Traffic

VH-TBG, was first of twelve 727-276s ordered, VH-TBG thru VH-TBR, was delivered to TAA at Melbourne/Tullamarine on 11/12/72 and it had the distinction of operating the first passenger service by type in Australia on 07/01/73. A further three Dash 2008, VH-RMZ, G-BHNF and G-BPNS, were operated on lease from Ansett and Dan Air to bring the TN fleet total to 23 aircraft (8 727-100 and 15 727-200). During these 28 years the TAA/Australian Boeing 727 fleet carried some 52. 5 million passengers and flew almost 581 million kilometres.

Australian Airlines took delivery of its 14th 737-476 VH-TJR ‘Cockatiel’ at Melbourne on 13/12. VH-TJR commenced its Trans Pacific delivery flight at Fairchild International Airport, Port Angeles, Washington and made en route stops at Oakland, Honolulu, Apia and Nadi. Australian has three more 737-476 aircraft on order, VH-TJS, -TJT and-TJU, and they are planned for delivery in 04/93, 11/93 and 03/94.

Regional Airline News

The recent allocation of licences by the NSW Government Air Service Review has resulted in a number of changes to route structures and fleet composition for airlines operating in that State.

Air Facilities based in Albury commenced operations on the Albury to Canberra route from 23/11. Air Facilities utilise Cessna 402B VH-FCL and Cessna 310R VH-SKT to operate a twice daily return, Monday to Friday, plus a single return service on Saturday and Sunday.

Coast to Coast Airlines using Cessna 421B VH-SAM, resumed regional airline operations on 11/01 with a twice daily, Monday to Friday, service between Newcastle and Brisbane via Coffs Harbour and Lismore. From 15/02 Coast to Coast extended its network with a twice daily, Monday to Friday, service from Tamworth to Armidale and Brisbane. Hopefully this will be third time lucky for Coast to Coast as during 1992 they had two failed attempts to establish them- selves in regional airline operations. From 04/92 until 06/92 flights were operated between Newcastle and Brisbane via Coffs Harbour and Coolangatta while from 08/92 until 09/92 Coast to Coast flew on the Tamworth to Armidale and Brisbane route.

Flight West Airlines leased one of its DHC-8-102 aircraft to Ansett New Zealand from late 01/93 to cover planned maintenance on Ansett New Zealand DHC-8-102s ZK-NEY and ZK-NEZ. In turn Ansett Express leased a Fokker 50 to Flight West from 21/01 for use on its Queensland coastal route between Cairns and Brisbane.

Hazelton Airlines took delivery of Saab 340B VH-CMH msn 327 at its Cudal, NSW base on 16/12. Over the weekend of December 19 and 20 VH-CMH was used for a series of demonstration flights from the Lismore and Casino airports. On 21/12 Hazelton operated its first scheduled service from the area when VH-CMH flew from Lismore to Casino and Sydney as ZL802. Hazelton Airlines fourth Saab 340B VH-LIH, which is planned for delivery in 02/93, will now be msn 316 in lieu of the previously allocated msn 337.

Lincoln Airlines added a twice daily PA31-350 service between Port Lincoln and Ceduna from 01/02.

Melbourne Regional Airlines ceased operations in early 01/93.

Monarch Airlines added the Kempsey to Sydney route, which was previously operated by Eastern Australia Airlines, to its network from 08/02. Monarch are scheduling a twice daily service, Monday to Friday, plus a single service on Saturday and Sunday using a Fairchild Metro.

Oxley Airlines was taken over in late 12/92 by the Sydney based company Hamerst P/L, who are perhaps better known as the owners of Impulse Transportation. Oxley and Impulse have had an association for some months through the lease of Beech 1900D aircraft VH-MML and VH-SMH. In the recent review of NSW Regional Air Services Oxley was awarded a license to operate on a number of new routes. From 15/12 it commenced operations from Port Macquarie to Sydney in competition with Eastern Australia Airlines, while from 06/02 it took over from Eastern Australia on the routes from Glen Innes to Sydney and from Inverell to Sydney. Oxley utilise Beech 1900D aircraft VH-SMH and VH-MML on these routes. Recent additions to the Oxley Airlines fleet were King Air B200s VH-OXA and VH-OXL. As N8267Q msn BB-1420 and N82025 msn BB-1423 the King Airs arrived in Sydney from Honiara on 24/12. Oxley also have on order two Beech C99 aircraft for delivery in the first quarter of 1993. Sunstate Airlines plan to take delivery of DHC-8-102 VH-TNX msn 33 in 02/93. VH-TNX, which is a sister aircraft of Sunstate’s other Dash 8s VH-TND and VH-TNG, was previously operated by Eastern Metro Express as N805MX. Sunstate has withdrawn its two Bandeirante aircraft VH-BWC and VH-HVS from service and flown them to Tamworth for storage. VH-BWC was ferried from Brisbane to Tamworth on 09/11 and was followed by VH-HVS on 07/12

