Traffic

A330-202 Vh-ebg Was Ferried From Sydney to Manila as Qf6011 on June 9 for Planned Maintenance.

747-4h6 Vh-oed Operated a ‘captain’s Choice’ Tour Recently With the Aircraft, as Flight Qf6034, Departing Sydney on June 14 and Returning on June 25. From Sydney Vh‑oed Flew Direct to Buenos Aires Before Continuing to Iguassau Falls-rio De Janiero- Manaus-havana-panama City-lima-easter Island and Then Back to Sydney.

Qantas Freight Has Wet Leased a 767-223sf From Air Transport International to Operate a Four Times Weekly Service Sydney-auckland-christchurch- Sydney. 767-223sf N761cx Arrived in Sydney From Honolulu and Pago Pago on June 14 as Flight Atn104, Entering Service With Qantas Freight on June 15 When It Operated Flight Qf7523 From Sydney to Auckland. N761cx Was a 1985 Production 767 Which Was Delivered to American Airlines on April 1 of That Year as N316aa.

Qantaslink is Planning to Take Delivery of Dash 8-q402 Vh-qot in August.

Jetconnect Withdrew 737‑376 Zk-jnb From Service on June 8 After the Aircraft Operated Qf2772 From Queenstown to Christchurch. At That Time the 737 Had Flown 61,633 Hours and Completed 43,176 Cycles.

As Flight Qf6020 Zk‑jnb Departed Christchurch on June 17 Destined for Marana, Arizona, via Apia, Honolulu and Ontario, California. The Aircraft Was Built on Order for Australian Airlines as Vh-taz, Being Delivered to Melbourne on June 26 1987 After Ferrying in From Seattle via Honolulu, Majuro and Townsville as Flight Tn1396. Named Victory, Vh-taz Entered Service With Australian on June 27 When It Operated Tn480 From Melbourne to Brisbane.

In Traffic/july We Mentioned That 737-376 Zk-jno Had Been Scrapped at Christchurch in Early June. This Aircraft Was Also Built on Order for Australian Airlines and as Vh‑tjd Gallant Was Delivered to Australian in Melbourne on September 9 1989, Entering Service on October 9 When It Operated Tn788 From Melbourne to Adelaide.

Jetconnect Was Planning to Take Delivery of 737-838 Vh-vzf in Mid August With 737-838 Vh-vzg to Follow Later in the Month.

Jetconnect Ceased Domestic Services in New Zealand on June 9, With Jetstar Taking Over Qantas Group Nz Services the Following Day. The Final Jetconnect New Zealand Domestic Service Was Qf2728 From Wellington to Auckland, Operated by 737-376 Zk‑jnc.

Jetstar, After Taking Delivery of A321-231 Vh-vww in Newcastle on June 1, Ferried the Airbus to Sydney as Flight Jq7983 on June 6. The Following Day the A321 Entered Service Operating Jq406 From Sydney to the Gold Coast.

Jetstar Took Delivery of A320-232 Vh-vgz at Newcastle on June 12 After the Aircraft Ferried in From Toulouse via Dubai, Singapore and Darwin as Jq7992. On June 16 Vh-vgz Ferried From Newcastle to Melbourne as Flight Jq7981 Before Entering Service Later That Day as Jq711 From Melbourne to Hobart.

Jetstar A330-202 Vh-ebf Diverted Into Guam in the Early Hours of June 11 After Aninflight Emergency While Operating Flight Jq20 From Osaka/ Kansai to the Gold Coast. As Flight Jq7020, A330-202 Vhebb Was Ferried From Sydney to Guam to Bring the Stranded Passengers Into Brisbane Where They Arrived in the Early Hours of June 12. Meanwhile, Vh‑ebf as Flight Jq7993 Ferried Into Sydney From Guam on June 14.

Airline News

Air New Zealand 767‑319er Zk-ncg Ferried Out of Auckland for Hong Kong on June 8 as Nz6081 for Planned Maintenance. While in Hong Kong the Aircraft Became the Airline’s First 767 to Be Fitted With Winglets.

In Traffic/july We Mentioned That 747-419er Zk-nbs Had Departed Auckland for Los Angeles and Roswell, New Mexico, for Storage. Zk-nbs Was the First 747-400 Delivered to Air New Zealand When It Arrived in Auckland on December 16 ’89. However, the 747 Was Then Leased to Cathay Pacific and So Didn’t Enter Air New Zealand Service Until February ’91.

