Traffic

Commercial Jet Aircraft Deliveries for 2003 Through 2006 Inclusive Were 35, 36, 49 and 29.

The July to December Deliveries Broken Down Into Types Were Two A330-200s, One A310-300, Six A320s, One 767-300, One 757-200, Four 737-800s, Three 737-300s, Three E-170s, and Five Fokker 100s.

August Deliveries Were Fokker 100 Vh-fkk to Alliance in Brisbane as N894us on the 10th, 737‑8fe Vh-vuk to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 19th, A330-202 Vh-ebf to Jetstar in Melbourne on the 26th, 737-3b7(F) Zk-tlc to Toll Holdings in Auckland on the 27th, and 767-38e(Er) B‑maw to Air Niugini in Hong Kong on the 29th.

September Saw the Arrival of 737-8fe Vh-vul to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 3rd, Fokker 100 Vhfkl to Alliance in Brisbane as N895us on the 11th, and E-170 Vh-zha to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 11th.

October Deliveries Were A320-232 Vh-vnb to Tiger Australia in Melbourne as 9v-tag on the 2nd, 757-208(Et) Tf-fii to Air Niugini in Port Moresby on the 12th, Fokker 100 Vh-fnn to Skywest in Perth on the 19th, Fokker 100 Vh-fnt to Skywest in Melbourne on the 20th, A320-232 Vh-vnc to Tiger Australia in Melbourne on the 20th, E-170 Vh-zhb to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 22nd, and 737-8bk Vh-vum to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 26th.

November Saw the Arrival of 737-3q8 G-thoe to Air New Zealand in Auckland on the 6th, A320-232 Vh‑vnd to Tiger Australia in Melbourne on the 10th, E-170 Vh-zhc to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 14th, 737-8bk Vh-vun to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 18th, and A320-232 Vh-jqw to Jetstar in Newcastle on the 25th.

December Deliveries Were 737-3b7f Zk-tld to Toll Holdings in Brisbane on the 3rd, A310-304 Cs-tdi to Air Niugini in Port Moresby on the 11th, A320-232 Vh-vnf to Tiger Australia in Melbourne on the 11th, A330-203 Vh-ebg to Qantas in Melbourne on the 16th, Fokker 100 P2‑anh to Air Niugini in Port Moresby as C-gpnl on the 18th, and A320-232 Vh-jqh to Jetstar in Newcastle on the 20th.

Qantas Group News

Since Our Last Issue the Qantas Group Has Taken Delivery of Five Aircraft – Two A330-203s, an A320-232, a 737-838 and a Dash 8-q402.

Meanwhile a Stored Australian Air Express 727-277f Was Scrapped.

Qantas Took Delivery of A330-203 Vh-ebh Hunter Valley at Melbourne on January 25 After the Airbus Ferried in From Toulouse via Singapore as Flight Qf6008.

Vh-ebh Remained in Melbourne Until February 1 When It Ferried to Sydney Asflight Qf6005 and Later That Day Entered Service When It Operated Flight Qf123 From Sydney to Mumbai.

The Use of A330-203s on the Sydney-mumbai Route Means That the Flight Can Now Operate Direct – A330-303s Flying the Route Had to Fly via Darwin. The Final Qf123 Routed Sydney-darwin- Mumbai Was Operated on January 30 by A330-303 Vh-qpa.

A330-203 Vh-ebi Yarra Valley Was Delivered to Qantas in Melbourne on February 10 After It Ferried in From Toulouse via Singapore as Flight Qf6008. It Entered Service With Qantas on February 17 When It Ferried From Melbourne to Sydney as Qf6117 to Operate Flight Qf8566 From Sydney to Perth.

737-838 Vh-vza Port Augusta Was Delivered to Qantas in Melbourne on February 11 After It Ferried in From Seattle/boeing Field via Honolulu and Nadi as Flight Qf6020. Vh-vza is the 34th of Type in the Qantas Fleet, Entering Service on February 15 When It Operated Qf673 From Melbourne to Adelaide.

