Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Bizjet VH-FGJ Pops into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 29 January,  Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express VH-FGJ was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport.  It looked to arrive from and then later depart to back Melbourne (Essendon).

File photo

While  Honeybee Air (Sydney) Cirrus SF50-G2 Vision Jet Arivee Xi VH-TEA flew up from Bankstown and Roma Airport to Hamilton Island Airport.

And re-registered Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VIF (c/n 183) arrived into Hamilton Island Airport from Archerfield. It then departed to Sydney and then back to Archerfield.

Of interest, also on Thursday 29 January, Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services took delivery of their brand new Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VTF (c/n 602) at Adelaide after it flew all the way from Stans Buochs in Switzerland via all stops!

Finally, also on Thursday 29 January, SmartLynx Australia (Skytrans) Dash-8-100 VH-QQC as SKP531 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville while fellow Dash-8-100 VH-QQB departed Rockhampton Airport to Townsville as SKP532.

Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ Bizjet VH-JSZ Calls into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 5 January, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew from Archerfield to Hamilton Island Airport before it then flew down to the Gold Coast and then back to Archerfield.

File photo

Meanwhile, also on Monday 5 January, Auscott P/L Beechcraft B200GT King Air VH-NMW flew up from Toowoomba to Brisbane and then Barcaldine Airport.  It then continued to Winton for the night.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 6 January, VH-NMW departed Winton for Julia Creek before then flying back to Barcaldine Airport and then Brisbane and Toowoomba.

Finally, also on Monday 5 January, the regular Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights into the CQ region are picking back up and continuing - and here is our chance to mention them - once!!

Vee H Aviation (Link Airways) Beech B200GT Super King Air 250 VH-VEW flew up from Brisbane to the Oaky Creek Mine site and then Clermont Aerodrome and then back to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  VH-VEW was back at these places, as well as Emerald Airport, during the latter part of the week.

ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31-350 VH-MJA as ZD110 visited Clermont Aerodrome from Townsville.

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Cessna 208 Caravan VH-TQI flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) and Maryborough Airports to Middlemount Aerodrome before then flying down to Rockhampton Airport and then out to Lady Elliot Island

And at the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site, there was SmartLynx Australia (Skytrans) Dash-8-300s still visiting from Rockhampton Airport (VH-QQL) and Townsville Airport (VH-QQM).

Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LZK visited from Townsville.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 5 January and Wednesday 6 January, VH-LZK also visited Labona from and back to Mackay Airport.

Plus Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ as "Navair 173" visited from Archerfield and the Sunny Coast.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 7 January, VH-FAQ "Navair 173" visited Labona again, along with Flight One (Services) Raytheon B200 King Air VH-FOJ from and back to Archerfield.

Hope this is of some interest!

National Jet Express Dash-8-Q402 VH-IYH Spotted Making First Visit to CQ at Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 24 December, National Jet Express Dash-8-Q402 VH-IYH was spotted making what we believe was its first ever visit to Central Queensland visiting Emerald Airport from Brisbane on a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) charter flight as JTE358/9.

It looked to fly across from Adelaide into Brisbane via Prominent Hill on Friday 19 December.

FlyPelican (Pelican Airlines) British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3206 (Jetstream 32) turboprop aircraft VH-NTL flew down from Emerald Airport to Toowoomba-Wellcamp as PE746.  It had arrived the previous day from Archerfield as PE606.

Flight One (Services) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-UVH was spotted visiting Emerald Airport from Archerfield.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 24 December, re-registered Poolhurst Aviation Air Charter Services Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-VIF flew up from Archerfield to Hamilton Island Airport before then flying down to Ballina / Byron Bay Gateway Airport.

De Group Air / Business Aviation Solutions Embraer EMB-545 Praetor 500 bizjet VH-8DE visited Hamilton Island Airport from Sydney.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 41" flew up to Hamilton Island from the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne (Essendon) before returning to the Sunny Coast later.

The locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ flew back to Mackay Airport after flying down to Brisbane last week - as posted below! It then flew back down to Brisbane.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 28 December, N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

And Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited my local Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield and Dalby.

Finally, also on Wednesday 24 December, Smartlynx Australia (Skytrans) Dash-8-100 VH-QQB as SKP531 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and this afternoon fellow Dash-8-100 VH-QQI departed Rockhampton Airport as SKP532 to Cairns.

And Queensland Police Service (Airwing) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300C Super King Air 350 VH-8PD visited Rockhampton Airport from Mount Isa.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 Bizjet VH-NJR Pops into Maryborough Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 17 December, Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR looked to complete a couple of visits to Maryborough Airport flying between there and Brisbane and also Canberra.

File photo

Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK flew up from Orange, Tamworth and Archerfield to Bundaberg Airport before later returning back down over the same route.

