Southern Cross University / Eastern Air Link Cessna 337G VH-AEV Operating at Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

As it has done each day so far this month, on Wednesday 29 March, Southern Cross University (Coffs Harbour) / Eastern Air Link (Port Macquarie) Cessna 337G VH-AEV completed an aerial survey flight out of and back to Gladstone Airport.

VH-AEV at Gladstone Airport last week

Research reveals that VH-AEV first arrived into Gladstone Airport from Port Macquarie on Friday 3 March and almost each day since it has completed an aerial survey flight out of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.  It has been reported that South Cross University is utilising VH-AEV to complete complex research of the Reef.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 5 April, VH-AEV finally departed Gladstone Airport one final time, returning to Port Macquarie via Archerfield.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 29 March, General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) Aero Commander 500-S VH-UJU arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 30 March, VH-UJU departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Archerfield.

Stirling Helicopters Piper PA-23-250 Aztec VH-EQD flew up from Archerfield to Rockhampton Airport before then departing to Roma Airport and then back to Archerfield. 

Stirling Helicopters Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 VH-HKC was noted flying between Rockhampton Airport and Gladstone Airport.

Edwards Coaches Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-OXY flew up from Armidale to Mackay Airport before later returning there but via Port Macquarie. 

Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-XDW flew out from Toowoomba-Wellcamp to Charleville and Emerald Airports before then returning back to Wellcamp. 

While locally-based Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Agusta S.P.A. AW139 Helicopter VH-YXR departed Rockhampton Airport for the Rolleston Open Cut Mine with a heap of people on board.  It later returned to Rockhampton Airport.

And of the other Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-HLL flew down from Townsville to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site and then across to Mackay Airport before then flying back to Labona and Townsville as HND280/1/2/3.

It also looks like VH-HLL also visited Mackay Airport but on Tuesday 28 March, flying down from Townsville and out to Labona and then back to Mackay Airport and Townsville as HND290/1/2/3.

Finally, also on Wednesday 29 March, Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK flew down from Weipa to Mackay Airport and then the Sunshine Coast and Orange.  It had flown North over that route on Monday 27 March. 

American-Registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK flew down from Hamilton Island Airport to Archerfield.  It had flown up there last Wednesday 22 March.

While Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNF as "Rescue 550" flew down from Cairns and operated around the Herbert Creek area East of Ogmore and Marlborough for a while before it then moved to the North-East part of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) before eventually returning to Cairns. 

And Qantas Freight / Pionair Australia BAe 146-300(QT) VH-SQR looked to operate a delayed freight service into both Rockhampton Airport and Mackay Airport.  It departed Brisbane and firstly called into Mackay Airport as QFA7424 before then flying down to Rockhampton Airport as QF7425.  VH-SQR then returned to Brisbane from Rocky as QF7426.

Photo taken by Swavek Topolski  ©️