Traffic

A380-842 Vh-oqc Paul Mcginness Was Delivered to Qantas in Sydney on December 28 After It Ferried in From Toulouse and Singapore as Flight Qf6022. Vh-oqc Entered Service on January 3 When It Operated Qf11 From Sydney to Los Angeles.

A330-203 Vh-ebl Whitsundays Was Delivered to Qantas in Melbourne on December 14 After It Ferried in From Toulouse and Singapore as Flight Qf6008. Vh-ebl Entered Service With Qantas on December 19 When It Ferried From Melbourne to Sydney as Flight Qf6181 Before Operating Qf21 From Sydney to Narita.

The Arrival of Vh-ebl Officially Fulfills Outstanding Qantas Group Orders for the A330 (Comprising 10 A330-300s and 12 A330-200s).

However, It is Believed That a Further Two A330-200s – Msn 1061 and 1094 – Will Be Delivered to Jetstar Later This Year.

747-338 Vh-ebv City of Geraldton Was Withdrawn From Qantas Service on December 29 After Operating Qf26 From Los Angeles to Auckland and Melbourne. Later the Same Day It Was Ferried From Melbourne to Sydney as Flight Qf6019.

Vh-ebv Departed Sydney on January 20 as Flight Qf6020 Destined for Honolulu and Marana, Arizona, Where It Was Placed in Storage. Then Named City of Melbourne Vh-ebv Was Delivered to Qantas in Sydney on April 17 1985 From Seattle via Honolulu as Qf501.

747-338 Vh-ebw City of Tamworth Was Withdrawn From Qantas Service on December 28 After Operating Qf26 From Los Angeles to Auckland and Melbourne. Later the Same Day It Was Ferried From Melbourne to Sydney as Flight Qf6007.

Vh‑ebw Then Departed Sydney on January 4 as Qf6020 Destined for Honolulu and Marana Where It Was Placed in Storage. Then Named City of Brisbane Vh-ebw Was Delivered to Qantas in Sydney on April 2 1986 After Operating Qf501 From San Francisco.

747-338 Vh-eby City of Mildura Was Withdrawn From Qantas Service in Los Angeles on December 29 After Operating Qf25 From Melbourne and Auckland. From Los Angeles Vh-eby Was Ferried to Marana as Qf6012 Where It Was Placed in Storage. As City of Darwin Vh-eby Was Delivered to Qantas in Sydney on May 3 1987 After Operating Qf501 From Seattle via Honolulu.

737-476 Vh-tjz Was Withdrawn From Qantas Service in Melbourne on January 9 After Operating Qf627 From Brisbane. After Overhaul the Aircraft Was Planned for Delivery to Jetconnect in Mid February as Zk-jts.

Qantaslink 717-2cm Vh‑nxc Departed Adelaide on December 6 on Ferry to Honolulu and Delivery to Hawaiian Airlines, Where It Was Later Registered N490ha.

Ferry Routing Was via Cairns, Noumea, Apia and Christmas Island. As Vh-vqc the 717 Was Delivered to Impulse Airlines on December 29 ’00 Before Seeing Service With Qantaslink and Jetstar. When It Returned to Qantaslink Operations in July ’05 Its Registration Was Changed to Vh-nxc.

717-2cm Vh-nxf Departed Adelaide on December 21 on Ferry to Honolulu and Delivery to Hawaiian Airlines.

Routing Was the Same as Taken by Vh-nxc and on Arrival in Honolulu It Was Registered to Hawaiian as N488ha. As Vh-vqa the 717‑2cm Was Delivered to Impulse Airlines on February 9 ’01 and Was Operated in the Cockatoo Colour Scheme Before It Saw Service With Qantaslink and Jetstar.

When the Aircraft Returnedto Qantaslink Operations in August ’05 Its Registration Was Changed to Vh-nxf.

Jetconnect Withdrew 737‑376 Zk-jno From Service on December 5 After the Aircraft Operated Qf2715 From Auckland to Wellington. Later That Day Zk-jno Was Ferried From Wellington to Christchurch as Qf6171 and on Arrival Was Parked While Awaiting a Decision on Its Future.

Jetstar Was Planning to Take Delivery of A320-232 Vh‑vqb at Newcastle on January 23 With A320-232 Vh-vqa to Follow in Early March.

