Queensland Premier David Crisafulli Calls into Clermont Aerodrome on Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ "Navair 173" - Plus More!

On Tuesday 13 January, Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ as "Navair 173" landed at Clermont from Archerfield and Brisbane and this afternoon departed back to these places.

It brought the Queensland Premier David Crisafulli to town to inspect the clean-up efforts following the massive flooding event that hit Clermont on Monday 12 January.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 13 January, several helicopters were noted and spotted flying around the skies of Clermont and other parts of the region which are also experiencing flood emergencies in the after-math of Ex Tropical Cyclone Koji passing through Central Queensland.

Nautilus Aviation Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 412EP helicopter VH-ZVP, which landed at Mackay Airport from Townsville yesterday as "Helitak 421", flew out from there and landed at Clermont Hospital.  

Later, it hopped to Clermont Aerodrome to refuel before then departing back to Mackay Airport.

Dwyer Aviation (Tude's Choppers) Services Bell Helicopter Textron 407 VH-XFN continued to fly around the Clermont area and seemed to be based at the Bush Heli Services facility on the outskirts of the Clermont township.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 January, VH-XFN was noted flying out of Emerald Airport to local mine sites.

While Bush Heli Services Bell Helicopter Textron 407 VH-PUM also flew around the Clermont area.

GB Helicopters Guimbal Cabri G2 VH-8GB looked to head North around parts of the Suttor River and Belyando River.

Elsewhere, Heli Qld Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 VH-WJY flew up from Toowoomba to Roma Airport and then Barcaldine Airport and Emerald Airport.  

Brisbane-based Helibras AS350B2 Esquilo VH-EQP followed a similar flight path, arriving into Emerald Airport from Toowoomba via Roma Airport.

UPDATE!  It appears that VH-WJY and VH-EQP are both currently based out of the Calibre Aviation (Central Queensland Aviation) facility just the South of the Emerald township and they looked to be completing flights to and from local mine sites.

Executive Helicopters Eurocopter AS 350 B3 Squirrel helicopter VH-YQK also arrived into Emerald Airport but from Archerfield via (possibly) Monto Aerodrome.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 January, VH-YQK was also noted flying to local mine sites from and back to Emerald Airport.

Heliservices Queensland (Innisfail) Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-3 VH-HHU also arrived into Emerald Airport from Roma Airport.  It is reportedly due to continue North to Clermont.

While Nautilus Aviation Bell Helicopter Textron 212 helicopter VH-T53 was spotted at Barcaldine Airport.  It arrived from Longreach Airport and was due to depart but low cloud prevented this.

And Executive Helicopters Eurocopter AS 350 B3 Squirrel helicopter VH-DTS flew out of Mackay Airport and headed West before then flying up to the Whitsundays region.

Plus Townsville-based Forster Helicopters Bell Helicopter Textron 407 helicopter VH-DMF was also noted flying around Mackay.

Finally, also on Tuesday 13 January, Vee H Aviation (Link Airways) Beech B200GT Super King Air 250 VH-VEW visited Clermont Aerodrome from Brisbane.

Henadeck (New South Wales) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-YNE flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from the Gold Coast.  It had flown down from Hamo to the Goldie at the end of last week.

And the Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service (CQ Rescue) / CQ Aeromedical Leonardo AW139 helicopter VH-XQ8 flew down from Mackay Airport to Gladstone Airport and Archerfield.

Major Flooding in Central Queensland - Including in my Home Town of Clermont - Means Multiple Helicopter Movements into Local Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 12 January, the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji have dumped massive rainfall and produced destructive winds across the Whitsundays, Mackay region and into the Central Highlands - including where I am based at Clermont.  Consequently, several helicopters and fixed wing aircraft have been noted flying around these places in support roles.

Townsville-based Forster Helicopters Bell Helicopter Textron 407 helicopter VH-DMF around Mackay.

Nautilus Aviation Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 412EP helicopter VH-ZVP flew down from Cairns and Townsville to Mackay Airport.

Nautilus Aviation Bell Helicopter Textron 212 VH-T53 was noted arriving into Longreach Airport.

And around Clermont was Bush Helicopters / Qld Helicopters Bell 407 VH-PUM and GB Helicopters Guimbal Cabri G2 VH-8GB which were both involved with airlift stranded residents on outlying properties.

Nautilus Aviation Bell 407 VH-VPE brought swift water rescue personnel from Mackay Airport.

And Dwyer Aviation Services Bell 407 helicopter VH-XFN also popped in.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 12 January, Western Downs Civil (Chinchilla) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-85H as "Navair 173" flew down from Bowen Aerodrome (pictured) to Mackay Airport.  It had flown up to Bowen Aerodrome from Brisbane the previous day.

