Traffic

In this issue of Traffic we can report the arrival of three more Metro IIIs, though it is believed that only two will be registered in Australia. On 21/02 Metro III N619AV msn AC-619B was noted at Brisbane on the termination of its trans Pacific delivery flight. N619AV was imported by the Archerfield based Jetcraft to whom the Metro was later registered VH-UZA. The delivery of VH-UZA brought the Jetcraft Metroliner fleet to five. With the delivery and entry into service of VH-UZA Jetcraft terminated their lease on the Metro III N211CA, which they had operated since 12/92.

N211CA was flown to Australia for operation by Jetcraft on its then newly awarded contract flying mining personnel between Townsville and Mt Dore. On 05/03 N211CA was ferried from Townsville to Tamworth to commence operations on lease to local operator Tamair. Later, registered VH-NEM Tamair placed the Metroliner into service in early 04/93 on the Tamworth to Sydney route.

Noted in the Aeromech hangar at Maroochydore on 12/03 was another Metro III import, N347AE msn AC-612. Previously operated by Wings West for American Eagle, N347AE was undergoing preservice maintenance prior to delivery to Newcastle Aviation with whom it later entered service as VH-SST. Aeromech also took delivery of Metro III N346AE msn AC-632 at Brisbane on 14/03. It is believed however that this aircraft is destined for an operator in South East Asia.

The delivery of these aircraft brings the Australian and New Zealand Metroliner fleet to 32 as follows: Merlin IVAx 1, Metro II x 10, Metro III x 19, Metro 23 x 2. Individual operators and their fleets are – Air Nelson, Nelson Metro III ZK-NSI, -NSJ, -NST, -NSU, -NSV, -NSW, -NSX, -NSY, -NSZ: Air Post, Welling- ton Metro III ZK-NSS, -POA, -POB: Eagle Airways, Hamilton Metro III ZK-OAA, -PBA: Jetcraft, Brisbane Metro II VH-UZQ, -UZS, -UZY, Metro III VH-UZA, -UZP: Kendell Airlines, Wagga Merlin IVA VH-SWP, Metro II VH-BIF,-BIS,-KDQ,-KDR, -WGV, -WGX, -WGY, Metro 23 VH-KDJ, -KDT: Newcastle Aviation, Newcastle Metro III VH-SSM, -SST: Tamair, Tamworth Metro III VH-NEM.

Airline News

Air New Zealand Boeing 767-204ER ZK-NBJ departed Auckland in late 03/93 for Warsaw to commence a lease for the northern summer to Polskie Linie Lotnicze/LOT Poland. This is the second time that Air New Zealand have leased ZK-NBJto LOT as the Boeing previously operated with the Polish airline in 1992 between 13/05 and 02/10.

Australian Airlines Boeing 727-26 VH-TBR departed Melbourne in late 03/93 on delivery to Aeroejecutivo, SA de CV of Monterey, Mexico. Before its departure VH-TBR had the Australian titles removed from the fuselage and the Kangaroo from the fin. Final destination for VH-TBR on its trans Pacific ferry flight was Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Texas. It is re- ported that Aeroejecutivo will take delivery of six of the seven Australian Airlines Boeing 727-276s that were previously in storage at Melbourne Airport. The Monterey-based Aeroejecutivo, which is frequently confused with the Caracas-based Aeroejecutivos, initially operated three ex Eastern Airlines Boeing 727-225s in its fleet. Aeroejecutivo’s first association with Australian Airlines came in 07/92 when it purchased Boeing 727-276 VH-TBJ from the Memphis Group and placed it in service as XA-SDR.

Oman Air Boeing 737-33A N226AW ferried into Melbourne from Nadi on 07/03. The Boeing, which is owned by Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services, was being flown from the United States to Oman where it would join the Oman Air fleet. Previously leased to VASP, Brazil as PP-SOE the Boeing was repos- sessed by AWAS in 11/92. Closer inspection of the Boeing on its arrival in Melbourne revealed that it was carrying two registrations, N226AW on the fuselage and VH-OAM on the wings. During its preservice layup the US registration was removed with VH-OAM then being painted on the fuselage. On 15/03 VH-OAM departed Melbourne as F/N WY001 destined for Seeb International Airport in Muscat. With Boeing 737-33A VH-OAM operating in Oman and Boeing 767-284ER VH-RMA in Vietnam Ansett Worldwide have evidently changed their policy of registering their leased aircraft in the country in which they operate. These are certainly interesting times and perhaps this is a sign for the future where we see more of the AWAS fleet being registered and maintained in Australia.

