Traffic

Qantas Boeing 747-238B VH-EBR terminated its lease to Air Pacific on July 31 when it operated FJ914 from Nadi to Sydney. The following day, VH-EBR still carrying Air Pacific titles returned to Qantas operations when it operated as QF29 from Sydney to Denpasar. On its return from Denpasar VH-EBR entered the hangar where its Qantas markings were reapplied. Surprisingly though VH-EBR was rolled out with the inscription “The Spirit of Australia’ on its nose and not “The Australian Airline’ which is the new logo adopted by the Qantas fleet. At time of writing the only aircraft in the Qantas fleet that I have noted carrying the titles “The Australian Airline’ is the Boeing 747-438 VH-OJA.

Ferry Flights

Metro III N346AE msn AC-632 ferried into Maroochydore from Darwin on August 9. Originally imported by Aeromil Australia in March, the Metro 111 was later flown to Malaysia where it operated on lease to a local freight company. At Maroochydore N346AE joins Metro III N350AE msn AC-617, which was imported by Aeromil in May and has since been held in storage.

Milne Bay Air have recently added three Dornier 228-202’s P2-MBO, -MBP and -MBQ to their fleet with these aircraft believed to be ex N275MC, N256MC and N258MC respectively. Delivery details are sketchy though P2-MBP was noted at Camarillo, California on June 27, while P2-MBQ was re- ported enroute Honolulu to Tarawa on June 24.

Adelaide based National Jet Systems has negotiated a three year lease of DHC-8-103A P2-NAZ msn 316 to the Ok Tedi Mining Company in PNG. The Dash 8, which will be operated by local company Nationair from Tabubil, was planned for delivery to Cairns in early September after being ferried across the Pacific by Southern Cross Aviation. DHC-8-103A msn 316 which is a January ’92 production aircraft was built on order for Tyrolean Airways but was never delivered and as C-GFUM it has since been parked at Downsview. When delivered the Dash 8 will replace in service EMB-110P1 P2-NAL, which Nationair operated on lease from Skywest Aviation.

The outflow of general aviation aircraft from Australia to New Zealand continued during July with dates quoted being for the Norfolk Island to Auckland stage of their trans Tasman ferry-Cessna 185C VH-DJU on July 15; PA23-250D VH-PRB on July 16; Cessna 172N VH-JYI on July 19; Cessna A185F VH-FRL on July 23; Beech A36 VH-WMD, Cessna 172N VH-IVS and Cessna T188C VH-KZI on July 27. Other exports in this period include Cessna 414A VH-FOF, which was noted at Tarawa on July 2 while enroute to the US, and CT-4AA19-055 which was being uncrated at Auckland on July 27.

Pacific Island Airline News

Air Nelson added an eighth Saab 340A to its fleet on July 19 when SE-ISX arrived at Nelson. The Saab later entered service with Air Nelson registered ZK-NLE and not ZK-FXC which we quoted in September “Traffic”.

Air New Zealand took delivery of their third Boeing 767-319ER at Auckland on August 12 when ZK-NCG arrived direct from Seattle as the NZ6300. The Boeing operated its first revenue service for Air New Zealand on August 17 when it flew from Auckland to Brisbane as the NZ137. Boeing 737- 219 ZK-NAX operated a trans Tasman charter with a differ- A Royal Thai Air Force Airbus A310 was an unusual visitor to RAAF Base Pearce recently when it transported home a contingent of Australian troops that had been on exercise in Thailand. Featuring both civil and military registration markings, three Airbuses are operated by the RTAF, while the Canadian Armed Forces and the Luftwaffe operate ex airline A310s. (right) Belonging to the General Motors Corporation, this Gulfstream ill arrived in Adelaide recently with executives for a meeting of the GM International Strategy Board at Holden’s Elizabeth plant. The meeting is believed to have considered a large export deal for Commodores to Asia. (Richard Sludak & Richard Koehne) Former Soviet heavy transports are regular visitors to the worlds’ airports as they ply the skies with outsize cargo. (left) This Antonov An-12 is based at Brisbane with NGA Aviation and is available for freight charter. (right) A Cubana -76 meanwhile was an unusual visitor to Auckland recently when it delivered two Mi-8 The El Salvador. (Peter Easton & Peter Clark) ence on August 68 when it flew from Auckland to Coffs nated when the Heron was found to have excessive corrosion Harbour as NZ1115. problems. (Refer NZ News) Mount Cook has taken over the Te Anau based Fiordland Travel and in doing so have added GAF N-24A ZK-FVX, GAF N-22C ZK-FVU and Cessna 207A ZK-LAW to its fleet. Pacific Express is evidently still operational, however it has been some weeks since we have had a report on one of its aircraft visiting Australia. On July 21 Pacific Express operated flight PXH172 into Auckland from Papeete using Cubana 11-76MD CU-T1258. Inbound cargo carried by the II-76 were Salvadorian-registered Mil Mi-8 helicopters YS-1005P and YS- 1006P, which were on delivery to Timberlands West Coast. Local press reports state that the helicopters remained on the 11-76 for several days after their arrival in Auckland and they were not off-loaded until the crew of the Il-76 were paid. CU-T1258 departed Auckland on July 29 for Papeete as fn PXH175.

