Tue 30 - Wed 31 December 2008

Tuesday 30 December 2008
Cessna 340 VH-MAZ lifted off Auckland's runway 23L right on 1000 heading for Norfolk and Lord Howe Island's on its return to Camden.

SkyAirWorld Embraer E190 VH-SXK arrived at Palmerston North just on midday from Invercargill. After a couple of hours on the ground it made the short hop to Hamilton before then crossing the Tasman to Sydney and Brisbane.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Invercargill to Auckland and Hastings.

Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM was again busy today, flying from Queenstown to Christchurch, Wellington, Kerikeri and back to Queenstown.

Westwind ZK-RML flew from Auckland to Taupo and return.

Air NZ Boeing 747-400 ZK-NBS was the focus of intense media interest with the aircraft being the test bed for the alternative bio-fuel derived from the bean jatropha. Using the callsign "Jatropha 1", it departed just prior to 1130 from Auckland for a two hour test flight where the number 1 engine was run on a 50/50 blend of jet fuel and the bio-fuel.

Wayne Grant photo

John Rankin photo

Wednesday 31 December 2008
Google's Boeing 767-200 N2767 departed Auckland just prior to 1000 heading to Christchurch.

Arriving to a warm Christchurch day, Glen Reid photo

Gulfstream 5 N50KC departed around the same time as N2767 and headed for Queenstown.

Gulfstream 4SP VH-DBT departed Queenstown early afternoon for Sydney.

Westwind ZK-RML again visited Taupo, arriving from and returning to Auckland.

Airwork's Boeing 737-200QC ZK-NQC arrived at Woodbourne mid morning from Auckland.

Taxiiing for departure to Woodbourne, Wayne Grant photo

Piper Malibu N9099Z was out of Rangiora to Nelson.

Mon 29 December 2008 - updated

A busy day as the year draws to a close. In no particular order:

Gulfstream 4SP VH-DBT departed Auckland at 0630 for Queenstown.

Gulfstream 4SP N124TF cleared formalities at Rotorua mid afternoon after it arrived from Maui. It then continued to Whakatane.

Gulfstream 5 N507QS departed Auckland for Kailua-Kona and Honolulu.

Departing in the rain, Wayne Grant photo

Gulfstream 5 N50KC flew from Queenstown to Auckland, then to Kaitaia and back to Auckland.

Gulfstream 550 HB-JEV departed Queenstown 4 minutes after N50KC for Papeete direct as 'Batman 271'.

Falcon 900 N44EG arrived at Queenstown a little after midday from Christchurch.

Parked at Christchurch, Torin Wilson photo

Westwind ZK-RML departed Auckland for Kaitaia, Taupo and back to Auckland.

Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM sprinted up and down the country starting with the short hop from Kerikeri to Auckland, then to Queenstown, back north to Wellington, onwards to Taupo and finally south again to Queenstown!

Airwork Boeing 737-300 freighter ZK-TLB departed Auckland for Brisbane, most likely on the first leg of its delivery flight to Africa. The aircraft has been in NZ since mid 2008 covering for ZK-NQC which has undergone a D check.

Airborne Auckland heading to Brisbane, Wayne Grant photo

Wed 24 Dec - Sun 28 Dec 2008 - updated

Wednesday 24 December 2008
Westwind VH-KNR flew a medivac flight through Auckland, arriving from Adelaide and departing for Sydney.

Westwind ZK-RML flew a round trip from Auckland to Gisborne and back.

Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew from Wellington to Queenstown, Christchurch and back to Queenstown.

Thursday 25 December 2008
Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Hastings to Hamilton, Dunedin and Invercargill.

SkyAirWorld Embraer E190 VH-SXK flew from Hamilton to Dunedin as 'Skyair 192'.

Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew from Queenstown to Kerikeri, Taupo and back to Queenstown.

Friday 26 December 2008
Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew Queenstown to Kerikeri, Auckland, Christchurch and back to Queenstown.

Westwind ZK-RML flew from Auckland to Taupo, Kerikeri and back to Auckland.

Gulfstream 5 N50KC arrived at Queenstown from Napier.

Saturday 27 December 2008
Lockheed L100 Hercules ZS-ORC flew from Christchurch to Pegasus and return.

Westwind ZK-RML flew Auckland to Queenstown, then to Taupo and back to Auckland.

Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew from Queenstown to Kerikeri.

Airwork Boeing 737-200QC ZK-NQC flew from Auckland to Christchurch, uplifted an ATR engine then flew it to Wellington before heading home. The engine was for Mt Cook ATR ZK-MCF which returned to the Capital ex airborne 26Dec as NZ5015.

French Army Casa 235 '105' flew from Noumea to Whenuapai, Ohakea, Woodbourne and Wellington as CTM1161.

Reims/Cessna F406 Caravan II ZK-XLF was noted flying from Napier to Hamilton. This aircraft is ex Vincent Aviation ZK-VAF and is now with Kiwi Air. Kiwi Air also have ex Vincent machine ZK-VAA, now ZK-XLC, with this aircraft known to be operating in the Dallas area at present.

