Traffic

In ‘Traffic’ January we mentioned the delivery of MU-2G N318MA c/n 512, however this aircraft was not registered to Great Western Aviation as we stated. MU-2G N318MA c/n 512 was on delivery to Western NSW Airlines at Wagga and it has since been registered to them as VH-WMU. About this time Great Western Aviation did put an MU-2, VH-MUG on the line and this is what caused the confusion. We were initially puzzled as to the previous identity but have now solved the problem as follows. In November 1987 Great Western took delivery of MU-2J N85JG c/n 612. This was registered to them the following month as VH-MUT. In the interim, the Department in Canberra found that VH-MUT had been incorrectly allocated so VH-MUT became VH-MUG. There also appears to be a change of registration pending for MU-2B VH-JWO. This all black aircraft was noted at Darwin in January with the registration deleted from its fin. Sitting close by was a Commander 681 carrying the registration VH-JWO! It would appear that the MU-2B VH-JWO has been traded in to Amann Aviation and will be registered to them as VH-NYM. The Commander 681 VH-JWO is c/n 6039 which was imported by Amann as N420MA but was never allocated an Australian registration.

In ‘Traffic’ January we speculated that the arrival in Australia of King Air 300 ZK-KSL c/n FA-105 might see this aircraft becoming VH-KDV with National Homes. As it turned out ZK-KSL did not stop its ferry flight in Australia but kept going till it reached the United States where it has since become N378MF. On November 16th King Air 300 N31800 c/n FA-165 arrived in Brisbane from Honiara. Dare we suggest that this is the prospective VH-KDV? Also ferrying into Australia was King Air B200 c/n BB-990. This aircraft arrived at Bankstown on December 11th from Port Moresby and Cairns. On the 13th it was noted at Bankstown carrying two registrations P2-VIC/N61369. The King Air is believed on delivery to Hevi Lift (PNG) P/L.

Also noted at Bankstown on December 13th was King Air B200C VH-AMB of the NSW Aerial Ambulance. This aircraft is the King Air N3228X c/n BL-131 that was on display at the Richmond Air Show. Also in attendance was RFDS/Broken Hill King Air 200 VH-MSU. Though not confirmed this aircraft is believed to be King Air B200C N1860B c/n BL-48 which was delivered to Hawker Pacific in March 1988. Other King Air 200 news concerns the sale by Aeromil of two NSCA aircraft to Lloyd Aviation Jet Charter in Queensland. These aircraft are King Air 200Cs VH-NSE and VH-NSG. Knowing how the NSCA like to hang on to their registrations, it seems fairly certain that both these aircraft will change registrations.

The Cessna 425/441 is becoming increasingly popular with Australian operators. Recent deliveries have included Cessna 441 N441HW c/n 0174 from Tarawa to Brisbane on November 8th, Cessna 441 N4180G c/n 0106 from Norfolk Island Canberra on November 14th. Another recently imported Cessna 441 is N990AR c/n 0113. In ‘Traffic’ January we mentioned the pending delivery of Cessna 441 VH-ANJ c/n 0132 ex N441SS to Air North. After certification at Parafield, VH-ANJ headed west and not north being delivered to Corpair in Perth on November 30th.

Commuter Notes

The arrival of the first Australian registered DHC-8 for Eastern Australia Airlines and the delivery and entry into service of Hazelton Airlines Shorts 360 are the highlights of this report.

Eastern Australia took delivery of their first DHC-8-100 at Sydney Airport on January 14th. VH-TQO c/n 004 is an early model Dash 8 which has visited Australia before as C-GGPJ of de Havilland Canada. The aircraft has since flown with a number of operators with the last being Air Atlantic. VH-TQO carries Australian Airlines . ,,olours with Eastern Australia titles. The second DHC-8-100 for Eastern Australia will be VH-TQP c/n 135.

Hazelton Airlines took delivery of their Shorts 360-300 G-BOEJ on December 5th. As VH-MJU it entered service on the 19th. Pel Air Shorts 330 VH-KNO has completed the contract which saw it flying between Darwin and the Nabarlek mine. On January 7th it was ferried south out of Darwin to Sydney, where it is now parked. It appears that another Shorts 330 could be heading for Australia. Overseas reports state that N487NS c/n SH-3056 has been sold to a Northern Territory operator.

