Traffic

Jetstar is Planning to Take Delivery of A320-232 Vh‑vqc Msn 3668 in Newcastle in November. Jetstar Commenced a Five Times Weekly Service From Sydney to Darwin and Ho Chi Minh City Effective September 2 With A320-232 Vh-vqq Operating the Inaugural Jq73.

Qantaslink 717-2bd Vh‑nxb, Which Has Been Stored at Adelaide Since April ’07, Was Ferried to Raaf Richmond on August 28 Where It Entered the Tae Hangar for Painting in Hawaiian Airlines Colours. Vh-nxb, Which Will Be the First of Three Ex-qantaslink 717-200s to Be Delivered to Hawaiian, Returned to Adelaide on September 12.

Qantaslink Took Delivery of Dash 8-q402 C-frll in Brisbane on September 13 After the Aircraft Arrived on Ferry From Toronto/downsview via North Bay, Grand Rapids, Concord, Honolulu and Majuro. Later Registered Vh-qom, the Q402 Entered Service With Qantaslink on September 21 When It Operated Flight Qf2352 From Brisbane to Rockhampton.

Dash 8-q402 C-frlp, Which Was Later Registered Vh‑qon, Was Planned for Delivery to Qantaslink in Brisbane in Late September. In Traffic/ October We Briefly Mentioned That Qantaslink Had Withdrawn Its Last Six Dash 8-100’s From Service, and We Can Now Provide Updates on These Aircraft.

Dash 8-102 Vh-tqn Ferried Into Brisbane From Tabubil and Cairns on July 20 After Terminating Its Lease to Asia Pacific Airlines. Vh-tqn Was Cancelled From the Register on September 15 on Its Sale to Blue Bird Aviation in Nairobi, Kenya, as 5y-vvn.

Dash 8-102 Vh-tqq Was Withdrawn From Qantaslink Service on July 28 After Operating Flight Qf2077 From Mildura to Melbourne.

The Same Day It Was Ferried to Sydney as Flight Qf6305 Before Continuing to Brisbane as Flight Qf6307. Vh-tqq Was Cancelled From the Register on September 16 on Its Sale to Blue Bird as 5y-vvr.

Dash 8-102 Vh-tqt, Which Was Ferried From Sydney to Brisbane as Flight Qf6302 on July 15, Was Cancelled From the Register on September 15 on Its Sale to Blue Bird as 5y‑vvs.

Dash 8-102 Vh-tqu Departed Brisbane on August 25 on Delivery to Skippers Aviation in Perth.

Dash 8-102 Vh-tqv Was Withdrawn From Service on July 22 After Operating Flight Qf2077 From Mildura to Melbourne. On July 24 It Ferried to Sydney as Flight Qf6302 and Then to Brisbane as Flight Qf6304. Vh-tqv Was Cancelled From the Register on September 16 on Its Sale to Blue Bird as 5y-vvt.

Dash 8-106 Vh-tqw, Which Was Withdrawn From Service on June 21 After Operating Flight Qf377 From Hervey Bay to Brisbane, Departed Brisbane on August 27 on Delivery to Skippers Aviation.

Airline News

Air Niugini Has Leased an Erj-145 From Skyairworld to Cover Planned Fokker 100 Maintenance.

On August 13 Erj-145 Vh-szf Was Noted Operating Flight Px91 From Cairns to Port Moresby. Air Pacific Leased 767‑338er Vh-ogb From Qantas to Cover Planned Maintenance on Their 767‑3×2(Er) Dq-fjc in Brisbane. The Exchange of Aircraft Was Carried Out on September 14 With Dqfjc Operating Flight Fj921 From Nadi to Brisbane and Vh-ogb Operating Flight Fj920 From Brisbane to Nadi.

To Cover Planned Maintenance on 747-412 Dq-fjk Insingapore, Air Pacific Was Planning to Lease a United Airlines 747-422 Between September 28 and November 23.

