Traffic

Ánsett New Zealand took delivery of 737-130 N701AW c/n 19013 at Christchurch on May 18th. The Boeing was later registered ZK-NEA. 737-130 N702AW c/n 19015, which has since been registered ZK-NEB, flew into Christchurch on June 25th. Ansett New Zealand have named their 737 fleet as follows -ZK-NEA ‘City of Auckland’, ZK-NEB ‘City of Wellington’, ZK-NEC ‘City of Christchurch’ and ZK-NED ‘City of Nelson’.

Lloyd Aviation took delivery of their first Mohawk 298 at Adelaide Airport on June 29th. N29814 c/n 99 was ferried to Australia via Europe and the Middle East. Since registered VH-HEI, the Mohawk is expected to enter service with Lloyd on their SE Queensland routes by mid August. With their recent expansion in services Lloyd have contracted to buy a total of seven Mohawk 298’s from Pan American Commuters in the United States.

Meanwhile, Lloyd EMB-110P1 VH-KIP crossed the Tasman on May 30th on delivery to Eagle Airways, Hamilton, New Zea- land. With the entry into service of 727-277 VH-RMN, Polynesian Airlines have returned their 737-2U9 5W-PAL to the United States. Using call sign ‘Polynesian 1’ 5W-PAL flew from Sydney to Christchurch on May 4th. There it was fitted with ferry tanks before departing on May 7th on its Trans-Pacific ferry. It is expected that 5W-PAL will re-enter service with America West Airlines.

Air Queensland ATR-42 VH-AQD departed Brisbane for Darwin on June 5th on the first stage of its return to the Aerospatiale plant at Toulouse. There the aircraft will receive attention before delivery to JAT in Belgrade.

Twin Otter 300 N479WW c/n 652 was ferried from Honiara to Sydney on June 9th by Southern Cross Aviation. Previously operated by Atlantis Airlines, the Twin Otter will join the Aeropelican fleet as VH-KZN. Two other interesting Twin Otter 300’s to recently transit our region were PH-STI c/n 516 of Schreiner Airways, Holland which earlier this year was sold to a New Guinea operator. Noted in Papeete on June 18th was TR-LZN of Air Inter Gabon of West Africa.

Transcorp 707-330C VR-HTC was first noted at Sydney on May 18th after the Hong Kong based company finally received its operating certificate. The Boeing now carries the name Hong Kong, Kowloon Trader.

727-100 Biz Fleet Expands

Perth Airport now boasts a unique population of three 727-100 executive aircraft.

First to set up base was the Bond Corporation who leased 727- 30 VR-BHK c/n 18933 from Jet Aviation in Zurich. With the recent delivery of a Falcon 900 VH-BGF to the Bond Corporation fleet, it was expected that the 727 lease would be terminated. This appears not to be the case as VR-BHK flew back into Perth in early June after receiving a new paint scheme in Singapore. The Bond Corporation evidently intends to register this aircraft VH- BGV.

Next to arrive was Ric Stowe/The Griffin Group’s 727-31 N505T c/n 20115 which was first noted in late January. In mid May the Boeing arrived back in Perth after an overseas trip but now registered N505C.

The third Boeing to set up base is perhaps the most interesting. This is Boeing 727-76 N727RE c/n 20228 which was delivered to the Bell Resources Group in mid May and is used by Robert Holmes a Court. N727RE is the former VH-TJE which operated with TAA between June 1969 and 1979.

Flight West Add to King Air Fleet

On May 31st Australian Airlines terminated operations with their Jetstream 31’s on the Townsville to Mount Isa and Brisbane to Western Queensland routes. The three Jetstream VH-TQJ, VH-TQK and VH-TQL are presently stored at Brisbane Airport. On June 1st Flight West Airlines, a subsidiary of Talair New Guinea, commenced flying over the former Australian Airlines routes.

Flight West selected the King Air 200 to operate their schedules and so far they have used a variety of aircraft. They have taken a long-term lease on VH-SPQ and VH-TNQ from Skywest Airlines in Perth until they establish their own fleet. To date they have purchased King Air 200’s from New Zealand, Nor- way and the Philippines. First to arrive was the former Wilson- Neill King Air 200 ZK-WNL c/n BB-690, which was noted at Bribane Airport on May 30th after flying in from Norfolk Island. This aircraft has since been registered VH-SKN and it entered service with Flight West on July 1st. King Air 200 RP-C200 c/n BB-47 is presently in the country being overhauled and is planned to enter service in late July as VH-SKC. Arriving in Brisbane on July 14th was King Air 200 N80RG c/n BB-533. Previously flown by Partnair in Norway as LN-PAH the King Air is expected to enter service in late August.

