Traffic

VH-EBH Hunter Valley was delivered to Qantas in Melbourne on January 25 ‘07 as QF6008 from Toulouse and Singapore. On February 1 ’07 VH-EBH ferried from Melbourne to Sydney as QF6005 and the same day entered service with Qantas when it operated QF123 from Sydney to Mumbai. 747-438 VH-OJI departed Sydney on May 12 as ASY10 to operate an ADF charter to Al Minhad via Brisbane and Darwin. On its return to Darwin from Al Minhad on May 14 the aircraft experienced a mechanical fault which resulted in 747-438 VH‑OJU being ferried from Sydney to Darwin to operate ASY10 to Brisbane and Sydney.

747-438 VH-OJM completed its maintenance in Hong Kong (Traffic/June) and returned to service on May 27 operating QF128 to Sydney.

747-438ER VH-OEJ operated QF127 from Sydney to Hong Kong on May 26 for planned maintenance.

A330-303 VH-QPE returned to service on May 12 when it operated QF82 from Singapore to Sydney (arriving May 13) after repainting in the current Qantas livery in Singapore.

767-338ER VH-OGI, which has been in storage at Victorville since December 11 ‘14, was cancelled from the register on May 6 as ‘exported to the USA’. The 767 was then registered N304BC to BCC Equipment Leasing Corporation of Seattle.

Jetstar registered 787-8 VH‑VKK on May 19 with the aircraft planned for delivery in early July.

A320-232s VH-VQW and VH‑VQC were under maintenance in Newcastle on April 23 when they were enveloped by fire suppression foam (Traffic/June). VH-VQW returned to service on May 27 when it operated JQ7981 from Newcastle to Melbourne, but VH-VQC was stillout of service as of June 2.

May was a busy month for Jetstar aircraft ferrying to and from Seletar and Singapore for planned maintenance.

A321-231 VH-VWX ferried from Seletar to Melbourne as JQ7996 on May 13; A321-231 VH-VWZ ferried from Melbourne to Darwin and Seletar on May 12 as JQ7993; A320-232 VH-JQG ferried from Singapore to Darwin as JQ7992 on May 9; A320-232 VH-VFP ferried from Melbourne to Darwin and Singapore as JQ7993 on May 13 and returned to service on May 21 as JQ117 from Singapore to Denpasar and Perth; A320-232 VH-VFQ ferried from Singapore to Melbourne as JQ7994 on May 28; A320-232 VH-VFU ferried from Melbourne to Darwin and Singapore as JQ7994 on May 24; A320-232 VH-VGP ferried from Seletar to Melbourne as JQ7994 on May 10; and A320-232 VH-VQU ferried from Singapore to Darwin and Melbourne as JQ7992 on May 21.

Network Aviation ferried Fokker 100 VH-NHK into Perth from Seletar and Port Hedland on June 3 on completion of its planned maintenance.

Airline news

In this issue we report the delivery of a Fokker 70 to Alliance and the departure of an Air New Zealand 737-300.

Air New Zealand withdrew 737‑319 ZK-NGG from service on May 14 after it operated NZ509 from Auckland to Christchurch.

737-33A N460KA, which is the former ZK-NGR (Traffic/June), has been sold to Kahala Aviation and on May 5 it departed Christchurch for Pago Pago, Kalaeloa, Ontario (California) and Tampa where it will be converted to a freighter.

777-319ER ZK-OKO as NZ6003 returned to Auckland from Singapore in the early hours ofMay 16. While in Singapore the special scheme carried by ZK-OKO featuring the dragon ‘Smaug’ from Lord of the Rings was removed.

767-319ER ZK-NCJ as NZ6065 returned to Auckland from Paya Lebar in the early hours of May 16 after completing planned maintenance.

A320-232 ZK-OJI returned to service on June 3 operating NZ855 Christchurch to Melbourne after being painted in the fern leaf scheme.

