PNG-Registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol Chinook 234LR Helicopter P2-CHI Pops into CQ Airports Heading South

On Thursday 4 November, Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol 234LR Chinook helicopter P2-CHI was noted heading South from Cairns via Central Queensland Airports.

The massive civilian Chinook helicopter had flown into Cairns from Papua New Guinea exactly two weeks ago. With quarantine requirements fulfilled, on Thursday, P2-CHI departed Cairns and took on fuel at Townsville (pictured) before landing at Mackay Airport where it again had a refuel.

It then departed Mackay Airport and headed down to Emerald Airport. At the time of writing, P2-CHI looked to be staying at Emerald Airport for the night.

It has been reported to us that P2-CHI is ultimately heading to Scone where it will join the Australian Aerial Firefighting fleet to support the upcoming bushfire fighting season.

P2-CHI will reportedly take up the radio callsign "Helitack 291".

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 November, P2-CHI continued South from Emerald Airport to Roma Airport and then Moree.  It appears to have arrived into Scone on Saturday 6 November.

Photo taken by Graham Aspinall  ©

FlyPelican (Pelican Airlines) BAe J32 VH-OTQ Departs Rockhampton Airport One Final Time!

On Tuesday 8 September, the visiting FlyPelican (Pelican Airlines) British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3206 (Jetstream 32) turboprop aircraft VH-OTQ appeared to complete one final Fly-in Fly-out run from Rockhampton Airport to Julia Creek and Hughenden and back to Rocky.  Then on Wednesday 9 September, VH-OTQ looked to possibly departing the region for good with it heading South to Ballina / Byron Bay Gateway Airport as PE999.

File photo

Also on on Wednesday 9 September, Seair Pacific / Istelcote De Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF was again noted at Rockhampton Airport operating the weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) closed charter flight from the Gold Coast and Brisbane to Rocky then up to Collinsville Aerodrome and Townsville.  As usual, VH-ZKF later returned South over the same route.

While earlier in the day, fellow Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQW was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport but from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.

At the time of writing, it appears that VH-TQW spent the day parked and is due to depart to Wanella Station Airstrip near Coppabella early on Thursday 10 September before it then heads South to Maryborough and Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airports.

Another interesting arrival into Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 9 September was Townsville Airlines Beech 1900D VH-RUE which touched down from Cairns.  It later departed to Horn Island before then returning to Cairns.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 9 September, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSQ was noted completing aerial survey flights around the local area.

UPDATE!  VH-PSQ appeared to do the same out of and back to Rocky on Thursday 10 September.

Finally, also on Wednesday 9 September, South Australia-based, Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing LC41-550FG VH-ODM was noted passing through Emerald Airport while flying from Mount Gambier and Cunnamulla.

And Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXN looked to make its weekly trip to Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's Carmichael Coal Mine site from Toowoomba-Wellcamp and Archerfield.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

PNG-Registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol Chinook 234LR Helicopter P2-CHY Spotted at CQ Airports Heading South

As we posted on our Facebook page, on Tuesday 17 December,  Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol 234LR Chinook helicopter P2-CHY was noted heading South from Cairns via Central Queensland Airports.

The massive civilian Chinook helicopter had flown into Cairns from Papua New Guinea over the previous couple of days.

On Tuesday, P2-CHY initially departed Cairns and took on fuel at Townsville before landing at Mackay Airport where it again had a refuel.

It then departed Mackay Airport and headed down to Emerald Airport.

At the time of writing, P2-CHY looked to be staying at Emerald Airport for the night.

It has been reported to us that P2-CHY is ultimately heading to Scone where it will join the Australian Aerial Firefighting fleet to support the currently fleet which is battling fires up and down the Eastern seaboard and also now in Western Australia.  P2-CHY will reportedly take up the radio callsign "Helitack 290".

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 18 December, P2-CHY continued South from Emerald Airport to Roma Airport and then Moree, Tamworth and Scone.

Sincere thanks to Rockhampton-based photographer Russell P and the other local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos and video and information!

Photos and video taken by Russell Prothero, 'JM' and 'AC'  ©

Skytrans Airlines Cessna 208B Caravan VH-UZY Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus a Few Other Lighties

A surprise but most welcome visitor into Hamilton Island Airport on Friday 13 July was Skytrans Airlines Cessna 208B Caravan VH-UZY.  It looked to be completing (perhaps?) a closed charter flight with it originally departing from Cairns for Townsville and then Bowen Airport before it continued to Hamo.

Fellow Skytrans Caravan VH-WZJ  (http://www.skytrans.com.au/)

At the time of writing, VH-UZY looked to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  VH-UZY has now returned to Cairns, departing Hamilton Island for Bowen Airport and Townsville before it continued to Cairns all on Monday 16 July.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 13 July, South Australia-based, Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing LC41-550FG VH-ODM was also noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport.  It arrived from Emerald Airport after flying North from Mount Gambier (in South Australia) the previous day.  VH-ODM also looked to be staying.

