Traffic

Air Nelson Expands

New Zealand based commuter operator Air Nelson are experiencing a rapid expansion in their fleet as a result of Air New Zealand withdrawing their F27 fleet from service. Air Nelson took delivery of three of four Saab 340As on order in this period. Former Crossair aircraft HB-AHQ msn 122 overnighted Brisbane on 26/9 and the following day departed on the final sectors of its delivery flight to Nelson via Norfolk Island. A second ex Crossair Saab HB-AHP msn 120 followed over the same route on 23/10, while on 25/10 Saab 340A VH-OLH, which was previously operated by Hazelton Airlines, crossed the Tasman. The fourth Saab 340A for Air Nelson is another ex Crossair machine, HB-AHI msn 043, which was due for delivery in late 11/90. As well as the four Saab 340As Air Nelson have brought their Metro Ill fleet up to nine. In Traffic/November we mentioned the delivery of N2707D msn AC 692B and N27185 msn AC-706B. These aircraft have since been registered ZK-NSS and ZK-NSQ respectively. Both aircraft are only operating on lease and will be replaced on delivery of msn AC-765 and msn AC-767 which are the prospective ZK-NSI and ZK-NSJ. Metro Ill N224AV msn AC-530 was delivered to Nelson on 17/9 and later entered service as ZK-NST.

Tranzair, Wellington have added a second Bandeirante to their fleet and this aircraft was used for expansion onto the Wellington to Blenheim route. Arriving in Auckland on 28/9 was the all white former Sunbird Airlines EMB-110P1 VH-SBH, which has since been registered to Tranzair as ZK-REU.

Airline News

Air New Zealand have added three more Boeing aircraft to their fleet. Boeing 7 47-419 ZK-NBT flew into Auckland on 2/11 as NZ6009 direct from Seattle. ZK-NBT was planned to enter service in early November and initially was to be used on trans-Tasman routes as a means of crew training on the type. Boeing 747 419 ZK-NBS, which was delivered to Air New Zealand in 12/89 but never entered service before being leased to Cathay Pacific, is planned for redelivery in early 1991. This then will allow Air New Zealand to lease Boeing 747-219 ZK-NZZ to Malaysian Airlines. Boeing 767-204 G-BLKW of Britannia Airways arrived at Auckland on 22/9. After conversion to a – 204ER the Boeing entered service with Air New Zealand in early November as ZK-NBJ. The most unexpected delivery was that of Boeing 737-205 ZK-NAQ at Christchurch on 5/9. This aircraft, which was previously operated by Braathens as LN-SUT, flew in from Apia still carrying the colours of its former operator.

Australian Airlines have leased 737-476 VH-TJG to Malaysian Airlines. Registered 9M-MLE before delivery, this was the second Australian Airlines Boeing to be leased to Malaysian. 9M-MLE was delivered in a hybrid colour scheme with Malaysia titles and the Malaysian symbol on the fin though the Australian Airlines colours were retained on the bottom half of the fuselage. 9M-MLE departed Melbourne on 18/10 for Perth and Kuala Lumpur.

By the time this is read the first of the new deregulated airlines, Compass Airlines, will have started services in Australia. In Traffic/November we speculated that the registrations of the first two A300B4-205Rs which were leased from Monarch, would be VH-YMA and VH-YMB. Asat thetime of writing the following was to take place. A300B4-205R VH-YMJ ex GMONR due Brisbane 19/11 on delivery in full Compass Airlines colours. The second aircraft was to be delivered to Brisbane in late November as G-MONS, however it would be registered VH-YMK shortly after entering service. The first two A300B4-205Rs to be leased from Polaris will be delivered in 3/91 and are expected to be registered VH-YMA and VH-YMB.

Ansett Australia

In Traffic/November we briefly mentioned the rollout of Boeing 737-377 VH-CZP at Melbourne on 4/10 as the first aircraft to carry the colours and titles of Ansett Australia. Later that month VH-CZP was engaged in air-to-air photography with Learjet 25B N70CE. This was done over several days while VH-CZP was operating in Queensland. Strangely the next aircraft in for a repaint was rolled out with the new tail colours but with only the word Ansett painted on the fuselage. This was F28-3000 VH-EWF which terminated services with Eastwest on 11/10 and was then ferried to Melbourne for repainting and refurbishment before delivery to Ansett NSW. It would also appear that Ansett have gone cold on the plan to reregister the Eastwest F28s as they are handed over to Ansett NSW. VH-EWF, which was the prospective VH-FKP, was rolled out and delivered on 23/10 still as VH-EWF. F28-4000 VH-EWC finished flying with Eastwest on 26/10 and the following day entered service with Ansett NSW, still registered VH-EWC and still in Eastwest colours!

Ansett F27-400 VH-FNQ has been static at Melbourne since late May when it returned from New Zealand, where it had operated on lease to Safe Air. VH-FNQ in an all white scheme flew out of Melbourne on 7/11 on return ferry to New Zealand. There the aircraft will be used by Ansett New Zealand as a freighter.