A320-232 ZK-OJM returned to service on May 22 as NZ887 operating Christchurch to Sydney after being painted in the fern leaf scheme.

ANZ Link/Mount Cook ferried ATR 72-500 ZK-MCP from Christchurch to Brisbane and Townsville as NZ5970 on May 29.

On arrival the ATR 72 entered the Flying Colours hangar where it was painted in the fern leaf colour scheme.

Air Niugini ferried Fokker 100 P2-ANQ from Port Moresby to Darwin and Denpasar as PX6390 on May 25 with the aircraft destined for planned maintenance at Seletar.

Dash 8-202 P2-ANK was ferried from Port Moresby to Cairns as PX6090 on May 9 for planned maintenance.

Air Niugini Cargo ferried ATR 72‑201F P2-PXZ as PX6090 from Port Moresby to Cairns on March 21 for planned maintenance.

With the maintenance complete it ferried from Cairns to Port Moresby as PX6093 on May 18. P2-PXZ still carries the blue and gold colours of its owner Farnair Europe.

Alliance took delivery of Fokker 70 VH-NKU msn 11555 at Brisbane on June 11 after the aircraft completed its ferry flight from Bratislava via Lombok.

The ferry as flight SXI 1516 was contracted to Southern Cross.

Alliance announced on May 27 that it had sold two Fokker 100s and these are reported to be VH-FWH and VH-FWI. As of late May both aircraft, which are in an all over white livery, were operating flights out of Perth for both Alliance and for VARA.

Fokker 50 VH-FKO has completed its New Zealand-based charter work for Tauck Tours and departed Auckland for Norfolk Island and Brisbane on May 15 as UTY990.

On May 20 VH-FKO returned to service with Alliance when it operated UTY3356 from Brisbane to Miles.

Cobham took delivery of RJ85 G-CIKF in Adelaide on May 26 after the aircraft ferried in from Denpasar and Darwin. The RJ85 was later registered to Cobham as VH-NJU.

BAe 146-100 VH-NJR ferried from Perth to Alice Springs and Townsville on April 17 and on arrival entered the Flying Colours hangar for painting in the new Cobham colour scheme. On completion VH-NJR as flight JTE500 ferried from Townsville to Adelaide on May 7.

Fiji Airways took delivery of 737‑808 DQ-FJN in Nadi on May 27 after the aircraft ferried in from Woensdrecht via Brussels, Muscat, Subang and Biak. DQ-FJN Island of Ovalau entered service with Fiji Airways on May 29 when it operated FJI411 from Nadi to Auckland.

737-8X2 DQ-FJH departed Nadi on May 18 as FJI2007 for Guam and Hong Kong for planned maintenance.

A330-243 DQ-FJU was damaged on the ground at Nadi on May 16 when hit by a truck and on May 19 as FJI2001 it was ferried to Brisbane for repairs in the Qantas hangar.

On June 1 it ferried from Brisbane to Sydney as FJI1912 and then operated FJI912 from Sydney to Nadi.

Virgin Group news

Virgin Australia registered the following 737-8FE aircraft on May 12: \VH-YFS msn 41027; VH‑YFT msn 41028; VH‑YFU msn 41029 and VH-YFV msn 41030.

737-8BK VH-VUM, which last operated a revenue flight on March 17 (Traffic/June), ferried from Christchurch to Melbourne on May 2 as VOZ9949 where on arrival it was returned to storage.

737-8BK VH-VUN, which last operated a revenue flight on March 20 (Traffic/June), ferried from Christchurch to Melbourne on May 8 as VOZ9947 where on arrival it was returned to storage.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines/ VARA ferried Fokker 100 VH-FNY into Perth from Seletar and Port Hedland as VOZ9951 on May 7 after completion of maintenance.

Fokker 100 VH-FSQ departed Perth on May 10 as VOZ9950 for Port Hedland and Seletar for planned maintenance.

