Mon 21 Dec - Tue 29 Dec 2009

Monday 21 December 2009
Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter B-LIE arrived at Auckland late today from Hong Kong as CPA2023.

Tuesday 22 December 2009
Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter B-LIE departed Auckland just after sunrise on its return to Hong Kong as CPA2032.

Gulfstream 4SP N308AB flew from Queenstown to Auckland this afternoon.

Wednesday 23 December 2009
Gulfstream 4SP N308DB departed Auckland for Honolulu and San Francisco.

Thursday 24 December 2009
Gulfstream 350 N350FK made the short flight from Auckland to Taupo.

Hamilton based Beech Baron N254F was noted arriving at Queenstown today, its first recorded movement since delivery a couple of months ago.

Friday 25 December 2009

Nil significant activity - Ho Ho Ho


Saturday 26 December 2009
Careflight Learjet 36 VH-CMS made an early morning visit to Hamilton, arriving from and returning to Coolangatta.

Sunday 27 December 2009
Gulfstream 450 N450RG flew from Queenstown to Rotorua while Gulfstream 550 N550SG and Global Express N36LG both arrived at Queenstown from Sydney. These jet movements at Queenstown were in addition to CJ3+ ZK-TBM flying Auckland-Queenstown-Kerikeri.

Monday 28 December 2009
Falcon 900EX N963SH arrived at Auckland from Kona and Pago Pago and was met by AS350 Squirrel N801KF which then flew out to the yacht "SuRi".

Gulfstream 350 N350FK flew from Taupo to Christchurch around the middle of the day.

Arriving at Christchurch from Denpasar mid morning was corporate configured Airbus A340-200 5A-ONE of Afriqiyah Airways. The aircraft is normally flown on behalf of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi however this particular trip carried his English based son, Saif al Islam al Gaddafi. The aircraft carries an interesting scheme adopted by the airline and its history can be found here : http://www.afriqiyah99.eu/357.html


The passengers from the Airbus transferred to a charter Air Nelson Q300 for their journey to Queenstown.

On roll out at Christchurch, Graeme Weatherby photo

Tuesday 29 December 2009
Beech Baron N254F flew from Queenstown to Nelson while Global Express N36LG departed Queenstown for Kaitaia.

Gulfstream's Galore

Gulfstream IV-X (G350) N350FK arrived at Auckland mid afternoon 19Dec from Papeete.

Short finals runway 23L at Auckland 19Dec, Noel Jones photo

Gulfstream 4 N308DB arrived at Queenstown just on 0740 20Dec from Papeete.

Mike Stead photo

Gulfstream IV-X (G350) N450RG arrived at Queenstown an hour after N308DB from Hilo and Pago Pago.

Mike Stead photo

Coastal Classics

Proceedings are underway on the South Island's West Coast this weekend to commerate the 75th anniversary of licensed scheduled airline service in New Zealand.

Celebrations at Hokitika 17/18Dec and Haast 18/19Dec marked the importance of air travel all those years ago when road transport was nigh impossible in South Westland.

17Dec saw joy riding take place from Hokitika in a number of historic de Havilland aircraft followed that evening by a viewing of "Flying the Coast" at the Regent Theatre.

18Dec and the focus was on the Hokitika Airport terminal and the opening of the Bert Mercer Wing, an extension project of the existing structure.

Today, 19Dec, and weather permitting, a flying display is planned at Haast followed by dinner at the Haast Airstrip under a marquee.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Commercial-aviation-in-NZ-celebrates-75-years/tabid/421/articleID/134719/Default.aspx

The celebrations have also been marked by the launch of Richard Waugh's lastest book, "Hoki to Haast", with some 152 pages and over 250 photographs, 70 of which are in colour.

Steve Lowe has been on the Coast and has recorded the following images:

DH83 Fox Moth's ZK-APT (from Dairy Flat) and ZK-ADI (From Mandeville)


DH84 Dragon ZK-AXI (from Dairy Flat) and DH90 Dragonfly (from Mandeville)



Others photographed on the Coast include:

Garden City's King Air 200 ZK-FDR lining up to depart runway 19 at Greymouth


Air National's J32EP ZK-ECN arriving at Hokitika on a scheduled Eagle Air flight from Christchurch

Hastings based Maranda AMF-S14 DIXW ZK-JGR at Hokitika

Cessna 182RG ZK-LAB at Hokitika. This aircraft is based on a private strip located on the Manukau Peninsula.

