Skytrans Airlines Dash-8 Fleet Update - UPDATED!

UPDATED - June 2017

The recent visit by Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQG at Rockhampton Airport prompted us to look into the current status of their Dash-8 fleet following the shutdown and then re-launch in conjunction with West Wing Aviation in early 2015.

With thanks to the fantastic FNQ Skies Blog and other web-based resources, here is an update and summary of the Skytrans Dash-8 fleet as at Saturday 3 September:

VH-QQA Dash-8-100 (c/n 005) (ex P2-MCN) - stored at Cairns - no recent movements - last known movement was in November 2015 - wears new Skytrans colour scheme.

VH-QQB Dash-8-100 (c/n 004) (ex VH-TQO) - currently located at Brisbane - operating Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights to Taroom and Chinchilla from/to Brisbane - wears new Skytrans colour scheme.

VH-QQC Dash-8-100 (c/n 008) (ex VH-JSZ) - currently located at Cairns - noted in heavy maintenance.

VH-QQF Dash-8-100 (c/n 014) (ex P2-MCO) - currently located at Cairns - operating scheduled Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) flights to Cape York and Gulf of Carpentaria centres from/to Cairns - wears old Skytrans colour scheme.

VH-QQG Dash-8-100 (c/n 036) (ex 5W-FAA) - currently located at Cairns - operating scheduled Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) flights to Cape York and Gulf of Carpentaria centres from/to Cairns - wears new Skytrans colour scheme.

VH-QQI(2) Dash-8-100 (c/n 117) (ex N717AV) - stored at Cairns - wears old Skytrans colour scheme.

VH-QQM Dash-8-300 (c/n 286) (ex G-WOWD) - stored at Cairns - all white colour scheme.

UPDATE!  VH-QQM departed Cairns Airport on Friday 9 December for Majuro in the Marshall Islands wearing the Canadian registration marking of C-GCBK of Inter-Aero Inc - as shown below.  Of interest, C-GCBK continued to Honolulu (Hawaii), Buchanan Field (Concord, California) and Montreal (Trudeau) Airport in Canada on completion of its delivery flight (presumably) to a new operator.

VH-QQP Dash-8-300 (c/n 232) (ex V2-LGA) - stored at Cairns - wears old Skytrans colour scheme.

UPDATE!  VH-QQP left Australia for good by departing Cairns Airport on Saturday 27 May for Majuro in the Marshall Islands.  It was still painted in the old-style Skytrans livery but was re-registered as VH-BBU of Air Fleet Management (Queensland) - as shown below.  It was later noted arriving into Toronto (Pearson) Airport in Canada on completion of its delivery flight (presumably) to a new operator.  It also appears to have taken up a new Canadian registration marking.

Recently, VH-QQN Dash-8-300 (c/n 276) (ex C-GMOH) - departed Cairns on Friday 5 August (as shown below) to Darwin and all stops on delivery to Dynamic Aviation USA - was re-registered N308N on Monday 22 August.

From the list above, both VH-QQA and VH-QQB also spent time operating out of Perth (Western Australia) for Maroomba Airlines at various times during the 2000s.  Currently, Maroomba Airlines operates ex-Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100s VH-QQD(2) (c/n 245) (ex S2-AAA), VH-QQK (c/n 326) (ex N846EX) and VH-QQL (c/n 388) (ex N825EX).

Finally, Skytrans (and Maroomba) operated eight other Dash-8-100s which have since left Australia - including:

VH-QQD(1) (c/n 041) (ex P2-MCK) - left in 2010 - now P2-MCK with Airlines PNG / PNG Air.

VH-QQE (c/n 173) (ex N821EX) - left in 2013 - now C-GUXF with Air Creebec (Canada).

VH-QQH(1) (c/n 033) (ex VH-TNX) - left in 2008 - now P2-MCP with Airlines PNG / PNG Air.