TigerAir ferried A320‑232 VH‑VNC from Seletar to Melbourne as TGW9003 on May 12 on completion of planned maintenance.

A320-232 VH-VNR departed Melbourne as TGW9002 onMay 12 for Darwin and Seletar for planned maintenance. It returned to Melbourne from Seletar as TGW9003 on May 20.

A320-232 VH-VND departed Melbourne as TGW9002 on May 27 for Darwin and Seletar for planned maintenance.

Regional airline news

Corporate Air has commenced a series of flights for Bill Peach Journeys and noted at Katherine/ Tindal on May 20 was its Saab 340B VH-VEM which had arrived from Sydney via Longreach. The Saab carries the titles ‘Bill Peach Journeys’ on its passenger loading door.

Free Spirit Airlines commenced RPT services on April 30 (Traffic/ June), but on May 24 it temporarily ceased services due to a crewing problem.

Pelican Airlines commenced RPT services between Newcastle and Canberra on June 1 when Jetstream 32 VH-OTD operated flight TE131.

Pelican is operating 11 return services weekly between Newcastle and Canberra. On June 11 Pelican commenced operations between Newcastle and Sydney and between Mudgee and Sydney.

Pelican will also operate Jetstream 32 VH-OTE.

REAL Tonga has leased former Vincent Aviation Jetstream 32 ZK‑VAI and on May 28 the aircraft was cancelled from the New Zealand register as ‘exported’.

The Jetstream 32 was then registered A3-SKY and as of early June waits delivery from Palmerston North to Tonga and entry into service with REAL Tonga.

Skytrans returned Dash 8-102 VH-QQI to service on May 29 when it operated SKP844 from Cairns to Lockhart River. VH-QQI last operated a revenue service for Skytrans on January 2 as SKP85 from Kowanyama to Cairns.

Sounds Air registered PC‑12/45 ZK-PLZ on May 28. Earlier on April 29 the aircraft, then registered VH-JMU, was delivered to Wellington (Traffic/June).

Sounds Air has added the former RFDS/Western PC-12/45 VH‑MWO to its fleet with the aircraft noted at Redcliffe in late May now carrying Sounds Air colours and the registration ZK‑PLT.

PC-12/45 VH-PID, which has been leased by Sounds Air for crew training, crossed the Tasman on May 17 from the Gold Coast to Wellington.

REAL Tonga has leased ex Vincent Aviation ZK-VAI, which now wears the registration A3-SKY. vj bhana

Bizjet news

Crown Melbourne Gulfstream V VH‑CRQ was cancelled from the register on May 15 as ‘exported to the USA’ and on May 18 it was registered N881HS. VH-CRQ was last reported in Australia on April 17 when it departed Adelaide for Halim.

Crown Melbourne Gulfstream V VH-CCC, which departed Melbourne for Honolulu on May 6, is currently being advertised for sale.

Global Express N36EG was cancelled from the US register on May 29 and it is expected that this aircraft will be the second of three planned for delivery to Crown Melbourne.

Citation Mustang VH-YDZ, which was operated by Pacific Real Estate (Warilla) of Wollongong, was cancelled from the register on May 19 when sold in New Zealand and on May 21 as ZK-YDZ it was registered to Brookby Quarries of Auckland.

Christie Aviation Citation X VH‑RCA has reportedly been sold in the United States and on May 10 it departed Sydney for Apia and Hilo and onwards to Wichita.

In propjet news King Air 350 N823CF was delivered to Skyline Aviation in Napier on May 23after the aircraft completed its trans-Pacific ferry from Merced, California via Honolulu and Pago Pago. The King Air, which was registered ZK-SSH to Skyline Aviation on May 28, will be based in Auckland as the Starship Air Ambulance.

King Air 350 F-OZEN (Traffic/ June), which was on delivery to an operator in New Caledonia, arrived at Noumea/La Tontouta on May 17 from Cairns and the Gold Coast.