Sunday 28 December 2008
Piper PA31-350 ZK-NSP was observed operating well before sunrise off the Manawatu and Kapiti coastline, having departed from and finally returning to its Taupo base. Obviously a search and rescue operation of some sort.

Gulfstream 550 HB-JEV, using the callsign "Batman 261", arrived at Queenstown early this morning from Santiago via a brief stop at Papeete.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Invercargill to Dunedin and back.

SkyAirWorld Embraer E190 VH-SXK flew from Dunedin to Invercargill during the afternoon.

Gulfstream 4SP VH-DBT arrived at Auckland from Essendon.

Google's Boeing 767-200 N2767, ex VH-EAQ, arrived at Auckland from Nadi. The -200 had flown from Moffatt Field to Honolulu 20Dec then to Nadi 21Dec.

On arrival Auckland, Noel Jones photo

French Army Casa 235 '105' departed Wellington for Whenuapai and Noumea as CTM1161.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2009.

Happy Spotting,

Mike

Embraer E190 to visit NZ! (updated with local photo)

Sky Air World, an Australian charter operator, will bring one of its Embraer E190-100LR's to NZ this week with VH-SXK arriving at Hamilton from Sydney 23Dec as SYW191. The aircraft is then expected to head for Dunedin 25Dec.

This will only be the second visit of this type to our shores, the first being an Embraer demonstrator PP-XMB in 2006. It arrived Auckland from Sydney 29Nov06, to Christchurch where a local demo flight was flown 30Nov before returning to Auckland, then onwards to Nadi 01Dec.

The E-jet series of aircraft have proven to be popular in Australia with 8 -170's and 14 -190's on the register.

On arrival at Hamilton 23Dec, Andrew Steele photo

Tuesday 23 December 2008

Jetcity Learjet 36 VH-JCX arrived at Invercargill this morning from Brisbane before later departing to Sydney on a medical mission.

Airbus A319CJ VH-VHD departed Christchurch a little before 0900 destined for Melbourne.

Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB flew from Auckland to Christchurch and return.

Sky Air World Embraer E190 VH-SXK arrived at Hamilton from Sydney as SYW191.

Tue 16 Dec - Mon 22 Dec 2008

Tuesday 16 December 2008
Gulfstream 550 N107VS spent several hours at Auckland today, arriving from Wellington mid morning then departing during the evening for Oakland, California direct.

Long time Ardmore resident PA44 Seminole ZK-EQY departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Redcliffe on export to Australia.

Learjet 35A ZK-XVL flew from Ardmore to Westport and return.

Network Jets Hawker 800XPi N805M departed from Auckland heading to Maui via Apia. It continued to Oakland and Wichita 18Dec NZ time.

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N593HA postioned from Auckland to Honolulu this afternoon at the conclusion of its maintenance visit with Air NZ.

Wednesday 17 December 2008
Gulfstream 5 N85V departed Rotorua for Nadi where it remained until 19Dec when it then flew to Vancouver direct.

Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB flew from Auckland to Rotorua and Sydney during the afternoon. It then flew to Nadi and Honolulu 20Dec.

Northland Emergency Service's Trust Sikorsky S76 ZK-ISJ, using the callsign "Helimed 1", was observed departing Kerikeri for a point to the NorthEast (3256S 17437E) before returning to Whangarei, perhaps a winch operation from a vessel of some sort.

FU24 Fletcher ZK-CYM departed Hamilton for Lord Howe Island and Armidale on its return to Australia after undergoing a re-engine operation.

Britten Norman Islander ZK-FIF was cancelled from the register earlier in the month and was noted parked at Palmerston North marked as N130PC.

Airbus A319CJ VH-VHD, operated on behalf of the Australian Antarctic programme, arrived at Christchurch from Melbourne.

Thursday 18 December 2008
Learjet 35A ZK-XVL flew from Ardmore to Westport and return again today.

Airbus A319CJ VH-VHD flew from Christchurch to Pegasus and return as "ICE319".

Friday 19 December 2008
Vanuatu Helicopter's Hughes 500 ZK-HEL touched down at Kerikeri to clear customs from Norfolk Island.

Citation Mustang ZK-MUS flew from Rotorua to Wellington.

Saturday 20 December 2008
Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew into Auckland from Christchurch.

Sunday 21 December 2008
Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew from Auckland to Queenstown and Christchurch then later back to Auckland.

Westwind ZK-RML flew from Auckland to Queenstown and return.

Gulfstream 5 N507QS jetted into Queenstown from Oakland via a techstop at Maui.

Gulfstream 5 N50KC arrived at Napier late Sunday from Teterboro via Provo (Utah) and Kona.

Falcon 900 N44EG arrived at Rotorua from Honolulu via Nadi and Auckland.

Swearingen Merlin N90GT arrived at Auckland from Essendon.

Cessna 340 VH-MAZ arrived at Paraparaumu late Sunday from Sydney via Norfolk Island and Auckland.

RNZAF Boeing 757-200 NZ7571 returned to Whenuapai from Honolulu via Apia as "Kiwi 815" following maintenance at Mobile.

Monday 22 December 2008
Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew from Auckland to Kerikeri, Auckland and then to Wellington.

