Central Highlands Aerial Services (CHAS) Take Delivery of Air Tractor AT-802A N70LA (to be VH-WHY) at Emerald - Plus More!

On Tuesday 13 December, the Emerald-based Central Highlands Aerial Services (CHAS) took delivery of their latest aircraft in the form of American-registered Air Tractor AT-802A N70LA.  It arrived at their landing site and facilities North of Emerald from Cairns after arriving there (pictured) from Majuro the previous day.

N70LA had departed the USA and spent the last few days ferrying across the Pacific Ocean with the final leg into Australia from Majuro to Cairns on Monday 12 December.

Information suggests that the Air Tractor will be placed onto the Australian Aircraft register as VH-WHY.  It also takes their current fleet up to 10.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 13 December, Elite Aero P/L Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-ACH as "Navair 187" made possibly its first ever visit into Central Queensland since arriving into the country in the middle part of this year.  It landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Bankstown and looked to be staying for at least the night.

 

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 December, VH-ACH "Navair 187" departed Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and returned to Bankstown.

While MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC was noted completing its weekly visit to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site. It looked to arrive from and then later depart back to its Sunshine Coast base via Emerald Airport.

And up at Hamilton Island Airport, Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF flew into Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield and the Gold Coast before then departing to Archerfield.

Plus ADD Aviation Services (Australian Corporate Jet Centres) Raytheon Hawker 800XP bizjet VH-OFJ visited Hamilton Island Airport from its Melbourne (Essendon) base.

Finally, also on Tuesday 13 December, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air A32-671 as "Hudson 03" landed at Bundaberg Airport from RAAF Base East Sale before it then departed to Brisbane. 

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 December, A32-671 again as "Hudson 03" flew out from Brisbane to complete airwork at Roma Airport before then continuing to Townsville

RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 December, VH-WPH departed Rockhampton Airport for Maryborough Airport and then back to Toowoomba.

Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-UJM departed Blackall Airport for Archerfield.  It appears to have been flying around the Moura, Clermont, Labona and Barcaldine areas since flying up from Archerfield on Saturday 10 December.

After arriving late the previous day from Cairns, the recently delivered McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-ZPY departed Rockhampton Airport for to Labona before later returning back to Rockhampton Airport.  It looked to then complete another flight out to Labona and back to Rockhampton Airport later in the day.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 December, VH-ZPY departed Rockhampton Airport for Labona one more time before it then departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Tasfast Air Freight (Southern Airlines) Beech 1900C VH-YSO was noted making another visit into Central Queensland, operating the weekly Fly-n Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight into Moranbah Airport.  It flew up Melbourne (Moorabbin) and the Latrobe Valley to Bourke and then to Moranbah Airport before it then departed back to Latrobe Valley and Moorabbin.

DeGunst Transport P/L Textron (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-NPZ made its weekly flight from Bundaberg to Nebo Airfield and back but this week, via Rockhampton Airport.

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK called into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane before then departing to Townsville and Cairns.  It was due to call into Rocky during the morning, but flew down from Cairns and Townsville then direct to Brisbane.

Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQB arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane as SKP501.  It then completed a flight to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site and back to Rockhampton Airport as SKP775/6. 

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 December, VH-QQB departed Rockhampton Airport for Brisbane as SKP502.

Of interest, fellow Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQI arrived into Rockhampton Airport on Monday 12 December and completed two return flights to Labona and back to Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 13 December.  It is due to depart to Townsville early on Wednesday 14 December. 

And Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Agusta AB412 (Bell 412) VH-LSV arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and Mackay Airports.  It then departed to Bundaberg Airport and the Sunshine Coast.  VH-LSV had flown down from Horn Island the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 December and Thursday 15 December, VH-LSV continued from the Sunshine Coast to Adelaide via Toowoomba, Moree, Dubbo, Griffith, and Mildura.

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©