Ferry Flights

EMB-110P1 N211EB msn 453 arrived in Sydney on 01/12 on delivery from the United States to local Embraer agent Aeromil. N211EB was later flown to Tamworth, where after overhaul by Eastern Australia Airlines, it will be the fifth of its type to be delivered by Aeromil to the Iranian Postal & Telecommunications Air Service. Aeromil is also believed to be the importers of EMB-110P1 N219EB msn 448, which arrived in Sydney from Honiara on 04/12.

Metro III N211CA msn AC-451 ferried Noumea to Brisbane on 19/12 on delivery to Jetcraft Aviation. The Metro III was imported by Jetcraft for use on its newly awarded contract between Townsville and Mount Dore, which services the Selwyn Mine. Operations on the route commenced on 30/11 using leased King Air 200 VH-NIH with the Metro III N211CA taking over later in the month. It is expected that by the time this is read Jetcraft will have replaced N211CA with another Metro imported from the United States.

Boeing 737-230C N800WA of Wein Air Alaska ferried Brisbane to Christchurch on 23/11. After overhaul by Air New Zealand maintenance the Boeing was delivered to Airfast, Indonesia as PK-OCL Another interesting Boeing 737 to visit this period was the Hapag Lloyd -5K5 D-AHLI. As F/N HF963 the Boeing was carrying a party of German tourists on a tour of our region. D-AHLI crossed the Tasman on 04/12 from Hamilton Island to Auckland returning on 08/12 from Invercargill to Sydney. On 10/12 D-AHLI departed Sydney for Ayers Rockand Darwin.

Paradise Air Services Baron A55 RP-C638, which is based on the island of Palau, flew from Port Moresby to Cairns on 06/12, while Cessna 402B N98756 msn 1068 flew Dubboto Coolangatta on 22/12. New Zealand appears to have found a liking for Australian Cessna 182s as during December no fewer than three of the type made the Trans-Tasman crossing. On 12/12 Cessna 182Q VH-CVH ferried from Lord Howe to Norfolk and Auckland, while on 17/12 Cessna 182Q VH-XLT flew direct from Lord Howe to Auckland. Finally Cessna 182R VH-TBE ferried from Norfolk to Auckland on 24/12. GAF N-22SBVH-SNL returned to Australia from Malaysia in mid 12/92. Operated as a survey aircraft by Wira Kris Udara of Kuala Lumpur as 9M-WKU the Nomad has been brought back to Australia for sale by Lapthorne Aviation of Tyabb, Victoria.

The Australian Army has disposed of 10 of its Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porters through CSW Associates in Melbourne. A14-705 was sold to a private operator at Toowoomba and has been registered VH-ZCZ, while the other nine Porters A14-653, -661, -662, -684, -687, -689, -693, -701 and -703 were purchased by Pilatus. By late 12/92 all nine aircraft had been ferried from Oakey to Essendon where they made a fine sight parked on the grass. By the time this is read local company Interair will have commenced disassembly and containerisation of the Porters for their trip back to Stans in Switzerland.

Air New Zealand sold its F27-100 ZK-BXI to the American Aircraft Company of Christchurch, New Zealand in 11/92. It is expected that ZK-BXI will follow the path taken by sister-ship ZK-BXE which was also sold to the American Aircraft Company. ZK-BXE carrying Goa Way titles transitioned Brisbane on 18/10 on delivery to Continental Aviation of Bombay with whom it now operates as VT-ROY. Air New Zealand terminated its lease on Boeing 737-2M6 ZK-NAL on 08/12. As 9M-MBQ the Boeing was delivered to Christchurch on 05/09/92 before entering service with Air New Zealand as ZK-NAL on 13/09. During 12/92 the Boeing was painted in the markings of the Buenos Aires based LAPA, Lineas Aereas Privadas Argentinas SA, however as of mid 01/93 it was still parked at Christchurch. Air New Zealand 767-204ER ZK-NBI returned to Auckland from Singapore on 05/12 on termination of its lease to Air Aruba.

