Choppers Galore and More at Gladstone Airport

Jamie C has sent through some fantastic photos of numerous helicopters arriving and departing at Gladstone Airport on both Sunday 3 June and Monday 4 June.

On Sunday 3 June, Eurocopter EC120B VH-VHJ - which is registered to ABC Brick Sales on the Gold Coast - made a spectacular visit to Gladstone Airport.

As shown in the photos, VH-VHJ wears what can be best described as a 'hyper-colour' colour scheme that changes colour from purple to blue depending on the spotters perspective!

Another Gold Coast registered helicopter in the form of Eurocopter AS.350B2 VH-ICM also passed through Gladstone Airport.  The chopper is registered to Heli Hire.

Also photographed was Eurocopter EC135 P2 VH-ZGZ that flys Marine Pilots in and out of Gladstone Airport to ships that enter and depart the nearby Gladstone Port.

Lastly, Jamie also managed to capture Reid Heliwork Robinson R-44 VH-HZQ.  The brightly coloured 'Robi' was also photographed by Shane T on the Gladstone Airport General Aviation apron.

Another Reid Heliwork Robinson R-44 - this time VH-HIB - was photographed by Jamie on Monday 4 June.

There were a couple of other choppers noted by Jamie on Monday 4 June, with locally-based Australian Helicopters Aerospatiale AS.350BA Squirrel VH-HQO photographed making a spectacular departure from the Airport.

Bell 206L-3 VH-ONI was also photographed.  This chopper wears an interesting colour scheme and is currently registered to Heli Fleet / Aerial Agriculture in Armidale in New South Wales.

On Monday 4 June, Jamie also captured some of the morning's commerical movements, with QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOD photographed beautifully with the Bell 206 VH-ONI making its arrival into Gladstone Airport.

Also photographed was QantasLink Dash-8-200 VH-TQX.  The smaller Dash-8-200 is rarely seen at Gladstone Airport nowadays, and this aircraft is believed to have diverted from Biloela / Thangool Airport which was apparently fogged in early on Monday.  VH-TQX was operating the QLK2390 - Brisbane to Thangool morning service.

Other QantasLink Dash-8's photographed on Monday morning were Q400's VH-QOH and VH-QOX.  VH-QOH - which still wears its 'pink' breast cancer awareness colour scheme - was captured departing with spectacular prop-tip vortices as it climbed out of Gladstone's Runway 28.

QantasLink (Cobham Aviation-operated) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXO also visited Gladstone Airport on a scheduled service from and back to Brisbane on Monday 4 June.

Lastly, Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines-operated) ATR 72-500 VH-FVL was also photographed as it taxiied for departure back to Brisbane.

What a great couple of days plane spotting!

Alliance Airlines Begins Jet Services at Emerald Airport for QantasLink

On Monday 4 June, Alliance Airlines started flying Fokker F-100 jet services to Emerald Airport from Brisbane on behalf of QantasLink (Sunstate Airlines).

F-100 VH-XWP flew the first jet-operated regular passenger transport (RPT) service into Emerald for many years, touching down as UTY2400 from Brisbane early on Monday morning. VH-XWP quickly turned around and again arrived at Emerald Airport from Brisbane during the morning as UTY2404.

These jet-operated services supplement QantasLink’s Dash-8-Q300 and Dash-8-Q400 operated services that operate between Emerald and Brisbane. The total number of services, and hence the total number of seats on the Emerald to Brisbane sector, have now significantly increased – and I would expect would only increase in the future.  This week there are 45 schedules services!

A third jet-operated QantasLink service to Emerald then arrived during the afternoon, with VH-FWH pictured below shortly after arriving on Emerald’s Runway 24 as UTY2414.

It was a busy afternoon at Emerald Airport with another Alliance Fokker F-100 – VH-FKF – touching down as well as UTY4580 on its fortnightly fly-in fly-out (FIFO) run from Brisbane.

VH-FKF had a busy Monday, positioning to Brisbane from Townsville, before operating the charter flight to Emerald. It then departed Emerald back to Townsville as UTY4581.

