Machjet (Machjet International) Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjet N685SC Finally Departs Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 7 September, Machjet (Machjet International) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet N685SC finally departed Bundaberg Airport for the Sunshine Coast.  It later departed to Nadi in Fiji.

It had arrived into Bundaberg Airport back on Wednesday 27 July and remained parked up!

UPDATE!  On Thursday 8 September, N685SC returned to the Sunshine Coast from Nadi and then departed to Darwin and Singapore (Seletar).

Of interest, fellow McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Beech B200 King Air P2-ZMY was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport from its Sunshine Coast base, also on Wednesday 7 September. 

MacKellar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd (Revesco Aviation) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-MMC was noted visiting the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It looked to arrive from and then later depart back to its Sunshine Coast base.

SG Aviation Australia / Business Aviation Solutions Gulfstream G-VI (G650ER) bizjet VH-SGA was back at Hamilton Island Airport once again.  And again arriving from Melbourne (Essendon).

UPDATE!  On Friday 9 September, VH-SGA returned to Essendon.

Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-LXZ was noted visiting Mackay Airport from Bankstown and Maitland. 

And Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Mundubbera Aerodrome from Archerfield. 

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 7 September, Careflight (NT) Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air VH-ZCX was noted arriving into Longreach Airport directly from its Darwin base in the Northern Territory.  It was noted using the flight number and radio callsign of  "Careflight 24".  After taking on fuel, the King Air continued to Bankstown in New South Wales.

UPDATE!  It appears that VH-ZCX "Careflight 24" has commenced operations in New South Wales and Victoria on medical retrieval flights.

While Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Metro 23 VH-VEK flew out from Brisbane to Longreach Airport and then Boulia and back over the same route.

ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-AYT had a busy day of flying between its Townsville base and both Mackay and Hamilton Island Airports.

Bunderra Cattle Co (Rockhampton) Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-KNV finally flew out from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It flew down to Mackay Airport before then heading to Rolleston Aerodrome and Rockhampton Airport.  VH-KNV had flown up to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from Rocky in mid-August!

And recently re-registered Agair Logistics P/L Gulfstream Aerospace (AeroCommander) 695-A JetProp 1000 VH-LMC "Birddog 125" was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport from Stawell in Victoria.  

It is assumed that it will again provide airborne support for the resident Canadian-based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE "Bomber 141" at Bundaberg Airport during this coming bushfire season.

Sincere thanks to Dan B from Dan Beck Photography for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Dan B  ©

Skydiving Pacific Aerospace PAC750XL VH-ZVM at Bundaberg Airport - And More!

During the afternoon on Thursday 12 April, Port Macquarie (New South Wales) registered Pacific Aerospace PAC750XL VH-ZVM was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport from Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. 

File photo

VH-ZVM is pictured above at Caloundra in late 2017 where it has been operating as a skydiving platform.

VH-ZVM was due to continue to Mackay Airport and Innisfail but looked to remain overnight at Bundy and eventually departed Bundaberg Airport late morning on Friday 13 April.

Meanwhile, a couple of other interesting light General Aviation (GA) and other aircraft have also been noted visiting Bundaberg and other Fraser Coast Airports in recent days.

Air Queensland's Partenavia P.68B VH-IYF was also noted visiting several CQ Airports including Bundaberg, Gladstone and Mackay at various times every day this week.  It completed multiple flights out of and back to its Redcliffe base.

File photo

Of interest, also on Friday 13 April, Air Queensland's Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain VH-XLB departed Bundaberg Airport for Redcliffe after being hangared at Bundy undergoing planned maintenance since late March.

Bontrail (Strahman Farms) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-SJJ was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport from and back to its Toowoomba base on Thursday 12 April.  It returned to Bundy on Friday 13 April from Toowoomba and later departed to Mundubberra and Moree in New South Wales.

Finally, on Wednesday 11 April, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was noted flying into Maryborough and then Bundaberg Airports while on a flight from and back to Brisbane.

Photos taken by Simon Coates and Col B  ©

Avcair (Earth Commodities) Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Bizjet VH-CCJ Calls into Bundaberg Airport

On Tuesday 16 May, Avcair (Earth Commodities) Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-CCJ was back in Central Queensland once again, this time calling into Bundaberg Airport.

VH-CCJ at Bundaberg Airport during a previous visit  (File photo)

It flew into Bundy from Brisbane early in the day and stayed for most the morning before returning there around the middle of the day.

Meanwhile, also calling into Bundaberg Airport but on Monday 15 May was Bontrail (Strahman Farms) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-SJJ which arrived from its Toowoomba base via Archerfield.  At the time of writing, it is due to depart to Mundubberra on Wednesday 17 May.

UPDATE!  VH-SJJ ended up returning to Toowoomba on Wednesday 17 May.