Heavylift Cargo 727- 227(F) Rp-c8019 Operated a Charter From Perth to Singapore and Return on August 15 as Flight Hvy501/502.

International Air Parts Has Purchased Bae 146-200 Vh‑jjt. The 146 Was Last Operated by Ansett Australia and Has Been Static at Perth Airport Since September ’01.

Skyairworld Commenced Rpt Services From Brisbane to Cloncurry and Cairns on August 24. The Inaugural Service S9241/242 Was Operated by E-170-100lr Vh-swo, Although Normally the Erj-145 Operates the Route.

Skyairworld Has Leased an Erj-145 to Air Niugini for Operations Between Cairns and Port Moresby. Skyairworld Also Commenced a Resource Charter From Brisbane to Emerald in Late August Using Erj-145 Equipment.

E-190-100lr Vh-sxo Msn 19000231 is Planned for Delivery to Skyairworld in December.

Skywest Airlines, After Taking Delivery of Fokker 100 Vh-fnu in Perth on August 22, Placed the Aircraft Into Service on September 23 When It Operated Flight Xr265 From Perth to Telfer.

Virgin Group Fleet Update

in This Issue We Report the Delivery of Two E-190s and an E-170 to Virgin Blue, Which Brings the Airline’s Embraer Fleet to 14 (9 X E-190s, 5 X E‑170s).

Virgin Blue Took Delivery of E-190-100igw Vh-zpi Allie Albury at Brisbane on September 3 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry From São José Dos Campos via Curacao, Brownsville, San Jose, Lihue and Pago Pago as Flight Dj9082.

Vh‑zpi Entered Service With Virgin Blue on September 20 When It Operated Flight Dj750 From Brisbane to Adelaide.

E-190-100igw Vh-zpg Ella E-jet Was Delivered to Virgin Blue in Brisbane as Flight Dj9082 on September 12, Ferrying Over the Same Route as Taken by Vh-zpi.

E-170-100lr Vh-zhe Bee Bop a-blue Was Delivered to Virgin Blue in Brisbane as Flight Dj9082 on September 27, Ferrying in From São José Dos Campos via Manaus, Curacao, Brownsville, Seattle/ Boeing Field, Anchorage, Petropavlovsk, Kansai, Saipan and Townsville.

E-190-100igw Vh-zpj Bambino Blue, Which Was Registered to Virgin Blue on September 4, Was Planned for Delivery to Brisbane in Early October.

Pacific Blue, Which Took Delivery of 737-8fe Zk-pbl Canterbury Belle in Christchurch on August 29, Placed the Aircraft Into Service on September 2 as Flight Dj81 From Christchurch to Brisbane.

Pacific Blue Commenced a Daily Return Service Auckland- Melbourne-auckland on September 23 With 737- 8fe Zk-pbl Operating the Inaugural Pbn65/64.

Regional Airline News

in This Issue We Report the Delivery of a Saab 340b to Macair and a Saab 340b+ to Regional Express.

Direct Air Charter Has Reportedly Purchased Metro Iii Vh-tao From Brindabella Airlines. The Allwhite Aircraft Was First Noted With Direct Air at Melbourne/ Essendon on September 12.

Goroka Air Services Dhc-6-200 P2-pom Ferried Into Maryborough From Port Moresby, Cairns and Mackay on August 15 With the Aircraft Positioning South for Planned Maintenance.

Macair Took Delivery of Saab 340b Vh-uyn at Townsville on September 22 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight From the United States via Honolulu and Tarawa.

Metro 23 Vh-myi Changed Ownership on August 29 From Macair to Aviation Services of Australia.

Regional Express Took Delivery of Saab 340b+ N901ae, Which Was Later Registered Vh-zry, at Wagga Wagga on September 22 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight From Nashville via Yuma, Christmas Island, Pago Pago, Coolangatta and Orange.

