A Few Bizjets Around Central Queensland Airports Wednesday

A couple of Australian-based bizjets have called into CQ Airports on Wednesday 5 November including Silver Linings Aviation Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign VH-ZEK, which was noted calling into Hamilton Island Airport from Bankstown.

VH-LMP at Hamo  (File photo)

Also on Hamo, a couple of bizjets mentioned below arriving over the weekend have since departed with Shortstop Jet Charter British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B VH-LMP departing to Essendon on Tuesday 4 November, while Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX VH-WIO departed to Bankstown on Wednesday 5 November.

Calling into Biloela / Thangool Airport on Wednesday 5 November, Toowoomba-based Light Jets Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-TFW called in from Archerfield.

File photo taken by Don Williams  ©

VH-TFW is scheduled to depart Bilo early on Thursday 6 November for Rockhampton Airport.

Also at Rocky, Raytheon 390 Premier 1 bizjet N7088S was noted calling in from its Mackay base on Wednesday 5 November and seems to be staying overnight.

One final bizjet movement into CQ on Wednesday 5 November was from the former Singapore Flying College Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SQY.  It appeared to fly from the Sunshine Coast - where it has been stored for some time before operating a test flight earlier in the week - and landed for a very brief time at Maryborough Airport.

File photo

The Singapore Flying College operated five of the Citation Mustangs from its Sunshine Coast Airport base until it was closed by Singapore Airlines in July 2013.

Some More Great RSAF Helicopter Action from Exercise Wallaby 2014 at Rockhampton Airport

Local plane spotter Ben O loves all things military, so it's no surprise that during some recent days-off, he ventured to Rockhampton Airport to capture some helicopter action during the Singapore Armed Force's Exercise Wallaby 2014.

As we've mentioned before, stationed at Rockhampton Airport during the Exercise are several Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopters including two Boeing CH-47SD Chinooks, five Boeing AH-64D Apaches and four Eurocopter / Aerospatiale AS332M Super Pumas.

This week it has been noted that at least one of the Apaches has its rotor-blades removed perhaps in readiness for the upcoming finish to the Exercise.  Wallaby is expected to be wrapped up by Tuesday 18 November, with the final heavy jet charters and return visits by an Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) AN-124 expected in the days before and after.

Sincere thanks to Ben for capturing these images and for taking the time to send them through!

All photos taken by Ben O'Dowd  ©

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules '735' at Rockhampton Airport

Noted touching down at Rockhampton Airport during the afternoon of Tuesday 4 November was Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Lockheed C-130H Hercules '735'.

File photo taken by Ben O'Dowd  ©

It arrived from Darwin as "Singa 9493", where it had arrived from overseas the previous day.

As Expected - EMQ Agusta AW139 Rescue Helicopter VH-ESZ Ferries South via Gladstone Airport

As predicted below, Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 rescue helicopter VH-ESZ called into Gladstone Airport while ferrying South from Cairns to Archerfield on Tuesday 4 November.

File photos taken by Michael Fleetwood  ©

It is expected that VH-ESZ will undergo planned maintenance.  Sister-ship VH-EZJ ferried North via Gladstone and Mackay over the weekend - http://cqplanespotting.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/virgin-australia-e-190-jet-vh-zpi-at.html.

Meanwhile, another interesting visitor to Gladstone Airport on Tuesday 4 November was Toowoomba-based Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-OMS which called into Gladstone from Hervey Bay and later departed to Rockhampton.  It was to have a busy day of flying as it was due to call back into Hervey Bay on its way back to Toowoomba.

A Surprise Pair of Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk Helicopters A25-107 & A25-213 at Rockhampton

Making a surprise but most welcome arrival into Rockhampton late on Monday 3 November was a pair of Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Blackhawk Helicopters.

The two Blackhawks movements are unknown, however they were identified as A25-107 and A25-213.  They were heard to be using the callsigns "Redback 107" and "Redback 213" respectively.

After staying for the night, local plane spotter 'IAD' captured these great photos early on Tuesday 4 November as the Blackhawks rested in the morning sun nearby to Rockhampton Airport.  Thanks mate!

UPDATE!  Both Blackhawks departed Rocky around lunchtime on Tuesday 4 November bound for Townsville.

All photos taken by 'IAD'  ©

A Few Recent Visitors to Hamilton Island Airport - Med-evac and Corporates

Monday 3 November was by its usual standards a busy day at Hamilton Island Airport including a couple of visits by Rescue and Med-evac aircraft and helicopters.  Australian Helicopters-operated Bell 412 VH-LSY, which is currently operating for the CQ Rescue Helicopter Service, called in twice on flights from its Mackay Airport-base.

File photo

On both occasions, VH-LSY - flying as "Rescue 422" - departed to the Mackay Base Hospital.

Not med-evac, but an unknown Hinterland Aviation Cessna 404 called in from Cairns as HND615.

And then much later on Monday 3 November, Cairns-based Aerorescue (AMSA - Australian Maritime Safety Authority) Dornier 328-100 VH-PPV "Rescue 441" reportedly called in.  Information suggests however, that it may have simply overflown Hamo while on a sortie out of Cairns.

Finally, corporate aircraft continue to visit Hamilton Island Airport with, on Friday 31 October, a couple of familiar visitors in the form of Shortstop Jet Charter British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B bizjet VH-LMP and Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO both calling in.  Hawker Beechcraft G58 VH-EZD also arrived at Hamo from Monto and Rockhampton on Friday.

