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January Deliveries Were 737‑8q8 Yj-av1 to Air Vanuatu in Port Vila on the 16th and A330-203 Vh-ebh to Qantas in Melbourne on the 25th.

February Saw the Arrival of A320-232 Vh-jqe to Jetstar in Newcastle on the 5th; A330-203 Vh-ebi to Qantas in Melbourne on the 10th; and 737-838 Vh-vza to Qantas in Melbourne on the 11th.

March Deliveries Were 737-8fe Vh-vuo to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 6th; Fokker 100 Vh-nhp to Network Aviation in Perth on the 10th; E-190-100igw Vh-zpa to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 11th; 737‑33a Zk-ngp to Air New Zealand in Christchurch on the 19th; E-190-100lr Vh-sxk to Skyairworld in Brisbane on the 20th; and A321-231 Vh-vwy to Jetstar in Newcastle on the 31st.

April Saw the Arrival of E-190-100igw Vh-zpb to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 3rd; Fokker 100 Vh-fnc to Skywest in Perth on the 10th; Fokker 100 Vh-nho to Network Aviation in Perth on the 14th; and A320-232 Vh‑vqf to Jetstar in Newcastle on the 26th.

May Deliveries Were 737‑33a Zk-ngr to Air New Zealand in Christchurch on the 4th; 767-366er P2‑ana to Air Niugini in Port Moresby on the 9th; E-190-100igw Vh-zpc to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 13th; A321-231 Vh‑vwz to Jetstar in Newcastle on the 15th; and A320-232 Vh‑vqe to Jetstar in Newcastle on the 30th.

June Saw the Arrival of A330-203mrtt A39-002 to the Raaf as Ec-333 in Brisbane on the 1st; E‑190‑100igw Vh-zpd to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 2nd; 737-838 Vh-vzb to Qantas in Melbourne on the 2nd; Erj-145mp Vh-szf to Skyairworld in Brisbane on the 8th; A330-202 Vh‑ebj to Qantas in Melbourne on the 8th; Fokker 100 Vh-nhf to Network Aviation in Perth as N898us on the 14th; E-170‑100lr Vh-zhd to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 21st; 737-838 Vh-vzc to Qantas in Melbourne on the 28th; Erj-145mp Vh-szh to Skyairworld in Brisbane on the 29th; and 737-8fe Vh-vup to Virgin Blue in Brisbane on the 29th.

For the Remainder of the Year We Have in Prospect at Least Another 22 Aircraft, and if They All Turn Up as Planned It Will Mean 2008 Will Be One of the Best Years Ever for Airliner Deliveries.

Qantas Group Fleet Update

Qantas Took Delivery of 737-838 Vh-vzc Innisfail in Melbourne on June 28 With the Aircraft Completing Its Ferry Flight Qf6020 From Seattle/ Boeing Field via Honolulu and Nadi. Vh-vzc Entered Service With Qantas on July 3 When It Operated Flight Qf608 From Melbourne to Brisbane.

737-838 Vh-vzd Geelong Was Delivered to Melbourne on July 3 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight Qf6020 From Boeing Field via Honolulu and Nadi.

Vh-vzd Entered Service With Qantas on July 9 When It Operated Flight Qf673 From Melbourne to Adelaide. 737-838 Vh-vze Bunbury Was Delivered to Melbourne on July 13 After It Completed Its Ferry Flight Qf6020 From Boeing Field via Honolulu and Nadi. Vh-vze’s Delivery to Qantas Takes Its 737-838 Fleet to 38 While a Further 31 Remain on Order.

A380-841 Vh-oqa Nancy Bird-walton Was Planned for Delivery to Qantas in Sydney in Late August.

A330-202 Vh-ebk Savannah Way Was Planned for Delivery to Qantas in Melbourne in Late August.

Jetstar Was Planning to Take Delivery of A320-232 Vhvqd in Newcastle on July 18.

