Register Update

BNF Beech 23 Musketeer M‑355 9/4/12 Michael Pickering, 21 Sarah Cres Port Lincoln 5606
BNU PA‑28‑161 Warrior II 28‑8016227 7/3/12 Spatial Scientific, PO Box 520 5051
CNL PA‑28‑140 Cherokee Cruiser 28‑7625254 22/3/12 Jetstream Electrical, PO Box 2602
Parap NT 2602
CPK Cirrus SR22T Turbo 0006 13/3/12 Kinetic Aviation, 8/30 The Esplanade Perth WA 6000
CYK Mooney M20J 201 24‑1302 4/4/12 Derek Tessmann, PO Box 2052 Wandall Qld 4700
CYV PA‑31 Navajo 31‑18 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North Qld 4870
DCX Cessna 210N Centurion 21062990 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North
Qld 4870
DGQ Cessna 182T Skylane 18282114 29/3/12 Avia Aircraft, 21 First Ave Moorabbin Airport
Vic 3194
DLI Cessna A188B/A1 Agwagon 18801297 4/4/12 Rebel Ag, PO Box 30 Trangie NSW 2823
DMF PA‑31 Navajo A1 31‑447 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North Qld 4870
DSH PA‑36‑375 Brave 36‑7902015 20/4/12 Peter Monger, 123 Ulster Rd York WA 6302
EIL Cessna 182Q Skylane 18266107 19/4/12 Michael Malone, 16 Ramsay Blvd Inverloch
Vic 3996
EOG Air Tractor AT‑802A 802A‑0185 21/2/12 Aero Professional Services Emerald, PO Box
596 Emerald Qld 4720
EVP Evans VP‑1A Volksplane V44 1/4/12 Tom Bullas, 71 Alderford Dr Wantirna Vic 3152
EXC Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander 3251 1/4/12 Airlines of Tasmania, PO Box
324 Rosny Park Tas 7018
FBQ Aerospatiale AS350B2 Squirrel 2081 12/4/12 Frontier Helicopters, PO Box 57 Fitzroy
Crossing WA 6765
FEA Cessna 172P Skyhawk 17274763 27/3/12 Paul Wilde, PO Box 178 Moree NSW 2400
FFJ Cessna 402B 402B1016 26/4/12 Slattery Auctions Australia, 230 Old Maitland Rd
Hexham NSW 2322
FGZ Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander 3071 15/3/12 Flightech Maintenance, PO
Box 147N Cairns North Qld 4870
FIE Beech D18S Expeditor A‑808 5/3/12 CBFC, PO Box 82 Parramatta NSW 2124
FKM American Champion 8KCAB Decathlon 851‑99 26/4/12 New England Air Training and
Charter, PO Box 596 Inverell NSW 2360
FOW Cessna 182P Skylane 18264179 21/3/12 John Friswell, PO Box 266 Cannon Hill 4170
FRC Air Tractor AT‑301 301‑0286 4/4/12 Rebel Ag, PO Box 30 Trangie NSW 2823
FSC Cirrus SR20A 1375 13/2/12 Royal Queensland Aero Club, PO Box 41 Archerfield 4108
GBV Glasflugel H201B Standard Libelle 314 20/2/12 Narromine Gliding Club, PO Box 240
Narromine NSW 2821
GLU Hall Cherokee II RK1/GFA/HB/39 3/2/12 Kimberley van Wessem, PO Box 1164 Littlehamton
SA 5250
GML Glasflugel H303 Mosquito 8 27/1/12 Neville Stanford, 180 McCarrs Creek Rd Church
Point NSW 2105
GST Rolladen-Schneider LS 6B 6180 29/1/12 George Scarfe, 58 Mockridge Cres Holt 2615
HAO Cessna A188B/A1 Agtruck 18802477T 23/3/12 Paul Sharp, PO Box 271 Warren 2824
HAW PA‑38‑112 Tomahawk 38‑79A0886 30/3/12 HMS Medical, 29 Gaskill Ct Albany Creek
Qld 4035
HAY Robinson R22 Beta II 4412 12/4/12 Gogo Station, “Cleverland” Mungindi NSW 2406
HEZ Cessna A152 Aerobat A1520918 3/4/12 Michael Davies, PO Box 331 Cockatoo Vic 3781