Saab 340b+ Vh-zlv, Which Was Delivered to Wagga Wagga on July 9, Entered Service on August 29 When It Operated Flight Zl3281 From Wagga Wagga to Melbourne.

Saab 340a Vh-zly Was Withdrawn From Service at Wagga Wagga on August 30 After Operating Flight Zl3258 From Melbourne.

Saab 340a Vh-kdi Was Withdrawn From Service at Wagga Wagga on September 8 After Operating Flight Zl3258 From Melbourne.

Regional Pacific Dhc‑6‑300 Vh-rpz Was Cancelled From the Register on August 26 and the Following Day Was Noted Outside the Hawker Pacific Hangar at Cairns Registered F-oiaqand Wearing the Colours of Air Caledonie. On September 3 It Departed Cairns for Port Moresby and Stops to Noumea.

Skippers Aviation Has Purchased Dash 8-100s Vh-tqu and Vh-tqw From Qantaslink.

Vh-tqu Was the First to Be Delivered, Ferrying Into Perth From Brisbane via Birdsville, Ayers Rock and Kalgoorlie on August 25. Dash 8-106 Vh-tqw Followed Into Perth on August 29 From Brisbane via Birdsville and Ayers Rock.

On September 15 Skippers Changed the Registration of Vh-tqu and Vh-tqw to Vh-xfp and Vh-xfq Respectively. Entry Into Service Takes the Skippers Aviation Dash 8 Fleet to Eight, Comprising Four Dash 8-300s (Vh‑xfv, Vh-xfw, Vh-xfx, Vh-xfz) and Four Dash 8-100s (Vh-xfp, Vh-xfq, Vh-xft, Vh-xfu).

Vincent Aviation Beech 1900d Zk-vae Departed Auckland on September 4 for Norfolk Island and Brisbane and Stops to Myanmar Where It Will Spend Six Months on Charter.

Pionair Convair Movements

Pionair Australia Has Been Very Active Lately With Its Convair 580s Noted in Northwest Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Convair 580f Vh-pdw Operated a Freight Charter to Papaua New Guinea Recently, Departing Sydney/bankstown on August 21 for Brisbane and Port Moresby Where It Arrived on August 23. The Following Day the Convair Departed Port Moresby for Moro Before Returning to Cairns and Brisbane.

On August 31 Convair 580f Vh‑pdx Departed Sydney/bankstown for Brisbane and Cairns Where the Aircraft Remained Overnight.

The Following Day Vh-pdx Departed Cairns for Tabubil Before Returning to Cairns and Sydney/bankstown.

Convair 580 Vh-pdv Ferried From Brisbane to Auckland on August 28 Before Continuing the Following Day to Palmerston North and Maintenance With Fieldair. On Completion of Its Maintenance Vh-pdv Departed Palmerston North for Auckland and Brisbane on September 16.

Pionair Scheduled Its Final Brisbane to Middlemount Resource Charter on August 21 With Convair 580 Vh‑pdl Operating the Service. On August 24 Vh‑pdl Departed Brisbane for Longreach, Ayers Rock and Newman and the Following Day It Commenced a New Resource Contract With a Twice Daily Flight to Fortescue.

Convair 580 Vh-pal, Previously Zk‑pal, Made Its First Flight With Its New Marks on September 10 When It Departed Palmerston North for Christchurch.

Bizjet News

in This Issue We Can Report the Delivery of a Hawker 900xp.

Hawker 900xp Vh-nkd Msn Ha0064 Was Registered to Tatary P/l of Belmont, Wa, on September 17. On September 22 the Jet Was Delivered to Perth After Flying in From Hilo via Apia, Norfolk Island and Sydney.

Other Bizjet News Concerns the Following: Global Express N37zz Msn 3299 Has Been Sold to Walkerair Services of Sydney, and Reportedly Will Be Registered Vh-law.

Walker Air Services Previously Operated Falcon 900c Vh-law, but This Aircraft Was Sold to Pal Aviation in Melbourne in March ’08.