VH-QQH(2) (c/n 135) (ex VH-TQP) - left in 2008 - now P2-MCT with Airlines PNG / PNG Air.

VH-QQH(3) (c/n 380) (ex N982HA) - left in 2013 - now P2-MCN with Airlines PNG / PNG Air.

VH-QQI(1) (c/n 067) (ex VH-TQF) - left in 2010 - now P2-MCW with Airlines PNG / PNG Air.

VH-QQJ(1) (c/n 208) (ex VH-TQR) - left in 2009 - now P2-MCU with Airlines PNG / PNG Air.

VH-QQJ(2) (c/n 392) (ex N828EX) - left in 2013 - now N880EA with Ravn Alaska (Era Alaska).

As a plane spotter, I do find all this information very interesting!

I do hope that it is correct - if there are any errors - feel free to send an email or leave a message below with some corrections!

Sincere thanks to the FNQ Skies Blog for their assistance in compiling this post!

Photos taken by 'IAD' and the FNQ Skies Blog  ©

Skytrans / Maroomba Dash-8-100 VH-QQL Departs Australia

Once a common sight at CQ Airports when it operated out of Cairns, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQL has recently departed Australia for good at the completion of its lease.  It departed Cairns last Friday 22 April for Majuro in the Marshall Islands and has subsequently been spotted at Honolulu while trekking back to (possibly) Canada.

VH-QQL arrives at Rockhampton Airport  (File photo)

VH-QQL operated all over Queensland on both Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) flights and Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights while with Skytrans and I managed to capture it several times when it visited my local airport at Clermont.

VH-QQL at Clermont Aerodrome on FIFO duties  (File photo)

In recent times however, VH-QQL operated flights out of Perth, Western Australia, in the full colours of Maroomba Airlines.

VH-QQL recently spotted at Cairns Airport

VH-QQL was delivered to Skytrans at Cairns in August 2010 as N825EX and entered the Australian register shortly after.

Photos taken by 'IAD' and FNQ Skies Blog  ©

A Special Post - Looking Back at Skytrans Airlines and Their 25 Years of Operations

As we’ve reported, Skytrans Airlines announced late on Friday 2 January that it had ceased operations with immediate effect.  The announcement came just one day after the airline celebrated its 25th anniversary of operations.

Further details regarding the announcement can be found at the links below from the Cairns Post:
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/

And the Skytrans website:
http://www.skytrans.com.au/

Looking back, Skytrans was founded by David and Sue Barnard in October 1990 as a charter airline, and began scheduled flights in 1993.  In November 2000, Skytrans merged with Air Swift Aviation, another small regional airline based in Cairns.  In June 2001, Skytrans took over services to Cooktown and Karumba from Macair Airlines.  In January 2005, the airline began to operate in competition with QantasLink on the Cairns to Townsville route, operating from its own terminals in both cities - I even enjoyed a flight on this route on board Cessna 404 VH-SZA in April 2007.

In December 2006, the airline was acquired from its founders by Australian Aviation Holdings, which also owned Queensland Regional Airlines and Inland Pacific Air.  Skytrans and merged in 2006, operating under the Skytrans banner.  With the closure of Macair in 2009, the airlines expanded their routes to Cape York.

At the end of 2014, Skytrans had two bases – in Cairns and Brisbane – and operated both scheduled and charter flights to as many as 25 locations throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea and the South-West Pacific. It was a major operator of the Dash 8 type aircraft in Australia, seating 36-50 passengers in both Dash-8-100 and Dash-8-300 types.

Before the merger with QRA in 2006, Skytrans also operated smaller commuter aircraft including Cessna 310 and Cessna 404 aircraft, along with a single Beech B200 King Air.

