Traffic

Qantas took delivery of 737-838 VH-XZF Cygnet in Melbourne on May 12 after the aircraft ferried in from Boeing Field via Honolulu and Nadi as QF6024. VH-XZF entered service on May 16 when it operated QF822 from Melbourne to Canberra.

737-838 VH-XZG Bungendore was delivered to Qantas in Melbourne on June 7 after the aircraft ferried in from Boeing Field via Honolulu, Nadi and Sydney as QF6024.

737-838 VH-XZH McClaren Vale was planned for delivery to Qantas in July.

737-476 VH-TJL was withdrawn from Qantas service on May 6 after operating QF639 from Brisbane to Melbourne. VH-TJL then had its Qantas titles and kangaroo removed before departing Melbourne on May 13 as QF6027 for Sydney, Apia, Honolulu and Victorville, California where it was placed in storage.

VH-TJL Swift was delivered to Australian Airlines in Melbourne on November 23 ’91 after it ferried in from Port Angeles, Washington via Honolulu and Nadi as TN1398. VH-TJL entered service with Australian Airlines on November 27 ’91 when it operated TN22 from Melbourne to Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin.

737-476 VH-TJJ was withdrawn from Qantas service on June 3 after operating QF821 from Canberra to Melbourne.

767-336 VH-ZXF was withdrawn from Qantas service on May 26 after operating QF450 from Melbourne to Sydney.

A380-842 VH-OQB ferried from Hong Kong to Manila as QF6011 on May 4 and on arrival entered the Lufthansa Technik hangar for cabin reconfiguration work.

A330-202 VH-EBS Swan Valley was delivered to Qantas in Sydney on May 23 after the former Jetstar aircraft ferried in from Manila as QF6026. While in Manila the A330 was painted in Qantas colours. VH-EBS entered service with Qantas on May 25 when it operated QF577 from Sydney to Perth.

Qantas Freight is planning to add a 747-400ERF to its fleet later this year with the aircraft reported to be 747-4HQF VH-EQF msn 37303 ex N797BA. When delivered the 747-400ERF will be operated by Express Freighters Australia.

Jetstar registered A320-232/S VH-VFO msn 5631 on May 21 with the aircraft planned for delivery in June. VH-VFO was originally reported to be an aircraft for Jetstar Japan (Traffic/June).

A320-232 VH-VQT, which was withdrawn from Jetstar service on April 8 (Traffic/June), was noted at Seletar on May 29 now carrying the colours of the Chinese operator Tianjin Airlines. VH-VQT, which was test-flown at Seletar on June 4 as JQ7994, will be registered to Tianjin as B-9948.

Jetstar continues to rotate its A320 fleet through Seletar for maintenance.

A320-232 VH-VQP ferried from Darwin to Seletar for maintenance as JQ7990 on May 14.

A320-232 VH-VQQ ferried from Singapore to Seletar on May 4 as JQ7991 and on completion ferried from Seletar to Melbourne as JQ7996 on May 17.

A320-232 VH-VGV ferried from Melbourne to Seletar via Darwin as JQ7990 on May 9 and on completion ferried from Seletar to Singapore on May 30.

Jetstar Asia removed A320-232 9V-VLE from storage at Seletar in late April with the aircraft then being prepared for delivery to Turkish Airlines. On June 2 9V-VLE now registered TC-JUE departed Seletar for New Delhi and Istanbul on its delivery flight.

A320-232s 9V-VLF and 9V-JSD, which were painted all-white, were noted parked at Seletar on May 23.

Jetstar Japan took delivery of A320-232 JA12JJ msn 5618 at Narita on May 25 after the aircraft completed its ferry flight from Toulouse via Abu Dhabi and Hanoi.

A320-232 JA13JJ msn 5649 was planned for delivery to Jetstar Japan in July.

Airline news

In this issue we report the delivery of an A330-200 to Fiji Airways, a 757-200 to Air Niugini, a Dash 8-400 to Air Niugini and an ATR 72-600 to Air New Zealand Link/Mount Cook Airline.

Air New Zealand withdrew 737-3U3 ZK-SJC from service on June 3 after the aircraft operated NZ343 from Wellington to Christchurch. ZK-SJC was then placed in storage at Christchurch alongside 737-3U3 ZK-NGE and 737-3K2 ZK-NGK.