A320-232 Vh-vqw Operated a Special Flight Jq7982 From Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City on May 27 in Connection With the Launch of Jetstar Pacific. After Overnighting Vh-jqw Operated Flight Jq7983 From Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore.

Qantaslink/sunstate Was Planning to Take Delivery of Dash 8-q400 Vh-qok in Brisbane in Mid August With Q402s Vh-qom and Vh-qon Following in September.

Qantaslink/sunstate Has Wetleased a Fokker 100 From Alliance Airlines to Operate 13 Return Services Weekly Between Brisbane and Mackay. The First Such Service Was on June 23 When Fokker 100 Vh-fkg Operated Flight Qf2514/2515 Brisbane- Mackay-brisbane.

Airline News

Air New Zealand Link/eagle Airways Took Delivery of Beech 1900d Vh-eas at Hamilton on July 10 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight From Cairns via Coolangatta. The 1900d, Which is the 18th of Type in the Anz Link/eagle Fleet, Was Later Registered Zk-ear.

Airwork 737-3q4(Qc) Zk-tlb Returned to the Region on July 13 After It Ferried Into Auckland From Miami via Honolulu and Pago Pago. Zk-tlb Previously Operated in Australia With Toll Holdings Before Departing Brisbane for Majuro and Miami on December 21 ’07.

The Aircraft Will Operate in New Zealand for Airwork While 737-219c Zk-nqc is Out of Service for Planned Maintenance.

Alliance Airlines Placed Fokker 100 Vh-fkc Into Service on June 23 When the Aircraft, Which Returned to Brisbane on May 14 After Terminating Its Lease to Air Niugini, Operated Flight Uty710 From Brisbane to Cloncurry.

Australian Air Express 727-277f Vh-vli Arrived in Melbourne From Perth on July 27 to Commence Planned Maintenance for Six Weeks in the John Holland Hangar. To Cover Its Four Times Weekly Return Service Perth-melbourne-perth, Australian Air Express Leased 727-227f Rp-c8019 From Heavylift Cargo and on June 30 It Arrived in Melbourne From Cairns. Australian Air Express Placed Rp-c8019 Into Service on July 1 When It Operated Flight Xm7492 From Melbourne to Perth.

Heavylift Short Belfast Rp‑c8020 Had Been Parked at Cairns Since January 29 but Was Back in the Air Again on June 22 to Do Some Circuit Work. On June 29 the Belfast Departed Cairns for Darwin and After Over-nighting Continued to Dili.

On Arrival in Dili It Loaded a Black Hawk Helicopter Which Was Carried to Townsville. On the Sectors Cairns-darwin-dili- Townsville the Belfast Used the Callsign Asy114. On July 1 It Returned to Cairns From Townsville as Hvy201.

Skyairworld Took Delivery of Embraer Erj-145mp Vh‑szh at Brisbane on June 29 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight From Warsaw via Darwin and Cloncurry.

Vh-szh’s Delivery Takes the Skyairworld Embraer Fleet to Four (One E-190, One E-170 and Two Erj-145s), While a Further E-190 is on Order for Delivery Later This Year.

Virgin Blue Took Delivery of 737-8fe Vh-vup at Brisbane on June 29 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight Dj9086 From Seattle/ Boeing Field via Lihue and Nadi. Prior to Entering Service on July 4 Vh-vup Ferried From Brisbane to Melbourne as Flight Dj9060 and It Was Reported That the 737 Was to Be Transferred to Pacific Blue. However, as of Mid July It Remained Parked on the Ramp Outside the Virgin Tech Hangar. Although Vh-vup Was Allocated the Name Holly Hunter This and the Virgin Blue Lady Had Not Been Painted on the Aircraft at the Time of Its Arrival in Melbourne.

Virgin Blue Took Delivery of E-190-100igw Vh-zpe Bluephoria at Brisbane on July 3 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight From São José Dos Campos via Curacao, Brownsville, San Jose, Lihue and Pago Pago.