Photo taken by Micah S  ©

Cessna 525A CitationJet2 Bizjet VH-MOR Pops into Gladstone Airport Tuesday Night

Late on Tuesday 4 April, Brisbane-based Cessna 525A CitationJet2 bizjet VH-MOR was a surprise arrival into Gladstone Airport.  Local plane spotter Michael F was on hand as it touched down from Archerfield and Brisbane.

After dropping off its passengers, VH-MOR returned to Archerfield.

At the time of writing on Wednesday 5 April, VH-MOR was due to call back into parts of CQ.  It has already arrived into Mundubbera from Archerfield and is later due to call into Roma and Clermont Airports.

UPDATE!  VH-MOR stayed the night at Clermont and on Thursday 6 April, it continued to Charters Towers and Cloncurry.

UPDATE!  On Friday 7 April, VH-MOR returned to Acherfield from Cloncurry.

Sincere thanks to Michael for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

And a Couple of Light GA Aircraft Spotted at Rockhampton Airport in Recent Days

Over the latter part of the week there's been a couple of interesting light General Aviation (GA) aircraft spotted and noted passing through Rockhampton Airport.

On Saturday 26 March, Basair Australia (of Bankstown) Cessna U206G VH-NNS touched down at Rocky from its Archerfield base via Mundubberra.

It later departed to Bundaberg.

On Friday 25 March seemingly locally-based Beech F33A VH-LXN departed for Caloundra.

As mentioned below, on Wednesday 23 March, Redjet Aviation Piper PA-31 VH-PJU called into Rockhampton from Toowoomba, Archerfield and Hervey Bay.

Brisbane-based Cessna 182 VH-SHY was also spotted at Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 23 March.  It has been noted at several Central Queensland airport in recent weeks including Rocky on other occasions.

Also on Wednesday, locally-based both of Atlass Aviation Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68C aircraft - VH-CFT and VH-KBO - were both noted departing to the Sunshine Coast.

And locally-based Piper PA-32R-301 VH-OKD operated a return flight to Mackay.  It also flew to Warwick and back on Tuesday 22 March.

File photo

Finally, on Tuesday 22 March, Gold Coast-based Beech 95-B55 Baron VH-FEM called in for a couple of hours.

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWT Back at Rockhampton Airport Saturday - Plus a Few Nice Lighties on Friday

For the second week in a row Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWT has operated what looked to be a sports charter in and out of Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 19 March.  On this occasion it touched down from Cairns early in the day as UTY3381 before returning to Cairns later in the evening as UTY3382.

File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Meanwhile, a couple of nice light General Aviation (GA) aircraft were noted visiting Rockhampton Airport on Friday 18 March including a nice pair that visited from Toowoomba.

Redjet Aviation Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU called in from Toowoomba via Hervey Bay while FKG Air Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-FKI called in from Toowoomba via Archerfield.

File photo taken by Brendan Berry  ©

Both aircraft departed back to Toowoomba via return stops later on Friday.

Funnily enough, a local pair of light GA aircraft operated flights from Rockhampton down to Toowoomba on Friday 18 March with the Rockhampton Aero Club's Beech 58 Baron VH- KCN and Cessna U206F VH-IQU both flying South and back to Rocky.

Of interest, both aircraft have had a busy week with VH-KCN also noted flying to Emerald, Longreach and Collinsville via Tartrus Airstrip this week, while VH-IQU was noted flying to Mackay, Mundubberra and Springsure.

Finally, noted calling into Rockhampton Airport on Friday 18 March was the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK which had another busy day of flying up and down the Queensland coast.

A Few Light General Aviation Aircraft Come and Go From Maryborough Airport Wednesday

Wednesday 3 February seemed to be a busy day at Maryborough Airport with a few light General Aviation (GA) aircraft noted coming and going, from and to various places.

Locally-based Mile High Aviation Cessna 172 VH-DZW was noted departed to the Sunshine Coast.

File photo taken by Brendan Berry  ©

Cessna 210-5 VH-RYB visited for part of the day from its Gold Coast base.

McNab Aviation Cessna 414A VH-FKH called in from Gympie and later departed to Toowoomba.

File photo taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

Bundaberg-based CromAir Cessna 414A VH-CBT called in for part of the day from the Sunshine Coast.

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK also called in briefly from Rockhampton before departing to Brisbane.

File photo taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Of interest, VH-PSK had yet another busy day of flying on Wednesday 3 February, starting and finishing at Cairns and also calling into Townsville (twice) and Mackay, while on Monday 1 February it called into Bundaberg Airport , as well as Townsville (twice), Rockhampton and Mackay.

Finally, calling into Maryborough Airport early and late on Wednesday 3 February was General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) AeroCommander 500-S VH-YJS.  The little cargo plane flew into Maryborough from Brisbane around dawn before departing to Bundaberg and Mundubberra.  It then flew in from Mundubbera and Bundaberg around sunset before departing back to Brisbane.

