Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) SAAB 340B VH-VEB Spotted at My Local Clermont Aerodrome - Plus More!

On Friday 7 January, Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) SAAB 340B VH-VEB was spotted visiting my local Clermont Aerodrome.

It looked to arrive direct from Brisbane and later departed to Emerald Airport and then back to Brisbane.

I was told that this is a new Flu-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter run which will call into Clermont Aerodrome each Monday and Friday.

And about the same time, fellow Link Airways SAAB 340B VH-VEF called into Mackay Airport, arriving from and later departing back to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 7 January, Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525A Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-ZIY flew down from Hamilton Island Airport to the Sunshine Coast.  It had arrived from there on Thursday 6 January.

Also departing Hamilton Island Airport was Corporate Aviation Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopter VH-EQP which returned to its Southport base via Gladstone Airport.  It had arrived into Hamo from these places back on Monday 27 December.

Torrens Creek (Hughenden) based SOCATA TBM700 VH-CEA called into Rockhampton Airport from the Gold Coast.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 8 January, VH-CEA departed Rockhampton Airport for Aberfloyle.

While Aircair Aviation (Aircair Helicopters) Cessna 340A VH-MPQ called into Longreach Airport from Moree (Beela) before it then departed to Richmond.

And the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK made its first visit to the region for the year, arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville before it then departed to Brisbane.  It then returned to Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane before departing directly back to Cairns.

Finally, on Thursday 6 January, the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ was noted visiting Bowen Airport from Brisbane.

And recently re-registered Sydney-based Next Aviation Beech 58 Baron VH-DMN called into Emerald Airport from Mareeba before it later departed to Dubbo and Bathurst.

Hevilift Australia (former Virgin Australia) ATR 72-500 VH-FVL Calls into Moranbah Airport

New year, new aircraft to spot!

On Friday 7 January, Hevilift Australia (Fixed Wing Division) ATR 72-500 VH-FVL was noted visiting Moranbah Airport on one of their week-daily Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights from and back to Brisbane as HT721/2.

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VH-FVL had only flown down to Brisbane from Cairns and Townsville the previous day after spending the previous couple of months in Far North Queensland since it entered service with charter airline in October.

The former Virgin Australia ATR 72 had departed Australia in July 2017 for storage at Nelson in New Zealand.  It returned to Australia via Brisbane and then Cairns in early March 2020.  

VH-FVL remained parked at Cairns and was photographed in June 2021 looking slightly worse for wear.

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VH-FVL was then photographed in late September 2021 (above) soon after being rolled out of the hangar in the full titles and livery of Hevilift Australia.  

It looked to enter service with Hevilift on closed Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights between Townsville and Osborne Mine and also Cairns and Mount Gordon Copper Mine.

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©️

LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 Bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" Pops into Mackay Airport

Before dawn on Thursday 6 January, LifeFlight (Aeromed) LearJet 45 bizjet VH-VVI "Ambulance 451" was noted arriving into Mackay Airport from Townsville.

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After over an hour on the ground, it departed Mackay Airport and returned to Townsville.

Photo taken by Peter Sajko  ©

Redjet Aviation (Toowoomba) Dassault Mystere Falcon 50 Bizjet VH-FJQ Overnight Visit to Mackay Airport - Plus More!

Late on Tuesday 4 January, Redjet Aviation (Toowoomba) Falcon 50 Dassault Mystere Falcon 50 VH-FJQ was noted visiting Mackay Airport.  It looked to arrive from Darwin, Denpasar (Bali) and Townsville.

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After spending the night, on Wednesday 5 January, VH-FJQ departed Mackay Airport for the Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 5 January, Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO visited Hamilton Island Airport once again, this time arriving from and later departing back to Bankstown.

Photo taken by Simon Coates  ©️

Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) SAAB 340B VH-VEB Calls into Mackay and Emerald Airports - Plus A Couple Bizjets Around Whitsunday Airports!

On Tuesday 4 January, Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) SAAB 340B VH-VEB was noted and spotted visiting a couple of Central Queensland Airports.

It flew up from Brisbane to Mackay Airport before flying across to Emerald Airport where it was spotted above.  VH-VEB then returned to Brisbane.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 4 January, there were yet more corporate bizjet and other movements into some Whitsunday Airports.

Jampair P/L (Navair Flight Operations) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-NSQ visited Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Bankstown.

While Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU looked to arrive into Hamilton Island Airport from Melbourne (Moorabbin) before it later returned there via Melbourne (Essendon).

And after arriving from there on the weekend, Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO departed Hamilton Island Airport for Bankstown.

Finally, also on Tuesday 4 January, it seems that Machjet (Machjet International) Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air VH-ZSY also visited Hamilton Island Airport from its Sunshine Coast base.

And ZephAir Australia Piper PA-34-220T Seneca VH-YSI departed Mackay Airport for Townsville.  It seems to have been undergoing planned maintenance with it arriving in November.

All photos taken by 'AC'  ©

LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" Pops into Rockhampton Airport

Before dawn on Tuesday 4 January, LifeFlight (Aeromed) Bombardier Challenger 604 bizjet VH-URR "Ambulance 604" was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Brisbane.

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After a couple of hours on the ground, VH-URR "Ambulance 604" departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Brisbane.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Property Maintenance Australia P/L Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-WJA Spotted at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour - Plus More!

On Monday 3 January, Property Maintenance Australia P/L Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-WJA was spotted departing the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It headed up to Hicks Island and then Weipa before returning to Hicks Island.

