Traffic

Aircruising Australia put their second F27 into service on April 22nd. F27-700 N146PM c/n 10176 was delivered to Essendon in late December and after overhaul and painting in the IPEC hangar, the aircraft was rolled out registered VH-JCC.

Transiting Brisbane on April 28th were three Air Tahiti Fairchild FH-227s. These aircraft, which have been replaced in service by the ATR42, were being ferried from Tahiti to Toulouse. The aircraft noted at Brisbane were FH-2278 F-ODMP c/n 532, F-ODMR c/n 533 and F-ODBY c/n 117. The three aircraft flew into Brisbane from Noumea and headed West through Longreach and Alice Springs to Broome.

Ansett took delivery of Fokker 50 VH-FNJ c/n 20115 at Melbourne on March 28th. The 10th and final Fokker 50 to be delivered to Ansett in Australia will be VH-FND c/n 20129, which is now due in late June. Fokker 50 c/n 20116, which at one time was the prospective VH-FNK, has been leased by Ansett Worldwide to Austrian Air Services as OE-LFY. C/n 20117 has also been leased to the same airline as OE-LFZ.

With the Fokker 50 now firmly established in service with Air NSW and Ansett, it was originally planned that the F27 fleet would be reduced to three units. The aircraft to be retained were the F27-400s VH-FNO, VH-FNQ and VH-FNR with Ansett Air Freight providing the bulk of their flying. As of mid-May however, two other F27s still remain in service with Ansett. In Melbourne F27-200 VH-MMO refuses to join the ranks of the unemployed, while F27-500 VH-FCC was moved in early May to Cairns based operations. VH-FCC, which still carries Air NSW titles, will operate passenger flights in North Queensland and on the Queensland Coast.

Ferry Flights

Once again this section is dominated by the Piper PA-31 as it appears that operators in Australia and New Zealand cannot find enough of this popular type. Information on the import of four PA31-350s for Hazelton Airlines can be found elsewhere, while below we have record of another six which arrived in this period.

PA31-350 N710AN c/n 7852003 flew into Sydney from Pago Pago on March 26th. PA31-350 N27811 c/n 7852146 flew from Honiara to Brisbane on April 8th. Later noted at Moorabbin this Chieftain carries the letters WAE on its tail. Another Moorabbin arrival was PA31-325CR N4094U c/n 8112062 which was noted in the Aus-Air hangar on April 27th. PA31-350 N4084T c/n 8152106 flew into Brisbane on April 7th from Honiara. This aircraft was later noted at Bankstown. PA31-350 N27369 c/n 7852012 arrived in Sydney on April 27th from Norfolk Island after completing its Transpacific ferry flight. On April 26th PA31-350 N3536C landed at Christchurch Airport after flying in from Pago Pago. This aircraft was on delivery to local commuter operator Pacifica Air.

Cessna 310R N1345G c/n 0028 flew Majuro to Townsville on April 22nd while Cessna 310 N3483G flew Honiara to Melbourne on April 17th. On April 14th Cessna 205 N4804U c/n 0504 arrived in Sydney from Honiara.

Baron 58 N333MV c/n TH-1213 flew from Norfolk Island to Sydney on March 23rd, while another Baron 58 N44MH c/n TH-615 flew into Brisbane from Honiara on April 6th.

The opening of Expo 88 brought Partenavia P-68TC I-VIPY c/n 351-36-TC into Brisbane on April 26th. Flown to Australia by Worldwide Aircraft Ferrying of Toronto, Canada I-VIPY was trucked to the Expo site, where it will remain for the duration, outside the Italian stand.

DHC-2 Beaver ZK-CRE c/n 1613 arrived in Sydney on March 26th after completing its Trans-Tasman crossing. The Beaver was later noted at Bankstown registered VH-CEV. Another Beaver to be imported in this period was N9067F c/n 1444. Perhaps the most interesting aircraft to ferry in this period was DHA-3 Drover ZK-DDD. Previously based at Christchurch the Drover departed Auckland for Norfolk Island on April 4th. It was noted at Sydney Airport on the 9th heading south for Berwick, Victoria where it is now resident. ZK-DDD c/n 5019 started its life in June 1956 with the Royal Flying Doctor Service as VH-FDA.