Air New Zealand Link/ Air Nelson Took Delivery of Dash 8-q311 C-fwgq in Nelson on June 14 After the Turboprop Ferried in From Toronto via North Bay, Grand Rapids, Santa Barbara, Hilo, Pago Pago and Auckland. Later Registered Zk-nfi, the Dash 8 Was the 23rd and Final Q300 on Order for Air New Zealand Link/air Nelson.

The First Dash 8-q311 Delivered to Air New Zealand Link/air Nelson Was C-fcpo Which Arrived in Nelson on July 28 ’05. As Zk-nea, It Entered Service on August 15 ’05 as Flight Nz8148 From Nelson to Wellington.

Dash 8-q311 Zk-nfb Entered Service With Air New Zealand Link/air Nelson on May 21 When It Operated Flight Nz8388 From Nelson to Auckland.

Air North Embraer E‑170‑100lr Vh-ano Was Noted at Darwin in June Carrying the Name Savannah.

The Cobham Bae 146 Passenger Fleet as of Late June Consisted of Bae 146-100s Vh-njc, Vh-njr, Vh-njx; Bae 146-100/rj70 Vh-njt; Bae 146-200s Vh-njq, Vh-yad, Vh-yae; and Bae 146-300s Vh-njl and Vh-njn. Of These Aircraft Bae 146-100 Vh-njx and Bae 146-200 Vh-yad Have Been in Long Term Storage at Adelaide Since Late March.

Heavylift Cargo Airlines 727-277(F) Vh-vlh Was Cancelled From the Register on June 17 as ‘exported to the Usa’. Vh-vlh Was Last Seen in Australia on March 25 When It Departed Brisbane on Ferry to Santa Barbara, California.

Ozjet 737-229(a) Vhozd Was Cancelled From the Register on June 17 as ‘exported to the Usa’. Vh-ozd, Which Was Painted in Norfolk Air Colours, Departed Brisbane for Darwin and Jakarta on April 26. 737‑229(a) Vh-obn, Which Was Cancelled From the Register on May 14 as ‘moved to the Faa Register’ , Finally Took Up the Registration N732hv on July 2.

Skyairworld Emb-145mps Vh-szf and Vh-szh, Which Were Cancelled From the Register on April 8, Were Registered Ei-eej and Ei-eek Respectively on May 27 to Celestial Aviation Trading of Shannon, Ireland.

Strategic Airlines A330‑223 Vh-ssa Was Registered on June 20 and Was Delivered to Brisbane From Manila on July 6.

A320-212 N436bv Arrived at Toulouse on May 14 After Ferrying in From Goodyear, Arizona, via Bangor and Gander.

Later Registered F-gstr, the A320 Will Carry Solomon Airlines Titles and Was Planned for Delivery to Strategic in Brisbane in Late July. A320-212 N420bv, Which Has Been Registered F-gsts, Was Planned for Delivery to Strategic on July 20. The A320 Has Been Painted in Strategic Colours (See Above) and Will Be Based in Europe.

Strategic Aviation A330‑322 Cs-tmt Has Returned to Operation in Australia After Planned Maintenance Overseas When on June 18 It Arrived at Raaf Richmond From Male and Darwin as Asy044. As a Consequence A330-243 Cs-tfz, Which Was on Short Term Lease to Strategic From Hi Fly While Cs-tmt Was Out of Service, Has Returned to Europe.

Virgin Blue 737-8fe Vh‑vug Has Been Painted in Pacific Blue Colours, Although the Aircraft Will Continue to Operate as Part of the Virgin Blue Fleet. On May 30 Vh‑vug Operated Dj1823 From Melbourne to Townsville Where It Entered the Worland Aviation Hangar for Repainting.

It Returned to Service in Its New Livery on June 6 When It Operated Charter Dj9001 From Townsville to Dili.

Regional News

in This Issue We Report the Delivery of a Saab 340b+ to Regional Express and a Bn‑2b‑26 Islander to Coralsun Airways, and the Departure of an Aeropelican Emb-110p1.

Aeropelican Air Services Has Sold Emb-110p1 Vh‑tlh to Aeropro of Quebec, Canada. Vh-tlh’s Ferry Flight Was Contracted to Australian Air Ferry of Kempsey, Nsw, and on June 5 It Departed Bankstown for Kempsey Where It Overnighted Before Continuing to Coffs Harbour, Norfolk Island, Pago Pago and Christmas Island.

Air Chathams Metro Iii Zk-cic Ferried From Auckland to Fuamotu, Tonga, on June 6.