Jetstar Pacific Took Delivery of A320-232 Vn-a195, Which Previously Operated With Lan Chile as Cc-czb, in Ho Chi Minh City on December 14 After the Aircraft Ferried in From Santiago via Easter Island, Rarotonga and Townsville.

Australian Air Express Withdrew 727-277f Vh-vli From Service on December 31 After It Operated Flight Jte092 From Perth to Melbourne. Vh-vli Was the Last 727 in Aae Service.

Airline News

in This Issue We Report the Delivery of an A320 to Tiger Airways, a Bae 146-200 to Air National, an E-190 to Skyairworld and an E-170 to Virgin Blue.

Aircalin Terminated Its Lease of Flyglobespan 767-319er G-ceod on December 3 After the Aircraft Operated Flight Sb900 From Narita to Noumea.

The Following Day the 767, as Flight Gsm763p, Departed Noumea for Banjarmasin, Indonesia, on the First Leg of Its Return Ferry Flight to the Uk.

Air National Took Delivery of Bae 146-200 C-grnx in Auckland on December 15 After It Completed Its Ferry Flight From Calgary via Prince George, Anchorage, Adak, Midway Island, Honolulu, Christmas Island and Nuku’alofa. The 146 Was Later Registered to Air National as Zk-eco.

Air New Zealand Withdrew 747-419 Zk-nbs From Service in Auckland on January 7 After the Aircraft Operated Flight Nz124 From Melbourne. Earlier Zk-nbs, Using the Callsign ‘jatropha One’, Operated a Special Flight Out of Auckland on December 30 With the Aircraft Using a Jatropha Bio-fuel in the Number One Engine. (Refer Photo in Newsdesk This Issue) Air Niugini Terminated Its Lease of Icelandair 757-208et Tf-fii on December 24 After the Aircraft Operated Flight Px009/23 From Hong Kong.

On December 25 as Flight Ice8850 Tf-fii Departed Port Moresby for Miami via Guam, Honolulu and Long Beach.

To Replace Tf-fii, Icelandair 757-256et/w Tf-fiy Was Delivered to Air Niugini in Port Moresby on December 19 With the Aircraft Arriving From Kuala Lumpur as Flight Ang6010.

Later Registered P2-anb, the 757 Entered Service on December 24 When It Operated Flight Px394/5 From Port Moresby to Kuala Lumpur and Return.

P2-anb Made Its First Visit to Australia on December 26 When It Operated Flight Px001 From Port Moresby to Sydney.

Airwork 737-219c Zk‑nqc, Which Had Been in Maintenance Since Late July, Returned to Service on December 15 When It Operated Nz Post Flight Pst41 From Auckland to Christchurch.

Boeing 737-3q4(Qc) Zk-tlb, Which Has Been Operating With Airwork While Zk-nqc Was in the Hangar, Operated Its Final Flight on December 15 From Christchurch to Auckland. The All White 737, Which Was Reported Headed for Africa, Departed Auckland for Brisbane on December 29, but It Was Still There as of January 17.

Heavylift Cargo Short Belfast Rp-c8020 Arrived in Perth From Port Hedland on December 13 as Flight Hvy802 Before Departing for Cairns on December 16 as Flight Hvy802. The Belfast Remained in Cairns Until January 4 When as Flight Hvy501 It Departed for Denpasar and Stops to Dubai. On Arrival in Dubai the Belfast Then Took on as Cargo Bristow Helicopters Ec-225lp Vh-zfc Which Had Departed Aberdeen, Scotland, for Norwich, England, on December 27 on the First Leg of Its Ferry Flight to Dubai. The Belfast Arrived in Broome With the Ec-225lp on January 15.

Our Airline 737-33a Vh‑nlk, Which Was Delivered to Melbourne on November 15, Was Ferried to Brisbane on December 23 After Maintenance With John Holland Aviation Services. Still in an All-white Colour Scheme, the Aircraft Entered Service With Our Airline on December 26 When It Operated Flight Ie701 From Brisbane to Honiara and Nauru. With the Entry Into Service of Vh-nlk, Our Airline Ferried 737-3yo Vh-inu From Brisbane to Melbourne on December 23 Where It Entered the John Holland Hangar for Planned Maintenance.

Pacific Blue Commenced a Twice Weekly Service From Brisbane to Honiara on December 2 With 737-8fe Zk-pbg Operating the Inaugural Dj169.

