A Few Other Lighties Also Calling into Emerald Airport Thursday

It was interesting to note that on Thursday 10 March a few interesting light General Aviation (GA) aircraft called into Emerald Airport flying in and to various locations.

As mentioned below, Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 corporate turbo-prop VH-WPH visited Emerald on Thursday flying in from Saint George and departing to Mackay.  It also called in on Tuesday 8 March.

Redjet Aviation Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU called in twice over the course of Thursday - and also on Friday 11 March - flying between its Toowoomba base and Wandoan.

VH-PJU at Rockhampton Airport  (File photo)

Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu VH-TPM called into Emerald from Tambo before departing to Cairns.

VH-TPM at Mackay Airport  (File photo)

Newcastle Flight Services (in New South Wales) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-IEK called in from Archerfield and Mackay before returning to Archerfield.

PA-31 VH-IEK at Cairns Airport in 2009 operating for Barrier Aviation  (File photo)

Wolff Aviation Hawker Beechcraft C90GTi VH-VWG arrived from its Toowoomba base.

The Salvation Army's Robinson R66 VH-VVU helicopter is also believed to have touched down from the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton.

VH-VVU at Rockhampton Airport  (File photo)

Also visiting from Rockhampton was Beech B58P Baron VH-BLT which I believe is utilised by Peace Aviation out of Rocky.

Finally, on Tuesday 8 March it appears that Seair Pacific (Istlecote) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LMZ called into Emerald Airport for fuel while on a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight from the Fraser Coast.  VH-LMZ touched down at Emerald from Maryborough and Rolleston before continuing to Wanella Station (near Coppabella).  It later returned South to Hervey Bay.

VH-LMZ at Bundaberg Airport  (File photo)

A busy day!

Another BN2A-21 Islander VH-URJ for Torres Strait Air Passes Through Mackay Airport Tuesday

On Tuesday 17 November, yet another aircraft that has been acquired by Far North Queensland charter company Torres Strait Air was noted passing through CQ while heading North to Cairns.

On this occasion, a familiar aircraft to CQ in the form of Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-21 Islander VH-URJ flew into Mackay Airport from Archerfield.  After taking on fuel, VH-URJ continued on to Cairns.  It then positioned to Horn Island on Wednesday 18 November.

VH-URJ is no stranger to Far North Queensland, operating for Barrier Aviation out of Cairns on Far North Queensland flights for a number of years before Barrier was grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in late 2012.  It then spent some time operating out of the Gold Coast with Seair Pacific / Istlecote before returning to Far North Queensland during the middle part of this year.

VH-URJ was noted flying South to Archerfield from Mareeba via Emerald Airport in early October and appears to have undergone re-painting and maintenance while at Archerfield.

Vanuatu Registered Islander YJ-AL3 (ex Barrier Aviation VH-BSL) Spotted at Mackay Airport

A great little visitor has been spotted at Mackay Airport early on Tuesday 24 February with Vanuatu-registered Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander YJ-AL3 photographed as it prepared for departure to Archerfield.

It had arrived late on Monday 23 February from Mareeba, where I photographed the Islander in storage late last year, following the collapse of its former operator Barrier Aviation.

It appears that the Islander - which as shown is fitted with additional ferry fuel tanks - had a problem with this system and was forced to land at Mackay to take on additional fuel before continuing to Archerfield.

It would appear that the Island will now be prepared for an operator in Vanuatu.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

A Couple More Bizjets - And Some Light Movements - At Hamilton Island Airport

Over the course of this week, there have been a few interesting arrivals and departures from Hamilton Island Airport including a couple of locally-based bizjets, along with some light General Aviation (GA) movements to boot.

Firstly, FlyJock Gulfstream G-III bizjet N734TJ departed Hamo for Cairns and then Denpasar on Saturday 20 December having arrived mid-way through the previous week.

A couple of locally-based bizjets have since called into Hamo with Jet City Cessna 750 Citation X VH-XCJ arriving from Melbourne (Essendon) on Wednesday 24 December.

File photo

And Trump Aviation Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-WFE also arrived from Melbourne (Essendon) on Thursday 25 December.

