Qantas Freight (Pionair Australia) British Aerospace BAe 146-300QT VH-SAJ Pops into Mackay Airport - First Visit to CQ!

Early on Friday 18 November, Qantas Freight (Pionair Australia) British Aerospace BAe 146-300QT (Quiet Trader) VH-SAJ was noted arriving into Mackay Airport direct from Brisbane as QFA7298.

File photo

After a short time on the ground, it continued up to Cairns as QFA7299.

This is what we believe to be the first time that VH-SAJ has called into a Central Queensland Airport since it was delivered to Pionair in 2019 for freight operations on behalf of Qantas / Qantas Freight.

This is the second time this week that a 'different' BAe 146 freight aircraft replaced the 'usual' Qantas Freight (Pionair Australia operated) British Aerospace BAe 146-200QT (Quiet Trader) VH-SFV on the Brisbane to Mackay Airport via Rockhampton Airport flight.

As posted below, on Wednesday 16 November, Pionair Australia BAe 146-200QC VH-SIF operated from Brisbane to Mackay Airport and then Cairns as QFA7298/9.

While on Thursday 17 November, the usual BAe 146-200QT VH-SFV did operate the usual flight, however it was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport as QFA7421 and then not departing to Mackay Airport until much later in the day as QFA7422.  It then flew back to Brisbane as QFA7423.

Of interest, VH-SAJ was delivered to Pionair in October 2019, with the all-freight configured BAe 146-300QT operating in various parts and for various airlines in Europe since its initial delivery just shy of 20 years prior.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©