Cessna A185F ZK-CES from Paraparaumu parked at Hokitika

Hughes 500E ZK-INM at Hokitika, based at Queenstown.

Tue 01 Dec - Mon 14 Dec 2009

Tuesday 01 December 2009

Beech 60 Duke N60TE, based at Dunedin, flew to Oamaru, Christchurch, Masterton and Whakatane this morning.

Red Bull's Falcon 900EX OE-IDM arrived at Fiji's Laucala Island / Red Bull Island from Bangkok and Darwin.

Atlas Air, operating on behalf of Qantas, flew Boeing 747-400 freighter N409MC in/out of Auckland, arriving from Sydney and departing to Pudong.

Wednesday 02 December 2009

Pacific Aerospace 750XL VH-NZJ arrived at Kerikeri from Toowoomba, Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands on its way to a new home at Napier. This aircraft had previously flown in NZ with Hallett Griffin as ZK-XLG and was employed on top dressing operations in the Manawatu. It departed NZ in early August 2008 for a new home and role in Cairns as a parachute ship.

Balancing the import/exports was the departure of North Shore based Cessna 210 ZK-KWI with it flying from Kerikeri to Norfolk Island. It arrived at Bankstown the following day via Lord Howe Island and Coolangatta. It was cancelled from the NZ register as exported a few days later.

Air National's BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO made what is thought to be the types first visit to Kaitaia when it flew a group of golfers from/to Auckland.

Thursday 03 December 2009

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N598HA departed Auckland for Honolulu as HA9982.

Flying Doctor's Beech King Air 200 ZK-FDR made a trip from Christchurch to the Chathams and return.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-SWA, registered to Kiwi Air, was noted flying from Darwin to Daru, PNG.

Air Pacific commenced scheduled services on a twice weekly basis today between Nadi and Hong Kong using Boeing 767-300 DQ-FJC.

Czech Airlines Airbus A320 OK-GEB, having operated on behalf of Air Calin for the last month, departed Noumea for Darwin and Bangkok.

Gulfstream 550 SE-RDZ arrived at Christchurch this morning from Kansai.

Air Nuigini's 'new' Falcon 900EX P2-ANW made its first international flight since delivery flying from Port Moresby to Singapore and back. It had arrived at Port Moresby from Honolulu 23Nov.

Robinson R44 N502KG carried out a test flight at Christchurch today. Check out http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-arrivals.html for more on this new resident.

RAAF Challenger 604 A37-002 arrived at Wellington from Norfolk Island as ASY378.

Friday 04 December 2009

Ex Air NZ Boeing 737-300 ZK-FRE, now registered PR-WJQ, departed Christchurch for Cairns and Jakarta on delivery to Brazil's Webjet using the callsign WEB9741.

RAAF Challenger 604 A37-002 departed Wellington for Christchurch and Canberra.

Saturday 05 December 2009

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N592HA arrived at Auckland from Honolulu as HA9981.

Red Bull participant Edge 540 N19ZE was spotted at North Shore today. See http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2009/12/red-bull-air-racer-at-north-shore-no.html for more on this subject.

Sunday 06 December 2009

Global Express XLS N57LE departed Auckland for San Diego/Brown Field.

Monday 07 December 2009

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBU arrived at Christchurch from Melbourne.

Beech 58 Baron N146WA made its way home to North Shore following a few months in Australia, arriving from Bundaberg via Lord Howe Island and Auckland.

Boeing BBJ N164RJ departed Auckland for Rotorua and Sydney and was noted flying from there to Hobart and back 08Dec.

Jetcity Learjet 36 VH-JCX visited Christchurch briefly today, arriving from Townsville and departing for Coolangatta.

Falcon 900C VH-LAL arrived at Auckland from Sydney.

Tuesday 08 December 2009

Falcon 900C VH-LAL returned to Sydney from Auckland today.

USAF C17 movements from Christchurch to Antarctica moved from arriving at the Ice Runway to Pegasus Field as of today with 02-1104 making the journey south as ICE36.

Wednesday 09 December 2009

Beechjet 400 VH-IPG made its way across the Tasman, arriving at Auckland from Sydney.

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBL left Christchurch for Melbourne.

Thursday 10 December 2009

Beechjet 400 VH-IPG returned to Sydney from Auckland.

