A Couple of Photos of LifeFlight (ex CareFlight) Bell 412EP VH-XCY at Gladstone Airport

We were recently sent a couple of photos of the locally-based LifeFlight (ex CareFlight) Bell 412EP VH-XCY at Gladstone Airport.

Photo taken by 'Mick'  ©

Photo taken by 'Mick'  ©

For Gladstone and Curtis Island residents, the LifeFlight / CareFlight medical retrieval contract is nearing completion with the final day of operations reportedly next Sunday 11 September.

Of interest, the rapidly growing organisation celebrated it's 35th anniversary and changed its name from CareFlight Group to LifeFlight in July this year.

In July 2013, LifeFlight merged with the iconic Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) operating out of Bundaberg and the Sunshine Coast.  Agusta A109E Power VH-ZCF "Rescue 522" was shown recently completing an airlift from Monto Hospital to Bundaberg Hospital.

https://www.facebook.com/LifeFlightOfficial/

In the last or so, LifeFlight also acquired a pair of Agusta Westland AW139 helicopters - VH-XIJ is pictured below and is a frequent visitor to CQ from their Brisbane Airport base as "Rescue 533".

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Finally, at this year's Brisbane Exhibition (Ekka) LifeFlight's Eurocopter AS.350BA Squirrel helicopter VH-XCE "dropped in" for a visit during the evening's entertainment programme at the main ring at the Ekka.

https://www.facebook.com/LifeFlightOfficial/

The organisation maintains RACQ as naming rights sponsor, donating vital funds to help keep the service airborne. The partnership has lasted more than two decades and is one of Australia’s longest sponsorship agreements.

Australian Border Force (ABF) Cobham Aviation-operated Dash-8-200 VH-ZZJ Spotted at Bundaberg Airport

Late on Friday 8 July, local plane spotter Micah S captured a couple of great photos of Surveillance Australia / Australian Border Force (ABF) Cobham Aviation-operated Dash-8-200 VH-ZZJ soon after it touched down at Bundaberg Airport after completing a sortie as "Borderforce 88".

During the latter part of its flight, VH-ZZJ was tasked to assist with a search and rescue call off the Fraser Coast.  It joined the locally-based RACQ Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B -2 VH-BKV "Rescue 511" along with Aerorescue (AMSA - Australian Maritime Safety Authority) / Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPJ "Rescue 471" which looked to fly up from its Brisbane base in the search.

Some great photos captured by Micah - we thank him sincerely for sharing them with us!

All photos taken by Micah S  ©

Aerorescue (AMSA) / Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPJ "Rescue 471" at Maryborough Airport

Aerorescue (AMSA - Australian Maritime Safety Authority) / Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPJ "Rescue 471" was spotted in the skies above and then on the ground at Maryborough Airport late on Sunday 10 January as it coordinated a search in response to a distress beacon in the area.

It is also believed that RACQ Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-BKV "Rescue 511" may have also joined the search from its Sunshine Coast base.

In fact, information suggests that fellow Careflight / SCHRS Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-EHQ. "Rescue 522" and new Careflight Agusta Westland AW139 VH-XIH "Rescue 533" were also in the area late on Sunday 10 January.

Photo taken by Dave Deem  ©

RACQ Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) BK117 B-2 VH-BKV Also Spotted at Hervey Bay Airport

As I was preparing the Blog post below, local plane spotter Ben M has kindly shared some more photos he took on Friday 10 July as RACQ Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-BKV popped into Hervey Bay / Fraser Coast Airport as "Rescue 511" from its Sunshine Coast Base.

The RACQ Careflight / SCHRS operates two BK117 helicopters through the Fraser Coast and Wide Bay regions - including Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay - with VH-BKV joined by VH-EHQ ("Rescue 522").

The RACQ Careflight SCHRS - formally known as AGL Action Rescue - merged with the CareFlight Group Queensland in July 2013.  The SCHRS and the iconic RACQ CareFlight Rescue now come under the umbrella of CareFlight Group Queensland.

Check out the CareFlight Group website at:  http://www.careflightgroup.com/

Sincere thanks to Ben for allowing us to share his awesome photos!