Air Niugini Al A310-324 P2-ANA was leased on 01/06/92 to the Bulgarian operator Jes Air as LZ-JXA On 05/11 LZ-JXA was impounded at Manchester, England for non payment of Eurocontrol overflight fees and this resulted in Jes Air ceasing operations. Jes Air’s three A310s LZ-JXA, JXB and -JXC were regularly seen at Australian airports either operating charter flights from Sofia or on scheduled operations with Air Vietnam. To assist in clearing the backlog of passengers on the Sofia to Melbourne route Balkan Bulgarian 767-27E(ER) F-GHGD operated a special flight on 18/11.

Compass Airlines will take delivery of MD-82 VH-LNM msn 53126 in 03/92 and MD-82 VH-LNN msn 53118 in 04/92. Both aircraft have been leased from Guiness Peat Aviation.

Eastwest Airlines BAe 146-300 VH-EWR was withdrawn from service at Melbourne on 04/11. It then entered the Ansett hangar to be the first in the fleet reconfigured with a new 94 seat interior. During its lay up VH-EWR was painted in the markings of Ansett Australia and it entered service with Ansett early the following month. In 01/93 Eastwest BAe 146-300 VH-EWS was also painted in Ansett Australia colours in Melbourne. Yet another of the Eastwest BAe 146-300 fleet is expected to make the transfer to Ansett New Zealand in 03/93, where it will be registered ZK-NZM. In turn it is planned that Ansett New Zealand BAe 146-200A ZK-NZA will become part of the Ansett WA fleet as VH-JJU.

Indian Ocean Airlines Lockheed L-188A Electra N351Q departed Perth for Cairns on 09/01 onthe first stageof its return ferry flight to the United States. N351Q remained in Cairns until 11/01 when it departed for Majuro and Honolulu with its final destination being Miami and JBQ Aviation.

As N3209A the Electra arrived in Perth on 14/08/92. From its first day in Australia problems were encountered regarding its entry into service with Indian Ocean Airlines on its proposed route from Perth to Cocos and Christmas Islands. On 09/09 the Electra was registered to Indian Ocean Airlines as VH-IOB, however for most of its stay in Perth it remained hangar bound. We would be very pleased to hear from anyone who can confirm that the markings VH-IOB were painted on the Electra and even better from someone who has a photograph of the Electra as VH-IOB.

Pacific Express brought a new Ilyushin IL-76TD into our region on 11/11 when SSSR-76822, which was carrying RAF Harrier ZD668 from the UK to New Zealand for the Auckland Air Expo, flew from Singapore to Whenuapia as F/N PHX822. Pacific Express continue to operate IL-76TD RA-76786 and that aircraft arrived in Adelaide on 15/11 with a cargo of two Sikorsky S-76As. The S-76As 729 and 732 had previously been operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force and were on delivery to Lloyd Helicopters, with whom they have since entered service as VH-LHY and VH-LHZ respectively. Lloyd have also recently added Bell 412 VH-LHV to its fleet. First noted at Adelaide on 11/01 VH-LHV was previously operated by Malaysian Helicopter Services as 9M-SSO.

Ansett Worldwide Update

Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services, like its competitors, is presently experiencing difficulties as airlines terminate leases on aircraft and defer deliveries of others. British Midland in the UK had four AWAS 737-33As in its fleet however it had recently terminated the lease on two of these aircraft. G-OBMA in 11/92 and G-OBMB in 12/92, withboth aircraft being placed in storage at East Midlands Airport in the UK. In South America AWAS had nine 737-33A leased to VASP of Brazil. With VASP experiencing financial problems all nine aircraft were repossessed and to date new leases have only been found for two of these aircraft. 737-33As PP-SNW, -SNZ, -SOC, -SOD, -SOE, -SOK, -SOL were all flown to Goodyear, Arizona in late 11/92, where they are presently stored. The same month 737-33As PP-SOF and-SOG were ferried to Brussels where they entered service with Eurobelgian Airlines.

