Brindabella Airlines Reportedly in Receivership - Flights Suspended - Jobs Lost

Reports have surfaced late on Sunday 15 December that Brindabella Airlines has been put into receivership and its flights suspended indefinitely, after much of its fleet was recently grounded for failing to do timely safety checks.

The move affects 140 jobs and the Christmas travel plans of people across Brisbane and regional New South Wales who had booked on the airline's up to 250 weekly flights.

Administrators KordaMentha were brought in to manage the airline after it decided to ground the aircraft not covered by a recent direction by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and to cease passenger flights.

Brindabella Airlines operated a fleet of predominantly BAe J41 and Metro turbo-prop aircraft.  Brindabella Airlines had operated various Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights into some parts of Central Queensland including Emerald (as shown above with Metro VH-TAM), as well as Barcaldine and Alpha.

Some Photos and Movements from a Hectic Week at Bundaberg Airport after Devastating Flooding

As has been reported widely, Bundaberg - and in particular North Bundaberg - was devastated this week by record flooding caused by torrential rain in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.

As we posted below, there was a large influx of both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft that called into Bundaberg Airport throughout the week.  Bundaberg Plane Spotter Micah S ventured to Bundaberg Airport on Tuesday 29 January and sent through a few of his photos from the day, as we also summarise some of the extra movements that have passed through during the week.

At the height of the flood crisis, as many as 14 helicopters were noted operating from Bundaberg Airport, winching locals off roof-tops and from cars stranded in swollen creeks.   As Micah's photos show, the ramps at the Airport were quite busy with all the different choppers parked in between sorties.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been heavily involved with firstly, assisting with the evacuation of Bundaberg residents at the height of the flood, and now with the recovery and rebuilding of Bundaberg.  At least four Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk helicopters joined with several local rescue helicopters to winch over 1000 people as the floodwaters rose.

Later, hundreds of Army personnel and heavy vehicles rolled into Bundaberg to support locals with the recovery and rebuilding now that the floodwaters have receded.

A pair Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft were involved with airlifting sick and elderly Bundaberg residents to Brisbane.

The aircraft - A97-447 and A97-448 - flew several times between Bundaberg and Brisbane.  A97-448 is pictured below at Bundaberg departing to Brisbane.

Those patients that needed to be transported more quickly were ferried to Brisbane on board a pair of Careflight (Queensland) LearJet 45 aircraft.  Both VH-CXJ (pictured below) and VH-VVI were noted at Bundaberg at various times during the early part of the week.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) King Airs were also noted making several flights in and out Bundaberg over the week - Hawker Beechcraft B200 VH-FDA is pictured below.

RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-209 was noted at Bundaberg Airport flying in much needed fuel for the various helicopters and fixed wing aircraft that were operating out of Bundaberg Airport over the week.

And of course RAAF VIP aircraft including Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ), serial A36-002, as well as Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 A37-003 were spotted at Bundaberg Airport being in Prime Minister Gillard and Governor General Bryce during the latter part of the week.

Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY and Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ also made numerous visits to Bundaberg with Queensland Premier Newman and other Government Ministers.

Another 'large' aircraft that popped into Bundaberg Airport on four occasions over Wednesday 30 January and Thursday 31 January was Lynden Air Cargo Lockheed L-100-30 (C-130H) Hercules N404LC.  The aircraft had been operating out of Cairns (where it is pictured below), however, it operated four flights between Brisbane and Bundaberg, no doubt flying in much needed supplies and other materials.

Another cargo aircraft in the form of Toll Aviation ATR 42-300 VH-TOQ was also noted delivery supplies into Bundaberg Airport from Brisbane on Tuesday 29 January.

Over the week, QantasLink scheduled services to Bundaberg from Brisbane continued, however there were several additional other passenger charter flights noted, that brought various members of the Defence Forces (ADF) and other organisations to assist with evacuation and now rebuilding of Bundaberg.

The Queensland Police Service (Air Wing) aircraft also were noted several times during the week at the Airport, ferrying in extra police to assist in Bundaberg.  Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU, Raytheon 1900D VH-PSK, and Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSY (pictured below) were all noted.

Various Skytrans Airlines Dash-8 aircraft were noted flying up and down the Queensland coast and into Bundaberg over the week.  Brindabella Airlines British Aerospace BAe Jetstream J-41 VH-TAI was also noted flying passengers into Bundaberg from Brisbane on Thursday 31 January.

Photos taken by Micah S  ©

A Few Others From Gladstone Airport on Monday

Shane T reports on three of the more interesting General Aviation aircraft that were noted at Gladstone Airport on Monday 14 May.

