Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Crash Victims Remembered Today

The five victims of Queensland's worst helicopter crash will be remembered today on the anniversary of the tragedy.

In the early hours of Monday 24 July 2000, Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) Bell 206 VH-FFI was operating a rescue flight, taking a sick five-year-old boy to hospital. The helicopter crashed in darkness and heavy fog, in a field near Marlborough in Central Queensland. The boy, his mum, and three crew lost their lives in the crash.

The CHRS chopper had flown to pick up the five-year-old boy with breathing problems from a remote property northwest of Rockhampton.

In 2003, an inquest found low fuel was to blame for the crash and heavy fog had been a significant factor.

Pictured above is one of the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service's current choppers - Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia operated Agusta S.P.A. AW139 Helicopter VH-YXR - departing Rockhampton Airport on a recent training flight. VH-YXR operates for the service as the primary "Rescue 300".

Fellow Babcock Bell 412EP helicopter VH-EPR also operates out of Rockhampton Airport and has been a long-term part of the CHRS fleet as the usual "Rescue 300".

Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 VH-HQK Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 11 July, Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 VH-HQK visited Rockhampton Airport from Dubbo then departed back to there. 

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While Victorian-based but American-registered Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 N227SL arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Melbourne (Essendon) and Tocumwal.

UPDATE!  On Friday 12 July, N227SL departed Rockhampton Airport for Archerfield.

New Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR flew down from Townsville and Cairns to Mackay Airport.  It then departed to Brisbane

And Linfox Global Charter / Air National Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-LEP was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport for Melbourne (Essendon).  It had arrived from there on Sunday 7 July.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 11 July, Mandalay Two P/L Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SCQ landed at Longreach Airport from Toowoomba and then departed to Winton and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It then returned to Toowoomba.

New Queensland Police Service (QPS) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Textron Aviation B300C Super King Air 350 VH-8PD visited Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville.

FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba before later returning there via Chinchilla Aerodrome.

Aerometrex Vulcanair (Partenavia) VH-EPX visited Clermont Aerodrome from Rockhampton Airport.  It has been completing aerial survey flights in the region over the last couple of days.

And Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-PID of Kelsall P/L (Aeronautics and Technology Holdings) visited Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airports.

Photo taken by Paul Tyler  ©

Brenzil Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X Bizjet VH-CRW Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 10 July, Brenzil Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X bizjet VH-CRW was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.

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It looked to arrive from and then later depart back to its Brisbane base.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane then departed to Townsville.  It then returned to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 10 July, Tillair Services / ACTAS P/L Cessna 208B Caravan VH-POV landed at Emerald Airport from Charters Towers Aerodrome and then departed to Archerfield. 

The Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane, Townsville and Mackay Airports before then departing back to Brisbane. 

Air Link (Dubbo) Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS departed Rockhampton Airport for Archerfield.  It had arrived from there over the weekend.

And Seair Pacific (Istlecote) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TFB departed the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site for Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It had arrived there over the weekend too.

Photo taken by Emily C  ©

A Couple of Flight One (Services) Cirrus Lighties - VH-FOE & VH-FOJ - at a Couple of CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 9 July, Flight One (Services) Cirrus SR20 VH-FOE was spotted parked at Emerald Airport.  It was visiting from Archerfield.

And up the road at my local Clermont Aerodrome, fellow Flight One (Services) Cirrus SR22 VH-FOJ visited also from Archerfield.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 9 July, Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew up from Emerald Airport and Rolleston to Aerodrome to my local Clermont Aerodrome.  It then completed a return flight to the Oaky Creek Mine Site and back.  

VH-VEJ had arrived into Emerald Airport on Monday 8 July from Brisbane via Rolleston Aerodrome after earlier completing its 'usual' weekly flight into Clermont Aerodrome from and back to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 10 July, VH-VEJ flew from Clermont Aerodrome to the Newlands Mine Site and then Brisbane.

NSW based Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga VH-SMY departed Rockhampton Airport for Townsville.  It had arrived from Wannervale and Goondiwindi over the weekend.

Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXB arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba-Wellcamp and Thargomindah then departed to Wellcamp. 

And McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-NSN as "Machflight 121" visited Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.

Photo taken by Swavek Topolski  ©

Local Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 Bizjet N142GZ Back in The Air out of Mackay Airport and Visiting a Couple of CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 8 July, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air, noted departing Mackay Airport for Bundaberg Airport.  It then flew up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before returning to Mackay Airport.

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UPDATE!  On Thursday 11 July, N142GZ departed Mackay Airport for Proserpine Airport and then Bundaberg Airport before returning to Mackay Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 8 July, Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQI flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) and Maryborough Airports to Middlemount Aerodrome. It then flew across to Rockhampton Airport and then Lady Elliott Island.

New South Wales-based Cessna 182C Skylane VH-NLN departed Rockhampton Airport to Barcaldine Airport and then further to the North-West.  It had arrived yesterday from Moruya via Roma Airport.

FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast and later departed to Bundaberg Airport and the back to the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.

Rockhampton-based Peace Aviation Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-8 Islander VH-SLM, which flew to Mackay Airport from Rocky yesterday, departed there for Clermont Aerodrome and Quilpie. It then returned to Mackay Airport and then Rockhampton Airport.

Mackay-based Horizon Airways Flight Training Cessna 172RG VH-LDK flew across from there to Clermont Aerodrome and then down to Emerald Airport.