Qantaslink Has Wetleased Fokker 100 Vh-fkd From Alliance Airlines With the Aircraft Planned to Enter Service on February 25 on Flights From Perth to Port Hedland and Perth to Karratha.

Qantaslink/sunstate Took Delivery of Dash 8‑q402 Vh-qoi in Brisbane on February 8 After the Aircraft Ferried in From North Bay, Ontario, via Concord in California, Honolulu and Majuro. It Entered Service on February 15 When It Operated Qf2336d From Brisbane to Gladstone.

Jetstar Took Delivery of A320-232 Vh-jqe at Melbourne on February 5 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry From Istanbul via Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Darwin as Flight Jq7998. It Entered Service on February 14 When It Operated Jq464 From Melbourne to Ballina.

Jetstar Was Planning to Take Delivery of Its First 213-seat A321, A321-231 Vh-vwy, in Newcastle on February 23 With the Aircraft Ferrying in From Victorville, California, via Honolulu and Apia.

Vh-vwy, Which Will Be Delivered in the Colours of Its Previous Operator Spirit Airlines, Will Later Be Ferried to Raaf Richmond for Painting in Jetstar A330-200 Colour Scheme Before Entering Service on March 18.

A321-231 Vh-vwx Was Planned for Delivery to Jetstar in Newcastle on March 1, While A321-231 Vh-vwz Was Planned for Delivery to Newcastle on March 14.

Jetstar A320-232 Vhvqw Had Been Operating in the Colours of Previous Operator Saudi Arabian Airlines Before It Was Ferried From Sydney to Richmond on February 16 for Painting in Jetstar Colours.

Australian Air Express 727-277f Vh-txh Had Been in Storage at Melbourne Since March ’07, and Sadly Was Scrapped There on February 5. Prior to Its Demise All Markings Were Blacked Out on the Aircraft. However, on the Starboard Fuselage Was Painted ‘rip Rmv’.

Vh-txh Was Built on Order for Ansett Airlines of Australia as Vh-rmv, Being Delivered to Melbourne on November 16 1973. It Operated With Ansett Until October 1983 When It Was Withdrawn From Service and Sold in the United States, Where It Remained With Various Operators and Was Converted to a Freighter Configuration.

On April 12 2002 It Returned to Melbourne Registered Vh-txh to Transasian Air Express. It Then Entered Service That September Flying Under Contract for Australian Air Express. It Remained Flying for Australian Air Express, Latterly Operated by National Jet, Until March 30 ’07 When It Was Withdrawn From Service After Operating Flight Xm7034 From Perth to Melbourne.

Airline News

Airlines Png Commenced Operations on the Brisbane- Port Moresby-brisbane Route in August ’06 With a Wetleased Ozjet 737-200. However, in January Airlines Png Terminated This Agreement and Instead Commenced Using Our Airline 737-3yo Vh‑inu.

Air New Zealand Was Planning to Take Delivery of 737-33a Zk-ngp, Which Was Previously Operated by Air Malta as 9h-adh, in Christchurch on March 14.

Air New Zealand Used 767-3g5(Er) N586ha of Hawaiian Airlines to Operate Flight Nz107 From Auckland to Sydney on February 1.

767-33a(Er) N585ha of Hawaiian Operated Flight Nz100 From Sydney to Auckland on February 2. The Hawaiian Airlines Aircraft Were Being Exchanged in Auckland as Part of a Planned Maintenance Program.

Air New Zealand Link/air Nelson Saab 340a Zk-nle Departed Nelson for Apia on January 28 on the First Leg of Its Delivery Flight to Air of Dallas, Texas.

Dash 8-q311 Zk-nez, Which Was Delivered to Nelson on January 18 as C-fnpy, Entered Service on February 1. Zk-nez – the 20th of Type in the Air Newzealand Link/air Nelson Fleet – Ferried From Nelson to Wellington as Flight Nz8950 Before Operating Nz8580 From Wellington to Rotorua.