All photos taken by Ben May  ©

RACQ Careflight Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) BK117 B-2 VH-EHQ Does Airwork at Gladstone Airport

Another nice helicopter spotted in the skies of Gladstone on Wednesday 8 July was the Bundaberg-based RACQ Careflight Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 VH-EHQ.

After flying North from the Rum City via Agnes Water, VH-EHQ initially performed some airwork at Gladstone Airport - making approaches to Runway 28 then Runway 10 - before it landed at the Airport for a short time.

VH-EHQ has only returned to service with Careflight in the last week after a period of time in the maintenance hangar at the Sunshine Coast.

VH-EHQ eventually returned to Bundaberg Airport during the middle of the day.  It was heard to be using its familiar radio callsign of "Rescue 522".

A couple of great helicopter visitors to Gladstone Airport on Wednesday - and we sincerely thank local plane spotters Jamie and Tash for taking the time to capture and send through their awesome photos!

Photos taken by Jamie and Tash  ©

Skypac Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-NEQ Makes a Late Visit to Bundaberg Airport Saturday

Making a surprise but most welcome visit to Bundaberg Airport late on Saturday 4 July was Skypac Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-NEQ.  It touched down after darkness had fallen from Bankstown.

Robert Myers / http://flightaware.com/

After around 30 minutes on the ground, VH-NEQ departed Bundy, returning to Bankstown.

Meanwhile, locally-based CromAir Cessna 414A VH-CBT departed Bundaberg for Brisbane and Maryborough also on Saturday 4 July.  It returned 'home' to Bundy later in the day.

And on Friday 3 July, seemingly a long-term resident at Bundaberg Airport receiving attention in one of the hangars, Air Queensland Piper PA-31-350 VH-XLB finally Bundy departed for Redcliffe.

Finally, and conversely, arriving back into Bundaberg on Friday 3 July after a period of maintenance on the Sunshine Coast was the locally-based Careflight Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-EHQ "Rescue 522".

File photo taken by Micah S  ©

Until this week, the role of Careflight rescue chopper at Bundy had been filled by Agusta A109E Power VH-ZCF which had positioned to the Sunshine Coast earlier on Friday.

Meanwhile - Careflight Agusta A109E VH-ZCF "Rescue 522" - Also at Bundaberg Airport

Another helicopter that has taken up residence at Bundaberg Airport is Careflight Agusta A109E Power VH-ZCF - "Rescue 522".

http://www.facebook.com/RACQCareFlight

The Agusta has been noted flying out of Bundaberg Airport since April when - presumably - one of Careflight's Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopters - presumably VH-BKV - was hangared for maintenance - but this could be incorrect.

Of interest, VH-ZCF was noted at Gladstone Airport last Friday 22 May undertaking some airwork before it returned to Bundaberg where it was tasked on a rescue flight.

Customs Dash-8-202 VH-ZZA Calls into Bundaberg Airport Wednesday

Surveillance Australia / Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Cobham Aviation) Dash-8-202 VH-ZZA was photographed at Bundaberg Airport on Wednesday 11 February by local plane spotter Micah S.  It had earlier touched down from after completing a sortie, heard to be using the radio callsign of "Customs 11".

It departed on another sortie early on Thursday 12 February.

Meanwhile, Micah also captured a couple of photos of Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-EHQ as it called in to Bundy Airport.

Some great photos from Micah of a couple of great movements into the Rum City on Wednesday!

Thanks mate!

All photos taken by Micah S  ©

A Few Other Interesting Light General Aviation (GA) Aircraft and Helicopters at CQ Airports This Week

There have also been a few interesting light General Aviation (GA) aircraft and helicopters spotted at various Central Queensland Airports this week with the majority of the interesting visitors spotted at Rockhampton Airport.  On Wednesday 21 January, Hamilton Island-based Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 Airvan VH-AZH called into Rockhampton briefly from Hamo.

