Queensland Government Raytheon Hawker 850XP VH-SGY and Business Aviation Solutions Challenger 604 VH-BLM Both at Bundaberg Airport

A couple of nice corporate bizjets were spotted at Bundaberg Airport on Sunday 4 June on what looked to be medical (organ) retrieval flights.

The Queensland Government Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY touched down at Bundy early on Sunday from Brisbane.

It returned to the capital in the early afternoon.

Just after lunch on Sunday, Business Aviation Solutions Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-BLM also called into Bundaberg Airport but from its Gold Coast base.

After looking to be loaded with an esky, VH-BLM departed Bundaberg Airport flying direct to Auckland in New Zealand.

VH-BLM was later noted returning to the Gold Coast.

Finally, on the lighter side of General Aviation (GA) movements, an interesting arrival also on Sunday 4 June was Seair Pacific (Istlecote) Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LYT.  It touched down from Great Keppel Island where it looked to arrive from the Gold Coast and Archerfield on Friday 2 June.  VH-LYT then returned to Archerfield and the Gold Coast.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Micah S for taking the time to capture and send through these awesome photos of a couple of great visitors to the rum city!

All photos taken by Micah S  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 Pops into Longreach Airport on Training Flight

It was certainly a surprise to see that on Sunday 4 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7DT(BBJ) A36-001 completed airwork followed by a brief landing at Longreach Airport.

The RAAF VIP 34 Squadron aircraft looked to fly into Longreach from Darwin.  It initially completed a missed approach before landing for a short period of time.  A36-001 appeared to be on a training flight and was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Envoy 35".

A36-001 was later noted flying towards to the South-East corner of the state and quite possibly landed at RAAF Base Amberley.

All photos taken by Calen Harvey  ©

Cessna 560XL Citation XLS Bizjet VH-XCU Finally Departs Hamilton Island Airport - Plus Legacy 500 Bizjet N142GZ Does a Bit of Running Around from Mackay Airport

On Saturday 3 June, Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU was noted finally departing Hamilton Island Airport for Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.  It then flew across to Melbourne (Moorabbin) Airport.

VH-XCU at Cairns Airport  (File photo)

VH-XCU had arrived into Hamo from Moorabbin via Essendon back on Saturday 20 May.

Meanwhile, over the last week or so, the Mackay Airport-based Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 bizjet N142GZ has completed a few flights around the place.  Back on Thursday 25 May it flew from Mackay to the Gold Coast and then returned to Mackay Airport on Saturday 27 May.  Then on Tuesday 30 May, N142GZ had a big day flying to Brisbane and back to Mackay and then back to Brisbane.  On Thursday 1 June, it then returned to Mackay Airport.  Finally, today on Saturday 3 June, N142GZ flew from Mackay Airport to Brisbane and back.

Photo taken by the FNQ Skies Blog  ©

And Photos of New Heli-Aust Whitsundays (of Mackay) Airbus Helicopters EC135 P3 (CPDS) VH-ZGH Operating at Port of Hay Point Near Mackay

Also this week, we have been very fortunate to receive some great photos captured by Rockhampton-based plane spotter Daniel B who visited the Hay Point Coal Export Loading Point (South of Mackay) on Wednesday 31 May and spotted Heli-Aust Whitsundays (based at Mackay Airport) Airbus Helicopters EC135 P3 (CPDS) VH-ZGH departing on a local flight.

As mentioned below, VH-ZGH, along with with VH-ZGP, are a pair of brand new 2017-build Airbus Helicopters EC135 P3 (CPDS) helicopters that were unveiled at Mackay Airport recently for marine pilot operations with the locally-based Heli-Aust Whitsundays (Mackay Helicopters).

Of interest, the Port of Hay Point is one of the largest coal export ports in the world and is located about 40 kilometres south of Mackay.

The port comprises of two separate coal export terminals: Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) which is leased from the State Government by DBCT Management Pty Ltd and the Hay Point Coal Terminal (HPCT) which is owned by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance and operated by Hay Point Services. Together, these coal terminals service the mines in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. The mines are linked to the port terminals through an integrated rail-port network.

https://nqbp.com.au/

Both terminals have purpose-built, rail in-loading facilities, onshore stockpile yards and offshore wharves. The offshore wharves are serviced by conveyor systems, supported on jetties, which run out to sea and allow loading in deep water.

Sincere thanks to Daniel B for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Daniel Bishop  ©

Professional Jet Aviation Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 Bizjet VH-CDG Pops into Various Small CQ Airports

On Friday 2 June, Professional Jet Aviation Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-CDG was noted calling into various small CQ Airports.  It initially flew North from its Gold Coast base for Brisbane and then was noted arriving into Kokotungo (near Baralaba).  From there VH-CDG when flew on to Biloela / Thangool and then Moura Airports.