In 2013, Skytrans established their most recent base in Toowoomba with scheduled flights operating from Brisbane to Toowoomba, Charleville, Quilpie, Windorah, Birdsville, Bedourie, Boulia, Mount Isa, St George, Cunnamulla and Thargomindah.  Skytrans also launched flights from Toowoomba to Roma however, these flights only ran for a few months before the route was ceased.  With the opening of Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, and the launch of QantasLink flights to Wellcamp from Sydney, Skytrans closed the Toowoomba base in November 2014 and ceased its own Sydney to Toowoomba service, despite strong passenger numbers.

Finally, from Wednesday 31 December 2014, Skytrans lost its contract to operate the Queensland Government subsidised routes, Gulf, Western 1 and Western 2 to Regional Express (REX).  This reportedly left the future financial viability of Skytrans in question, and is perhaps one of the main reasons why the Managing Director, Simon Wild, took the action to shut down operations of this great great Australian airline.

Below are the last known Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) movements of Skytrans flights into Cairns on Friday 2 December:

SKP85 Dash-8-100 VH-QQI Cairns-Aurukun-Pormpuraaw-Kowanyama-Cairns
SKP23 Dash-8-100 VH-QQB Cairns-Coen-Lochart River-Bamaga-Cairns
SKP61 Dash-8-100 VH-QQF Cairns-Mt Isa-Cairns
SKP9086 Dash-8-100 VH-QQG Brisbane-Cairns (Positioning flight)

Meanwhile, Skytrans last RPT service into Brisbane was on Wednesday 31 December:

SKP18 Dash-8-100 VH-QQG Brisbane-Toowoomba-Saint George-Cunnamulla-Thargomindah-Cunamulla-Saint George-Toowoomba-Brisbane.

Their last Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight into Brisbane was on Friday 19 December:

SKP671 Dash-8-300 VH-QQP DH8C Brisbane-Miles-Brisbane.

The FNQ Skies Blog captured these images on Saturday 3 January of various Skytrans aircraft parked around and near the Skytrans Engineering facility at Cairns Airport:

Noted at Cairns were VH-QQA, VH-QQB, VH-QQC, VH-QQF, VH-QQG, VH-QQI and VH-QQM.

Dash-8-300s VH-QQN and VH-QQP remain at Brisbane Airport, while former Skytrans Dash-8-100s VH-QQD, VH-QQK and VH-QQL are operating out of Perth Airport with Maroomba Airlines whom they are leased to from Westpac.

Sincere thanks to the various sources for their assistance in preparing this post.

Friday 2 January was a sad for Australian aviation with the loss of a great Australian airline.

UPDATE!  As mentioned in the Blog posts above, West Wing Aviation have stepped in to operate Skytrans' routes into Cape York, while Corporate Air have picked up (at least) the FIFO charter operations in Clermont Areodrome.

Additional photos taken by the FNQ Skies Blog  ©

Beauty! Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQA at Mackay Airport Saturday in Maroomba Colours!

Spotted visiting Mackay Airport on Saturday 2 August was Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQA - complete with Maroon tail and titles of Maroomba Airlines in Western Australia.  It arrived from Cairns as SKP1928 - carrying basketball teams to Mackay for games this evening.

VH-QQA returned to Cairns in early June after operating in the West for some time with Maroomba - it is certainly a great sight to see in CQ in this hybrid livery!

At the time of writing, VH-QQA is due to depart Mackay to Townsville mid-morning on Sunday 3 August as SKP1929.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Catching Up With Some 'Old Friends' in Perth - Skytrans Dash-8s in Service with Maroomba Airlines at Perth Airport

During my recent trip over to Western Australia (WA), I spent a lot of time photographing the comings and goings from Perth Airport. One of charter operators that are based at Perth Airport is Maroomba Airlines. Maroomba has been providing air travel services since 1985, focussing on Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) and other general charter flights to rural and remote WA. Maroomba Airlines carries in excess of 60,000 passengers annually, and operate a range of aircraft types including four Dash-8-100 turbo-prop aircraft that have been wet leased from Skytrans Airlines.