E-170-100lr Vh-zhd, Cherry – Belle Blue, Which Was Delivered to Brisbane on June 21, Entered Service on July 13 When It Operated Flight Dj1228 From Brisbane to Canberra.

Regional News

in This Issue We Can Report the Delivery of an Atr 72-500 to Air Tahiti, a Dash 8-300 to Skippers Aviation, a Saab 340b+ Toregional Express and a Dhc-6-300 to Polynesian Airlines, While Departing Was a Saab 340a(F) of Regional Express.

Aircruising Australia Leased Dornier 228-202 Vh-ujd From Reef Watch in Cairns to Operate a Charter to Northern and Western Australia Between June 16 and July 6. The Dornier’s Routing From Cairns Was Intitially to Darwin Then to Bullo River-kununurra- Broome-karratha- Paraburdoo-learmonth-shark Bay-geraldton and Perth.

From Perth It Then Retraced Its Route Back to Cairns.

Air Tahiti Atr 72-500 F-oiqv Transited Cairns on June 25 While on Delivery From Toulouse to Papeete via Darwin, Noumea and Apia.

Curtain Brothers (Queensland) Took Delivery of the Former Vincent Aviation Beech 1900d Vh‑vay at Townsville on June 19 After the Aircraft Ferried in From Darwin as Flight Vin55. On July 7 Curtain Brothers Changed the Registration of the Beech From Vh-vay to Vh-vpz.

Macair Metro 23 Vh‑uua, as Mentioned in Traffic/july, Has Been Sold to Aerocon Airlines in Bolivia.

The Metro Was Ferried From Sydney/bankstown to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, via Coffs Harbour, Pago Pago, Papeete, Easter Island and Arica, Chile.

Macair Was Planning to Take Delivery of Saab 340b N301ae Msn 340b-301 and Saab 340b N340rc Msn 340b-340 in Late August With Both Ex American Eagle Aircraft Ferried From Abilene, Texas, to Townsville.

Macair Was Also Planning to Take Delivery of a Second Atr 42-500 in Late August.

Polynesian Airlines Took Delivery of Dhc-6-300 C-ftlq Msn 827 at Apia on May 20 After the Aircraft Ferried in From Saskatoon, Canada, via Spokane, Southwest Oregon Regional (Formerly North Bend Airport), Hilo and Christmas Island.

Regional Express Took Delivery of Saab 340b+ N386ae at Wagga Wagga on July 9 After the Aircraft, Which Was Later Registered Vh-zlv, Completed Its Ferry Flight From Nashville via Yuma, Christmas Island, Apia and Coolangatta.

Saab 340b+ Vh-zlw, Which Was Delivered to Regional Express on May 19, Entered Service on July 8 When It Operated Flight Zl3257 From Wagga Wagga to Melbourne.

Saab 340a(F) Vh-keq, the First Freighter Conversion Carried Out by Regional Express, Has Been Sold to Air Freight Company Bridges Worldwide. On June 21 It Returned to Wagga Wagga From Townsville After Being Painted in Bridges’s Attractive Colour Scheme. On July 3 Vh-keq Departed Wagga Wagga on Ferry to Ljubljana via Port Hedland, Male and Sharm El Shiekh, With the Ferry Contracted to Bjm Ferry Service. It is Reported That the Aircraft Will Be Placed on the Slovenian Register and Will Be Operated for Bridges by Local Operator Solinair.

Saab 340a(F) Vh-ekt, Which Commenced Its Freighter Conversion in Wagga Wagga on June 16, Will Reportedly Be Delivered to Associate Company Pel-air Express.

