Traffic

787-9 VH-ZNJ msn 66074 Longreach which carries a special ‘Qantas 100 centenary livery’ was registered to Qantas on October 4.

A380-842 VH-OQK ferried from Dresden to London/Heathrow as QF6006 on September 30 after the aircraft completed its planned maintenance. VH-OQK then returned to service with Qantas on September 30 when it operated QF2 from London to Singapore and Sydney where it arrived on October 2.

A380-842 VH-OQL operated QF1 on September 29 from Sydney to Singapore and London prior to ferrying to Dresden as QF6005 for planned maintenance on October 1.

On completion of its maintenance VH-OQL ferried from Dresden to London as QF6006 on October 22 before returning to service on QF2 on October 22.

747-438 VH-OJU Lord Howe Island operated a special flight QF99 from Sydney to Los Angeles on October 13 and on arrival it was withdrawn from service. VH-OJU was then ferried from Los Angeles to Moses Lake on October 15 where it was registered N747RR on October 21 to its new owner Rolls-Royce who will use the aircraft as a flying test bed.

The withdrawal from service of 747-438ER VH-OJU leaves the Qantas 747 fleet at just six aircraft these being 747-438ER VH-OEE, VH-OEF, VH-OEG, VH-OEH, VH-OEI and VH-OEJ.

747-438ER VH-OEE operated a special round-the-world flight from Sydney to Sydney for Constellation Travel and National Seniors Travel between September 30 and October 18. VH-OEE as QF6031 departed Sydney for Seoul-Tel Aviv-Malta-Barcelona-Cartagena-Lima and Easter Island before returning to Sydney.

Jetstar withdrew A320-232 VH-JQL from service on October 14 after the aircraft operated JQ889 from Mackay to Brisbane. VH-JQL was later ferried from Brisbane to Townsville as JQ7990 on October 21 where on arrival it entered the Flying Colours hangar to be painted in the colours of QantasLink.

QantasLink 717-231 VH-NXM having completed its planned maintenance at Seletar ferried from Seletar to Broome and Perth on November 1.

QantasLink 717-231 VH-NXO on November 2 ferried from Perth to Broome and Seletar (arrived November 3) for planned maintenance.

Airline News

In this issue we report the delivery of a 787-9 to Air New Zealand, 3 Fokker 100s to Alliance Airlines, a BAe 146-300QT to Pionair Australia and an ATR 72-600 to ANZ Link/Mount Cook, while departing was an ANZ Link/Mount Cook ATR 72-500 and a Cobham Aviation RJ85.

Air New Zealand took delivery of 787-9 ZK-NZR msn 65088/919 on October 22 with the aircraft then ferrying from Everett as NZ6096 to Auckland as where it arrived on October 23. 787-9 ZK-NZR entered service with Air New Zealand on October 26 when it operated NZ24 from Auckland to Vancouver.

ANZ Link/Mount Cook ATR 72-600 ZK-MZB which was ferried by Southern Cross International as SXI 1952 was delivered to Christchurch on November 8 with the aircraft inbound from Denpasar, Darwin and Brisbane.

ANZ Link/Mount Cook ATR 72-500 ZK-MCX which was withdrawn from service at Christchurch on August 8 was later noted on November 1 with its titles and koru removed. ZK-MCX departed Christchurch on November 5 for Brisbane before continuing to Mount Isa and Darwin on November 6.

Alliance Airlines took delivery of Fokker 100 HB-JVC msn 11501 in Brisbane on October 1 after arriving from Surabaya, Darwin and Townsville. It was later registered to Alliance as VH-VKQ on October 8.

Fokker 100 HB-JVE msn 11459 was delivered to Alliance at Brisbane on October 14 after it completed its ferry flight from Europe via Surabaya and Darwin. It was later registered to Alliance as VH-VKN on October 21.

Fokker 100 HB-JVF msn 11466 was delivered to Alliance Airlines in Perth from Penang and Surabaya on September 8 and was later registered to Alliance as VH-VKO on September 24.

Fokker 100 HB-JVG msn 11478 was delivered to Alliance at Brisbane ex Darwin on August 11 and was later registered to Alliance on August 26 as VH-VKP.

Fokker 50 VH-FKY which was withdrawn from service at Adelaide on 10 December 2018 was used as a source of spare parts until being moved to Sims Metals in late September.

Cobham Aviation RJ85 VH-NJW which was damaged at Perth on July 30 has reportedly been declared a write-off.

