Divair Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 Bizjet VH-NNE Arrives into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

On Friday 9 June, Divair Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 bizjet VH-NNE looked to touch down at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Bankstown.

VH-NNE at Sydney  (File photo)

Its exact movements are not fully known but it appears to have stayed.

UPDATE!  Indeed VH-NNE did arrive and stayed parked at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.  It eventually departed Prosie for Perth on Monday 12 June.

Meanwhile, over at Hamilton Island Airport, after arriving the previous day, on Friday 9 June, Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU departed for Melbourne (Essendon) and then Melbourne (Moorabbin).

Finally, it appears that the American registered Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP (G550) bizjet N2480H which also arrived into Hamilton Island Airport on Thursday 8 June remains parked for the weekend.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 10 June, N2480H departed Hamilton Island Airport for parts unknown.

Photo taken by Brendan Berry  ©

Jet City (Melbourne) Learjet 45 Bizjet VH-LJX Pops into Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 8 June, Jet City (Melbourne) Learjet 45 bizjet VH-LJX was spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.  It touched down directly from Sydney.

It appears that the Learjet may have visited the beef capital on a medical (organ) retrieval flight.

After around an hour on the ground, VH-LJX departed to the Sunshine Coast.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Kayanne H and Trevor H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Trevor Hardsman  ©

JetGo Australia Embraer ERJ-140LR Regional Jet VH-ZJG First Visit to CQ at Rockhampton Airport Thursday

On Thursday 8 June, JetGo Australia Embraer ERJ-140LR (ERJ-135KL) regional jet VH-ZJG made its first visit to Central Queensland, arriving into Rockhampton Airport on the scheduled JG73 service from the Gold Coast.  It had earlier positioned into the Gold Coast from Sydney as JG91 before flying North.

After unloading and then loading several passengers and their bags, VH-ZJG continued to Townsville, again as JG73.

As we reported recently, JetGo's other ERJ-140 VH-ZJE surprised local plane spotters by operating the Townsville to Rockhampton and Gold Coast return services from late May.

VH-ZJE at Rocky  (File photo)

Earlier on Thursday 8 June, VH-ZJE operated the Southbound JG70 service from Townsville to Rockhampton and the Gold Coast but later positioned from the Gold Coast to Sydney as JG90.

VH-ZJE had replaced Embraer E-135LR VH-JGB based out of Townsville.  Now that VH-ZJG has become based out of Townsville, it will now operate JetGo's various Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charters as well as the JG70/73 Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) services from the Northern capital.

Of interest, VH-ZJG was delivered to JetGo Australia in Brisbane in October 2016 as N297SK.  It was the first of two 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140LR (ERJ-135KL) regional jet aircraft delivered to the airline.  VH-ZJE (ex N295SK) was delivered in January this year.

N297SK arrives into Brisbane on delivery  (File photo)

As we've also mentioned, JetGo is also reportedly due to take delivery of a larger 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145LR during this year.  The aircraft is reported to be N577RP which is also operated for Republic Airways Holdings.

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

Photos taken by Kayanne Hardsman and Lloyd Fox  ©

Cessna 525A CitationJet2 Bizjet VH-MOR Pops into Emerald Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 8 June, Brisbane-based Cessna 525A CitationJet2 bizjet VH-MOR was noted visiting Emerald Airport during a busy day of flying.

File photo

It flew into Emerald from Archerfield via Toowoomba.  After spending almost an hour on the ground, VH-MOR departed to Chinchilla before returning to Toowoomba and Archerfield.

Of interest, VH-MOR then flew to Chinchilla and back from Archerfield.

Meanwhile, on the lighter side of General Aviation (GA) movements, also visiting Emerald Airport on Thursday 8 June was Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH.

File photo taken by 'AC'  ©

It's had a busy couple of days, initially arriving into Mackay Airport from its Toowoomba base via Boonah on Wednesday 7 June before flying from Mackay to Bowen and then Emerald.  VH-WPH departed Emerald for Toowoomba.

Peace Aviation-operated Beech B58P Baron VH-BLT visited Emerald Airport from its Rockhampton base.

And a pair of Piper PA-28-181 Archer aircraft - VH-LGD and VH-BDB - which are both operated by the Sydney Aviators Flying Club out of Bankstown Airport, were noted arriving into Emerald Airport from the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour and Mackay.

They seem to be on a fly-away and were noted flying into the Gold Coast on Tuesday 6 June before heading to Roma Airport and Shute Harbour on Wednesday 7 June.

Finally, also recently noted ferrying back South from Shute Harbour to Roma Airport was  Parklea (Air Services) (of Victoria) Agusta AW109SP helicopter VH-CZT.  It appeared to fly North towards Cairns in mid-May but was noted returning South at the start of June.

American Registered Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP (G550) Bizjet N2480H Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport

A nice arrival into Hamilton Island Airport on Thursday 8 June with American registered Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP (G550) bizjet N2480H touching down from Townsville.

AMORI CLUB / https://www.flickr.com/

It's exact movements aren't fully known but it appears to have arrived into North Queensland from overseas before flying to Hamo.  It remains parked for at least the night.

Meanwhile, also arriving back into Hamilton Island Airport also on Thursday 8 June was Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU.  As with its last visit, VH-XCU arrived from Melbourne (Moorabbin) via Melbourne (Essendon).  It too looks to be staying for at least the night.