Polynesian Airlines added Boeing 767-333(ER) C-FMWP to its fleet in August 8 with the aircraft first being noted at Sydney on August 17. Built on order for Air Canada but never delivered, C-FMWP carries the full colour scheme of Polynesian Airlines and replaces in service the previously leased Boeing 767-233ER C-FBEG.

Propliner Fleet Update

Dakota Downunder who is based at Albury and previously operated under the name of Splitters Creek Airlines now have its DC-3s VH-CAN and VH-MIN carrying Dakota Downunder titles. Both DC-3s however still carry the primary colours of their previous operators, VH-CAN of Flight Australia and VH-MIN of Rebel Air.

Dakota National Air based at Bankstown has added the former Rebel Air DC-3 VH-UPQ to its fleet and during August the colour scheme on the aircraft was changed to reflect its new owner. Dakota National Air has also purchased Douglas C-47s P2-001 and P2-004 from the PNG Defence Force and by the time this is read both these aircraft will have ferried into Cairns from Port Moresby. A third PNGDFC-47 P2-003, which was purchased by a buyer from Moree, NSW was noted at Cairns on August 21 after it ferried in from Port Moresby. Heron Airlines who presently operate the Lycoming-powered Heron 2B VH-NJI on tourist flights around Australia has added a second Heron to its fleet. This aircraft is a Gipsy Queen powered Heron 2G-ODLG which has spent most of its life with the Royal Navy as XR443. Now registered VH-NJP with Heron Airlines, the DH Heron was due in Australia during September after being ferried from the UK.

Regional Airline News

Airlines of Tasmania Heron VH-KAM, which has been operating on lease to Vincent Aviation in Wellington since June ’92, was reported to be planning the return ferry to Launceston in September. While VH-KAM operated out of Wellington, Vincent Aviation shipped their Heron 2D ZK-TAJ to Launceston for overhaul, however this was later termi- Coast to Coast Airlines ceased regional airline operations on August 2 though the company is stating they plan to recommence services again in early October. For Coast to Coast this is the third time since April ’92 that it has ceased RPT services so it will be interesting to see whether they do manage once again to restart operations.

Eastern Australia Airlines returned EMB-110P VH-WDF to service on August 11 after repairs were carried out at Tamworth as a result of a bird strike on July 21. As a – Eastern terminated lease on the Airlink EMB-110P1 VH-HVS with the Bandeirante returning to Tamworth on August 11. VH-HVS now registered P2-ALZ departed Tamworth on August 13 on delivery to Airlink in Rabaul. On August 14 Eastern introduced Jetstream 31 VH-TQM into service as the first of their fleet to be painted in the new colours of the Qantas Group. Later in the month DHC-8-102 VH-TQN also returned to service after being repainted at Tamworth.

Eastern Pacific Airlines ceased regional airline operations as long ago as January though for various reasons we have never recorded this in our column. Eastern Pacific itself is still involved in charter operations however using PA31-350 VH-ASD and PA31 VH-BEB.

the Torres Strait from early September and as a consequence Flight West Airlines terminated services to the islands of BN-2A-26 VH-XFF was ferried to Cairns for storage and sale. Air Safari’s in Hawthorndene, South Australia. King Island Airlines has sold PA31-350 VH-PWA to Koala Seaview Air based on Lord Howe Island has been granted as of late August Seaview Air was still operating under a traffic rights on the route from Lord Howe to Sydney, however charter license. On August 9 Seaview Air introduced into service RC-690B VH-SVQ which previously operated in Western Australia as VH-FOZ. The Turbo Commander, which is named ‘James Martin’ and operates in an eight seat configuration, is scheduled to cover the Sydney to Lord Howe sector in one hour 40 mins. Also recently added to the Seaview Air fleet are two PA31-350 which were previously operated by Oxley Airlines. The aircraft concerned are VH-RUI and VH-WGG which have been reregistered to Seaview Air as VH-SVN and VH-SVV respectively.