Airbus A319CJ VH-VHD made another round trip from Christchurch to Pegasus and return.

Gulfstream 5 N507QS moved from Queenstown to Auckland early afternoon.

Cessna 340 VH-MAZ arrived at Auckland early afternoon from Paraparaumu.

Falcon 900 N44EG departed Rotorua for Wellington.

Learjet 45 VH-CXJ arrived at Auckland around 2130 from Hamilton Island and Brisbane. It departed a short time late for Sydney.

Sunday 14 Dec - Monday 15 Dec 2008

Sunday 14 December 2008
USAF C17 02-1104 departed Christchurch for Honolulu concluding C17 flights to Antarctica for 2008. A C17 will be re-deployed to Christchurch from early January to recommence operations to the ice.


Monday 15 December 2008
Acernus Citation Mustang ZK-MUS flew from Wellington to Rotorua.


Gulfstream 5 N85V also flew from Wellington to Rotorua.

At Wellington 14Dec, Peter Van Dyk photo


Westwind VH-NGA spent a brief time at Christchurch during the afternoon, arriving from and returning to Sydney. I note it now sports decals on the forward fuselage.

Tony McFarlin photo


Airwork FK27 Friendship ZK-PAX was noted flying from Auckland to Woodbourne using its registration as callsign.


Airwork Boeing 737-200 freighter ZK-NQC resumed scheduled operations tonight flying from Auckland to Christchurch and back as PST41/42. Boeing 737-300 ZK-TLB also flew two returns from Auckland to Christchurch thanks to Christmas demand.


Piper PA44 Seminole ZK-EQY, a long term Ardmore resident and seldom seen flying, departed for Kerikeri this afternoon and is expected to depart for Norfolk Island 16Dec on its delivery flight to Australia.



Air National took delivery of BAe 146-200 C-GRNX with the aircraft touching down at Auckland to a water gun salute at 2119LT from Honolulu via techstops at Christmas Island, Apia and Tonga. The aircraft carries no markings. It is expected the aircraft will take up ZK-ECO.

On Ice

Steve Lowe, currently domiciled at McMurdo, has supplied these great images of the resident helicopter fleet.

Check out Steve's webpage for more photos and dialogue on life 'Down Under the Down Under!' A link can be found to the right of my blog page.

BAe 146-200 delivery for Air National?

It would appear Air National of Auckland are set to take delivery of BAe 146-200 C-GRNX with the jet arriving into Honolulu tonight NZ time from Anchorage via stops at Adak and Midway Island. This computer generated image would indicate the aircraft maybe destined to become ZK-ECS (note the image is of a -300 series).

Sat 13 Dec 2008

Rank's Global Express XRS N57LE arrived back at Auckland this morning from North America via Honolulu.

Colin Hunter photo

Gulfstream 5 N85V arrived at Wellington just on 1900 from Easter Island. This aircraft visited Wellington back in February of this year arriving from Papeete 05Feb then to Auckland 08Feb, Rotorua 11Feb and to Papeete direct 13Feb.

Air National Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB made the journey home to Auckland from Sydney having departed Auckland back on 12Nov for Cairns and Hong Kong, with visits to Incheon, Haneda, Bali, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane in between!

Beech Baron N146WA returned to Kerikeri from Lord Howe Island today. This North Shore/Dairy Flat based machine departed our shores back on 26Sep and it is known to have visited Bundeburg, Coolangatta, Mackay, Redcliffe and Cairns.

Air Pacific Boeing 747-400 DQ-FJK made a rare visit to Christchurch this afternoon, operating as FJ410 from Auckland and then to Nadi. Its brief stop was to uplift engineering equipment to aid an engine change on 737-700 DQ-FJF stranded at Nadi.

Aaron Murphy photo

Let 29 ZK-VAU was noted visiting Christchurch briefly for fuel this afternoon and continued south and appeared to have landed at Timaru. The aircraft was also at Woodbourne the previous day.

Aaron Murphy photo

Fri 12 Dec 2008

Gulfstream 550 N107VS arrived at Wellington this evening from Sydney. It had arrived Sydney from Oakland via Honolulu 09Dec. Peter Van Dyk photo.

Air National Westwind ZK-RML flew a medivac flight from Auckland to Port Vila and return.

Eagle Air Beech 1900D ZK-EAN made a brief visit to Masterton this afternoon, arriving from and returning to Palmerston North. This isin't the first visit of a Beech 1900D with an Eagle Air example visiting in the last year or so on a charter and no doubt there has been a visit of a Vincent Aviation machine in the past.

Sun 07 Dec - Thu 11 Dec 2008

Sunday 07 December 2008

Rank's Global Express XRS N57LE departed Auckland late afternoon for San Diego.

Gulfstream 450 N851GG arrived at Christchurch early afternoon from Wellington.

Citation Mustang ZK-MUS made the short hop from Wellington to Nelson.

Citation III VH-SSZ arrived at Wellington from Brisbane and Sydney.

Monday 08 December 2008

Westfield's Global Express N18WF arrived at Auckland from Cooma and Sydney.

Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM returned to Christchurch from a few days in Queenstown.

