Skytraders NEW Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 Bizjet VH-VVJ "Snowbird 8" Calls into Rockhampton Airport - Nice!

On Saturday 29 August, Skytraders brand new Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 bizjet VH-VVJ as 'SND8' / "Snowbird 8"  made its first visit into Central Queensland, arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns via low-level airwork East of the CQ coast.  It later returned to Cairns.

VH-VVJ was delivered from the USA via all stops into Cairns only last week - as pictured above.

The arrival of VH-VVJ follows the arrival of another Challenger 605 bizjet in the form of VH-VTG which has been in Cairns undergoing work at the local Jet Aviation facility and also completing similar training flights to CQ and beyond.

The aircraft are arriving as Skytraders expands its involvement in Australia's aerial surveillance capability. In May 2026, the Australian Border Force announced a new fixed-wing aerial surveillance arrangement under which Metrea Australia will provide 11 crewed aircraft for short- and long-range surveillance of Australia's maritime approaches. The fleet is intended to provide enhanced national coverage around the clock, year-round

Meanwhile, on Friday 28 August, Skytraders other Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 bizjet VH-VTG as 'SND7' / "Snowbird 7" was back in CQ arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns via low level airwork East of the Whitsundays.

After refuel, it departed and completed some more airwork at Rockhampton Airport before landing and refuelling once again. It then departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Cairns via more low-level airwork again East of the Whitsundays.

LifeFlight Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter VH-XIA as "Guardian 10", which had landed at Mount Isa from the northwest yesterday, departed there to Longreach, Roma and Archerfield Airports.

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©