Skippers Aviation Took Delivery of Dash 8-314 Vh‑xfz at Perth on July 5 After the Former Augsburg Airways Aircraft Arrived From Munich via Luxor, Muscat, Colombo and Cocos Island, Ferried by Dbf Aviation Services of Sydney. This Particular Dash 8 is No Stranger to Australia as It Was Delivered to Qantaslink/ Eastern Airlines in Sydney on December 21 ’01 as D-bach on Lease From Augsburg Airways. Later Registered Vh‑tqa the Dash 8-314 Entered Service With Eastern on January 24 on Flight Qf2124 From Sydney to Ballina, and Remained in Service With Eastern Until January ’04 Before Departing Sydney on February 17 ’04 on Its Return to Augsburg.

Skytrans Regional Has Leased Dash 8-102 Vh-qqg to Maroomba Airlines to Cover Planned Maintenance on Vh-qqb. On June 15 Vh‑qqg Arrived in Perth After Ferrying in From Cairns via Alice Springs and Kalgoorlie and the Following Day Vh-qqb Departed Perth for Cairns via Kalgoorlie and Alice Springs.

Skytrans Took Delivery of Dash 8-102 Vh-qqj at Cairns on July 12 After the Aircraft Ferried in From Port Moresby. Vh‑qqj, Then Registered Vh-tqr, Was Ferried From Cairns to Port Moresby on May 22. Its Delivery Brings the Skytrans Regional Dash 8 Fleet to 10.

Vincent Aviation Added Cessna 441 Vh-taz to Its Fleet on June 17 While Beech 1900d Vh-vay Was Sold to Curtin Brothers (Queensland) on June 26.

Bizjet News

in This Issue We Report the Delivery of a Challenger 600, Citationjet Cj3+ and the Region’s First Eclipse 500, While Departing Were a Challenger 604 and a Citation Iii. On Approach We Have News of a Challenger 601/1a and a Citation X.

Challenger 600 Vh-zsu Msn 1078 Was Registered to Revesco Aviation of Perth on June 24. It Was Delivered to Perth on July 16 After Flying in From Islip, New York, via San Francisco, Honolulu,pago Pago, Noumea and Brisbane. Revesco Aviation Also Operates Citation Ii Vhint So It Will Be Interesting to See if, With the Delivery of the Challenger 600, the Citation is Retained.

Citationjet Cj3+ Vh‑ane Was Registered to Celijet Charter of Leeton, Nsw, on June 17 and Was Delivered to Narrandera on June 25 After Completing Its Ferry Flight From Wichita via Narita, Guam and Horn Island.

Eclipse 500 N580wc Msn 000080 Arrived at Brisbane/archerfield on June 27 on Delivery to Wanless Environmental Services of Coopers Plains, Queensland (See Newsdesk August Issue Aa). Delivery Routing From the United States Was via the North Atlantic and the Middle East With the Aircraft Reported as Flying From Iqaluit, Canada, to Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland, on June 15, and From London/biggin Hill to Genoa on June 19.

Nelson Corporate Aviation Operated Challenger 604 Vh-ocv Was Cancelled From the Register on July 1 on Its Sale in Bulgaria. Earlier on June 15 Vh-ocv Had Departed Sydney for Denpasar and Singapore on Delivery to Its New Owner.

Shazo Holdings Citation Iii Vh-sbu Reportedly Has Been Sold in the United States. On July 5 the Citation Departed Bankstown for Rockhampton and Cairns and After Over-nighting Continued to Nauru and Majuro.

Challenger 601/1a Vh‑mxk Msn 3003 Has Been Purchased by Maxem Aviation of Perth With the Aircraft Planned for Delivery in Late July. Maxem Aviation Operates Citation Ultra Vh-mxj So Again It Will Be Interesting to See Whether This Aircraft is Retained Once the Challenger is Delivered.

Cessna 510 Mustang Zk-mus Was Registered to Acernus Aero of Wellington on May 29. The Mustang, Which Was Previously Registered N1749l, Was Delivered to Aeromil Pacific in Maroochydore on January 4 and Ferried to Wellington on February 12.

Execujet Was Advertising in the National Press on June 20 for a Crew to Operate an Australian Registered Gulfstream 200 Based in Hong Kong.