Air Chathams/Chathams Pacific Metroliner ZK-CIC arrived at Hastings from Tonga and Auckland for maintenance.

FU24-950 Turbine Fletcher PK-PNZ positioned from Hamilton to Auckland.

Gulfstream 450 N851GG departed Christchurch for Honolulu via a techstop at Nadi.

Tuesday 09 December 2008

Citation III VH-SSZ departed Wellington early today for Sydney and Brisbane.

Global Express N18WF spent a few hours at Wellington late today, arriving from Auckland and departing for Sydney.

New York ANG Lockheed LC130 Hercules 76-3301 departed Christchurch for Pago Pago.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Heavylift Douglas DC8-63F A6-HLC departed Auckland before sun-up for Sydney as HVL401.

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBA departed Christchurch for Brisbane.

Thursday 11 December 2008

Citation Mustang N2243W flew Hastings to Whakatane and back.

FU24-950 Turbine Fletcher PK-PNZ departed Auckland for Lord Howe Island and The Gold Coast.

Arriving at The Gold Coast, Terry Magee photo

ZK-NQC takes flight

Airwork's Boeing 737-200QC freighter ZK-NQC flew for the first time 10Dec following several monthsundergoing a D check with the company's maintenance facility at Auckland. The aircraft is now wearing a partial DHL colour scheme, apparently the remainder of the aircraft will be painted yellow during January.

Mike Condon photo

Tue 02Dec-Sat 06Dec 2008 (includes DC8 photo!)

Tuesday 02 December 2008
Challenger 850 VH-LEF departed Wellington late Tuesday for Essendon.

Falcon 900EX N146EX returned to Auckland ex Brisbane this evening.

Westwind ZK-RML flew from Auckland to Nadi late 01Dec, then to Noumea, back to Nadi and finally home to Auckland mid morning 02Dec.

Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew from Christchurch to Auckland.

Piper Malibu N9099Z flew Rangiora to Pauanui.

Wednesday 03 December 2008
New York ANG Lockheed C130 Hercules 83-0492, mentioned in an earlier blog and fitted with the 8 bladed props, departed Christchurch today for Pago Pago having arrived back from the ice on 01Dec.

Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM departed Auckland around 0200 this morning for Melbourne then back to Christchurch.

Piper Malibu N9099Z returned to Rangiora from Pauanui.

Falcon 900EX N146EX flew a training detail from Auckland to Tauranga and back.

Safair Lockheed L100 Hercules ZS-ORC flew its first mission to Antarctica today, flying from Christchurch to Terra Nova and return.

Thursday 04 December 2008
Falcon 900EX N146EX flew another training detail today, this time to Hamilton and back. On return to Auckland the Falcon flew an impressive go-around down runway 23L sticking to 80ft above the runway for its entire length (with gear down).

Friday 05 December 2008
Citation 550 VH-CCJ departed from Queenstown early today for Sydney and Brisbane.

Gulfstream 4SP VH-DBT departed Napier for Essendon.

Citation 501 N800DT flew from Ardmore to Christchurch and return.

Gulfstream 450 N851GG arrived at Wellington early afternoon from Auckland.

Jetconnect finally retired Boeing 737-300 ZK-JNO, for the last time (!!), today with the aircraft flying its final commercial flight as QF2715 from Auckland to Wellington before then positioning to Christchurch as QFA6171. On arrival at Christchurch the aircraft had completed 37611 cycles and 55601 hours.

Saturday 06 December 2008
What will most likely be the most exotic visitor for December was the arrival of Heavylift Douglas DC8-63F A6-HLC c/n 46126 at Auckland around 0200LT from Taipei via a techstop at Brisbane as HVL401 carrying stage equipment for the upcoming Kylie Minogue concert's. A6-HLC was delivered to Air Canada in April 1970 as CF-TIV and withdrawn from service as C-FTIV in April 1983. It was then converted to a freighter for Evergreen International as N819EV in 1988 before moving to ABX Air in March 1990 as N812AX. It was with them until March 2008 when it moved to Heavylift International and bacame A6-HLC. The aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing incident 01Sep this year at Al Fasher Airport, Darfur, Sudan. Substantial damage was incured to the left main landing gear requiring a complete replacement.


Noel Jones photo

Mon 24 November - Mon 01 December 2008

Monday 24 November 2008
Gulfstream 550 N550GW departed Christchurch for Papeete. It departed Tahiti for Majuro and Kagoshima 27Nov.

Ozjet Boeing 737-200 VH-OZD arrived at Auckland in the early hours of today having diverted from Norfolk Island. As OZJ331, the 737 had originated at Brisbane. After crew rest the Boeing returned to Norfolk Island.

Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIE departed Auckland for Tonga.

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBA arrived at Christchurch from Melbourne for maintenance.

Tuesday 25 November 2008
Air National's Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB flew from Auckland to Taupo, Queenstown and back to Auckland.

Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIF arrived at Palmerston North from Tonga via Auckland.

Wednesday 26 November 2008
Air NZ Boeing 767-300 ZK-NCL flew from Auckland to Noumea and return on charter to Air Calin.