HPB Swearingen SA227‑DC Metro 23 DC‑808B 10/4/12 Toll Aviation, PO Box 1526 Eagle
Farm Qld 4009
HRV Vans RV‑6 N164 28/3/12 Brian Reddish, 410 East Yolla Rd Yolla Tas 7325
HSP Robinson R22 Beta 1109 20/3/12 Thomas Talbot, PO Box 95 Brunswick Junction 6224
HTO Cessna U206E Stationair U20601672 31/3/12 GSL Group, PO Box 435 Cannonvale 4802
HUB Rotorway Exec 162F 6423 9/3/12 Down Under Pipeline Surveys, 660 Silverdale Rd
Orangeville NSW 2570
HUL Robinson R44 Raven I 1644 16/12/11 Apple Helicopters Australia, 24 Martin Dr
Tomago NSW 2322
HVN Cessna 150G 15066939 17/4/12 Steven de Jong, PO Box 87 Aberdeen NSW 2336
IKO Grob G103 Twin Astir 3040 27/4/12 Alice Springs Gliding Club, PO Box 356 Alice
Springs NT 0871
INN Cessna 182Q Skylane 18265552 28/3/12 Restorair, PO Box 1268 Manjimup WA 6258
JAH Kawasaki Bell 47G‑3B‑KH4 2058 20/2/12 DP and SA Savage, PO Box 1747 Virginia 5120
JAI Air Tractor AT‑301 301‑0579 4/4/12 Rebel Ag, PO Box 30 Trangie NSW 2823
JKM Robinson R22 Beta II 4547 22/3/12 Catherine McLoughlin, PO Box 386 New Farm 4005
JRK Cessna 414A Chancellor 414A0665 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North
Qld 4870
JVI Schweizer 269C‑1 300CB 0164 14/4/12 Andrew Glenn, PO Box 63 Paraburdoo WA 6754
KAV Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander 3164 15/3/12 Flightech Maintenance, PO
Box 147N Cairns North Qld 4870
KFW PA‑31 Navajo 31‑366 16/4/12 Shoal Air, PO Box 1958 Kununurra WA 6743
KHK Bell 206B‑3 JetRanger III 4349 12/4/12 Frontier Helicopters, PO Box 57 Fitzroy Crossing
WA 6765
KHM Robinson R44 Raven I 1773 30/4/12 Helibiz, PO Box 1100 Airlie Beach Qld 4802
KJN Cirrus SR22‑G3 2982 13/4/12 Cirrus Design, 4515 Taylor Cir Duluth MN USA
KVK Cessna A188/A1 Agwagon 188‑0173 4/4/12 Rebel Ag, PO Box 30 Trangie NSW 2823
LGX PA‑31‑350 Chieftain 31‑8452001 22/3/12 Gulfstream Aviation, Hangar 26 Dakota Dr
Parafield Airport SA 5106
LJC PA‑32R‑300 Cherokee Lance 32R‑7780059 23/4/12 FOF Enterprises, PO Box 349
Greensborough Vic 3088
LJI PA‑31 Navajo 31‑7712021 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North Qld 4870
LVH Robinson R44 Raven II 11914 22/12/11 Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation, PO
Box 371 Katherine NT 0851
LVW Victa Airtourer 100 107 7/3/12 Stanley Tilley, 9 Acushia Ct Sandy Bay Tas 7005
LWY Cessna 441 Conquest II 441‑0262 8/3/12 Caper, Main Terminal Essendon Airport 3041
LYW Robinson R22 Beta II 4482 11/4/12 Ian Scholes, “Mena Park” Blackall Qld 4725
MBN Mooney M20J 201LM 24‑1555 22/3/12 S McCartney, PO Box 80 Hughenden Qld 4821
MGG PA‑28‑140 Cherokee 28‑20953 3/4/12 Kimberley Bevan, 9 Windarra Way Hannans 6430
MHY PA‑44‑180 Seminole 44‑7995059 5/4/12 Mark Gabriel, 150 South Tce Bankstown 2200
MLD Cessna 182P Skylane 18261428 2/4/12 Stuart Brownlie, “Bengrove” Meandarra 4422
MMD Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3/24.5 52 13/3/12 Gary Allbutt, 157 Brady Rd Dandenong
North Vic 3175