Finally, Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO has also been back at Hamilton Island Airport this week, arriving from Bankstown on Monday 5 June and returning there on Tuesday 6 June.

Jetstar Airways A320 VH-VFU with 'Needabreak.com' Stickers Makes First Visit to CQ at Mackay Airport Wednesday Night

Late on Wednesday 7 June, Jetstar Airways Airbus A320(SL) VH-VFU called into Mackay Airport while operating the JST888 scheduled service from Brisbane.  It is the first visit of this aircraft since stickers promoting Choice Hotels new travel blog 'Needabreak.com' were added to the aircraft.

It appears that the 'Needabreak.com' stickers were applied in late May. 

Choice Hotels International is one of the largest and most successful accommodation companies in the world.  The 'Needabreak.com' travel blog has been designed for to find the inspiration you need for your next getaway, from travel and well-being to food and wine.  Check it out at:   http://www.needabreak.com/  .

VH-VFU returned to Brisbane a little later in the evening as JST889.

Sincere thanks to Brisbane plane spotter Simon C for allowing us to share his great photo of VH-VFU departing Sydney Airport last weekend.

Photo taken by Simon Coates  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) B737 / E-7A Wedgetail A30-004 Missed Approach at Proserpine Airport

On Wednesday 7 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-004 was noted completing a missed approach at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

It appears that after completing the missed approach A30-004 continued to Townsville.  It was heard using the radio callsign of "Mitchell 06".

UPDATE!  On Thursday 8 June, A30-004 was back in parts of CQ again as "Mitchell 06".  It was heard completing a missed approach at Gladstone Airport during the afternoon.

File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Aeropower McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company (MDHC) 369D VH-PLJ Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 6 June, Aeropower McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company (MDHC) 369D VH-PLJ was spotted parked at Rockhampton Airport.  It had earlier landed at Rocky after completing powerline inspections in the local area.

VH-PLJ was spotted parked next to another nice chopper which has been operating out of Rockhampton Airport in the form of Helistar Aviation (of West Beach, South Australia) Aerospatiale AS.350BA Squirrel helicopter VH-UTN which is also believed to be operating airborne electrical power-line inspection flights in the area.

Of interest, Aeropower Pty Ltd is a Brisbane-based, Australia-wide airborne electrical contractor, which commenced operations in 1991.  Aeropower specialises in a full range of electrical power industry services including patrol, inspection, construction, stringing, washing, performing live-line or de-energised maintenance repairs, and providing technical analysis and reporting on the condition of the client’s assets.

Aeropower has also grown to not only encompass electrical maintenance, but to provide powerline and flight training, as well as commercial helicopter charter.

Their website assures clients that they are "dedicated to serving the electrical industry in airborne maintenance".

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Trevor H for sending through these great photos!

All photos taken by Trevor Hardsman  ©

Peace Aviation Beech A36 Bonanza VH-MMB Suffers Landing Mishap at Rockhampton Airport

A nasty incident at Rockhampton Airport on Tuesday 6 June with Peace Aviation Beech A36 Bonanza VH-MMB suffering a mishap while landing on Rocky's Runway 15 during the early part of the morning.

VH-MMB in happier times  (File photo)

It appeared on first looks that the front landing gear had collapsed however there was later an unconfirmed report that the pilot had selected 'gear up' rather than 'flaps up' after landing.

The 'disabled aircraft' briefly closed the Runway at Rockhampton Airport with an inbound Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane forced to circle and hold North of the Airport for around an hour before it eventually landed.

The main Runway 15/33 was re-opened but at a reduced length with a displaced threshold on Runway 15 placed around the same location as Taxiway 'Alpha'.

During the early part of the afternoon, VH-MMB was towed off the Runway back to the Peace Aviation hangar.

It is understood that the Bonanza wasn't being flown for Peace Aviation at the time but rather a private pilot was at the controls.

Photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

Holypeak Pty Ltd Challenger 604 Bizjet N360SL at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 5 June, Holypeak Pty Ltd Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet N360SL flew into Mackay Airport.

It looked to arrive from and later depart back to Melbourne (Essendon) Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 5 June, Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO was noted making yet another trip to Hamilton Island Airport.  As per usual, it touched down from Bankstown, but on this occasion, it looks to be staying for at least the night.

Finally, a nice corporate turboprop aircraft was noted arriving into Roma and then Gladstone Airports also on Monday 5 June in the form of Corporate Aircraft Charter Beech B200 King Air VH-URU.

Despite being registered in South Australia, the King Air appears to be operating out of Bankstown and on Monday, VH-URU flew across from there to Sydney before flying North to Roma and Gladstone Airports.

File photo

At the time of writing, VH-URU is due to depart Gladstone Airport for Archerfield around lunchtime on Tuesday 6 June.

Of interest, VH-URU was involved in a nasty 'wheels-up' incident at Adelaide Airport in September 2008 when after a departure, its wheels didn't fully retract, so the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing.  The King Air landed with the gear up and all passengers and crew evacuated after the aircraft came to a stop. Thousands witnessed the incident as the Qantas Airways Airbus A380 VH-OQA was about 45 minutes from arriving into Adelaide for the very first time.

Photos taken by 'AC' and the FNQ Skies Blog  ©