Aircruising Australia Was Noted Operating Gam Dornier 228-202k Vh-vjd on a Flight Through Darwin on May 29, While on May 31 Skytrans Dash 8-102 Vh-qqe Was Also Noted at Darwin Operating for Aircruising Australia.

Bristow Helicopters Sikorsky S-76c G-cfpy Msn 760735, Which Arrived at Melbourne/ Essendon by Truck on June 1, Was Registered Vh-tzl on June 9.

Pel-air Express Announced on May 29 That It Had Been Awarded a Fly-in/fly-out Contract From Barrick Gold to Operate From Townsville to Its Osborne Mine. These Flights Were Operated by Macair, but When That Operator Ceased Flying in February Two Regional Express Saab 340bs, Vh-orx and Vh-rxs, Were Positioned to Townsville to Take Over the Osborne Mine Flying Under an Interim Arrangement.

Vh-rxs Was Originally Delivered to Townsville on February 16 but Departed There on June 5 for Sydney and Its Return to Service With Regional Express.

Replacing Vh-rxs Was Saab 340b Vh-zlf Which Ferried Into Townsville From Sydney as Zl9802 on June 6.

Saab 340b Vh-orx, Which Was Delivered to Townsville on February 11, Was Replaced by Saab 340b Vh-zla Which Arrived in Townsville on June 6.

Pel-air Express Announced That It Would Cease Metro Operations on May 29, but We Are Having Trouble in Accounting for the 10 Aircraft in the Fleet.

Metro Iii Vh-eej Arrived in Wagga Wagga on May 29 From Brisbane and Tamworth While Merlin Ivc Vh-eep, Which Carries Australian Air Express Titles, Arrived at Wagga Wagga on June 16. Their Arrivals Took the Number of Metro Iii/merlin Ivcs Stored at Wagga Wagga to Six – Merlin Ivcs Vh-een, Vh-eeo and Vh‑eep; and Metro Iiis Vh‑eej, Vh‑eer and Vh‑ees. Of the Other Aircraft in the Fleet, Metro Iii Vh‑eeq Has Been Parked at Bankstown Since March 3 While Metro Iii Vh-eet Has Been Parked at Darwin Since May 4. Metro Iii Vh-eeu Was Last Noted at Brisbane on May 23 and Metro Iii Vh‑eex at Brisbane on June 21.

Regional Express Has Taken Delivery of Saab 340b+ N392ae With the Aircraft Transiting the Gold Coast on June 11 While en Route From Nashville via Christmas Island and Apia.

The Saab Was Later Registered to Regional Express as Vh-zrh.

Noted at Nashville in Late May Were Saab 340b+s N393ae and N394ae, Both of Which Carried Regional Express Colours.

Skywest Airlines Fokker 50 Vh-fna Ferried Out of Perth on June 17 for Denpasar and Singapore/seletar for Maintenance.

Fokker 50 Vh‑fnf Arrived in Perth on June 19 From Seletar and Denpasar After Completing Its Maintenance Lay-up.

Bizjet News

Brisbane Based Bydand Aviation’s Citation Bravo Vh‑yxy Was Cancelled From the Register on June 9 as ‘to Be Placed on the Faa Register’ , but This Had Yet to Occur as of Late June. Vh‑yxy Was Reported as Arriving at the Aeromil Pacific Hangar at Bankstown on June 1 Where It Was Being Prepared for Export.

Citation Excel Vh-xcu Changed Its Registration Holder From Mt Craigie Holdings P/l of Rosebud West, Victoria, to Homada P/l of Greenvale, Victoria, on June 11.

Cessna 510 Mustang Zk‑lca Was Registered to Graeme Lowe Aviation of Hastings on June 9. As N2243w This Mustang Was Imported Into the Region by Aeromil Pacific in July ’07 Before Being Sold Later That Year to Lowe Aviation.

Port Lincoln Based Australian Fishing Enterprises Commander 690b Vh-tss Has Been Sold to an Operator in Bolivia. On June 27 Vh-tss Departed Essendon on Ferry to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, via the Gold Coast, Suva, Papeete, Easter Island and Antofagasta, Chile. King Air 350 N6151n Msn Fl-651 Will Be the First of Five New Production Aircraft to Be Operated by the Raaf’s 38 Squadron in Townsville as an Interim Caribou Replacement, and Will Be Allocated the Raaf Serial A32-651. It Will Be Delivered to Australia Later This Year and Enter Service in Early 2010.

Australian Army King Air 350s A32-426, A32-437 and A32-439 Will Transfer to Operations With 38 Squadron in Townsville in November.