UPDATE!  On Friday 12 July, VH-LDK reversed the flight.

And Consolidated Pastoral Company P/L Cessna 421C Golden Eagle VH-UTC flew down from Darwin, Katherine, Newcastle Waters and Mount Isa to Biloela / Thangool Airport before then flying back up to Middlemount Aerodrome.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 9 July, VH-UTC departed Middlemount Aerodrome for Mount Isa and Newcastle Waters.

Finally, late on Sunday 7 July, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZIY as "Machflight 41" landed at Longreach Airport from Darwin then departed to Melbourne (Essendon).

Photo taken by Dan B  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-006 "Wedgetail 02" Completes Airwork at Bundaberg Airport

On Monday 8 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-006 was noted completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport.

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It looked to fly up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete airwork including a missed approach at the Gold Coast before flying up to Bundaberg Airport for more airwork and a missed approach.  It then flew back down to Williamtown.

A30-006 was heard to be flying as "Wedgetail 02".

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©

New Queensland Police Service (QPS) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Textron Aviation B300C Super King Air 350 VH-8PD Pops into Rockhampton Airport

On a quiet Friday 5 July, the new Queensland Police Service (QPS) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Textron Aviation B300C Super King Air 350 VH-8PD was noted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

It arrived from Cairns and then departed to Brisbane.  

VH-8PD then returned to Cairns.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Austrek Aviation Beech B200 Super King Air VH-ZGD Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 4 July, Austrek Aviation Beech B200 Super King Air VH-ZGD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba and Brisbane.

It then departed to Townsville before returning to Brisbane and Toowoomba.

Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-XDW flew up from Toowoomba-Wellcamp to Rolleston Aerodrome before returning to Wellcamp but via Roma Airport.

While American Registered but Australian based Pilatus PC-12/47E N81DW landed at Bundaberg Airport from Townsville and then departed to Archerfield, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba.

Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-8HP landed at Emerald Airport from Miranda Downs and then departed to Archerfield.  Later, it returned to Miranda via Hughenden.

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 July, VH-8HP flew down from Miranda Downs to Mackay Airport and back and this afternoon flew down to Emerald Airport, Bundaberg Airport and then Armidale in New South Wales.

Sydney-registered Skydive Australia Cessna 208 Caravan VH-OZQ landed at Emerald Airport from Shellharbour and then departed to Cairns.

And Edwards Coaches Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-OXY landed at Mackay Airport from Jandakot and Alice Springs.

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 July, VH-OXY departed Mackay Airport for Armidale.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 4 July, Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ landed at Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield and then departed to Wagga Wagga.

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 July, VH-JSZ flew back into my local Clermont Aerodrome from Wagga Wagga. It then departed to Archerfield. 

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZIY as "Machflight 421" flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast before later returning there but via Bundaberg Airport.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" was in the region yet again, flying out to Barcaldine Airport from Brisbane and then across to Mackay Airport.  It then flew up Townsville and Cairns and then back to Townsville.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 Bizjet VH-LXZ as "Navair 131" Calls into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 3 July, Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-LXZ as "Navair 131" flew up to Mackay from Bankstown and Cessnock and late this afternoon flew back to there.

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LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" popped into Gladstone Airport from Townsville and Brisbane. It then departed to Cairns and then back to Brisbane.

And Shortstop Jet Charter Dassault Falcon 900C bizjet VH-OAA visited Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 3 July, Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ as "Rescue 521" was noted completing a medical evacuation flight from Mackay Airport to Townsville.

As posted below, the two (now former) Central Queensland Rescue (CQ Rescue) (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412 helicopters VH-CQJ and VH-VAU have gone from Mackay Airport for good; while LifeFlight Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter VH-XIA, which has been at Mackay Airport since the start of the month, completed its first medical evacuation flight on Wednesday 3 July from Mackay to Proserpine Hosptial and back as "Rescue 401".

While Parklea (Air Services) (of Victoria) Agusta AW109SP helicopter VH-CZT landed at Emerald from Townsville and then departed to Roma Airport and then Tamworth.

The Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane then departed to Mackay Airport, Townsville and then Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 4 July, VH-SGQ reversed these flights, coming down from Cairns to Townsville and then Mackay Airport and Rockhampton Airport and then to Brisbane.

FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB visited Rockhampton Airport from Toowoomba.

Seair Pacific (Istlecote) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TFB departed Rockhampton Airport to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It had arrived on the weekend.

And Gold Coast registered Extra EA300/LT VH-XKW arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the South then departed to Townsville.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

A Pair of LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjets VH-OFA and VH-OFC Both Call into CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Tuesday 2 July, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" was spotted visiting Gladstone Airport.  It had earlier flown out to Barcaldine Airport from Brisbane and then flew across to Gladstone Airport.

It is pictured departing back to Brisbane.

And fellow LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" flew into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and Brisbane before then departing to Mount Isa and Cairns and then back to Townsville.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 2 July, Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 VH-HQK arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Dubbo.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 3 July, VH-HQK departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Dubbo.

Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK landed at Emerald from Orange and the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 3 July, VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport and returned to the Sunshine Coast and Orange. 

Finally, also on Tuesday 2 July, now ex-CQ Rescue (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412EP helicopter VH-VAU was noted arriving into Horn Island from Cairns, Cooktown and Coen.  It departed Mackay Airport to Townsville and Cairns yesterday.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Jamie C for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Jamie C  ©️