Traffic

747-438ER VH-OEJ, which had ferried as QF6025 from Sydney to Hong Kong on April 17 (Traffic/June) for planned maintenance, was test flown at Hong Kong on June 3 as QF6029.

It was then ferried as QF6024 from Hong Kong to Sydney where it arrived on June 5.

Qantas Freight 737-433(SF) VH-XNH ferried as QF7390 from Perth to Seletar on April 18 for planned maintenance (Traffic/ June). To cover later downtime on this aircraft, Qantas Freight then wet leased 757-225(PCF) VH-PQA from Pacific Air Express. It entered service with Qantas Freight on May 28 when it operated QF7359 from Melbourne to Perth.

QantasLink 717-231 VH-NXK as QJE6200 ferried from Brisbane to Townsville on May 24 and on arrival was hangered with Flying Colours for painting in the silverroo colour scheme.

Dash 8-402Q VH-LQB as QLK2315 ferried from Cairns to Townsville on May 12 where Flying Colours painted the aircraft in the silver-roo scheme. On completion, it ferried from Townsville to Cairns as QLK670D on May 25.

QantasLink/Network Fokker 100 VH-NHJ as NWK6681 ferried from Perth to Port Hedland and Seletar on June 1 for planned maintenance, while A320-232 VH-VQS as NWK6682 was ferried from Perth to Seletar, also on June 1 for the same.

Jetstar 787-8 VH-VKJ experienced engine problems while inbound to Kansai from Cairns on March 29, grounding the aircraft in Kansai until May 2 when it was ferried to Hong Kong (Traffic/June). As JQ9992 it was then ferried from Hong Kong to Melbourne where it arrived on May 7, returning to service the following day when it operated JQ35 from Melbourne to Denpasar.

Airline News

In this issue we report the delivery of an ERJ190-100IGW to Cobham.

AirCalin is planning to place its first A330-900neo F-ONEO msn 1937 into service in July.

Air New Zealand 777-212(ER) ZK-OKI, which was withdrawn from service on March 25 and then ferried to Victorville CA on April 29 (Traffic/June), was cancelled from the New Zealand register on May 24.

A321neo ZK-NNE, which was delivered to Air New Zealand at Auckland on May 6 (Traffic/ June), was placed into service on May 11 when it operated NZ516 from Christchurch to Auckland.

The aircraft then operated its first international service on May 13 as NZ937 from Auckland to the Gold Coast.

A320-232 ZK-OJO, which was withdrawn from service on March 18 (Traffic/May), was later noted at Christchurch on May 17 with Air New Zealand titles and the Koru removed from its tail. On May 24, now registered TC-ODE, it departed Christchurch on delivery to Onur Air in Turkey. The ferry route took the aircraft to Istanbul via Adelaide, Kuala Lumpur and Ahmedabad.

Air Niugini took delivery of Dash 8Q-202 C-GRGK msn 522 at Port Moresby on March 10, later registering the aircraft P2-ANL before it entered service in mid-May.

767-341ER P2-PXV, which was ferried from Port Moresby to Shanghai for maintenance as PX4088 on March 6, returned to Port Moresby as PX4089 on May 23. It returned to service the following day as PX5 from Port Moresby to Brisbane.

Alliance Airlines registered Fokker 100 VH-UQG msn 11520 ex OE-LVG on May 17. The Fokker 100, which has been in storage at Bratislava since November ’16, is reportedly planned for delivery to Alliance in October ’19.

Alliance registered Fokker 70 VH-NUY msn 11560 ex OE-LFP on May 20 and which, like its sister ship (see above), has been in storage at Bratislava. It is reportedly planned for delivery to Alliance, also in October ’19.

Alliance Fokker 100 VHFKD returned to Perth from maintenance in Bratislava on May 21 as Southern Cross 1903.

Cobham has leased the former Virgin Australia/JetGo ERJ190- 100IGW VH-ZPT which was in storage at Nashville. On May 13 it departed Nashville for Van Nuys, Hilo, Majuro, Cairns and Perth where it arrived on May 17 as flight NC5500. On arrival in Perth it was noted still to be carrying JetGo colours and titles.

However, the titles were removed before it entered service with Cobham on May 20 from Perth to Barrow Island.

Fiji Airways A330-343E DQFJW as FJI2001 ferried from Nadi to Singapore on May 12 for planned maintenance.

Virgin Group News

Virgin Australia 737-7FE VHVBY ferried from Christchurch to Melbourne on May 25 as VOZ9949 after completing planned maintenance.

