Three Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopters Arrive into Rockhampton Presumably to Head to TC Alfred Clean-up Zone

On Saturday 8 March, three Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters were photographed after they had arrived into the Australian Army Defence Support Unit (DSU) camp adjacent to Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.  They were identified as A15-312, A15-313 and A15-314 and were heard to be using the radio callsign of "Chainsaw".

Of interest, these three Chinooks are part of the four 'additional' Chinook helicopters that have entered service with C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment, in Townsville.  It is possibly the first time we've seen at least A15-313 and A15-314 in the region since they were delivered to the Australian Army in Townsville in 2021 from US Army Stocks via a USAF C-5M Galaxy transport aircraft.

UPDATE!  On Monday 10 March, all three Chinooks departed the DSU near Rockhampton Airport and flew down to the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.

Sincere thanks to local photographer Steve V for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©️

American-Registered Pilatus PC-12/47E (NG) N175NG Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 4 March, American-registered but seemingly Australian-based Pilatus PC-12/47E (NG) N175NG popped into Rockhampton Airport.

It was spotted arriving from Archerfield before it then departed to Julia Creek.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 5 March, N175NG arrived back into Rockhampton Airport from Julia Creek and then departed to Archerfield. 

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 4 March, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.  It also looked to visit Natal Downs from Archerfield via Dalby on Monday 3 March.

Little Wings (NSW) Beech 58 Baron VH-VSA arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield before later returning there but via Gladstone Airport.

And LifeFlight Agusta A109SP helicopter VH-XNR arrived into Bundaberg Airport from Archerfield.

Plus NQ Heli Worx Eurocopter EC135 T2 helicopter VH-MVY arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the North and then departed to Bundaberg Airport and further South.

Finally, also on Tuesday 4 March, some light General Aviation (GA) aircraft and helicopters began re-positioning away from the South-East corner of the state to seek shelter away from the impending arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Executive Helicopters Eurocopter AS 350 B3 Squirrel helicopters VH-YQK and then VH-DTS both arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.

And Omni Executive (Canberra) Eurocopter AS 350 B3 Squirrel helicopter VH-AB3 also arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Pacific Marine Leasing (USA) Dassault Falcon 900EX Bizjet N999PM Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - UPDATED with Photo! - Plus More!

On Monday 3 March, Pacific Marine Leasing (USA) Dassault Falcon 900EX bizjet N999PM was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from the Gold Coast.

It looked to arrive there a couple of days prior having spent a couple of weeks in Tasmania after arriving there from overseas in mid-February.

UPDATE!  On Friday 7 March, N999PM departed Hamilton Island Airport for Cairns where it was spotted above.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 3 March, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZIY as "Machflight 421" visited Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

And Gulf Aircraft Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208 Caravan VH-PYO looked to arrive into Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 4 March, VH-PYO flew back down from Hamilton Island Airport to Brisbane. 

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©

Search for Trans-Pacific Rower Stranded in Seas Whipped up by Cyclone Alfred Brings AMSA Challenger 604 VH-XNF "Rescue 550" to Rockhampton Airport Plus ADF Support

Across the weekend, a search was launched for Lithuanian national Aurimas Mockus who is in a row-boat, some 740km off the coast of Mackay.  He was attempting to cross the ocean between San Diego and Brisbane, but reportedly ran into trouble on Friday night in massive seas being whipped up Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Consequently, on Saturday 1 March, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNF as "Rescue 550" flew up from Melbourne (Essendon) to Rockhampton Airport before embarking on a near-6-hour search mission.  It then landed back at Rockhampton Airport and departed back to Essendon on Sunday 2 March.

UPDATE!  VH-XNF "Resue 550" returned to the region, again landing at Rockhampton Airport, in the wee small hours of Monday 3 March as the rescue looked to take place.

Also landing at Rockhampton Airport, also on Sunday 2 March, was fellow AMSA Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNC as "Rescue 440" which flew down from Cairns and also patrolled the search area.  It later returned to Cairns but looks to be due to return to Rockhampton Airport on Monday 3 March.

Finally, during the evening on Saturday 1 March, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft A47-009 as "Rescue 251" flew up from RAAF Base Edinburgh to the search area before it then landed at Townsville - after an 8+ hour flight.

It looked to return to Edinburgh on Sunday 2 March.

Finally, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) amphibious Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD) ship HMAS Choules has set sail from Brisbane to the search area in an effort to rescue the stranded the rower.

UPDATE!  On Monday 3 March, sailors from HMAS Choules completed the rescue!  Good news!

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Additional Images from Defence...

Asia Pacific Airlines (PNG) (Cobham Aviation) Dash-8-100 P2-NAX Passes Through Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 1 March, Papua New Guinea based Asia Pacific Airlines Dash-8-100 P2-NAX was noted passing through Longreach Airport. It arrived from Cairns and later departed to Adelaide (pictured) where it appears to be going for planned maintenance.

Asia Pacific Airlines is based in Tabubil, Papua New Guinea. It is a subsidiary of Cobham Aviation and the Dash-8's arrival into Adelaide is presumably to undergo maintenance.

Asia Pacific Airlines operates a fleet of three Dash-8-100 aircraft on domestic services, as well as flights to Cairns on behalf of Ok Tedi Mining Limited of which P2-NAX wears the colours and titles.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 1 March, there was a pair of Rugby League sports charter flights into the region.  QantasLink (Alliance Airlines) Embraer E-190 jet VH-UZK flew down from Townsville to Rockhampton Airport as QFA6281 before returning to Townsville as QFA2693.  It later returned to Rockhampton Airport as QF2692 before then heading back to Townsville as QFA6282.

And Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 jet VH-UQW flew from Cairns to Mackay Airport and back to Cairns as UTY3381/2 before later flying back to Mackay Airport and then back to Cairns as UTY3383/4.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©