As we have already posted earlier in the week, General Aviation Maintenance AeroCommander 500-S VH-YJJ was noted.  VH-YJJ was parked on the GA Apron all day before it departed to Rockhampton on its nightly freight run.

Also noted was this Piper PA-31 Navajo registered VH-WAL.  It carries Brindabella Airlines titles. 

Victorian-based Raytheon G36 VH-ORK was also noted on the GA Apron.

Brindabella Airlines BAe Jetstream 41 (and more!) at Gladstone Airport Thursday

Brindabella Airlines British Aerospace BAe Jetstream J-41 VH-TAI operated a charter into Gladstone Airport on Thursday 10 May.

File photo

It arrived from Brisbane and departed to Roma as FQ41.

Also noted at Gladstone Airport on Thursday 10 May was Cessna 402B VH-RLX which is registered to Papam Pty Ltd.  This is a South-East Queensland-based land survey company.

VH-RLX was reportedly at Gladstone to survey various coal piles around the Gladstone Ports, to determine the weight of how much coal is currently stored.  They utilise specialised land survey equipment, and measure the dimensions of each coal stock (including height) from the air, and with that information are able to determine how much tonnage of coal is currently stored to within an accuracy of half-of-a-percentage (0.5%).

Another frequent visitor to the region also popped into Gladstone Airport from Archerfield in the form Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU.  VH-PJU has made several trips to Gladstone over the past few days (and weeks), with more to come in future weeks.  Currently, the aircraft is flying construction personnel between Archerfield, Gladstone and Dalby.

The fuel capacity of VH-PJU is interesting - it has 2 tanks per wing, with one rated at 144 litres and the other at 204 liters, giving a total fuel capacity of 696 ltrs. On average, that allows for a flying distance of about 700 miles / 1120 km's, and because this particular plane does not have oxygen onboard (other Piper Navajo's and Chieftan's do) VH-PJU is generally restricted to a cruising altitude of between 8000-10000 ft.

Another good day's plane spotting!

Brindabella Airlines Charter to Barcaldine Aerodrome Again!

Brindabella Airlines British Aerospace BAe Jetstream J-41 VH-TAI has operated another charter into Barcaldine Airport again from and back to Brisbane. The Jetstream arrived and departed before dawn on Friday 4 May using the flightnumber FQ41.  This is the second time Brindabella Airlines has flown into Barcaldine is as many weeks...

Brindabella Airlines British Aerospace BAe Jetstream J-41 at Barcaldine Airport Monday

Brindabella Airlines British Aerospace BAe Jetstream J-41 VH-TAH operated a charter into Barcaldine Airport late on Monday 23 April.  The Jetstream arrived and departed using the flightnumber FQ41.  Little more is known about this flight.

Alliance Airlines Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) Charters at Emerald Airport Thursday‏ Link to Hervey Bay

Quite possibly three Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 charters popped into Emerald Airport on Thursday 8 March.


It looks like the recently launched FIFO charter from Emerald to Brisbane via Hervey Bay operated Thursday, and will operate every second Thursday. The inbound Brisbane to Emerald via Hervey Bay operates every second Monday - the next flight should be this Monday 12 March. It looks like F-100 VH-XWR operated the UTY4583 flight to Brisbane on Thursday.

Also noted was F-100 VH-FKF, which positioned to Emerald before flying to Brisbane as UTY2241. VH-FKF is pictured later in the day at Rockhampton.


I also believe that F-100 VH-FKG operated UTY7656/7657 on another Brisbane to Emerald to Brisbane FIFO charter as well. That made three Alliance FIFO departures on Thursday.

There was also a Brindabella Airlines Metro charter to Emerald Airport on Thursday too, although I don't have a rego.

Lastly, Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340, VH-ZXS, also operated a FIFO flight from Emerald to Brisbane in the morning after arriving the night before. It is pictured at Emerald Airport earlier in the week.

Multiple Skytrans Airlines Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) Charters to Clermont Aerodrome Tuesday

It's possible that as many as nine Skytrans Airlines operated fly-in fly-out (FIFO) charters departed Clermont Aerodrome on Tuesday 3 January.


There were the three 'usual' morning departures with Dash-8's VH-QQH, VH-QQJ, and VH-QQN noted arriving into Brisbane. However later in the day, there were as many as six more Brisbane to Clermont flights, with return flights to Brisbane operating via Birdsville and Windorah.

