Monday 20 July - Saturday 25 July 2009

Monday 20 July 2009
Careflight Learjet 36 VH-CMS departed Auckland for Coolangatta.

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBD arrived at Christchurch from Brisbane early this morning while late that same day 737-700 VH-VBP departed Christchurch for Melbourne.

Tuesday 21 July 2009
Air NZ Boeing 747-400 ZK-NBV returned to Auckland today ex Barcelona via Hong Kong and Brisbane as ANZ1982.

Wednesday 22 July 2009
Gulfstream 450 VP-CFB departed Auckland before sunrise for Sydney return later the same day.

Thursday 23 July 2009
Jetstar made its first visit to Hamilton today, diverting from Auckland due to fog having earlier departed Christchurch as JQ244 using Airbus A320 VH-VQC. After a refuel it continued to Auckland. On the ground at Hamilton at the same time was Air NZ Boeing 737-300 ZK-NGI which had also diverted.

As mentioned in its own posting, Citation Mustang ZK-PGA arrived at Auckland on delivery.

Gulfstream 550 N235DX arrived at Auckland this evening from Hamilton Island and Brisbane.

Mike Condon photo

Friday 24 July 2009
Gulfstream 550 N235DX departed Auckland for Rotorua arriving shortly after Citation 501 N800DT had arrived from Ardmore.

Air National's BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO carried out a test flight from/to Auckland this afternoon marking the first flight it has made since March.

Saturday 25 July 2009
Soundsair Cessna Caravan ZK-TZR, which had arrived Auckland from Omaka 24July, departed for Norfolk Island, Noumea, Nadi and Pago Pago. It is expected to return to NZ sometime in August.

Gulfstream 450 VP-CFB departed Auckland early afternoon for Sydney and Perth.

Gulfstream 550 N235DX returned to Auckland early evening from Rotorua. After a fuel uplift and Customs clearance the 550 departed for Honolulu.

Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIE departed Auckland for Tonga as CVA580.

New York ANG Lockheed LC130 Hercules 92-1094 arrived at Christchurch this afternoon from Pago Pago for maintenance with Air NZ which will see it paint stripped, worked on, and repainted in time for service to the ice over summer.

NZ Bizjet Population Increases

Despite the economic downturn, its great to see another bizjet grace our skies, albeit in the form of Cessna's Very Light Jet, the Citation 510 Mustang. New Zealand Jet Charters took delivery at Auckland 23Jul of their example, ZK-PGA/2 (the first ZK-PGA adorned a Piper Aztec operated by Chris Amon). ZK-PGA/2 arrived into Wellington as VH-SJP on 14Jul from Bankstown via Sydney and Norfolk Island and underwent CAA certification work with Vincent Aviation. It departed Wellington 23Jul for an approach and overshoot at Auckland then across to Ardmore for a few circuits before returning to land at Auckland where it was promptly hangered in the Business Jets hanger.

Arriving at Auckland, Wayne Grant photo

NZ bizjet population is now made up of:
Global Express XRS N57LE
Falcon 900EXE N146EX
Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB
Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB
Westwind ZK-RML
Learjet 35A ZK-XVL
Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM
Citation Mustang ZK-LCA
Citation Mustang ZK-MUS
Citation Mustang ZK-PGA
Citation 501 N800DT

It is understood this number is set to rise by one more before the end of this year.

Sat 18 - Sun 19 July 2009

Firstly, some information to correct previous blog entires. Sincere thanks to those providing these details:

US Coast Guard Gulfstream 5, 01, visited Wellington in April 2004, arriving on the 12th from Honolulu and departing 17th for Papeete.

Air New Zealand has visited Spain previously, all the way back in August 1992 at the conclusion of the Olympic Games held at Barcelona. The aircraft in question was Boeing 747-219 ZK-NZW which flew from Frankfurt to Barcelona, then to Los Angeles, Honolulu and arriving at Auckland 14 August. I presume the aircraft arrived at Frankfurt on the airline's scheduled flight from Los Angeles as NZ18.

Saturday 18 July 2009
Kiwi Air Pacific Aerospace 600 Cresco ZK-LTP returned to NZ today following over a year around Australia on geophysic work. It touched down at Auckland mid afternoon from Griffith and Lord Howe Island before continuing to the operator's base at Gisborne.

Gulfstream 450 VP-CFB arrived at Auckland early evening from Perth where it has spent the last month having arrived from Male 21Jun.

Sunday 19 July 2009
US Coast Guard Gulfstream 5 01 departed Wellington for the Micronesian island of Pohnpei.

Wed 08 July - Fri 17 July 2009

Wednesday 08 July 2009

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF made a day trip from Wellington to New Plymouth and return.

Challenger 604 VH-VRE, which had flown from Christchurch to Queenstown 07Jul, returned to Christchurch today.

King Air 300 F-GICA departed Auckland for Norfolk Island and Magenta.