A320-232 ZK-OJQ was rolled out at Christchurch on May 30 after being painted in the new revised Air New Zealand livery. In turn A320-232 ZK-OJS and A320-232 ZK-OJC were planned to follow ZK-OJQ into the paint shop to receive the new livery.

Air New Zealand Link/Mount Cook Airline took delivery of ATR 72-600 ZK-MVC in Christchurch on May 16 after the aircraft completed its delivery flight from Toulouse via Alexandria, Al Ain, Nagpur, Penang, Kupang and Brisbane. The ferry was contracted to Southern Cross International which operated the flight as SXI1322. ZK-MVC entered service on May 23 when it operated NZ926 from Christchurch to Nelson.

Air Niugini wet leased 757-27B TF-FIW from Icelandair for up to six months to cover planned maintenance on 767-300ERs P2-PXV and P2-PXW. TF-FIW, which carries Air Niugini titles and a partial colour scheme, was delivered to Port Moresby on May 17 after it ferried in from Keflavik via Sharjah and Manila as flight PX6011. The 757 entered service with Air Niugini on May 20 when it operated PX25 from Port Moresby to Brisbane.

767-383ER P2-PXW ferried out of Port Moresby as PX6008 on May 7 for Guangzhou (arriving May 18) for planned maintenance.

Air Niugini took delivery of Dash 8-402 P2-PXP in Port Moresby on May 4 after the aircraft completed its ferry flight from Canada via the North Pacific and Saipan. P2-PXP ferried from Port Moresby to Cairns as PX6092 on May 9 and the same day entered service when it operated PX31 from Cairns to Tokua.

Dash 8-314 P2-PXL msn 385 is planned for delivery to Air Niugini in late June.

Dash 8-314 P2-ANM was ferried from Cairns to Port Moresby as PX6091 on May 13 after being painted in the new corporate livery.

Air Pacific took delivery of its second A330-243, DQ-FJU Island of Namuka-i-Lau, at Nadi on May 23 after the aircraft, which carried the colours of Fiji Airways, arrived from Toulouse via Los Angeles as FJI3301. DQ-FJU entered service with Air Pacific on May 29 when it operated FJI411 from Nadi to Auckland.

A330-243 DQ-FJT, which was delivered on March 19 (Traffic/ May), carries the name Island of Tavenui.

Air Pacific 737-8X2 DQ-FJG ferried out of Nadi on May 12 as FJI2221 to Guam and Hong Kong where the aircraft was painted in the colours of Fiji Airways. DQ-FJG arrived back in Nadi on May 25 as FJI2220 from Hong Kong and Guam and returned to service the same day as FJI211 from Nadi to Tonga.

Air Pacific 737-7X2 DQ-FJF ferried out of Nadi on May 25 as FJI2221 to Guam and Hong Kong (arriving May 26) where the aircraft was painted in the colours of Fiji Airways.

Both Air Pacific 747-400s visited San Francisco recently for reasons unknown.

747-412 DQ-FJL operated FJI810 from Nadi to Los Angeles on June 1 before continuing the same day to San Francisco as FJI2812. DQ-FJL returned to Nadi from San Francisco as FJI2811 on June 6.

747-412 DQ-FJK operated the FJI810 on June 2 before continuing to San Francisco the same day as FJI2812.

Airwork Flight Operations ferried its all-white 737-3B7(SF) ZK-FXT from Auckland to Brisbane on May 29 as ‘Airwork 733’ with the aircraft then entering service with Pacific Air Express (see below).

737-3B7(SF) ZK-TLA had its Toll titles removed on May 2. It then commenced flying for New Zealand Post on May 10 as PST43/46 Auckland-Christchurch-Auckland.

737-3S1(SF) ZK-TLE was ferried from Brisbane to Auckland on May 29 for planned maintenance.

Alliance Airlines placed Fokker 70 VH-JFB into service on June 7 when the aircraft operated QQ712 from Brisbane to Cloncurry. As HP-1731PST, the Fokker 70 had earlier been delivered to Alliance in Brisbane on April 17 (Traffic/June) and was test-flown from Brisbane in the attractive Alliance hybrid scheme as QQ962 on June 3.

Fokker 70 VH-QQW was registered to Alliance on May 2. As YR-KMC it had earlier been delivered to Alliance in Brisbane on February 23 (Traffic/April).

Pacific Air Express has leased 737-3B7(SF) ZK-FXT from Airwork with the aircraft commencing operations as PAQ521/520 from Brisbane to Honiara and return on May 30 and PAQ531/532 from Brisbane to Port Moresby and return on June 2.

