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PNG Defence Force C-475 for Australia

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force recently put four of their Douglas C-47 aircraft out to tender with the result that all have been purchased by Australian interests. The four aircraft concerned were previously operated by the RAAF and details of their new owners and previous history are as follows- P2-001 was previously operated by the RAAF as A65-100. As A65-100 the C-47 was handed over to the PNGDF at a ceremony held at Laverton, Victoria in August 1975. A65-100 thus became the first of its type to enter service with the fledgling Defence Force. P2-001 was purchased by Peter Starr of Gosford, who operates DC-3 VH-SBL out of Bankstown under the name of Dakota National Air. Dakota National Air also purchased P2-004, which was operated by the RAAF as A65-68.

P2-003, which was with the RAAF as A65-67, was sold to Martin Taylor of Moree, NSW. Indications are that P2-003 will be the first of the PNGDF C-47s to appear in Australia as in late July it was planning to ferry from Port Moresby to Cairns.

P2-005 ex RAAF A65-63 was sold to Dick Lang of Desert Air Safari’s of Adelaide and it will join in service DC-3 VH-BPN. The PNGDF has retained a fifth Douglas C-47 P2-002, which is ex RAAF A66-84, and it will be placed on static display at Port Moresby airport.

Airline News

The airline scene in Australia is becoming very stereotyped and by late 1994 it would appear that our airports will be dominated by only two carriers, Ansett Australia and Qantas. Presently the Australian Airlines fleet is being painted in Qantas colours, while in the other camp Eastwest now has an operating fleet of just one aircraft as their aircraft become part of Ansett Australia. It would also appear that both Ansett Express and Ansett WA are about to lose their identities and become part of Ansett Australia.

leased to Garuda on April 22 for use on the Haj charters, Air New Zealand Boeing 747-219B ZK-NZZ, which was returned to Air New Zealand operations in late July. Air New Zealand was also planning to take delivery of its third Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCG at Auckland on August 12.

VH-EBR on July 31 thus bringing to an end a leasing agreement between the two airlines which commenced in January 1985. The Qantas Boeing 747 aircraft used over the years by Air Pacific have been numerous however in the main the following aircraft carried the colours or titles of Air Pacific and the name ‘Island of Viti Levu’; VH-EBK 04/85 until 10/87; VH-EBB 10/87 until 04/88; VH-EEI 04/88 until 04/89; VH-EBJ 04/89 until 04/91; VH-EBB 04/91 until 05/93; VH-EBR 05/93 747-200 from Air New Zealand for three years. until 07/93. In turn Air Pacific has contracted to lease a Boeing Air Pacific terminated its lease on Qantas Boeing 747-238B To service this contract Boeing 747-219B ZK-NZY was withdrawn from Air New Zealand operations and repainted in Air Pacific colours before being delivered to Nadi in late July. A feature article on Air Pacific appears elsewhere in this issue.

Ansett Express Fokker 50s VH-FNE and VH-FNF, both of which carry the colours and titles of the new Indian operator Rajair (refer colour pic in Airline Affairs), were still parked at Melbourne as of late July and show no signs of an early departure for Bombay.

Ansett WA BAe 146-200 VH-JJW was flown from Perth to Brisbane in mid July for a planned maintenance lay up. While in the Ansett hangar the titles on VH-JJW were changed from Ansett WA to Ansett Australia thus signalling the end of another Australian airline. It is also reported that Ansett WA will withdraw from service BAe 146-200s VH-JJS and VH-JJT in September with both aircraft then to be ferried to the UK on termination of their lease from British Aerospace. VH-JJS and VH-JJT were delivered to Ansett WA in Perth in October 1988 and November 1988 respectively.

Australian Airlines first Boeing 727-276, VH-TBG de- parted Melbourne on July 22 on delivery to Aero Exo, Mexico. VH-TBG, with its Australian Airlines identity removed, ferried out of Melbourne as f/n AUS6903 bound for Fort Worth, Texas via Sydney, Apia, Honolulu and Las Vegas.

Australian Airlink BAe 146-100 VH-NJC, which is planned to be the first in the Airlink fleet to be painted in the new Qantas regional colours, will be rolled out in Adelaide late August.