Skyairworld Took Delivery of E-190-100igw Vh-sxo at Brisbane on December 13 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry From São José Dos Campos via Lihue and Pago Pago as Flight Syw901.

Skytraders A319-115lr Vh-vhd Departed Melbourne for Christchurch on December 17 and After Overnighting Operated a Return Flight to Pegasus Field in Antarctica as ‘ice 319’.

The A319 Flew Another Return Flight to Pegasus Field, Again as ‘ice 319’, on December 22 Before Returning to Melbourne From Christchurch on December 23.

On December 31 Vh-vhd Departed Melbourne for Hobart and From There Operated Return Flights to Wilkins on January 1/3/7/8 Before Flying to Christchurch on January 8.

On January 9 the A319-115lr Operated a Return Flight From Christchurch to Pegasus Field as ‘ice 319’. It Then Returned to Hobart From Christchurch on January 11.

Tiger Airways Took Delivery of A320-232 Vh-vnh in Melbourne on January 15 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry Flight From Toulouse via Muscat, Singapore and Adelaide.

V Australia Was Planning to Take Delivery of Its First 777‑3zger, Vh-voz, in Sydney on February 9 With the Second 777, Vh-vpd, to Follow Later in the Month.

Virgin Blue Took Delivery of E-170-100lr Vh-zhf Little Miss Sunshine Coast at Brisbane on December 18 After the Aircraft Completed Its Ferry From São José Dos Campos via Recife, Las Palmas, Ibiza, Heraklion, Muscat, Male, Cocos and Broome as Flight Dj9082.

Vh-zhf, Which Was the Sixth and Final E-170 on Order for Virgin Blue, Entered Service on December 28 When It Operated Flight Dj1235 From Brisbane to Rockhampton.

E-190-100igw Vh-zpl Samba Blue, Which Was Delivered to Brisbane on November 25 (Corrects Traffic/january), Entered Service on December 6 When It Operated Flight Dj754 From Brisbane to Adelaide.

Regional Airline News

Airlines Png Took Delivery of Dash 8-102 Vh-qqh in Port Moresby on December 4 After the Skytrans Regional Aircraft Ferried in From Cairns.

The Dash 8 Was Later Registered to Airlines Png as P2-mct.

Air Link Ceased Rpt Services on December 19, Although the Company Continues to Operate Charter Flights. Final Services Operated on December 19 Were Pa-31-350 Vh-mzf From Sydney to Mudgee as Flight Zl1659, Pa-31-350 Vh-dvw From Lightning Ridge to Walgett and Dubbo, While the Same Aircraft Operated Dubbo to Cobar and Return. Beech 1900d Vh-rui Operated Zl1738 From Dubbo to Cobar and Sydney and the Same Aircraft Operated the Final Service Zl1632 From Sydney to Bathurst.

Air South Took Delivery of Beech 1900d Vh-zoa in Adelaide on December 11 After It Ferried in From Perth.

Honk Aviation Returned Jetstream 41 Zk-jsm to the New Zealand Register on December 9. After Overhaul in Nelson the Aircraft Was Test Flown on January 7 Prior to Being Delivered to an Operator in South Africa.

Pel-air Express Placed Its First Saab 340a(F) Freighter, Vh-ekt, Into Service on December 29 When It Commenced a Nightly Return Service From Adelaide to Sydney. Saab 340a(F) Vh-kdb Entered Service With Pel-air Express on January 7 When It Operated From Sydney to Adelaide.

Pionair Australia Convair 580f Vh-pdw Operated a Charter for the Ok Tedi Mine From Cairns to Tabubil and Return on December 25.

Vh‑pdw Departed Sydney for Wellington and Palmerston North on January 4 for Planned Maintenance With Fieldair.

Convair 580 Vh-pdv Positioned From Cairns to Honiara on November 30 to Uplift 37 Passengers to Port Moresby and the Following Day It Returned to Honiara via Buka. On December 2 the Convair Carried a Group of 37 Passengers From Honiara to Cairns. Vh‑pdv Has Also Operated a Number of Flights on Behalf of North Star Cruises With a Return Flight From Cairns to Kavieng on November 29 and From Cairns to Gurney on December 6, 13 and 18.

