Federal Election Campaign Rolls on with RAAF Dassault Falcon 7X A56-001 and Chartered King Air VH-OWN Arriving into CQ Airports

As the Federal election campaign continues, on Saturday 23 April, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-001 as "Envoy 55" was noted arriving into Gladstone Airport from Canberra and Tamworth. It then completed the short hop up to Rockhampton Airport where it appears to be staying for the night.

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UPDATE!  On Sunday 24 April, A56-001 "Envoy 55" departed Rockhampton airport and returned to Tamworth and then Canberra.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 23 April, RAAF chartered Seidler Properties P/L / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Beech B200 King Air VH-OWN as "Envoy 80" was back in the region, also noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.  It touched down from Canberra.

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UPDATE! On Sunday 24 April, VH-OWN "Envoy 80" departed to Canberra.

Photos taken by Glenn Lloyd and Tony Haynes  ©️

Machjet (Machjet International) Takes Delivery of Canadair Challenger 604 N685SC and is Spotted at Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 22 April, a new (second-hand) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet N685SC was spotted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.  It is reported that the Challenger 604 bizjet is operated by the Sunshine Coast-based Machjet / McDermont Aviation Group.  Indeed it visited Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

Of interest, N685SC only arrived into Australia at the Sunshine Coast late on Tuesday 19 April after completing a ferry flight all the way over from Fort Lauderdale in the USA.

Meanwhile, some other bizjets around the region, also on Friday 22 April, included Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX which visited Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport once again.  This time it arrived from and later departed back to Sydney.

While Avcair Embraer 500 Phenom 100EV bizjet VH-NJR looked to fly from Brisbane to Warwick and then up to Maryborough Airport.  It then returned to Brisbane.

And fellow Avcair (Capital B Aviation Services) LearJet 60 bizjet VH-OLJ visited Rockhampton Airport from its Brisbane base.

Finally, also on Friday 22 April, Wagga Air Centre (Mabena) SOCATA TBM-850 VH-PVM as "Wagga Air 669" landed at Longreach Airport from Birdsville.  It has progressed across from Broome in Western Australia over the last few days o what looks to be a closed charter flight. 

UPDATE!  On Sunday 24 April, VH-PVM as "Wagga Air 669" departed Longreach Airport for Goulburn and Wagga Wagga.

And ZephAir Australia - Aircraft Charters Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-AYT departed Gladstone Airport for its Townsville base.  It looked to arrive from there the previous afternoon.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

And Also Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Pionair BAe 146 VH-SAZ - King Air VH-NME - And Much More From Around CQ!

On Thursday 21 April,  Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe 146-200QC VH-SAZ was spotted as it departed Rockhampton Airport.  It flew up to Horn Island before then flying down to Toowoomba-Wellcamp and Brisbane as SFZ9038/646/9054.

As posted below, VH-SAZ flew into Rockhampton Airport the previous day from Horn Island via Cairns as 'SFZ643' / "Skyforce 643".

Also spotted at Rockhampton Airport was Sabstall Beech B200 King Air VH-NME which visited from its Toowoomba and Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airports.  It also had earlier completed a flight to Roma Airport from and back to Wellcamp.

While Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravans VH-NDC and MH-MRZ were  spotted as they departed on one of their Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter runs out to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site and then back to Rockhampton Airport.

Of interest, this is the first time we've featured a photo of VH-MRZ in its new colour scheme since its re-paint at the start of the year.

And Property Maintenance Australia P/L Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-WJA was spotted parked after it had arrived also on the previous day - see Blog post below!

UPDATE!  On Friday 22 April, VH-WJA departed Rockhampton Airport for Brisbane and Dubbo.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 21 April, Bowenville (near Toowoomba) based Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ was also spotted at Rockhampton Airport.  It had arrived from Natal Downs and departed to Dalby and Archerfield.

Another bizjet in the form of Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY flew up from the Sunshine Coast to complete low level airwork on the Fraser Coast, North of Bundaberg before it then flew back to the Sunshine Coast. 

Finally, also on Thursday 21 April, a couple of other PC-12 turboprops around the region included RDO Equipment Co. (ex Vanderfield) Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH which visited Emerald Airport from Toowoomba and Archerfield.

