Jetstar and QantasLink Maintenance Issues Cause Delays and Disruptions at Hamilton Island and Mackay Airports This Week

It's been interesting to note that both Jetstar and QantasLink have had some maintenance issues that have caused various delays and cancellations to flights out of Hamilton Island and Mackay Airports over the last few days.

On Friday 28 June, Jetstar Airbus A320 VH-VGI - operating as JST846 - arrived into Hamilton Island from Sydney just after 2pm.  The scheduled departure time of 2.50pm came and went, with VH-VGI eventually departing Hamilton Island after 9pm that night.

VH-VGI on short final to Mackay Airport (File photo by Dave ©) 

It is unclear what the exact problem is, however it was reported to be a maintenance issue.  As a result, and as Jetstar usual practice dictates, an engineer was summoned from Cairns, and they arrived and departed Hamilton Island on Hinterland Aviation Cessna 402 VH-TFK operating as HND626.

A maintenance issue also arose for Jetstar on Monday 1 July, when A320 VH-VQM touched down at Mackay Airport as JST882 just before 10am.  VH-VQM eventually departed to Brisbane as JST883 just after 3pm.

Townsville Airlines / Cairns Heli Charters AeroCommander 500-S VH-YJI was noted flying into Mackay from Cairns on Monday 1 July, presumably carrying the required engineer to allow VH-VQM to depart Mackay.

Lastly, on Tuesday 2 July, QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXE arrived into Mackay Airport in the early morning as QJE1760.  It was due to turn around back to Brisbane, however failed to depart.  It later departed empty to Brisbane as QJE6200.

VH-NXE at Rockhampton Airport (File photo by 'IAD'  ©)

As a result, QantasLink substituted one of its usual afternoon Dash-8-Q400 services to Mackay from Brisbane with Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWQ which was noted operating UTY2516/2517.

Cessna Citation and Other Bizjets Galore Around Central Queensland Airports

There have been a few bizjets to call into various Central Queensland Airports over the last week or so, with most of these being various model of Cessna Citation bizjets.

One of the more common visitors to Central Queensland in the form of Singapore Flying College Cessna 510 Citation Mustang VH-VSQ arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday 2 July.  After a short while, VH-VSQ returned to the Sunshine Coast, and was noted using the radio callsign of "Raffles 54".

VH-VSQ at Rockhampton Airport  (File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©) 

Also on Tuesday 2 July, MyJet Aviation (of Bendigo) Cessna 551 Citation II bizjet VH-JMM arrived at Biloela / Thangool Airport on from Toowoomba.

Another common visitor to Central Queensland - the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-PSU - was noted at Longreach, Emerald and Mackay Airports over the course of Monday 1 July and Tuesday 2 July.  Over the previous week, VH-PSU was noted at Bundaberg Airport twice on Saturday 29 June.

VH-PSU at Bundaberg Airport  (File photo)

Another Citation to visit Emerald Airport - MacArthur Jet Charter Cessna 550 Citation Bravo bizjet VH-SCC - was noted arriving Bankstown Airport on Sunday 30 June.

VH-SCC at Emerald Airport  (File photo)

One of two Central Queensland-based Cessna Citation bizjets - Rockhampton-based J.M. Kelly (Project Builders) Cessna 550 Citation II bizjet VH-JMK - has had a busy week operating flights in and out of Papua New Guinea.  Meanwhile, Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZGP, has recently returned to its Mackay base, and subsequently operated a return flight to Sunshine Coast on Thursday 20 June.

Not a Citation, but Mackay-based Raytheon 390 Premier 1 N7088S has operated a series of return flights between Mackay and Townsville over recent days, with the bizjet returning to Mackay on Monday 1 July.

Over on Hamilton Island, Shortstop Jet Charter British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B VH-LMP continues operate regular flights between Melbourne (Essendon) Airport and Hamo.  It was noted operating two return flights over the period Thursday 27 June to Sunday 30 June.

Lastly, Hermes Executive Aviation Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) bizjet M-JIGG, which was spotted at the Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport on Saturday 29 June, departed there on Monday 1 July for Ayres Rock.

G-V-SP (G550) M-JIGG at Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport  (File photo taken by Tanya Puntti ©) 

Certainly a busy week!

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-005 at Rockhampton Airport Monday

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-005 was photographed by Travis W touching down on Runway 15 at Rockhampton Airport late on Monday 1 July.

After reportedly undertaking a crew change, A39-005 blasted off Runway 15, heading South as "Dragon 06".

Sincere thanks to Travis W for capturing some fantastic images of the KC-30!