Rfds/western Operations Pc-12/47e Vh-owa Arrived at Perth/jandakot on June 12 After Completing Its Delivery Flight From Stans, Switzerland.

Overseas Bizjets

Learjet 35a Hs-cfs Operated a Medevac Flight Into Melbourne on May 31 From Singapore/seletar and Broome.

The Following Day the Learjet, Which Carries Chiron Flight Services Titles on Its Fuselage and Thai Flying on Its Engine Nacelles, Departed Melbourne for Alice Springs, Denpasar and Singapore.

Cessna Mustang Hs-vip Was a Welcome Visitor in This Period. The Mustang, Which Wears Vip Jets Titles, Arrived in Broome From Denpasar on June 1 and Later Visited Ayers Rock, Essendon, Bankstown, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Cairns and Katherine Before Departing Broome for Denpasar on June 12. Interestingly, Hs-vip Has an Extra Window Painted on Either Side of the Aircraft.

Stone Tower Air of New York Operated Embraer Legacy N580ml Arrived at Essendon From Auckland on May 31, Remaining There Until June 3 When It Departed for Sydney.

On June 5 It Operated a Return Flight From Sydney to Perth Before Departing for Papeete.

Falcon 900ex N47eg Registered to the Bank of America of Morristown, New Jersey, Arrived in Sydney From Nadi on June 11. The Falcon Departed Sydney for Darwin and Singapore on June 14.

Gulfstream 550 N662cp Registered to Conoco Phillips of Houston Arrived in Brisbane From Darwin on June 1 and Departed Brisbane for Singapore on June 3.

Gulfstream 550 N712kt Arrived in Sydney From Narita on June 8 Before Continuing to Brisbane on June 10 Where After Overnighting It Departed for Narita.

Gulfstream 550 Vp-bjk Arrived in Sydney From Bangkok on June 8. It is Operated by Ac Executive (Bermuda) Ltd but Carries an Irish Flag on Its Tail.

Jet Aviation Business Jets of Hong Kong Operated Gulfstream 550 Vp-cjl Arrived in Sydney From Hong Kong on June 12.

Morgan Stanley Management Services Operated Gulfstream V N128gv Arrived in Melbourne From Singapore on June 19.

G5 Executive of Zurich Gulfstream V Hb-imj Arrived in Perth From Muscat on May 27, and After Overnighting Departed for Muscat.

Gulfstream 450 N450pg Registered to the Bank of America, Islandia, New York, Arrived at Hamilton Island From Nadi and Cairns on May 26. The Gulfstream Departed Hamilton Island for Cairns on May 28 Before Continuing to Ayers Rock, Sydney, Canberra and Essendon. It Departed Sydney for Guam on June 4.

Metrojet of Hong Kong Operated Gulfstream 450 B-khk Arrived in Sydney on May 26. The Aircraft Later Visited the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Hamilton Island Before Departing Townsville for Denpasar on June 3.

Deer Jet Airlines of Beijing Operated Gulfstream Iv B‑8091 Arrived in Sydney From Hong Kong and Cairns as Deer Jet 353 on May 28. After Overnighting It Departed for Biak as Deer Jet 355.

Big Prop News

Pionair Convair 580f Vh‑pdx Operated a Freight Charter From Jakarta to Karratha in Early June. On June 4 the Aircraft Departed Bankstown for Jakarta/soekarno-hatta via Mount Isa, Darwin and Denpasar Before Returning to Darwin via Denpasar on June 5.

Air Nostalgia Dc-3 Vh‑tmq Was Offered for Auction at Essendon on May 14 by National Auctioneers and Valuers of Tullamarine. On June 12 the Aircraft Operator Was Changed to Australasian Jet of Essendon While the Aircraft Holder Became Gooney Bird P/l of Essendon.

Classic Wings Dc-3 Vh‑cws Has Been Ferried From Perth/jandakot to Maitland, Nsw, Where It Was Due to Be Auctioned by Slattery’s Auctions on July 23. The Aircraft Departed Jandakot on June 1 to Kalgoorlie and Forrest Where It Stopped Overnight Before Continuing to Ceduna and Port Augusta. On June 3 Vh-cws Departed Port Augusta for Broken Hill and Parkes Where It Remained Until June 11 Before Completing Its Ferry Flight to Maitland.

Dakota National Air Dc-3 Vh-sbl Captain Jack Curtis, Which Has Been Static at Essendon Since Arriving Frombankstown on March 24 ’08, Was Noted Running Its Engines on June 15.

Dodson Aviation Dc-3tp Zs-ojj, Which Departed Brisbane on April 4 for the United States via Honiara and Majuro, Was Noted Parked on the Airfield at Ottawa, Kansas, on May 18.