Pacific Express Cargo Airline of Auckland added another Ilyushin Il-76TD to its fleet in this period. UR-76408 which is the first aircraft to visit our region carrying the new national markings of the Ukraine transited Brisbane on 14/03 while en- route from Singapore to Auckland. The colour scheme carried by UR-76408 on its delivery was that of an all white tail with the blue cheetline ofits previous owner Aeroflot. Later in the week however when UR-76408 was noted in Melbourne the II-76 had acquired Pacific Express titles. The delivery of UR-76408 now begs the question as to the present whereabouts of RA-76786 and SSSR-76822 the two Il-76s that were previously part of the Pacific Express fleet.

Compass Airlines Cease Operations

Southern Cross Airlines Holdings Ltd t/a Compass Airlines ceased operations as at 2359 of March 11.

The new Compass Airlines or Compass Mk II as they were more commonly known commenced operations on 31/08/92. With an operating fleet of five MD-80 aircraft the new Compass was promoted as having learned the lessons of Compass Mk I. Certainly they had the correct equipment which gave them the required frequency of service throughout their network but in the end they lasted less than half the time of their predecessor (refer full analysis elsewhere this issue).

At the time of their closure Compass operated three MD-82s and two MD-83s with a further two MD-83s on order for delivery in 03/93 and 04/93. When Compass ceased operations on 11/03 they already had a crew in the United States preparing to ferry MD-83 VH-LNM to Australia.

The final service flown by Compass on 11/03 was their YM24 from Sydney to Brisbane which was operated by VH-LNK. Last flights operated by the remainder of the Compass fleet were as follows-VH-LNH YM37 from Melbourne to Adelaide; VH-LNI YM126 from Adelaide to Melbourne; VH-LNJ YM59 from Brisbane to Melbourne and VH-LNL YM29 from Brisbane to Syd- ney. The closure of the airline left MD-83 VH-LNH in Adelaide; MD-83 VH-LNI and MD-82 VH-LNJ in Melbourne; MD-82VH-LNL in Sydney and MD-82 VH-LNK in Brisbane. On 19/03 MD-82 VH-LNL was ferried from Sydney to Melbourne while on 20/03 MD-82 VH-LNK was ferried from Brisbane to Melbourne via Coolangatta.

The three MD-82s VH-LNJ, -LNK and LNL with Compass titles removed departed Melbourne on 23/03 as LN-RLF, LN-RLG and LN-RLR respectively on their return to SAS in Oslo.

Regional Airline News

Flight West Airlines DHC-8-102 VH-XFU departed Christchurch for Brisbane on 02/03 on termination of its lease to Ansett New Zealand. Even with VH-XFU returning to service Flight West continued their lease on the Ansett Express Fokker 50 VH-FNB until mid 03/93.

Hazelton Airlines have been expanding its route network as a result of the delivery in 02/93 of their fourth Saab 340B VH-LIH. On 09/03 they commenced operating twice daily between Sydney and Wagga using Saab 340B equipment. On 15/03 Hazelton commenced operations from Sydney to Armidale and from Sydney to West Sale via Albury again using Saab 340B equipment. Finally on 20/03 Hazelton added Launceston to their route network with a weekly Shorts 360 service from Sydney to Moruya, Merimbula, West Sale and Launceston.

Link Airways commenced operations in 02/93 from Wagga to Bathurst and Orange using its Cessna 310R VH-LGC. Link also commenced operations on 08/03 between Griffith and Melbourne/Essendon flying three return services weekly using Commander 690A VH-NYA.

Sunstate Airlines took delivery of DHC-8-102 N805MX msn 33 at Brisbane on 09/03 after the aircraft completed its trans Pacific ferry flight. Later registered VH-TNX the DHC-8 entered service with Sunstate on 11/03 operating TN106 from Brisbane to Gladstone. With the delivery and entry into service of VH-TNX Sunstate withdrew DHC-8-102 VH-FNQ from operation on 11/03. DHC-8-102 VH-FNQ was delivered to Australian Regional Airlines in Townsville in 03/91 on lease from GPA Jetprop. VH-FNQ operated with Australian Regional between 04/91 and 06/92 when it was transferred to the Sunstate fleet. With its Sunstate titles deleted VH-FNQ departed Brisbane for Pago Pago on 15/03 on its return to GPA Jetprop.