As350 Squirrel N801KF was noted being pushed into the Airwork hanger at Ardmore late afternoon.

Thursday 09 July 2009

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF arrived at Christchurch from Wellington.

Challenger 604 VH-VRE headed back to Queenstown from Christchurch.

Friday 10 July 2009

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF flew Christchurch-Queenstown-Christchurch and back to Queenstown.

Hawker 800XP VH-ZUH made a brief stop at Queenstown, arriving from Sydney and continuing to Auckland where it was hangered with Air National.

Pacific Aerospace XL750 ZK-JZI departed Auckland for Pago Pago.

Saturday 11 July 2009

Air NZ Boeing 767-300 ZK-NCK departed Auckland for Hong Kong as ANZ6103 for its blended winglet installation.

Sunday 12 July 2009

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF carried out a demonstration flight from/to Queenstown.

Falcon 900C VH-LAL departed Queenstown for Melbourne/Essendon.

Challenger 604 VH-VRE departed Queenstown for its home town of Perth.

Monday 13 July 2009

Air NZ Boeing 767-300 ZK-NCG arrived back at Auckland from Hong Kong as ANZ6042 as previous blogged.

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF carried out another Queenstown-Queenstown local flight.

Qantas operated Airbus A330-300 VH-QPD on what is normally a 767-300 flight today as QF55/56 from Sydney to Auckland and back.

Tuesday 14 July 2009

New Zealand's third Cessna Citation 510 Mustang arrived today in the form of VH-SJP. The aircraft arrived at Wellington from Bankstown via Sydney and Norfolk Island. It will be placed on the ZK register and operate from Auckland.

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF carried out yet another Queenstown local flight before heading north to Auckland.

AS350 Squirrel N801KF arrived at Auckland Intl from the Whangarei area late afternoon before departing to Ardmore.

Qantas operated Boeing 767-300 VH-OGC to Wellington from Melbourne today as QFA37D due problems with the Jetconnect fleet. It then positioned to Sydney as QFA6018.

Wednesday 15 July 2009

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF flew an Auckland local flight before heading to Norfolk Island where it overnighted and continued to Lord Howe Island and Brisbane 16Jul.

Qantas Boeing 767-300 VH-OGC was on the Tasman again today, this time as QFA6030/6031 from Sydney to Auckland and return on behalf of Lan Chile.

Jetstar Airbus A320-200 VH-VQR was on the ramp at Dunedin today after it diverted from Queenstown due weather operating as JST277 from Christchurch.

Careflight Learjet 36 VH-CMS arrived at Dunedin from the Gold Coast this evening. After a couple of hours on the ground the aircraft headed back to the Gold Coast.

Arriving at Auckland shortly before midnight was United States Coast Guard Gulfstream 5 tail number 01. The aircraft had started its day in Beijing and tech stopped at Guam's Anderson Air Force Base. Using the callsign "Charlie 101", this is only the second time this decade that one of their aircraft has visited our shores, the previous visit being in February 2000 with a Gulfstream 3 through Christchurch.

Mike Condon photo

Thursday 16 July 2009

Air NZ Boeing 747-400 ZK-NBV departed Auckland for Brisbane, Hong Kong and Barcelona as ANZ1981 on a charter flight. Would this be the first Air NZ aircraft to visit Spain??

Beechjet 400 VH-BZL departed Queenstown for Hobart and Adelaide.

Life Technologies Challenger 604 N208LT arrived at Auckland just on sunset from Melbourne.

Mike Condon photo

Prime Jet Gulfstream 400 N128AB arrived at Auckland late evening from Sydney.

Qantas Boeing 767-300 VH-OGV operated a charter on behalf of Emirates from Brisbane to Auckland and back.

Qantas operated Boeing 737-400 VH-TJE on QFA43/44 Sydney-Auckland-Sydney today due to ongoing problems with one of the Jetconnect aircraft.

Jetstar Airbus A320-200 VH-VQR again graced the ramp at Dunedin this afternoon following a diversion from Queenstown, this time while operating as JST279 from Auckland. It later positioned to Christchurch.

Friday 17 July 2009

Challenger 604 N208LT departed Auckland for Apia and Honolulu.

USCG Gulfstream 5 01 arrived at Wellington from Auckland.

Gulfstream 400 N128AB departed Auckland for Darwin.

Ardmore Classic

A quick visit to Ardmore today had me just about run into the curb! I was trundling along happily and saw this red and white scheme in the distance sitting at Oceania and thought, oh, a Hiller 1100. As I got closer to their compound I quickly realised it was of a similar vintage (June 1960) but not a FH1100, but a Bell 47J-2 Ranger registered VH-JEY. It is registered to Helicopters Pty Ltd of Condell Park, NSW and judging by the degree of interest in it I would say the accompanying photos are of it carrying out its first flight in NZ. There is another Bell 47J-2 in the country, ZK-HGI based at Tauranga.