Pionair Australia took delivery of BAe 146-300QT D-AJAM msn 3150 at Bankstown on September 27 after it completed its ferry flight from Europe via Alice Springs. The aircraft, which was last operated by German Wings, was then placed on the Australian register as VH-SAJ on October 24 with the owner Vanguard Investments P/L of Fairlight, NSW and the operator Pionair Australia P/L of Condell Park, NSW.

Pionair Australia has reportedly purchased BAe 146-200 D-AZFR msn E-2108 from German Wings.

Virgin Group News

777-3ZGER VH-VPH as VOZ9941 ferried from Melbourne to Singapore on November 3 for planned maintenance.

Regional Airline News

In this issue we report the departure of an Air North Regional EMB-170LR while Air Chathams withdrew a Convair 580 from service.

Air North Regional withdrew EMB-170LR VH-ANF from service on September 13 (Traffic/October) with the aircraft then being prepared for ferry to Europe. On October 25 VH-ANF which was operating as flight TL4000 departed Darwin for Johor Bahru and after overnighting continued to Hyderabad and Dubai.

Air Chathams cancelled Convair 580 ZK-CIF msn 381 from the New Zealand register on October 8.

Helifix DHC-6-300 P2-HFF msn 716 Pride of Telefomin entered service on October 10 on a flight from Port Moresby to Tapini.

MAF/Mission Aviation Fellowship has consolidated their fleet around the Cessna 208 and recent movements of the type have included P2-MEW departing Mareeba for Horn Island and Mount Hagen on September 27 and P2-SDP following over the same route on October 17.

REX/Regional Express took delivery Saab 340B N404XJ at Wagga Wagga on May 6 and later registered it VH-ZPC. VH-ZPC reportedly then entered service on October 23 when it operated ZL3257 from Wagga Wagga to Melbourne.

Zimex Aviation DHC-6-300 HB-LRO msn 523 was delivered to Vanuatu on November 2 after ferrying in from Subang via Dili and Cairns.

Bizjet News

In this issue we report the delivery of a Gulfstream 550, Falcon 900 and a Learjet 35A, while departing were a Global Express, Gulfstream 350, Falcon 7X, Falcon 50, Citation 111 and an EMB-500.

Gulfstream 550 N812RB which was delivered to an Auckland-based owner on October 20 is reported to have replaced previously used Falcon 7X N818TL.

Falcon 900 N922JW msn 36 which was delivered to Bankstown on November 4 from Darwin and Coffs Harbour is reported to be for a local owner.

Learjet 35A N362FW msn 362 which is registered to Gateway Air Center of Merced, California was delivered to Jandakot on October 28 after ferrying in from Oakland via Honolulu, Majuro and Adelaide. The Learjet 35A was later registered VH-KJG to Formula Aviation/Medical Air.

Learjet 36A N51GF 36A-018 which is registered to Global Jetcare of Brooksville, Florida arrived at Perth from Majuro and Cairns on October 22 and after overnighting departed to Cairns and Majuro.

Global Express VH-VDX which was registered to Pratt Holdings P/L of Southbank, Victoria was canceled from the register on October 14 when exported to the USA.

VH-VDX which had earlier been reported at Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 9 was registered N117FK to TVPX Aircraft Solutions of North Salt Lake, Utah on October 15.

Network Jets Falcon 7X N818TL which was Auckland-based has returned to the United States.

Citation 111 VH-SPJ which has been exported to the USA was last noted flying on October 11 when it departed Bankstown for Wagga Wagga. The Citation 111 was then registered N9NL to Short-N-Numbers of Groveland, Florida.

EMB-500 VH-FJP which was operated by the China Southern-West Australian College has been exported to the USA. On October 10 the EMB-500 was registered N468ST to Agape Aviation of Lakeville, Minnesota and on October 18 it departed Perth for Port Hedland and Denpasar before continuing to Laoag and Kagoshima.

Citation CJ3+ N211ML which arrived at Essendon on August 14 finally departed on October 16 for Hamilton, New Zealand. N211ML later departed Hamilton for Papeete and Rarotonga while en-route to Santiago.

Textron Aviation CitationJet/M2 N902MZ msn 525-0902 arrived at Perth on November 2 from Seletar, Christmas Island and Learmonth at the start a demonstration tour of Australia.

Eclipse 500 N257AK departed Archerfield for Mackay on October 14 before continuing to Whitsunday on October 15. N257AK was later noted at Bankstown, Hobart and Moorabbin before returning to Whitsunday on October 27.

Cirrus Jet N755DS arrived Darwin from Seletar and Denpasar on October 22 before continuing to Mt Isa and the Gold Coast on October 23.