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Bell 412 Helicopters VH-ESB and VH-ESD Ferry North and South via Mackay and Gladstone Airports This Week

This week, a pair of Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Bell 412 rescue helicopters have noted ferrying South and North between Townsville and Archerfield Airport via both Mackay and Gladstone Airports.

After operating for some time around Brisbane and the South-East corner of Queensland as "Rescue 500", Bell 412EP VH-ESB ferried North from Archerfield to Townsville via Gladstone and Mackay Airports on Tuesday 24 November.

VH-ESB as "Rescue 500" at Mundubbera Hospital recently  (https://www.facebook.com/rescue500queensland/)

And since arriving in Townsville, VH-ESB has already been put into service operating medical retrieval flights to Proserpine Hospital and Atherton Hospital in Far North Queensland as "Rescue 521".

Fellow QG Air Bell 412 rescue helicopter VH-ESD - which previously operated around Townsville and part of Central and Far North Queensland as "Rescue 521" - departed Townsville for Mackay and Gladstone Airport before ferrying onwards to Archerfield on Wednesday 25 November.

VH-ESD as "Rescue 521" at Ayr Hospital recently  (https://www.facebook.com/rescue521queensland/)

We've reported before that the QGAir rescue helicopters ferry North and South through Central Queensland as a part of a 'rotational system' which is reportedly designed to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of their helicopters, thus avoiding the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Finally, of interest, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH was pictured visiting Hervey Bay Hospital on a medical retrieval task on Monday 23 November now as "Rescue 500".

VH-ESH now as "Rescue 500" at Hervey Bay Hospital  (https://www.facebook.com/rescue500queensland/)

Bit hard to keep up all these movements and callsign uses and changes!

General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) Dornier DO 228-202 VH-VJE at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport Thursday

Making a surprise arrival in Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport early on Thursday 19 November was General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) Dornier DO 228-202 VH-VJE.  It touched down from Brisbane and Theodore.

In the early afternoon, VH-VJE departed back to Brisbane but not before it appeared to conduct a scenic flight and/or airwork over nearby Fraser Island before heading South.

Until recently, VH-VJE was one of three Dorners that GAM had based at Brisbane for use on Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights to Chinchilla - a contract that has now been taken over by Skytrans Airlines - see Blog Post below.

Of interest, information suggests that VH-VJE completed a couple of flights from Brisbane to Lord Howe Island over the last week.

GAM is based at Melbourne's Essendon Airport and comprises GAMair, General Aviation Maintenance (GAM), DC-3 Australia, Commander Air and Reefwatch Air Tours.  GAM predominantly operates a fleet of Aero Commanders and Shrike Commanders along with the Dornier DO 228 aircraft.  GAM also operates several freight flights out of Brisbane Airport with one of their Aero Commanders operating each weekday morning from the capital to Bundaberg, Maryborough and Munduberra and then back during the evening.

Sincere thanks to Hervey Bay plane spotter Ben M for allowing us to share his great photos of VH-VJE!

All photos taken by Ben May  ©

A Cirrus 'Mini Fly-in' at Emerald Airport on Friday - Plus a Few Other Lighties this Week

On Friday 12 June it was interesting to note no less than five Cirrus SR20/SR22 single engine aircraft call into Emerald Airport from various parts.

Scott Hutchison / http://flightaware.com/

SR20 VH-SRL, SR22 VH-WWJ and Flight One (Services) SR22 VH-VGG all called in from Archerfield, SR22 VH-PGU arrived from Southport, and Toowoomba-based Cirrus SR22 VH-VIA flew from Moranbah to Emerald and then on to Toowoomba all on Friday.

On Thursday 11 June, another Cirrus SR22 VH-MNC of Group Aviation Services in Victoria called in briefly from Bourke, departing later the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

As well as the gaggle of Cirruses to call into Emerald, there has also been a nice selection of other light General Aviation (GA) aircraft that have been noted to visit the Central Highlands hub.  Also on Thursday 11 June - and as mentioned below - Vanderfield (Toowoomba) Lancair IV VH-LKG flew in from Mackay and overnighted.  It was the sporty little Lancair's second visit during a busy week of flying where it also visited Emerald from Roma on Tuesday 9 June.

On Wednesday 10 June, Cessna TR182 VH-HSJ visited Emerald from its Mundubberra base, while on Tuesday 9 June, Basair Australia Piper PA-31-350 VH-HJH was noted departing Emerald for Archerfield.

Finally, last Sunday 7 June, New South Wales-based Rockwell 685 Commander VH-NJT was noted heading back South from Cairns to Emerald and on to Coffs Harbour and Cessnock.

File photo taken by Ben May  ©

It was captured (and is shown above) earlier last week passing through Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport while heading to Far North Queensland.