King Air 300LW OE-FME msn FA-228 arrived at Archerfield on May 7 from Halim, Darwin and Mount Isa. It is reported that the King Air will be delivered to an operator in Fiji.

Gulfstreams galore

Warbler Gulfstream 650ER N40D arrived in Sydney from Honolulu and Canberra on June 1 and after overnighting continued to Melbourne. It departed Melbourne for Beijing in the early hours of June 3.

Jet Edge Gulfstream 650 N871FR arrived in Sydney from Haneda on May 27. The following day it departed for Melbourne and Haneda.

Mobil Gulfstream 550 N200A arrived in Cairns from Kona on May 5 before departing to Port Moresby on May 6.

Conoco Phillips Gulfstream 550 N797CP arrived in Brisbane from Honolulu on May 21 and after overnighting returned to Honolulu.

Capital Airlines Gulfstream 550 B-8258 as flight CBJ158 arrived in Melbourne from Beijing on May 19 before continuing to Sydney on May 20. It departed Sydney for Beijing on May 21.

Honda Group Gulfstream 550 B-8275 arrived in Melbourne from Nanjing in the early hours of May 31.

State of Johor Gulfstream 550 9M-TMJ arrived at Perth from Johor Bahru on May 29.

Saudi Medevac Gulfstream V HZ-MS5A arrived Melbourne from Singapore on May 30 before returning to Singapore on June 1.

Centralize Leasing Gulfstream IV N598GS arrived in Sydney from Apia on May 5 before returning to Apia on May 9.

Gulfstream IV N388CA, which arrived in Sydney from Auckland on April 24, departed for Nadi on May 14.

Overseas bizjets

Global 6000 B-8195 arrived in Kununurra from Hong Kong and Darwin on May 18 before continuing to Sydney on May 20. It departed Sydney for Hong Kong on May 22. TAG Aviation Asia Global 6000 VP-CYA callsign ‘Tagjet 78’ arrived in Sydney from Hong Kong on May 19 before continuing to Melbourne on May 22. It departed Melbourne for Hamilton Island on May 25 and after overnighting continued to Cairns and Hong Kong.

Stryker Corporation Global 5000 N625SC arrived in Sydney from Beijing and Darwin on May 16 and departed to Auckland on May 19.

Global 5000 N3389H arrived in Melbourne from Clark Field on May 5 before departing to Hong Kong on May 10.

Global 5000 N5000P as ‘EJM55’ arrived in Sydney from Honolulu on May 3 before continuing to Melbourne on May 4. N3389H departed Melbourne for Kahului onMay 8.

World Noble Global 5000 VP‑CWN arrived in Sydney from Hong Kong on May 21 before operating a return flight to Canberra on May 24. It departed Sydney for Hong Kong on May 26.

Qatar Executive Global 5000 A7‑CEI arrived in Cairns from Kota Bharu on May 30.

Netjets Global Express N160QS arrived in Sydney from Singapore on May 14 before returning to Singapore on May 18.

Global Express N881WT arrived at the Gold Coast from Honolulu on June 1 and after overnighting returned to Honolulu.

HBK Group Citation Sovereign+ N680SV arrived in Sydney from Auckland on May 17 and was later seen in Brisbane and Ayers Rock before departing Darwin for Hong Kong on May 23.

Citation XLS PK-RJT completed its planned maintenance in Perth before departing there on May 22 for Port Hedland and Lombok.

EMB-135BJ N974EC arrived in Perth from Denpasar on May 6 before returning to Denpasar on May 9.

Airfast Indonesia EMB-135LR PK-OKE arrived in Sydney from Lombok, Darwin and Cairns on May 6.

Grande Moinho Cearensa Falcon 7X PP-CFJ arrived in Melbourne from Queenstown on May 27 and departed to Sydney on May 28. It departed Sydney for Kahului on May 30. Falcon 900LX VQ-BNH arrived in Sydney from Kuala Lumpur on May 29 and departed to Darwin and Hong Kong on June 1.