VH-CDG at Bundaberg Airport late last month  (File photo)

VH-CDG then returned to Brisbane and eventually the Gold Coast.

Photo taken by Micah S  ©

New Heli-Aust Whitsundays (of Mackay) Airbus Helicopters EC135 P3 (CPDS) VH-ZGP Pops into Rockhampton Airport

During the afternoon on Thursday 1 June, a nice visitor called into Rockhampton Airport in the form of one of the two new Heli-Aust Whitsundays (Mackay Helicopters) Airbus Helicopters EC135 P3 (CPDS) VH-ZGP.

The smart looking chopper called into Rocky from Mackay Airport.

After taking on fuel, VH-ZGP continued South to Gladstone Airport.

As we've mentioned previously, VH-ZGP, along with with VH-ZGH, are a pair of brand new 2017-build Airbus Helicopters EC135 P3 (CPDS) helicopters that were unveiled at Mackay Airport recently for marine pilot operations with the locally-based Heli-Aust Whitsundays (Mackay Helicopters).

Meanwhile, over this week, another nice chopper has been spotted operating out of Rockhampton Airport with Helistar Aviation (of West Beach, South Australia) Aerospatiale AS.350BA Squirrel helicopter VH-UTN believed to be operating airborne electrical power-line inspection flights in the area.

It is pictured above landing at Rockhampton Airport also on Thursday 1 June and preparing for departure earlier in the week on Tuesday 30 May.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and share these great photos!

All photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©

Air Loyauté (Air Loyalty) (New Caledonia) De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter F-OIAY Pops into Mackay Airport

On Thursday 1 June, a nice visitor into Mackay Airport was Air Loyauté (Air Loyalty) (New Caledonia) De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter F-OIAY.  The Twin Otter arrived from the Gold Coast and departed a short time later for Cairns (as shown below) where it expected to undergo planned maintenance.

F-OIAY had arrived into Australia via the Gold Coast on Wednesday 31 May.

Of interest, Air Loyauté (Air Loyalty) is a French domestic airline of the South Pacific, based in New Caledonia, which carries out air transport on request from Noumea's Magenta Airport.

Thanks to the fantastic FNQ Skies Blog for allowing us to share their photo of this great little visitor to CQ!

Photo taken by the FNQ Skies Blog  ©

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Back at Emerald Airport Again!

The familiar sight of Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was again at Emerald Airport this week with the sleek little Citation arriving from its Sunshine Coast base on Monday 29 May.

File photo

VH-MMC was noted returning to the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday 31 May.

Meanwhile, on Thursday 1 June, a couple of interesting light General Aviation (GA) aircraft were noted passing through Emerald Airport and surrounds.  Recently re-registered Beech B200 King Air VH-ISS was noted flying from Emerald Airport to Mount Isa and Newcastle Waters in the Northern Territory.

While out further West at Barcaldine Airport, also on Thursday 1 June, PC-12/47E VH-FMM was noted departing Barcaldine for Theodore.  Of interest, at the time of writing, it is due to depart Theodore for Archerfield and Melbourne (Avalon) Airports on Friday 2 June.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

Queensland Government Hawker 850XP Bizjet VH-SGY Pops into Proserpine and Gladstone Airports This Week

It's been a busy few days for the Queensland Government Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY, with it noted visiting Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport on three separate occasions over last weekend and the early part of the week before visiting Gladstone Airport on Thursday 1 June.

VH-SGY at Gladstone Airport  (File photo)

On Saturday 27 May, VH-SGY flew from Brisbane to Proserpine Airport before it later departed to Melbourne (Essendon).  It then returned to Brisbane.

On Sunday 28 May, VH-SGY completed a return flight from Brisbane to Prosie and back.

On Tuesday 30 May, VH-SGY flew into Cairns Airport from Brisbane and parked for the night.  It then flew South to Proserpine Airport on Wednesday 31 May before it later returned to Brisbane.

Finally, on Thursday 1 June, VH-SGY visited Gladstone Airport from Brisbane and looked to bring Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to town for an engagement.

Wow!

Meanwhile, it's worth mentioning that also calling into Gladstone Airport (amongst other places) on Monday 29 May was the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-PSU.  It looked to be operating prisoner transfer flights and flew into Gladstone Airport from Brisbane and departed to Townsville during a busy of flying.  It also called into Mackay Airport later in the day while returning from Townsville to Brisbane.

It appears that the Queensland Police Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK returned to service and completed these transfer flights on Wednesday 31 May and is scheduled to operate in Friday 2 June.

Finally, back at Gladstone Airport, also on Thursday 1 June, Brisbane-based Bishopp Aviation SOCATA TBM-700 VH-VSV visited from Archerfield.  While at the time of writing, on Friday 2 June, Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron VH-EZD is due to call into Gladstone Airport from its Monto base and later depart to Hamilton Island Airport.

Photo taken by 'Mick'  ©