Virgin Group news

In this issue we report the delivery of two 737-800s to Virgin Australia and an ATR 72-600 to Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.

Virgin Australia took delivery of 738-8FE VH-YFN Ballina Beach in Brisbane on May 18 after the aircraft ferried in from Boeing Field, Lihue and Nadi as VOZ9398.

VH-YFN entered service on May 30 when it operated VOZ363 from Brisbane to Townsville.

737-8FE VH-YFP Nobby’s Beach was delivered to Virgin Australia in Brisbane on June 6 after the aircraft ferried in from Boeing Field, Lihue and Nadi as VOZ9518.

737-8FE VH-YFR Scamander Beach was planned for delivery to Virgin Australia in July.

737-8Q8 VH-VOU, which was withdrawn from service on April 26 (Traffic/June), was later ferried to Subang where it was prepared for delivery to Jeju Air. On June 3 the 737, now registered HL8287, departed Subang on delivery to Jeju Air.

737-76Q VH-VBU, which ferried out of Brisbane to Kuala Lumpur/ Subang on April 7 (Traffic/June), has since moved to the United States. VH-VBU now in an all-white colour scheme departed Subang on May 16 for Guam, Honolulu and Victorville where it arrived on May 18. VH-VBU was cancelled from the register on May 21 and the same day was allocated the registration N488AC.

E190-100IGW VH-ZPN, which had departed Melbourne on April 5 on ferry to Alverca, Portugal for planned maintenance (Traffic/ June), returned to Brisbane on May 13 from Subang and Darwin as VOZ9938. While in Portugal the colour scheme of the aircraft was changed from Pacific Blue to Virgin Australia and along with the scheme change came a name change to Arrawarra Beach .

E190-100IGW VH-ZPO as flight VOZ9941 departed Brisbane on May 14 for Darwin, Subang, Chennai and stops to Alverca where it arrived on May 17. At Alverca VH-ZPO took its place in the OGMA hangar for planned maintenance.

ATR 72-600 VH-FVZ Angourie Beach , which was registered to Virgin Australia Regional Airlines on May 9, was delivered to Perth on June 4 after the aircraft completed its ferry flight from Toulouse via Alexandria, Al Ain, Nagpur, Penang and Halim. The ferry flight, which operated as SXI 1325, was contracted to Southern Cross International.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines ferried A320-232 VH-FNP from Perth to Seletar on May 16 for planned maintenance, but the stay was short lived as it returned to Perth on May 19.

Regional airline news

In this issue we report the delivery of a DHC-6-400 to Hevilift, a PAC 750XL to Adventist Aviation Services and a Kodiak 100 to SIL Aviation.

Adventist Aviation Services took delivery of PAC 750XL P2-SDF msn 188 in Goroka on June 7 after the aircraft completed its ferry flight from Hamilton via Kerikeri, Lord Howe Island, Townsville, Horn Island and Daru. The ferry flight was operated by SRD Aviation of Albury.

Air Kiribati was planning to take delivery of DHC-6-300 N360CM msn 647 in early June.

Airlines PNG took delivery of Dash 8-102 VH-QQH, which was previously operated by Skytrans, in Port Moresby on May 12 (see below). The Dash 8-102 was later registered to Airlines PNG as P2-MCN.

Air2there registered King Air B200 ZK-MYM ex VH-ZMQ (Traffic/June) on May 17.

Asia Pacific Airlines has painted its Dash 8-103 P2-NAX in the colours of OK Tedi Mining with the aircraft first noted as such at Cairns on May 11.

Careflight NT had removed its titles from King Air B200 VH-ZXM at Darwin by May 21.

de Bruin Air cancelled Cessna 441 VH-OAA from the register on May 22 as ‘scrapped’.

Hevilift PNG took delivery of DHC-6-400 C-FVAT msn 875 in Cairns on May 30 after the aircraft ferried in from North Bend, Oregon via Honolulu and Majuro. Planned flight time for the DHC-6-400 to cross the Pacific was 39 hours with the longest legs being North Bend to Honolulu 14 hours and Majuro to Cairns 13 hours. The DHC-6-400 was noted at Cairns on June 1 now registered P2-KSY.

JAARS Kodiak 100 N77KQ msn 100-0077 arrived at Port Moresby on June 3 after it ferried in from Oxnard, California via Hilo and Majuro. The Kodiak 100, which will be operated by local partner SIL Aviation, was ferried to Aiyura on June 4 where it will become number four of type in their fleet.