NIK Robinson R44 Raven II 12179 31/3/12 Heli‑Serv, Hangar 85 Bundoora Pde Moorabbin
Airport Vic 3194
NLA PA‑22‑150 Tri‑Pacer 22‑3803 11/4/12 Bradley Ballin, 14478 D’Aguilar Hwy Nanango
Qld 4615
NSF Robinson R22 Beta II 4552 2/4/12 Stephen Fielder, 234 Turner Rd Malanda Qld 4885
OAU Robinson R22 Beta II 4545 26/3/12 Sawa, 22/50 Bayview Tce Claremont WA 6010
OBP Cessna U206G Stationair U20606759 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns
North Qld 4870
OWZ Cessna R182 Skylane RG R18201601 26/3/12 Shoal Air, PO Box 1958 Kununurra 6743
OZO Cessna 404 Titan 404‑0653 10/4/12 Aerohire, 17 Mustang Rd Jandakot Airport 6164
PCN PA‑28‑161 Warrior II 28‑8116002 28/3/12 Mackay Aero Club, PO Box 692 Mackay 4740
PDN PA‑31 Navajo 31‑177 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North Qld 4870
PKQ Falconar F‑12A F8243 20/4/12 David Sheldon, 1 Second St Booragul NSW 2284
PPZ PA‑28‑140 Cherokee 28‑23383 28/3/12 David McArthur, PO Box 58 Launceston 7250
PWP Beech G58 Baron TH‑2172 13/2/12 Kinetic Aviation, 8/30 The Esplanade Perth 6000
PZO Cessna 210L Centurion 21060298 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North
Qld 4870
RDM Cessna 172B Skyhawk 17248265 18/3/12 Heli Surveys, PO Box 38 Jindabyne 2627
RHZ Cessna 150A (taildragger conversion) 15059130 15/3/12 Roger Miller, 2 Davis Ave
Gunnedah NSW 2380
RIL Robinson R22 Beta II 4546 20/3/12 Central West Helicopters Assets, PO Box 8219
Orange East NSW 2800
RNG PA‑31‑350 Navajo Chieftain 31‑7852142 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns
North Qld 4870
RPI Bell 206B‑3 JetRanger III 3350 2/4/12 Rotorwest, 2 Harvard Rd Jandakot Airport 6164
RPK Bell 206B‑3 JetRanger III 2626 2/4/12 Rotorwest, 2 Harvard Rd Jandakot Airport 6164
RVV PA‑28‑180 Cherokee C 28‑2127 15/4/12 Alexander Hyde, 1/29 Ostend Rd Scarborough
WA 6019
SAM Beech C90 King Air LJ‑655 26/4/12 Silver City Air Charter, PO Box 5079 Broken Hill
NSW 2880
SBO Seabird SB7L‑360A Seeker 070011 26/3/12 Dunkel Aviation, PO Box 274 Bentley 6982
SIS American Champion 8KCAB Decathlon 1089‑2009 29/2/12 All Axis, PO Box 4299
Geelong Vic 3220
SLS Cirrus SR20A‑G3 2065 6/4/12 Cirrus Design, 4515 Taylor Cir Duluth MN USA
SMG Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17269551 19/3/12 Kerryl Sedon, PMB 83 Katherine NT 0850
SSU Brasov IS-28M2 32 10/3/12 John Morrissey, 21 Emily Bulcock Cres Gilmore ACT 2905
SUA Seabird SB7L‑360A Seeker 070010 10/4/12 Ergon Energy Corporation, PO Box 15107
City East Qld 4002
SUT Cessna 172D Skyhawk 17249619 19/3/12 Full Throttle Aero, PO Box 8876 Carrum
Downs Vic 3201
TGH PZL M‑18A Dromader 1Z017‑25 4/4/12 Rebel Ag, PO Box 30 Trangie NSW 2823
TGY PZL M‑18A Dromader Turbine 1Z013‑22 4/4/12 Rebel Ag, PO Box 30 Trangie NSW 2823
THM Robinson R22 Beta II 4057 21/3/12 Heli‑Central, “Mount Vexation” Tambo Rd Springsure
Qld 4722
TLS Mooney M20M TLS Sabre 27‑0214 18/4/12 Woodhall Australia, 19 Woodhall Wynd
Donvale Vic 3111
TOV Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster 208B0769 26/2/12 Mabena, “Mucklebar” RMB 628A
