The gas explosion at the Pike River Coal mine site located 50km northeast of Greymouth Friday afternoon trapping 29 miners underground generated a degree of aviation activity. Following the extreme circumstances surrounding the recently rescued Chilean miners, this event has generated significant media interest from around the world.
As a result of this, Citation X
VH-RCA made its third Tasman crossing this month arriving at Christchurch around 0200 20Nov from Sydney carrying Australian media while Queensland
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| VH-RCA at Christchurch, M Hayes photo |
Government's Hawker 850XP
VH-SGY flew from Brisbane direct into Hokitika 20Nov (the nearest sizeable airport to the site some 90km southwest of the mine) carrying expertise and specialist equipment to assist with search and rescue efforts which could be on a scale not seen in NZ previously. It promptly departed for Christchurch and then back to Brisbane.
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| VH-SGY at Christchurch, M Hayes photo |
Garden City Helicopters Beech King Air 200
ZK-FDR, a regular visitor to the West Coast on aeromedical transfer flights, departed Greymouth after dark Friday for Christchurch, and then made a round trip to Hokitika and back.
In addition, media report three rescue helicopters have been deployed to the location from nearby Greymouth, and further afield from Nelson and Christchurch.
Acernus/Vincent Aviation Citation Mustang
ZK-MUS made a visit to Greymouth on Saturday afternoon, arriving from and returning to Wellington.
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| ZK-MUS caught departing Ardmore earlier this month, C Hunter photo |
Eagle Airways provided an additional service between Christchurch and Hokitika on the Saturday afternoon using Beech 1900D
ZK-EAM.