According to Lloyd F in Brisbane, there were a total of 20 Skytrans Airlines flights out of Brisbane on Tuesday - to Clermont, Middlemount, and the scheduled flight through South-Western Queensland.

There were also several Brindabella Airlines Metro, and Aergo / Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340 FIFO charters, that flew from Brisbane to Emerald and to Middlemount, as well as an Alliance Airlines FIFO charter to Emerald operated by Fokker F-100 VH-XWR.


There were a total of 58 FIFO flights, with numerous other flights operated by Beech B200 King Airs and Piper PA-31 Navajos to Central Queensland airports.

Monday Afternoon Arrivals at Central Queensland Airports

This information comes from Lloyd F in Brisbane...

A pair of Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340Bs were due to arrive in Middlemount and then Emerald Airports late on Monday 12 December. One routed Brisbane-Hervey Bay-Middlemount-Emerald-Brisbane, while the other flew Brisbane-Middlemount-Emerald-Brisbane.

Also a Brindabella Airlines Metro and a Beech 1900D of AirLink (Dubbo) - believed to be VH-RUE - were also due to arrive at Emerald Airport on Monday evening.

Meanwhile Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VP-CFP was noted arriving into Charter Towers Aerodrome late Monday as well - now that is an interesting visitor to this quiet little Airport!!

A Busy Thursday Afternoon at Emerald Airport

After dropping my lovely wife at the shops in Emerald, I ventured to Emerald Airport on Thursday 10 November and managed to capture a couple interesting fly-in fly-out (FIFO) charter aircraft.

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-FKA was parked at Gate 2. It arrived from Townsville empty, and was preparing to depart to Brisbane.


Parked on the light aircraft and freight aircraft parking apron was Pel-Air Express (Regional Express) Metro 23 VH-KAN, which was waiting for its passengers.


Arriving at around 5pm was Brindabella Airlines Metro 23 VH-TAM, which I assume arrived from Brisbane.



Also on the light aircraft and freight aircraft parking apron was Toll Express Metro III VH-UZS.


As shown the Metro is currently in an all white colour scheme, and I would assume will soon be painted into the Toll Express colours.

Alliance Airlines Charter to Emerald Airport Tuesday

Lloyd F in Brisbane advises that Alliance Airlines operated a charter flight to Emerald Airport on Tuesday 8 November with their new Fokker F-70 aircraft - VH-QQX. It was noted departing Brisbane as UTY551 for Emerald, later returning as UTY552.

It was the F-70's second visit to Emerald.

This charter comes on top of Alliance's two existing fly-in fly-out (FIFO) charter flights it operated on Monday 7 November, with Fokker F-100s VH-FWH and VH-XWQ both noted at Emerald.

Meanwhile Brindabella Airlines operated a FIFO flight from Brisbane to Emerald on Tuesday as well with an unidentified Metro aircraft departing Brisbane.

A Quick Look at Some Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) Movements in Central Queensland This Week

UPDATED...

With thanks to various sources, including Lloyd F in Brisbane, we bring some details about some fly-in fly-out (FIFO) charter flights to various Central Queensland airport this week...

Monday 31 October saw Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-QQX make its first visit to Emerald operating from and back to Brisbane as UTY1020/1021.


Also noted flying to Emerald from Brisbane was Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZLJ, as well as an unidentified Brindabella Airlines Metro.

Lastly on Monday, a REX SAAB 340B was also noted visiting Middlemount Aerodrome.

On Tuesday 1 November, Clermont Aerodrome had Skytrans Airlines' Dash-8s VH-QQJ, QQM, and VH-QQL, with VH-QQL operating Clermont to Mackay to Clermont, before heading to Brisbane. Skytrans Dash-8 flights from Clermont to Mackay and return operated Monday and Thursday nights as well as Tuesday and Friday mornings.

On Thursday 3 November, it would appear as though Skytrans has commenced operating a regular FIFO charter between Brisbane and Emerald, with Dash-8-100 VH-QQL noted operating the SKP1070/1071 flights.

Also visiting Emerald Airport today on FIFO charter flights are two Alliance Fokker F-100s, with VH-XWM and VH-XWN noted departing Brisbane around 11am for Emerald. Later, a Brindabella Airlines Metro arrived at Emerald Airport as well.

Lastly, the usual three Skytrans Dash-8 aircraft flew into Clermont Aerodrome from Brisbane Thursday evening - arriving between 5.30pm and 7.00pm. VH-QQJ, VH-QQM, and VH-QQM were noted.