Maroomba first leased a pair of Dash-8-100s off Skytrans in 2006 with VH-QQA and VH-QQB (above and below) venturing over to the West from Cairns. They initially operated in an all-white colour scheme with Maroomba titles.

Over the years, VH-QQC also joined the Maroomba fleet, and the Dash-8s were painted in a 'revised' Maroomba livery featuring a maroon-coloured tail with titles.

Another Dash-8-100 - VH-QQE - also spent time in the West replacing VH-QQA which spent some time flying around Australia with Air Cruising Australia - Bill Peach Adventures. VH-QQE was spotted several times in Central Queensland operating for Skytrans in Maroomba colours. I spotted both VH-QQA and VH-QQE at Clermont Aerodrome in late April 2011.

With VH-QQE retired from Skytrans service around a year ago, another Dash-8-100, VH-QQG, has recently joined the Maroomba fleet as well.

All four Dash-8-100s - VH-QQA, VH-QQB, VH-QQC and VH-QQG - make frequent trips out of Perth for Maroomba flying to many different parts of WA on charter duties.

Another Aircraft Departs Australia - Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQE

From the Far North Queensland Skies Blog and the HNL (Honolulu) Rare Birds Blog, we've seen that Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQE (msn 173) has also departed Australian shores this week bound for the United States of America (USA).

The Dash-8 was originally purchased by Queensland Regional Airlines in October 2006 and registered as VH-QQE. Two months after its purchase, Queensland Regional Airlines merged with Skytrans Airlines, and VH-QQE was first spotted in full old colours of Skytrans.

Later, VH-QQE was leased to Perth-based charter and RPT operator Maroomba Airlines, and the Dash-8 was spotted wearing Maroomba colours while still operating into Central Queensland.  Recently, VH-QQE returned to the East Coast, and was spotted at Rockhampton Airport recently by 'IAD'.

VH-QQE was spotted at Honolulu Airport on Thursday 7 March (Wednesday 6 March Hawaii time) after arriving from Cairns and Marshall Island International (Majuro). It is believed to be making its way back to the USA mainland.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Also Spotted at Rockhampton Airport This Week - And Preparations Begin for Flooding This Weekend

A great week of plane spotting at Rockhampton Airport this week, and local spotters Don W and 'IAD' have been amongst the action!

No doubt the highlight of the week was the emergency landing at Rockhampton Airport of Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VXE while Brisbane to Townsville as QF974.  VH-VXE eventually departed Rockhampton for Brisbane as QF6112 late on Wednesday 30 January.  It was believed to have suffered cabin pressure problems, and VH-VXE was noted flying to Brisbane at a cruising altitude of only 9000 feet.

Another Qantas B737-800 in the form of VH-VZZ positioned to Rockhampton late on Tuesday 29 January to collect the stranded passengers off VH-VXE and eventually departed on the continuation of QF974 to Townsville.

Other commercial movements noted this week at Rockhampton Airport have included Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWT which 'IAD' spotted departing on Tuesday 29 January for Brisbane operating on behalf of QantasLink.

QantasLink also had a pair of their own Dash-8-Q400 aircraft at Rockhampton Airport that 'IAD' spotted, in form of VH-QOR and VH-QOW - which still in Taronga Western Plains Dubbo Zoo Colours.

QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXI was spotted departing for Brisbane on Wednesday 30 January.

Special movements into Rockhampton Airport were highlighted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-003 which was caught by 'IAD' on Wednesday 30 January.

Most of the other interesting movements have been in association with the devastating floods that hit part of Central Queensland over last weekend and this week.  Rockhampton played host to a number of helicopters in the early part of the week, including rescue helicopters from Mackay and Townsville, as well as a number private choppers.

Avalon Aviation Eurocopter EC130B4 VH-EHY was photographed by Don W resting on the General Aviation apron.

Nearby, Theodore-based Bell 206B (II) VH-JAQ was photographed again by Don W.