Global Express N94zz, Which Was Delivered to Westfield Aviation in Sydney on July 30 ’07, Changed Its Registration to N18wf on July 23.

Global 5000 Vh-ktg Msn 9275 Was Noted at Savannah, Georgia, in Early August, and Although Still Not Registered in Australia as at the Time of Writing, Reportedly It Will Be Delivered to the Talbot Group in Brisbane.

Citation Ii N206ag Msn 550-0306, to Be Registered Vh‑nsb, is Planned to Be Delivered to Australia From the Us in October.

Cessna 510 Mustang N968cm Departed Auckland on August 30 After Terminating Its Demonstration Tour of New Zealand. From Auckland N968cm Ferried to Norfolk Island, Brisbane, Mount Isa, Darwin and Denpasar With Its Final Destination Being Blackbushe, Uk, Where It Hassince Taken Up Residence.

Since Our Last Issue a Number of Aircraft Have Changed Ownership: Citation Iii Vh-spj on September 8 to Flight Options (Australia) P/l of Mudjimba, Queensland.

Cessna 510 Mustang Vh‑sjp on August 18 to Aer-omil Pacific P/l of Mudjimba, Queensland.

Hawker 800xp Vh-kef on September 11 to Rhcb P/l of Milsons Point, Nsw.

Beechjet 400a Vh-bzl on August 29 to the Westpac Banking Corporation of Concord West, Nsw.

Overseas Bizjets

Global Express Xrs M‑gbal, Operated by Noclaf Ltd, Douglas, Isle of Man, Arrived in Sydney From Male on September 23.

Learjet 35 N71pg, Registered to the Phoenix Air Group of Cartersville, Georgia, Arrived in Sydney From Majuro via Honiara on August 30 and After Overnighting Departed for Nadi.

Jadeline Network Operated Cessna 680 Sovereign N338tm Arrived in Darwin From Its Home Base at Kuala Lumpur on August 28. It Departed for Ipoh on September 2.

Citation Cj3 N52et Registered to Haalo Ltd of Las Vegas, Nevada, Arrived in Sydney on September 22 After Flying in From the Usa via Nome, Petropavlovsk, Sendai, Guam and Port Moresby.

Dasnair of Geneva Falcon 7x Hb-jsz Departed Perth for Abu Dhabi on August 30.

While Visiting Australia the 7x Operated Demonstration Flights in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Aero Personal of Mexico City Falcon 7x Xa-mar Departed Sydney for Easter Island on August 31.

Falcon 900ex N585bp Registered to Beef Products of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, Arrived in Brisbane From Majuro on September 16. The Aircraft Was Later Seen in Sydney and Melbourne/essendon Before It Departed Brisbane for Majuro on September 23.

Falcon 900ex N960sf Registered to the Bechtel Corporation of San Francisco Arrived in Perth From Bandar Seri Begawan on August 24.

It Was Later Noted in Gladstone and Melbourne Before Departing Brisbane for Nadi on August 29.

Citic (China International Trust & Investment Corporation) Operated Falcon 900dx B-8021 Arrived in Sydney From Biak on September 12, Using the Callsign Hzx8021.

Ford Motor Company of Detroit Gulfstream V N301k Arrived in Sydney From Honolulu on August 24 and Was Later Noted at Canberra, Hamilton Island and Melbourne Before Departing Sydney for Honolulu on August 31.

Gulfstream Iv N338mm Operated by Franklin-templeton Travel of San Mateo, California, Arrived in Sydney From Jakarta/halim on August 27 and Later Departed Cairns for Singapore on August 31.

Gulfstream Iv N721mc Registered to Mca Capital Corporation of Missoula, Montana, Arrived in Coolangatta From Honolulu via Nadi on September 12.

Jet Club of London Gulfstream Iv Vp-cff Departed Perth for Male on August 30.