Tamair took delivery of Metro III N211CA at Tamworth on 05/03. As VH-NEM the Metroliner commenced operations on 05/04 operating up to five return services daily between Tamworth and Sydney.

Western NSW Airlines has leased Beech 1900D VH-SMH from Impulse Transportation. Western NSW commenced operations with the Beech 1900D on 22/03 with a twice daily service on the Wagga to Sydney/Bankstown route.

Bizprop News

In Traffic 04/93 we mentioned the sale of the CAA Flying Unit’s RC-696A VH-LTI to the United States. The aircraft departing Essendon as N6151T on 04/02 was VH-LTJ and not as shown. A second CAA Flying Unit Commander 695A VH-LTK, which was registered N6151W, departed Essendon on 10/03 on ferry to the United States. The CAA Commander 696 As have been sold to the Bush Field Aircraft Co, of Augusta, Georgia. At time of writing VH-LTI and VH-LTN remain at Essendon awaiting their turn to be ferried across the Pacific.

Cessna 441 N26267 msn 0141 ferried from Majuro to Cairns on 15/02 with the aircraft believed on delivery to the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Jandakot.

King Air E90 VH-ICV of Icena Aviation at Bankstown has been reported as sold in the United States. Noted at Brisbane on 13/03 was the Asia Pacific Airlines King Air 200 VH-APA. This aircraft was reported to be enroute to Malaysia where it will service a new contract recently awarded to Asia Pacific Airlines parent company, National Jet Systems in Adelaide.

Cessna 500 VH-ICX, which we reported in Traffic 04/93 as being sold to Jet City Aviation in Melbourne, made a further move in 03/93 being in turn sold to McCaffertys Coaches of Toowoomba. Paul Terry & Associates, who have operated Cessna 560 N6801H from their Albany base since 07/91, have sold the aircraft in the United States and replaced it with TBM-700 F-OHBH msn 52. Learjet 36A N146MJ arrived in Townsville from Nadi on 01/03 however it is believed that the aircraft was visiting on a business trip.

Bandeirante Fleet Moves

Australian Embraer agents Aeromil P/L, imported EMB-110P1s N219EB msn 448 and N211EB msn 453, which were registered to associate company Austin Aero FBO of Austin, Texas, into Australia in 12/92. First to arrive in Sydney on 01/12 was N219EB, which ferried in from Honiara and after clearing Customs continued to Tamworth. During 1991 Aeromil had contracted to supply five Bandeirantes to the Iranian Postal & Telecommunications Aviation Service with four previously delivered from Tamworth, VH-LVH and VH-LVI in 03/92 and VH-LVJ and VH-LVK in 04/92. On entry into service with IPTAS the Bandeirantes were reported as being registered EP-TPG, TPS, TPA and TPT respectively. On arrival at Tamworth N219EB entered the Eastern Australia Airline maintenance hangar where it was later registered VH-ABD. Carrying the name “Tehran’ VH-ABD departed Tamworth on 13/03 on its long ferry to Iran.

The second Austin Aero Bandeirante, N219EB arrived in Sydney on 04/12 and after clearing Customs it was flown to Maroochydore, where Aeromil’s associate company Aeromech carried out its Australian certification. Later registered VH-LHW to Lloyd Helicopters, the Bandeirante was noted at Archerfield on 07/03. VH-LHW has since been ferried to Manila where it will be operated on contract, replacing EMB-110P1 VH-SBH which Lloyd has operated on lease in Manila since 01/93.

EMB-110P1 VH-BWC carrying the markings of Air Vanuatu was rolled out of the Eastern hangar at Tamworth in late 02/93. Air Vanuatu however appear to be in no hurry to place the aircraft into service and as of early 04/93 VH-BWC was still parked at Tamworth. Also parked at Tamworth are the former Sunstate Airlines EMB-110P1 VH-HVS and Eastern Australia EMB-110P2 VH-WDF.