Also in the Oceania hanger was Notar 500N N520AN c/n LN-034 registered to HeliservicesLLC.

First Air NZ Boeing 767-300 with winglets returns home

Colin Hunter photo

Air New Zealand's Boeing 767-300 ZK-NCG returned home to Auckland 13Jul direct from Hong Kong as ANZ6042 where it had arrived 08Jun for maintenance with HAECO which saw the aircraft fitted with very destinctive winglets and zonal dryers (effectively dehumidifiers) in the upper fuselage. The addition of the winglets and weight reductions made by the use of the dryers will aid fuel conservation and make these already fantastic workhorses even better!

On arrival in the Auckland area the 767 was greeted by a Helitranz helicopter which undertook aerial photography and then after landing the aircraft was taken directly to the Air NZ maintenance facility for a media briefing and additional maintenance activity before entering service 14Jul.

Although the aircraft currently has the koru on the inside of the winglets, it is understood these will be removed due to perceived vertigo related issues when viewed from inside the cabin.

Tues 30 June - Tue 07 July 2009

Tuesday 30 June 2009
Nil significant activity

Wednesday 01 July 2009
Poolhurst Pty Pilatus PC12/47E VH-VTF arrived at Auckland late afternoon direct from Brisbane. The aircraft is in NZ for the next two weeks carrying out demonstration flights.

Arriving at Auckland, John Mounce photo

Skyline Aviation's King Air 200 ZK-PLK made a trip from Hastings to the Chatham Islands and return today.

Luft Aviation Challenger 601 N360SL arrived at Auckland from its Melbourne/Essendon home where it share's a hanger with two other Luft Aviation aircraft, Challenger N360PL and Global Express N360LA.

1990 vintage Cessna Caravan I N165TC arrived at Auckland tonight nearing completion of its ferry flight from Florida via all stops including Hollister, Hilo, Christmas Island and Apia. After clearing formalities the Caravan, apparently on delivery to a Canterbury based parachute operation, flew across to Ardmore where it was observed over the coming days having work carried out on it.

At Ardmore 03Jul, Colin Hunter photo

Thursday 02 July 2009
Luft Aviation Challenger 601 N360SL returned to Essendon from Auckland.

Careflight Learjet 36 VH-CMS arrived at Auckland from Funafuti and prior to that the Gold Coast on a medivac flight.

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF departed Auckland for Wellington, before making a return trip to Christchurch.

Friday 03 July 2009
Although I'm no longer reporting on local bizjet activity, a notable (of sorts) movement today was the arrival at the small Wellsford airstrip of Springhill of Citation Mustang ZK-MUS from Wellington. The VLJ (Very Light Jet) has visited the 870m x 10m sealed strip previously in January of this year.

Careflight Learjet 36 VH-CMS departed Auckland for the Gold Coast.

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF flew from Wellington to Hastings where it conducted demonstration flights before returning to Wellington.

Saturday 04 July 2009
Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF made the short hop from Wellington to Omaka where it spent time before returning to Wellington.

Sunday 05 July 2009
Arriving during the early hours of this morning was yet another Careflight Learjet, this time their 45 series VH-CXJ from Port Vila, and prior to that the Gold Coast. It departed later the same day for Noumea and Sydney.

Monday 06 July 2009
Two corporate arrivals into Queenstown this afternoon, firstly with Walker Air Falcon 900C VH-LAL from Essendon followed a couple of hours later by Business Aviation Solutions Beechjet 400A VH-BZL from Sydney where it had started earlier in the day with a flight to/from Adelaide.

King Air 300 F-GICA arrived at Auckland early this afternoon from Noumea/Magenta.

Pacific Aerospace XL750 ZK-KAK was noted flying from Taupo to Kerikeri and was obviously set to embark on an international departure however made a southbound trip back to the factory at Hamilton before overnighting back at Taupo (see entry for 07Jul).

On the subject of XL750's, Kiwi Air's ZK-SWA was noted flying from Alice Springs to Perth/Jandakot today having flown from Goroka (PNG) to Horn Island the previous day. The aircraft has been employed in PNG for the past several months on seismic survey work.

Pilatus PC12 VH-VTF made a demo flight from/to Wellington today.

Air New Zealand/Eagle Air inaugurated services between Christchurch and Westport today using Beech 1900D ZK-EAJ for the first return trip in the morning followed by Beech 1900D ZK-EAP that evening. The service will operate twice on Mondays and Fridays only in conjunction with Solid Energy. The introduction of these services appears to signal the demise of Coast Air flying the route with their Cessna 404 Titan ZK-NDY however the fledgling carrier is now advertising daily Greymouth-Wellington services in the near future on their website.
http://www.coastair.co.nz/

Tuesday 07 July 2009
Pacific Aerospace XL750 ZK-KAK again departed Taupo early this morning for Kerikeri and then northbound to Norfolk Island.