Regional Express Has Sold Saab 340a Vh-kdi to Sol Lineas Aereas of Rosario, Argentina, and on January 3 the Aircraft, Which Carried the Full Colours of Sol, Departed Wagga Wagga for Sydney, Papeete and Easter Island. Vh-kdi Had Been Part of the Aviation Scene in Australia Since November 2 ’88 When It Was Delivered to Kendell Airlines at Wagga Wagga. Regional Express Reportedly Has Also Sold Saab 340a Vh-ekd to Sol.

Saab 340b+ Vh-zry, Which Was Delivered to Wagga Wagga on September 21, Had Still Not Entered Service as of Early January, While Saab 340b+ N383ae, Which Was Delivered to Wagga Wagga on November 2 and is the Prospective Vh-zls, Had Still Not Been Registered by Mid January.

Skytrans Regional Dash 8‑102 Vh-qqh Departed Cairns for Port Moresby on December 4 as Flight Skp5514 on Delivery to Airlines Png.

Solomon Airlines Has Leased Dash 8-102 Zk-vac From Vincent Aviation and on January 3 It Arrived in Honiara From Wellington via Auckland, Norfolk Island and Port Vila.

The Dash 8 Will Be Leased Until March 8 for Flights From Honiara to Auke, Gizo, Kirakira, Munda, Santa Cruz and Seghe.

Vincent Aviation Has Sold Reims F406 Zk-vaf to Kiwi Air While Two Jetstream 31s Will Be Leased for Operation in the Flight Calibration Role. The Jetstreams Are Believed to Be Zk-jsh and Zk-jsi of Inglis Aircraft Which Have Been in Storage at Nelson.

Bizjet News

in This Period We Can Report the Delivery of a Gulfstream Iv, Challenger 604, Hawker 900xp and Hawker 400xp.

Gulfstream Iv N472mm Was Delivered to Global Jet at the Gold Coast on January 8 After It Arrived From Los Angeles/ Van Nuys via Honolulu and Nadi.

Challenger 604 N360pl Was Delivered to Luft Aviation at Melbourne/essendon on December 8 After It Arrived From Honolulu and Nadi. The Challenger’s Delivery Brings the Essendon Based Luft Aviation Fleet to Three, Joining Global Express N360la and Challenger 601-3a N360sl.

Hawker 900xp Vh-evf, Which Will Be Operated by Marcplan Charter, Was Delivered to Essendon on January 16 After Completing Its Pacific Crossing.

Hawker 400xp Vh-ntx, Which Was Registered to Tinkler Group Aviation P/l of Chapel Hill, Brisbane, on December 20, Was Delivered to Brisbane on January 5. It Had Earlier Been Sighted at Luton, Uk, on December 26 Before Arriving in Broome on January 4 From Colombo, Medan, Singapore/ Seletar and Denpasar.

Cessna 550 Vh-nsb Was Registered to Shazo Holdings P/l of Brisbane on January 5 and Was Planned for Delivery to Australia in Late January.

Hawker 400xp N558xp, Which Arrived in the Country on September 29 to Start a Demonstration Tour, Departed Darwin for Denpasar on November 29.

Rfds/south Eastern Section Took Delivery of Three King Air Aircraft at Bankstown in Late December and Early January, These Being King Air B200c N3202w Which Was Registered Vh-mwk on January 9, B200c N3203r and B200 N3203q.

Overseas Bizjet News

Global Express N228h Registered to Cb Air of Bellevue, Washington, Arrived in Sydney From Honolulu on December 22. It Was Later Seen in Ayers Rock Before Departing Cairns for Nadi on January 2.

Bombardier Aerospace Operated Global Express N234gx Arrived in Sydney From Hong Kong on November 29 and the Following Day Operated a Demonstration Flight Before Departing for Honolulu on December 2.

Global Express N624bp Registered to the Bank of America, Oxford, Connecticut, Arrived in Brisbane From Honolulu on December 10 and Remained There Until December 14 When It Returned to Honolulu.

Global Express Oe-iel Operated by Tyrolean Jet Service of Innsbruck Arrived in Perth From Male on December 23 and Returned There on December 25.

Twinjet Aircraft Challenger 604 Vp-cnk Arrived in Darwin From Jakarta/halim on December 23 and After Overnighting Departed for Coolangatta.