Australian Regional Twin Otter 300 VH-AQB was written off in an accident at Dunk Island on November 18th. The fuselage of VH-AQB was noted in the Australian Airlines hangar at Brisbane Airport in early January. It is expected that a Twin Otter will be imported by Australian Regional to replace VH-AQB. Essendon based Sherrard Aviation are importing another Twin Otter into our area. Twin Otter 200 C-FMOL c/ri 147 crossed the Pacific in late January on delivery to New Guinea based Curtin Brothers. Sunstate Airlines have sold one of their Bandeirantes to Shuttle Airlines of Melbourne with VH-FCE being delivered to Essendon on January 5th. The following day VH-FCE operated

“its first charter for Shuttle. Meanwhile Bandeirante VH-CRG which was the original Shuttle Airlines aircraft has changed hands. VH-CRG was imported by Aeromil in April last year. After being painted in Shuttle colours, it was flown to Adelaide where it commenced flying on lease to Lloyd. In September the ownership of the aircraft passed to Moorabbin-based Aus-Air though for the foreseeable future VH-CRG will remain on lease to Lloyd.

Sunstate Airlines/Mildura have been awarded a five year contract to operate the Victorian Air Ambulance service from Essendon. This contract will commence on March 1st and will be taken over from the present operator Penair. To service the contract Sunstate will import four Cessna 404s from the United States. All were due in Australia by late January and will be registered to Sunstate as VH-WZJ, WZK, WZL and WZM.

Metro 111 N31077 c/n AC-508 flew into Nelson from Pago Pago on November 25th on delivery to local operator Air Nelson. The Metro has since entered service as ZK-NSW.

As forecast in ‘Traffic’ January, Adelaide based commuter operator Air Transit have added a Twin Otter to their fleet. Still carrying the livery of its previous owner Trans World Express, Twin Otter 200 N655MA c/n 226 arrived in Adelaide on December 31st. With Air Transit the Twin Otter will be registered VH-ATK.

Ferry Flights

A great start to 1989 with the arrival of a Grumman Goose from New Zealand and a DH104Dove from the UK.

Grumman Goose ZK-ENY c/n 1145 of Canterbury Planes flew into Sydney from Lord Howe Island on January 5th. Initial reports suggested that the Goose was heading for Coolangatta. How ever instead it flew south and west to Hamilton via Berwick. What a Grumman Goose is doing sitting in the middle of the Western District of Victoria is a story we will be following up.

Not all aircraft Imported to Australia arrive by air. In fact quite a percentage come through our ports. DH104 Dove G-ASMG c/n 04533 was one such aircraft. The Dove was purchased by Ted Rudge in the UK and after being crated was loaded on board the SS Poznan at Tilbury Docks. The Poznan sailed from there on November 28th and arrived in Melbourne on January 6th. The Dove was then moved by road to Moorabbin where it will be assembled. Ted already owns two Doves – the beautifully restored VH-DHD and the stored VH-DHN. The subject of Doves also took us to Kyneton, Victoria in early January to inspect the long-term rebuild of VH-DHA. We were also surprised to find on the field no fewer than five US registered aircraft that had evidently been crated in. These aircraft were Cessna 1820 N759RY, PA28-181s N6219H and N2574Q, PA28R-201 N2872M and Cessna 152 N6500L.

Queen Air 70 N451CC c/n LB-23 arrived in Sydney from Honiara on November 18th. The aircraft was on delivery to local operator Air Eastern, who already operate Queen Air’s VH-AEL and VH-AEQ. When noted at Bankstown in mid January the Queen Air was carrying Air Eastern titles and had been registered VH-XAE.

Cessna 310R N310WB c/n 0551 arrived in Darwin in mid November. The aircraft was on delivery to the Maningrida Progress Association and has since been registered VH-MPZ. Staywood Air ferried two PA-31s across the Pacific in early December. Arriving at Melbourne Airport on the 6th were PA31-350 N41160 c/n 8452001 and PA31 N237KX c/n 7300918. After clearing customs the PA31s continued on to Staywood’s home base at Warnambool. Another PA31-350 to arrive in this period N27681 c/n 7852104 ferried Honiara to Brisbane on December 17th. Other Piper arrivals were PA34-200T N51 LL c/n 7870416 from Honiara to Townsville on December 12th and PA44 N36479 from Norfolk Island to Melbourne on December 6th.

Helicopter Movements

The popularity of the Sikorsky S-76 continues with three more examples being imported in this period.

