Traffic

Qantas took delivery of 787-9 VH-ZNE msn 63391/724 at Melbourne on July 1 after the aircraft which carries the name Skippy ferried in from Payne Field as QF6025. VH-ZNE which was placed on the Australian register on June 12 made its first flight on June 21 as ‘Boeing 273’ from Payne Field to Moses Lake and return to Payne Field.

VH-ZNE entered service on July 7 when it operated QF604 from Melbourne to Brisbane.

A380-842 VH-OQG operated QF81 from Sydney to Singapore on June 16 before being ferried the same day to Dubai as QF6013 for planned maintenance and painting. VH-OQG as QF6012 returned to Sydney from Dubai on July 4.

747-438ER VH-OEG which had been in Hong Kong for planned maintenance since May 12 (Traffic/July) was test flown on June 29 as QF6029. Later that day it returned to Qantas service when it operated QF128 from Hong Kong to Sydney (arrive June 30)
747-438ER VH-OEH operated QF127 from Sydney to Hong Kong on June 29 and on arrival entered the HAECO hangar for planned maintenance.

737-838/W VH-VZD which had been in Townsville for painting with Flying Colours since May 23 (Traffic/July) returned to service on June 8 when it operated QF975 from Townsville to Brisbane.

737-838/W VH-VXD operated QF974 from Brisbane to Townsville on June 8 with the aircraft then entering the Flying Colours hangar for painting. VH-VXD returned to service on June 24 when it operated QF967 from Townsville to Brisbane.

767-336ER N703KW which was operated by Qantas as VH-ZXE between December 27 ’00 and December 4 ’13 entered service with the US operator Eastern Airlines on June 16.

767-336ER N705KW which was operated by Qantas as VH-ZXD between July 25 ’00 and July 1 ’13 has also entered service with Eastern Airlines.

Qantas Freight 767-381(F) VH-EFR on June 17 operated QF7528 from Christchurch to Brisbane (arrive June 18) where the aircraft was hangered for planned maintenance.

To cover the maintenance lay-up on VH-EFR Qantas Freight wet leased 767-306ER/BDSF N647GT from Polar Air Cargo with the aircraft arriving Sydney on June 18 from Cincinnati via Los Angeles and Honolulu. N647GT entered service that evening as QF7523 from Sydney to Auckland and operated its final flight for Qantas Freight on June 29 as QF7524 from Christchurch to Sydney. On July 1 N647GT departed Sydney for Taiwan as PAC9630.

QantasLink Dash 8Q-315 VH-SCE arrived Tamworth on June 10 for interior service and repainting in the Qantas silver roo livery. VH-SCE Birdsville was ferried from Tamworth to Sydney as QF2003 on June 26 on completion of the work.

QantasLink Dash 8-402Q VH-QOK returned to service on July 4 as QF970 from Townsville to Cairns after being painted in Townsville.

Dash 8-402Q VH-QOV entered the Flying Colours hangar at Townsville on July 4 to be painted in the silver roo livery.

Airline News

In this issue we report the delivery of an A330-200 to Fiji Airways, 737-400(F) to Airwork New Zealand, Fokker 100 to Alliance, ATR 72-600 to ANZ Link/Mount Cook and Dash 8-300 to Link PNG.

Air New Zealand has leased 777-212ER 9V-SVL from Singapore Airlines to provide capacity while Air New Zealand resolve their 787-9 engine problem (Traffic/July).

The 777-212ER now registered ZK-OKI and still in basic Singapore Airlines livery with the deletion of Singapore titles and the Singapore tail logo was delivered to Auckland from Singapore on June 19 as NZ6018. ZK-OKI entered service with Air New Zealand on July 7 when it operated NZ107 from Auckland to Sydney.

717-219ER ZK-OKC which was ferried from Auckland to Singapore as NZ6006 on May 28 for planned maintenance returned to Auckland from Singapore as NZ6007 on June 21.

Air New Zealand terminated their lease of Hi Fly Malta A340-313X 9H-SUN on June 11 (Traffic/July) after the aircraft operated NZ9 from Honolulu to Auckland. Later the same day the A340-313X as flight HFM511P departed Auckland for Caracas.