After some the ground, VH-85H "Navair 173" departed Mackay Airport and returned to Brisbane. It is rumoured to have brought the Queensland Premier David Crisafulli to town.

Finally, also on Monday 12 January, Executjet Australia Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-L2B arrived into Hamilton Island Airport from Sydney and then departed to the Shellharbour Airport at Wollongong.

Pilatus Australia (South Australia) Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet VH-DMS flew back up to Hamilton Island Airport from Toowoomba before then hopping down to Mackay Airport and then back to Hamo.  It had originally flown up from the Gold Coast over the weekend.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 14 January, VH-DMS completed another hop to Mackay Airport and back to Hamilton Island Airport.

And Avcair LearJet 60 bizjet VH-AVL made a late visit to Longreach Airport from Brisbane.

Photo taken by James Kirk  ©

Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS Bizjet VH-XCU Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 11 January, Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to Hamilton Island Airport.  It later returned to Moorabbin but via Melbourne (Essendon).

File photo

And D & G Jet Leasing / Essendon Aviation Services (Mackay!) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 bizjet VH-VOF finally departed Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport for Bourke and Melbourne (Essendon).

It had originally arrived into Prosie from those places back on Saturday 23 December.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 11 January, Re-registered AERgO Asset Management Beech B200 King Air VH-XGV as "Navair 173" visited the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site from Archerfield.

Flight One (Services) Beech B200 King Air VH-FON flew to Labona as well but from and back to Archerfield via the Sunshine Coast.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air VH-ZPY as 'MC73' / "Machflight 73" popped into Clermont Aerodrome from Townsville and then Labona before returning there and then back to Townsville but seemingly as 'MC55'.

Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY also visited Labona but from the Sunshine Coast as 'MC55/38'.

While Austrek Aviation Beech B200 Super King Air VH-ZGD flew up from Brisbane to Townsville before then landing at Rockhampton Airport.  It then departed to Brisbane and then Toowoomba.

New South Wales based EADS SOCATA TBM 700 VH-8NX landed at Longreach Airport from Bankstown before it then departed to Wagga Wagga.

And Rosewood Enterprises (Narrabri) Piper PA-46-350P flew down from Julia Creek to Emerald Airport and then the Gold Coast.  It looked to have flown up to Julia Creek via Charleville Airport last Saturday 6 January.  Of interest, it also spent a couple of days in Julia Creek - completing similar up and down flights - back in mid-December.

Finally, also on Thursday 11 January, Koolardie Aviation Aerospatiale AS.350BA Squirrel helicopter VH-EGI flew up from Charleville Airport to my local Clermont Aerodrome before then continuing to its Townsville base.  It had flown up to Charleville Airport from Seaford (Victoria) - where it has been recently operating - and Griffith the previous day.

And also noted flying around Clermont over the last few days has been locally-based GB Helicopters recently delivered Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter VH-8GB.  It appears to have been registered in late November and previously flew in New Zealand as ZK-HNN.

Photo taken by Brodie Lawson  ©

Civilian Helicopters Spotted at Central Queensland Airports Over the Last Few Days

Over the last week there has been a nice selection of helicopters that have been spotted at various Central Queensland Airports.  At Gladstone Airport, local plane spotters Jamie C and Tash C captured some great photos of Eurocopter AS.350B3 Squirrel helicopter VH-MDQ as it called in briefly last Friday 5 July. 

Jamie C and Tash C then ventured to Rockhampton Airport on Friday 5 July to take in some of the action, and managed to capture a couple of nice photos of the new Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) Australian Helicopters-operated Bell 412 VH-LSY.

Interestingly, they also spotted the old Capricorn Rescue Helicopter - Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-JRD - which is owned by Jayrow Helicopters - now devoid of all titles and decals.

Meanwhile, Rockhampton plane spotter Ben O also captured some lovely photos of VH-LSY, this time of it arriving back to base late on Monday 8 July.

Ben also managed to get in some practice for the coming helicopter action at Rockhampton Airport while photographing Gladstone Helicopters / Helireef Eurocopter EC135 P2 VH-ZGZ, while it paid a visit Rockhampton on Saturday 6 July.

He also captured some nice photos of Aeropower Eurocopter AS.350B2 Squirrel helicopter VH-SHD, also on Saturday 6 July.

This cute little Bundaberg-based Hélicoptères Guimbal Cabri G2 VH-JNX was spotted by Jamie C and Tash C at Gladstone Airport also on Saturday 6 July.

Lastly, back at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 8 July, 'IAD' captured the Gladstone-based Careflight Bell 412EP helicopter as it paid yet another visit to the beef city.

My thanks to all the local CQ Plane Spotters for sending through their lovely photos!

Photos taken by Jamie C, Tash C, Ben O’Dowd and ‘IAD’  ©