Heavy Metal

Emirates A340-541 A6‑erg, Which Was Damaged at Melbourne on March 20 in a Tail Strike Incident, Departed for Toulouse on June 19 via Perth and Dubai on an Unpressurised Ferry Flight as Uae7608.

Spanish Air Force A310-304 T. 22-1 Arrived in Canberra From Wellington on June 24 on a State Visit Carrying the Spanish Royal Family. The Following Day It Continued to Sydney, and Then on June 26 Departed Sydney for Singapore, Amman and Madrid as Flight Ame4520.

Antonov Airlines an-124 Ur-82073 Arrived in Newcastle From Mirabel, Quebec, and Honolulu on June 4 Operating as Flight Adb2684. After Overnighting It Continued to Sydney as Flight Adb284f. On June 6 Ur-82073 Departed Sydney for Perth as Flight Adb1610 Before Continuing to Male and Kandahar in the Early Hours of June 7.

Japan Airlines 747-446 Ja8071 Arrived in Melbourne Late on June 17 From Narita as Flight Jl8777. Early the Following Morning the 747, Which Was Carrying the Japanese National Soccer Team After Its Game in Melbourne, Departed for Narita as Flight Jl8866.

Dubai Air Wing 747-2b4b A6-gdp Arrived in Perth From Dubai on June 1 Operating as ‘dubai 008’, Before Continuing to Melbourne the Following Day. The 747 Remained in Melbourne Until June 4 When as ‘dubai 008’ It Departed for Singapore and Dubai.

Airbridge Cargo Airlines of Moscow 747-281f(Scd) Vp‑bij Arrived in Perth From Johor Bahru as Flight Abw4600 on May 27.

After Overnighting It Departed for Hong Kong as Flight Abw4501.

Comco 757-22l N610g Arrived in Perth From Diego Garcia on May 29 and Departed for Nadi on May 31.

Us Navy 737‑7afc/c-40a 165830 Arrived in Canberra From Koror and Darwin on June 5 as Flight Cvn7502. The C- 40a, Which is Operated by Vr- 59 Squadron From Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Departed Canberra for Guam on June 6.

Us Navy Lockheed C-130t 165350 Arrived at Richmond From Pago Pago on June 1 Operating as Flight Cnv3662.

Us Marine Corps Lockheed C-130t 164597 Callsign ‘yankee 94’ Arrived at Richmond From Townsville on May 31 and Departed There on June 2 for Kwajalein.

Air Cargo Express Dc‑8‑62f 9g-axa Arrived in Melbourne in the Early Hours of June 15 Direct From Mauritius Operating as Flight Ace501.

After Taking on a Load of Horses the Dc-8 Departed Later That Day for Perth and Mauritius as Flight Ace502.

Ferry Flights

Pays Air Service Air Tractor at-802 Vh-lir Departed Port Hedland for Cocos on June 13 and After Overnighting Continued to Colombo. The Aircraft Was Being Ferried by Srd Aviation of Albury and Was Destined for Porto, Portugal, Where It Will Be Based on a Firefighting Contract Until October.

Bell 205a-1 N232hl and Bell 205a-1 N238hl of Mcdermott Aviation Were Noted on the Cargo Ramp at Melbourne on June 7 While Awaiting Shipment Overseas.

Cessna T207a Zk-sew Departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island on May 29 Before Continuing the Following Day to Lord Howe Island and Kempsey. On June 9 the Cessna Was Registered to Wrightsair of William Creek, Sa, as Vh‑jwa.

Cessna 207a Zk-wet Also Departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island on May 29 Before Continuing the Following Day to Lord Howe Island and Kempsey.

On June 3 the Cessna Was Registered to Wrightsair of William Creek, Sa, as Vh-eyr.

Cessna 182t Zk-jsl Departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island on May 29 Before Ferrying From Bankstown to Moorabbin on May 31. On June 10 the Cessna Was Registered to Airflite of Jandakot as Vh-ipc.

Heli Harvest Mi-8mtv-1 Er-mhz Departed Norfolk Island for Kerikeri on May 28. The Mil Was Returning to Its Taupo Base From Latrobe Valley Where It Had Been Based Since Mid February During the Victorian Bushfire Season.

Executive Transport Sikorsky S-61n C-fxec Arrived at Essendon on June 4 After a Three Day Ferry Flight From Darwin via Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy, Port Augusta and Mildura. The S-61n Had Been Working on an Offshore Resource Contract From Darwin Since Early January.