Falcon 900EX PH-LAU arrived Cairns from Fukushima on October 20 before continuing to Melbourne on October 21.

Ferry Flights

Cessna 208B N881SE msn 208B5456 arrived at Broome from Kupang on October 23 and departed to Meekatharra and Perth on October 24.

Cessna 172N ZK-EKH departed Kerikeri on October 30 for Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast.

Cirrus SR-22 N53DL departed Ballina for Cowra and Moorabbin on October 29 before continuing to Cambridge on October 30. N53DL departed Cambridge on November 5 for Ballina on November 5.

Zimex Aviation DHC-6-300 HB-LRO msn 523 arrived at Vanuatu October 31 after ferrying in from Subang via Dili and Cairns.

Pilatus PC-21 HB-HWS call sign PCH78R in company with Pilatus PC-21 HB-HWT call sign PCH79N were delivered to RAAF base East Sale on October 28. The two PC-21s ferried in from Stans, Switzerland via Kupang, Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide and were later allocated RAAF serial numbers A54-045 and A54-046.

PA-24 ZK-BAZ arrived at Broome from Kalimantan, Indonesia on October 7 before departing to Alice Springs, Charleville and the Gold Coast where it arrived on October 11. ZK-BAZ departed the Gold Coast for Kerikeri on October 17 before continuing to Taupo on October 19.

Vulcanair P-68C VH-CFE msn 486/C arrived at Darwin from Denpasar on October 10.

Heavy Metal

Air Belgium A340-313 OO-ABB which was on a round-the-world tourist flight arrived at Cairns from Lima and Papeete on November 5.

Air Baltic A220-300 YL-AAS which was the first of type to be seen in our region operated a demonstration tour in the period under review. YL-AAS as BT9801 arrived in Cairns from Kuala Lumpur on October 26 and was later seen at Port Vila, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, New Caledonia and Port Moresby.

Antonov Airlines An-124 UR-82008 as ADB2805 arrived at Port Hedland from Mattala/ Sri Lanka on October 17 and departed the same day as ADB2800 to Johor Bahru.

Antonov Airlines An-124 UR-82029 as ADB2801 arrived at Port Hedland from Mattala on October 21.

Volga-Dnepr An-124 RA-82042 as VDA2084 arrived at Melbourne from Nadi on October 21 and departed to Perth on October 22. RA-82042 as VDA 2085 departed Perth for Johor Bahru on October 23.

Volga- Dnepr An-124 RA-82046 as VDA2086 arrived at Melbourne from Nadi on October 22 and departed to Perth as VDA2086 on October 23.

Nippon Cargo Airlines 747-8KZ/F JA14KZ as KZ6179 arrived at Avalon from Narita on October 22 and departed later that day as KZ672 to Hong Kong.

Nippon Cargo Airlines 747-8KZ/F JA-17KZ as KZ6181 arrived at Avalon from Narita on October 23 and departed later that day to as KZ674 to Hong Kong.

Korean Cargo 747-4B5/ERF HL7602 as KE8345 arrived at Avalon from Centrair/NGO on October 22 and departed the following day to Hanoi as KE8346.

Korean Cargo 747-4B5/ERF HL7603 as KE8343 arrived at Avalon from Narita on October 23 and later departed to Hong Kong.

Omni Air International 777-2U8/ER N846AX as OAE394 arrived at Darwin from Yokota AB on October 14 before returning to Yokota later the same day.

777-300 2-RLBM was ferried from Subang to Darwin and Alice Springs on October 22 where on arrival it was placed in storage.

Royal Brunei Airlines 787-8 V8-DLC as RBA4271 arrived at Rockhampton from Brunei on October 15 before continuing to Singapore. V8-DLC then operated Singapore-Rockhampton-Singapore as RBA4273/4274 on October 16.

National Airlines 757-223/W N567CA as flight NCR316 arrived at Darwin from Kadena AFB on October 20 and later the same day continued to Townsville. As NCR317 it departed Townsville for Clark Field on October 21 but then returned to Townsville as NCR320 on October 23.

Silkair 737-8 MAX 9V-MBB which had been in storage at Singapore was ferried to Alice Springs as Silk Air 8880 on October 5 for further storage. Then followed 737-8 MAX 9V-MBC on October 11, 9V-MBD on October 17, 9V-MBE on October 23 and 9V-MBF on October 29.

Netherlands Government 737-700/BBJ PH-GOV was noted at Melbourne on October 10.

Jet Force 737-73Q/BBJ N834BZ call sign Silver Air 834 arrived at Sydney from Nadi on September 17 before departing to Honolulu on September 21.