Helicopter Resources (Offshore) P/L have purchased another two S-76s and both these helicopters arrived in Sydney on November 16th on board Heavylift CL-44/O EI-BND. Both were previously operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force. On being unloaded they were found to still be carrying desert camouflage their ex-military serials and roughly applied US registrations. The two S-76As were N9046H c/n 760104 ex 728 and N9046U c/n 760106 ex 730. The S-76As were moved by road to Bankstown and when inspected in mid January, they were undergoing maintenance in Helicopter Resources’ new hangar. The Sikorskys will be registered VH-XHB and VH-XHA respectively. In ‘Traffic’ January we mentioned the pending arrival of S-76A N31HA c/n 760148. A late change in plans brought this helicopter to Australia earlier than we thought. In late November N31HA arrived at Melbourne Airport on board a Flying Tigers Boeing 747 from New York. Imported by Sherrard Aviation, N31HA was then moved to their hangar at Essendon for assembly. Later it was flown to Tocumwal for repainting and then to Adelaide, where Lloyd carried out its CofA. This beautifully appointed executive S-76A has since been registered VH-JXL to Elders/IXL Trying to keep up with changes in the National Safety Council of Australia fleet is a full-time occupation. They recently disposed of their two Bolkow 105Ss VH-NSL and VH-NSQ. Both were noted at Bankstown in mid January. VH-NSL was now registered VH-PHO while the former VH-NSQ was carrying no marks. Lloyd Helicopters’ Bell 212 VH-HVX c/n 30557 was noted at West Sale in mid December. This helicopter was previously operated by Lloyd Helicopters (NZ) Ltd, as ZK-HBK. In late November it arrived in Adelaide to be restored to Lloyds Australian operations. It has now been purchased by the NSCA who will operate it as VH-NSM.

Bizjet News

Hawker Pacific have started the year well with the announcement that the RAAF are to lease five Falcon 900s. To be operated by 34 Squadron, Canberra (refer Newsdesk) the first Falcon 900 should be delivered in the third quarter of 1989 with all in service by the end of the year. Hawker Pacific have also sold another Falcon 900 in our area to Brierley Investments. Delivery of c/n 042 will take place in early April with the Falcon operating out of Wellington. Falcon 900 c/n 042 as N900FJ attended the Richmond Air Show and though the Brierley aircraft will operate under US registration, it will be changed from N900FJ. While on the subject of Brierley Investments, it would appear that their Cit- ation 650 N106CC has returned to the United States. Confirmation of this would be welcome as I have not seen or heard of N106CC for some months.

Two New Zealand registered BAe 125-800Bs have been sold to overseas operators. ZK-TCB of Wilson Neill, Dunedin departed Wellington on November 16th bound for Honolulu and possible sale in the United States. As forecast in the January issue of Traffic’, ZK-EUI has been sold to an Australian operator. The new owner is Rothchilds Bank, Sydney and they took delivery of the BAe125-800B now registered VH-NMR in late December. The 125 will also be utilised by the National Safety Council of Australia for Airevac work.

Falcon 20C of Flightways ferried through Europe in early October en route to Memphis, Tennessee. It was later noted there in poor condition and it is expected that VH-FWO will be reduced to spares.

Another aircraft to depart the country was Cessna 550 VH-LJK. Registered N785CA it flew out of Brisbane on November 15th bound for Honiara and the USA. The sale of this aircraft was handled by Aeromil, however, latest reports state that the Citation will return to Australia in late January on delivery to Lloyd Aviation Jet Charter. In ‘Traffic’ January we remarked on the fact that no one had reported the arrival in the country of Cessna 500 N291DS. As it turns out this was not surprising as the FAA mixed up their countries when they exported the Citation to Australia when it should have been Austria.

Short Stop Aviation at Essendon have imported a Learjet 258. As N10BU c/n 120 arrived in Adelaide on November 11th. After completing its CofA at Lloyds the Lear was registered VH-OVS before being delivered to Essendon later in the month.

Meanwhile, Westfield P/L have purchased a Boeing 727-100 in the United States and by the time this is read the aircraft should be in the country. I believe that the aircraft concerned is c/n 20045 which is a model 727-23 that was registered N2913. The last person to use this executive 727 was Henry Ford III.

Late news on the Bizjet scene was the arrival in late January of Westwind II N97AL c/n 387. To be operated by Quest Air as VH-AJH the Westwind will be used on a Reg 203 service between Perth and Telfer.