All photos taken by Travis Whiting  ©

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-NQB at Rockhampton Airport Monday

Arriving into Rockhampton Airport early on Monday 1 July was Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Pilatus PC-12/45 VH-NQB.

VH-NQB arrived from its usual Mount Isa base as "FlyDoc 428".

It is assumed that VH-NQB has arrived into Rockhampton for maintenance, but the aircraft was noted being refuelled during the afternoon, suggesting that it may not be around for long!

VH-NQB joined fellow RFDS King Air aircraft - Raytheon B200 VH-FDR and Hawker Beechcraft B200 VH-FDM.

 

Incidentally, while briefly calling into Rockhampton Airport on Sunday 30 June, Travis captured Raytheon B200 King Air VH-FDW as it departed to Hervey Bay as "Fly Doc 447".

Thanks to Travis W for sending through these great photos!

All photos taken by Travis Whiting  ©

Virgin Australia's Latest Boeing B737-800 VH-YFQ First Commercial Service to Rockhampton Airport Monday

Virgin Australia's brand new Boeing B737-800 VH-YFQ has entered service on Monday 1 July, and its first ever commercial flight for Virgin was to Rockhampton Airport.  VH-YFQ touched down as VOZ1245 from Brisbane.

Local plane spotter, Travis W was on the scene at Rockhampton Airport and captured a couple of great photos of VH-YFQ parked on the Rockhampton Airport apron, and then departing back to Brisbane as VOZ1248.

Thanks to Travis W for sending through some great photos of VH-YFQ's first ever service - and first visit to Central Queensland!

All photos taken by Travis Whiting  ©

Some Plane Spotting Photos from Gladstone Airport on Sunday - Corporate Aviation Bell 429 Helicopter VH-EQP

Local plane spotters, Jamie C and Tash C spent a lazy morning plane spotting at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 30 June.  Probably the most notable movement on an otherwise quiet day was the familiar sight of Corporate Aviation Bell 429 Helicopter VH-EQP.

VH-EQP was heading North from its Southport base, calling into Gladstone for fuel, before later departing to Hamilton Island.

Spotted departing Gladstone Airport for parts unknown was Par Avion / Bayswater Road Aerial Surveys Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-26 Islander VH-RQW.  It is believed that VH-RQW arrived the previous day from Emerald.

Meanwhile, on the commercial front, QantasLink Dash-8-Q300s VH-TQD and VH-SCE were photographed by Jamie and Tash as they made their ways up and down the Queensland coast respectively.  VH-TQD - in old colours - departed Gladstone heading North to Rockhampton as QLK2308.

And VH-SCE - in new colours - arrived from Rockhampton and later continued South to Brisbane as QLK2301.

A lovely morning of plane spotting - and we thank Jamie C for sending through his spectacular images!

Photos taken by Jamie C and Tash C  ©

CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot - Sunday 19 June 2005 - Six United States Air Force (USAF) C-17 Globemaster Aircraft at Rockhampton Airport

This month's Historic Spot features one of the more memorable plane spotting experiences I've had at Rockhampton Airport, and also coincides with the joint Australian and American Military Exercise Talisman Sabre / Talisman Saber, which is held (amongst other places) in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, North of Rockhampton, starting during this coming month of July.

On Sunday 19 July 2005, during the very early morning darkness, no less than six United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft landed at Rockhampton Airport.  The six Globemasters had earlier attempted to drop hundreds of para-troopers into Shoalwater Bay, but due to the cloudy weather, were unable to complete the task, and had to land at Rockhampton Airport to allow the troops to be bussed to their destination.

I arrived at Rockampton Airport around 8am, and found two of the Globemasters parked near Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Airport apron, another three parked at various points on Taxiway Juliette, and one parked at the Northern end of the Airport apron.  The Globemasters involved in the attempted parachute drop that I photographed on the day were:

01-0193 - parked at the Northern end of the Rockhampton Airport apron.

00-0177 - parked on Taxiway Juliette.

02-1111 - also parked on Taxiway Juliette.

02-1108 - also parked on Taxiway Juliette - with the first photo below taken from the old Rockhampton Airport observation deck!

02-1098 - parked near Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Airport apron.

03-3120 - also parked near Gate 6.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable and absolutely spectacular morning of plane spotting!

All six C-17s were captured in several more photographs including this one I saw one in the old Rockhampton Airport Control Tower.  Eventually, all Globemasters departed during the early part of the afternoon.

During Combined Australia / United States Military Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2011, the scene was (sort of) repeated, with three USAF C-17s popping in one night during the exercise.  Information suggests that the same scene may be repeated this year early in the exercise.

My thanks to Rockhampton Plane Spotter Ben O for contributing some photos in this historic spot.