ANZ Link/Mount Cook took delivery of ATR 72-600 ZK-MVU msn 1500 at Christchurch on June 15 after it completed its ferry flight from Toulouse. The ferry which was contracted to Southern Cross operated as SXI1810 via Trabzon, Al Ain, Nagpur, Subang, Denpasar, Darwin and Brisbane. ZK-MVU entered service on June 23 when it operate NZ741 from Christchurch to Dunedin.

ATR 72-600 ZK-MVV msn 1507 is planned for delivery to ANZ Link/Mount Cook in early August.

Air Niugini ferried Fokker 100 P2-ANQ into Port Moresby from Seletar and Darwin as PX4397 on June 18 after completing maintenance in Seletar.

Link PNG took delivery of Dash 8-315 C-FXVD msn 414 at Port Moresby on April 27 and the following month registered the aircraft P2-ANP.

Dash 8Q-202 P2-ANX was destroyed by fire at Mendi on June 14 as a result of civil unrest.

Dash 8-402 N145VE which is the former P2-PXS has been sold to LC Peru.

On June 19/20 N145VE was ferried from Great Falls, Montana to Lima via El Paso, Toluca/Mexico, Liberia/Costa Rica and Guayaquil/Ecuador.

Airwork NZ took delivery of 737-4Q8(F) N971NZ msn 25371 at Auckland on June 22 after the aircraft ferried in from Dothan/Alabama, Ontario, Kalaeloa and Pago Pago.

Alliance Airlines took delivery of Fokker 100 VH-UQC msn 11468 ex OE-LVI at Brisbane on June 29. VH-UQC which was ferried in Alliance livery from Bratislava to Brisbane by Southern Cross as SXI 1805 was routed via Trabzon, Al Ain, Hyderabad, Subang, Kupang and Townsville.

Fokker 100 VH-UQF msn 11456 ex OE-LVH which was registered on May 25 is planned for delivery to Alliance in Brisbane in August.
Alliance commenced operations between Brisbane and Alice Springs on behalf of Virgin Australia on June 19 with Fokker 100 VH-XWT operating the inaugural VOZ1023.

Fiji Airways took delivery of A330-243 S7-VDM msn 847 at Nadi on June 27 after the airbus which carried the colours of Fiji Airways ferried in from Abu Dhabi as ‘Air Seychelles 9778’. The A330-243 will reportedly be registered DQ-FJP while in service with Fiji Airways.

Tasman Cargo 757-236(PCF) VH-TCA was grounded in Auckland between May 23 and June 17 due to an unscheduled engine change. To cover the grounding Tasman Cargo leased 737-3SI(SF) ZK-TLE from Airwork between June 4 and June 16.

On July 7 VH-TCA departed Auckland for Sydney and Seletar (arrive July 8) where it was hangered for planned maintenance. To cover the downtime on their 757 Tasman Cargo leased 767-3JH(F) G-DHLH from DHL cargo and on July 4 as flight DHK001P it was delivered to Auckland from East Midlands and Hong Kong. G-DHLH entered service with Tasman Cargo on July 7 when it operated from Auckland to Sydney as TCA1.

Virgin Group News

Virgin Australia ERJ190-100IGW VH-ZPC departed Brisbane for Nashville on April 26 ’17 where the aircraft was parked (Traffic/June ’17). VH-ZPC was ferried from Nashville to Lake Charles, Louisiana on June 30 where the aircraft was painted in the colours of South African Airlink.

ERJ190-100IGW VH-ZPK which departed Brisbane for Nashville on July 12 ’17 was cancelled from the Australian register on June 18 as ‘export to the USA. On June 20 VH-ZPK was placed on the US register as N821NC with the owner showing as Wells Fargo Bank of Salt Lake City.

TigerAir A320-232 VH-VNH departed Melbourne on May 28 as TGW9002 for Darwin and Clark Field for planned maintenance. VH-VNH returned to Melbourne from Clark Field and Darwin as TGW9003 on June 7.

A320-232 VH-VNR departed Melbourne on June 9 as TGW9002 for Darwin and Clark Field and planned maintenance.

Regional Airline News

Air Caledonie ATR 72-600 F-OZIP as TPC7202 ferried from Nelson to Noumea/Magenta on June 26 on completion of its planned maintenance with Air New Zealand Regional.

Fiji Link ATR 72-600 DQ-FJX as FJA2004 ferried from Nelson to Nadi on June 27 on completion of its maintenance with Air New Zealand Regional (Traffic/July).

