Traffic

Hazelton Airlines, second Saab 340A N69LP msn 069 arrived at Cuda! in late May and later entered service as VH-OLH. Hazelton’s first Saab 340AVH-OLG entered service on April 30th over the former Ansett NSW route from Sydney to Griffith and Narranderra.

FlightWest Airlines took delivery of their first EMB-120 Brasilia in late May when VH-XFW msn 181 arrived in Brisbane.

Moorabbin based Aus-Air have repainted EMB-110P1 VH-CRG in their livery and at the same time reregistered the aircraft VH-OZG. Aus-Air have also reregistered PA31-350 VH-MBP as VH-OZP.

Air Nelson have added another two Metro 111s to their fleet to give a total of six in service. The Metros have been leased from GPA Jetprop and on delivery still carried the colours of their former operator Pocono Airlines/Trans World Express. EI-BWU msn AC-705 flew from Sydney to Nelson on April 22nd and it was followed over the same route on May 11th by EI-BWW msn AC-712. These aircraft have since entered service with Air Nelson as ZK-NSU and ZK-NSZ respectively. Metro 11 N342PL msn T C-343, which also saw service with Pocono, has been imported by Jetcraft of Brisbane. N342PL arrived in Brisbane on April 14th on completion of its trans-Pacific crossing. Later registered VH-UZY and carrying the markings of Security Express, it commenced freight operations on the Queensland coast.

Ferry Flights

Former National Safety Council Do228-200s VH-NSH and VH-NSZ have ferried out of Essendon bound for the United States. Registered N2255E and N2255Y respectively, they were flown by Southern Cross Aviation on delivery to the Jetcraft Corporation in the US. N2255Y departed Essendon on May 1st bound for Norfolk Island, while N2255E followed on the 7th with its first stop being Brisbane.

Two PBN Islanders logged in this period were G-BRGB msn 2219, which flew Townsville to Noumea on May 2nd en route to Papeete and service with Air Moorea. Arriving in Madang from Mactan and Koror on May 12th was JA5227 msn 354.

Trans Pacific deliveries included Beech 76 N37000 from Honiara to Brisbane on May 2nd, while Cessna 310 N3706G followed over the same route on May 5th. Talair Cessna 402B P2-COI was at Brisbane on May 5th, while at Moorabbin on April 30th were Cessna 337G N337KD msn 01667 and Agusta 109B N109T R msn 7300. Arriving in Brisbane on May 10th was Cessna 340A N2677B; however the Cessna was not an import but was acting as official aircraft for the World Vintage Air Rally. T his group of 23 aircraft departed London on March 25th bound for Australia. By the time they reached their destination of Caboolture on May 5th only 12 remained. Among the more interesting were Howard DGA-15P N66546, Stinson 108-3 N4084C, Bellanca 14 NC86811 and Bonanza Z-YGZ.

Airline News

Ansett Airlines Boeing 737-33A VH-CZP was redelivered to them at Melbourne on April 30th. As a result of the pilots’ dispute VH-CZP was one of three Boeing 737-33As leased by Ansett last October to America West Airlines. On arrival in Phoenix VH-CZP was painted in America West colours and registered N115AW. On return to Australia the Boeing once again carried Ansett colours though it still maintained its US registration. Another Ansett aircraft returning to Melbourne after an overseas lease was F27-600 VH-FNQ. T he Fokker departed Melbourne in early December bound for Blenheim, New Zealand and service with SafeAir. On May 20thVH-FNQ returned to Melbourne to be placed in storage with the rest of the Ansett F27 fleet that awaits sale.

Australian Airlines have leased Boeing 737-376 VH-TAX to Inter European Airlines for six months. VH-TAX, carrying Australian colours but Inter European titling, flew out of Adelaide on April 26th bound for Cardiff. Douglas DC-3 VH-AES has for the time being lost its 1946 Trans Australia Airlines colour scheme. In late April it was noted at Essendon registered PH-AJU and carrying the colours of KLM. VH-AES is playing the part of the DC-2 that won the 1934 Mildenhall to Melbourne Air Race for a forthcoming T V mini series.

Boeing 737-200 HA-SAL which was on delivery to Solomon Island Airlines transited Brisbane on May 21st en route Darwin to Christchurch.