Eastwest Airlines BAe 146-300 VH-EWM, which was the last of its type to carry Eastwest colours, was withdrawn from service in Melbourne in late July prior to painting in the colours of Ansett Australia. The painting of VH-EWM now leaves Eastwest with a fleet of just one aircraft, Boeing 727-277 VH-ANE, so the final chapter for yet another long established Australian airline is about to be written. Qantas placed its first Airbus Industrie product into service on July 29 when A300 VH-TAA James Cook’ operated from Melbourne to Sydney after changing its colour scheme from Australian to Qantas.

Beech King Air News

Skywest Aviation has imported King Air B200 N663P msn BB-1329 with the aircraft being delivered to the Hawker Pacific hangar at Bankstown on July 14. N663P was previously operated in the United States by Phillips Petroleum. After overhaul by Hawker Pacific the King Air was registered VH-SWC before being delivered to Skywest Aviation. Hawker Pacific King Air 350 N8246Q msn FL-79, which was later registered P2-PNH, was handed over to the Papua New Guinea Department of Transport at a ceremony held at Bankstown on July 12. King Air C90 P2-DCA, which was previously operated by the Papua New Guinea Department of Civil Aviation was accepted by Hawker Pacific as a trade in on the King Air 350. King Air 200 P2-PNH, which was operated by the Department of Transport in turn replaced the King Air C90 in service with the Department of Civil Aviation. King Air 200 VH-NIC was noted at Cairns on July 7 carrying the US regis- tration N40QN.

Pacific Air Express commenced operations in July with a twice weekly freight service connecting Townsville with Honiara via Munda and Gizo. Pacific Air Express has leased King Air 200 VH-MKR from Moores Air Charter to operate the flights.

Papua New Guinea Fleet Changes

Air Manubada of Boroko has taken delivery of Cessna 402A P2-SAV, which was previously operated by Simbu Aviation. P2-SAV was noted at Archerfield on July 16 carrying Air Manubada titles and the name ‘Rigo Kekeni.

Air Niugini A310-324 P2-ANA returned to regular service in July after being in storage for some months in Singapore. Islands Aviation DHC-6-300 VH-IAM departed Maryborough for Cairns on July 21 with its eventual destination being Rabaul. The DHC-6-300 will initially operate with Islands Aviation as VH-IAM however the aircraft is planned eventually to take up the Papua New Guinea national markings of P2-IAF.

MAF has purchased DHC-6-200 P2-RDA from Talair and registered the Twin Otter P2-MAS. Southwest Air of Mendi has purchased DHC-6-300 P2-RDL from Talair Talair has ferried the bulk of its fleet to Mareeba in North Queensland, where the aircraft are now stored awaiting sale. The Talair aircraft were ferried from Goroka to Daru and Mareeba with the dates shown being for their arrival in Mareeba.

EMB-110P1 P2-RDQ (30/06), -RDR (09/07), -RDW (30/06). EMB-110P2 P2-RDN (14/07), -RDO (14/07), -RDU (14/07). DHC-6-200 P2-RDD (16/07), -RDE (16/07), -RDF (16/07), -RDH (16/07). DHC-6-300 P2-GVI (12/07), -RDJ (07/07), -RDK (14/07), RDM (07/07), -RDV (09/07), RDX (09/07), -RDY (12/07).

Regional Airline News

Airlines of Tasmania has sold PA31-350 VH-TAR, which was used on their Royal Flying Doctor Service contract, to Chartair in Alice Springs.

Aquatic Airways ceased operations on 29/06 due to financial problems. DHC-2/FP VH-AQU was noted parked at Bankstown in late July.

from Western NSW Airlines in July with Cessna 441 VH-IJQ being utilised to operate the services.

Corporate Air took over the Canberra to Albury route Country Connection Airlines has added the former Oxley PA31-350 VH-LHG to its fleet with the aircraft being reregistered VH-XLB before entering service. From August I Country Connection commenced operating a twice daily service from Temora to Sydney via West Wyalong and Forbes. Country Connection plans to add Condoblin to its network in the foreseeable future.

Eastern Australia Airlines sixth DHC-8-102 will not be VH-XFU of Flight West as we reported in July Traffic. In its place Eastern has purchased DHC-8-102 N801AW, which was delivered new to America West Airlines of Phoenix, Arizona in February. N801AW was later retired from service by America West and placed in storage at Goodyear, Arizona. Prior to its delivery to Eastern, N801AW was ferried from Goodyear to Calgary for preservice maintenance. N801AW is planned for delivery to Eastern Australia Airlines this September as VH-TQF. Leased DHC-8-103 VH-NID will now continue in service with Eastern until late October.