Air Vanuatu 737-8q8 Yj‑av1 Spirit of Vanuatu, Which Was Delivered to Port Vila on January 16, Continued Its Ferry Flight to Melbourne on January 20. After Preservice Maintenance With Qantas the 737 Ferried From Melbourne to Brisbane on January 29 Before Entering Service the Same Day as Flight Nf21 From Brisbane to Port Vila.

The 737-8q8 Replaced 737‑3q8 Yj-av18 Spirit of Vanuatu, Which Operated Its Final Service for Air Vanuatu on January 28 as Flight Nf20 From Port Vila to Santo and Brisbane. The Following Day Yj-av18 Operated Solomon Airlines Flight Ie713/712 Brisbane-honiara-brisbane Before Ferrying to Melbourne for End of Lease Maintenance With Qantas. Yj‑av18 Still Carried the Full Colours of Air Vanuatu When It Departed Melbourne for Port Vila on February 8 Destined for the Cascade Aerospace Hangar at Abbotsford, British Columbia. There the 737-3q8 Was Prepared for Its Next Lease Which is Reported to Be to Uk Operator Bmibaby.

Yj-av18 Was Delivered to Air Vanuatu in Melbourne on April 25 ’98 With the Aircraft Ferrying in From Seattle via Honolulu, Majuro and Port Vila. It Entered Service With Air Vanuatu on May 3 ’98 When It Operated Flight Nf31 From Melbourne to Port Vila.

Alliance Airlines Leased Fokker 100 Vh-fkd to Qantaslink for Operations Ex Perth Commencing February 25. Fokker 100 Vh-fkg, Which Was Delivered to Alliance in Brisbane as N891us in March ’05, Was Planned to Enter Service in Late February.

Asian Express Airlines Has Leased 727-247(F) 9m-tgg From Transmile Air Services While Its Own 727-2j4(F) Vh-dhe Was Programmed for Planned Maintenance in Subang.

Vh-dhe Departed Auckland for Brisbane, Darwin and Subang on February 16 While 9m-tgg Ferried Into Sydney From Subang and Darwin on February 15. 9m-tgg Then Entered Service With Asian Express on February 16 as Flight Hj002 From Sydney to Auckland, and Was Planned to Remain in Service With Asian Express Until Early April.

Heavylift Cargo Belfast Rp-c8020 Departed Cairns for Merauke, Irian Jaya, as Flight Hvy411 on January 24 and There on-loaded Damaged Cessna 208b Pk-rjs Which Was Ferried to Perth for Repairs. The Belfast, Operating as Flight Hvy411, Arrived in Perth via Darwin on January 28. After Over-nighting It Departed Perth for Cairns as Flight Hvy201.

Network Aviation Was Planning to Take Delivery of Fokker 100 Vh-nhp Msn 11399 on March 8 and Fokker 100 Vh-nho Msn 11312 on April 9. Both Are to Be Operated on Resource Contracts.

Skywest Airlines Will Add a Sixth and Seventh Fokker 100 to Its Fleet, Reported to Be Vh-fnc Msn 11334 and Vh-fnu Msn 11373.

Fokker 100 Vh-fnt Entered Service With Skywest on January 16 When It Operated Flight Xr241 From Perth to Newman.

Virgin Blue Re-commenced Services on the Canberra to Sydney Route Effective February 4 With E‑170 Vh-zhc Operating Flight Dj901. Port Macquarie Was Added to the Virgin Blue Network the Same Day With E-170 Vh-zhc Also Operating the Inaugural Service From Sydney, as Flight Dj1185.

Virgin Blue Then Added Albury to Its Network the Following Day, February 5, With Vh-zhc Again Operating the Inaugural Service From Sydney, as Flight Dj1176.

Virgin Blue Was Due to Take Delivery of Two Aircraft in March, Embraer E-190 Vh-zpa Which Will Be Named Candid Canberra and 737-8fe Vh-vuo Which Will Be Named Blueissma .

