Pionair Australia Embraer E190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ Pops into Rockhampton Airport in a Revised Livery

Also on Thursday 27 October, Pionair Australia Embraer E190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was spotted passing through Rockhampton Airport while flying down from Townsville to Brisbane.

The Embraer has been in Townsville since the start of the month and had a re-paint at the Flying Colours Paint Shop at Townsville Airport.  Sadly, the attractive Air Kiribati livery that VH-IKJ was delivered in and flew around in since February 2020 was removed given the South-Pacific Airline's decision to not pursue jet transport operations.

File photo

It is assumed that VH-IKJ will join Pionair Australia's general passenger charter flight services, alongside their British Aerodrome BAe 146-200 quad-jets.

As mentioned below, Pionair Australia's second Embraer E-190 (ERJ-190-100 LR) VH-SEF, has now been acquired by Alliance Airlines and was ferried to Townsville for re-painting at the local Flying Colours paint-shop.  VH-SEF looked to recently return to Brisbane from Townsville on Wednesday 12 October.

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

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Michael Malick  ©

Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 VH-IKJ Pops into Rockhampton Airport Again

On Thursday 9 June, Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was spotted at Rockhampton Airport, operating what appears to be another training flight into the beef capital.

As usual, it arrived from and later departed back to Brisbane.

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

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 VH-IKJ Pops into Rockhampton Airport on a Training Flight - Plus Pionair E-190 VH-SEF Transfers to Alliance Airlines

On Friday 27 May, and making its first visit to the region this year, Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was spotted at Rockhampton Airport, operating what appears to be a training flight.

It looked to fly up from Brisbane before later returning there after around 90 minutes on the ground.

As mentioned previously, the brand new Embraer was delivered to Air Kiribati at Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airport in January 2020 wearing its Brazilian delivery registration marking of PR-EHT.

It was added to the Australian Aircraft Register in February as VH-IKJ is owned by and registered to the Government of Kiribati, with Sydney-based passenger and cargo airline Pionair Australia as the registered operator.

Of interest, a second Embraer E-190 (ERJ-190-100 LR) VH-SEF, which until very recently was leased to and wore the colours of Pionair Australia, was noted flying into Townsville from Bankstown as Alliance Airlines flight 'UTY9818'.

It is reported that this E-190 has now been acquired by Alliance Airlines and was ferried to Townsville for re-painting at the local Flying Colours paint-shop.

VH-SEF was originally delivered to Pionair Australia at Bankstown in November 2020 with the E-190 wearing the Swiss Registration marking of HB-JVR.  It has never flown since arriving into Bankstown.

HB-JVR arrives into Bankstown in November 2020  (File photo)

VH-SEF at Bankstown in October 2021  (File photo)

Photos taken by Michael Malick, John Lee, Grahame Hutchison and Bernie Proctor  ©

Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 VH-IKJ Pops into Rockhampton Airport on a Training Flight

As posted on our Facebook page, on Tuesday 23 November, Air Kiribati Embraer E190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was spotted at Rockhampton Airport, operating what appears to be a training flight.

It looked to fly up from Toowoomba-Wellcamp and the Gold Coast.

After around an hour on the ground, VH-IKJ then returned directly to Wellcamp.

As mentioned previously, the brand new Embraer was delivered to Air Kiribati at Toowoomba-Wellcamp in January 2020 wearing its Brazilian delivery registration marking of PR-EHT.

It was added to the Australian Aircraft Register in February as VH-IKJ is owned by and registered to the Government of Kiribati, with Sydney-based passenger and cargo airline Pionair Australia as the registered operator.

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

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 VH-IKJ Completes a Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Saturday 8 May, Air Kiribati Embraer E190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was spotted as it completed a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

The Embraer flew from Brisbane down to Sydney before then flying up directly to Rockhampton. After completing the missed approach, VH-IKJ then returned to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 VH-IKJ Pops into Rockhampton Airport Again

On Friday 30 April, Air Kiribati Embraer E190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was spotted at Rockhampton Airport, operating what appears to be another training flight.

The Embraer arrived from Bankstown and taxied in and parked in front of the Air Traffic Control Tower. After some time, it departed to Brisbane.

As mentioned previously, the brand new Embraer was delivered to Air Kiribati at Toowoomba-Wellcamp in January 2020 wearing its Brazilian delivery registration marking of PR-EHT.

It was added to the Australian Aircraft Register in February as VH-IKJ is owned by and registered to the Government of Kiribati, with Sydney-based passenger and cargo airline Pionair Australia as the registered operator.