A Busy Week for Fly-In Fly-Out Charters to Central Queensland Airports

With the assistance of Lloyd F in Brisbane comes a list of fly-in fly-out charter movements to various Central Queensland Airports during this last week.

On Monday 11 July...
- Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100s VH-FWH and VH-FKD both flew Brisbane to Emerald
- Great Western Airlines (GWA) Piper PA-31 Navajo and a Beech B200 King Air both flew from Brisbane to Moura
- Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100s VH-QQH and VH-QQL operated three flights from Brisbane to Emerald - two of these overnighted and returned Tuesday
- Airlink (Dubbo) operated Brisbane to Emerald with Beech 1900D VH-RUE
- Brindabella Airlines BAe Jetstream 41 VH-TAH flew Brisbane to Emerald

Tuesday 12 July and Wednesday 13 July were a litte quieter with the usual Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100s operating from Emerald Tuesday morning and then to Emerald from Brisbane and back on the Wednesday night, as well as the usual Pel Air (Regional Express) SAAB 340A flights from Brisbane to Emerald being operated by VH-EKD

Thursday 14 July was again a busy day...
- Skytrans Airlines operated Dash-8-100s on flights from Brisbane to Moranbah (VH-QQK), as well as three flights from Brisbane to Emerald (VH-QQH, VH-QQK and VH-QQA)
- Regional Express (REX) had positioned two aircraft into Brisbane the previous evening and SAAB 340B VH-ZRL was noted operating Brisbane to Alpha
- Pel Air (Regional Express) operated two flights from Brisbane to Blackwater with Metros VH-KDO and VH-KAN
- Alliance Airlines operated Fokker F-100s VH-FWH and VH-FWH on the Brisbane to Emerald run.

This is by no means an exhaustive list as there are other operators and destinations within the Central Queensland area including Corporate Air (Vee H Aviation) charters to Rolleston and Springsure, and Advance Aviation charters to and from Emerald and Mackay.

Brindabella Airlines and Pel Air Charters to Alpha Aerodrome Sunday

Noted departing Brisbane Airport early on Sunday 26 June were Brindabella Airlines British Aerospace Jetstream 41 VH-TAI, and Pel Air (Regional Express - REX) SAAB 340A VH-EKD and an unidentified Metro, all destined for Alpha Aerodrome.

More Charters to Central Queensland Airports This Week

Several interesting visitors were noted arriving into various Central Queensland Airports over the last couple of days.

On Tuesday 7 June, Pel Air (Regional Express - REX) SAAB 340A VH-EKD was noted operating into Emerald Airport on its usual weekly Tuesday evening FIFO flight from and back to Brisbane. This week however, it is believed that a Metro aircraft - also operated by Pel Air - also flew to Emerald on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday 8 June, the Pel Air SAAB 340A VH-EKD flew back into Emerald early on its weekly FIFO flight from and back to Brisbane (as pictured below earlier this year).



Also at Emerald Airport on Wednesday morning was Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-FKD, which flew as UTY551 from Brisbane to Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore) to Emerald. This aircraft flew in the mighty Queensland Maroons State of Origin Rugby League team, who paid a special visit to the Emerald township after the floods earlier this year.

Other movements Wednesday included Corporate Air (Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 VH-VEW, and Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-KJD arriving at Alpha Aerodrome from Brisbane. These aircraft then flew to Emerald and then back to Brisbane. Lastly, a Brindabella Airlines Metro - rego unknown - was noted arriving in Moranbah as FQ226 direct from Brisbane.

Brindabella Airlines Charter to Emerald Airport Last Week

Lloyd F in Brisbane has advised that as well as the recent Alliance Airlines charters to Emerald, Canberra-based Brindabella Airlines flew a charter last Wednesday 25 May from Brisbane to Emerald and return as FQ226/227 with a Metro aircraft. The registration of this aircraft is not known.

It will be interesting to see if this becomes a permanent service.

Mackay Airport Visitors Last Wednesday & Thursday

Adam P reports on yet more interesting Biz-Jet and other charter aircraft movements into Mackay Airport last week.

On Wednesday 11 August, Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy VH-VLT arrived and overnighted, along with Professional Jet Aviation Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ VH-LDH.

Also noted parked on the apron was Jetstar A320-200 VH-VQN, which had diverted to Mackay while operating the JST830/833 service (Brisbane-Proserpine-Brisbane). It departed the next day as JST7895 to a Southern destination.

Also, on Thursday 12 August, Brindabella Airlines (Canberra based) British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 41 VH-TAI arrived from and departed back to Sydney on a charter.