Traffic

The retiral from service of VH-OJT reduces the Qantas 747 fleet to just nine aircraft these being 747-438ER VH-OEE, VH-OEF, VH-OEG, VH-OEH, VH-OEI and VH-OEJ: 747-438 VH-OJS, VH-OJU and 747-48E VH-OEB.

A380-842 VH-OQC which had ferried into Dubai on September 3 from Singapore for maintenance and painting in the silver roo livery (Traffic/October) returned to Sydney from Dubai as QF6012 on September 21.

A330-203 VH-EBO operated QF53 from Brisbane to Singapore and on arrival was hangered for maintenance and painting in the silver roo livery. VH-EBO returned to Brisbane from Singapore as QF6013 on September 17.

787-9 VH-ZNG msn 36240/774 is planned for delivery on November 13 with 787-9 VH-ZNH msn 36241/778 planned to follow on November 26.

737-838/W VH-VZL which had arrived in Townsville on August 24 for a repaint in the silver roo livery (Traffic/October) returned to service on September 9 when it operated QF967 from Townsville to Brisbane.

737-838/W VH-VXP operated QF978 from Brisbane to Townsville on September 8 before entering the Flying Colours hangar for painting in the silver roo livery. On completion of the work on September 24 VH-VXP ferried from Townsville to Brisbane as QF6103.

737-838/W VH-VZI ‘Ballina’ ex ZK-ZQD (Traffic/October) commenced operations with Qantas on September 13 when it operated QF503 from Brisbane to Sydney.

QantasLink/Network ferried Fokker 100 VH-NHM from Perth to Port Hedland and Seletar as NWK6683/6684 on September 9 for planned maintenance and repaint in the silver roo livery.

Jetstar Japan took delivery of A320-232 JA24JJ msn 8429 at Narita on September 21 after the aircraft ferried in from Hamburg/Finkinwerder via Abu Dhabi and Hanoi.

Airlines News

In this issue we report the delivery of two 787-9 to Air New Zealand and a Fokker 100 to Alliance while departing was a 737-800 of Air Niugini after it crashed into the sea and a Beech 1900D of ANZ Link/Eagle.

Aircalin continues to operate the Air Caraibes A330-223 F-OFDF which has been leased to cover maintenance on Aircalin A330-200 aircraft (Traffic/October).

Aircalin A330-202 F-OHSD having finished its maintenance in Hong Kong operated SB981 from Hong Kong to Noumea on September 20 and the same day A330-202 F-OJSE operated SB980 from Noumea to Hong Kong for planned maintenance.

Air New Zealand took delivery of 787-9 ZK-NZN at Auckland on September 16 after the aircraft ferried in from Paine Field as NZ6092. 787-9 ZK-NZN entered service with Air New Zealand on September 20 when it operated NZ101 from Auckland to Sydney.

787-9 ZK-NZQ was delivered to Air New Zealand at Auckland on September 21 after the aircraft ferried in from Paine Field as NZ6094. 787-9 ZK-NZQ which was the thirteenth and final 787-9 currently on order by Air New Zealand entered service on September 26 when it operated NZ101 from Auckland to Sydney.

Air New Zealand has dry leased 777-212ER 9V-SVG msn 30872 from Singapore Airlines and this aircraft will be used to cover 787-9 engine problems. The 777-212ER was registered to Air New Zealand as ZK-OKJ on September 18 with delivery and entry into service planned for mid-October.

777-219ER ZK-OKF completed its planned maintenance in Singapore before being ferried to Auckland as NZ6011 on September 29. While in Singapore ZK-OKF was painted in the current Air New Zealand colour scheme.

777-219ER ZK-OKH as NZ6012 was ferried from Auckland to Singapore on September 28 for planned maintenance.

Air New Zealand is planning to take delivery of their first A321-271NEO ZK-NNA msn 8496 in late October with entry into service planned the following month. ZK-NNA being the first of type delivered to Air New Zealand was painted in the all black colour scheme.

A321-271NEO ZK-NNB msn 8542 is planned for delivery to Air New Zealand in early November.

Air New Zealand Link/Eagle Beech 1900D VH-OYU msn UE-425 ex ZK-EAB which was the last of six of type stored at Bankstown departed for Cairns on September 27 and after overnighting it continued to Biak and onward stops round the North Pacific to Canada.

Beech 1900D VH-OYX msn UE-431 ex ZK-EAH was cancelled from the Australian register on September 7 on its export to Canada.

Air Niugini 737-8BK/W P2-PXE which was operating PX73 on September 28 from Pohnpei to Chuuk and Port Moresby was written off after undershooting into the water on final approach to Chuuk. Unfortunately there was a single fatality among the 11 crew and 36 passengers on board the aircraft.