Overseas Bizjets

Global Express N90ew Registered to Ewa West of San Jose, California, Arrived in Canberra From Kona on June 24 and After Over-nighting Continued to Melbourne.

The Global Express Later Departed Sydney for Kona on June 27.

Challenger 604 N310tk Registered to Avn Air of Danbury, Connecticut, Arrived in Sydney From Jakarta/halim on June 27. It Later Moved to Brisbane and Darwin Before Departing There on July 2 for Singapore.

Precious Jets of Singapore Operated Learjet 60 N50lk Arrived in Perth From Denpasar on June 16, Returning to Denpasar the Same Day.

Falcon 900dx B-8021 Operated by Citic (China International Trust & Investment Corporation) Arrived in Sydney From Biak on June 25 Using the Callsign Hzx8021. The Falcon Remained in Sydney Until June 28 When It Departed for Singapore.

Transportes Aereos Ejectivos Operated Falcon 900ex Xa-rgb Arrived at Melbourne/essendon From Nadi on July 1 and Departed for Sydney on July 4.

Gulfstream 550 N102bg Registered to Contrail Aviation of Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Arrived in Cairns From Honolulu on June 24.

Gulfstream 550 N235dx Registered to Ews Llc of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Arrived in Sydney From Bangkok/don Muang on July 6. It Moved From Sydney to Melbourne/essendon on July 8 Before Departing There for Honolulu on July 10.

Gulfstream 550 N401hb Registered to Chevron Usa of San Ramon, California, Arrived in Perth From Singapore/seletar on July 5 and Departed Direct to Kahului, Hawaii, on July 8.

Netjets Europe Gulfstream 550 Cs-dke Arrived in Brisbane From Papeete on June 24 and Departed Darwin for Karachi on June 26.

Gulfstream 550 Ec‑jyr Operated by Executive Airlines of Barcelona Arrived in Sydney From Male on July 5 Using the Callsign Exu2153.

Tag Aviation Express Gulfstream 550 Ec-kbr Arrived in Sydney From Singapore on July 9, Using the Callsign Tgm051. After Over-nighting It Departed Sydney for Male.

Gulfstream V N100tm Operated by Toyota Motors Arrived at Melbourne/essendon From Nagoya on June 30. It Remained at Essendon Until July 2 When It Returned to Nagoya.

Gulfstream V N372bg Registered to Contrail Aviation of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Arrived in Sydney From Honolulu on July 4.

Gulfstream Iv N7jm Registered to Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Missouri, Arrived in Sydney From Noumea on July 5.

Gulfstream Iv N7uf Registered to F&l Aviation of Las Vegas Arrived in Cairns From Majuro on June 24.

Gulfstream Iv N18an Registered to Aon Service Corporation of Chicago Arrived in Sydney From Nadi on July 13.

Gulfstream Iv N1625 Registered to Chevron Usa of San Ramon, California, Arrived in Canberra From Perth on June 18 and After Over-nighting Departed to Honolulu.

Heavy Metal

Northwest Airlines 747‑251b N623us Arrived in Sydney as Flight Nw9988 From Pittsburgh and Honolulu on July 15 Operating a World Youth Day Charter.

Saudi Arabian Royal Flight 747sp-68 Hz-aif Arrived in Brisbane From Kuala Lumpur as Flight Sv7188 on July 11.

After Re-fuelling the 747 Departed for Kuala Lumpur.

Alitalia 777-243er Ei-dbl Operating as Flight Az4000 and Using the Callsign ‘shepherd One’ Arrived at Raaf Richmond From Rome and Darwin on July 13. The 777 Was Carrying the Pope to Attend World Youth Day in Sydney, and Departed Richmond the Following Day for Narita as Flight Az8700.

Saudi Arabian Airlines 777‑268er Hz-akf Operated a Charter for the World Youth Day, Arriving in Sydney as Flight Sv7164 From Jeddah via Singapore on July 9. After Re-fuelling the 777 Departed Sydney for Kuala Lumpur as Flight Sv7164.