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
TRC Cessna 404 Titan 404‑0129 1/5/12 Fugro Spatial Solutions, PO Box 329 West Perth
6872
TXA Grumman AA‑5A Cheetah AA5A‑0241 20/3/12 Todd Miller, PO Box 42 Derrinallum 3325
TXL PA‑28‑151 Cherokee Warrior 28‑7615049 30/3/12 Canberra Aero Club, PO Box 103
Campbell ACT 2612
UBK Cessna 210L Centurion 21059512 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North
Qld 4870
UBZ Cessna 402C 402C0615 31/3/12 Avlease, PO Box 8520 Alice Springs NT 0871
UHF Bell UH‑1B Iroquois 1015 23/4/12 Scott Griffin, 8 Walsh St Edge Hill Qld 4870
VTR PA‑31‑350 Navajo Chieftain 31‑7952165 13/4/12 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns
North Qld 4870
WGG Cessna 210J Centurion 21059134 13/4/12 Ian Fairweather, 61 Coronation Dr Broulee
NSW 2537
WIV PA‑32R‑301 Saratoga SP 32R‑8013050 18/4/12 Bowden Industries, PO Box 187
Longreach Qld 4730
WOI PA‑28R‑201 Arrow III 28R‑7837134 15/3/12 James Spring, PO Box 214 Boyanup 6237
WSP Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17273043 26/3/12 Jodegan, 13 Rabaul Pl Wagga Wagga 2650
WYY PA‑31 Navajo 31‑657 1/11/11 VDS Enterprises, PO Box 42 Cairns North Qld 4870
XAD Vans RV‑6 V123 4/3/12 Mark McCleary, PO Box 4 Tempy Vic 3489
XAN North American AT‑6D Texan 88‑16496 7/4/12 Historical Aircraft Restoration Society,
PO Box 1071 Albion Park Rail NSW 2527
XGN Cessna 310R 310R0028 31/3/12 Avlease, PO Box 8520 Alice Springs NT 0871
XGO SZD-55-1 551197100 24/2/12 Michael Timbrell, 7 Locksley St Killara NSW 2071
XOJ SZD-51-1 Junior B-1821 30/1/12 Stephen Clements, 13 Carr St Hermit Park Qld 4812
XQM Schempp-Hirth Discus bT 99 11/2/12 Ray Stewart, 5 Harrison St Cashmere Qld 4500
YGK Yakovlev Yak‑52 833113 22/3/12 Jamos Aviation, PO Box 862 The Junction NSW 2291
YJD Robinson R44 Raven I 1651 12/4/12 Frontier Helicopters, PO Box 57 Fitzroy Crossing
WA 6765
YMM Robinson R44 Raven I 1350 30/4/12 Ford Helicopters, “Springvale” PMB 302 Halls
Creek WA 6770
YMY Robinson R22 Beta II 3478 23/3/12 CMC Heliworks, “Glen Bowen” 86 Myuna Rd
Collinsville Qld 4804
YZT Jonker JS-1B Revelation 1B-015 31/3/12 Colin Adam, 3 Nortons La Wantirna South
Vic 3152
ZAY Brasov IS-28B2 362 8/10/11 Gregory McDonald, 95 Bulong Ave Redcliffe WA 6104
ZBC Rolladen-Schneider LS 4b 4091 15/12/11 Gliding Club of Victoria, PO Box 46 Benalla
Vic 3671
ZHV Robinson R22 Beta II 3991 5/4/12 Isa Helicopters, PO Box 1742 Mount Isa Qld 4825
ZMB Cessna 310R 310R0815 31/3/12 Avlease, PO Box 8520 Alice Springs NT 0871
ZML Cessna 210L Centurion 21059870 31/3/12 Avlease, PO Box 8520 Alice Springs 0871
ZMR Cessna 210L Centurion 21061493 31/3/12 Avlease, PO Box 8520 Alice Springs 0871
ZON Robinson R44 Astro 0179 10/4/12 Helivista, PO Box 1268 Wendouree Village Vic 3355
ZOS Beech 200 Super King Air BB‑145 23/3/12 Alizzi Aviation, PO Box 507 Ballarat 3350
ZZM Robinson R22 Beta II 3499 23/3/12 Stock‑Air Heliworks, “Stockyard Creek”
Marlborough
Qld 4705