Smartlynx Australia (Skytrans) Dash-8-100 VH-QQI as SKP531 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and this afternoon fellow Dash-8-100 VH-QQB departed Rockhampton Airport as SKP532 to Cairns.

Seair Pacific / Istlecote Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TLH flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport to Middlemount Aerodrome before then flying down to Maryborough Airport and then back to Hervey Bay Airport.

Angel Flight Australia Cessna 414A Chancellor VH-AF4 visited Theodore Aerodrome from Archerfield.

And Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter VH-8UL "Helitak 517", which arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Bundaberg Airport late yesterday, departed back to Bundy.

SmartLynx Australia Dash-8-202 VH-TQX Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 12 November, SmartLynx Australia Dash-8-202 VH-TQX as "Skytrans 541" was spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns before later departing to Sydney.

We presume it will then take up operating the SmartLynx Australia flights to Lord Howe Island.

UPDATE!  Indeed on Thursday 13 December, fellow SmartLynx Australia Dash-8-200 VH-TQS positioned from Sydney direct to Cairns.  Then on Tuesday 18 November, VH-TQS commenced a flight out of Australia via Darwin all the way over to Nairobi in Kenya.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Airvan VH-MFI landed at Longreach Airport from Mount Isa.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 13 November, VH-MFI plus fellow MAF GA8 Airvan VH-WOS departed Longreach Airport for Mareeba.

Nautilus Aviation Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 VH-ZPH was noted departing Clermont Aerodrome. This registration marking is best known as being worn by a Virgin Australia Embraer E-190.

Flight One (Services) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-UVH landed at Gladstone Airport from Archerfield and this afternoon departed back to there.

ZephAir Australia Piper PA-34-220T Seneca VH-YSI as 'ZD440' arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and then did survey work to the North before returning to Rocky.

LifeFlight Leonardo Helicopters S.P.A. (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-LF3 landed at Longreach Airport from Toowoomba and Roma Airports.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 13 November, AW139 LF3 departed Longreach Airport for Mount Isa where it is now to be based.  Through the day, it then flew circuits at Mount Isa Airport and also at the Hospital.

Photos taken by Steve Vit and Liam Sellick  ©

Alliance Airlines (ex JetBlue Airways - USA) Embraer ERJ-190AR N247JB Arrives into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 22 October, Alliance Airlines (ex JetBlue Airways - USA) Embraer ERJ-190AR N247JB arrived into Rockhampton Airport at the end of a delivery flight as 'SXI2542' / "Southern Cross 2542".

It arrived from Brisbane having started its delivery flight at San Jose (Costa Rica) and flying via Oakland, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.

File photo

As shown, N247JB was delivered in full Alliance Airlines livery and looks to be going to be placed on the Australian Aircraft register as VH-A2J - as shown on the front of the aircraft.

N247JB was promptly parked inside the Alliance Airlines hangar at Rockhampton Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 22 October, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan VH-KNQ was spotted on the run between Mackay Airport and the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site.  It flew down from Townsville to Labona and then across to Mackay Airport and back to Labona and Townsville.

Of interest, on Tuesday 21 October, VH-KNQ flew down from Townsville to Mackay Airport and then out to Labona and back to Mackay Airport and then Townsville.

Hinterland Aviation has been completing this run between Townsville, Mackay and Labona for some time now.

The Cessna 208B Caravan VH-KNQ was acquired by Hinterland Aviation in December 2024 and this is the first time we have certainly spotted the Caravan in CQ - although I think it has visited the region once before!

SmartLynx Australia Dash-8-100 VH-QQB as SKP531 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville while fellow Dash-8-100 VH-QQC departed Rockhampton Airport to Townsville as SKP532.

ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-AYT as 'ZD220' visited Clermont Aerodrome from Townsville.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 06" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.  It then departed to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 23 October, VH-PIY again as "Machflight 06" looked to fly into Mackay Airport from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane before then departing up to Ingham.

UPDATE!  On Friday 24 October, VH-PIY 'MC06' popped into Maryborough Airport from Ingham and Townsville before departing to the South.

Mitchell Water Australia Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and Stawell to the Gold Coast before then continuing up the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It later flew back direct to Moorabbin.

Brisbane-based Australian Agricultural Company Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC landed at Goonoo Feedlot from Dalgonally Station.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 23 October, VH-AAC departed Goonoo Feedlot for Brisbane.

Stirling Helicopters Piper PA-23-250 Aztec VH-EQD flew up from Archerfield to Rockhampton Airport before then flying down to Caboolture and then back to Archerfield.

And Orange Helicopters operated Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N711BF arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Caboolture and Bundaberg Airports.  It parked on Taxiway Charlie.

