted parked on the Mackay Airport apron late on Friday 21 February was Stewart Aviation Services LLC (USA) Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-SP bizjet N554SL.  The sleek Gulfstream had earlier arrived into the Sugar City from Brisbane.

N554SL had earlier touched down in the Queensland capital from Birmingham, Alabama via Los Cabos, Mexico and Papeete, Tahiti.

At the time of writing, it appears that N554SL is staying at Mackay Airport for at least the night.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 21 February, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNF "Rescue 550" was noted flying over the top and off the coast of Mackay in support of the locally-based Central Queensland Rescue (CQ Rescue) (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412 VH-CQJ "Rescue 412" as it completed a sortie.

While out at Emerald Airport, after arriving earlier in the week, the visiting American registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet N60XC departed there also on Friday 21 February.  It returned to Brisbane, having arrived into Emerald Airport from the capital on Wednesday 19 February.

Finally, also on Friday 21 February, Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU which was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Moorabbin) via Melbourne (Essendon).  It appears to have remained parked.

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

All photos taken by 'JM'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-003 Pops into Gladstone Airport

On Friday 21 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-003 was noted visiting Gladstone Airport.  It looked to arrive from Brisbane as "Envoy 05" having earlier arrived from Canberra but as "Envoy 11".

File photo

After a short time on the ground, A56-003 departed Gladstone Airport and returned to Brisbane, again as "Envoy 05".

Meanwhile, down the road at Bundaberg Airport, also on Friday 21 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-006 was noted completing a missed approach.  It was heard to be flying as "Wedgetail 07".

A30-006 looked to fly up from RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle and later depart to RAAF Base Amberley.  The Wedgetail looked to later return to Williamtown.

Photo taken by Dan B  ©

Three Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopters Pop into Rockhampton Airport Heading Home from Bushfire Zone

After being part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) support during the recent bushfire crisis in Southern Australia, on Friday 21 February, three Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopters were spotted passing through Rockhampton Airport heading home to Townsville.

The three MRH-90s arrived separately all from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre and were identified as A40-003 which was flying as "Angel 21", A40-035 as "Angel 22" and A40-013 as "Angel 23".

After taking on fuel, each then continued separately to Townsville.

Of interest, both A40-003 and A40-013 deployed South at the start of January while A40-035 deployed South towards the end of January - see Blog posts below.

Meanwhile, last Wednesday 12 February, three Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters were also noted returning home to Townsville after their deployment in support of the bushfire crisis.  It is unclear where they exactly transited while heading North.

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©