Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-006 Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Friday 3 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-006 was photographed as it was on finals prior to completing a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.  It was flying as "Dragon 41".

The MRTT had earlier departed RAAF Base Amberley and flew up to Townsville where it also completed a missed approach.  A39-006 then returned South and returned to Amberley via the missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

Of interest, A39-006 was delivered to the RAAF's 33 Squadron at Amberley in September 2017 and wore the Spanish delivery registration marking of 'EC-339'.  This A330-200MRTT is an older airframe (MSN 892) and was originally manufactured in 2007 and delivered to Qantas Airways in early 2008 as VH-EBH.  It previously wore the name 'Hunter Valley'.

VH-EBH operated with Qantas on domestic and international flights until May 2015 when it was withdrawn from service and flown to Singapore (Changi) Airport for end of lease maintenance and storage.  VH-EBH/EC-339 was then flown to Getafe in Spain for conversion to A330-MRTT/KC-30A standard by Airbus Defence and Space.

A39-006 was joined by another ex-Qantas airframe and the seventh KC-30A which became A39-007/EC-334.

As we posted below with its visit to Rockhampton Airport in Thursday 2 July - and as pictured above - This airframe (MSN 898) also previously operated with Qantas Airways but as VH-EBI and wore the name 'Yarra Valley'.

A39-007 is also being utilised as a VIP transport jet for current Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (ScoMo) who has named the aircraft 'Shark 1' after his beloved National Rugby League (NRL) team The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Meanwhile, during this week, a pair of GoJet / Air Affairs (Australia)  Learjet 35A bizjets VH-LFA and VH-SLE have also been noted operating training support flights out of RAAF Base Amberley around the South-East corner of the state.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Scott H and Michael M for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Michael Malick  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-007 Calls into Rockhampton Airport as “Dragon 24”

On Thursday 2 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-007 was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

The KC-30A flew North from RAAF Base Amberley touched down on Runway 33 at Rocky before back-taxiing and parking on for a short time on Taxiway Juliette.

After completing a re-program and possible crew change, A39-007 taxied out and departed Rockhampton Airport for Amberley via airwork off the coast of South-East Queensland.

A39-007 was noted flying as "Dragon 24".

Of interest, A39-007 is the most recently delivered of the seven KC-30A's of the RAAF's 33 Squadron based at Amberley.  A39-007 was delivered in May 2019 and previously operated with Qantas Airways as VH-EBI.

A39-007 is also being utilised as a VIP transport jet for current Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (ScoMo) who has named the aircraft 'Shark 1' after his beloved National Rugby League (NRL) team The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Meanwhile, on Thursday 2 July and also on Wednesday 1 July, RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-006 was noted flying around Taroom on training flights out of Amberley as "Wallaby 74".  While on Monday 29 June, Spartan A34-002 "Wallaby 30" was noted also flying around Taroom.

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

All photos taken by Jaxson White  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YFQ Arrives into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport on Resumption of Flights into the Whitsundays

On Thursday 2 July, it was noted that Virgin Australia resumed Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) scheduled flights into the Whitsundays with Boeing B737-800 VH-YFQ touching down at the Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport as VOZ1117 from Brisbane.  It later returned to the capital as VOZ1118.

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Virgin Australia hasn't operated into the Whitsundays since late March at the height of the recent COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Current schedules show no fixed pattern of operations at this stage, although I do note that another flight into the Whitsundays will touch down at Prosie on Saturday 4 July.

As we reported below, Jetstar Airways re-started flights into Prosie from and back to Brisbane in mid-June.  While Alliance Airlines started RPT flights also from and back to Brisbane about a week later

Finally, flights to Hamilton Island remain in limbo with the Island still not open and no published plans available to indicate a possible re-opening.

Great to see the Whitsundays 'open for business!'

McDermott Aviation / Heli-Lift Australia Aerospatiale 365N2 Dauphin 2 Helicopter N366SR Pops into CQ Airports Again!

On Thursday 2 July, McDermott Aviation / Heli-Lift Australia Aerospatiale 365N2 Dauphin 2 helicopter N366SR was noted visiting a couple of Central Queensland Airports while heading back South from a Far North Queensland resort.

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It was noted calling into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Tully before it then departed to Gladstone Airport.  N366SR then continued to Gympie.

N366SR had flown North from there, again via Gladstone and Proserpine Airports, back on Thursday 25 June.  It was then noted continuing to Bedarra Island Resort near Dunk Island in Far North Queensland.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 2 July, Heli-Aust Whitsundays Eurocopter EC135 P2+ helicopter VH-XUV was noted flying back to Mackay Airport after a period of time operating out of Melbourne (Avalon) Airport.  It flew North from Avalon over a couple of days via Albury, Parkes, Tamworth, Lismore, Sunshine Coast and Gladstone Airports.

Sincere thanks to the Sunshine Coast Plane Spotting Facebook page for allowing us to share their great photo of N366SR!

Nauru Airlines Boeing B737-319 VH-YNU at Mackay Airport on Yet Another Charter Flight

Early on Thursday 2 July, Nauru Airlines Boeing B737-319 VH-YNU was noted visiting Mackay Airport on the latest of a series of closed charter fights to the region from and back to Brisbane.

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The colourful little Boeing touched down at Mackay Airport from Brisbane as RON938 and a short time later, returned to the capital as RON939.