Eurojet Romania Challenger 604 Yr-dip Arrived in Sydney From Darwin as Flight Rdp281d on January 8.

Falcon 900ex G-siro Operated by Condor Aviation in the Uk, Which Arrived in Perth on October 29 Before Moving to Sydney on November 13, Was Still Resident There as of January 11. Falcon 900ex Oe-idm Operated by Flying Bulls of Salzburg Transited Darwin on December 10 While en Route From Bangkok/don Muang to Nadi.

Visa Usa Gulfstream 550 N107vs Arrived in Sydney From Honolulu on December 9 and Departed for Wellington on December 12.

Star Aircraft Leasing Gulfstream V N51fl Arrived in Sydney From Honolulu on December 18. The Gulfstream Remained in Sydney Until January 8 When It Departed for Cairns Before Continuing to Melbourne on January 10.

Alcoa Aluminium Gulfstream V N697a Arrived in Melbourne From Honolulu on December 11 and After Overnighting Departed for Perth. On December 13 It Departed Perth for Dubai.

Gulfstream 450 N915bd Operated by Alpha Capital Investments Arrived in Perth From Jakarta/halim on December 10 and Returned There on December 12.

Gulfstream 450 Vp-cfb Operated by International Jetclub of Farnborough, Uk, Arrived Inperth From Singapore/seletar on December 31 and Later Continued to Auckland on January 5.

Gulfstream Iv N889tc Registered to the Bank of America, Long Beach, California, Arrived in Sydney From Nadi on December 2. It Was Later Noted at Ayers Rock and Hamilton Island Before Departing Townsville for Nadi on December 10.

Heavy Metal

Austrian Airlines A319-112 Oe-lda Operated a Charter Through Our Region in This Period as Flight Os2702.

Oe-lda Transited Darwin on December 29 While en Route From Ho Chi Minh City to Ayers Rock. After Overnighting the A319 Continued to Sydney Before Departing for Rarotonga on January 2.

First Choice 757-28a(Er) G-oobc Arrived in Cairns From Apia on January 5 and Departed for Siem Riep on January 7, Operating as Flight Tom954.

Martinair 747-412(Bcf) Ph-mpq Operated the Freight Airline’s Final Service From Sydney on December 23 When It Departed as Flight Mp94 to Singapore. Martinair Had Been Operating Freight Services to Sydney Since November 11 ’87 When Mdc Dc-10-30f Ph‑mbt Operated the Inaugural Mp95.

Mk Cargo Airlines 747‑2j6b(F) G-mkha Operating as Flight Bgb948 Arrived in Perth From Nairobi on December 18. The Aircraft, Which Carried a Load of Mining Equipment Into Perth, Departed for Mauritius on December 20.

Orient Global 737-74t/ Bbj Vp-bel Arrived in Christchurch From Singapore on January 6.

Papua New Guinea Defence Force Cn-235m P2-0502 Arrived in Cairns From Port Moresby on January 3. The Aircraft, Which Was Operating a Medevac Flight, Used the Call Sign ‘eagle 502’.

Mdc Dc-10-30 N108ax of Omni Air International of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Operated for the Adf for Three Weeks in January While Strategic Aviation A330-322 Cs-tmt, Which is Normally Used, Was Undergoing Planned Maintenance.

N108ax, Which Was Using the Callsign ‘asy 012’, Arrived in Sydney From Male and Darwin on January 9.

Mdc Dc-8-63f A6-hlc of Heavylift Cargo Transited Brisbane on December 5 While en Route From Taipei to Auckland. The Dc-8, Which Was Carrying Equipment for the Kylie Minogue Concert, Departed Auckland for Sydney on December 10 Before Continuing to Jakarta on December 12.

Lockheed 100 Zs-orc of Safair, Which Was Using the Callsign ‘safair 520’, Arrived in Adelaide From Mauritius and Cocos on November 26 and After Overnighting Continued to Christchurch. The Aircraft, Which Had Been Chartered by the Italian Antarctic Expedition, Then Operated a Number of Flights From Christchurch to Pegasus Field Before Departing Christchurch for Adelaide and Its Return to South Africa on January 4.

Trans Continental Sikorsky

This Has Been a Busy Time for Sikorsky S-61 and S-64 Aircraft Arriving in Our Region.