Flight West Airlines has withdrawn from service DHC-6-200 VH-XFH and BN-2A-26 VH-XFI with both aircraft being noted at Cairns in July with their Flight West markings removed. It is also reported that BN-2A-26 VH-XFF will be withdrawn from Flight West service in September.

Hazelton Airlines has placed an order for a Metro 23 with planned delivery to Cudal being in late August and entry into service the following month. The aircraft concerned is N3022F msn DC-839B which will be registered VH-DMI with Hazelton.

Link Airways has expanded its network due to the demise of Western NSW Airlines. During July Link Airways (left) A 747 of Southern Air Transport’s new venture, Polar Air Cargo visited Sydney recently. (right) Aircraft of Lebanese carrier, Middle East Airlines are becoming regular visitors to our shores. Pictured is one of the airline’s two 747-200s at Sydney, whilst A310s have also visited on occasion. Despite an often viscous and drawn out civil war in Lebanon, MEA remarkably was able to continue operations. Like the country, the airline is now able to rebuild and consolidate its operations. (Rob Finlayson & Andrew Briggs) menced operations on the routes, Wagga/Bankstown, Wagga/ Canberra and Wagga to Hay and Deniliquin. Former Western NSW PA31-350 VH-KGE has been cross hired to assist in maintaining schedules on these routes.

Oxley Airlines took delivery of its fourth Beech C99 N237BH msn U-236 at Sydney on July 5. The Beechcraft entered service with Oxley later in the month as VH-OXE. In July Traffic we mentioned that Oxley King Air B200C VH-AJM had been withdrawn from service and returned to Hawker Pacific. According to the CAA register VH-AJM became VH-OXR while with Oxley, however we can find no evidence that the markings on the aircraft were actually changed. As of late 07/93 the King Air was hangared at Bankstown still carrying the registration VH-AJM. We would be interested to hear if anyone actually saw the King Air carrying the registration VH-OXR.

Sydney Harbour Airlines was planning to commence operations in August over some of the routes vacated by Aquatic Airways.

Tamair ceased operations on the Tamworth to Bankstown route as of June 26.

Western NSW Airlines ceased operations in July due to financial problems.

Yanda Airlines has added the former Oxley PA31-350 VH-STO to their fleet.

Bandeirante Fleet Update

The Bandeirante fleet in Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand has seen quite a number of changes of recent times with the grounding of Talair in New Guinea and the rollover of fleet units by Tranzair in New Zealand.

Airlines of Tasmania has leased EMB-110P1 VH-WPI to Milne Bay Air with the aircraft being delivered in mid June. Eastern Australia EMB-110P2 VH-WDF was damaged by a bird strike shortly after departing Newcastle for Sydney on July 21. With the aircraft being out of service for a few days Eastern put on line EMB-110P1 VH-HVS, which was being prepared in Tamworth for delivery to Airlink in Rabaul. VH-HVS entered service with Eastern on July 22 in the full Airlink colour scheme.

Flight West Airlines has added two ex Talair Bandeirantes to its fleet. EMB-110P1 P2-RDP was at Tamworth at the time Talair ceased operations on May 25 with the Bandeirante later being ferried to Brisbane, where it was registered VH-XFN with Flight West. EMB-110P2 P2-RDT, which is destined to become VH-XFM, arrived in Cairns from Goroka on June 10 devoid of any Talair titles or logo.

Shuttle Airlines EMB-110P1 VH-FCE is presently in storage at Essendon Airport.

Skywest Aviation EMB-110P1 VH-PGS ferried from Lord Howe to Norfolk and Auckland on June 7 on delivery to Tranzair with whom it later entered service as ZK-REW. EMB-110P2 VH-WBI continues in long term storage at Sydney Airport.

Tranzair is presently rolling over its Bandeirante fleet with EMB-110P1 ZK-TRK, with all markings removed, being noted at Maroochydore on July 13. EMB-110P1 ZK-TRL ferried from Auckland to Norfolk and Brisbane on June 29 with its final destination being the Aeromech hangar at Maroochydore. ZK-TRL was noted there on July 3 in an all white scheme. Tranzair was also planning to ferry EMB-110P1 ZK-TRM from Auckland to Maroochydore during August.