Register Review

A large cross-section of air-craft types comprise the New Al-locations this month including airliners, helicopters, gliders and hot air balloons but with only one new type to Australian skies.

George Hacon’s Australian Aircraft Kits (AAK) Bushman CVH is the first of its type on the CASA register although there are five other AAK mod-els registered as well as several on the RA-Aus register. Ole Hartmann founded AAK at Taree on the mid-north NSW coast during 2003. His original design was a high-wing, two-seat, tailwheel, all-metal air-craft called the Hornet STOL and, as the name suggests, it was designed for short takeoff and landings. Further develop-ment has led to the lighter, more manoeuvrable Hornet Club and the rugged Bushman, which is ideal for unprepared outback strips. Also available is the mid-wing, tricycle under-carriage Wasp trainer and all the models can be built from kits or bought as a factory built complete aircraft.

Bayswater Road has added a second Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II, EYQ, to its fleet and it becomes only the fifth to be flying in Australia – the other three being operated by Surveillance Australia. The lineage of the 406 goes back to 1960, at the height of the light aircraft sales boom, when Cessna was looking at setting up overseas production lines to satisfy the European market. It acquired 49 per cent of Max Holste Aviation in France and after changing its name to Reims Aviation set about producing single-engine Cessna 150, 172 and 182 models and later 152s and the 337 twin. All these types were identical to their US counterparts with only two models produced solely by Reims, the Cessna 172 Reims Rocket, which was an uprated Skyhawk powered by a 210hp (157kW) Continental engine, and the F406 Caravan. During the early 1980s Reims designed the 406 based on the 404 Titan but with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engines and 14 seats. Initially named the Caravan, when Cessna released the 208 Caravan the 406 was renamed Caravan II.

With the downturn in light aircraft sales during the late 1980s Cessna ceased produc-tion of aircraft in France and sold Reims Aviation to Com-pagnie Francaise Chaufour In-vestissement, which continued to produce the 406 in limited numbers. Between 1984 and 1989 only 67 F406s were built.

Charlie Chua has only just begun to build his Bede BD-5B UBD and was inspired by the only BD-5B flying in Australia, Gordon Johanson’s IWG. Charlie expects the aircraft to take up to three years to build and eventually it will be fitted with the same 930cc Nissan engine that powers IWG. Jim Bede was a prolific American aircraft designer whose first design, the BD-1, went on to become the American Aviation AA-1 Yan-kee, later developed into the very popular Grumman AA-5 series of two- and four-seat training and touring aircraft.

While Bede’s fourth design was a conventional high-wing tail wheel or tricycle undercar-riage aircraft his fifth was very radical indeed for the 1970s. The BD-5 consisted of a small single-seat, fighter-looking fu-selage holding a semi-reclined pilot under a large bubble canopy. The engine was behind the cockpit and drove a pusher propeller. Many kits were sold and a factory-built model was planned. However, only a few of the kit versions were completed and no factory-made aircraft were built due to the inability to find a suitable engine at the time.

By the end of 1971 Bede claimed to have over 4,300 orders for the BD-5 but flight testing proved the original Vee-tail to be unstable and a redesign was needed. This proved a major exercise with the fibreglass fuselage so the decision was made to change to an all-aluminium structure, which delayed delivery times. The 55hp (41kW) Hirth 650cc engine eventually was selected to power the BD-5 but there were long delays in delivery of these engines so Bede offered builders the option of deliver-ing the airframe and associated parts with the engine following later. This was a good option for builders as it meant they could start their projects immedi-ately and have the aircraft 90 per cent built by the time the engine arrived.

Unfortunately, Hirth went bankrupt in the meantime and once again the design was left engineless. Most builders at this point shelved, abandoned or sold their partly-built aircraft, although some diehards perse-vered with other powerplants and as the passing of time pro-duced better and more powerful engines so the interest in the BD-5 has risen again.