Acernus Mustang ZK-MUS flew Wellington to Woodbourne and Dunedin.

Thursday 27 November 2008
Air National Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB flew Auckland to Christchurch and overnighted in the Garden City.

Learjet 35A ZK-XVL was noted flying Westport to Ardmore.

Piper PA31-350 ZK-NSP flew a brief search and rescue mission from Taupo towards the Chathams, however this was called off and the aircraft returned to land at Napier.

RAAF Challenger 604 A37-001 flew a training flight through Wellington today, arriving from Noumea and Norfolk Island as "Ausy 948".

Friday 28 November 2008
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N582HA departed Auckland as ANZ107 for Sydney ex maintenance.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Hastings to Auckland and return.

Safair Lockheed L100 Hercules ZS-ORC arrived at Christchurch from Adelaide as "Safair 520". Glen Reid captured this shot.

Saturday 29 November 2008

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N593HA arrived Auckland as ANZ100 from Sydney for maintenance.

Metrojet Gulfstream 550 B-KID spent most of the day at Auckland, arriving from Queenstown and departing for Hong Kong.

Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB flew home to Auckland from Christchurch.

Sunday 30 November 2008
Global Express N57LE flew back to Auckland from Las Vegas via Apia.

Citation 550 VH-CCJ arrived at Queenstown from Brisbane.

Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB was back to Christchurch from Auckland today, however this time it returned to Auckland the same day.

Gulfstream 4SP VH-DBT arrived at Napier late this evening from Essendon.

Monday 01 December 2008
Challenger 850/CRJ VH-LEF arrived at Wellington just on 2300 from Essendon.

Falcon 900EXE N146EX flew from Auckland to Christchurch, Essendon and finally to Brisbane.

Westwind ZK-RML departed Auckland mid afternoon for Port Vila, returning to Auckland the same day via Noumea.

Gulfstream 450 N851GG arrived Auckland late afternoon from Sydney. The G450, carrying music legend John Cougar Mellencamp, has been in the region since early November, arriving at Papeete from Van Nuys and Honolulu on 08Nov. To Sydney 12Nov, Perth 14Nov, Adelaide 19Nov, Melbourne 20Nov, Brisbane 22Nov and Sydney 26Nov.

Tragedy

I need not put anymore than the header for this blog topic. The loss of the Air NZ owned Airbus A320 on 28Nov NZ time off the French Coast has been well and truly given enough press without my repeating it here. It has been a tough couple of days for all concerned as we come to terms with the losses.

However, in keeping with the spirit of this blog, herewith is an overview of ZK-OJL msn 2500:

ZK-OJL was never actually operated by Air NZ, but by low cost subsidiary Freedom Air. It was delivered to Auckland on 01Aug05 as "Freedom 6390" from Toulouse via Gander, Denver, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Apia. It then entered service 05Aug as SJ903 from Auckland to the Gold Coast returning to Auckland as SJ904 before positioning to Hamilton the same day as SJ7223. Its entry to service marked a 3 year advertising contract with Warner Brothers and the aircraft was adorned with decals covering much of the airframe as depicted in the attached images.

Taxiing for departure on its first flight for Freedom, Mike Condon photo

>ZK-OJL had the auspisious occasion of being the first Airbus A320 to visit Palmerston North, this taking place on 15Oct05 as SJ431 from Nadi and departing as SJ419 to Brisbane. On 03Nov05 the aircraft positioned from Hamilton to Christchurch as SJ7223 for a cabin re-configuration where additional seats were put into the aircraft.

In the first quarter of 2006 the Air NZ Group studied the regional market and it was concluded that two A320's would be leased abroad as aircraft utilisation was increased with the advent of another company, Zeal 320 Ltd, which allowed for both Freedom Air and Air NZ pilots to fly the A320's under one airline operator's certificate, whereas prior to this only Freedom pilots could fly the Freedom registered A320's and same for the Air NZ pilots. Incidentally, Zeal 320 Ltd ceased to exist from 26Nov this year and all aircraft returned to the Air NZ AOC!

ZK-OJK and ZK-OJL were identified as the aircraft to be leased out, the former going to TAM in Brazil as PR-MBJ in July 2006.

ZK-OJL flew its final flight with Freedom Air on 02May06 as SJ966 from the Gold Coast to Christchurch, its Warner Brother's decal already taken off bit by bit. (ZK-OJO then flew with the same design on it).
It flew an acceptance flight (in all white livery) from/to Christchurch on 22May06 as SJ7140 and was cancelled from the NZ register 24May06 and re-registered D-AXLA. As such, it departed Christchurch for Darwin and Bangkok on 25May06 flown by XL Airways crew.

The rest now is history with the aircraft, repainted in Air NZ livery (for the first time) crashing on an acceptance flight from Perpignan, France, late on the afternoon of 27Nov (French time) as flight GXL888T claiming the lives of 7 people, including 5 Air NZ staff.
The A320 was set to return to Frankfurt and be placed back on the NZ register for its re-delivery to Air NZ, with its planned route to be via Gander, Denver, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Apia to Auckland as ANZ6390, arriving on 05Dec. Sadly this will no longer be the case.