Tigerair 737-8FE VHVUB ferried from Melbourne to Christchurch on May 26 as TGG9002 for planned maintenance with Air New Zealand. The registered owner was changed from Virgin Australia to Tigerair on April 30.

Regional Airline News

Air Taxi Solomons took delivery of BN2A-8 VH-MBF from Colville Aviation Services, with the aircraft departing the Gold Coast for Port Vila on March 11. The aircraft was cancelled from the Australian register on March 20 and has reportedly taken up the registration H4-ATI.

Mission Aviation Fellowship Cessna 208 N616MF 20800616, which had ferried into Mareeba from the United States on April 11, (Traffic/June) was noted carrying the New Guinea registration P2- MAL on May 29.

MAF Cessna 208 P2-MAK msn 20800615 departed Mareeba on May 15 on ferry to Horn Island and Mount Hagen.

New Tribes Mission Quest Kodiak P2-NTK arrived at Cairns from Port Moresby on May 15 before returning to Port Moresby on May 16.

Pacific Island Air BN2A-26 ZKMCE, which ferried from Kerikeri to Port Vila on March 1, was cancelled from the New Zealand register on May 17.

Pelican Airlines Jetstream 3201 VH-OAM msn 859 was cancelled from the register on May 30 as ‘destroyed’.

Regional Express took delivery of Saab 340B VH-ZPC msn 340B- 404 on May 5 (Traffic/June). Its registered owner is Rex Investment Holdings of Mascot NSW while the registered operator is Regional Express of Mascot, NSW.

Tropicair King Air B200C P2-JAU, which has been under planned maintenance at Redcliffe since early April, departed for Cairns and Port Moresby on June 1.

Bizjet News

In this issue we report the delivery of a Falcon 7X.

Falcon 7X A56-002, call sign ASY313, which is the second of type to be delivered to the RAAF, arrived at Canberra on June 4 from Bordeaux/Merignac and Chennai.

Gulfstream 650ER N16SA msn 6360, which is a new production aircraft, was registered to the Bank of Utah of Salt Lake City on May 8. It was then flown from Teterboro, New York to Honolulu and Essendon where it arrived on May 11 and as of early June was still resident there.

Learjet 60 N118CP msn 60-108, which was delivered to Nowra from the US on March 14 (Traffic/ May), continued to Essendon on April 18. The Learjet 60 was then registered VH-LJZ on May 6 with the owner Astra Aerospace of North Nowra NSW and the operator GoJet of North Nowra.

CJ-2 VH-MOR changed its registered operator on May 29 to Altitude Aviation of Belmont NSW Pilatus PC-24 VH-FGM msn 119, which is registered to the RFDS/Central Ops of Marleston, South Australia, departed Adelaide for Kerikeri, Auckland and Wellington on April 26 before returning to Adelaide on April 28 from Auckland, Sydney and Albury.

Air Affairs Learjet 35A VH-LPF msn 35A-653 arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 22 after flying in from Apia, Christmas Island, Hilo, Merced CA and Rochester NY.

In propjet news, King Air 200 N280RA msn BB-53 was noted at Cairns on May 16 with the inscription Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency on the roof.

It departed Cairns for Honiara on May 28.

King Air B200 VH-ISS msn BB-1008 changed its registered operator on May 29 to Altitude Aviation of Belmont, NSW.

Vee H Aviation Cessna 441 VH-VEH departed Goulburn NSW for Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island on May 20 before continuing to Nadi on May 21.

PA-31T N500 msn 31T- 7920094, which was first noted at Essendon on May 11, was still resident there as of early June.

Ferry Flights

Beech H-18 N26493 msn BA-764, which was registered to Dakota Express of Lantana, Florida, has been delivered to an Australian owner. The Beech H-18 arrived at Mareeba on May 17 after ferrying in from Lantana via Santa Maria CA, Hilo, Pago Pago, Norfolk Island and the Gold Coast.

The ferry flight from the US to Australia was operated by Hazair Aviation of Albury NSW.

Beech F33A VH-LYK departed the Gold Coast for Noumea on April 23 and was later noted flying from Christmas Island to Hilo on June 1.

Beech A36 VH-PGI departed Port Macquarie for Lord Howe Island on May 20.

Handel Aviation Cessna 210N VH-ZIO departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island on May 2 and after overnighting continued to Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast.

Cessna A185F VH-TLO departed Coffs Harbour for Lord Howe Island on May 27 before continuing to Kerikeri on May 28.