737-2q8 N413jg Operated by Weststar Aviation Services of Kuala Lumpur Arrived in Perth From Kuala Lumpur via Jakarta/halim on June 18. The 737 Remained in Perth Until June 24 When It Departed for Denpasar and Kuala Lumpur.

737-210c Pk-ygf of Tri- M. G. Intra Asia Airlines Arrived in Perth From Denpasar on July 11 and Departed the Same Day for Port Hedland.

Island Aviation Services of Male Operated Dash 8-300 8q-iao Departed Darwin for Cairns Late on July 14.

United States Navy Lockheed C-130t 164762 Arrived in Brisbane From Pago Pago on June 22 Using the Callsign ‘charlie Whiskey 370’.

After Over-nighting the C-130 Departed for Pearce Before It Returned to Brisbane on June 24. On June 25 It Departed for Pago Pago.

Mdc Md-82 Vp-cbi of Mineralogy Was Delivered to Brisbane on July 11 After the Aircraft Arrived From Davao and Darwin. This is the Second Md-82 Delivered to Mineralogy as It Already Operates Vp-cbh.

Ferry Flights

Alpha R2160 Zk-sxy Departed Whangarei for Norfolk Island on July 9 and After Over-nighting Continued to Lord Howe Island and Kempsey.

Beech 17 Zk-amu Has Crossed the Tasman With the Aircraft Departing Kerikeri for Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island on July 1 Before Continuing to Coolangatta and Southport.

Baron 58 N158bb, Which Had Departed Teterboro, New Jersey, on a Round-the-world Flight on June 1 Arrived in Darwin From Denpasar on July 11. After Over-nighting It Continued to Cairns.

Duke N60te, Which is Registered to Nolan Aviation of Broomfield, Colorado, Ferried Into Auckland From Hilo, Christmas Island and Pago Pago on July 14.

Beech 76 Zk-sir Departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island on July 4 and After Over-nighting Continued Its Trans-tasman Crossing to Coolangatta.

Cessna 208b Pk-rjs Ferried From Broome to Darwin on July 9 en Route to Merauke in West Papua. The Damaged Caravan Had Arrived in Perth Inside Heavylift Cargo’s Short Belfast on January 2 for Repairs Inside.

Cessna 400 N400nm, Which is Being Demonstrated in the Region by Aeromil Pacific, Ferried From Lord Howe Island to Norfolk Island and Kerikeri on July 4.

Cessna 182r Zk-pcj Ferried Into Kempsey on July 6 From Norfolk Island via Lord Howe Island.

Ga-200c Zk-esl Registered to Airspread South of Mossburn Has Been Ferried Across the Tasman by Jim Hazelton. On June 24 the Ga-200c Departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island and After Over-nighting It Continued to Lord Howe Island and Kempsey.

Fu24-950 Pk-pnx, Which Was Being Ferried by Air Centre One, Departed Auckland for Lord Howe Island and Coolangatta on July 8. After Over-nighting the Fu24, Which Carries the Titles Pt Sinar Mas Super Air on Its Nose, Departed Coolangatta for Denpasar via Mount Isa and Darwin.

Pilatus Pc-12 Vh-ooi Departed Norfolk Island for Lord Howe Island and Adelaide on June 25.

Pilatus Pc-12 Hb-fqy Arrived at Perth/jandakot From Denpasar and Port Hedland on June 2. Later Registered Vh-pil to Pegasus P/l of Sydney the Pc-12 Departed Jandakot for Adelaide on June 26.

Pa-24-260cs N9319p and N9472p Were Noted at Perth/ Jandakot on July 1 After Being Unloaded From a Container.

Pa-24-260c Hb-pon Arrived in Broome From Denpasar on July 8. It Had Departed Geneva on June 19 on a Round-the-world Trip.

Thorp T18 Zk-edf Departed Whenuapai for Norfolk Island on July 1 Before Continuing the Following Day to Coolangatta.