Skytrans withdrew Dash 8-102 VH-QQH from service on April 15 after the aircraft operated SKP73 from Bamaga to Cairns. VH-QQH was then transferred to Airlines PNG to become P2-MCN, with the aircraft departing Cairns on May 12 for Port Moresby as SKP9002. VH-QQH was cancelled from the register on May 16 as ‘exported to PNG’.

Toll Aviation cancelled Metro III VH-UZD AC-490 from the register on May 10 as ‘dismantled for spare parts’.

Tropicair King Air B200C P2-JAU BL-39 arrived at the Gold Coast from Port Moresby and Cairns on May 13.

Bizjet news

Gulfstream 150 VH-PFV msn 233 was registered on May 10 with the holder being ST Aerospace Engineering of Seletar, Singapore and the operator Pacific Flight Services of Condell Park, NSW. The Gulfstream then registered N100VP was delivered to Seletar on May 2 from Kona, Majuro, Guam and Clark.

Gulfstream IV VH-DBT (Traffic/ June) was cancelled from the register on April 30 on its sale in the United States.

Gulfstream IV VH-TSL, which was registered to Star Oriental International of Kuala Lumpur on February 14 (Traffic/April), made its first recorded visit to Australia on May 19 when it arrived in Darwin from Subang. After overnighting the Gulfstream returned to Subang.

Global Express M-ATAR of Palmer Aviation, which previously operated in an all-white colour scheme, was rolled out of the Flying Colours hangar at Townsville on May 27 after being painted in the colours and titles of Palmer United.

Falcon 900C VH-PPD changed its registered holder from Paspaley Pearling Company of Darwin to the Westpac Banking Corporation of Concord West, NSW on May 20.

Learjet 45 VH-SQV changed its registered operator from Jet City of Tullamarine, Victoria to Execujet Australia of Mascot, NSW on May 6.

Phenom 100 VH-PNM changed its registered operator from GoJet of Port Kembla, NSW to Revesco Aviation of Belmont, WA on March 5.

Gulfstreams galore

Gulfstream 550 N550AU arrived in Sydney from Macau on May 7 before returning to Macau on May 11.

NJI Sales Gulfstream V N516QS arrived in Darwin from Honolulu and Timika on May 18 and continued to Sydney on May 20. N516QS departed Sydney for Halim on May 22.

Jet Aviation, Hong Kong Gulfstream V VP-CKG arrived in Brisbane from Halim on May 21 and after overnighting departed to Townsville. VP-CKG departed Townsville for Hong Kong on May 23.

Business Aviation Asia Gulfstream 450 B-8127 transited Cairns on May 11 while en route from Auckland to Shanghai/ Hongqiao.

Las Vegas Sands Corporation Gulfstream IV N588LS departed Darwin for Kununurra on May 23.

Global Aircraft Gulfstream IV N765RM flight AFT1962 arrived in Port Moresby from Majuro on May 20 before departing for Cocos Island on May 31.

Overseas bizjets

Challenger Administration Global Express N194WM departed Canberra for Darwin and New Delhi on May 28.

Avenir Worldwide Global Express VP-BJI arrived in Melbourne from Halim on May 26 before returning to Halim on May 28.

China United Airlines CRJ-700 B-4060 arrived at Essendon from Kota Kinabalu, Darwin and Cairns on May 18.

Metrojet Challenger 605 B-LOL arrived at Hamilton Island from Hong Kong and Cairns on May 17 before continuing to Sydney on May 19. B-LOL departed Sydney for Cairns and Hong Kong on May 21.

Blue Chip Jet Falcon 7X SE-DJC callsign ‘Bluespeed 501’ arrived in Brisbane from Halim on May 23 and after overnighting continued to Essendon. The Falcon departed for Sydney on May 25 before continuing to Tokyo/Haneda on May 26.

Kendall Jackson Wine Estates Falcon 900EX N900KJ arrived in Adelaide from Nadi on June 1 and departed for Wellington on June 3.

Citation Sovereign N338TM arrived in Sydney from Denpasar on May 28 and departed for Darwin and Subang on June 4.

US Marine Corps Citation Encore/UC-35D 166712 callsign ‘Magic 65’ arrived in Darwin from Zamboanga on May 27.