In the July issue of ‘Traffic’ we mentioned the delivery of King Air B200 N200NS c/n BB-936. This aircraft has since been registered VH-OWN and is operated by Palmer Steel Industries of Brisbane.

Transitting Darwin on July 12th en route Bali to Mount Isa was King Air 300 N7235Z c/n FA. 63. Final destination and operator of this aircraft is at present unknown.

Nomad in Service With Read-Air

Hobart-based freight operator Read-Air have added two N-22C aircraft to their fleet. As part of Road Runners Transport in Hobart Read-Air commenced operations in 1984 using PA31-350 VH-TOT. Freight is now carried for Road Runners and McPhee Transport in Melbourne.

Nomad N-22SB’s VH-SNX and VH-SNZ were earlier this year traded in to Rex Aviation at Bankstown by Twinair, Coolangatta. The aircraft were then flown to Essendon where Airepair carried out the conversion to N-22C standard. Meanwhile, PA31 VH- TOT was traded in to Rex on the Nomads and it is presently based at Essendon after being repainted by Airspray at Moorabbin.

The Nomad’s have now settled down to operate a daily (Mon- day to Friday) service on the route Hobart/Essendon/ Launceston/Hobart. Unlike most freight operators who fly in the wee small hours, Read-Air are much more civilised, departing Hobart at 0800 and arriving back there at 1430. As a freighter the Nomad can carry up to 1,600 kilos of cargo.

Penair Fleet Update

In late 1986 long established Moorabbin-based operator Peninsula Air Services changed their name to Penair. Though Moorabbin is considered home base for Penair the bulk of their fleet is based at Essendon where they service the Victorian Air Ambulance contract, which has been held for a number of years.

In September 1986 the owner of Peninsula Air Services, Bill Suhr was one of six persons killed when Air Ambulance Cessna 402 VH-RED crashed shortly after taking off from Essendon. In spite of this tragedy the company remains in control of the Suhr family.

Aircraft used on the Victorian Air Ambulance contract are – Cessna 401 VH-KRY, Cessna 401A VH-BMN, Cessna 402 VH-BUD, VH-BUS, VH-ELZ, VH-EVF, VH-TFO and Cessna 402A VH-DZY. Cessna 310L’s VH-DTZ and VH-ELS are used for general charter work. Added to the fleet in March was MU-2J VH-JMU and at present this aircraft is on lease to a Perth based operator.

Recently added to the fleet were two Cessna 402B’s. First to arrive at Essendon was N19CW c/n 0541 which flew in on June 12th from Honiara and Brisbane. This aircraft was later registered VH-PEK. Arriving at Essendon on June 19th over the same ferry route was N211BC c/n 0913 and it has since been registe- red VH-PEH.

Ferry Flights

Outbound from Adelaide on June 20th was CASA 212 P2-CNP c/n 138. Previously registered VH-KDV with Transecutive Airlines at Essendon, the CASA was delivered to Lloyd Aviation in Adelaide earlier this year. Initially, it was thought that it would see service with Lloyd Nationair, however, it is now believed that the CASA was on delivery to an operator in Bougainville. From Adelaide P2-CNP transitted Jackson en route to Caims.

PA31-350 N4105A c/n 8252026 was noted at Essendon on June 7th and is being offered for sale by Sherrard Aviation. Another PA31-350 inbound to Australia was N5038X c/n 7852074 which flew from Honiara to Brisbane on June 8th.

Cessna 404 N43SA c/n 0042 flew Honiara to Darwin on May 19th, while Cessna 310RN4221A c/n 1378 arrived in Melbourne from Norfolk Island on June 13th.

PA23-250 N817JB flew Brisbane to Honiara on May 15th at the half-way mark of a holiday flight to the South Pacific.

N-24A VH-NOM c/n 124 arrived at Moorabbin on May 18th after completing a ferry from the United States.

Finally on May 25th DH-104 Dove VH-DHN arrived at Essendon by truck from Scheyville, NSW where the aircraft had been stored. The Dove has been purchased by the owner of sister aircraft VH-DHD which is under restoration at Moorabbin.

Amphibs Ahoy

There appears to be an added interest these days in amphibious passenger carrying aircraft.

In the July issue of ‘Traffic’ we were excited by the sight and sound of a Grumman Goose passing through our area en route to New Guinea. On top of this we can now report the arrival of another Grumman amphibian in Australia. This was Grumman G-44A Widgeon ZK-AVM which arrived in Brisbane on May 25th on completion of its Trans-Tasman crossing. Previously opera- ted by Sea Bee Air from their Mechanics Bay base on Auckland Harbour, it is believed that the Widgeon is for an operator in North Queensland. ZK-AVM c/n 1466 has previously been registered in Australia as in early 1947 as VH-AZO it arrived in Sydney by ship on delivery to the Australian Petroleum Company. After assembly at Rose Bay VH-AZO departed there in May of that year for operations in Papua New Guinea. Due mainly to its in-ability to carry a decent payload, the Widgeon was never a success with ÁPC. It was no surprise when it was sold to Tourist Air Travel in New Zealand as ZK-AVM.