While Brisbane-based Australian Agricultural Company Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC landed back at Longreach Airport from Brunette Downs before it then returned to Archerfield.  VH-AAC then flew back up to the North-West.

As mentioned below, VH-AAC flew through Longreach Airport the previous day heading to Brunette Downs.

Brisbane-based Hewitt Cattle Australia P/L SOCATA TBM 700 VH-PGA flew from Birdsville to Ambalindum before then later flying to Blackall, Charleville Wellcamp and Archerfield Airports.

And Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEJ flew from Brisbane to Collinsville Aerodrome and back to Brisbane.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter John L for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Australian Government Chartered (Mitchell Air / Australian Corporate Jet Centres) Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 Bizjet VH-OFX "Envoy 60" Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 21 April, privately owned and operated (Mitchell Air / Australian Corporate Jet Centres) Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-OFX was spotted parked at Rockhampton Airport.  As mentioned below, it had arrived from Cairns and Townsville the previous day and looks to be operating for the RAAF's VIP 34 Squadron as "Envoy 60".

Later on Thursday, VH-OFX "Envoy 60" departed Rockhampton Airport for Melbourne (Tullamarine) and then Canberra.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 21 April, another RAAF movement in the form of Beech B350 Super King Air A32-675 as "Beaufort 12" which was noted visiting Roma Airport while flying up from RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria up to Townsville.

Photo taken by John Lee ©️

QGAir Rescue (State of Queensland) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 Helicopter VH-EGF Ferries South via Emerald Airport

On Thursday 21 April, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopter (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-EGF was noted ferrying South to Archerfield from Townsville via Emerald Airport.

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VH-EGF has been operating out of Townsville Airport as "Rescue 521" and so is presumed that it has ferried to Archerfield for planned maintenance

As we have mentioned previously, this is all part of the 'rotational system' the service utilises to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of the QGAir Rescue helicopters. This system avoids the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

As posted below, on Sunday 17 April, fellow QGAir Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH ferried North from Archerfield to Cairns via Rockhampton and Mackay Airports.  While on Wednesday 20 April, fellow QGAir Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESZ was spotted soon after arriving at Rockhampton Airport while it was ferrying South from Townsville to Archerfield.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" Calls into Rockhampton Airport

Before dawn on Thursday 21 April, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane.

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After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" departed Rockhampton Airport and returned back to Brisbane.

Photo taken by John Lee  ©️

A Few Other Corporate Bizjets Around CQ and Whitsundays Airports - Plus More!

It was a busy day on Wednesday 20 April with, as mentioned below, multiple movements associated with the upcoming Federal Election plus movements of (possibly?) miners and school kids.  And elsewhere in Central Queensland, there were also multiple corporate bizjet and other movements around the region and especially up in the Whitsundays.

After arriving the previous day, Moorabbin Aviation Services (Victoria) Cessna S550 Citation SII bizjet VH-JLU was noted departing Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport for Melbourne (Essendon).

And after arriving on Saturday 16 April, Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX finally departed Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport for Sydney.

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While over at Hamilton Island Airport, Linfox Global Charter / Air National Australia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-LEP was noted visiting.  It arrived from Melbourne (Essendon) and then departed to Melbourne (Avalon) before returning to Essendon.

And down the road at Mackay Airport, Navair Flight Operations Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-LXZ was noted visiting.  It flew up from and then later returned to Bankstown via Maitland.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 20 April, Property Maintenance Australia P/L Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-WJA flew into Rockhampton Airport from Duboo.  It then flew up to Bowen Aerodrome and back to Rockhampton Airport where it now looks to be staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Friday 22 April, VH-WJA departed Rockhampton Airport for Brisbane and Dubbo.

Machjet (Machjet International) Beech B200C King Air VH-PUY was noted flying up from the Sunshine Coast to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and then Charters Towers Aerodrome where it appears to be staying for the night.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 21 April, VH-PUY departed Charters Towers Aerodrome and returned directly to the Sunshine Coast.