Heli Harvests Mil 8 ER-MHZ was observed at Ardmore undergoing some prep work and was noted to have "349" markings indicating it is about to be deployed to Australia for fire fighting duties.

Gulfstream 5 N85V arrived at Rarotonga this evening from Lihue, Hawaii.

Friday 11 December 2009

Gulfstream 550 SE-RDZ departed Christchurch this evening for Kansai.

Saturday 12 December 2009

Jetcity Learjet 36 VH-JCX made an early arrival into Auckland from Melbourne. After spending a few hours on the ground, and being met by Helimed's Sikorsky S76 ZK-IAL which arrived from Hawera, the Lear departed back to Melbourne.

Air NZ commenced schedule international jet services to Rotorua as from today using Airbus A320 aircraft from/to Sydney. ZK-OJE flew the first service as NZ978 and departing as NZ979.

From 21Dec, services will operate twice a week (Monday and Saturday).

Gulfstream 5 N85V departed Rarotonga heading eastbound.

Sunday 13 December 2009

Boeing BBJ N164RJ visited Rotorua briefly, arriving from Sydney and continuing to Auckland.

Monday 14 December 2009

Water Tanker Douglas DC10 N17085 crossed the Pacific today and arrived at Melbourne's Avalon from Kona via Pago Pago.

Fri 27 Nov - Mon 30 Nov 2009

Friday 27 November 2009
Boeing BBJ N164RJ crossed the Tasman again today, flying from Sydney to Rotorua and Auckland.


Boeing BBJ A36-002 of the RAAF arrived at Wellington from Canberra and Norfolk island on a training detail.


Lockheed C130 Hercules A97-007 departed Whenuapai for Norfolk Island.


Saturday 28 November 2009
Boeing BBJ A36-002 departed Wellington for Christchurch and Canberra.


Sunday 29 November 2009
Gulfstream 550 B-KID left Auckland for Hong Kong late today.


Global Express N36LG briefly stopped at Auckland on its way from Taupo home to Sydney.


Monday 30 November 2009
FUGRO PAC Cresco VH-KPY cleared customs at Auckland today, arriving from Norfolk Island and continuing to Hamilton. This aircraft, live Shrike Commander 500 VH-KAV, are in the country on scesmic survey work.



Tuesday 01 December 2009
Beech Duke N60TE made its way north from Dunedin today with stops at Oamaru, Christchurch, Masterton and Whakatane.

Mon 23 Nov - Thu 26 Nov 2009

Monday 23 November 2009
Falcon 900 G-SIRO which had arrived at Auckland 15Oct departed this morning for Papeete.

Boeing BBJ N164RJ also departed Auckland today for Rotorua and Sydney.

Hawker 850XP VH-RAM of Ramsey Air Charter made a brief visit to Auckland late Monday arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Darwin based Citation VII VH-LYM arrived at Auckland from its Northern Territory home via a stop at Sydney.

Tuesday 24 November 2009
Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 freighter N412MC operating as QFA7591 which normally operates from Sydney direct to Pudong was rerouted via Auckland due to Boeing N761AX that would usually operate through Auckland being out of service with an engine change.

Challenger 604 N604KJ departed Auckland mid morning for Nadi.

Citation Sovereign ZK-JTH made what is thought to be its first flight under its ZK rego today when it flew from Auckland to New Plymouth and back.

Wednesday 25 November 2009
Boeing BBJ N164RJ was in and out of Rotorua mid afternoon, arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Global Express N36LG flew from Christchurch to Hamilton and Auckland.

Arriving at Auckland, Steve Lowe photo

Citation VII VH-LYM left Auckland for Sydney and Darwin.

Metrojet's Gulfstream 550 B-KID arrived at Auckland from its Hong Kong home.

Thursday 26 November 2009
Air NZ's Airbus A320 ZK-OJC made the types first visit to Rotorua today as part of prelim work prior to the airline's commencement of scheduled international flights to Sydney from 12Dec.

Global Express N36LG arrived at Taupo from Auckland.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL P2-BWE commenced its delivery flight to Central Aviation of PNG today when it left Hamilton for Kerikeri and Norfolk Island.

Fugro's Aero Shrike Commander 500 VH-KAV arrived at Auckland from Norfolk Island.

Wayne Grant photo

Great Barrier Airlines took delivery of Trislander YJ-LGF when it arrived at Dairy Flat/North Shore from Norfolk Island and Auckland. The aircraft flying under a Vanuatu register appears to have only been put on this register for the delivery flight from the USA.