Coulson Aircrane Sikorsky S-61n C-fxec, Which Also Carries Executive Transport Titles, Arrived at Essendon by Road From the Melbourne Docks on December 24. After Assembly the S-61n Was Test Flown on December 31 Before Departing Essendon on January 2 for Darwin. The Ferry Flight Took the S-61n Three Days via Mildura, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Tindal. In Darwin C-fxec Commenced Operations With Jayrow Helicopters on a Resource Contract.

Carson Helicopters Sikorsky S-61n N7011m Flew Into Essendon From the Melbourne Docks on December 11 and After Refuelling Set Off on a Three Day Trans-continental Ferry Flight to Perth. N7011m, Which Operates as Helitack 767, is Based in Perth for the Summer Fighting Bushfires.

Coulson Aircrane Sikorsky S-61n C-fmay Arrived at Essendon by Road From the Melbourne Docks on December 12.

The S-61n, Which Carries ‘state Aircraft Unit, Victoria’ Titles on Its Nose, Was Later Deployed to Colac Where It is Spending the Summer as Helitack 347.

Coulson Aircrane Sikorsky S-61n C-fclm Arrived at Essendon by Road From the Melbourne Docks on December 12.

The S-61n, Which Carries ‘state Aircraft Unit, Victoria’ Titles on Its Nose, Was Later Deployed to Mansfield Where It is Spending the Summer as Helitack 348. Perth From Singapore/seletar on December 31 and Later Continued to Auckland on January 5.

Gulfstream Iv N889tc Registered to the Bank of America, Long Beach, California, Arrived in Sydney From Nadi on December 2. It Was Later Noted at Ayers Rock and Hamilton Island Before Departing Townsville for Nadi on December 10.

Heavy Metal Austrian Airlines A319-112 Oe-lda Operated a Charter Through Our Region in This Period as Flight Os2702.

Oe-lda Transited Darwin on December 29 While en Route From Ho Chi Minh City to Ayers Rock. After Overnighting the A319 Continued to Sydney Before Departing for Rarotonga on January 2.

First Choice 757-28a(Er) G-oobc Arrived in Cairns From Apia on January 5 and Departed for Siem Riep on January 7, Operating as Flight Tom954.

Martinair 747-412(Bcf) Ph-mpq Operated the Freight Airline’s Final Service From Sydney on December 23 When It Departed as Flight Mp94 to Singapore. Martinair Had Been Operating Freight Services to Sydney Since November 11 ’87 When Mdc Dc-10-30f Ph‑mbt Operated the Inaugural Mp95.

Mk Cargo Airlines 747‑2j6b(F) G-mkha Operating as Flight Bgb948 Arrived in Perth From Nairobi on December 18. The Aircraft, Which Carried a Load of Mining Equipment Into Perth, Departed for Mauritius on December 20.

Orient Global 737-74t/ Bbj Vp-bel Arrived in Christchurch From Singapore on January 6.

Papua New Guinea Defence Force Cn-235m P2-0502 Arrived in Cairns From Port Moresby on January 3. The Aircraft, Which Was Operating a Medevac Flight, Used the Call Sign ‘eagle 502’.

Mdc Dc-10-30 N108ax of Omni Air International of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Operated for the Adf for Three Weeks in January While Strategic Aviation A330-322 Cs-tmt, Which is Normally Used, Was Undergoing Planned Maintenance.

N108ax, Which Was Using the Callsign ‘asy 012’, Arrived in Sydney From Male and Darwin on January 9.

Mdc Dc-8-63f A6-hlc of Heavylift Cargo Transited Brisbane on December 5 While en Route From Taipei to Auckland. The Dc-8, Which Was Carrying Equipment for the Kylie Minogue Concert, Departed Auckland for Sydney on December 10 Before Continuing to Jakarta on December 12.

Lockheed 100 Zs-orc of Safair, Which Was Using the Callsign ‘safair 520’, Arrived in Adelaide From Mauritius and Cocos on November 26 and After Overnighting Continued to Christchurch. The Aircraft, Which Had Been Chartered by the Italian Antarctic Expedition, Then Operated a Number of Flights From Christchurch to Pegasus Field Before Departing Christchurch for Adelaide and Its Return to South Africa on January 4.

Trans Continental Sikorsky This Has Been a Busy Time for Sikorsky S-61 and S-64 Aircraft Arriving in Our Region.

