MRC Aviation: 11/2011

Benny Hinn Ministries Gulfstream 4SP N352BH departed from Auckland in the early hours of 27 November heading for Kailua-Kona via a techstop at Apia.

Gulfstream 550 N818LK spent less than an hour at Auckland on the evening of 27 November making the short hop from Kaitaia to Auckland before taking on a large volume of fuel for its planned 13hr 43min flight direct to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos Airport.

Wayne G photo

Arriving at Dunedin a little after 1430 today (25 Nov) direct from Sydney was Gulfstream 5 HB-IMJ using the callsign "Batman 141" carrying Sir Elton John.

As expected, the Gulfstream departed as "Batman 151" Dunedin at 0007 local time Saturday morning on its return to Sydney at the conclusion of the one and only NZ concert played by Sir Elton.

A comment was made regarding the arrival into the Sydney curfew. Such aircraft under a certain weight category can apply for dispensation to operate during the curfew at Sydney with the understanding that arrivals are on runway's 34L/R and departures on 16L/R.

Arriving at Dunedin, Alistair B photo

Gulfstream 550 N818LK arrived into Napier mid morning from Queenstown.

Napier 24Nov, Steve L photo

Gulfstream 550 B-KID departed Auckland late evening for Hong Kong while in the opposite direction across the Tasman flew Gulfstream 4SP N352BH, arriving at Auckland from Brisbane.

As mentioned yesterday, Gulfstream 550 N818LK arrived at Queenstown on the morning of 21 November direct from Punta Arenas, Chile. It is seen here at Queenstown, thanks to Mike S, preparing for its next flight.

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N583HA was out on a test flight from/to Auckland 21 November and is seen here about to land in blustery northwest conditions, Noel J photo

N583HA arrived at Auckland on 22 October as a ferry flight from Sydney using the callsign NZ6010 and departed at the conclusion of maintenance back to Sydney on 23 November as a commercial Air NZ flight, NZ109, before then operating HA452 to Honolulu. N584HA is set to arrive at Auckland as NZ100 from Sydney 24 November.

Thanks to Anon and Graham W for providing these shots of visiting Malaysian Air Force Boeing BBJ M53-01 at Christchurch.

Anon photo

Graham W photo

A busy Monday 21 November for bizjet movements starting with the 'before sparrows' departure of Auckland resident Citation Mustang ZK-PGA from its home base for Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Bankstown.

Arriving at Queenstown around 0730 direct from Punta Arenas was Gulfstream 550 N818LK.

Departing Queenstown a couple of hours later was Gulfstream 550 N288A direct to Papeete.

Next was Auckland's turn for activity with the first visit to NZ of Essendon based Global Express VH-VDX touching down at 1057. VH-VDX was delivered to Essendon on 16 September this year and previously flew as VP-BOK.

MRC photo

VH-VDX was followed into Auckland by Global Express VH-VGX at 1112 from Christchurch where it had arrived the previous afternoon from Essendon. Both are operated by Pratt Industries.

MRC photo

And the third bizjet arrival within 60 minutes was Gulfstream 550 B-KID from Hong Kong touching down at 1147.

MRC photo

Falcon 900EX N146EX departed Auckland for Essendon early afternoon while Hamilton based Gulfstream G200 Galaxy N533GA was also at Auckland having arrived direct from Perth Sunday morning.

Air New Zealand's second "All Black" Airbus A320 ZK-OJR entered service 20 November, a week earlier than planned to cover Boeing 737-300 maintenance. Its first revenue flight was as NZ441 from Auckland to Wellington and it is pictured here on its third sector for the day arriving at Christchurch from Auckland as NZ539.

Thanks to Craig C for the photos.

Boeing BBJ M53-01, operated by the Malaysian Air Force, arrived at Christchurch on the morning of 20 November as MAF429.

Thanks to Craig C for these photos

The first VQ-B registered corporate jet paid an overnight visit to Auckland 16 November in the form of Hawker 900XP VQ-BPH. The Hawker arrived at Auckland from Melbourne and departed 17 November for Sydney.

The Carribbean nation of Bermuda has long used the VP-B designator for aircraft however demand in recent years saw the addition of VQ-B to their inventory.

Falcon135 kindly advises that the VQ designator was once a regular sight in New Zealand skies adorned by aircraft from Fiji before they took on their own DQ marks. He also advises ex NAC Viscount ZK-NAI became VQ-GAB in July 1975! Outstanding!

Departing Auckland 17 Nov, Wayne G photo

With the temporary “Air New Zealand” decals removed, Boeing 787-8 N787BA departed off Auckland’s runway 23L at 0959 15 November heading to Sydney as “Boeing 001” where it will take centre stage at the Qantas 91st anniversary celebrations alongside Boeing 707-138 N707JT.

Gulfstream 550 N288A arrived at Auckland late morning 15 November from Rotorua where it had arrived two days prior direct from Papeete.

United States Army Gulfstream C20F 91-0108 arrived at Wellington from Pago Pago 15 November as PAT108. This Hawaii based machine last visited NZ in late June 2010.

Air New Zealand has taken delivery of two brand new aircraft this month.

Airbus A320 ZK-OJR, a domestic configured machine, arrived at Auckland on the night of 13 November concluding its delivery flight from Toulouse via Gander, Denver, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Apia.

Boeing 777-300ER ZK-OKP arrived at Auckland in the early hours of 09 November direct from Seattle’s Paine Field and enters service this afternoon (14 November) as NZ125 from Auckland to Melbourne.

The photos below taken at Auckland 14 November with the 777-300 under tow heading from the Air NZ Jet Base to the terminal for its first revenue flight.

Some more shots of N787BA arriving at Auckland 12 November 2011 direct from Boeing Field and the addition of photos taken 13 November 2011 thanks to Air NZ and Boeing who conducted tours of the aircraft.

Note the “Air New Zealand” titles added to the fuselage since its arrival, no doubt something similar will happen in Sydney for Qantas and Melbourne for Jetstar this coming week.