Recent deliveries to AWAS have included 757-23A C-GTSE which was accepted in 11/92 and the same month leased to Air Transat of Montreal. 767-33A(ER) V8-RBF was delivered to AWAS in 09/92 and at the same time sold to Citycorp for operation by Royal Brunei Airlines. 767-33A(ER) V8-RBG was also delivered to AWAS in 09/92 and then sold to Royal Brunei. With the delivery of these aircraft Royal Brunei then termi- nated its lease on AWAS 767-284ER V8-RBD and this is where the story really gets interesting.

On termination of service with Royal Brunei V8-RBD was flown to Santa Barbara in California for storage. On 18/11 however the 767-284ER appeared at Brisbane Airport still carrying the colours of Royal Brunei but now registered in Australia as VH-RMA. On the fin were the initials ‘HPL’, while the forward fuselage carried the inscription ‘HPL Travel Bug”. The following day VH-RMA was flown from Brisbane to Singapore to commence a six week lease to the locally based travel company Region Air. Using Ansett flight numbers weekly services were flown with VH-RMA on the routes Singapore/ Nairobi, Singapore/Hobart and Singapore/Hamilton Island/ Brisbane. Other charters operated in this period included Singapore/Broome, Singapore/Townsville and Sin- gapore/Saigon.

In 01/93 VH-RMA commenced a three month lease to Air Vietnam, who had been without an aircraft since the collapse of Jes Air in early 11/92. In the interim Air Vietnam had chartered a number of aircraft including Qantas 767-338ER VH-OGD which operated Sydney/Saigon/Melbourne/Sydney on 22-23/11. On 13/12 AI A310-300 S7-RGA arrived in Melbourne from Saigon on the weekly Air Vietnam VN752/3. The operation of this all white A310, which is of unknown origin, continued until 10/01, with VH-RMA taking over the following week.

Biz/Prop News

BAe 125-800B VH-III, which was operated out of the Melbourne Jet Base by the ANZ Banking Group has been sold in the UK. VH-III arrived at Hawarden, England on 20/11 after its ferry flight from Melbourne. Hawker Pacific has placed its Beechjet 400A demonstrator N81661 on the Australian register as VH-BJD, while Impulse Transportation have changed the registration of its Beechjet 400A from VH-BBJ to VH-IMP. PRL Aviation is to import a Falcon 200 into Australia to complement the operations of its MDC DC-8-62 VR-BLG. The Falcon 200 is believed to be N902SB msn 504 an aircraft which was until recently operated by the Pitney Bowes Credit Corporation. Cessna 550 VH-TFQ was noted at Cairns on 26/12 carrying the titles of the New Guinea based aviation company Milne Bay Air.

King Air C90 ZK-UPA of United Pacific Airlines has been sold in the United States. As N70MT the King Air departed Auckland for Papeete on 27/11. King Air A90 VH-DYN, which was operated by the R R Moore Company out of Toowoomba has been sold to Executive Air in Darwin, where it was first noted on 06/12, Skywest Aviation King Air 200C VH-KZL now carries the markings of the Darwin based NT Aerial Medical Service, In 09/80 the Essendon based charter company Interair operated as part of its fleet MU-2GS VH-JER and VH-JES. With their impending departure to the United States that month they became N771DP and N881DP respectively, however as it has transpired both have remained in Australia. In 05/91 N771DP was registered VH-WYY before being delivered to Western NSW Airlines at Wagga, while in 11/92 N881DP reverted to its previous registration of VH-JES. Another Essendon based MU-2 to move recently was the MU-2P VH-XMZ of ECM Electrical. VH-XMZ, which was noted at Auckland on 28/12, was believed en route to the US for sale.

Toga Coare

The International Toga Coare project, which researches weather conditions associated with cyclones, brought a number of interesting aircraft into our area in this period, Townsville is the Australian operational base for the four month field study and by late 11/92 Lockheed Electra N308D and Lockheed WP-3D Orions N42RF and N43RF had taken up residence. On 06/01 NASA DC-8-72 N717NA flew into Townsville from Honolulu and it was followed on 08/01 by NASA ER-2N709NA, which arrived from Guam. The ER-2, which is used by NASA for high altitude research in the region FL650 and FL700, was based in Townsville for four weeks in association with Toga Coare, Both the NASA aircraft are normally based at the Ames Research Center, Moffett Field near San Francisco.