Wayne Grant photo

Mon 16 Nov to Sun 22 Nov 2009

Monday 16 November 2009
Falcon 900 VH-LAL departed Auckland for Sydney and Essendon.

Citation 550 VH-FGK arrived at Auckland from Essendon and Sydney.

Airbus A319CJ VH-VHD departed Christchurch for the Ice Runway and then Melbourne as "Snowbird 1".

Blue Line Airbus A310 F-HBOY arrived at Christchurch from Papeete as BLE910 on an around the world VIP trip.

At Christchurch 17Nov, Wayne Grant photo

Air NZ Boeing 737-300 ZK-FRE carried out a proving flight from/to Christchurch as its nears a departure for Brazil's Webjet in whose colour's its now wears. It is set to become PR-WJQ.

Graham Weatherby photo

Tuesday 17 Nov 2009
Citation 550 VH-FGK made the hop from Auckland to Taupo.

Gulfstream 4SP VH-DBT flew from Kaitaia to Auckland, Sydney and Essendon.

Learjet 45 VH-CXJ arrived at Christchurch this morning on a medivac flight from Rarotonga via Tonga. It departed later in the day for Coolangatta.

Boeing BBJ N164RJ arrived at Rotorua from Honolulu and later continued to Auckland for parking.

Wednesday 18 Nov 2009
Blue Line Airbus A310 F-HBOY departed Christchurch for Sydney.

Thursday 19 Nov 2009
Beechjet 400 VH-IPG flew from Sydney to Auckland.

Citation 550 VH-FGK flew Taupo-Woodbourne-Wanaka over the course of today.

Friday 20 Nov 2009
Beechjet 400 VH-IPG returned to Sydney from Auckland.

Saturday 21 Nov 2009
Qantas/Jetconnect Boeing 737-300 ZK-JNC departed Auckland for Apia and Honolulu as QFA6024 (see earlier post)

Challenger 604 N604KJ arrived at Auckland from Sydney.

Noel Jones photo

Citation 550 VH-FGK departed Wanaka direct to Essendon.

Sunday 22 Nov 2009
Czech Airlines Airbus A320 OK-GEB made what should be its third and final visit to Auckland today operating on behalf of Air Calin.

At Auckland 08Nov, Colin Hunter photo

End of the 737-300 in Qantas Group Operations

Arriving at Wellington October 2005, Mike Condon photo

The departure from Auckland 21Nov of Jetconnect's Boeing 737-300 ZK-JNC signalled the end of this particular variant's life with Qantas.

ZK-JNC was delivered to Jetconnect in June 2004 and previously flew with Australian Airlines and most recently with Qantas Mainline as VH-TJB having entered service with Australian in 1988.

Like most aircraft nearing retirement, ZK-JNC had a protracted exit from service and having intially stopped flying in October was reactiviated due to disruptions before finally making its last flight as QFA125 from Brisbane to Auckland 09Nov.

It departed Auckland 21Nov for Apia, Honolulu and Tucson.

Bizjets

As previously posted, Citation 680 Sovereign N121TL has become ZK-JTH as from 20Nov and is registered to Pacific Jets of Christchurch however will be operated out of Auckland as a joint venture.

I also mentioned another jet to soon arrive in NZ and this is Citation 560 Ultra ZK-AWK ex N596VP. It was also registered 20Nov to Airwork Flight Operations of Auckland. It is currently undergoing pre-delivery work at Maroochydore.

Its rather significant to have two corporate jets registered on the same day!

The question was raised as to previous ZK registered corporate jets and for that matter foreign registered but NZ based. I can recall the following:

BAe 125-800B ZK-EUI 12/86 to 10/88 with Euro National
BAe 125-800B ZK-RJI 10/87 to 02/91 with Robert Jones Internationl
BAe 125-800B ZK-TCB 06/87 to 05/89 with CF Herbert
Bae 125-800B ZK-MRM 03/87 to 08/89 with Chase Corporation
There was a 5th 125-800, ZK-RHP, due around the time of the sharemarket crash in 1987 but did not get delivered.
Falcon 200 ZK-MAY 04/87 to 09/90 with Goodmans (also flew as N221FJ with Goodmans before entering the ZK register and then after that as VH-NGF based in Sydney)
Falcon 100 ZK-MAZ 04/88 to 07/90 with Goodmans (primarily based in Sydney)
Citation 500 ZK-LJL 03/94 to 12/98 with PDL Holdings
Citation 650 ZK-NLJ 03/95 to 08/98 with Air Nelson on behalf of Brierley Investments
Citation CJ1 ZK-TBM/2 05/03 to 05/05 with Pacific Jets (replaced with a CJ3+)

