Aerlink ATR 72-500s VH-FVY and VH-FVI Both Pop into CQ Airports on Outback Tourist Charter Flights - Plus More!

Over the weekend, Aerlink (formerly Hevilift) ATR 72-500 turboprops took a break from their regular Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) duties from Brisbane and Townsville, being spotted and noted operating a pair of closed tourist charter flights into Central Australia that also passed through a couple of Central Queensland Airports.

On Saturday 13 May, VH-FVY was photographed above at Birdsville Airport after arriving from Brisbane as HT708.  It then continued to Port Agusta in South Australia via some sightseeing over Lake Eyre as HT707.  On Sunday 14 May, VH-FVY flew back up to Charleville Airport and then back to Brisbane as HT710/709.

VH-FVI at Moranbah Airport on FIFO duties  (File photo)

While on Saturday 13 May, VH-FVI departed Brisbane for Broken Hill and Coober Pedy as HT701, before returning to Brisbane via sightseeing over Lake Eyre and then a stop at Birdsville Airport on Sunday 14 May as HT702.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 14 May, Mackay-based Piper PA-34-200T VH-COP departed Rockhampton Airport and Innisfail.  It flew down from Mackay Airport on Saturday 13 May.  Information suggests that VH-COP is due to continue up to Far North Queensland.

Locally-based (but Mackay-registered) Mooney M20J VH-NWF flew from Clermont Aerodrome to Mackay Airport and back.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" visited Emerald Airport from Brisbane during the late afternoon.  VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" also visited Longreach Airport, also on from Brisbane, but in the wee small hour of Saturday 13 May.

Finally, also on Saturday 13 May, Avcair (Avgunn) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-ILJ flew up from Brisbane to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and then Mackay Airport before returning to Brisbane.

General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) Aero Commander 500-S VH-UJU landed at Longreach Airport from Bankstown before then departing to Mount Isa.  It was due to continue to Darwin on Sunday.

And Brisbane-based Avcair Cessna 425 Conquest 1 VH-BSM visited Charters Towers Aerodrome from Archerfield.

Photos taken by Ken Dawes and 'AC'  ©