Air Kiribati is the flag carrier of the Republic of Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas) and operates scheduled passenger services to 20 atolls spread over an area of 3.5m sq km.

It is headquartered at Bonriki International Airport on the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands.  The airline operates an international service from Tarawa to Tuvalu.  Regional charter flights, medical evacuation and search and rescue services are also undertaken by the airline.

Kiribati is a small nation that covers an immense geographical area - which is mostly water.  The E190-E2 was chosen for its ability to economically connect two important islands, Tarawa in the west and Kiritimati or Christmas Island in the east. Even with the E2 this is more than a 4 hour flight.

VH-IKJ appears to have completed a handful of flights between Brisbane and Tarawa.

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

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 VH-IKJ Pops into Rockhampton Airport While on Training Flight

On Tuesday 22 December, Air Kiribati Embraer E190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was spotted at Rockhampton Airport, operating what appears to be a training flight.

The Embraer arrived from Brisbane and taxied in and parked on Bay 5B. After reprogramming, it departed back to the capital.

As mentioned previously, the brand new Embraer was delivered to Air Kiribati at Toowoomba-Wellcamp in January wearing its Brazilian delivery registration marking of PR-EHT.

It was added to the Australian Aircraft Register in February as VH-IKJ is owned by and registered to the Government of Kiribati, with Sydney-based passenger and cargo airline Pionair Australia as the registered operator.

Air Kiribati is the flag carrier of the Republic of Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas) and operates scheduled passenger services to 20 atolls spread over an area of 3.5m sq km.

It is headquartered at Bonriki International Airport on the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands.  The airline operates an international service from Tarawa to Tuvalu.  Regional charter flights, medical evacuation and search and rescue services are also undertaken by the airline.

Kiribati is a small nation that covers an immense geographical area - which is mostly water.  The E190-E2 was chosen for its ability to economically connect two important islands, Tarawa in the west and Kiritimati or Christmas Island in the east. Even with the E2 this is more than a 4 hour flight.

VH-IKJ appears to have completed only a handful of flights between Brisbane and Tarawa.

Photos taken by Steve Vit and Jaxson White  ©

Great photos as New Air Kiribati Embraer E-190-E2 VH-IKJ Pops into Rockhampton Airport While on Training Flight

After finally taking to the skies last week after spending several weeks parked following its delivery into Australia in January, the new Air Kiribati Embraer E190-E2 (ERJ-190-300 STD) VH-IKJ was photographed as it visited Rockhampton Airport on Sunday 5 April on what appeared to be another training flight.

It flew up from Brisbane and parked on the main taxiway Juliette at Rockhampton Airport where it completed a crew change. 

VH-IKJ then taxied back out to the Runway and departed back to Brisbane.

This was the latest in a series of test flights that VH-IKJ has completed following its first flight last Tuesday 31 March where it actually overflew Rockhampton Airport while flying from Toowoomba-Wellcamp to Brisbane.

The brand new Embraer was delivered to Air Kiribati at Wellcamp in January wearing its Brazilian delivery registration marking of PR-EHT.

https://twitter.com/CesarSoPereira/

It was added to the Australian Aircraft Register in February as VH-IKJ is owned by and registered to the Government of Kiribati, with Sydney-based passenger and cargo airline Pionair Australia as the registered operator.  It remained parked at Wellcamp until departing on the test flight described above.

Air Kiribati is the flag carrier of the Republic of Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas) and operates scheduled passenger services to 20 atolls spread over an area of 3.5m sq km.

It is headquartered at Bonriki International Airport on the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands.  The airline operates an international service from Tarawa to Tuvalu.  Regional charter flights, medical evacuation and search and rescue services are also undertaken by the airline.

Their fleet currently includes a single Harbin Y-12E and Dash-8-100, along with two DHC-6-400 Twin Otters.

http://www.airkiribati.com.ki/

Kiribati is a small nation that covers an immense geographical area - which is mostly water.  The E190-E2 was chosen for its ability to economically connect two important islands, Tarawa in the west and Kiritimati or Christmas Island in the east. Even with the E2 this is more than a 4 hour flight.

Services will commence by mid-2020 eventually connecting Brisbane with Honiara, Nauru, Tarawa, Fiji, Kiritimati, Honolulu and Majuro.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Michael M, Trevor H and Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Michael Malick, Trevor Hardsman and Kayanne Hardsman  ©