Not long before its ill fated acceptance flight, 27Nov Perpignan time, photo supplied

Sat 22 Nov - Sun 23 Nov 2008

Saturday 22 November 2008
Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM flew from Napier to Auckland late afternoon.


Gulfstream 550 N550GW arrived at Christchurch mid afternoon from Brisbane, where it had arrived a couple of days earlier from Kagoshima. The aircraft is based in Japan with Grand Warehouse.

Peter Van Dyk photo


United Airlines operated Boeing 747-400 N187UA through Auckland on the Air Pacific service from/to Nadi. This was the final flight to be operated by a United Airlines aircraft with DQ-FJK due to position from Singapore to Nadi 24Nov on completion of maintenance.

Colin Hunter photo


Sunday 23 November 2008
TAG Aviation Global Express HB-JEX made a 31 minute visit to Christchurch in the early hours of this morning, as recorded in the earlier blog postings.


Metrojet Gulfstream 550 B-KID touched down at Queenstown just on 0730 this morning direct from its Hong Kong base.


Citationjet CJ3 ZK-TBM was hot on the heels of B-KID into Queenstown, arriving at 0750 from Auckland. It spent several hours in the south before heading home to Christchurch.


Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB returned to Auckland from Rarotonga.


Citation Mustang N2243W launched out of Hastings to Auckland, then south to Wanaka before returning home to Hastings. The Mustang carried Shrek the sheep (!!) from Auckland to Wanaka. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/33074/100m-merino-shrek-retires
This would have to be a global first, a sheep flying in a Mustang, or in a bizjet fullstop!



Emirates Boeing 777-300 A6-EBX made its first visit to Auckland today operating as EK432/433 from/to Brisbane.

Photos of TransPolar08 HB-JEX

Peter Van Dyk, President/CEO of Capital Jet Services, was on hand for the turnaround of Global Express HB-JEX at Christchurch in the early hours of 23Nov. His Canon EOS350D captured the following images:







During its 21min turn at Majuro 22Nov, photo via www.pacificmagazine.net

Transpolar '08 touches down at Christchurch

Excerpts from the offical website - http://www.transpolar08.com/

Tag TransPolar 08 is an attempt to beat the existing International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) record for flying round the world over both the North and South Poles. The flight on a Global Express, HB-JEX, departed from TAG Farnborough Airport near London on November 21st.

TransPolar08 will try to best Pan Am's Flight 50 record of October 1977 made in a Boeing 747SP. The average speed to beat is 423 knots.

Aziz Ojjeh, an accomplished pilot, wil lead the flight team. He is Vice President of TAG Group and its subsidiary Tag Aeronautics. He currently holds the FAI record for fastest eastbound flight around the world in a Challenger 601.

Ojjeh is accompanied by four pilots, an in-flight coordinator, flight engineer and an official observer.

HB-JEX departed Farnborough at 1005.54UTC 21Nov for Whitehorse, Canada via the North Pole. After a fuel uplift the Global headed southwest to Majuro, Marshall Islands where the aircraft spent just 29mins on the ground before continuing it southward trejectory to Christchurch touching down on runway 20 at 0036LT 23Nov. After just 31mins on the ground at Christchurch and uplifting 19500kg of fuel the jet was on its way again heading for an overfly of the South Pole then to Punta Arenas, a flight of around 10hr 53min. A brief stop for fuel again before heading to Sal, Cape Verde and then home to Farnborough.

The Capital Jet Services team were tasked with the smooth turn-a-round at Christchurch.

And from the NZ Herald

Christchurch only Australasian stop for round-world jet
12:08PM Friday Nov 21, 2008
Ground staff at Christchurch Airport will have to act like a Formula 1 pit crew this weekend as a jet stops off during an attempt at the fastest around the world flight.

The record for a flight which passes both poles is 54 hours, set by a Boeing 747SP 30 years ago.
The new record bid will be attempted in a Tag Aviation Bombardier Global Express, due to leave London on Saturday morning and aiming to touch down in Christchurch - its only Australasian stop - 12.30am Sunday.

New Zealand organiser Tony McFarlin of Capital Jet Services said the plane would need to take on about 24,000 litres of fuel during a stop which was hoped to take less than 30 minutes.

And their flight plan ex Christchurch:

DCT.CH.A338.GULAN/N0484F430.A338.REGAT/M084F430.DCT.80S165E/M084F410.85S165E/M084F450.89S165E.90S000W/M084F430.

80S070W.70S070W.60S070W/N0477F430.DCT.NAS.DCT

Foreigners at Ardmore

Some foreign registrations noted at Ardmore 21Nov.


Boomerang VH-DXW arrived in NZ back on 03Oct when it cleared customs at Kerikeri from Norfolk Island. It has since been noted at Hamilton and Stratford along with several other locations while on demostration flights. Today it was parked next to Premier Aircraft Sales building next to Cessna 172RG VH-MII with this aircraft having arrived at Kerikeri from Norfolk Island on 03Mar this year.

Mike Condon photo


Noted outside the Eurocopter facility was AS350B2 Squirrel VP-BFL. The Squirrel was first noted in NZ back on 27Dec07 on the deck of vessel "Karima" which has apparently been undergoing a refit somewhere in NZ. The AS350 was then noted at Ardmore 14Mar and has been in storage ever since.