While the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK flew down from Cairns and Townsville to land at Rockhampton Airport before it then returned North to those places.

And Brisbane-based Australian Agricultural Company Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC was noted passing through Longreach Airport.  It arrived from Archerfield and then continued to Brunette Downs.

Finally, also on Wednesday 20 April, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQC departed Rockhampton Airport for the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine site as SKP779 before heading over to Mackay Airport as SKP792.

Of interest, it had arrived into Rockhampton Airport on Monday 18 April direct from Cairns as SKP787 and then completed several flights between Rocky and Labona over the last couple of days.

At Mackay Airport, VH-QQC was joined by fellow Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQI which flew down from Townsville as SKP788, and the pair flew more flights to Labona and back to Mackay Airport.

VH-QQI then flew up to Cairns as SKP782, while VH-QQC looks to be staying for the night at Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 21 April, VH-QQC departed Mackay Airport and flew to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) and then Cairns Airports as SKP786/86.

Photos taken by 'AC' and John Lee  ©️

Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-ESZ Flys South via Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 20 April, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESZ was spotted soon after arriving at Rockhampton Airport while it was ferrying South from Townsville to Archerfield.  It flew down from Cairns to Townsville the previous day.

VH-ESZ has, until early last week, been operating out of Cairns Airport as "Rescue 510" and so is presumed that it has ferried to Archerfield for planned maintenance.

As posted below, on Sunday 17 April, fellow QGAir Rescue Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH ferried North from Archerfield to Cairns via Rockhampton and Mackay Airports and immediately took up operations at Cairns Airport that day as "Rescue 510".

As we have reported previously, this 'rotational system' of airframes that QGAir utilises ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of the their Rescue helicopters. This system avoids the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Photo taken by John Lee  ©

A Pair of Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe-146-200 VH-SYO and VH-SAZ at Mackay and Rockhampton Airports Respectively

On Wednesday 20 April, two Pionair Australia British Aerospace BAe 146-200 'Whisperjets' were both noted visiting a couple of Central Queensland Airports on separate closed charter flights.

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BAe 146-200 VH-SYO visited Mackay Airport, arriving from and then departing back to Brisbane as 'SFZ667/8' / "Skyforce 667/8".

It is possible that this could be a 'new' Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight with fellow Pionair BAe 146-200 VH-SAZ visiting on the same run last Wednesday 13 April.

While BAe 146-200QC VH-SAZ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Horn Island via Cairns as 'SFZ643' / "Skyforce 643".

It had earlier flown up to Horn Island from Townsville and appears to be once again, completing private school student charter flights from Far North Queensland as the new school term commences.

At the time of writing, VH-SAZ is staying for the night at Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 21 April, VH-SAZ departed Rockhampton Airport for Horn Island and then Toowoomba-Wellcamp and Brisbane as SFZ9038/646/9054.

Photo taken by Simon Coates  ©

RAAF Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet A56-001 "Envoy 29" Continues from Mackay Airport to Rockhampton Airport and then South - Plus More!

On Wednesday 20 April, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-001 as "Envoy 29" flew down from Mackay Airport and was spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.

It looked to bring Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce to town for a series of engagements.

A56-001 "Envoy 29" then continued down to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 20 April, privately owned and operated (Australian Corporate Jet Centres) Beech B200 King Air VH-OWN "Envoy 80" was also noted visiting Mackay Airport for the second day in-a-row, while again operating for the RAAF's VIP 34 Squadron.

This time, it looked to arrive from Canberra and Tamworth before later returning direct to Canberra.

Finally, also on Wednesday 20 April, also privately owned and operated (Mitchell Air / Australian Corporate Jet Centres) Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-OFX was noted operating for the RAAF's VIP 34 Squadron.  It arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville (pictured) as "Envoy 60".

VH-OFX had arrived into Far North Queensland from Canberra and Melbourne (Tullamarine) the previous day.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 21 April, VH-OFX as "Envoy 60" departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Tullamarine and then Canberra.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters John L and Graham A for allowing us to share these great photos of a couple of great visitors for the upcoming Federal Election!

Photos taken by John Lee and Graham Aspinall  ©️