There was one final Alliance Airline Fokker F-100 to touch down at Emerald Airport on Monday 4 June, with F-100 VH-XWR arriving after dark as UTY650. As mentioned in the Blog previously, this is the upgraded FIFO charter that Alliance now operates three-times-a-week on behalf of AERgO.

TRIP REPORT - Local Joyflight at Old Station Fly-in - Des Porter's De Havilland DH-84 Dragon VH-UXG

At the Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show held at Raglan last Saturday 26 May, Des Porter flew his well-known, and ever-popular De Havilland DH-84 Dragon VH-UXG up from Caboolture.  

After arriving and enjoying a quick morning tea, Des opened the lovely old plane up for 15-minute joyflights over the local area, with all proceeds from these being donated to the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service.  Of course, I jumped at the chance to take a flight in VH-UXG!  This post shares some of the experience of flying in the 1934-build De Havilland DH-84 Dragon. 

The old bird was manufactured in England, but has called Australia home since 1936. According to Des, the plane unfortunately suffered some significant damage after his father crashed it sometime during the 1950's, however after restoration was able to take to the skies again.

The Dragon is powered by a pair of very old, although immaculately maintained (and regularly rebuilt) De Havilland Gyspy Major 10-2 piston engines.  Des commented his particular aircraft has a relatively short-range endurance, although the flight from Caboolture to Rockhampton can be comfortably achieved.  Typical cruising altitude on the trip is around 4000ft.

While taking me, and the other passengers on our joyflight around the Old Station, Des maintained a low altitude of 500ft to improve visibility of the surrounding area - and of the "Old Station" Farm!  The views were absolutely spectacular!

After a short outbound leg, we turned back towards the Farm which we soon overflew and then turned finals onto Runway 24 for landing.

In my opinion, $40 for a 15 minute flight in the old DH-84 Dragon VH-UXG, was money well spent, and I would definitely do it again if I ever get the chance. 

Sincere thanks to Des for actually allowing me to ride in his Dragon.  Truth-be-told, I nearly didn't make the ride and, as it turned out, this was the final ride on the Saturday!

Sunday Morning at Gladstone Airport

We popped into Gladstone Airport on a very quiet Sunday 3 June, which included a weekly meeting of Gladstone Aero Club members

We noted QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOT parked on the Gladstone Airport apron preparing for it's mid-morning departure to Brisbane as QLK2331D.

Soon after, QantasLink Dash-8-Q300 VH-SBI arrived from Brisbane, and then later departed to Rockhampton, enroute to Cairns as QLK2308.

Another QantasLink Dash-8-Q300 - this time VH-SCE -  was noted departing to Brisbane as QLK2301, on the last leg of its southbound milkrun from Cairns.

While enjoying the morning with the Gladstone Aero Club, we noted a visitor from Rockhampton in the form of Jabiru J-160 19-5099. The owner/pilot, Allen, was on his way to the Old Station (at Raglan) and decided to drop-in and catch-up with the boys at the Gladstone Aero Club first.

An interesting comment Allen made was that he had modified his Jabiru to have water-cooled heads instead the traditional Jabiru trait of being air-cooled only.

As we were leaving - after a great morning - we noted 1996 Reid Heliwork Robinson R-44 helicopter VH-HZQ on the General Aviation (GA) apron.

A great morning!  Incidentally, if you're interested in more information about the recently reformed Gladstone Aero Club, their website can be accessed  HERE.

Another Qantas Airways Charter Touches Down at Rockhampton Airport

Qantas Boeing B737-838 VH-VXC touched down at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 2 June from Darwin as QF1350.

After dropping off and then receiving some new passengers, VH-VXC returned to Darwin as QF1351.

There is also word that another Qantas charter will touch down on Wednesday 6 June, will early indications suggesting that this could be operated a Boeing B747-400!

We shall wait and see!

CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot - MacAir Airlines

MacAir Airlines was established and started charter operations in 1992 as McKinlay Air Charters, adding scheduled services in 1998. In May 2000, the Collings family sold the airline to Transjet, owner of Transtate Airlines. The two brands were merged and operate under the MacAir name. In November 2003, MacAir acquired Horizon Airlines. MacAir grew to become a major player in Australia's regional aviation network and played an important role in providing transport to both passengers and freight throughout regional Queensland and northern New South Wales.  MacAir was based in Townsville, and staff were based in Townsville, Cairns, Mount Isa and Brisbane.