Of interest, one or both of these bizjets was due to fly elsewhere (Mackay Airport) for parking, however they both remain on Hamo as there are no parking restrictions.  Perhaps there are more bizjets coming around New Year's with restricted parking to come?

Meanwhile, the smaller GA visitors have included Sharp Aviation / Air Venture Australia Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-YHV "Outback Jet" which called in from Birdsville on Monday 22 December.  After about an hour on the ground, it then departed to Rolleston.  On Tuesday 23 December, VH-YHV departed Rolleston direct to Essendon.

Other lighties that visited on Wednesday 24 December included Brisbane-based Piper PA-32R-301T VH-ASC, which arrived from Brisbane and departed to Rockhampton, and also Cairns-based Piper PA-31-350 VH-TXK which arrived from and later departed back to Townsville where it usually operates from.

On Friday 26 December, former Barrier Aviation Cessna 402 VH-THX called into Hamo briefly from Cairns.

File photo

Finally, the morning QantasLink QLK2503/2504 flight from Cairns to Hamilton Island on Friday 26 December was operated by Dash-8-Q400 VH-LQK rather than the usual Dash-8-Q300.

Mackay Airport Wednesday - Government Hawker 850XP VH-SGY - Islander VH-URJ - Problems with Virgin Australia E-190 VH-ZPR

Making another appearance in Central Queensland on Wednesday 29 October was the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY.

File photo

On this occasion, it was noted calling into Mackay Airport from Brisbane.  After a couple of hours on the ground, it departed back to the capital.

Colville Aviation Services Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-21 Islander VH-URJ was also noted calling into Mackay Airport on Wednesday 29 October.  The formerly Cairns-based Barrier Aviation aircraft arrived from Archerfiled and later departed to Marreba.

Meanwhile, later on Wednesday 29 October, Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPR was operating as VOZ617 from Brisbane to Mackay and was forced to turn back to Brisbane as it was approaching Yeppoon.

Reports suggest that VH-ZPR had an altitude mis-match problem and it seems that to land the aircraft successfully, VH-ZPR returned to Brisbane to land via an ILS approach.

Fellow E-190 VH-ZPH operated the 'replacement' VOZ617/620 service later in the evening.

Finally, it's worth noting that locally-based Raytheon 390 Premier 1 bizjet N7088S arrived back into Mackay Airport on Tuesday 28 October from the Gold Coast.  It had flown to the Gold Coast the week before.

UPDATE!  N7088S operated a return flight to Brisbane from Mackay on Thursday 30 October.  And now a flight for N7088S is scheduled on Friday 31 October also from Mackay to Brisbane.

Weather Disruptions and More Bizjets at Hamilton Island Airport This Weekend

We had a busy weekend, but it was a very busy day at Hamilton Island Airport on Saturday 16 August, with low cloud and rain passing through causing several flight disruptions, plus a couple of diversions.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

The morning QantasLink Dash-8-Q300 flight - QLK2503 from Cairns - spent a period of holding before landing successfully, while the Virgin Australia flight - VOZ1751 from Melbourne (Tullamarine) also spent time holding but diverted to Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport - as shown below.

http://flightaware.com/

After some successful landings, low cloud later on Saturday 16 August also caused some problems with a pair of flight from Brisbane - Virgin VOZ1497 and Jetstar JST852 - unable to land at Hamo.  VOZ1497 - B737-800 VH-YVA actually returned to Brisbane, while JST852 A320 VH-JQG also diverted to Proserpine.

Meanwhile, on Saturday 16 August, one aircraft that did successfully land was Gandel Investments (The Gandel Group) Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express VH-TGG, which arrived at Hamo yet again from Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.  It departed a little later back to Essendon.

It is assumed that VH-TGG - and Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX VH-WIO which is still parked at Hamo - are visiting Hamilton Island for Race Week.

Operations seem to be 'back to normal' on Sunday 17 August, and the bizjet visitors continued with Marcplan Charter Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy VH-VLT spotted departing during the afternoon.

File photo taken by Jamie C  ©

And at the time of writing, there has been a pair of charters into Hamo late on Sunday with Virgin's B737-800 VH-YVA operating from and back to Brisbane and Cessna 402C VH-JOH calling in from its Cairns base.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Cancels Barrier Aviation Air Operator's Certificate (AOC)

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has cancelled Barrier Aviation’s Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) after the Federal Court upheld the authority’s view that it was “not satisfied that Barrier Aviation would not operate aircraft with known defects if allowed to resume operations”.