BD Micro Technologies of Siletz, Oregon was formed to assist BD-5 builders with their projects and now produces new kits featuring all the improve-ments developed for the aircraft during the past 30 years.

A jet version of the BD-5 also was developed and appeared at many airshows around the world. Two flew as the Silver Bullets sponsored by Coors Beer and another was sponsored by Budweiser and named the ‘Bud Light Jet’. It also featured in the James Bond film Octopussy.

Virgin Australia Airlines has added a fifth Airbus A330, XFE, to its fleet while Network Aviation received its sixth Fok-ker 100, NHN. National Jet Systems, which operates Boeing 717s on behalf of QantasLink added its twelfth, NXR, with another expected soon which will become NXJ.

Local manufacturers are rep-resented by Kavanagh Balloons and GippsAero. Kavanagh have listed LNB – a large 400,000m3 envelope for Windward Ad-ventures, and LFS – a smaller 84,000m3 model for The Scout Association of Australia. Pro-duction of Kavanagh Balloons has now reached almost 450.

GippsAero has five GA8s listed including one for the Western Australia Police Air Wing (WPF) and Airvan pro-duction is approaching 200.

Three of the four Agusta A109E Powers, which have seen service with the RAN at Nowra, NSW are shown in the Aircraft Returning to Register section this issue. NPX, NPY and NPZ have returned to the civil register after being replaced by three Bell 429 GlobalRangers on the Reten-tion and Motivation Initiative with 723SQN at Nowra (refer Rotor Torque this issue).

Thirty-three aircraft are listed in the Deletions section this month with half being exported including four to Canada and four to the US. Air Tractors FFB, FFM and FFU have completed their firespot-ting contracts for 2011/2012 and have returned to Conair Aviation at Abbotsford, Canada to be readied for the Canadian bushfire season.

KDO is the last of the Pel- Air Aviation Metro 23s to go to Bearskin Airlines at Sioux Lookout, Canada. Bearskin Air-lines operates exclusively Metro 23s and has a 15-strong fleet serving 18 destinations in the Ontario and Manitoba regions.

Bristow Helicopters’ Aerospa-tiale Super Puma TZD has been sold to the Wells Fargo Bank at Salt Lake City and is now registered N222VA and Virgin Australia’s Boeing 737-700 VBI has been returned to ILFC at Los Angeles and is now marked as N161LF. Embraer Phenom YYT is now flying as N889JC with Indigo Air at Gulf Breeze, Florida which operate several jets including two Eclipse 500s and an IAI Westwind.

Gippsland Airvan YBH is now with Muncie Aviation in Delaware and registered N267MA. Muncie Aviation is an FBO based at Delaware County Regional Airport at Muncie and has a variety of types in its care and for sale including five Aerospatiale TBM700s, which seems to be the company’s specialty. It is a service centre for Cessna, Socata and Mooney and claims to be the oldest active Piper dealer – since 1936.

Three aircraft have found new homes across the Tas-man including two warbirds – Grumman Avenger TBM and BAC Jet Provost YZD. The Avenger came from New Zealand during 1999 and has now returned there as ZK-TBE with ITL Aviation at Palmerston North. ITL already has a Royal New Zealand Air Force Harvard and a Burmese Air Defence Force Spitfire in its inventory, making it one of the largest warbird owners in New Zealand. Jet Provost YZD has gone to the Trans-port and Toy Museum at Wa-naka and, although a former Royal Air Force Jet Provost, no doubt will be painted to represent a Strikemaster Mk 88 similar to the ones operated by the RNZAF.

Bell 212 FTV is now active in the United Arab Emirates, Vulcanair AP68TP PNW has gone to Switzerland, Gipps-land Airvan UWT becomes the 14th Airvan to be sold in Botswana and Aerospatiale ATR 42 FLE, which has been static in Cairns for some time, is now in PNG with Hevilift at Waigani. Hevilift special-ises in helicopter operations in PNG, having a fleet of eight Bell LongRangers, six 212s, four 407s, four 412s and a Russian Mi-8, but also operates six Twin Otters, two Super King Airs and now two ATR 42s.

Three aircraft have been de-leted due to accidents with the most publicised being Super Puma LAG, written off at Port Keats when its rotor blades came into contact with a light pole while taxiing.