Regional Airline News

in This Issue We Report the Delivery of a Dash 8-300 to Surveillance Australia, a Saab 340b+ to Regional Express and a Metro 23 to Hardy Aviation, Plus the Departure of an Air Rarotonga Emb‑110.

Airnorth Regional Took Delivery of Metro 23 Vh‑hpb at Darwin on February 1 After the Aircraft Ferried in From Coolangatta and Mount Isa. The Metro Has Been Leased From Aeropelican for Six Months to Cover Scheduled Maintenance on Airnorth’s Own Metro 23fleet.

Airnorth Emb-110p2 Vh‑fnp, Which Was Withdrawn From Service in Darwin on September 27 ’07, Ferried Out of Darwin on December 22 Destined for Maroochydore via Mount Isa and Longreach.

Emb-110p1 Vh-lnb, Which Was Also Withdrawn From Service on September 27, Departed Darwin on December 28 for Maryborough via Mount Isa and Emerald.

Aeromil is Selling the Aircraft on Airnorth’s Behalf.

Air Rarotonga Has Sold Emb-110p1 E5-tai to Insel Air in the Netherlands Antilles. Prior to Departing Rarotonga for Curacao on February 15 the Emb-110p1 Was Registered Pj-via.

Central Highlands Air Transport Based at Emerald, Queensland, Added the Former Transair Metro Ii Vh-tfq to Its Fleet on February 1.

Hardy Aviation Has Purchased Metro 23 N886ml Msn Dc-886b With the Aircraft Being Delivered to Brisbane on February 15. The Ferry Flight Was Contracted to Air Centre One of Auckland and Took the Metro From North Las Vegas to Brisbane via Santa Maria in California, Honolulu and Majuro.

In Traffic/march We Mentioned the Departure of Origin Pacific Jetstream 41s Zk-jsn and Zk-jso, Now Registered N153km and N156km Respectively, to North Star Aviation at Boca Raton, Florida. After Departing Brisbane the Jetstreams Continued to Cairns, Darwin and Bandar Seri Begawan and From There They Continued Round the Pacific Rim to Anchorage Before Transiting Ketchikan and Bismarck to Mena, Arkansas.

Regional Express Took Delivery of Saab 340b+ N381ae at Wagga Wagga on January 26 After the Aircraft Ferried in From Nashville via Yuma, Honolulu, Apia, Coolangatta and Orange. The Saab 340b+ Was Delivered by Wade Air and Was Later Registered Vh-zlk.

Saab 340b+ Vh-zrb Ex N389ae Was Planned for Delivery to Regional Express in March.

Regional Express Withdrew Saab 340b Vh-oln From Service on February 8 After the Aircraft Operated Flight Zl3286 From Melbourne to Wagga Wagga. Regional Express Will Reportedly Use It as a Source of Spares.

Regional Pacific Airlines Dhc-6-300 Vh-rpu Was Cancelled From the Register on January 31. It Has Moved to Papua New Guinea With Associate Company Regional Air of Madang as P2-ksb.

Skytraders Casa 212s Vh‑vha and Vh-vhb Ferried Into Hobart From Wilkins on January 28 on Conclusion of Their Work in Antarctica.

On January 30 the Still Skiequipped Casas Continued to Melbourne Where They Were Parked at the John Holland Aviation Hangar.

Skytrans Has Added an Eighth Dash 8-100 to Its Fleet With the Registration of Vh-qqh on January 29. The Dash 8-102 Was Previously Operated by Qantaslink as Vh-tnx (See Photo Last Issue of Traffic) and on January 4 It Ferried From Brisbane to Townsville on Delivery to Skytrans Parent Company Airlines Png. Vh-tnx Was Cancelled From the Australian Register on January 7 and It Was Expected That It Would Be Registered in Png. Instead, It Has Taken Up Its New Australian Registration, Vh-qqh. On February 8 the Aircraft Departed Townsville for Port Moresby Where It Will Be Overhauled Prior to Entering Service With Skytrans.