Coulson Aircrane Sikorsky S-61n C-fxec, Which Also Carries Executive Transport Titles, Arrived at Essendon by Road From the Melbourne Docks on December 24. After Assembly the S-61n Was Test Flown on December 31 Before Departing Essendon on January 2 for Darwin. The Ferry Flight Took the S-61n Three Days via Mildura, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Tindal. In Darwin C-fxec Commenced Operations With Jayrow Helicopters on a Resource Contract.

Carson Helicopters Sikorsky S-61n N7011m Flew Into Essendon From the Melbourne Docks on December 11 and After Refuelling Set Off on a Three Day Trans-continental Ferry Flight to Perth. N7011m, Which Operates as Helitack 767, is Based in Perth for the Summer Fighting Bushfires.

Coulson Aircrane Sikorsky S-61n C-fmay Arrived at Essendon by Road From the Melbourne Docks on December 12.

The S-61n, Which Carries ‘state Aircraft Unit, Victoria’ Titles on Its Nose, Was Later Deployed to Colac Where It is Spending the Summer as Helitack 347.

Coulson Aircrane Sikorsky S-61n C-fclm Arrived at Essendon by Road From the Melbourne Docks on December 12.

The S-61n, Which Carries ‘state Aircraft Unit, Victoria’ Titles on Its Nose, Was Later Deployed to Mansfield Where It is Spending the Summer as Helitack 348.

Erickson Air-Crane has brought six Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopters to Australia for the current bushfire season. We mentioned S-64F N217AC/737 Malcolm in Traffic/ January and since then the following have arrived: Sikorsky S-64F N179AC/739 Elvis was shipped into Sydney on December 9 before ferrying south to Canberra, Albury and Essendon where it arrived on December 12. N179AC is spending the summer based at Essendon as Helitack 341.

Sikorsky S-64E N218AC/749 Elsie, in company with N179AC, flew south to Essendon where it will spend the summer as Helitak 342. N218AC was later renamed Bluey.

Sikorsky S-64E N173AC/733 Christine ferried into Essendon from Sydney via Canberra and Albury on December 11 before continuing a few days later to its base at Brukunga in the Adelaide Hills from where it operates as Helitack 733. While in Adelaide Christine changed its name to Flynn.

Sikorsky S-64F N178AC/734 Isabelle arrived in Sydney by ship on December 9 before being ferried to Bankstown where it will spend the summer as Helitack 734. While at Bankstown Isabelle changed its name to Clancy.

The names Bluey, Flynn and Clancy were chosen by a Channel 7 Sunrise show viewer competition. (See Rotor Torque January/February. ) Sikorsky S-64E N194AC/747 Delilah arrived in Sydney by ship on December 9 and was later flown to Bankstown where it is spending the summer as Helitack 747.

Ferry Flights

Cessna 208 Cargomaster VH-DZQ was registered to Budbay P/L of Wilsonton, Queensland, on December 10, and ferried into Tyagarah from Apia and the Gold Coast on December 18.

FU-24-950T PK-PNZ, which carried PT Sinar Mas Super Air titles, departed Hamilton for Auckland on December 8. On December 11 PK-PNZ, which was being ferried by Air Center One, departed Auckland for Jayapura, Indonesia, via Lord Howe Island, Gold Coast, Cairns and Horn Island.

FU-24-950M ZK-CYM, which was on delivery to Super Air in Armidale, departed Hamilton for Lord Howe Island on December 17.

Baron 58 G58 N146WA departed Lord Howe Island for Kerikeri on December 13. The aircraft was delivered to Auckland from the US on July 15 and had been visiting Australia since late September.

PBN BN-2T VH-YVH, which was registered to Britten- Norman P/L of New England on December 2, was noted at Malta on December 18. The Islander, which carries Airborne Surveillance titles, later arrived in Broome from Denpasar on December 24.

PBN BN2A-21 ZK-FIF was cancelled from the New Zealand register on December 10 and was later noted at Palmerston North, now registered N130PC to an owner in Nikiski, Alaska.

PA-46R-350T VH-SJM, which was registered to Saunders Group Holdings of Mildura on October 8, arrived in Kempsey from Pago Pago, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island on December 15.

PA-44-180T ZK-EQY departed Ardmore for Kerikeri on December 15 and after overnighting continued to Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Redcliffe.