Mike Condon photo

Sitting in a paintshop was a Kaman K-Max, not 100% sure if it was N312KA that has been working in NZ or another machine N358KA which has been reportedly sent to NZ.

Cessna demonstrator Cessna 400 N400NM remains at the Flightline facility.

Sunday 16 - Friday 21 November 2008

Sunday 16 November 2008
Business Jets Falcon 900EXE N146EX returned to Auckland from Nadi. During its time away from NZ the Falcon also visited Madang, PNG.

Monday 17 November 2008
Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB departed Auckland for Rarotonga.

Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 B-HKE made its first visit to NZ on the airline's CX107/108 service.

Tuesday 18 November 2008
Air NZ Boeing 747-400 ZK-NBW returned to Auckland from Singapore as ANZ6042 at the conclusion of its charter operation between there and Rockhampton.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Hastings to Palmerston North, Christchurch, Dunedin, then back to Palmerston North and Hastings.

New York ANG LC130 Hercules 83-0492 departed Christchurch for William Field.

Wednesday 19 November 2008
Network Jets Hawker 800XPi N805M flew home to Auckland from Maui via a techstop at Apia. The Hawker left Auckland back on 03Nov and visited Las Vegas, Wichita, Little Rock, Augusta, Toluca (Mexico), San Diego/Brown Field and Salinas.

Jetcity Learjet 36 VH-JCX arrived at Auckland from Melbourne.

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBO departed Christchurch late tonight for Melbourne.

Thursday 20 November 2008
Citation 560XL VH-MXJ arrived at Dunedin just before 0600 this morning from Sydney.

Learjet 36 VH-JCX departed Auckland for Melbourne.

Embraer Legacy N580ML arrived at Auckland from Sydney this evening.

Friday 21 November 2008
Aero Commander 690 ZK-PVB returned home to NZ after several months overseas arriving at Auckland from Maroochydore via Lord Howe Island. The 690 had departed Auckland 23Feb and was noted at Dubai 30Aug and Bangkok 15Nov. It arrived at Broome from Juanda 18Nov then to Alice Springs 19Nov and from Mt Isa to Maroochydore 20Nov. The company's other Aero Commander ZK-MOH was noted at Dubai 07Oct with this after having departed during 2006!

Citation 560XL VH-MXJ departed Dunedin this morning for Essendon.

Embraer Legacy N580ML departed Auckland for Pago Pago and Honolulu.

Global Express XRS N57LE departed Auckland for Nadi and Las Vegas.

Modified C130 arrives at Christchurch

New York Air National Guard LC130H Hercules 83-0492 touched down at Christchurch mid afternoon 16Nov from Pago Pago sporting its new Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 8 bladed propellors. According to Aviationweek.com this is the first of 12 to be retrofitted to improve support for remote deep-field camps in Antarctica. The composite blade system has already been used on the US Navy's E2C Hawkeyes.

Glen Reid was on hand to capture its arrival.

Sun 09 November - Sat 15 November 2008

Sunday 09 November 2008

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBO arrived at Christchurch from Brisbane for maintenance, replacing Boeing 737-800 VH-VOK which then departed Christchurch for Brisbane.

Royal Australian Air Force C130J Hercules A97-464 departed Christchurch for Canberra as "Ausy 813".

USAF C130 Hercules 76-3301 departed Christchurch for William Field as "Skier 01".

Monday 10 November 2008

HNZ Bell 212 ZK-HNO was transported from Christchurch to Antarctica today onboard USAF C17 Globemaster 00-0181.

Uzbekistan Airways Boeing 767-300 VP-BUE arrived back at Christchurch at 0030 from Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Uzbek Boeing 767-300 VP-BUE departed Christchurch for Kuala Lumpur and Tashkent.

Western Australia based Pilatus PC12 VH-OOI arrived at Kerikeri a little before midday from Norfolk Island. After a few hours there it then continued to Auckland where it then overnighted.

Piper Malibu N9099Z flew from New Plymouth to Nelson.

Wednesday 12 November 2008

Air NZ Boeing 747-400 ZK-NBW positioned from Auckland to Rockhampton then continued to Singapore. It will shuttle several times between Singapore and Rockhampton on charter operations.

Citation Mustang ZK-MUS spent time in Christchurch today,a rriving from and returning to Wellington.

Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB departed Auckland for Cairns and Hong Kong and was noted arriving at Seoul 14Nov.

Westwind ZK-RML flew from Auckland to Suva, then to Brisbane before returning to Auckland mid morning the following day.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-JSU departed Hamilton for Brisbane this morning, then continued the following day to Darwin. To Jakarta-Halim 14Nov.

Pilatus PC12 VH-OOI departed Auckland for Norfolk Island where it overnighted and continued to the Gold Coast 13Nov.

Piper Malibu N9099Z flew from Nelson to Rangiora.

Thursday 13 November 2008

Global Express XRS N57LE launched from Auckland at 0600 today heading to Sydney, returning to Auckland later the same day.