Surveillance Australia Took Delivery of Dash 8-315 C-fhqg at Adelaide on February 13 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight From Toronto/downsview via Male, Pandang and Broome Using the Callsign Dhc05.

The Dash 8-315 Was Later Registered Vh-zze and Its Delivery Takes Surveillance Australia’s Fleet to 10 – Six Dash 8-200s (Vh-zza, -zzb, -zzc, -zzi, -zzj, -zzp) and Four Dash 8-300s (Vh-zze, -zzf, -zzg, -zzn).

Bizjet News

the Local Fleet Continues to Expand With the Recent Delivery of a Gulfstream Iv/sp, Hawker 800xp and a Cessna 510 Mustang, Although a Falcon 900 Has Been Sold Overseas.

Gulfstream Iv/sp Vh-dbt Was Delivered to Mahaya Aviation at Melbourne/essendon on January 21 After It Flew in From Honolulu and Noumea.

Hawker 800xp Vh-zuh Was Registered to Avwest of Cottesloe, Western Australia, on January 21. It Was Delivered to Perth on January 29, Flying in From Appleton in Wisconsin via Honolulu and Brisbane.

Cessna 510 Mustang N1749l Was Delivered to Aeromil Pacific in Maroochydore on January 4 After It Completed Its Ferry Flight From the United States via Denpasar, Port Hedland and Alice Springs. N1749l Subsequently Departed Maroochydore for Lord Howe Island and Wellington on February 12 on Delivery to a Local Owner Who Will Register It Zk-mus.

Remorex P/l of West Perth’s Falcon 900 Vh‑ace Was Cancelled From the Register on January 29 on Itssale in the United States. The Falcon, Then Registered N41sj, Was Delivered to Sydney in October ’97 Before Being Registered to Remorex in February ’98 as Vh-fcp. In August ’99 It Was Re-registered Vh-ace. Remorex Will Reportedly Replace the Falcon 900 With a Global Express Xrs.

Learjet 36a Vh-cms Was Registered to Careflight (Queensland) Ltd of the Gold Coast on January 31.

Vh-cms is Not New to the Country – Registered N950g It Was Delivered to the Jet City Hangar at Melbourne on August 10 ’07.

Premier Ia Vh-tma Was Registered to Gojet P/l of Albion Park, Nsw, on January 23.

The Premier Has Been in the Country Since December 23 ’05 When as N6137u It Was Delivered to Coolangatta, Although Within Days It Was Re-registered N451mm.

King Air B200 N2748x Msn Bb-1258 Arrived at Brisbane/archerfield on February 4 After Completing Its Trans-pacific Ferry Flight From Tracy, California, via Honolulu, Pago Pago and Brisbane. Reportedly, It Will Be Delivered to West Wing Aviation in Mount Isa.

King Air B200 N63791 Msn Bb-1100, Which Was Delivered to Archerfield on January 11, Was Registered Vh-xdv to West Wing Aviation on January 30.

King Air B200 Zk-man, the Former Vh-imp, Was Delivered to Nelson via Lord Howe Island on February 13 After Being Registered to Hawker Pacific Nz Ltd of Papakura.

Overseas Bizjet News

Global Xrs N234gx Operated by Bombardier Aerospace of Richardson, Texas, Arrived at Melbourne/ Essendon From Perth on January 18. After Over-nighting It Departed for Singapore.

Global Express N287z Arrived in Melbourne From Honolulu on January 25. It Departed for Brisbane on January 28 and for Honolulu on January 31.

Global Express N500e, Registered to the Mobil Corporation of Dallas, Texas, Arrived in Melbourne From Singapore on January 19, Departing for Auckland on January 22.

Challenger 601/3a N525sd Operated by Skye- Gryphon of Concord, New Hampshire, Arrived in Sydney From Wellington on January 22. It Departed for Cairns on January 24.