Alliance Airlines took delivery of Fokker 100 VH-UQB msn 11483 ex OE-LVF at Brisbane September 29 after the aircraft completed its ferry flight Bratislava. The ferry flight which was operated by Southern Cross as SXI1808 was operated from Bratislava to Brisbane via Trabzon, Al Ain, Nagpur, Subang, Kupang and Townsville. Prior to its departure from Bratislava the aircraft was painted in Alliance colours.

Cobham BAe 146-300QT VH-NJI which was delivered to Adelaide on March 19 entered service on September 25 when it operated NC7485 from Adelaide to Melbourne.

Tasman Cargo Airlines who took delivery of 767-3JH/F G-DHLH on July 4 later changed the registration to VH-EXZ and as such it entered service on September 26 when it operated TMN1 from Auckland to Sydney.

757-236(PCF) VH-TCA which was replaced in service by 767-3JH/F VH-EXZ will reportedly return to the UK.

Virgin Group News

Virgin Australia E190-100IGW ZS-YAL which is the former VH-ZPA has been placed into service with SA Airlink. Over the period September 29/30 ZS-YAL was ferried from Nashville/TN to Johannesburg via Bangor, Gander, Tenerife, and Libreville.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Fokker 100 VH-FNY is the last of type in service still carrying the colours and titles of Skywest Airlines.

TigerAir ferried A320-232 VH-VNB which had completed its planned maintenance (Traffic/October) was ferried from Clark Field to Darwin and Melbourne as TGG9003 on September 22. While in the Philippines the TigerAir colours were removed from the aircraft however on September 23 the all-white VH-VNB returned to service with TigerAir when it operated TGG552 from Melbourne to the Gold Coast.

A320-232 VH-VND which had completed its planned maintenance (Traffic/October) was ferried from Singapore to Melbourne as TGG9005 on September 15/16.

A320-232 VH-VNP which was due for planned maintenance departed Melbourne for Darwin and Singapore as TGG9002 on October 2

Regional Airline News

Air Chathams who took delivery of Saab 340A N135GU msn 340A-135 in Auckland on January 9 later registered the aircraft ZK-CIY on January 24. The aircraft has yet to enter service with Air Chathams however latest reports suggest that event is not far from happening.

HARS Aviation Museum F27-500 VH-TQN ex ZK-POH which has been parked at Auckland for several months was ferried to Ardmore on September 23 reportedly due to rising parking fees.

Milford Sound Flights has reportedly sold BN2A-26 ZK-DBV, BN2A-26 ZK-MCD and BN2A-26 ZK-MCE to an operator in Fiji.

PY Air EMB-110P1 VH-PYA was ferried from Alice Springs to Leigh Creek and Essendon on September 23 ’06 and shortly after arrival its engines were removed. VH-PYA was then placed in storage at Essendon and over the years was moved from one location to another. VH-PYA which was registered to a private owner in Noose Heads, Queensland was removed from the register on September 7.

Bizjet News

In this issue we report the delivery of a Learjet 35A, King Air 300C and a King Air B200C while departing were a Citation Mustang and a Reims F406.

CitationJet CJ-2 VH-RJB changed its registration to VH-TEY on September 26. This after the aircraft changed its registered holder and operator to Teys Australia P/L of Eight Mile Plains, Queensland. Previously the CJ-2 was registered to Airlux of North Sydney, NSW.

CitationJet CJ-1+ VH-JSO which is registered to VH-JSO P/L of Albury, NSW changed its registration to VH-JSZ on September 26.

Mustang VH-SQW which was operated by Flight Options (Australia) P/L of Mudjimba, Queensland has been sold in the United States. VH-SQW was cancelled from the register on September 4 and the same day was registered N327NM to White Knuckle Endeavours of Tustin/CA. Mustang N327NM departed Bankstown on September 12 for Broken Hill, Ayers Rock and Darwin and after overnighting continued to Manado.

Learjet 35A N950SP msn 35A-350 which is registered to the Gateway Air Center of Merced/CA arrived at Nowra on September 23 from Merced via Honolulu, Apia and the Gold Coast. N950SP was cancelled from the US register on September 24 as exported to Australia.

Learjet 35A C-GTDM msn 35A-498 which was delivered to Nowra on June 7 (Traffic/August) was cancelled from the Canadian register on September 14 as exported to Australia.

Learjet 35A C-GIWO msn 35A-407 which was delivered to Nowra on August 8 (Traffic/September) was cancelled from the Canadian register on September 14 as exported to Australia.

The delivery of Learjet 35A N950SP, C-GTDM and C-GIWO to Nowra suggests these aircraft have been imported by Air Affairs.

