Virgin Australia Boeing B737-700 VH-VBY Spotted at Gladstone Airport Sunday

Spotted making a surprise but most welcome arrival into Gladstone Airport on Sunday 3 November was Virgin Australia Boeing B737-700 VH-VBY.

Local plane spotter Michael F was on hand as VH-VBY - named "Kingston Beach" - touched down from Brisbane late morning as VOZ1711.  It later departed back to Brisbane as VOZ1714.

While he was there, Michael also captured QantasLink Dash-8-Q300 VH-SBV as it departed Gladstone on the final leg of the QLK2301 flight from Cairns to Brisbane via Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone.

On the lighter side, he also spotted an amateur built Thorp T-18 registered VH-WKV as it arrived at Gladstone Airport. 

An finally, another example of a Robinson R-44 VH-HZQ which is operated by Reid Heliwork near Emerald.  This was the second R-44 that Michael had spotted at Gladstone Airport within the last week that is operated by Reid.

Thanks to Michael for sending through these great images from a nice day's plane spotting at Gladstone Airport!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

Niugini Aviation PAC-750XL P2-KNA Passes Through Mackay Airport Sunday

On Sunday 3 November, I saw Pacific Aerospace PAC-750XL, P2-KNA of Niugini Aviation making a spectacular departure from Mackay Airport on its journey South-bound.  It arrived from Cairns, and after taking on fuel, departed for Toowoomba.  Interestingly, about this time last year, it also popped into Mackay heading North.  This time, it appears that P2-KNA is heading back to New Zealand as it is due to depart Toowoomba for Lord Howe Island and further on Monday.

Skywork Helicopters Aerospatiale AS.350 Squirrel PK-URF Passes Through Gladstone Airport

A really colourful and unique visitor was photographed by local plane spotters Jamie C and Tash C at Gladstone Airport on Saturday 2 November in the form of Skywork Helicopters Aerospatiale AS.350 Squirrel PK-URF.

Skywork Helicopters is a New Zealand-based company that was established in 1997 with one sole aircraft.  Today, the company has expanded and operates a diverse fleet of choppers not only within New Zealand, but also within Australia and Indonesia.  In fact, this particular Squirrel wears an Indonesian registration, and I would suspect that it is the first example of an Indonesian registered aircraft on the CQ Plane Spotting Blog!

It is believed that PK-URF was on a ferry flight from Indonesia to Skywork Helicopter's Australian-base at Wollongong in New South Wales.  It had been spotted at Cairns and Townsville during the week.

I have learned too that one other Skywork Helicopters chopper that I spotted at Emerald Airport in 2011 - Kaman Corporation K-1200 K-Max heavy-lift helicopter ZK-HEE - is also based at Wollongong for most of the year, and was seen assisting fire-fighting authorities during the recent Sydney bushfires.

More information and photos on Skywork Helicopters can be found on their website - http://www.skyworkhelicopters.com/

Thanks Jamie and Tash for sending through these fantastic photos!

Photos taken by Jamie C and Tash C  ©

Investigation says Pilot Error to Blame for Ultralight Crash near Bundaberg last year

A a coronial investigation has found that a crash in which two people died last year was caused by pilot error.

The flying instructor and his student died when the Piper Light Sport ultralight aircraft they were flying smashed nose first into a North Bundaberg cane field in March 2012.

A spokesperson for the Office of the State Coroner said thorough, independent investigations into the crash were undertaken by the Queensland Police Service and Recreational Aviation Australia.  Both reports indicate that pilot error was the cause of the incident.

Maintenance Issues - Including a Tail Strike at Bundaberg - Affect Recent Flights in and out of Central Queensland Airports

I've been made aware of a few incidents that have affected various flights in and out of some Central Queensland Airports over the last week.  Perhaps the most serious occurred at Bundaberg Airport last Sunday 27 October where the tail 'skid' of a Virgin Australia Regional Airlines ATR 72 made contact with the Runway.

Passengers on board the Virgin ATR 72-600 - believed to be VH-FVP operating as VOZ1701 from Brisbane - have told local media outlets of a rough landing, after the plane's rear 'bumper' came into contact with the runway.  Reports suggest that the plane remained 'grounded' with passengers still on board for some time after the landing.

ATR 72 VH-FVP at Bundaberg Airport in May  (File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©)

A Virgin spokesperson said during a routine post-flight inspection, the pilot identified "possible wear" on a rear bumper, a part which protects the aircraft in the event of ground contact.  As a standard operating procedure, engineers were flown from Brisbane to Bundaberg to inspect the aircraft and confirm it was unaffected.  The aircraft departed Bundaberg just after 8.30pm that night, operating the delayed return VOZ1702 service to Brisbane.