The permanent cancellation took effect on Wednesday 13 March after an initial suspension of the airline’s AOC on Sunday 23 December 2012.

In the course of the suspension, CASA had conducted investigations that confirmed Barrier “had been operating aircraft with serious and known defects, as well as directing pilots to fly these aircraft”. CASA said the known defects had not been recorded on aircraft maintenance documents and that the operator had a poor safety culture and “placed commercial imperatives before safety”.

Cairns-based Barrier Aviation Remains Grounded by The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

Wednesday 9 January:  The Federal Court has granted an extension of the suspension imposed on Barrier Aviation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to Friday 15 February.

CASA says that it continues to work with Barrier Aviation to determine whether defects in the operator’s safety management and maintenance practices will be sufficient to lift the suspension by the due date.

Barrier Aviation’s air operator’s certificate was suspended on Sunday 23 December 2012.  “This action was taken because CASA believes permitting Barrier Aviation to continue to fly poses a serious and imminent risk to air safety,” CASA said on issuing the suspension, adding: “CASA believes Barrier Aviation has been operating aircraft with serious and known defects”.

The Cairns-based airline has operated a fleet of 43 Piper and Cessna aircraft on essential services to remote regions in Australia’s far north for the last 20 years.  It is believed the greatest area of concern was maintenance performed on six aircraft at Horn Island.

Cairns-based Barrier Aviation Grounded by The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Until February 2013

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has suspended Cairns-based Barrier Aviation for almost two months for operating with "serious and known defects".  Barrier Aviation is a frequent visitor to Central Queensland Airports - particularly Clermont Aerodrome and Emerald Airport - operating Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charters from and to North Queensland.

CASA says Barrier Aviation would pose a "serious and immediate risk" to air safety if it was to continue to fly.  "CASA has evidence of Barrier Aviation directing pilots to fly with serious and known aircraft defects, as well as not recording those defects on aircraft maintenance documentation when the defects became known," a aviation regulatory body said in a statement.

"The suspension follows an audit of Barrier Aviation, which revealed a range of maintenance related deficiencies."  The suspension, which began just before Christmas Day, was initially in force for five working days.  However, late on Christmas Eve, CASA was granted an application in the Federal Court to extend the suspension of the airline until at least mid-February 2013.

It may be possible for Barrier Aviation to resume operations earlier, should CASA be satisfied that Barrier Aviation no longer poses a serious and imminent risk to air safety.

Recent Changes to Some Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) Flights at Central Queensland Airports

There has been a few changes to some Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights into Central Queensland.

In my backyard at Clermont Aerodrome, there has been a small decrease in the number of Skytrans operated FIFO charters into Clermont from Brisbane.  Some recently added flights on a Wednesday and Thursday have now been stopped, and some flights on the usually busy Monday into Tuesday and Thursday into Friday timeslots are no longer occurring   (Note:  the photo above shows the Clermont Aerodrome apron on Tuesday 11 December - still looking quite busy!)

Some other FIFO charters operated by smaller aircraft have ceased.  Australasian Jet King Air charters from Brisbane and Bourke/Deniliquin have stopped, while the mixture of Hinterland Aviation and Barrier Aviation charters from Innisfail and Townsville have also stopped.  It has to be said though, that most of these mentioned FIFO flights were for drilling companies that popped up all over the local area searching for (presumably) Coal Seam Gas (GSG).

Down the road at Emerald Airport, the main FIFO charter operator, AERgO has downgraded all its flights to be now operated by turbo-prop aircraft.  Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 jets were a common sight operating for AERgO, but now the Monday, Wednesday and Friday flights are being operated by Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-300 aircraft.  The usual Regional Express (REX) operated SAAB 340B flights still touch down from Brisbane every Tuesday night and Wednesday morning as shown below by this recent photo of the bright and colourful VH-ZJS at Emerald Airport.

There doesn't really seem to be much other change at Emerald Airport, with the usual smattering of smaller aircraft arriving and departing each week, including Aero Commute Australia (ACA) aircraft flying between Emerald and the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay (as shown by ACA Piper PA-31-350 VH-KGE at Emerald Airport on Monday 10 December).