Air New Zealand have leased two Boeing 767-204 aircraft previously operated by Britannia Airways. ZK-NBI msn 23072 ex G-BLKV was delivered to Auckland in late May, while ZK-NBJ msn 23250 ex G-BLKW will arrive in November. On delivery both aircraft will be converted to 204ER standard.

Ansett New Zealand have disposed of a second Boeing 737.

On April 11th Boeing 737-112 ZK-NED flew out of Christchurch on ferry to Tucson, Arizona. T his leaves Boeing 737-130s ZK-NEA, -NEB and -NEC in storage at Christchurch awaiting sale. Ansett New Zealand flew their BAe 146-200QC ZK-NZC from Christchurch to Melbourne on April 18th for painting in their colours. Since delivery last October the BAe 146 has flown in British Aerospace company colours.

Air Freight New Zealand have imported a Convair 580 to replace theone that was destroyed at Auckland last July. Arriving in Auckland on April 19th was C-FKFL msn 372. Built as a model 440 in 1956, the aircraft was initially used by Convair as a company transport. In 1962 it was converted to a model 580 when purchased by Gulf Oil. Though spending most if its life in the United States, the Convair has also seen service in Sweden and Canada. Air Freight New Zealand have since registered the Convair 580 ZK-KFL. Another freighter recently delivered to New Zealand was IPEC Argosy VH-IPB. It flew into Blenheim on April 25th to commence a three month lease to Safe Air.

Bae 146 for National Jet

National JeVSherrard Aviation have imported – a BAe 146-100 to service a contract recently awarded to them by Santos. Effective from July 1st the five year contract requires the uplift of personnel between Adelaide and Moomba and between Brisbane and Jackson. T his contract was previously held by Lloyd Aviation, who used F28-4000 VH-LAR and WestwindVH-JPW.

National Jet have imported BAe 146-100 N146AP msn 1013, which was delivered in 1984 to the Alaskan based operator Air Pac. Since then N146AP has flown with PSA and Aspen in the United States. To service the Brisbane to Jackson sector National Jet have purchased the Bougainville Copper Westwind 2 VH-BCL. Another contract recently awarded to National Jet is to support the Defence Forces, and this will require that they add five Learjets to their fleet.

Air North Queensland Citation 500 VH-ANQ was destroyed on May 11th, when it crashed into Mt Emerald near Mareeba, while on a flight from Proserpine to Mareeba. The pilot and ten passengers on board were killed.

clean Aviation Citation 500 N33T H msn 0024 was noted at Bankstown in late April now registered VH-ICN. Former RAAF Falcon 20Cs VH-JDX, VH-JDY and VH-JDZ were still parked at Sydney Airport as of late May and appear to be in no hurry to leave the country.

Westwind N723R msn 272 was registered to Ansett associated company, Transpacific Enterprises Inc, of Bellevue, Washington in February, so it will be interesting to see if this aircraft makes an appearance in Australia.

Cessna S550 N158QS flew from Darwin to Cairns on May 6th, while Falcon 900 OE-ILS of Tyrolean Jet Services departed Mackay for Darwin on April 21st carrying on board a Medevac patient. Other foreign registered bizjets of interest in this period included Falcon 50 N866FP of Asarco from Darwin to Emerald on May 11th, Falcon 50 N23SY of Daikyo from Cairns to Saipan on May 12th, while on the same day Gulfstream IV N901K of Westinghouse Electric departed Sydney for Yap.

Propjet News

The Royal Flying Doctor Service, Victorian Section, held a dedication ceremony at Essendon on April 11th to name their new King Air 200C VH-KFN the ‘John Uhrig’. Since delivered to their base at Derby in NW Western Australia, VH-KFN operates out of there in company with King Air C90 VH-FDT. The Victorian Section also operate PA31-31O VH-MWC from Wyndham.

Merlin 111s VH-CAL and VH-CAM are long time residents of Essendon. Since late 1986 however they have been sadly neglected being static and parked in the open. About this time they were officially sold to Opex Aviation of Santa Paula, California with US registrations N174SP and N173SP being allocated. In effect their US markings were never applied. It now appears that both aircraft will once again take to the air. During March VH-CAM was moved into lnterair’s hangar in preparation for ferry to the US. It will be followed by VH-CAL, however it will be interesting to see whether their allocated US registrations are ever applied.