Propjet News

This was an extremely busy period for propjet imports with no fewer than six new aircraft being noted. Beech King Air 200C N18608 c/n BL-48 flew into Sydney on March 17th on completion of its Transpacific ferry. Another King Air 200 to arrive in the country was RP-C5129 c/n 88-358 of the Philippine Construction and Development Corporation. This aircraft flew into Perth on March 27th from Denpasar and Port Hedland and was still resident as of late May. King Air C90 N6139U c/n LJ-1011 arrived in Brisbane on March 30th from Majuro. In May Traffic’ we mentioned the arrival of King Air E90 N1762K c/n LW-222. Imported by Aeromil, this King Air has since been registered VH-MTG to the Moran Health Group of Sydney. National Safety Council King Air 200C VH-NSE c/n BL-10 was noted at Port Hedland on March 25th. VH-NSE had departed the NSCA base at West Sale that morning and was on return ferry to Conair Aviation in British Columbia. It is also believed that NSCAKing Air 200 VH-NSS c/n 88-12 has departed the country now that the fire season has finished in Australia.

Cessna 425 N12218 c/n 0195 arrived in Sydney from Suva on March 22nd, while Cessna 441 N45FM c/n 0159 flew into Brisbane from Honiara on March 15th. It is believed that one of these aircraft will join the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia as VH-EGR.

Noted at Essendon on May 9th was MU-2P N399SP c/n 371SA. This MU-2 is being brought on to the Australian register by the Business Aviation Centre for a local owner. Also being worked on in the Business Aviation Centre hangar is Commander 690 VH-BSS. This aircraft which carries the markings of Gold Crown Aviation has been a static resident at Essendon for at least two years. While on the subject of static propjets we might also mention the Merlin Ills VH-CAL and VH7CAM. These two aircraft arrived at Essendon in August 1986 after being purchased by Pacific Aviation from Civil Flying Services. Both aircraft have been overhauled and repainted however they remain firmly on the ground.

Hazelton Fleet Expansion

With the rationalisation of intrastate air routes in NSW (refer p15 May AA), Hazelton Airlines have expanded their network by taking over a number of ports that were previously operated to by Air NSW. To meet this expansion Hazelton have added six aircraft to their commuter fleet. Hazelton Airlines will be the first Australian operator of the Beech 1900C-1, which they plan to take delivery of in early July. The Beech 1900C-1 will be registered VH-WPA c/n UC-31.

A second Bandeirante, which has been purchased in the United States, will also join the fleet. EMB-110P1 N141EM c/n 441 is a 1984 model which was previously operated by the Texas based commuter airline Air Spirit. N141EM was due to arrive at Cudal on May 25th and it will enter service as VH-WPE.

Hazelton are already a major operator of the Piper PA31-350 Chieftain however they are adding another four, which will give them a total of twelve of this popular type in their fleet. The first to be delivered was N41064 c/n 8252039 which arrived at Cudal on April 18th. This aircraft has since entered service as VH-MZF. Next in was N4095U c/n 8152180 which arrived on May 12th and will become VH-MZK. The final two aircraft were due for delivery in late May N4096Y c/n 8152187 to VH-MZM and N41011 c/n 8252016 to VH-MZX.

In ‘Traffic’ May we mentioned the delivery of EMB-110P1 N108CA c/n 241. This Bandeirante, which was imported by Aeromil, has been sold to the Melbourne based, Shuttle Airlines. Now registered VH-CRG the Bandeirante was delivered in late May after certification by P&T Aviation at Bankstown and painting by Douglas Aviation at Tocumwal. Shuttle Airlines will use their Bandeirante to operate a series of package tours around

Exit Air Queensland

On April 30th Cairns based Air Queensland ceased operations. At that time seven aircraft remained in service-F27- 600 VH-TQS/VH-TQT and DHC6-300 VH-AQB/VH-TGF/ VH-TGG/WH-TGH/VH-TGI. The last Air Queensland flight on April 30th was QN4687 which was operated by VH-TGĤ from Dunk Island to Townsville.