Foreign machines based in NZ since mid 1980's have included:
Falcon 10's VH-DJT and VH-MEI
Falcon 200 and then as a Falcon 50 VH-PDJ
Falcon 20 N876SC with Goodmans prior to the delivery of ZK-MAY
Falcon 900 N42FJ and N104FJ
Citation 650 N106CC, N143WR and N133LE (later N133LH which became ZK-NLJ).
Learjet 35 N110KG
Learjet 35 N8074A (later VH-LJJ)
BAe 125-800 G-GAEL
Hawker 800XPi N805M
Global 5000 N818FH
Falcon 2000 N185G
Falcon 900 N900FH
Global Express N18WZ
Boeing BBJ N66ZB

Any additions/comments greatly appreciated.

Westwind VH-NGA Water landing - Updated

Australian based medical evacuation Westwind VH-NGA made a controlled landing onto the waters off Norfolk Island in the early hours of Thu 19 November. In a press release from the aircraft's operator, Careflight Pel-Air, states in this abridged version:

A CareFlight medical evacuation flight operated by Pel-Air Aviation from Apia to Melbourne was scheduled to land at Norfolk Island for a planned fuel stop on Wednesday evening when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions.

After several unsuccessful approaches and with diminishing fuel, the pilot-in-command, Captain Dominic James, made the decision to carry out a controlled landing onto the water off the coast of Norfolk Island.

The aircraft, a specially-equipped medical retrieval Westwind jet carried out a successful landing on the water and the patient, accompanying spouse and two medical crew as well as the pilots evacuated safely. They were rescued by boat and brought to the local Norfolk Island hospital for observation. The Captain reported that all passengers and crew did not have any apparent injuries.

John Sharp, Chairman of Pel-Air Avaition said that he was very proud of the Captain and the First Officer. "They performed an intricate landing on water in darkness resulting in the evacuation of everyone safely and quickly. The training of both the Pel-Air and Careflight crew came to the fore as everyone kept together and remained calm. Their professionalism stood out on the day and made a substantial difference to the outcome".

"I also want to thank the rescue team and the local authorities for their prompt action and dedication which resulted in a speedy rescue and evacuation to the hospital".

End.

The Sydney Morning Herald has the following news item on the event painting an interesting picture:

Rescue plane sinks after ditching
November 19, 2009 - 12:26PM
Six people including a sick woman have been rescued after a medical evacuation plane was forced to ditch in the sea off Norfolk Island.
The CareFlight plane was taking a critically ill patient from Samoa to Melbourne and was attempting to make a refuelling stop at Norfolk Island, the Seven Network reports.
Bad weather thwarted three attempts at landing, so the pilot peeled away from the island and put the plane down in the sea about two nautical miles offshore.
The crew and the patient were all able to get safely off the plane before it sank three minutes later.
All six people were forced to tread water, only three of them wearing lifejackets, for about 90 minutes before they were rescued by boat.
All were in shock and suffering from hypothermia but no one suffered major injuries.

Westwind VH-NGA has been a regular sight in NZ for many years carrying out a range of tasks from military liasion flights to organ retreivals.

VH-NGA at Auckland 11Oct 2009, Wayne Grant photo

USS Midway

A visit to the retired USS Midway in Downtown San Diego is a must!

USAF even arranged an F15 flypast (departed from North Island NAS) for us!

More from SOCAL

Air NZ 747-400 from Knotts Berry Farm




Air NZ 747-400 from Knotts Berry Farm

Marsh Aviation S2F N426DF in transit near San Diego Wild Animal Park

R44 on a photo mission over Knotts Berry Farm

Hughes 500D departing Santa Monica

Bell 412 N18LA tracking north at Santa Monica

Blimp N10A at its moorings near Long Beach

Squirrel N223LA over Santa Monica

Sea Stallion near San Diego

Sea Stallion's near Oceanside

Bell 407 N25NK departing Santa Monica

Coast Guard SH60 6037 inbound to a San Diego Hospital

Taken from Air & Space Museum, San Diego

Above and below taken from Air & Space Museum, San Diego