Traffic

Compass Airlines took delivery of leased Al A310-304 C-FWDX msn 425 at Brisbane on 21 June. In a basic all white scheme with Compass titles, the A310 entered service the following week as VH-YMI. C-FWDX was one of twelve Al A310-304s delivered to the Canadian independent airline Wardair between 11/87 and 10/88. When Wardair were taken over by Canadian Airlines International in 10/89 the A310s were placed in storage. C-FWDX used the callsign Canadian 9915 for its ferry flight from Calgary to Honolulu and Brisbane. Compass are planning to add a second ex-Wardair A310-304 to their fleet in November. Meanwhile, A300B4-605R VH-YMB, which was originally planned for delivery in 05/91, will now be delivered in 09/91. This is as a result of damage being sustained by the aircfaft prior to delivery.

Meanwhile, Air Niugini have leased their A310-324 P2-ANA to Bulgarian operator Jes Air for two years with the aircraft being delivered to Sofia in early May.

Qantas Fleet Changes

Qantas took delivery of their 11th Boeing 747-438 VH-OJK ‘City of Newcastle’ in June. As QF531, VH-OJK arrived in Cairns on 19 June after a direct flight from Seattle. On the 20th the Boeing operated two local publicity in the Cairns area before it continued to Sydney on the 21st as QF531P. Qantas will take delivery of their 12th 747-438, VH-OJL ‘City of Ballarat’, in late July. Qantas 747-238B VH-EBO departed Sydney in late June for Singapore and delivery to United Airlines with whom it will operate as N164UA. During July Qantas will retire from service 747-238B VH-EBP. With its departure, leased 747-238B VH-EBA will be the last Pratt & Whitney powered 747 in the Qantas fleet.

National Jet Boeing 727-77C VH-TBS was noted at Melbourne on 2 June after returning from major maintenance in Arizona. VH-TBS was in an all white scheme and carried no airline identification. By 13 June VH-TBS had recommenced trans-Tasman livestock operations using a Qantas flight number.

Air New Zealand Link

Air New Zealand Link was launched at Nelson on 17 May and is the result of Air New Zealand bringing three levels of airline operations under the one name, designator and colour scheme.

Air New Zealand Link will consist of the former regional carriers Air Nelson and Eagle Air while domestic jet operations will be operated as Air New Zealand National. The first aircraft to be painted in the Air New Zealand Link scheme was Air Nelson Saab 340A ZK-NSM, which was rolled out at Christchurch on 16 May. As we suggested in ‘July Traffic’, Air Nelson have terminated their lease on Saab 340A ZK-FXC as on 16 May it flew out of Auckland en route to Pago Pago and the United States. Air New Zealand Link/Eagle Airways took delivery of Metro Ill N31108 msn AC-546 at Auckland on 23 May with the aircraft later entering service as ZK-OAA. A second Metro Ill, N31110, was delivered to Eagle in late June.

Air New Zealand took delivery of their first Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCE on 17 June when it flew into Auckland from Seattle. ZK-NCE entered service with Air New Zealand on 21 June on the Auckland/Singapore/Bangkok route.

Ansett New Zealand Boeing 737-130 ZK-NEC departed Christchurch on 29 May on ferry to the United States. Final destination for ZK-NEC was Marana in Arizona, where it will be parked while a decision is made on its future.

Southern World Airlines have been chartering aircraft of Connie Kalitta Services to operate some of their flights between the United States, New Zealand and Australia. DC-8-73F N809CK was noted on a number of occasions in this period using the Southern World/SWN flight designator.

Australian Airlink

Australian Airlink will commence services on 3 August over a number of Australian Airlines routes (refer Airline Affairs last issue). Three BAe 146-100 aircraft will be leased from National Jet Systems with delivery planned for July. Details of these aircraft are as follows- VH-NJY msn 1005 is an ex Dan Air aircraft, while VH-NJZ msn 1009 was built on order for Air Mali. Both these aircraft will be delivered after refurbishment and repainting by British Aerospace in the UK. The third Australian Airlink BAe 146-100 will be VH-NJC. This aircraft was delivered to National Jet in Adelaide in 06/90 to service the Santos contract between Adelaide and Moomba. VH-NJC also operated four nights a week as a freighter for Australian Express on the Adelaide/ Melbourne/Sydney/Melbourne/Adelaide route. National • Jet Systems will replace VH-NJC in mid July with a BAe 146-200QC.

Regional Airline News

The Ansett New Zealand feeder Astral Air Services, operating as Tranzair took delivery of Dornier 228-100 ZK-TRD msn 7168 at Auckland on 25 May. In July ‘Traffic’ we reported the delivery of two EMB-110P1s by Astral Air for operation by Tranzair. In fact these aircraft were imported by Rex Aviation and not as stated. The aircraft concerned, ZK-TRK and ZK-TRM, were delivered as N131EM and N132EM respectively.

Sunstate Airlines DHC-6-300 VH-TNM was withdrawn from service, on 7 June. After refurbishment by Maryborough Aviation Services VH-TNM was delivered to Islands Helicopters in Rabaul.

Jetcraft, Brisbane have imported a second Metro II for operation on their Security Express contract on the Queensland coast. N781S msn TC-259 was delivered to Brisbane in early May and later entered service with Jetcraft as VH-UZQ. A second Metro to arrive in Australia in this period was Metro Ill N605AS msn AC-494 of PLM Transportation. N605AS flew into Brisbane from Auckland on 16 May. FERRY FLIGHTS

As Talair cut back on their fleet size and operations in New Guinea there are an increasing number of new operators appearing in that country. Noted at Cairns on 27/05 were two Cessna 402As previously operated by Talair. They were P2-GK H in the markings of North CoastAviation and P2-SAV of Simbu Aviation. Cairns on 19/07 also received a visit from Baron 58 P2-ALE of Airlink, Rabaul.

The first two of twelve CT-48 Airtrainers on order for the BAe/ Ansett Flying College, VH-Y CA and VH-Y CB were planned for delivery to Tamworth in late June.

Sempati Air Transport F27-200 PK-JFN flew from Norfolk Island to Brisbane on 29/05. The Fokker was returning to Jakarta after overhaul by Air New Zealand in Christchurch.

Our reporter on Horn Island recorded a strange visitor on 21/05. This was Bell 2148 LN-ORM of A. S. Lufttransport of Tromsoe, Norway. The reason for its visit to the Southern Hemisphere was its recent use by the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition.

King Air F90 VH-CRM now registered N6659V was noted on Norfolk Island on 08/05, while en route to Pago Pago and the United States. A second foreign registered K ing Air F90 in our region in this period was F-ODGU which flew Brisbane to Noumea on 30/05.

Bizjet news

Cessna 650 VH-KTI of Australian Jet Charter departed Sydney 1n late May on ferry to the United States, where it will be sold. VH-KTI, which was delivered in 07/88, was the last of four Cessna 650s that have operated in our region, however it was the only one to actually be registered in Australia. The other three Cessna 650s, N106CC, N133LE and N143WR all retained their US registrations.

Learjet 35A VH-LEQ of Australian Jet Charter is also believed to be headed for the United States. VH-LEQ was recently in the news when its tailplane was clipped by the tail rotor of Agusta A109 VH-JVH at Sydney Airport. This incident resulted in the destruction of the Agusta.

PRo Aviation Gulfstream 118 N711SB has been based at Sydney since 12/86, however we hear that the operating base of this aircraft is to be moved to the UK