Air Whitsunday Seaplanes Operations now at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Joining GSL Aviation

During this last week, Air Whitsunday Seaplanes has re-located its flying base and office from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

File photo

The moves comes two months after fellow Whitsundays-based tour and transfer company GSL Aviation who also moved their flying base and office also to Proserpine Airport from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

GSL Aviation aircraft at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport  (File photo)

With major infrastructure works underway at the Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport, there are new administration areas and tour booking desks within the expanding terminal building, with passenger boarding areas looking to take place on the also expanding Airport parking apron.

Overall, there seems to have been generally mixed reviews of the move of both GSL Aviation and Air Whitsunday Seaplanes, although comments following some of our earlier Facebook posts were generally supportive suggesting that the closer access to the inbound Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) traffic into the region at Proserpine would be most advantageous for both companies and their flights, especially for passengers looking for quicker transfers to the nearby Whitsunday Islands.

Despite some early confusion and "chaos" immediately following their moves, both Air Whitsunday Seaplanes’ and GSL Aviation's operations are now both moving ahead out of Prosie at full speed!

For further information, or to make a booking for one of their transfer or scenic flights, contact either:

Air Whitsunday Seaplanes:
Phone: + 61 7 4946 9111
Email: fly@airwhitsunday.com.au
Website: http://www.airwhitsunday.com.au/

GSL Aviation:
Within Australia Phone: 1300 GSL AIR (475 247) or 07 4946 9097
International Phone: + 61 7 4946 9097
Email: info@gslaviation.com.au
Website: http://www.whitsundayscenicflights.com.au/

Photos taken by James Kirk  ©

And ATSB also Investigating a Collision with Terrain (Hardy Reef) Involving Air Whitsunday DHC-2 Beaver Float Plane VH-AWD

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is also investigating a collision with terrain involving Air Whitsunday Seaplanes De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver Float Plane VH-AWD at Hardy Reef, 70 km NNE of Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays on Monday 13 March.

VH-AWD in happier times at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour  (File photo)

Initial investigations indicate that during take-off, the aircraft collided with the coral reef resulting in damage to the left float. During removal, the seaplane subsequently sank from water intake. There were no injuries and the aircraft was substantially damaged.

A report will be released within several months.

A Few Other Photos of Some New Aircraft at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour Last Week

As we mentioned in our Blog post below, we were in the Whitsundays last week and spent a great morning at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour capturing quite a few photos of some of the nice recently arrived aircraft that have taken up residence with some of the local operators.  Perhaps the most spectacular of these recently arrived aircraft (in my opinion) is De Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth VH-GAV for the locally-based Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures.

It appears that VH-GAV - which is painted up as A17-423 (RAAF) and is powered by a 130hp Gypsy Major engine - had previously operated in South Australia before moving to Atherton in North Queensland.

A couple of aircraft have arrived into the Whitsunday Airport for operations with Skydive Airlie Beach.  Operating during our visit was the distinctive blue Cessna 208 Caravan VH-OAI which is owned by the Skydive the Beach Group in New South Wales.

Also to my surprise was the recently arrived Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8-TC 320 Airvan VH-YBA which also wears a bright blue livery and is operated by the Skydive the Beach Group for Skydive Airlie Beach.

Another new Airvan I spotted at the Whitsunday Airport was Gippsaero (Mahindra Aerospace) GA-8 VH-ASI which is a brand new aircraft for one of the major operators at the Airport, GSL Aviation.  Indeed it was parked outside their hangar.

A couple of other photos of aircraft I captured at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour included GSL Aviation's Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TIY which has had a re-paint into a basic white livery since I last saw it.

Of interest, GSL Aviation also operate Cessna 208 Caravan VH-NGS - mostly out of Cairns Airport of late.

The other major aircraft operator at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour is Air Whitsunday Seaplanes and I spotted their Cessna 208FP Caravan VH-PGB and De Havilland DHC-2FP Mk1 Beaver VH-AWD as they returned from local scenic joyflights.

Finally, a couple of visiting aircraft I spotted at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour last week included Victoria-based Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68R VH-LZT.  It had earlier called in from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

And Whitsunday Helicopters Agusta A109E VH-TRW was parked nearby to the Airport terminal outside the local Heli-Biz hangar where I assume it has been receiving attention.

It was another great visit to a great Airport in Central Queensland!

Thanks to the Whitsunday Airport management and local operators for their assistance in allowing me capture these photos!

A Spectacular Start to the Airlie Beach Airshow at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour - And it Continues Sunday!

Stunning Whitsundays weather, and spectacular aircraft and helicopters, made Day One of the Airlie Beach Airshow at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour on Saturday 26 September simply sensational!

During Saturday morning, a steady stream of people came through the gates to enjoy the static displays and watch some of the Airport action as local operators Air Whitsunday Seaplanes and GSL Aviation operated their regular tourist flights.  The Whitsunday Tiger Moth - DH-82A VH-ARU - and Heli-Taxi Robinson R44s and R66s also operated regular scenic joyflights out of the Whitsunday Airport during the morning also allowing for some spectacular sights!

The official part of the day commenced around midday with local dancers preceding the official opening of the Airlie Beach Airshow by Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Jennifer Whitney.

Away from the aircraft movement areas and the runway, local car enthusiasts had some classic cars on display.

And there was a wide range of food and drink outlets that catered for all different tastes!

As the afternoon started, so did the airborne action with the local Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Cadets demonstrating their medical evacuation skills using locally-based Robinson R44 VH-RSU to evacuate an 'injured' cadet.

While it didn't participate in the actual flying program, CAC CA-25 Winjeel VH-SOB (A85-422) departed on a local air-to-air photo-shoot with CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang VH-MFT.

VH-MFT later performed a spectacular handling display.

Making a couple of spectacular passes - complete with simulated cannon-fire - was Amateur Built Spitfire Replica VH-KPW.

And certainly making a spectacular sight and sound during its handling flight was the mighty Avioane Craiova Yak-3U-R2000 VH-YOV.

However, perhaps the star of the airshow was Paul Bennet who had four fantastic aircraft take to the air during the afternoon - and Paul himself flew three of these lovely aircraft!

After a quick aerobatic demonstration flight in his new Amateur Built Pitts S1-11X (Wolf Pitts Pro) VH-PVX, Paul then took to the air in his lovely old CAC CA-3 Wirraway VH-WWY, performing some spectacular rolls and passes.

Paul then jumped back into his Wolf Pitts Pro VH-PVX, and was this time joined by Aerostar YAK-52 VH-MHH to form the "Sky Aces" formation aerobatics team.

Finally, Paul jumped into (in my opinion) his most stunning aircraft in the form of the mighty Grumman TBM-3E Avenger VH-MML which made a spectacular departure before performing some equally spectacular passes over the crowd.

FastJet Adventure Flights Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross VH-LCJ then demonstrated the speed and manoeuvrability of this sleek little fighter jet.

Not quite as fast, but certainly very manoeuvrable, chief pilot of locally-based Heli Taxi demonstrated what the Robinson R66 helicopter can do with a series of spins and backwards flying!

Finally, billed as the star attraction at the Airlie Beach Airshow, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) elite formation aerobatic display team - The Roulettes - didn't disappoint with a magnificent five-ship display in the clear blue Whitsunday skies.

I thoroughly enjoyed a full day at the Airlie Beach Airshow on Saturday 26 September - and there is another opportunity for you to join in the fun with another jam-packed day of joyflights, food, entertainment, other displays, and of course, spectacular air displays on Sunday 27 September at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour - see you there!