Sydney Harbour Seaplanes has commenced operations using the former Aquatic Air DHC-2FPs Beavers VH-AQA, AQU and -AQV.

Tamair will add a second Metro III to its fleet with its planned delivery to Tamworth being in mid September. The Metro III concerned, VH-NEJ, is reported to be ex N629AV msn AC-629B an aircraft which was previously operated by Wings West in the USA.

Gulfstream IV-Sp for Associated Airlines

Associated Airlines took delivery of Gulfstream IV-SP VH-ASQ at its Essendon base on August 25. The Gulfstream was ferried in from the Gulfstream Aerospace facility at Savannah, Georgia with enroute stops being made at Long Beach, Honolulu and Nadi. The delivery of VH-ASQ will maintain Associated Airlines long association with Grumman Gulfstream which dates back to 1960 with the delivery of Gulfstream I VH-ASJ. Grumman Gulfstream products to be operated by Associated over the years have been Gulfstream I VH-ASJ (9/60-4/83), Gulfstream I VH-CRA (9/66-9/73), Gulfstream IVH-FLO (5/69-6/89), Gulfstream II VH-ASG (4/71- 9/93) and Gulfstream II VH-ASM (4/73-2/84).

Associated Airlines was recently awarded the right to become the third of what will eventually be a worldwide network of Authorised Gulfstream Warranty Repair Stations. The Gulfstream IV-SP VH-ASQ replaces in service Gulfstream IIB VH-ASG, which was delivered to Associated Airlines at Essendon on in April 1971. Present indications are that VH-ASG will depart Essendon for the US in late September 9 as a trade in on VH-ASQ. The departure of the Gulfstream IIB VH-ASG will also answer the question as to whether Associated will retain VH-ASQ as the registration for the Gulfstream IV-SP or whether it will then become the ‘new’ VH-ASG.

Meanwhile, National Jet Systems has added BAe 125-800B VH-NJM to its fleet. VH-NJM is in fact the former VH-III, which was operated out of Essendon for many years by the ANZ Banking Group. As G-DCCC the BAe 125-800B was delivered to National Jet in Adelaide on March 26 as an interim replace ment for their BAe 1000 VH-LMP which had in turn been flown to the UK for maintenance. National Jet in conjunction with the Royal Adelaide Hospital has identified a requirement for an aircraft to be used for Medical Emergencies and it is mainly for this purpose that VH-NJM has been placed on the Australian register.

BAe 125-600B VH-NJA which is presently hangared at Essendon is being actively advertised for sale by Aeromil both in Australia and overseas. Meanwhile, BAe 125-3B VH-CAO which has been static in Sydney for many months is being offered for auction with no reserve price. Australian Jet Charter brought CitationJet N210CJ to Australia during August as part of a worldwide demonstration tour.

Kendell Airlines Fleet Changes

Wagga based Kendell Airlines added two more Metro 23s to its fleet in this period to bring its fleet type to four. The first Metro 23 to arrive was N3012N msn DC-837 which departed San Antonio, Texas on August 9 and arrived at Wagga on August 19 after its Transpacific ferry. Later registered VH-KDO, the Metro 23 was flown to Adelaide to commence operations with Kendell. The second Metro 23 N3021N msn DC-838 arrived in Wagga from Norfolk Island and Sydney on August 22 and later entered service with Kendell as VH-KAN. With the delivery of the Metro 23s Kendell Airlines has taken Metro II VH-BIF and Merlin IVA VH-SWP out of service with both aircraft to be used as a source of spare parts. VH-BIF was consequently withdrawn from service at Wagga on June 28 after operating flight KD236 from Melbourne and Albury, while Merlin IVA VH-SWP was scheduled to operate its last flight for Kendell in early September.

The withdrawal from service of VH-SWP, which as VH-CFO was the first of its type in Australia and the forerunner of the now very popular Metro series of aircraft is particularly sad to see.