On Wednesday 30 November, fellow Virgin ATR 72 VH-FVZ touched down at Emerald Airport after operating the scheduled mid-morning VOZ1259 service from Brisbane.  It was noted that VH-FVZ did not depart Emerald until around 11pm that night, re-positioning back to Brisbane as VOZ9502.

Also at Emerald Airport but on Saturday 2 November, QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOR, operating as QLK533D from Longreach to Brisbane, diverted into Emerald about an hour into its flight.  VH-QOR remained parked at Emerald, as fellow Dash-8-Q400 VH-LQM ferried into Emerald from Brisbane as QLK670D before departing with the Longreach passengers for Brisbane.  VH-QOR ferried back to Brisbane later on Saturday as QLK671D.

And finally at Mackay Airport, QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXJ touched down early on Saturday 2 November from Brisbane as QJE1760.  It remained parked at Mackay until the early afternoon where it departed back to Brisbane empty as QJE6200.  Fortunately, fellow B717 VH-NXN was able to pick up some of the stranded passengers, also operating in and out of Mackay as QJE1764/1765.

Photos of Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation SAAB 340B VH-VEO at Gladstone Airport Last Week

Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation SAAB 340B VH-VEO was an interesting visitor to Gladstone Airport this week on (presumably) a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight.

It is the first time that we have posted photos of VH-VEO at Gladstone Airport, however, I suspect that it isn't this aircraft's first visit to the industrial city.  Local plane spotter Michael F ventured to Gladstone Airport late on Thursday 31 October and captured some great atmospheric images as VH-VEO sat on the Airport apron after arriving earlier in the evening from Brisbane.

VH-VEO departed back to Brisbane on Friday 1 November, and local plane spotters Jamie C and Tash C were on hand to capture the departure of the SAAB.

Thanks guys!

Photos taken by Michael Fleetwood, Jamie C and Tash C  ©

Friday Afternoon Plane Spotting Photos from Gladstone Airport

Local plane spotter Michael F enjoyed a little of bit plane spotting on Friday 1 November after he 'knocked-off' from work!

He got there to find the well-presented McDermott Aviation / Machjet Aerospatiale AS.355F1 VH-YUR parked on the Western end of the Gladstone Airport apron.

Parked nearby was fellow chopper VH-HIB.  This little Robinson R-44 - which is operated by Reid Heliwork near Emerald - is a frequent visitor to Gladstone and was obviously parked up for the night.

Michael also enjoyed the sight and sound of a couple of late afternoon commercial arrivals into Gladstone with QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXJ first to touch down from Brisbane as QJE1714.

Shortly after, QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQB made a spectacular 'bouncy' arrival on Gladstone's Runway 10, touching down from Sydney as QLK2128.

Michael reports that it was a most enjoyable afternoon of plane spotting!  That's what this great hobby is all about - having fun!

We thank Michael for sending through his great photos from Friday!

All photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot - Sunshine Express Airlines

Sunshine Express Airlines was a small regional airline owned by Aeromil Pacific that served many regional destinations on the East Coast of Australia from Biloela/Thangool to Port Macquarie. The airline's head office was at the Sunshine Coast Airport, however the majority of its services were in/out of Brisbane.

Sunshine Express Airlines commenced operations in October 1998 with a sole Embraer EMB-110 Banderantie VH-SJP operating between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

Soon after, the airline took delivery of De Havilland DHC-6 VH-ZRP and another two Banderanties VH-TLH and VH-TLD.

During the early 2000's Sunshine Express went through a period of expansion, becoming a Qantas partner airline, and eventually taking delivery of a pair of Shorts 360 turbo-props VH-SEG and VH-SEO (which was ex-Sunstate Airlines VH-SUR).

More destinations were added to the Sunshine Express route network including Maryborough and Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast, and Biloela/Thangool in Central Queensland.

More aircraft were added to their fleet with Metro's VH-SEF, VH-SEY, VH-SEZ, VH-KDJ, and VH-KEX all noted operating for Sunshine Express at various times.  VH-SEF was noted carrying the name Biloela (as shown above at Biloela/Thangool Airport in 2003), while VH-KDJ and VH-KEX were both operated in a hybrid livery that included the colours of their former operator Regional Express (REX).

Sunshine Express also commenced flying services into New South Wales, including Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, and Armidale, as shown below on one of their last route maps.

Sunshine Express ceased all scheduled operations at the end of September 2006, when it decided to concentrate on charter operations.

Hervey Bay and Biloela/Thangool are now served by QantasLink. Coffs Harbour is now served by Brindabella Airlines. Port Macquarie was served by Brindabella Airlines but this service was discontinued at the end of 2010. Virgin Australia now serves this route. From May 2009 Tamworth is now served by Brindabella Airlines and from August 2011 Armidale was served by Brindabella Airlines but this has been suspended. Maryborough no longer has direct air service to Brisbane.