Lastly, Moranbah Airport seems to be bucking the trend and going from strength to strength, with as many as 60 QantasLink Dash-8 operated flights touching down from Brisbane and Townsville some weeks.  These flights are a mix of scheduled Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) and FIFO flights.  Virgin Australia still operates ad-hoc FIFO flights between Townsville and Moranbah with Skywest Airlines-operated ATR 72 aircraft (as shown below).  There are also a steady stream of light aircraft popping into Moranbah each week from various locations, mostly in the South-East corner of Queensland, no doubt operating FIFO charters.

Lastly, Doongmabulla Aerodrome (YDNB), which is about 200km North-West of Clermont, in the Galilee Coal Basin, is becoming a popular destination for FIFO flights operated by various light aircraft and operators.  For instance, I found the photo below of KJM Contractors Raytheon B200 King Air VH-KMS at Doongmabulla Aerodrome on the Flightaware flight tracking website.

Most flights to Doonmabulla are originating in the South-East corner, however some are departing from Clermont, Emerald, and Moranbah. 

Certainly interesting times ahead!

Monday Afternoon "Rush Hour" at Clermont Aerodrome

A quick trip to Clermont Aerodrome on Monday 10 September, turned into a very enjoyable hour with four aircraft movements - including a couple of 'new' registrations that I have finally been able to photograph!

When I arrived, Theodrore-based Stirling Consolidated Bell 206B VH-JAQ was on the ground being refuelled.  It later departed to the South.

Shortly after, Barrier Aviation Cessna 402C VH-LKC arrived at Clermont, operating a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) flight from Innisfail.

After dropping off its passengers, VH-LKC was refulled and later departed to Cairns.

Also arriving into Clermont on FIFO duties - this time from Townsville - was Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 VH-TFQ.

It arrived and later departed to Cairns as HND430.

Also noted was Australasian Jet Beech 58 Baron VH-TTH.  The Baron has recently taken up residence at Clermont Aerodrome, and seems to operate charter flights an 'new' airstrip Doongmabulla (YDNB).

I have noted several aircraft operating to Doongmabulla Airstrip in recent weeks.  It would be great to know what is at this location, although chances are that it is mining related! 

Night Moves and More from Clermont Aerodrome This Week

I've spent a bit of time out at Clermont Aerodrome over the last week, mostly capturing some of the various fly-in fly-out (FIFO) charters that land at Clermont each week.  However, my week of 'fun' started on Monday 4 September when Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-JRD touched down at Clermont Hospital from Rockhampton as "Rescue 300".

The Jayrow Helicopters-operated Sikorsky doesn't usually fly out as far Clermont, with the Mackay-based Central Queensland Rescue (CQ-Rescue) Helicopter Service usually flying out this way. I believe the CQ-Rescue choppers were operating other tasks, hence the arrival of VH-JRD in Clermont.  It was still a welcome visitor!

My spotting at Clermont Aerodrome began late on Wednesday 5 September when I captured Advance Aviation's new Beech B200 King Air VH-WJK which was preparing for departure to Mackay and then later Emerald.

I recently posted a story of VH-WJK that can be found HERE.

Also on the ground was Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-300 VH-QQM which was preparing for departure on a recently started FIFO flight - SKP1829 - to Brisbane.  VH-QQM returned to Clermont early the next morning - again from Brisbane - as SKP1820.

After VH-QQM departed, another Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQI arrived at Clermont after operating the 'usual' SKP872 FIFO flight from Brisbane.

On Thursday 6 September, there were three FIFO charter flights to North Queensland, with two operated by Hinterland Aviation, and one by a Barrier Aviation Cessna 402C - VH-VDK.  Of the Hinterland Aviation charters, Beech B200 King Air VH-HLJ popped into Clermont Aerodrome during the afternoon, while Cessna 208 VH-CVN was photographed just after sunset, as it commenced its taxi for departure to Townsville as HND876.

Also that night on Thursday 6 September, the 'usual' five Skytrans Dash-8 FIFO charter flights touched down in Clermont from the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, and Mackay.  I managed to photograph Dash-8-300 VH-QQN and then Dash-8-100 VH-QQI on the ground that night.

A great week!