Falcon 900 D-awkg Arrived at Melbourne/essendon From Manila on January 16 and Departed for Sydney on January 18. It Departed for Kuala Lumpur on January 21.

Ekspres Transportasi Erj‑135bj Pk-rjg Was Noted in Brisbane on February 8.

Gulfstream 550 N531qs Registered to Nji Sales of Oklahoma City Arrived in Coolangatta From Singapore on January 26.

Gulfstream 550 N944h Registered to Honeywell Aircraft Leasing of Morristown, New Jersey, Arrived in Melbourne From Honolulu on January 18.

After Over-nighting It Departed for Bangkok.

Gulfstream V N77cp Registered to Pfizer Inc of West Trenton, New Jersey, Arrived in Sydney From Beijing on February 1.

Gulfstream V N420qs Registered to Nji Sales of Oklahoma City Arrived in Melbourne From Nadi on January 28.

Shell Oil Gulfstream V Vp-bsn Arrived in Perth From Bangkok on February 3 Using the Callsign ‘shell 951’.

It Was Later Seen in Adelaide and Melbourne.

Usaf Gulfstream V/c-37a 01-0030 Arrived in Darwin From Kwajalein on February 4 Operating as ‘spar 32’.

Us Navy Gulfstream V/c-37a 166375 Departed Sydney for Honolulu on January 31.

Gulfstream 450 N450pk Registered to Computer Associates Research of Islandia, New York, Arrived in Melbourne From Nadi on February 11. It Later Moved to Sydney Before Departing for Darwin on February 17.

Gulfstream Iv N151st Registered to St Aviation of Naples, Florida, Arrived in Sydney From Papeete on February 1. It Later Departed Nelson for Sydney and Singapore on February 4.

Deer Jet of Beijing Gulfstream Iv B-8080 Arrived in Canberra From Bandar Seri Begawan on February 4.

Heavy Metal

Singapore Airlines A380‑841 9v-skb Made Its First Visit to Sydney on January 24 After Arriving From Singapore as Flight Sq221/23.

Qatar Airways Amiri Flight A340-541 A7-hhh Arrived in Melbourne From Doha on February 3. After Over-nighting It Departed on Its Return Flight Direct to Doha. Air Bridge Cargo 747‑46nerf Vp-big Arrived in Sydney From Hong Kong as Flight Abw4162 on February 15. After Over-nighting It Departed for Hong Kong as Abw4163.

Girjet of Barcelona 747‑21ac/scd Ec-kep Arrived in Perth From Abu Dhabi as Flight Gtj34p on January 26. It Remained in Perth Until January 28 When It Departed for Mauritius as Flight Gtj34.

Transaero 767-201(Er) Ei-dbw Operated the Russian Airline’s Fortnightly Service Into Sydney From Moscow/domodedova via Hong Kong on January 22.

Monarch Airlines 757-2t7 G-monj Arrived in Cairns From Apia on February 4 Operating as Flight Mon9884.

Astreaus 757-23a G-ojib Was on Charter to the Heavy Metal Band ‘iron Maiden’ When It Arrived in Perth From Mumbai via Bantam, Indonesia, on February 3. The 757, Which Was Operating as Flight Aeu666 and Using the Callsign ‘flystar 666’, Departed for Melbourne on February 5 and Was Later Seen in Sydney and Brisbane.

First Choice 757-28a G-ooba Arrived in Sydney From Bandar Seri Begawan on February 11 Using the Callsign ‘jetset 2’. It Departed for Apia on February 13.

First Choice 757-28a G‑oobf Arrived in Cairns From Apia on February 6 Operating Flight Fca89.

Icelandair 757-256 Tf‑fia Arrived in Sydney From Apia on January 22 Using the Callsign ‘ice 1450’. The Winglet-fitted 757 Carried Icelandair Titles on the Starboard Side and Abercrombie and Kent Titles on the Port Side.