Of interest, VH-YNU was delivered to Nauru Airlines in early 2015 after spending 14 years operating with Air New Zealand as ZK-NGH.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Toll Freight Aviation ATR 42-300F VH-TOX Spotted at Mackay Airport

Early on Thursday 2 July, Toll Freight Aviation ATR 42-300F VH-TOX was spotted arriving into Mackay Airport from Brisbane while operating as TFX6.  The flight usually now bypasses Mackay Airport and continues direct to Townsville.

After less than an hour on the ground, VH-TOX departed Mackay Airport and indeed continued to Townsville again as TFX6.

The Toll ATR freighters usually fly direct between Brisbane and Townsville in the early morning and then in the evening with the occasional diversion to Mackay Airport.  Research reveals there have been two visits also into Mackay Airport early on Wednesday 24 June and Wednesday 17 June.

There has also been a regular weekly stop at Rockhampton Airport on a Friday evening which started in April - except for the last two weeks with the TFX5 service from Townsville to Brisbane stopping in at Cairns and then Mackay Airport respectively.

UPDATE!  On Friday 3 July, Toll Freight Aviation ATR 42-300F VH-TOX called into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville before later departing to Brisbane as TFX5.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-VGT Spotted at Mackay Airport as RPT Services Resume into the Sugar City

On Thursday 2 July, Jetstar Airways resumed Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) scheduled flights into Mackay Airport with Airbus A320 VH-VGT spotted arriving as JST888 from Brisbane.  It later returned to the capital as JST889.

Jetstar hasn't operated into Mackay since late March at the height of the recent COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Current schedules show no fixed pattern of operations at this stage, although I do note that another flight will touch down at Mackay Airport on Friday 3 July.

As we reported below, Qantas Airways started mainline RPT flights into Mackay Airport on Monday 22 June.  Qantas Boeing B737-800 VH-VYI was spotted at Mackay Airport (and as posted below) operating the QFA987/8 service from and back to Brisbane.

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The current week-daily Qantas flights are rumoured to be increasing to double-daily flights given the current high passenger numbers.

Finally, with the Nauru Airlines and the two Alliance Airlines closed Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights, as well as a QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 and the Pel-Air SAAB 340A Freighter all on the ground at once, Mackay Airport is starting to look like an airport once again!

Really great to see the region on the road to recovery!

Photos taken by 'AC' and 'JM'  ©

Some Photos of Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VYI at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

Local plane spotter 'JM' popped into Mackay Airport late on Wednesday 1 July and was able to capture some photos of Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VYI operating the scheduled QFA987/8 service from and back to Brisbane.

As posted below, Qantas resumed mainline services into Mackay Airport in their own right on Monday 22 June.  The week-daily flights are rumoured to be soon increasing to double-week-daily with demand for the flights quite healthy.

It also appears that Qantas' low-cost subsidiary airline, Jetstar Airways is resuming flights into Mackay Airport on Thursday 2 July with (at the time of writing) Airbus A320 VH-VGT pencilled in to operate the JST888/9 service from and back to Brisbane.  It is due to arrive at Mackay Airport around 9.00am.

Meanwhile, also during the afternoon on Wednesday 1 July, 'JM' also photographed the two visiting Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 jets which were operating some of the eight Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) closed charter flights.

Both Fokker F-100 jets operated a pair of flights in and out of Mackay Airport with VH-FKD operating as UTY8440/12/3 and VH-UQA operating as UTY4090/1/8444/5.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that also on Wednesday 1 July, Great Western Aviation Beech B200 King Air VH-XGV visited from Brisbane.  While Cloncurry-based Piper PA-34-200T VH-COP completed a pair of local flights and has been in the region for the last couple of weeks.

Thanks mate!

All photos taken by 'JM'  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" Calls into Bundaberg Airport

During the late afternoon on Wednesday 1 July, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport.  It arrived from Brisbane and Cairns.

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After a over an hour time on the ground at Bundy, the Challenger 604 departed Bundaberg Airport and returned to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Michael Malick  ©️

Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Bizjet VH-MMC Comes and Goes Biloela / Thangool Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 30 June, Mackellar Mining Equipment / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra bizjet VH-MMC was back in CQ, arriving into Biloela / Thangool Airport from its Sunshine Coast base.

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After spending the night, on Wednesday 1 July, VH-MMC departed Bilo and returned to the Sunny Coast.

Meanwhile, also noted visiting the region, also on Wednesday 1 July, was a pair of Air Gold Coast lighties completing various flights to various parts.  Beech 58 Baron VH-YDC made its weekly visit to Rockhampton Airport, arriving from Townsville before later departing to Archerfield and then the Gold Coast.  It flew North the previous day.

While Beech 76 Duchess VH-ZUA landed at my local Clermont Aerodrome from the Gold Coast and Archerfield before then flying up to the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's Carmichael Coal Mine site.  VH-ZUA then flew into Biloela / Thangool Airport before returning to Archerfield and its Gold Coast base.

While over the last couple of days, Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208B Caravans VH-TFS and VH-LZK have been noted completing Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights into Labona from both Townsville and Rockhampton Airports.

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Finally, also on Wednesday 1 July, Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXN flew into the Oaky Creek Mine site and then Labona from Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airport.

UPDATE!  After spending the night parked, on Thursday 2 July, VH-WXN departed Labona for Oaky Creek before returning to Wellcamp.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©