From May 1st Australian Airlines took over operations of the two F27s and the routes from Cairns to Weipa, Bamaga and Thursday Island. Both these aircraft carry TAA colours with Air Queensland titling. Meanwhile, the five Twin Otters joined the fleet of the newly formed Australian Regional Airlines (Queens- land) P/L,-trading as Australian Regional. They will operate on the routes Cairns to Lizard Island, Cairns to Dunk Island, Townsville to Dunk Island, Mackay to Brampton Island and on the coast between Townsville, Proserpine, Mackay and Rockhampton. All the Twin Otters are now carrying the new Australian Airlines colours though they are flying in the interim with no titles.

The former Air Queensland routes from Cairns to Cooktown and from Cairns to Iron Range were taken over by the commuter operator Sunbird Airlines.

Falcon Jet Fleet Changes

This period saw two new Falcon jets delivered to companies in our area.

North Kalgoorlie Mines P/L, took delivery of their Falcon 900 VH-BGV c/n 032 in the United States on April 18th. This is the second Falcon 900 on the Australian register and VH-BGV joins VH-BGF which has operated with parent company. The Bond Corporation, since April 1987. With the delivery of their second Falcon 900 it does appear as though the Bond Corporation have terminated their lease on Boeing 727-30 VR-BHK, as the aircraft has not been sighted in Perth for some weeks.

Arriving in Auckland on April 26th was Falcon 100 ZK-MAZ c/n 213. The first of its type in our region the Falcon 100 was on delivery to Moana Airlines who are part of the Goodman Fielder-Watties Group of companies. Moana Airlines already operate Falcon 200 ZK-MAY and the Falcon 100 will join it at their Nelson base. Australian based Falcon distributors Hawker Pacific will take delivery of a Falcon 100 demonstrator in late June. The aircraft concerned is c/n 216 which as N276FJ was registered to the Falcon Jet Corporation in December 1987. When delivered to Hawker Pacific the Falcon 100 will operate under US registration N100H.

It would appear that two of the Falcon jets, previously operated by Ariadne (Australia) P/L, have returned to the United States. Ariadne, who were badly hit by the stockmarket crash last October, operated three Falcon jets-Falcon 10 VH-DJT, Falcon 200 VH-HPJ and Falcon 50 VH-PDJ. After the crash the Falcon 200 and Falcon 50 remained on the ground at Brisbane Airport. On April 26th the Falcon 50 VH-PDJ and Falcon 200 VH-HPJ both left Brisbane on Transpacific ferry to the United States.

Noted at Bankstown on March 29th was Central Bank of the Philippines Falcon 20F RP-C1980 c/n 400. After receiving maintenance at Hawker Pacific, the Falcon was noted ferrying through Rockhampton on April 5th en route to Cairns.

We have mentioned before in this column about the impending delivery of a Gulfstream II for a Melbourne based company. Hopefully by the time this is read the aircraft should be in the country. In early March Gulfstream II VH-HKR c/n 069 ex N45YP was noted at Dallas-Love Field being prepared for delivery to Australia.

Nomads for the United States Customs

The United States Customs Service took delivery of the first of seven Nomad Searchmaster aircraft in late April.

