Polet Aviakompania (Polet Airlines) Antonov AN-124 RA-82068 Inbound to Rockhampton Airport Monday

Polet Aviakompania (Polet Airlines) Antonov 124-100 RA-82068 is expected to arrive into Rockhampton Airport on Monday 26 November as "POT4789" from Chennai, India.  It is expected to touch down at around 9.30am.

The Antonov is the same aircraft that was at Rockhampton at the start of October - as shown above.  It is expected to carry the five Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters home to Singapore after they took part in the Singapore Armed Forces Military Exercise Wallaby 2012 that has been held in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) over the last two months.

As the photos above show, the Apaches have been packed up and are ready to travel!

Sunday Morning Plane Spotting at Gladstone Airport

We popped into Gladstone Airport again on Sunday 25 November to have a chat with the members of the Gladstone Aero Club at their weekly gathering.  There were a couple of visitors at the gathering from 'Old Station' at Raglan.  The two aircraft that flew into Gladstone Airport were both immaculately presented - Cessna A185F VH-PSS and Cessna 182D VH-RDQ.

File photo

Meanwhile, on the commercial front, QantasLink Dash-8 aircraft dominated the morning's action.  Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQB was spotted departing to Brisbane as QLK2331.

Dash-8-Q300 VH-SBG was spotted arriving from Brisbane as QLK2300.  It later departed to Rockhampton on its journey Northbound.  VH-SBG is in the new Qantas livery.  

Another Dash-8-Q300 in the form of VH-TQM was spotted arriving from Rockhampton as QLK2301.  It later departed to Brisbane.

A great morning!

Singapore Airlines Boeing B777-200 9V-SRG at Rockhampton Airport

Making a very late arrival into Rockhampton Airport on Friday 23 November was Singapore Airlines Boeing B777-200 9V-SRG.

Rockhampton Airport Plane Spotter 'IAD' was on hand to watch it touch down as SIA8931.

After collecting a plane full of passengers and cargo, 9V-SRG departed direct to Singapore as SIA8932 in the early hours of Saturday 24 November.

Thanks for the photos mate!

A Few Light Aircraft at Gladstone Airport on Thursday

There's been quite a few light aircraft popping into Gladstone Airport over the latter part of this week.  Gladstone Airport Plane Spotter Jamie C has been on hand to capture some of these special visitors.

On Wednesday 21 November, Roma-based Beech 58 VH-KGK, Beech 35 VH-DDC, and Cirrus SR-22 VH-WWJ were noted arriving and departing.  Later, a pair of Mackay-based aircraft arrived into Gladstone.  Piper PA-31 VH-DEP and Cessna 206H VH-XHZ both arrived from Mackay and stayed overnight.  They were still noted parked on the General Aviation (GA) Apron on Thursday 22 November and later departed back to Mackay.

Arriving and departing on Thursday 22 November was CromAir (Bundaberg) Cessna 414 VH-CBT, while Port Macquarie-based Cessna 421B VH-YRK and Cirrus SR-22 VH-WWJ were also noted at Gladstone Airport.

On Friday 23 November, West Wing Aviation Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2B-26 VH-AEC passed through Gladstone Airport heading North.  Jamie C caught the Islander on departure to Mackay.

Jamie also caught the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK as it also departed Gladstone Airport for Mackay.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) King Airs made frequent visits to Gladstone Airport over the latter part of the week.  Raytheon B200 VH-FDR departed to Hervey Bay as "FlyDoc 414" on Thursday 22 November.  Later, Hawker Beechcraft B200 VH-FDM also popped into Gladstone.

On Friday 23 November, Jamie photographed another pair of RFDS King Airs on the Gladstone Airport apron.  Hawker Beechcraft B200 VH-FDT and Raytheon B200 VH-FDW are shown below.  They departed to Rockhampton and Brisbane respectively.

Lastly, an interesting pair of 'amphibious' looking aircraft passed through Gladstone Airport.  On Friday 23 November, Amateur built Searey LSX VH-XWW was spotted by Jamie C.  He also captured a nice close-up of the Bombardier Rotax 912-ULS engine that powers the little Searey.

 

As an late extra, on Saturday 24 November, another amphibious aircraft in the form of Super Petrel LS 24-8106 passed through Gladstone Airport.

Thanks Jamie for the great coverage and fantastic photos!

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines Boeing B777-200 Aircraft at Rockhampton Airport Thursday Night

A great night at Rockhampton Airport on Thursday 22 November with the arrival and departure of a lovely pair of Boeing B777-200 aircraft.  Don W and 'IAD' were among the dedicated plane enthusiasts who were on hand to witness the big Boeing aircraft's arrivals and departures.

Both aircraft arrived empty, and after loading full loads of passengers and cargo, both departed direct to Singapore.  These flights are to support the Singapore Defence Force Military Exercise Wallaby 2012.

The first arrival was Air New Zealand B777-200 ZK-OKB, which touched down from Hong Kong as ANZ6064.  This was the first time an Air New Zealand B777-200 aircraft has visited Rockhampton.

ZK-OKB later departed to Singapore as ANZ1963.

Shortly after, Singapore Airlines B777-200 9V-SRJ touched down at Rockhampton from Singapore as SIA8931.  

9V-SRJ certainly looked resplendent in the Singapore Airlines livery, particularly after Rockhampton Airport plane spotters were lucky enough to have sister-ship and 'Star Alliance' logo-jet 9V-SRI earlier in the week.

9V-SRJ departed for Singapore in the early hours of Friday 23 November.

Current information suggests that there may be another Singapore Airlines B777-200 arriving into Rockhampton Airport later on Friday 23 November - stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates!

Thanks for the great photos guys!!

Another Wave of Skytrans Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) Charters at Biloela / Thangool Airport Thursday

Using some well known Internet resources, I have seen that Biloela / Thangool Airport played host to five Skytrans Airlines operated Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights on Thursday 22 November.  All five flights arrived from and departed back to Brisbane.

Dash-8-300s VH-QQM and VH-QQN flew two return flights to Biloela / Thangool with VH-QQM flying as SKP7341/7342/7343/7344 and VH-QQN flying as SKP7489/7490/7491/7492.  Dash-8-300 VH-QQP also operated to Biloela / Thangool flying one return flight as SKP7206/7207.

These Skytrans FIFO charter flights are becoming a fairly regular occurrence - I would reckon that they operate at intervals of around two weeks.

Australian Army MRH-90 A40-007 at Rockhampton Airport Thursday

Don W almost always takes his camera with him, and almost always calls into Rockhampton Airport before and after work, and during his lunch breaks.  On Thursday 22 November, his lunch break was certainly worthwhile as he spotted an Australian Army MRH-90 helicopter parked on the Rockhampton Airport apron.

The Multi-Role Helicopter - marked A40-007 - is from the Australian Army's 5th Aviation Regiment (5AVN REGT) based in Townsville.

Queensland Government Hawker 850XP VH-SGY and QantasLink / Cobham Aviation Boeing B717-200 VH-NXJ at Gladstone Airport

A couple of nice jet movements at Gladstone Airport were caught by Jamie C on Wednesday 21 November.  Queensland Government Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY arrived from Brisbane late morning.

VH-SGY departed during the afternoon for Longreach.

Also noted at Gladstone Airport on Wednesday 21 November was QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXJ.

  

Jamie spent a bit of time capturing some lovely images of VH-NXJ as it taxied for departure to Brisbane early in the afternoon.  

As shown below, VH-NXJ had to wait for QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOF to land.

Finally, Townsville-based Robinson R-44 helicopter VH-JQH arrived at Gladstone Airport.

Great photos as always Jamie - many thanks!