File photo

On Tuesday 20 January, the Australasian Jet Piper PA-31-325 VH-ZMJ which - as mentioned below - arrived at Rocky from Clermont over the weekend was captured by local plane spotter 'IAD'.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Also on Tuesday, another Navajo in the form of Singleton Air Services / Altitude Flight Operations Piper PA-31-350 VH-WGF, was noted departing Rockhampton for Archerfield late morning, while visiting Rocky shortly after was Nitro Drilling (Nitro Aviation) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-NDT, which arrived from Middlemount and later departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Locally-based J.M. Kelly (Project Builders) Cessna 310 VH-FFA and Peace Aviation Beech A36 Bonanza VH-MMB were also noted flying out of Rocky this week to Mackay, Woorabinda and the Sunshine Coast.

File photo

A couple of Robinson helicopters were also spotted visiting Rockhampton and Mackay Airports on Tuesday 20 January.  Helibiz R44 VH-RSU and Calliope-based R44 II VH-IPR both noted flying between both ports, with VH-IPR due to head to Townsville as well.

Also heading to Townsville from Mackay on Tuesday 20 January was Cessna 208 Caravan VH-DJG.

As frequently happens, the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK visited Rocky and Mackay on Monday 19 January.  It is a usual visitor, and on this occasion, also visited Maryborough, Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns.

Also down on the Fraser Coast on Monday 19 January, Seair Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LMZ operated a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter from Maryborough to Middlemount and then to Hervey Bay, while also at Hervey Bay Airport, Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-OMS called in from Toowoomba

Finally, at Gladstone Airport, the recently re-branded Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-EHQ was tasked from its Bundaberg base on Wednesday 21 January and was noted departing Gladstone Airport for Heron Island as "Rescue 522".

Photo taken by Anthony Schulz  ©

And TW Aviation (of Tamworth) Cessna 414A VH-ZDF visited Gladstone and Bundaberg Airports on Tuesday 20 January and Wednesday 21 January from Archerfield and Toowoomba.

Photo taken by Col  ©

Certainly a great variety of interesting aircraft and helicopters to visit Central Queensland Airports this week!

Thanks to the local plane spotters for their help in compiling this post!

Toowoomba-based Careflight Bell 412 VH-XCN Makes Surprise Visit to Maryborough Airport

Making a surprise visit to Maryborough Airport on Tuesday 6 January was Careflight Queensland Bell 412 VH-XCN.

Aaron Coghill / http://www.flickr.com/

The rescue helicopter called in from its base at Toowoomba Airport.  It was later seen departing to Nambour Hospital.  It was heard to use the radio callsign of "Rescue 588".

Meanwhile, the recently re-branded Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-EHQ was tasked from its Bundaberg base to retrieve a Childers man who was attacked by a crocodile at a wildlife park on Sunday 4 January.

Beech B200GT King Air VH-NMW at Maryborough Airport - Plus more!

Sydney-based Auscott Beechcraft B200GT King Air VH-NMW was noted calling into Maryborough Airport from Brisbane on Saturday 20 December.

austrek / http://flightaware.com/

It later departed back to Brisbane.  The aircraft usually operates in New South Wales so its visit in Queensland was most welcome.

Also on Saturday 20 December, Seair / Istlecote aircraft - Cessna T210M VH-SDU - was noted arriving into Maryborough from Wanella Station (near Coppabella).  It had earlier passed through Bundaberg before departing to Wanella.  Of interest, VH-SDU has operated into Lady Elliott Island for most of last week.

Meanwhile, at Bundaberg Airport, Sydney-based Beech 76 Duchess VH-DVF made a rare visit into Queensland on Sunday 21 December, this time touching down from Coffs Harbour.  Also on Sunday, the only just re-branded Careflight / Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-EHQ was noted at Bundaberg Hospital and Bundaberg Airport.  It was heard to be using the callsign "Rescue 522".

It's also worth noting that another rescue helicopter in the form of Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESZ "Rescue 500" was believed to call into Bundy on Friday 19 November.

Finally, on the lighter side of movements at Bundaberg Airport, Brisbane-based Cessna 414 VH-FCZ departed Bundy for Caloundra on Thursday 18 December.

File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

VH-FCZ had arrived into Bundaberg the previous week and with it also visiting and nearby parts including Biloela / Thangool Airport, I would suggest that this Chancellor is currently operating for Cromair while their Chancellor VH-CBT is undergoing repairs following damage it sustained during a recent serious storm in Brisbane.