On April 10th Heavylift Cargo Airlines Short Belfast G-BFYU flew out of Melbourne Airport bound for Nadi and its final destination of Miami, Florida. On board were the first two N-22SL Searchmaster aircraft, c/n 164 and c/n 165, for the US Customs. On arrival in Miami the N-22SLs were reassembled and painted in the facilities of the Miami Aviation Corporation at Opa Locka Airport. The official handover ceremony was made on April 22nd and by this time c/n 164 had been registered VH-HMZ. The Nomads allocated for the US Customs order are c/n 159 thru 165. It is planned that the next two N-22SLS will also be flown to Miami on board a Heavylift Belfast. Departure date will be June 18th with one of the Nomads being c/n 161. Delivery of all seven aircraft to the US Customs is to be completed by late August. Inbound to Australia on April 6th the Heavylift Belfast brought in two S-76As N176CH c/n 0122 and N177CH c/n 0166. Previously operated by Columbia Helicopters of Portland, Oregon the S-76As were on delivery to Helicopter Resources. After being off loaded in Sydney the S-76As were trucked to Bankstown where they were reassembled. Later registered VH-HRP and VH-HRQ they were flown to the Helicopter Resources main base at Tyabb, Victoria (refer Rotor Torque).

Other interesting helicopter imports in this period include Agusta 109 N977SW c/n 7137, which was noted operating in the Brisbane city area on April 20th. Also to join the Australian register is a second Agusta 109 N48BL c/n 7216 and AS-335F Twin-Star N125HB c/n 5013.

Boeing Boeing Boeing

Qantas took delivery of Boeing 747-123 VH-EEI c/n 20108 at Sydney on April 13th. Using call sign Qantas 500D the Boeing flew in from Singapore, where it had been painted in the colours of Air Pacific. VH-EEI has been dry leased by Qantas from Citicorp for operation by Air Pacific. The Boeing, which carries the name “Island of Viti Levu’ entered service with Air Pacific on April 27th when it operated FJ911 from Sydney to Nadi. VH-EEI c/n 20108 was built on order for American Airlines and was delivered to them in November 1970 as N9669. In 1987 Citicorp leased the Boeing to the newly formed UK operator Highland Express as G-HIHO, and it spent the summer flying from its Prestwick base across the North Atlantic.

Boeing 747-238B VH-EBB, which was previously used by Air Pacific returned to Qantas service in late May after it was painted back in Qantas colours. The third Boeing 747-238B to carry Air Pacific colours, VH-EBK, continues to fly on Qantas routes, while it awaits its turn to enter the hangar for repainting in Qantas livery.

Former Qantas Boeing 747-238B VH-EBG flew out of Sydney on May 6th on ferry to Los Angeles. The Boeing carried the colours of the Israeli National Airline EIAI, however it was devoid of any titles. On arrival in Los Angeles the Boeing was handed over to EIAI and registered 4X-AXQ.

In ‘Traffic’ May we mentioned that the RAAF had purchased two Boeing 707-368Cs from Boeing Military. In fact it now appears that three aircraft have been added to the RAAF inventory. The third aircraft to arrive in the country was Boeing 707-368C N1486B c/n 19809, which flew into Richmond on March 16th. It is believed that this aircraft has been purchased as a source of spares for the remainder of the Boeing 707 fleet. N1486B c/n 19809 was built on order by Saudi Arabian Airlines and was delivered to them as HZ-ACC in January 1968.

Australia got its first look at the -300 version of the Boeing 767 on May 9th when Lauda Air commenced a weekly service on the route Vienna/Bangkok/Sydney using their newly delivered- Boeing 767-3Z9ER OE-LAU c/n 23765.

Air New Zealand have terminated the dry lease of Britannia Airways Boeing 737-204 G-BHWF. The Boeing was leased to cover planned maintenance on the Air New Zealand fleet. G-BHWF arrived in Christchurch on January 22nd and entered service on the 24th. It operated its last flight for Air New Zealand on April 28th on the Invercargill to Christchurch route. G-BHWF departed Christchurch on April 30th on its return to the UK.

Ansett New Zealand have announced that they will take delivery of two Boeing 737-200s this year. The first of these air- craft, which will be delivered in July, will be registered ZK-NEE. The Boeing concerned is 737-209 c/n 22575 which is the former Polynesian Airlines aircraft 5W-PAL. This will be this aircraft’s third trip to the South Pacific since it was first delivered to Polynesian Airlines in March 1981. The prospective ZK-NEE is presently flying with the Phoenix based America West Airlines as N149AW.