MacAir originally commenced operations flying charters for the mining developments that took place at the time in Western Queensland and, as the mines grew, so too did MacAir.  Most of the mines operated under a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) staffing arrangement, whereby management and crew that live elsewhere (mainly in coastal cities) fly in to the mine site to complete their working roster.

In 1998, MacAir introduced regular passenger transport (RPT) services on regional routes in Northern Queensland.  One of the busiest routes in MacAir’s RPT network of eventually 34 routes throughout regional Queensland and New South Wales, was the link between Townsville and Mount Isa.  MacAir serviced the route 32 times each week, with most of the flights being operated by their ATR 42-500, and others by their SAAB 340s (both types are pictured at Townsville Airport below). MacAir offered full cabin service on this 2-hour sector.

As the airline grew so did MacAir’s reputation for delivering safe, efficient, friendly, and cost effective air services to its clients, through its focus on customer service and its ability to identify and meet its customers’ needs in a timely manner.

As MacAir grew and opened more routes throughout regional Queensland, the airline secured several Queensland Government (Queensland Transport) contracts to operate subsidised air services to communities across the northern, western and gulf regions of Queensland.  

One such sector I took in the 2007 was from Townsville to Winton to Longreach and return in Metro 23 VH-UUB.

 As a valued Qantas commercial partner, MacAir had worldwide distribution through a hosting in the Qantas reservations system.  The introduction of the SAAB 340 lead to the signing of Qantas’ first domestic code share agreement.  This enabled Qantas to offer its customers seats on selected SAAB 340 flights.

However, MacAir started running into operational problems, with the Queensland Government receiving numerous complaints about delayed flights, cancellations or even the non-arrival of some scheduled flights.  MacAir itself even expressed concerns over fulfilling all of its services adequately.

The situation eventually came to a head when the Government announced MacAir would vary its contract with the Queensland Transport, meaning a new open tender for several of the air services that MacAir flew would be called. 

This signalled the beginning of the end for Macair and at the end of January in 2009, Macair went in voluntary administration. The administrators for MacAir asked the government for a one-off $7 million payment, not linked to performance, which was refused.  The company was wound up shortly after.

Ex-MacAir ATR 42-500 VH-UYJ is pictured parked at Cairns Airport being prepared for its eventual export to Norway.

Destinations At the end of January 2009 - MacAir operated to the following scheduled destinations - 

From Townsville to:  Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Winton, Longreach, Moranbah, Brisbane, Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek.

From Cairns to:  Mount Isa, Normanton, Mornington Island, Burketown, Doomadgee, Pormpuraaw (Edward River), Kowanyama.

From Brisbane to:  Moranbah, Townsville, Oakey, St George, Cunnamulla, Thargomindah, Charleville, Quilpie, Birdsville, Bedourie, Boulia, Mount Isa.

Also charter connections for mining companies from Townsville to:  Osborne, BHP's Cannington, Zinifex Century Mine

As of January 2009 the Macair Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:  1 ATR 42-500, 2 Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23, 7 Saab 340B (six second generation 340B and one third generation 340B+).

A Great Pair of Bizjets at Gladstone Airport Thursday

Firstly a big congratulations on the safe arrival of Jamie C's newest member of his family!  To celebrate, Jamie managed to take a couple of fantastic photos of a couple of fantastic bizjet visitors to Gladstone Airport late on Thursday 31 May.

Firstly, Thai registered, MJets Cessna 750 Citation X HS-KCS is shown below.  The Citation bizjet had a busy day Thursday, starting the day in Townsville, and then flying to Mackay, then Emerald, and then Gladstone.  HS-KCS departed Gladstone for Brisbane.

Also noted at Gladstone Airport on Thursday 31 May, was Gulfstream G550 (G-V-SP) N661CP.

What a great way to celebrate - thanks Jamie!