Gulfstream 550 N360WF which was operated by Westfield Aviation changed its registration to N360LF and operator to LFG Aviation of Dover, Delaware on June 7.

Gulfstream 550 N613WF which was operated by Westfield Aviation changed its registration to N613LF and operator to LFG Aviation on June 5.

Hawker 1000 N517LR msn 259017 which is registered to Enterprise Transport Systems of South Portland, Maine arrived Essendon from Noumea on September 16. N517LR then remained at Essendon until October 1 when it departed to Brisbane and Dili.

Hawker 900XP N881JC msn HA-0044 which is registered to the Bank of Utah at Salt Lake City arrived Perth from Halim on September 12 reportedly for maintenance. N881JC departed Perth for Halim on October 4.

In Propjet news Reims F406 VH-ZKY msn F406-0043 which ferried from the Gold Coast to Apia on July 4 was cancelled from the register on September 7 on its sale in the United States. The new owner of the Reims F406 is Woolpert of Beaver Creek, Ohio.

King Air 300C VH-MQD msn FM-75 was registered to the RFDS/South Eastern section on September 28.

King Air B300 VH-YZG msn FL343 which was cancelled from the register on August 27 (Traffic/October) was registered N343CA to Commuter Air Technology of Oklahoma City on September 5.

King Air B300 VH-YZH msn FL346 which was cancelled from the register on September 4 (Traffic/October) was registered N364CA to Commuter Air Technology on September 5.

King Air B300 VH-YZJ msn FL-349 which was cancelled from the register on September 4 (Traffic/October) was registered N349CA to Commuter Air Technology on September 5.

King Air B200 VH-YZL msn FL-351 which was cancelled from the register on August 27 (Traffic/October) was registered N334CA to Commuter Air Technology on September 5.

King Air B200C VH-FUS msn BL-138 was registered on September 14 with the holder GCH Aviation of Harewood, New Zealand and the operator Sky Trek P/L of Rosny Park, Tasmania. The King Air was previously registered in Australia as VH-HPZ before moving to Indonesia in June ’05 as PK-JCA and then changing to PK-YGT before it returned to Jandakot in late April ’18.

Ferry Flights

Baron G58 N2505Q msn TH-2505 arrived Darwin on September 21 after a direct flight from Port Vila with this showing on Flight Aware as 11 hours 55 mins. Earlier the BaronG58 had flown from Santa Maria/CA to Hilo and Pago Pago. On September 23 the Baron G58 departed Darwin on a direct flight to Seletar with a planned time of 10 hours 55 mins.

Helifix Operations PNG Bell 412EP P2-HNZ (Traffic/October) was shipped across the Tasman before being ferried on September 20 to Ardmore and New Plymouth.

CGG Aviation (Australia) Cessna 208B/Supervan 900 VH-FAY crashed into the North Pacific on September 27 while ferrying from Saipan to Chitose. The ferry pilot who was the only person on board unfortunately went down with the aircraft

Cessna 208 N317AG msn 20800589 registered to Gateway Air Center of Merced/CA arrived at the Gold Coast on September 23 after completing its Trans-Pacific ferry from Merced via Honolulu and Apia.

Cessna U206F VH-IQU departed Archerfield for Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island on September 15 before continuing to Kerikeri on September 16.

Cessna 172S VH-YJF msn 172S-12046 departed Archerfield for Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island on September 1 and after overnighting continued to Kerikeri and Nelson. On September 10 Cessna 172S VH-YJF was registered ZK-NAX to the Nelson Aviation College.

Cessna 172S VH-YJH msn 172S-12047 departed Archerfield for Lord Howe and Norfolk on September 1 before continuing to Kerikeri and Nelson where it arrived on September 3. On September 10 Cessna 172S VH-YJH was registered ZK-NAR to the Nelson Aviation College.

Cessna 172S VH-YJK msn 172S-12048 arrived at Nelson on September 16 from Norfolk Island, Kerikeri and Ardmore. On September 24 Cessna 172S VH-YJK was registered NAS to the Nelson Aviation College.

DA-42NG HS-MAR arrived at Carnarvon from Denpasar and Broome on September 9 (Traffic/October). The DA-42NG then continued on an anti-clockwise circuit of Australia being noted at Rottnest, Esperance, Ceduna, Mildura, Bankstown, Coffs Harbour and Cairns before arriving at Darwin on September 19. DA-42NG HS-MAR departed Darwin for Kupang on September 21.

Hughes 369E VH-HVO and Hughes 369E VH-SUV which are both operated by Aeropower were noted at Mechanics Bay, Auckland on September 30 after being shipped across the Tasman. The two Hughes 369E’s were later ferried south to Christchurch.