UPDATE!  VH-ODM departed to Walgett and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales on Friday 20 July.

Finally, earlier in the week on Wednesday 11 July, a pair of other light General Aviation (GA) aircraft were noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport with New South Wales-based Cessna 340 VH-CPB and South Australian-based Piper PA-46R-350T Malibu Matrix VH-ZXJ both calling in.

VH-CPB arrived from Cairns and Undara, while VH-ZXJ called in from Cairns.

UPDATE!  VH-ZXJ Departed to Charleville, Broken Hill and Aldinga on Friday 13 July.

UPDATE!  VH-CPB departed 'home' to Caboolture on Sunday 15 July.

PNG Registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol Chinook 234UT Helicopter P2-CHJ Pops into Mackay and Emerald Airports

On Saturday 2 June, the unique sound of Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol 234UT Chinook helicopter P2-CHJ was heard in the skies over CQ as the big civilian chopper called into Mackay and Emerald Airports while on what looks to be a ferry flight South from Cairns and Townsville.

P2-CHJ at Townsville Airport

Like previous ferry flights South from Papua New Guinea (PNG), I presume the big civilian Chinook helicopter will ferry into the Melbourne docks where it will be shipped back to the United States of America (USA) - reportedly a 21-day journey!

P2-CHJ at Emerald Airport

It appeared that P2-CHJ stayed for the night at Emerald Airport (where it is pictured above) and looked to continue South on Sunday 3 June.

UPDATE!  As predicted, on Monday 4 June, P2-CHJ was spotted Melbourne (Essendon) Airport where it will stay before flying to the Melbourne docks.

UPDATE!  We've received these stunning photos below of P2-CHJ at the Melbourne docks being loaded on board a ship bound for the USA late on Sunday 10 June.  Thanks to the contributor for sending them through!

P2-CHJ (C/N MJ-022) is a 1985 build tandem rotor chopper that is leased by Columbia Helicopters (PNG) from Columbia Helicopters Inc (CHI) in the USA.  It is one of several based in the Southern Highlands base of Moro that reportedly work on petroleum exploration operations in PNG, flying entire petroleum drilling rigs piece by piece over the top of PNG's ecologically sensitive rain forests.  See more at:  http://www.colheli.com/aerial/oil-and-gas/#sthash.FnNsZ37T.dpuf

Columbia Helicopters Inc (CHI) is an aircraft manufacturing and operating company based in Aurora, Oregon, in the United States of America (USA). They are known for operating tandem rotor helicopters - presently the Boeing-Vertol 107 and Boeing-Vertol 234. These helicopters are primarily used in stream restoration and forestry operations including heli-logging, oil exploration, fire suppression, construction, government support, film production, disaster response and many other activities. In addition the company operates a large FAA Repair Station supporting customers around the world.

It's always great to see these big Columbia Chinook helicopters in CQ!

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

Photos taken by Leroy and Michael Martin  ©

PNG Registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol Chinook 234LR Helicopter P2-CHK Spotted at Mackay and Emerald Airports

As mentioned on our Facebook page, on Thursday 16 March, Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered Columbia Helicopters (USA) Boeing-Vertol 234LR Chinook helicopter P2-CHK was spotted on the ground at Mackay Airport.

It had earlier arrived from Cairns and Townsville after arriving earlier in the week from PNG.

The big civilian Chinook helicopter is on a ferry flight from PNG to the Melbourne docks where it will be shipped back to the United States of America (USA) - a 21-day journey!

After taking in fuel at Mackay, P2-CHK departed for Emerald Airport where it spent the night.

Early on Friday 17 March, P2-CHK departed Emerald Airport for Roma before it was due to continue to Dubbo and Wagga Wagga (New South Wales).  It is expected to continue to Melbourne over the weekend.

P2-CHL (C/N MJ-006) is a 1981 build tandem rotor chopper that is leased by Columbia Helicopters (PNG) from Columbia Helicopters Inc (CHI) in the USA.  It is one of several based in the Southern Highlands base of Moro that reportedly work on petroleum exploration operations in PNG, flying entire petroleum drilling rigs piece by piece over the top of PNG's ecologically sensitive rain forests.  See more at:  http://www.colheli.com/aerial/oil-and-gas/#sthash.FnNsZ37T.dpuf

Columbia Helicopters Inc (CHI) is an aircraft manufacturing and operating company based in Aurora, Oregon, in the United States of America (USA). They are known for operating tandem rotor helicopters - presently the Boeing-Vertol 107 and Boeing-Vertol 234. These helicopters are primarily used in stream restoration and forestry operations including heli-logging, oil exploration, fire suppression, construction, government support, film production, disaster response and many other activities. In addition the company operates a large FAA Repair Station supporting customers around the world.

What a great visitor to CQ!

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

Photos and video taken by 'AC' and Phoebe Waldron  ©