Airline News

The level of activity remains high with the highlights being the delivery of the first Airbus A320s for Ansett, while Qantas and Australian have also added to their fleets.

The first Airbus A320-210 to be delivered to Ansett was VH-HYB c/n 0023 and it flew into Melbourne on November 26th from Darwin and Sydney. On December 19th it was joined by VH-HYAc/n0022 and VH-HYC c/n 0024 which flew in direct from Darwin. All three aircraft are now static outside the Ansett hangars at Melbourne while various industrial problems are sorted out. Ansett took delivery of their sixteenth and final 737-377 on order when VH-CZP flew into Brisbane on December 1st. Ansett have terminated delivery of their last four 737-377s at Brisbane, where they are evidently setting up a 737 maintenance unit.

Ansett have sold three F27-500s to the Minneapolis based commuter operator Mesaba Airlines. Mesaba are a Northwest Airlink carrier and their recent selection to provide services from Northwest’s Detroit hub has resulted in Mesaba expanding their fleet. The three F27-500s purchased were all previously operated by Air NSW and had been in storage at Melbourne Airport for some months. All three aircraft had their airline titles removed and were allocated US registrations. VH-FCA to N280MA, VH-FCC to N282MA and VH-FCF to N284MA. The first to depart was N282MA which flew out of Melbourne on December 16th bound for Minneapolis via the North Atlantic ferry route. The other two Fokkers departed Melbourne for Honiara and the Pacific crossing. N284MA on December 22nd and N280MA on January 4th. When in service with Mesaba, the F27s will operate in Northwest Orient Airlink colours. It is interesting to note that Mesaba already have two ex Australian F27s in their fleet- N268MA which operated with TAA as VH-TFL and N271FA which operated with East West as VH-EWN.

Australian Airlines took delivery of two 737-376s in this period thus increasing their fleet to fourteen. VH-TJA “Resolute’ arrived in Melbourne on December 19th, while VH-TJB arrived on December 25th. Both aircraft were ferried over the same routing. Seattle/Kailua-Kona/Nandi to Melbourne.

Qantas added two further Boeing 767-338ERs to their fleet. VH-OGC c/n 24317 ‘City of Bendigo’ as QF7633D arrived in Sydney from Seattle and Honolulu on November 28th. VH-OGD cin 24407 ‘City of Maitland’ as QF7634D was ferried over the same route arriving in Sydney on December 8th.

F28-4000 VH-FKJ has moved from Ansett WA to East-West Airlines. As EW9940 the F28 departed Perth late on the evening of December 4th and arrived in Tamworth the following morning. VH-FKJ entered service with East-West on December 12th after it was painted in their colours. F28-4000 VH-FKI will transfer from Ansett WA to East-West on delivery of Ansett WA’s fifth BAe 146-200.

Ansett New Zealand ferried 737-2U9 ZK-NEF back to the United States in late November. As NMA705 the 737 flew out of Christchurch on November 29th bound for Pago Pago and Honolulu. ZK-NEF arrived in Christchurch on June 24th last year as N149AW and entered service with Ansett New Zealand in late July. While in service the Boeing retained the cheat line of its former operator, America West Airlines.

Air Pacific took delivery of their second ATR42 DQ-FEQ c/n 113 at Suva on November 26th. With the delivery of these two aircraft, Air Pacific terminated the lease they had on the two ATR428 from Australian Airlines. Both these aircraft have since been ferried back to Toulouse, where after overhaul they will commence service with a French operator. DQ-FEK, with all its Air Pacific colours removed, flew out of Suva on December 22nd using call sign ‘Australian 1398″. DQ-FEJ ‘Australian 1396’ departed Suva for Cairns on January 8th.

It would appear that Air Caledonie have disposed of their Caravelle 10B F-FEPC. This unique aircraft in the South Pacific presented a problem with major maintenance as the aircraft then had to return to France. On December 3rd Air Caledonie took delivery of 737-33A F-GFUC c/n 24026 when the aircraft arrived in Noumea from Darwin. F-GFUC is an Ansett Worldwide aircraft that was delivered new to French operator Aeromaritime in August. The Air Caledonie Caravelle F-GEPC departed Noumea on December 15th with initial stops being made at Townsville and Darwin on its way back to France.

RAAF 707-338C A20-629 arrived at Melbourne Airport in late November to be the first of its type to be locally converted to the role of an aerial tanker. This work is being carried out by Hawker de Havilland in a newly constructed hangar at Melbourne Airport.