Cirrus SR-22 N738NZ departed Redcliffe on May 15 for Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Auckland and Feilding where it arrived on May 17.

DHC-6-300 N331AR, registered to Twin Otter International of Las Vegas, departed Rockhampton for Cairns on May 27 before continuing to Honiara on May 28.

P-750 XSTOL ZK-KEI msn 219, which was registered to Pacific Aerospace on November 12 ’18, ferried out of Hamilton on May 25 on delivery to an operator in China. The initial routing took the aircraft to Lord Howe Island, Gold Coast, Longreach, Darwin and Manado where it arrived on May 27. From Manado it was planned to continue its ferry to Laoag in the Philippines and its final destination, Changzhou.

P-750 XSTOL ZK-KEK msn 221, which was registered to Pacific Aerospace on March 13, departed Hamilton on May 25 in company with P-750 XSTOL VH-KEI.

P-750 XSTOL ZK-KEJ msn 220 was cancelled from the New Zealand register on May 13 on its sale to an operator in Poland.

P-750 XSTOL VH-TEQ, registered to Thomson Aviation of Griffith, departed Alice Springs for Broome on May 24 before continuing the following day to Cocos Island.

Pilatus PC-21 HB-HWK, call sign PCH70C, in company with Pilatus PC-21 HB-HWL, call sign PCH71N, were delivered to RAAF East Sale on May 27 after ferrying in from Stans, Switzerland via Denpasar, Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide.

The PC-21s, both of which carried Roulettes markings, were later allocated the RAAF serial numbers A54-037 and A54- 038. HB-HWL also carried the inscription ‘200TH PC-21’ on its nose.

Vulcanair P-68R VH-VRI, registered to Leopad Aviation of Kuala Lumpur, departed Archerfield for Port Vila on May 8.

Heavy Metal

Hi-Fly Malta A340-313 9H-FOX, as ASY 20, arrived at Brisbane from Sharjah on May 13 and departed the following day as HFM571P to Sydney and Darwin.

Royal Air Force A330- 243MRTT ZZ338 as flight RRR2142 arrived at Rockhampton from Honolulu on May 29 and the following day departed to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Nomad Aviation A319-133(CJ) HB-JJJ transited Melbourne on May 3 while en route from Queenstown to Kota Bharu.

Motor Sich Airlines An-12BK UR-11316, as flight MSI6549, arrived at Darwin from Surabaya on May 6 and departed to Medan as MSI6550 on May 7.

Royal Air Force Boeing C-17A ZZ177, as flight RRR6676, departed Townsville for Bandar Seri Begawan on May 27.

USAF Boeing KC-135R 63- 8888, call sign Cabal 71, arrived at Darwin from Kadena on May 31.

USAF Boeing KC-135R 62- 3564 call sign Cabal 72 arrived at Darwin from Kadena on May 30 before returning there on May 31.

USAF Boeing KC-135R 59-1455, call sign Cabal 81, arrived at Darwin from Hickam on May 30 and departed to Kadena on May 31.

US Navy Boeing C-40A/737- 7AFC 168981, as CNV7382, arrived at RAAF Richmond from Guam on June 1.

Coulson Flying Tankers 737- 3H4 N137CG, which had been operating on contract to the NSW Rural Fire Service since November ’18, departed RAAF Richmond on May 1 for Pago Pago, Hilo and San Bernadino/CA.

737-7JB/BBJ VP-CKG arrived at Sydney from Canberra on May 20 and departed to Guangzhou on May 22.

Miami Air 737-8Q8/W N738MA, operating as BSK259, arrived in Sydney from Nadi on May 3. It left Sydney for Canberra on May 5 as BSK260 before continuing to Darwin and Paya Lebar as BSK261 on May 7.

EMB-190CJ N889ML arrived into Sydney from Macao on May 4 and departed to Cairns and Macao on May 10.

Silkway Airlines Ilyushin IL76-90VD 4K-AZ101 call sign Silk Line 4992 arrived at Sydney from Kuala Lumpur on May 13 and departed the following day on return.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines Ilyushin IL76-90VD RA-76503 arrived at Perth from Denpasar as VDA1966 on May 24.

USAF/AMC Lockheed C-130J-30 08-3177, call sign Trek 62 and with a Dyess tail band, arrived at Darwin from Guam on May 15. The following day it departed to Amberley before returning to Darwin and leaving for Guam on May 24.

US Marines KC-130J 168075, call sign SUM084, arrived at Darwin from Kadena on May 11.