Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-FMZ Spotted at Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 21 January, Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ was spotted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.

It touched down from Mareeba and Lizard Island and later departed back to Mareeba.

While over on the mainland, Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY was photographed departing the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

It had earlier arrived from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and later departed back there but via Adelaide (Parafield).

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 21 January, Malaysia-based Amateur-built Van's RV-6A VH-PNQ passed through Emerald Airport while heading South from Atherton and Charters Towers Aerodromes to Chinchilla and then Southport Aerodromes.

While Aerometrex Vulcanair (Partenavia) VH-EPX continues to operate in the region, completing aerial survey operations during a flight up from Gladstone Airport to Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 22 January, VH-EPX returned to Gladstone Airport from Mackay Airport.

Bunderra Cattle Co Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-KNV departed Rockhampton Airport for Rolleston Aerodrome and then the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It later returned to Rockhampton Airport.

Of interest, it appears VH-KNV also flew to Archerfield and back to Rockhampton Airport on Friday 20 January.

Lane Aviation / Team Aviation Cirrus SR22 VH-YQF flew from its Archerfield base to Rockhampton, Mackay and Hamilton Sland Airports.  It then returned to Mackay Airport and then back to Archerfield.

And the visiting Seair Pacific (Istlecote) operated Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C Bush Hawk XP VH-OOB departed Rockhampton Airport for the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.  It had arrived the previous day see Blog post below.

VH-OOB was photographed above resting in the early morning sun at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday morning.

Finally, also on Saturday 21 January, the visiting Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered (to Heli-Niugini) Bell 206L LongRanger helicopter P2-HNJ also departed Rockhampton Airport but for the Sunshine Coast and ports South before ending the day at Wedderburn in Victoria.

It too had arrived into Rockhampton Airport the previous day and was also spotted resting in the early morning sun on Saturday.

And Coral Coast Helicopters (Marian) Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm MBB BO105 CB-5 helicopter VH-FUB flew up from Caboolture and Caloundra to land at Rockhampton Airport before later departing to Mackay Airport.

Photos taken by Nick Sainsbury and Trevor Hardsman  ©

The Search for Missing Fisherman Brings AMSA Challenger 604 Bizjets VH-XNF "Rescue 550" and VH-XNE "Rescue 330" to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Essendon

On Thursday 28 May, the search for a missing fisherman off Hervey Bay saw a pair of Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjets coordinate the search after flying all the way up from Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.

File photo

VH-XNF as "Rescue 550" flew up from Essendon to search off Hervey Bay.  After some time, it landed at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport to refuel before then flying up to Cairns.

It appears that VH-XNF flew from Cairns to Essendon on Wednesday 27 May so its return to Cairns was to be expected.

VH-XNE as "Rescue 330" then also flew up from Essendon to the Hervey Bay area to continue the search.  It too was due to land at Hervey Bay Airport but ended up landing at Brisbane.

It's was also heard that a pair of helicopters were also participating in the search also on Thursday 28 May - LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412EP VH-XCY as "Rescue 522" and Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) Eurocopter (Bolkow) BO105 CBS-5 helicopter VH-NVH(?) "Lifesaver 46".

Our thoughts and prayers are with the missing man and his family and friends.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Isle of Man-registered Piaggio P-180 Avanti II M-ETAL Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus a few Weekend GA Visitors!

On Monday 1 July, Isle of Man-registered but Australian-based Piaggio P-180 Avanti II M-ETAL was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to fly up from the Sunshine Coast.

M-ETAL at Bundaberg Airport  (File photo)

M-ETAL appears to have flown to the Sunny Coast from Sydney over the weekend.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 3 July, M-ETAL departed Hamilton Island Airport for Normanton.

Meanwhile, over the weekend, on Sunday 30 June, a couple of other small corporate turboprop aircraft were noted at remote parts with Pegasus Air Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-JMU flying into Barcaldine Airport from Bankstown.  It later departed to Dinah Island, Normanton and the Gold Coast.

While Austrek Aviation Beech B200 Super King Air VH-ZGD was noted visiting my local Clermont Aerodrome from its Toowoomba base.

Finally, back in the Whitsundays, also on Sunday 30 June, Guardian Offshore (of Darwin) Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) BO 105 S CBS - 4 helicopter VH-JYS was noted visiting Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

VH-JYS appears to be hangared at Townsville and has been seen also at Mackay Airport in recent months.

Of interest, VH-JYS was previously operated in the USA as N70EG and in the 1990s was used to complete radiological dust surveys over the Nevada nuclear test sites!  (The things you find with a little bit of research!)

Photos taken by Samuel Felgate and Leroy  ©

Aircraft and Helicopters Involved in Search for Missing Trawler and Fishermen off the Fraser Coast This Week

With the hopes fading of a positive outcome from the search for a missing fishing trawler and five missing fishermen this week, here is a quick summary of some of the local and visiting helicopters and fixed wing aircraft that have been involved with the search

Over the course of Tuesday 17 October and Wednesday 18 October, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNE "Rescue 330" was believed to be coordinating the search off the Fraser Coast.

On Wednesday 18 October it landed at Rockhampton Airport for fuel and was photographed by local plane spotter ‘IAD’.