Oceania Aviation P-750XL ZK-KNM msn 194 arrived at the Gold Coast from Hamilton on September 19 and after overnighting continued to Ratmalana where it arrived on September 23 via Alice Springs, Port Hedland and Cocos Island. ZK-KNM was later noted at Larnaca, Cyprus on September 26.

RAAF Pilatus PC-21 HB-HWU callsign ‘PCH54C’ in company with Pilatus PC-21 HB-HWV callsign ‘PCH55N’ arrived at RAAF East Sale on September 24 after ferrying in from Stans, Switzerland via Kupang, Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide. The two aircraft have since been allocated RAAF serial numbers A54-021 and A54-022.

PA-46-500TP N950U msn 4697130 which was registered to Cutter Southwest Aircraft Sales of Phoenix arrived at Albury on September 12 from Denpasar, Broome, Alice Springs and Broken Hill. Earlier on September 3 the PA-46-500TP was noted ferrying from Goose Bay to Narsarsuaq. The PA-46-500TP was cancelled from the US register on September 13 as exported to Australia and on September 28 it was registered VH-ORU to Aerotech Aircraft Holdings of Kent Town, South Australia.

PA-31-350 VH-OMN ferried from Norfolk Island to Kerikeri on August 30.

PA-24-250 ZK-BAZ departed Ardmore for Kerikeri on September 17 and after overnighting continued on a direct flight to the Gold Coast. ZK-BAZ departed the Gold Coast for Dubbo on September 20 before continuing to Whyalla and Coober Pedy.

Heavy Metal

Edelweiss Air A340-313 HB-JMG as flight EDW2018 arrived in Sydney from Narita and Nadi on September 16 and departed to Singapore on September 19.

Hi Fly A340-313 9H-SUN was wet leased to Royal Brunei from September 16 to early November to operate flight RBA53/54 from Bandar Seri Begawan to Melbourne and return as a result of maintenance problems with their 787-8 fleet.

Volga Dnepr An-124 RA-82046 as VDA3194 arrived at Rockhampton from Paya Lebar on September 13 before continuing to Cairns as VDA3195 on September 14. The An-124 departed Cairns for Labuan on September 26.

Ukraine Air Alliance An-12BP UR-CGV as flight UKL5032 arrived in Perth from Padang on September 10 before returning to Padang as UKL5033 on September 11,

National Cargo 747-428BCF N919CA as flight NCR440 arrived in Katherine from Honolulu and Darwin on September 11 and departed as NCR441 on September 11 for Darwin and Iwakuni.

Polar Air Cargo 747-87U/F N858GT as flight PAC246 arrived in Melbourne from Honolulu and Sydney on September 23 and departed as PAC247 to Incheon on September 24.

Omni Air 767-3Q8 N477AX as OAE324 arrived Darwin from Honolulu on September 12 before continuing to Katherine. Later the same day N477AX departed Katherine for Darwin and Iwakuni.

Atlas Air 767-324ER/W N645GT as GTI9835 arrived Darwin from Honolulu on September 23 and departed to Hickam as GTI 9836 on September 24.

Omni Air 767-224ER N207AX as OAE370 arrived Darwin from Kadena on September 27 before returning to Kadena on October 1.

Sultan of Johor 737-8FZ/BBJ2 9M-III arrived Perth from Johor Bahru on September before returning to Johor Bahru on September 29

Geostar 737-7CG/BBJ P4-SJM arrived Melbourne from Shenzhen on October 1.

United States of America 737-7CP/C-40C 50730 call sign Spar 17 arrived Cairns from Paya Lebar on September 10.

Canadian Armed Forces Lockheed CC-130J-30 130606 as CFC2523 arrived Richmond from Nadi on September 23 before returning to Nadi on September 24

Coulson Lockheed C-130Q N130CG ‘Zeus’  which carries NSW Rural Fire Service titles arrived at Richmond from Pago Pago and Norfolk Island on September 23.

Western Global MD-11F N546JN as flight WGN8525 arrived in Darwin from Honolulu on September 23. On September 24 the MD-11F operated a return flight to Katherine before departing Darwin for Iwakuni on September 25.

RAAF Lockheed AP-3C A9-656 call sign Striker 01 arrived at Avalon from RAAF Edinburgh on September 10. The AP-3C was later noted to be carrying the US civil registration N656T and on September 28 this registration was reserved by MHD Rockland Services of Starke, Florida.

Erickson Sikorsky S-64E N176AC/748 ‘Lucille’ which has been imported for the 2018/19 bushfire season ferried into Essendon from the docks on September 30 before departing the following day to Wagga Wagga and Bankstown where it will be based.