VH-WJA had arrived into Shute Harbour from Dubbo on Monday 27 December,

UPDATE!  On Thursday 6 December, VH-WJA flew into Emerald Airport from Hicks Island before heading back to Dubbo.

Also departing the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour, also on Monday 3 January, was Raytheon 58 Baron VH-EZR.  It departed to its Chinchilla base after looking to arrive from there on Friday 31 December.

It's also worth mentioning that fellow Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-BEV of Milbrae Quarries / Pegasus Air also recently visited the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It too arrived from Dubbo on Monday 27 December but then departed to Redcliffe.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 3 January, three corporate bizjets were noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.

Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX visited from Sydney.

BHMM Aviation (Flight Options - Australia) Cessna 650 Citation VII bizjet VH-SSZ visited from the Gold Coast.

And Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY arrived from Melbourne (Moorabbin) and the Sunshine Coast before then departing to Mackay Airport and then Yarrawonga, Melbourne (Essendon) and back to Moorabbin. 

Finally, also on Monday 3 January, Brisbane-based Canex Helicopters Robinson R44 VH-NOA arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the North and later departed to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and Archerfield.

Photo taken by Lee Holloway  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-IWX (ex 9V-MGP) First Visit to CQ at Mackay and Proserpine Airports

On Monday 3 January, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-IWX was photographed and noted making its first visit into a couple of Central Queensland Airports after it was acquired by the airline from Singapore Airlines (SilkAir).

VH-IWX made its first visit to CQ operating from and back to Brisbane on the VOZ605/608 service to Mackay Airport before it was then spotted operating the VOZ1117/8 service to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport, again from and back to Brisbane.

As mentioned below, B737-800 was previously operated by SilkAir (now merged with Singapore Airlines) as 9M-MGP and was delivered to Virgin Australia in Brisbane in late November.  After being promptly placed on the Australian Aircraft Register and VH-IWX, it spent a week at Townsville in early December where it was re-painted in to a simple plain white livery.

VH-IWX departs Brisbane for re-painting

A week later, VH-IWX entered service with Virgin Australia on Saturday 18 December.  It becomes the fourth former SilkAir B737-800 to enter service with the airline.

As mentioned below, Virgin Australia will take delivery of seven former SilkAir B737-800 aircraft. With SilkAir now merged with parent airline, Singapore Airlines, these aircraft were deemed surplus to requirements. SilkAir moved to dispose of the planes earlier this year. It is reported these aircraft are 9V-MGF, 9V-MGG, 9V-MGH, 9V-MGI, 9V-MGJ, 9V-MGP, and 9V-MGQ.

9V-MGH was delivered to Virgin Australia in Brisbane on Thursday 9 December with it promptly placed on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-IJW.  It is pictured below returning to Brisbane from Townsville on Tuesday 21 December after being re-painted.

VH-IJW is yet to enter service.

And 9V-MGQ was delivered to Virgin Australia at Brisbane on Thursday 30 December.  

It looks to have been re-registered as VH-IWY but is currently still in Brisbane.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Lloyd Fox  ©

Burbank Homes / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Raytheon Hawker 850XP Bizjet VH-BMW Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Sunday 2 January, Brellarmo P/L (Burbank Homes) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-BMW was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.

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It looked to arrive from Melbourne (Tullamarine) and later depart to the Sunshine Coast.

Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000LX bizjet VH-WIO was noted also arriving into Hamilton Island Airport but from its Bankstown base.

It seems that VH-WIO is spending at least the night parked on Hamo.

UPDATE!  On Tuesday 4 January, VH-WIO departed Hamilton Island Airport and returned to Bankstown.

And as predicted, Shortstop Jet Charter Dassault Falcon 900C bizjet VH-OAA was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport once again.  It looked to arrive from Melbourne (Essendon) via Sydney before then later returning to Sydney.

VH-OAA had visited Hamo the previous day.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 2 January, M. D. H. P/L (Cloncurry) Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-UJM visited Hamo from Archerfield.  It did the same last Monday 27 December.

Finally, also on Sunday 2 January, BPW Aviation / Airspeed Aviation Beech 58 Baron VH-SQC arrived into Mackay Airport from Tamworth and later departed to Archerfield and back to Tamworth.

While Sunshine Coast-based Pacific Aerospace CT/4B basic trainer VH-YAB flew up to from Caloundra to Mackay Airport and stayed.

UPDATE!  On Monday 3 January, VH-YAB looked to depart Mackay Airport for the South-West.

And Heli-Central (Emerald) Bell Helicopter Textron 205A-1 'Huey' helicopter VH-HUE departed Emerald Airport for Roma Airport and ports further South with it ending the day Albury.

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It appears that VH-HUE arrived into Emerald Airport at the start of December.

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

Shortstop Jet Charter Dassault Falcon 900C Bizjet VH-OAA Pops into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

Happy New Year!

On Saturday 1 January, Shortstop Jet Charter Dassault Falcon 900C bizjet VH-OAA was noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport.  It looked to arrive from Melbourne (Essendon) via Sydney.

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After a short time on the ground, VH-OAA departed Hamilton island Airport for Brisbane and then Essendon.

At the time of writing, VH-OAA is scheduled to call into Hamo again on Sunday 2 January.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 1 January, Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX was also noted visiting Hamilton Island Airport. It arrived from and then later departed back to Sydney.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©