VH-XNE is based at Cairns and on each occasion it flew south from there before completing its search and rescue tasking.  It landed at Brisbane for fuel on Tuesday 17 October.

Of the helicopters that were involved, the locally based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412 VH-XCO "Rescue 522" was often sighted involved with the search out of Bundaberg Airport.  It was also noted at Gladstone Airport on occasion also being refuelled.

On Tuesday 17 October, RACQ-Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412EP VH-EPR “Rescue 300” was involved with the search out of its Rockhampton Airport base.  It was also noted at Bundaberg Airport calling in for fuel.

Late on Tuesday 17 October, it appears that both McDermott Aviation / Machjet Aerospatiale AS.365N2 Dauphin helicopters VH-NAR. and N365JL flew north from their Sunshine Coast Airport Base to join the search and spent the night at Bundaberg Airport. They were both noted parked at Bundy early on Wednesday 18 October.

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Also on Wednesday 18 October Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH "Rescue 500" was noted in the search area after flying up from Archerfield.  It was noted at both Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) and Gladstone Airports at various times taking on fuel.

Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) Eurocopter (Bolkow) BO105 CBS-5 helicopter VH-NVH "Lifesaver 46" was also heard on Wednesday 18 October and is also believed to have flown up from the Sunshine Coast.

Finally, on Thursday 19 October, RACQ LifeFlight Agusta Westland AW139 helicopters VH-XIJ "Rescue 511" and VH-XIH "Rescue 533" were noted completing med-evac flights from Bundaberg and Hervey Bay back to Brisbane respectively.

Photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Sunday Spottings at Gladstone Airport - Part 2 - Cap Rescue Bell 412 VH-LSY "Rescue 310" - Qld Police Bolkow BO105 VH-NVI "Polair 41"

Also at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 9 April there was yet more helicopter action - and this time not only just from the three Royal Australian Navy (RAN) NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopters that are presently based at there!

File photo

Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) / Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412 helicopter VH-LSY was spotted calling into Gladstone Airport on at least two separate occasions on Sunday 9 April.

It looked to fly South from Rockhampton Base Hospital and (possibly) complete patient transfer flights to Gladstone Hospital before calling across to the Airport for fuel.

Of interest, VH-LSY was heard to using the radio callsign of "Rescue 310".

Also spotted calling into Gladstone Airport on Sunday 9 April was the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Eurocopter (Bolkow) BO105 CBS-5 helicopter VH-NVI "Polair 41".

It is believed that it has completed its deployment to Rockhampton and was returning home to the South-East corner.  Indeed after taking on fuel, VH-NVI departed to the South.

All photos taken by 'Mick'  ©

And Some Photos of Various Helicopters Operating in Flood-Affected Rockhampton This Week

Even though Tropical Cyclone Debbie has long gone, the effects of the storm are still being felt in Central Queensland.  And no more so than in Rockhampton where the Fitzroy River was expected to peak at around 9 metres, inundating several low lying areas including parts of Rockhampton Airport which, as we've posted previously, was closed to commercial flights on Monday 3 April.

It should be noted though, that despite the Airport being closed, local Air Traffic Control (ATC) staff have remained 'on-duty' throughout the entire time with numerous helicopters and fixed wing aircraft not only still calling into Rockhampton Airport, but flying around the city on 'scenic flights.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopters that are presently based at Gladstone Airport are frequently seen and heard in the skies above Rockhampton on survey type flights.  They park often take on fuel in different locations including the Australian Army Defence Support Group (DSG) 'Camp Rocky', which is adjacent to Rockhampton Airport

Several larger helicopters have been noted operating out of the Rockhampton Historical Village (Heritage Park) including the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) / Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412 helicopters VH-EPR "Rescue 300", VH-VAU "Rescue 310" and VH-LSY (the operational spare).

As shown in some photos captured by local plane spotter 'IAD' the CHRS choppers have not only continued their usual med-evac duties in the region, but are also ferrying patients from Rockhampton Base Hospital to Gladstone Hospital and Gladstone Airport where they are being ferried (usually) to Brisbane by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) should they require further specialist treatment.

Also spotted based at the Historic Village has been McDermott Aviation / Heli-Lift Australia Aerospatiale SA365N1 Dauphin 2 helicopter N38MD 'Helitack 429', along with some of the fleet of choppers operated locally by Stirling Helicopters.

Finally, taking up residence at The Cathedral College (TCC) in Rockhampton has been the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Eurocopter (Bolkow) BO105 CBS-5 helicopter VH-NVI "Polair 41".

Again, a great job by all the operators in very trying circumstances around Rocky.  Your patience, persistence and professionalism is truly appreciated by the local community!

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

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

Skyline Aviation (NSW) MBB BO105 S Helicopter VH-ZXW Also Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

Also spotted at Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 22 February was another nice helicopter in the form of Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm MBB BO105 S VH-ZXW.

The German-built helicopter is operated by Skyline Aviation of Marks Point in New South Wales (NSW).

VH-ZXW was reportedly on a flight from North to Mackay Airport but turned back and landed at Rockhampton Airport reportedly due to inclement weather in and around Mackay.  It was earlier noted completing a flight from Balina / Byron Gateway Airport in the Northern New South Wales to the Sunshine Coast.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H who was at the right place at the right time to capture these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©