A surprise visitor before sunup at Auckland today was Citation Sovereign VP-CRH which arrived at 0530 from Manila and Cairns. After just 5 hours on the ground, the C680 departed for Apia. It then continued to Honolulu and Long Beach 14Nov and to Opa Locka 15Nov (NZ dates).

Vanuatu Helicopters Hughes 500 ZK-HEL departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island, however returned for unknown reasons to Kerikeri.

Friday 14 November 2008

Vanuatu Helicopters Hughes 500 ZK-HEL departed Kerikeri successfully today heading to Norfolk Island.

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N581HA departed Auckland for Sydney as ANZ107 ex maintenance.

Saturday 15 November 2008

United Airlines Boeing 747-400 N197UA operated the Air Pacific service through Auckland today.

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N582HA arrived at Auckland from Sydney as ANZ100.

Salt Air Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB was observed flying the operator's Kerikeri-North Shore service, perhaps its first time flying this route.

Our Airline (nee Air Nauru) second Boeing 737-300 made a techstop at Auckland on its delivery flight to Australia. Registered as VH-NLK, the -33A (c/n 23635) machine arrived from Papeete and continued to Melbourne. It had flown from Santiago to Papeete via Easter Island 14Nov.

Navigating Northland - 11 November 2008

Late spring saw an opportunity to make a whirlwind tour of Northland by road. The distances between urban areas seem short on the map however the terrain makes for interesting driving and certainly illustrates the importance of aviation in the region as a means of expeditious transportation.

The journey commenced early with a bypass of North Shore/Dairy Flat to best make the most of the time available. A quick detour from State Highway 1 to the Kaipara Flats airstrip was met with a locked gate, our visit a little too early for the locals! The next port of call was to be the city of Whangarei and its airport located at Onerahi. Whangarei is the largest metropolitan centre in the Northland district and is home to a sizeable number of light aircraft as well as a crew base for Eagle Air Beech 1900D crews with two of the aircraft overnighting there. On an average weekday Eagle Air provides 9 flights to Auckland and 2 flights to Wellington with reduced frequency on the weekend.

Noted during two brief visits to Whangarei Airport during the day were:
C182 CGD and XLT, Hughes 300 IPM and HRL, Bell 206B HBB (minus blades), PA44 MBO (new scheme following major overhaul), C172 JIB, NCA, Let 29 SSU (following repaint), PA28 CNU, PA38 LFZ, MBZ, PAF and TWR, PA23 MCZ (derelict), Storm WOC, Spotscruiser VCP, Alpi Pioneer LPA and LPY, Airtourer DLO, FU24 DEQ, Beech 1900D EAA, EAG and EAN. Unfortunately being a weekday most of the hangers were closed.

At the St Johns Ambulance base located on the outskirts of Whangarei were Northland Emergency Trust Sikorsky S76’s IAL and ISJ with the former noted flying later in the day.

Continuing north towards Kerikeri the Heliops Robinson R44’s HXA and HXC sat quietly in their smart hanger.

At Kerikeri Airport Air Nelson Bombardier Q300 ZK-NER had just departed for Auckland. Kerikeri is serviced by both Air Nelson and Eagle Air, the former operating two daily flights to Auckland with Eagle providing three. As the Q300 departed Western Australia based Pilatus PC12/47 VH-OOI arrived from Norfolk Island. Registered to Cockles Pty, the PC12 later continued to Auckland. Earlier in 2008 Kerikeri was deemed to be capable of handling interntional flights under a certain weight and capacity and it has been used on a number of occasions for light aircraft entering and exiting NZ. Navy Seasprite NZ3604 had also recently arrived at Kerikeri and remained static early afternoon.

Kerikeri is home to commuter and charter operator Salt Air and the pride of the fleet, Cessna 208B ZK-MJL, was sitting outside their facility and departed for North Shore on one of the three daily scheduled flights south. The operator started services earlier this year and provides flights with the 14 seater from Kerikeri to Whangarei and North Shore, or direct if loads dictate. From North Shore they provide a free shuttle bus to Smales Farm and Auckland’s CBD. Brand new Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-MAB was housed in their hanger having arrived back at Kerikeri from Whangarei where it was painted in Salt Air’s scheme on 10Nov. The aircraft had arrived at Kerikeri from Latrobe Valley and Lord Howe Island as VH-BQY 31Oct and replaces numerically Cessna 208 Caravan ZK-TZR which transferred from Salt Air to Sounds Air. Also in the Salt Air hanger was their Bell 206B ZK-HFE.

Noted sitting inside the hanger connected to the terminal building were Tecnam Golf NOL and Socata TB10 MBR.

On the road to Paihia sits the grass strip at Harururu Falls, the spot where a tandem skydiving business operates from normally using C182 SBB however today C185E FNX was on the job. Paihia itself hosted Salt Air’s R44 HGM at the old amphibious base.

The last airport visited was North Shore/Dairy Flat with a number of aircraft present including the arrival of C208 MJL, C206 SKT, PA28 KCC, PA38 VBM, Robin TZL, Zenith JFN and C172 JAZ. Time constraints precluded a more detailed record being taken however a future visit will cover this off.