Hevilift DHC-6-300 P2-KSM which arrived Tarawa on May 8 (Traffic/July) has been leased to Air Kiribati to cover planned maintenance on their Harbin Y-12 aircraft.

Skyport Short 3-30 VH-KNO which has been parked at Alice Springs for a number of years was cancelled from the register on June 19.

Bizjet News

In this issue we report the delivery of a Global 6000, Challenger 604 and Phenom 300E while a Citation 1 was removed from the register.
Global 6000 VH-YAI msn 9817 was registered on June 22 with the holder the Bank of Utah, Salt Lake City and the operator Execujet Australia P/L of Mascot, NSW. The Global 6000 VH-YAI was delivered to Sydney from Hanoi on June 29.

Challenger 604 VH-UBQ msn 5416 ex D-AFAC was registered on June 8 with the holder Heiress Holdings P/L of Singapore and the operator Seletar Jet Charter of Cammeray, NSW. VH-UBQ was reported departing Nuremberg for Al Maktoum on June 12 before continuing to Phnom Penh on June 13.

Phenom 300E VH-NSQ msn 50500453 was registered on June 21 with the holder Finico P/L of Melbourne, Victoria and the operator Avcair P/L of Hamilton Queensland. VH-NSQ which carries the titles Northern Escape Collection commenced its delivery flight to Australia at Melbourne/Florida on June 21 with initial stops made at Teterboro, Goose Bay, Reykjavik, Cologne and Athens. The Phenom 300E arrived at Essendon on July 2 from Madras, Denpasar, Townsville and Sydney.

Fox Flight Learjet 35A C-GTDM msn 35-498 arrived at Nora on June 7 from Kansai, Cebu and Darwin thus appearing to be a candidate to join the Air Affairs fleet.

Learjet 60 VH-NPP which was operated by Chiron Flight Services of Singapore changed its registered holder and operator on June 27. The new holder is now Astra Aerospace P/L of North Nora, NSW while the operator is Go Jet P/L of North Nora.

VH-NPP departed Seletar on June 29 for Port Hedland and Nora where it arrived in the early hours of June 30.

Cessna 501 VH-FUM which was registered to Australasian Jet was cancelled from the register on June 13 however as of early July the aircraft which still carries its Australian registration remains parked at Essendon citation Mustang N1956A departed its home base at Broome on June 16 for Dili. After ferrying round the North Pacific the Mustang was noted at Anchorage on July 1.

Textron Aviation Cessna 680A Latitude N985BC operated a demonstration tour of Australia and New Zealand in this period. The Latitude arrived in Sydney from Seletar and Darwin on June 23 before continuing to Auckland on June 24 and Wellington on June 26. N985BC returned to Sydney from Wellington on June 27 before continuing to Brisbane on June 28. The Latitude departed Brisbane on June 30 for Darwin and Seletar.

Textron Aviation Citation CJ-3+ N542CJ arrived Cairns from Manila and Ambon on July 1 to commence a demonstration tour of Australia and New Zealand. On July 4 N542CJ was noted at Maroochydore, Archerfield and Sydney before continuing to Auckland on July 6.

In Propjet news GFG Aviation Piaggio Avanti M-ETAL arrived at Coffs Harbour on June 22 from Denpasar, Darwin and Alice Springs. The Avanti had earlier departed Staverton airport in the UK on June 11 for Venice and Heraklion.

RAAF King Air B300 A32-343 msn FL-343 returned to the civil register with Hawker Pacific as VH-YZG on June 15 after being in operation with the RAAF since February ’03.

RAAF King Air B300 A32-349 msn FL-349 returned to the civil register with Hawker Pacific as VH-YZJ on June 27 after being in operation with the RAAF since April ’03.

RAAF King Air B300 A32-351 msn FL-351 returned to the civil register with Hawker Pacific as VH-YZL on June 15 after being in operation with the RAAF since March ’03.

RNZAF King Air 350i NZ2353 operated its first NAVEX between New Zealand and Australia in this period when on June 19 as ‘Kiwi 561’ it departed Ohakea for Dunedin and Hobart and after overnighting continued to Tamworth and Cairns.