Eastwest took delivery of two more BAe 146-300s in this period. VH-EWK arrived in Tamworth on 3/10 and entered service on 9/10, while VH-EWL arrived in Tamworth on 1/11. As an indication to the changing airline scene in Australia, VH-EWL entered service with Eastwest on 6/11 on the Sydney to Melbourne route. Eastwest F27-500s VH-EWU and VH-EWX departed Tamworth on 29/10 on ferry to Exeter in the UK, where they will join the fleet of Jersey European Airways. This leaves F27-500s VH-EW V and VH-EWW in storage at Tamworth with a planned delivery to Jersey European in late December.

Meanwhile, Ansett Worldwide took delivery of Boeing 737-53A F-GHXM on 26/9 and the same day leased it to Euralair International. On 24/9 AWAS accepted delivery of Boeing 757-23APF N572CA with the aircraft being leased to Challenge Air Cargo. In prospect are Boeing 757-23As 5Y-BHF and 5Y-BHG for Kenya Airways.

Lloyd Aviation Fleet Disposal

Lloyd Aviation ceased operations on 30/9 and the following day became part of Skywest Aviation. Lloyd Aviation operated an extensive fleet of aircraft and though a number will be incorporated into Skywest Aviation, it is of interest to see how they are disposed of. DHC-8-100 VH-LAR-ordered by Lloyd Aviation to service the BHP contract from Darwin to Troughton Island. Delivered Darwin 26/9 however never entered service with Lloyd. This DHC-8 msn 229 was built on order for Air Dolomiti, however before delivery was sold to GPA Jetprop for lease to Lloyd. As of early 11/89 VH-LAR was being painted in BHP colours.

Casa 212 VH-ICJ – replaced in service by DHC-8 VH-LAR. The Casa is presently parked at Darwin awaiting sale.

Shorts 330 VH-LCI – terminated service with Lloyd Aviation commuter at Adelaide on 30/9. Delivered to Sunstate Airlines at Brisbane 25/10.

EMB-110- P2-NAL operated by Nationair on Ok Tedi project. VH-LSE based Darwin. VH-MWV based Alice Springs with Skywest Aviation and operates on the Alice Springs to Yulara route for Ansett NT. VH-PGS based Darwin. VH-WBI based Darwin.

King Air 200-VH-AKV operated by Nationair on Ok Tedi project. VH-KZL Cairns based charter operations. VH-NSR Cairns based charter operations. Cessna 550-VH-LJK Brisbane based charter. VH-WGJ Perth based charter. Learjet 36 VH-8I8- for sale. Learjet 35A VH-HOF-for sale. Cessna 402C – VH-OAS Skywest Airlines, Port Hadland. VH-UCI Skywest Aviation, Port Hadland. Cessna U206G VH-AHX-for sale.

Bizjet News

Grocon Ltd, a division of Grollo Constructions, Melbourne will take delivery of Canadair Challenger 601/3A VH-BRG msn 5046 in late December. VH-BRG is presently being outfitted by lnnotech Aviation in Montreal and when delivered will take up residence at Essendon, where it will be maintained by Associated Airlines. Westfield Aviation’s CL-601A VH-MZL has been hangared in the United States for some months while being advertised for sale, and it is believed that a buyer was found in early November. Westfield took delivery of VH-MZL in June 1986 and it replaced in service the previously used BAe 125-7008 VH-HSP. Westfield Aviation continue to operate their Boeing 727-100 N727WF.

Boeing 737-2X2 N719A arrived in Sydney from Christchurch on 18/10. Previously flown by Air Pacific as DQ-FDM, the Boeing has been with Air New Zealand maintenance in Christchurch since mid July. N719A, which was on delivery to Aramco, carried the green and gold colours of Saudi Arabia.

Lloyd Aviation Learjet 35A VH-LGH was noted at Brisbane on 26/9 carrying US registration N678S. Lloyd Aviation Learjet 35A VH-HOF and Learjet 36 VH-8I8 are also expected to be sold overseas. This then places VH-SGY on the market along with BAe 125-8008 VH-IXL of Elders IXL and BAe 125-700B VH-LRH of Hancock Exploration. BAe 125-600F VH-NJA of National Jet was noted at Essen don in early November wearing Nissan titles.

Beechjet 400 N3240M msn RJ-40 was registered to Hawker Pacific Inc, of SunValley, California in June. It is believed that this was the Beechjet delivered by Hawker Pacific in September to an Indonesian company as PL-ERA

Corpair t/a Westwind Air Charter ceased operations in July. At the time their Cessna 500 VH-OIL was at Moorabbin awaiting maintenance. VH-OIL continues to sit at Moorabbin while a new owner is found.

Daikyo (North Queensland) P/L, based in Cairns, operate a Gulfstream IV N888MC. The Gulfstream replaced in service Daikyo’s Falcon 50 N23SY. On 28/10 a Gulfstream IV registered N23SY flew into Cairns from Tokyo, so I presume that this is the Daikyo aircraft N888MC reregistered.