Mackay Helicopters Bell 430 VH-HIA was caught by Don W as it was returning from completing one of its many flights out of Rockhampton Airport earlier in the week.  Mackay Helicopters Bell 222 VH-TOR was also spotted at Rockhampton during the week.

Of the more interesting fixed-wing visitors, Don W caught Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQE, which passed through on Sunday 27 January wearing the full colours of Maroomba Airlines - a Perth-based charter company.

'IAD' also caught Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-PSY on Tuesday 29 January.  VH-PSY, and the Police Airwing's Raytheon 1900D VH-PSK have been noted at Rockhampton most days this week.

Meanwhile, the Rockhampton Regional Council is making preparations for the weekend flood-peak in the Fitzroy River.  At the current predicted flood peak on Saturday 2 February, the Rockhampton Airport will be affected in some way.

Predictions are that the flood peak will be around the 8.5m mark. At this level, Council has stated that the main Runway 15/33 will remain open, but at a reduced length.  This will enable airlines to continue to operate flights in and out of Rockhampton Airport.  The airlines have been advised accordingly and passengers should contact their airlines for updates on flight details.

Also in preparation, Council has closed the Premium Long Term Car Park and the parking options are the Long Term Car Park at $10 a day or the Short Term Car Park at $15 a day. Those who have vehicles currently on, or intend to park on Hunter Street, should refrain from doing so as this area may be impacted by floodwaters over the coming days. 

Council has assured that they will continue to monitor the situation as more accurate predictions are received.

Rockhampton Airport on Sunday - Diversions Continue - Skytrans Dash-8 in Maroomba Colours - More Helicopters

Rockhampton Airport's main Runway 15/33 remained affected by flood water on Sunday 27 January.  At one stage, it reportedly operated at a reduced length of around 1770 meters, however, it was slightly longer Sunday morning.  As the day went on, workers were continuing to attempt to open more of the Runway however, there were still aircraft unable to land and being forced to divert Gladstone and Townsville.

QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXG - operating as QJE1730 - diverted to Gladstone Airport (where it is pictured below by Jamie C) after circling around Rockhampton for some time.  The Flightaware website also showed Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) ATR 72-600 VH-FVN - operating as VOZ1239 - diverting to Townsville.

Another Virgin ATR 72-600 VH-FVP was also shown to circle around Rockhampton Airport for some time before eventually landing successfully.

As the afternoon wore on, there were as many as five aircraft holding above Rockhampton Airport waiting to land.  These aircraft eventually landed without incident, although some were noted to land with 'priority'.

Rockhampton Plane Spotting 'IAD' sent through some images of the afternoon's action.

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400's VH-QOW, VH-QOA, and Next Gen VH-LQB were all noted.

Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPM was one of the few jets to land and depart.

One of the highlights of the dreary day was Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQE which touched down from Townsville as SKP7502.  It later departed to Bundaberg.

VH-QQE still wears the livery of Maroomba Airlines - a Perth based charter company in Western Australia.  Skytrans operates as many as three Dash-8 aircraft in Western Australia for Maroomba.

Lastly, 'IAD' spotted some of the visiting helicopters that have been based out of Rockhampton flying fodder drops, and other sorties out of the Airport.  On the Northern end of the Airport apron sat three Mackay-based helicopters in the form of:

Whitsunday Helicopters Aerospatiale AS.350BA VH-HBZ.

And Mackay Helicopters (Aviation Tourism Australia) Bell 430 VH-HIA and Bell 222 VH-TOR.

On the General Aviation apron, Eurocopter EC130B4 VH-EHY of Avalon Aviation in Brisbane sat waiting for its next flight.

Rockhampton now is playing a waiting game, with residents being advised that the region will face an eight-metre-plus Fitzroy River flood next weekend.  We wish Rockhampton residents all the best.

All photos taken by IAD and Jamie C  ©