Air Med Hawker 800A N811AM arrived in Melbourne from Honolulu via Majuro and Noumea on May 15. It departed Melbourne for Port Hedland and Halim on May 17.

Ferry flights

AS350 P2-THW arrived at Cairns on May 6 after a two-day ferry from Port Moresby, via Horn Island and Coen.

Hevilift AS350 PK-FUI arrived at Cairns on May 19 from Merauke and Horn Island.

Cessna 208B/EX N588EX, having completed its demonstration tour of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand, departed Bankstownfor Gladstone on May 9 before continuing the following day to Mount Isa and Darwin. It departed Darwin for Kupang on May 11.

Cirrus SR22 N197KT arrived at the Gold Coast on May 22 after completing its trans-Pacific ferry from Tracy, California via Kahului and Pago Pago.

EC155 B1 N155LJ departed Maroochydore on May 10 for Longreach and Mount Isa before continuing the following day to Tennant Creek and Darwin. It departed Darwin for Kupang on May 12.

Maule M9-235 VH-VRF departed Port Macquarie on May 26 for Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Kerikeri where it arrived on May 28.

Mooney M-20R N35MD, which was on a round-the-world flight arrived in Darwin from Colombo and Denpasar on May 17 before continuing the following day to the Gold Coast.

PA-31 VH-WAL departed Darwin for Puerto Princesa City on May 3 and on May 12 it was cancelled from the register as ‘exported to the Philippines’.

Heavy metal

Hi Fly A340-313X CS-TQY as flight HFY751P arrived at Brisbane from Sharjah and Darwin on May 28.

Dubai Air Wing A320-232CJ A6-HMS arrived in Sydney from Rotorua on May 13 before continuing to Darwin on May 16 and Halim on May 20.

Silkway Azerbaijan Cargo747‑4R7F 4K-SW888 as flight AZG6016 arrived in Adelaide from Baku on May 10 and later the same day departed to Al Maktoum as AZG6017.

Dubai Air Wing 747-422 A6‑HRM ‘Dubai 1’ arrived in Sydney from Christchurch on May 21 before continuing to Melbourne on May 24. It departed Melbourne for Dubai on May 26.

AeroNexus 767-216ER ZS-DJI arrived in Sydney from Don Muang on June 1 and departed to Incheon on June 3.

Dubai Air Wing 737-8EO/ BBJ2 A6-MRS ‘Dubai 7’ transited Sydney on May 16 while en route from Singapore to Christchurch.

It returned to Sydney from Christchurch on May 21 before continuing to Melbourne onMarch 24. A6-MRS then departed Melbourne for Singapore on May 26.

SAS Institute 737-7BC/BBJ N7600K (Traffic/June) departed Melbourne for Sydney on May 6 before continuing to Honolulu on May 8.

Neptune Air 737-3S3(SF) 9M-NEF as flight NEP401 arrived in Perth from Subang/Juanda on May 6 before returning there later the same day.

US Air Force C-5M 85-0003 callsign ‘Reach 396’ arrived in Townsville from Hickam on May 10 and after overnighting returned to Hickam.

US Air Force C-5B 86-0023 ‘Reach 978’ arrived in Darwin from Guam on May 11 before returning there later the same day.

US Air Force C-130T 74‑1669/YJ callsign ‘Trek 6’ arrived in Darwin from Koror on May 10 before continuing to RAAF Richmond on May 12.

After overnighting it departed for Townsville and Guam.

US Navy C-130T 165313/JW ‘Convoy 7462’ arrived in Darwin from Dili on May 11.

US Navy C-130T 165349/RU ‘Convoy 3443’ arrived in Darwin from Guam on May 11 before continuing to RAAF Pearce on May 12.

US Marines KC-130J 168075/QD ‘Sumo 79’ arrived in Darwin from Kadena on May 18 before operating a return flight to Townsville on May 20.