It joins the locally-based Stirling Helicopters Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N137WZ which as mentioned below arrived back into Rockhampton Airport yesterday!

Photos taken by Michael Malick, Nick Dean, 'AC' and Neil Richardson  ©

American-registered Gulfstream Aerospace G650ER (G-VI) Bizjet N988NC Pops into Whitsunday Airports - Plus More!

On Friday 29 August, American-registered (News Corporation) Gulfstream Aerospace G650ER (G-VI) bizjet N988NC was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Sydney. It then flew across to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport for parking before later returning to Hamo.

File photo

Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR visited Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

UPDATE!  Across the weekend, on both Saturday 30 August and Sunday 31 August, it looked like VH-NJR visited Maryborough Airport on both days from Brisbane.

SG Aviation Australia / Business Aviation Solutions Gulfstream G-VI (G650ER) bizjet VH-SGA looked to visit Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).

Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew down from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour to Roma Airport and Chinchilla Aerodrome before flying down to Melbourne (Essendon) and then Melbourne (Moorabbin).  It looked to have arrived yesterday. 

And the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air departing Mackay Airport for Brisbane.

UPDATE! On Sunday 31 August, N142GZ returned to Mackay Airport from Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 29 August, SmartLynx Australia (Skytrans Airlines) Dash-8-100 VH-QQC as 'SKP531' arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns while fellow Dash-8-100 VH-QQB then departed Rockhampton Airport for Cairns as 'SKP532'.

Of interest, SmartLynx' Dash-8-300s VH-QQL and VH-QQM swapped at the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site between Rockhampton Airport and Townsville.

And Aerotech Aircraft Holdings (Aerotech Helicopters) Pickering Aviation (Sikorsky) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter VH-UHG "Helitak 515" arrived into Bundaberg Airport from Goondiwindi and Toowoomba ahead of the Queensland bushfire season.

It is expected that the Canadian-based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE "Bomber 141" and possibly another Black Hawk helicopter - plus support aircraft - will arrive into Bundaberg Airport in the coming days.

Finally, also on Friday 29 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-004 as "Wedgetail 22" flew up to Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Williamtown and was spotted as it completed 4 low over-shoot approaches.

It then returned to Williamtown.

Photos taken by Grahame Hutchison and Trevor Hardsman  ©

SmartLynx Australia (Skytrans Airlines) Airbus A319-112 VH-L7A 'SKP410' Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 26 August, SmartLynx Australia (Skytrans Airlines) Airbus A319-112 VH-L7A as 'SKP410'  arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane. 

At the time of writing, it appears to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 27 August, SmartLynx Australia A319 VH-L7A now as 'SKP413' departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 26 August, the locally-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ was back in the air departing Mackay Airport for Brisbane. It later returned to the Sugar City.

Air Gold Coast Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-ZDM arrived into Hamilton Island Airport from the Gold Coast via the Sunshine Coast.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 28 August, VH-ZDM departed Hamo for the Sunny Coast and the Goldie.

Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Clermont Aerodrome from Archerfield and Toowoomba-Wellcamp.

Beech 95-B55 Baron VH-MYM visited Clermont Aerodrome from its Gayndah Aerodrome base.

Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXN visited Rolleston Aerodrome from the Sunshine Coast via Injune Aerodrome.

And some Cirrus SR22s in the form of N312GM, VH-82C, VH-84T and VH-CPK all called into Emerald Airport on their way back 'home' from Darwin. 

Finally, late on Tuesday 26 August, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-005 as "Wallaby 70" completed airwork at Rockhampton and Emerald 

Airports while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

Fellow C-27J Spartan A34-002 as "Wallaby 62" was also flying about the region and noted completing airwork at Roma Airport.

Photos taken by Scott Harris and 'IAD'  ©

Skytrans Airlines (now SmartLynx Australia) Starts Flights to Moranbah Airport from Cairns with Dash-8-100 VH-QQI

On Monday 30 June, Skytrans Airlines started flying between Cairns and Moranbah Airport with the first flight being operated by Dash-8-100 VH-QQI as SKP101/2.

File photo

The flights are only Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights and operate each Monday and Tuesday.

At the time of writing, VH-QQI was due to fly back to Moranbah Airport twice from and back to Cairns on Tuesday 1 July as SKP103/4/5/6.

UPDATE!  In late July, Skytrans, part of the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider Avia Solutions Group, will now be known as SmartLynx Australia.  Avia Solutions Group acquired Skytrans in March 2024.

UPDATE!  From Monday, 22 September, SmartLynx Australia, in partnership with Whitehaven Coal, opened part of its FIFO charter services to the public, providing new travel opportunities for the Moranbah community. Ten seats on selected services between Cairns and Moranbah are available for community members at a fare of $299 each way.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©