Another candidate for the Australian register is DHC-3 Otter amphibian C-GOPP c/n 355. Previously operated by Orca Air, Port McNeill, British Columbia, the Otter has been purchased by an operator in SE Queensland.

Meanwhile, arriving on the Brisbane River from Bundaberg on June 25th was Beaver floatplane VH-BSL. The Beaver will operate sightseeing flights from the Brisbane River from now till the termination of Expo 88.

Noted at Archerfield in late May was another Beaver floatplane VH-OCW c/n 436. This Beaver was imported from the United States as N47005 and is believed to be for Air Whitsunday, who are evidently adding another two of this type to their fleet.

Bizjet News

This section of the industry is very active at present with quite a number of aircraft changing hands. Highlights of the period include the delivery of a third BAe125-800B to New Zealand plus the addition of a Falcon 20F, Learjet 25B and Westwind to the Australian register.

BAe125-800B ZK-TCB flew direct from Darwin to Auckland on June 29th while on delivery to Wilson-Neill Ltd. , in Dunedin. The BAe125 replaces in service King Air 200 ZK-WNL which was recently sold in Australia (see Flight West Airlines). ZK-TCB is the third BAe125-800B to be registered in New Zealand since December and in prospect is a fourth for delivery to a Wellington based operator in early September.

Abe Jet Charter in Sydney have added Falcon 20F VH-FAX c/n 247 to their fleet. It is believed that VH-FAX arrived in Sydney on June 28th on the termination of its delivery flight from the United States. There the Falcon was previously operated by Shell Avia- tion as N730S. The appropriately registered VH-FAX will join Cit- ation 550 VH-SWL in the Abe Jet Charter fleet.

Lloyd Aviation have also added a third Learjet to their fleet. First noted in Adelaide on June 12th, Learjet 25B VH-LJB c/n 180 will be used on Lloyd’s military target towing contract. VH-LJB is not a new aircraft to the Australian register as in September 1974 it was delivered to B. S. Stillwell & Co at Essendon as VH-BLJ. In April 1980, VH-BLJ was exported to the United States and has seen service there and in Canada. When purchased by Lloyds it carried the U. S. registration N95BS with its last owner being Bermar B. Stillwell! Bougainville Copper have sold their Westwind P2-BCM to the Woodger Group of Companies. Now registered VH-JPW c/n 317, the Westwind was first noted in Brisbane on May 15th. This is another Bizjet which has been registered in Australia before, though only for a very short period of time. In early June 1981 the Westwind carried the registration VH-AYI to cover its delivery flight from Israel to Australia before handover to Bougainville Copper. It is believed that another Westwind is due shortly from the United States for Bougainville Copper. In the interim, they are using Learjet 35A VH-LGH.

Skywest Airlines in Perth have terminated operations by their Bizjet department. At the start of 1987 they had three aircraft on line. They were Falcon 50 VH-SFJ, BAе125-800B VH-III and Westwind VH-SQH. The Falcon 50, which was used by Ric Stowe, has not been sighted in Australia since late February and is evidently overseas awaiting sale. BAe125-800B VH-III has been sold to the ANZ Banking Group and it was noted at Essendon, where it will be based, in early July. Westwind VH-SQH has returned to the leasing company in Melbourne who own it. In early July it was noted in the Airspray hangar at Moorabbin being given a new colour scheme.

The Department of Aviation will replace one of their F28’s with a BAe 125-700 (refer p11, May AA). The successful tenderer was Ansett and through their subsidiary Pacific Aviation, they will supply VH-JFT to the Department. VH-JFT departed Essendon in late June for the UK, where it will be refurbished prior to delivery to the Department in November.

In the July issue of ‘Traffic’ we mentioned that we were having difficulty identifying Citation 500 VH-OIL. It now appears that this aircraft is the former VH-FSQ which was operated by Flight Safety. VH-OIL is based at Perth Airport with Corpair and not the company we stated. Other Citation news concerns the former Purcells, model 500 VH-POZ. This aircraft has spent the last six months with Rex Aviation at Bankstown. There VH-POZ was converted into a flying camera. Now registered EC-EDN, the Cit- ation departed Bankstown on July 11th for Barcelona where it will be operated by the Institute Cartographic de Cataluna.