Eurocopter EC135 P2+ (EC135 P2i) Helicopter N849PA Spotted in the rain at Rockhampton Airport Monday

A really nice surprise in the rain at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 3 November with American-based DB Projects LLC Eurocopter EC135 P2+ (EC135 P2i) helicopter N849PA captured on the ground by local spotters Kayanne H and Trevor H.

It's exact movements are not known, however some recent photos suggest that the helicopter has spent time operating in New Zealand.

While they were at Rockhampton Airport on Monday 3 November, Kayanne and Trevor also captured some great photos of the locally-based Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) Bell 412EP VH-EPR returning to its hangar with "Water Hog" custom-made helicopter fire-fighting bucket.

Some great photos from Kayanne and Trevor of a couple of great movements at Rockhampton Airport.  Thanks guys!

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Trevor Hardsman  ©

Virgin Australia E-190 Jet VH-ZPI at Gladstone Airport Monday

On Monday 3 November, Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 jet VH-ZPI was noted calling into Gladstone Airport on the VOZ1717/1720 scheduled service from and back to Brisbane.

File photo taken by Phil M  ©

Also touching down at Gladstone twice on Monday 3 November was Easternwell Group Raytheon B200 King Air VH-EWG.  It flew a similar pattern as it did a fortnight ago, calling in from its Toowoomba base and soon after departing for Moranbah.  In the afternoon, VH-EWG returned to Gladstone from Moranbah before continuing to Toowoomba.

Of note on Sunday 2 November, Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) / Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-EZJ ferried North through Gladstone Airport.

VH-EZJ at Rockhampton earlier this year  (File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©)

It arrived from Archerfield and departed Mackay.  It was later noted arriving into Cairns.  It would be expected that another EMQ chopper should ferry South in the early part of this coming week.

Finally, down the road at Biloela / Thangool Airport, another King Air in the form of MyJet Aviation Raytheon B200 VH-ZCR arrived from Bendigo and Toowoomba on Monday 3 November.

Mike Prendergast / http://flightaware.com/

MyJet usually operates Cessna 551 Citation II/SP bizjet VH-JMM into Bilo so the King Air was a nice surprise.  At the time of writing, VH-ZCR is scheduled to head to Monto about midday on Tuesday 4 November.

Investigation into Near collision of Air Whitsunday DHC-2 Beaver VH-AWD and GSL Aviation GA-8 VH-NOQ near Hamilton Island

Just after I finished preparing the Blog post below, I've discovered that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into a near collision involving Air Whitsunday Seaplanes De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver Floatplane VH-AWD and GSL Aviation Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 VH-NOQ, 16 km NNE of Hamilton Island Airport on Friday 31 October.

File photo

File photo

Reportedly, while conducting a scenic flight, the pilot of VH-AWD observed the Airvan passing close on a reciprocal track. The pilot did not hear any radio calls from VH-NOQ on the CTAF.  As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the pilots and gather additional information.  A report will be released within several months.

And Some Photos From the Whitsunday Airport (WAVE) incl Another New GSL Aviation Airvan and Wagners King Air VH-WJW

Over the last few days I've also called into the Whitsunday Airport (WAVE) at Shute Harbour a couple of times, and as always, there's plenty of varied aircraft and helicopters to take photos of!

I firstly called in on Thursday 30 October and was able to capture some great photos of a new helicopter to the region, along with another new Airvan for GSL Aviation.  

Whitsunday Air Services strikingly beautiful Eurcopter EC130B4 VH-WYH was parked outside prior to undergoing maintenance - sadly the camera didn't quite to the fluro-orange justice.  VH-WYH operated predominately to the 'One&Only' Hayman Island resort.

There were no less than four GSL Aviation Airvans at the Whitsunday Airport on Thursday including their recently acquired Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 VH-IGW.

VH-IGW was joined by another recently acquired Gippsaero GA-8 Airvan VH-VMU and two older Airvans VH-NOQ and VH-URB (pictured at the top).

On Friday 31 October, Wagners Development Company Hawker Beechcraft B300 Super King Air VH-WJW called in from Toowoomba.

http://www.facebook.com/whitsundayairport

Also spotted calling in but from Redcliffe was Piper PA-32R-301T VH-ASC while another of Whitsunday Air Services' recent acquisitions in the form of Eurocopter EC120B VH-HIL was spotted in between flights.

http://www.facebook.com/whitsundayairport

http://www.facebook.com/whitsundayairport

I returned to the Whitsunday Airport on Monday 3 November and was able to capture VH-WJW while it was preparing to depart back to Toowoomba.  However, at the time of writing, VH-WJW had not departed the Airport possibly due to a mechanical issue as I noted that work was being done on the aircraft's starboard-side wing-tip.

I also captured Gold Coast-based Gulfstream Aerospace (AeroCommander) 695-A JetProp 1000 VH-LMC which had arrived on Saturday 1 November.

Heli-Biz Robinson R44 II VH-DCN arrived back at the Airport after completing a local flight.

And finally, I captured a couple of photos of the recently re-painted Skydive Airlie Beach Gippsland GA-8 Airvan VH-RTS as it returned from dropping another load of skydivers out over the spectacular Whitsundays.

Some great aircraft!

Thanks to the Whitsunday Airport for their assistance in preparing this post!