Ferry Flights

at-802 N8520j Msn 802‑0293 Arrived in Lismore on August 29 After Ferrying in From Honiara via Brisbane.

The Air Tractor Was Later Registered Vh-awu to R and M Aircraft of Ouse, Tasmania, on September 9.

At-802 N8520k Msn 802‑0300 Arrived in Coolangatta on September 22 After Crossing the Pacific From Santa Maria, California, via Hilo, Christmas Island and Nadi. After Overnighting It Departed for Moree and Stops to Ballidu, Wa, and Delivery to Dunn Aviation.

At-802 C-gedo of Conair Arrived at the Field Air Hangar at Ballarat on September 21 After Ferrying in From Abbotsford, British Columbia, via Oakland, Hilo, Christmas Island, Pago Pago, Noumea and Brisbane.

Cessna 206h Vh-utq Was Registered to Uts Geophysics P/l of Belmont, Wa, on August 1, and Arrived in Kempsey on September 5 After Completing Its Trans-pacific Ferry via Samoa, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island.

Cessna 182q Zk-wsj Arrived in Kerikeri From Norfolk Island on September 5 After Completing Its Trans- Tasman Crossing.

Cirrus Sr22 Vh-nwe Was Registered to an Owner in Tamworth on August 22, and Completed Its Trans-pacific Crossing on September 5 When It Arrived in Kempsey From Samoa via Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island.

Pac 750xl Zk-kdf Has Been Sold to an Operator in South Africa, and on September 16 It Departed Hamilton on Ferry to Brisbane. After Overnighting It Continued to Darwin and Jakarta/halim.

Pac 750xl N143au Was Recently Ferried by Air Center One of Auckland From Pretoria to Guam. The 750xl, Which Was on Delivery to Skydive Guam, Departed Pretoria on July 30 and Arrived in Guam on August 6, Routing via Lanseria, Pemba/tanzania, Seychelles, Maldives, Seletar and Manila.

Pa-46-500tp N501sr Registered to Snj Resources of Carson City, Nevada, Arrived in Broome From Denpasar on August 28. The Following Day It Ferried From Darwin to Alice Springs and Melbourne/ Moorabbin. The Meridian Was Later Registered Vh-wmy to Mitchell Water Australia P/lof Melbourne on September 4.

Heavy Metal

French Armée De L’air A340- 211 F-rajb Arrived in Noumea From Kuala Lumpur on September 13, Using the Callsign ‘cotam 004’. The A340 Then Continued to Canberra on September 16and After Overnighting Departed for Kuala Lumpur.

Antonov Airlines an-124 Ur-82027 Arrived in Brisbane From Manila and Darwin on September 5, Operating as Flight Adb2442. The Antonov Was Carrying Mining Equipment and Remained in Brisbane Until September 8 When It Departed for Honolulu as Flight Adb242f.

Polet Flight an-124 Ra‑82075 Arrived in Newcastle From Honolulu on September 18, Operating as Flight Pot990. The an-124 Delivered a Re-barrelled Raaf F/a-18 From Canada and Later Departed Newcastle for Brisbane as Flight Pot991.

Jett8 Airlines Cargo 747‑281f 9v-jeb Arrived in Perth From Singapore on September 18 Carrying Mining Equipment. It Departed Perth Later the Same Day on Its Return to Singapore.

The Deployment to Australia of F-15 Fighters From the Oregon and Hawaiian Air National Guards Brought a Number of Usaf Kc-135 Tanker Aircraft to Our Shores.

Usaf/afrc Kc-135r 57-2603 of the 336ars From March Afb, California, Arrived in Richmond From Guam as ‘reach 301’ on September 5.

After Overnighting It Departed for Guam, Again Using the Callsign ‘reach 301’.

Usaf/afrc Kc-135r 58-0121 of the 507arw From Tinker Afb, Oklahoma, Arrived in Darwin From Guam on August 28 as ‘reach 890’.

It Remained in Darwin Until August 30 When It Departed for Guam as ‘reach 890’.