Usaf Kc-135r 57-1493 Arrived in Sydney From Osan, South Korea, on January 19 Using the Callsign ‘reach 134’. Operated by the Air Education and Training Command at Altus, Oklahoma, It Departed for Canberra on January 22 as ‘gassr 99’. After Over-nighting It Departed for Hickam Afb, Again Using the Callsign ‘reach 134’.

737-7es/wedgetail N359bj Made Its First Flight in Modified Wedgetail Configuration From Raaf Base Amberley on January 23, Using the Callsign ‘boeing 202’. N359bj Had Arrived at Amberley From Seattle on January 16 ’06 to Be the First of Four of Type to Be Modified to Wedgetail Aew&c Configuration. On January 31 N359bj Departed Amberley for Pago Pago, Honolulu and Seattle/boeing Field to Support Wedgetail Development Flight Testing, Again Using the Callsign ‘boeing 202’.

Royal Jet of Abu Dhabi 737-7zb/bbj A6-rjz Arrived in Melbourne From Doha via Kuala Lumpur on January 29. The Bbj Was Carrying the Qatar National Soccer Team, Remaining in Melbourne Until February 7 When It Departed for Kuala Lumpur and Doha as Flight Roj001.

Rossiya Special Flight Il-62m Ra86540 Transited Sydney on January While en Route From Auckland to Manila Operating as Flight Sdm9003.

African International Airways Dc-8-62f Zs‑ozv Arrived in Perth From Mauritius on January 31. The Dc-8 Departed Perth for Dhaka and Fujairah, Uae on February 2, Using the Callsign Ain292.

Helicopter Imports

Bristow Helicopters as 332l G-tigo and as 332l G-tigt Had Arrived at Essendon by Truck by Early February for Assembly in the Helijet Hangar.

Bristow Helicopters as 322l Vh-bwj Was Noted at Melbourne/essendon on January 23 With the Aircraft Later Commencing Local Operations.

Helicorp Has Imported Bell 412ep N156wc With the Aircraft Noted Arriving at Melbourne/essendon by Truck on January 22.

Registered to the Jack Prewitt Corporation of Bedford, Texas, It Was Assembled by Helijet and by February 11 Was Noted to Be Carrying the Registration Vh-llb and Helicorp Titles.

Pacific Helicopters Bell 212 P2-pay Was Unloaded From a Truck at the Hawker Pacific Hangar in Sydney on February 11.

Robinson R44 N144el Was Noted at Melbourne/ Essendon on February 8.

Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-61n C-ftig Arrived at Essendon on January 10 for Re-assembly Before Ferrying to Darwin Where It Arrived on January 31. Jayrow Helicopters Has Brought Cftig to Australia to Operate on a Resource Contract.

Ferry Flights

Air Tractor 802 Ec-igv Which Was Operated by Avialsa of Valencia, Spain, Ferried Into Port Hedland From Cocos Island on January 22.

The Air Tractor Was on Delivery to Kennedy Aviation of Gunnedah and Was Registered Vh-xau on February 14.

Cessna 208fp Vh-nrp, Which Was Registered to a Private Owner in Mermaid Beach, Queensland, on January 8, Made the Headlines During Its Ferry Flight From Thailand to Australia. Thefloat Equipped Caravan Was Previously Registered Hs-cco Operated by Coco Seaplanes Out of Koh Sumi and as Vh-nrp It Departed There for Singapore on January 23. Evidently the Arrival of the Cessna 208fp Into Singapore Was Unannounced So It Was Intercepted and Escorted by Singapore Air Force F-16d Fighters. Aa Noted It Still on the Ground at Changi Airport in Late February.

Susiair Cessna 208b Pk‑vvr Ferried Into Coolangatta on January 22 From Merauke, Cairns and Townsville. In Coolangatta It Underwent Maintenance With Seair Pacific Before It Departing on February 7 for Cairns on Its Return to Merauke.

Cessna 400 Vh-jej Was Registered to Tirrawarra P/l of Calliope, Queensland, on January 9, Ferrying Into Brisbane on February 4. The High Performance Piston Single (the Former Columbia 400) Was Ferried by Australian Air Ferry From Hollister in California via Santa Barbara, Hilo, Christmas Island and Nadi.