Mitsubishi MU-2G N151MA msn 527 arrived in Mackay from Honiara and Cairns on April 1st. The MU-2 was on delivery to Jetcraft of Brisbane and will be registered VH-UZN. Jetcraft also took delivery of Metro 11 N342PL msn TC-343 on April 14th. To be registered VH-UZY the Metro will be used to service a Security Express contract on the Queensland coast. MU-2L VH-MVU of lnterair at Essendon was re-registered N71DP on March 8th. Since noted at a number of Australian airfields N71DP appears in no hurry to return to the United States.

Noted at Parafield on March 7th was another Cessna 441 import G-SOFE msn 0109, while transiting Townsville on March 26th en route from Cairns to Noumea was PA-31T F-ODGS.

Merlin 111s VH-CAL and VH-CAM are long time residents of Essendon. In late 1986 they were sold to Opex Aviation of Santa Paula, California with US registrations N174SP and N173SP being allocated but never applied. Since then the aircraft have been sadly neglected and have remained static and parked in the open. In late March VH-CAM was moved into lnterair’s hangar, with VH-CALto follow, in preparation for ferrying to the US. It will be interesting to see what US marks are applied before the aircraft leave the country.

Mitsubishi MU-2G N151MA msn 527 arrived in Mackay from Honiara and Cairns on April 1st. The MU-2 has since been registered VH-UZN to Jetcraft of Brisbane to service a Security Express contract on the Queensland Coast. MU-2L VH-MVU of interior was reregistered N71DP in early March. Since noted at a number of Australian airfields, N71DP appeared in no hurry to leave, but in late May the MU-2 finally departed Essendon for the us.

Noted at Parafield on March 7th was another Cessna 441 import G-SOFE msn 0109, while transitting Townsville on March 26th en route from Cairns to Noumea was PA-31T F-ODGS. Former Amann Aviation Commander 681B VH-NYE took up residence at Essendon in early May. VH-NYE is painted in a very attractive three tone blue colour scheme with titles Air Tiwi Islands. Most of the Amann Commanders are static at Darwin Airport. Noted there in late May were VH-NYB, -NYC, -NYD, -NYF and -NYH. Also based in Darwin is Commander 681 VH-JWO which carries the very attractive scheme of Executive Air Charter. Commander 681 VH-NYG which still carries the Coastwatch Green/Yellow colours is presently flying charters out of Cairns.

Overseas Charters – The Final Act

In this issue we record the departure of the last of the overseas charter aircraft brought to Australia as a result of the pilots’ dispute. Ansett Airlines operated their last flight with a charter aircraft on March 31st when Air 2000 Boeing 757-33A G-OOOI flew from Perth to Sydney.

Australian Airlines still had five charter aircraft in operation at the beginning of April though all had departed by the end of the month. Inter European Boeing 737-3YO G-BNGL operated its last service for Australia on April 17th and the same day it departed Melbourne on ferry to Cardiff. Monarch Boeing 757-2T7 G-DRJC terminated its lease on April 21st and departed on the 23rd. Britannia Airways Boeing 737-3T5 G-BNRT operated its last flight for Australian on the 24th before departing Brisbane on the 26th bound for Luton. April 25th was the last day for charter aircraft with Australian. Both Britannia 737-3TO G-BOLM and Dan-Air Boeing 727-2J4 G-BHNF finished flying that evening in Brisbane. The Britanniaaircraft departed Brisbane for the UK on the 27th followed by Dan-Air’s on the 29th.

East-West were to be the final operator to terminate their lease on a foreign aircraft. Paramount Boeing 737-33A G-PATE operated its last flight on April 30th as EW2070 from Sydney to Coolangatta and Brisbane. The aircraft was then ferried to Melbourne where the East-West markings were removed. On May 13th the all white Boeing, which was now registered PP-VOA, departed for Darwin and all stops to Rio, where it was to commence operations with Varig.

So ended a period in Australian airline history, the likes of which we hopefully will never see again.