Ferry Flights

Cessna 404 VH-ZUI which is registered to Avcair P/L of Hamilton, Queensland has reportedly been sold in New Zealand. On June 28 it departed Toowoomba for the Gold Coast before continuing the following day to Auckland.

Cessna 172RG ZK-EWP has been sold in Australia and on June 22 it departed Ardmore for Kerikeri and Norfolk Island where it over-nighted before continuing to the Gold Coast. ZK-EWP was cancelled from the New Zealand register on June 25 before being registered VH-AOD on June 29.

Cirrus SR-22 N438NZ departed Fielding for Auckland on June 20 before continuing the following day to Lord Howe Island, the Gold Coast and Caloundra.

Diamond DA-62 N259SS departed Parafield for Alice Springs and Darwin on June 5 before continuing to Kupang on June 6.

RAAF Pilatus PC-21 HB-HWQ call sign PCH50R in company with PC-21 HB-HWR call sign PCH51W were delivered to East Sale on June 25 after completing their ferry flight from Stans, Switzerland via Kupang, Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide. The PC-21s both of which carried ARDU titles were later allocated the RAAF Serials A54-017 and A54-018 respectively.

PC-12/45 VH-ZWO (Traffic/July) was cancelled from the Australian register on June 4 before being registered N53SN to Aqua Aero Enterprises of Fort Lauderdale on June 8.

Heavy Metal

French Air Force A310-304 F-RADA/421 call sign Cotam1017 transited Darwin on June 14 while en-route from Denpasar to Noumea.

Privatair A319-115X/CJ CS-TFU as PTI633 arrived in Cairns from Port Moresby on June 9 before departing to Denpasar on June 12.

Rotana Jet A319-115/CJ A6-RRJ as RJD234 arrived Melbourne from Phnom Penh and Darwin on July 4.

Ukraine Air Alliance An-12BP UR-CNT as UKL5102 arrived Perth from Port Moresby on July 3 and later the same day departed Perth for Padang as UKL5103.

Ukraine Air Alliance An-12BP UR-CZZ as UKL4045 arrived Port Moresby from Honolulu and Majuro on June 18 before departing the following day to Macau.

BT-67 C-GGSU arrived Darwin from Port Moresby on June 7 and departed to Denpasar on June 8.

Atlas Air 747-47UF N476MC as GTI8382 arrived Avalon from Los Angeles and Honolulu on June 4 before departing to Incheon on June 5 as GTI8383.

Atlas Air 747-446 N464MC as GTI8362 arrived Rockhampton from Hickam AFB on June 10 and departed to Honolulu as GTI8363.

N464MC returned to Rockhampton from Hickam as GTI8360 on June 13 and departed to Honolulu as GTI8361 on June 14.

Honeywell International 757-225 N757HW arrived in Darwin from Utapao on June 12 before returning to Utapao on June 13.

USAF KC-135R 59-1459/ZZ call sign Remco 24 arrived Perth from Kadena on June 6 and departed to Yokota on June 9.

USAF KC-135R 57-1488/ZZ call sign Remco 23 arrived Perth from Kadena on June 6 and departed to Yokota on June 8.

737-7JB/BBJ VP-CKG arrived in Sydney from Guangzhou on June 4 before continuing to Melbourne on June 5 where it remained until June 24 when it returned to Sydney.

Columbia Helicopters Boeing 234UT P2-CHJ was ferried in this period from PNG to Melbourne/Essendon and later shipment to the US. P2-CHJ arrived in Emerald from Cairns, Townsville and Mackay on June 2 before continuing south to Essendon where it was noted on June 4.

The Boeing 234UT remained at Essendon until June 10 when it was ferried to the Melbourne docks.

US Marines Gulfstream C-20G/G-IV 165153 call sign Ghost 53 arrived Darwin from Wake Island on June 4 and departed to Canberra on June 6. The Gulfstream departed Canberra for Pago Pago on June 9.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines IL-76-90VD RA-76951 as VDA2640 arrived Darwin from Cebu on June 3 and departed to Johor Bahru as VDA8521 on June 22.

PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) IL-76MD 21047 call sign China Air Force 21047 arrived Darwin from Davao on June 8 before continuing to Whenuapia on June 9. While in New Zealand the IL-76MD also visited Ohakea before departing Whenuapia for Auckland and Cairns on June 22 and Davao on June 23.