Pilatus Pc-12 Vh-fdj Arrived in Adelaide From Phuket via Denpasar and Broome on January 21 on Delivery to the Rfds/central Operations.

Pa-42-1000 Zk-rur Was on Delivery to Air Bali of Denpasar When It Departed Ardmore for Auckland, Norfolk Island and Coolangatta on February 8. On Arrival in Coolangatta Zk-rur Was Hangared While Further Work Was Carried Out on the Aircraft Before It Continued Its Ferry to Denpasar.

Pa-31t N747re Registered to Weather Modifications of Fargo, North Dakota, Arrived in Brisbane From Saudi Arabia via Jakarta/halim, Christmas Island, Port Hedland and Alice Springs on January 20.

Ferried by Globeaero of Lakeland, Florida, the Pa-31t Was Brought to Southeast Queensland to Take Part in Cloud Seeding Experiments in Conjunction With Commander 690a Zs-jra. While Involved in These Flights the Pa-31t Uses the Callsign ‘seeda 2. ’ Metro Iii N697ax Msn Ac-697, Registered to Wilson Gas of Lake Zurich, Illinois, Ferried Into Brisbane/ Archerfield From Kwajalein, Honiara and Brisbane on February 13. The Metro Has Reportedly Been Flown to Archerfield for Maintenance and a Repaint Before Returning to Kwajalein.

Airvan Update

This Production Update Continues on From Our Last Airvan Round-up in Traffic/ December.

Ga-8 07-115 Vh-aum Departed Latrobe Valley in a Container on February 8 to Be Exported to the Uk for Operation by Parachuting Airkix.

Ga-8 07-118 Vh-bxk Was Registered to Air Freight Solutions of Bathurst, Nsw, on December 3, Departing Latrobe Valley on Delivery on December 13.

Ga-8 07-120 Will Be the First Airvan to Be Fitted With a Theilert Jet Fuel Burning Diesel Engine.

Ga-8 07-121 Has Been Sold to Air Ventures of Lihue, Hawaii, Departing Latrobe Valley in a Container on January 22. 07-121 is the Second Airvan Delivered to Air Ventures, Joining 06-106 N699av.

Ga-8 07-122 V3-hhb Has Been Sold to Tropic Air of Belize With the Aircraft Leaving Latrobe Valley in a Container on January 11.

Ga-8 07-125 Vh-wsb Was Registered to Geraldton Air Charter of Geraldton, Wa, on November 12, and Departed Latrobe Valley on Its Delivery Flight on December 17. Ferry Routing From Latrobe Valley to Geraldton Was via Mildura, Ceduna, Forrest and Kalgoorlie.

Ga-8 08-128 Vh-kne is the First 2008 Production Airvan, Registered to Gippsland Aeronautics on February 5. Vh-kne Has Been Sold to Kakadu Air and When Delivered in Late March Will Be the Fourth Aircraft of Type in Its Fleet.

Ga-8 08-129 Has Been Sold to the Mission Aviation Fellowship for Operations in Cambodia With Delivery Planned for Late March.

Ga-8 08-130 Will Be the First Production Airvan With a Turbocharged Engine. It Too Has Been Sold to the Mission Aviation Fellowship.

Other Airvan News Concerns the Following Aircraft: Ga-8 05-087 N3063t is Now Being Operated by Golden Wings Charter Out of Nassau in the Bahamas.

Ga-9 05-096 Vh-ajz Was Registered to Batavia Coast Air Charters of Geraldton, Wa, on December 3.

Ga-8 06-098 N698av Has Been Sold to a Private Owner in Hannibal, Missouri.

Ga-8 06-103 9q-cmt, Which Was Previously Registered Zs-puo, Was Delivered in October to Nouvelle Immatriculation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ga-8 06-107 Vh-bfl Was Registered to Shoal Air of Kununurra on October 24.