Usaf/amc Kc-135t 59‑1480 Operated by the 92arw From Fairchild Afb, Washington, Arrived in Newcastle From Honolulu as ‘reach 551’ on August 30. After Overnighting It Departed for Honolulu as ‘reach 551’.

Usaf/iowa Ang Kc‑135r 59-1506 Operated by the 185arw From Sioux City, Iowa, Arrived in Brisbane From Guam on September 5 as ‘reach 82’. After Overnighting It Departed for Guam as ‘reach 82’.

Usaf/hawaii Ang Kc‑135r 62-3514 Operated by the 203ars From Hickam Afb Arrived in Brisbane From Honolulu on September 20 as ‘reach 095’.

Usaf/amc Kc-135r 63‑8019 Operated by the 92arw From Fairchild Afb, Washington, Arrived at Newcastle From Guam on August 22 as ‘reach 714’. It Was Later Seen at Canberra on August 28 Before Departing for Honolulu on August 31 as ‘reach 714’.

Usaf C-40b/737-7fd 02-0042 Arrived in Canberra From Singapore on August 26 Using the Callsign ‘spar 98’. It Remained in Canberra Until August 28 When It Departed for Wellington.

Island Aviation Services Dash 8-q314 8q-iao Was Test Flown From Cairns on September 10 Before Departing the Following Day for Darwin, Denpasar and Stops to Male.

On July 14 the Dash 8, Which Carries Maldivian Titles, Had Ferried From Germany Into Cairns, Where Hawker Pacific Then Prepared the Aircraft for Entry Into Service.

Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Lockheed P-3cs 5073 and 5079 Arrived at Raaf Edinburgh From Guam on September 7, Using the Callsigns ‘japan Navy 73’ and ‘japan Navy 79’ Respectively. The P-3cs Later Departed for Whenuapai on September 11 Before Leaving for Darwin on September 20.

Airvan Update

This Airvan Production News and Fleet Update Continues on From Information Detailed in Traffic/august.

Ga-8 07-126 Vh-bgm, Which Was Registered to Gippsland Aeronautics on July 8, Has Been Sold in the Uk, and on July 3 Departed Latrobe Valley in a Container.

Ga-8 08-127 Vh-woq, Which Was Registered to Alligator Airways of Kununurra, Wa, on June 19, Departed Latrobe Valley for Delivery on June 26.

Ga-8 08-131 Vh-ybh, Which Was Registered to Air Freight Solutions of Bathurst, Nsw, on August 4, Departed Latrobe Valley on Its Delivery Flight on August 15.

Ga-8 08-132 Has Been Sold to an Operator in the Dominican Republic.

Ga-8 08-139 Vh-bqy, Which Was Registered to Gippsland Aeronautics on September 5, Was Planned for Delivery to Salt Air in New Zealand in October.

Other Airvan News Concerns the Following Aircraft: Ga-8 02-015 N215av, Which Was Previously Registered Cfmcn to Wings Over Wilderness of Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Was Sold to Lavion Inc of Mojave, California on July 7.

Ga-8 04-071 A2-akm, Previously Zs-pnx, Was Registered to Delta Air of Maun, Botswana, in Early August.

Ga-8 05-082 Hi868, Previously Vh-aqf, is Now Operating With Aeronaves Dominicanas in the Dominican Republic.

Ga-8 07-114 G-vand Was Sold to Go Adventures Ireland of County Tipperary on July 22.

Ga-8 07-123 A2-leb, Previously Zs-seo With Airvan Africa, Was Registered to Moremi Air of Maun, Botswana in Early August.

Ga-8 07-124 A2-kwa, Previously Zs-sep With Airvan Africa, Was Registered to Moremi Air of Maun, Botswana in Early August.

Ga-8 08-128 Vh-kne of Kakadu Air Was Written Off on September 9 When It Crashed Near Cooinda, Nt, While on a Test Flight.