Adani/Karnavati Aviation EMB-135BJ VT-AML arrived in Brisbane from Singapore on May 24 before continuing to Canberra on May 28.

AirMed International Hawker 800 N838JL arrived at Essendon from Phuket, Denpasar and Port Hedland on May 28 and departed to Darwin and Seletar on May 29.

Ferry flights

AT-802 N8520L msn 802-510 arrived at the Gold Coast on May 19 after completing its trans-Pacific delivery flight from Santa Maria, California via Honolulu, Majuro and Honiara. The ferry, which was operated by SRD Aviation, then continued to Albury and Parafield where N8520L arrived on May 21.

Moresby Aviation AT-502B P2-SET, which carries Liddles titles, was noted at Mareeba on May 8.

Beech 76 VH-CGW departed Bankstown on May 30 for Coffs Harbour and Lord Howe Island and after overnighting continued to Norfolk Island and Auckland.

Vee H Aviation Cessna 441 VH-VEH departed Auckland on June 3 for Norfolk Island and Canberra. The Cessna had been on a survey contract in New Zealand since May 4 (Traffic/June).

Gateway Air Center Cessna 208B N309TL msn 208B-2064 arrived at Townsville on June 4 after completing its trans-Pacific ferry flight from Merced, California via Honolulu and Majuro. From Townsville the Cessna continued to Toowoomba on June 5.

CTC Aviation Training (NZ) PA-44-180 ZK-MBP in company with PA-44-180 ZK-MBT departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island on May 26 before continuing the following day to Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast. The two aircraft, which had been sold in Western Australia, later arrived at Jandakot from Kalgoorlie on May 29.

PA-46T-500TP ZK-OLY, which was on delivery to an Australian owner, arrived at the Gold Coast on May 27 from Auckland via Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. The ferry flight was contracted to Air Center One of Auckland.

Air Hawkes Bay Commander 114 ZK-ELL arrived at Redcliffe on May 22 after crossing the Tasman from Kerikeri via Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast.

CHC Helicopters S-76A VH-LAQ, which departed Darwin for Dili on May 3, was cancelled from the register on May 7 as ‘exported to the Philippines’.

Heavy metal

A320-214 RP-C8620 of Philippine Airlines operated the airline’s first service by type into Brisbane from Manila and Darwin on June 2. PR221/222 will operate three times weekly (Su/Tu/Th) thru Brisbane.

A320-214 RP-C8612 of Philippine Airlines operated the airline’s first service by type into Perth from Manila and Darwin on June 3. PR219/220 will operate four times weekly (M/W/F/Sa) thru Perth.

National Airlines 747-428(BCF) N919CA as flight ENB383 transited Brisbane in the early hours of May 24 en route from Bangkok to Auckland. In the early hours of May 25 the 747 as flight NCR921/2 transited Melbourne while en route from Auckland to Singapore.

Etihad Cargo 777-FFX A6-DDB operated the airline’s inaugural service into Sydney on June 4. EY960/961 will operate twice weekly (Tu/F) Abu Dhabi-Singapore-Sydney-Hong Kong.

Royal Air Force C-17 ZZ173 callsign ‘Ascot 6660’ arrived in Perth from Diego Garcia on May 21. On May 23 the C-17 operated a return flight from Perth to Woomera before returning to Diego Garcia as ‘Ascot 6661’ on May 27.

US Navy 737-7AF/C-40A 166694 callsign ‘Convoy 4269’ arrived in Sydney on May 30 and after overnighting departed for Pago Pago.

Lynden Cargo L-100 N401LC LYC547 arrived in Darwin from Johor Bahru on May 3 before continuing to Brisbane on May 6. The following day it departed Brisbane for Honiara, Nauru, Honiara and Cairns (arriving May 8). N401LC then remained in Cairns until June 3 when it departed for Majuro and the US as LYC401.

Safair L-100 ZS-RSC SFR506 arrived in Brisbane from Kuala Lumpur/Subang and Darwin on May 10. The L-100 has taken up temporary residence in Brisbane, but to the end of May it has remained on the ground.

US Navy C-130T 165350 callsign ‘Convoy 3864’ arrived in Sydney from Pago Pago on June 3 and after overnighting departed to Townsville. The C-130T departed Townsville for Majuro on June 5.

US Navy C-130T 165379 callsign ‘Convoy 7042’ departed Townsville on May 19 for RAAF Pearce and after overnighting continued to Darwin.