Hainan Airlines inaugurates services to Auckland

Hainan Airlines is the latest (and last?) new entrant to the now burgeoning Chinese tourism market to New Zealand inaugurating services to Auckland from 29 December operating three times per week from Haikou and Shenzhen. The first flight, HU7931, arrived in Auckland on time at 0630 30 December with Airbus A330-200 B-5955 (one of eight -200's in their fleet) taking out the honours. Flights will operate Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

In early October the carrier announced it would start operations from 01 January 2017 so interesting to see them turn up two days earlier.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/84908947/Chinas-Hainan-Airlines-to-fly-between-Shenzen-and-Auckland

Its now a couple of months before the next new airline to service Auckland begins services with Qatar planning to fly direct services from/to Doha with Boeing 777-200LR's with the block time Auckland-Doha scheduled to be 17hr 30min (5min longer than Emirates A380 service to Dubai). 

The first Qatar service, QR920, is due to arrive Auckland 06 February at 0500 and depart at 1440 as QR921. 

American Airlines (N800AN) Tahiti diversion 24/11/2016

American Airlines flight AA83 from Los Angeles to Auckland diverted to Papeete 24 November due to passenger illness. Enthusiasts were on location to catch the Boeing 787-8 N800AN arriving just before 0700. Due to crew hour limitations the flight remained in Papeete until the following morning when it eventually continued to Auckland. 

Boeing 757 VH-TCA heads to maintenance

Auckland-based Tasman Cargo Airlines Boeing 757-236(PCF) VH-TCA departed Auckland 23 December for Sydney and Singapore/Seletar as TMN91 for its annual maintenance layover during cargo season's annual lull. 

Airwork Flight Operations/Toll Boeing 737-400 freighter ZK-TLK was employed to provide freight capacity 29 December and it flew from Melbourne to Sydney late 28 December as TFR103 before heading to Auckland as TMN2. It then turned around and departed for Melbourne on the first of an anticipated five rotations over the coming couple of weeks. 

And a brief throw back - stumbled upon when looking for the shots of VH-TCA! Boeing 727-2J4AF VH-DHE seen in Auckland back in 2003. It flew for DHL from 1995 until 2011 intially operated by Asian Express Airlines which then became Tasman Cargo Airlines in 2008.

Maho Magic

Given its fairly quiet this side of New Year in our neck of the woods we are delighted to be able to share these magic shots of recent activity from the magic location of Maho Beach, St Maartens. This time of year is particularly busy at SXM with Northern Hemisphere folk migrating south for winter vacations.

Big shout out to Frederick K. Larkin for sharing these brilliant shots.

How low can you go!

Shot of the trip!! Must have been a super late rotate!!

Eurocopter EC120B VH-NMI / ZK-IHV

Delivered by sea just last week is this tidy Eurocopter EC120B MSN1016. It arrived as VH-NMI and was flown from the Ports of Auckland to Ardmore 14 December and has since taken up the marks ZK-IHV with Van Asch Wines of Queenstown. This airframe has a NZ past with it arriving in July 2004 as VH-POW to become ZK-IJK through until June 2012 when it was exported to become VH-NMI. 

The EC120 was noted in the circuit at Ardmore 23 December and later the same day tracking southbound across Cook Strait. 

Great photo of VH-NMI at the Ports of Auckland 14 December, Oceania Aviation photo

At Ardmore 19 December. 

Merry Christmas!

MRC Aviation would like to extend our sincere best wishes for a very 

Merry Christmas to all our followers across the world-wide web and thank you for the support and encouragement during 2016. 

Corporate Corner 08-24 December 2016

Gandel Aviation Global Express VH-TGG departed Christchurch 08 December for Te Anau/Manapouri and after a few hours on the ground it flew north to Auckland. It then headed to Rotorua 09 December and departed there direct to Nadi 11 December. 

Norris Aviation Learjet 60 VH-XPN departed Auckland 09 December for Brisbane.

Linfox Express Charter PTY Challenger 604 VH-LEF arrived in Queenstown 09 December from its Essendon home and flew onto Napier 10 December. It then flew to Auckland and Essendon 12 December. 

Kayne Andersen Advisors Global Express N801KF arrived in Auckland late 09 December from Essendon and continued to Queenstown 10 December before heading back to Auckland 11 December. It departed Auckland late 13 December for Honolulu and the following day it continued onto the US mainland. 

Gulfstream G650 VP-CJR departed Auckland for Queenstown 10 December and flew north to Napier 13 December and to Auckland 14 December. It departed Auckland for Hangzhou 17 December.

Falcon 20 VH-FAI made a brief visit to Wellington 11 December, arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Blue Ridge Capital LLC Global Express N12G arrived in Gisborne 12 December from Newark/NJ via Honolulu and Auckland. This airframe spent much of summer '15 in NZ when it was registered N9641. It made the short flight to Napier on the afternoon of 13 December and flew to Auckland on the 16th. From there it flew to Gisborne 18 December.

Marcplan Gulfstream G450 VH-MBP arrived in Auckland early afternoon 13 December from Essendon. It departed for Brisbane 14 December then to Sydney and Essendon 15 December.

Albinati Aeronautics Global 5000 HB-JRS arrived in Auckland 18 December from Male via a techstop in Perth. It departed 20 December for Queenstown. It then flew to Wellington 22 December and onto Rotorua 24 December.

Falcon 20 VH-PNY made a nocturnal visit to Christchurch 20 December arriving from and departing to Sydney.

Vista Equity Partners Global Express N283DM arrived in Queenstown 20 December from Kona as TWY66 having flown to Hawaii the previous day from Austin/TX. From Queenstown to Christchurch and back 22 December and again 23 December.

Tyremax PTY Challenger 604 N604AU arrived in Wellington 21 December from Sydney and after clearing formalities continued to Palmerston North. From Palmerston North to Auckland and back 22 December.

Executive Jet Management/Air Tiger 1 LLC Gulfstream 5 N50KC arrived in Auckland 22 December from Teterboro/NJ via a techstop in Honolulu as "Jetspeed 659". The Gulfstream was quickly turned around and headed on to Gisborne joining Global N12G on the apron. It flew from Gisborne to Kaitaia 24 December.

Executive Jet Management Global 5000 N176HS arrived in Napier 22 December from Maui/HI as "Jetspeed 176" and flew onto Auckland 24 December.

Czar Aviation (BVI) Ltd Gulfstream G550 VP-CJM arrived in Christchurch 23 December from Jakarta/Halim.

Executive Jet Management/Ford Motors Gulfstream G550 N322K arrived in Rotorua 23 December from Melbourne as "Jetspeed 322".

Fireblade Investments Global 6000 ZS-TDF departed Wellington 23 December for Queenstown as OPM2.

'Santa' Airdrops 'Christmas Gifts' From C-130 Hercules (YouTube account deleted.....)

Tianjin Airlines inaugurate NZ services

Tianjin Airlines inaugurated its thrice weekly Airbus A330-200 service from Tianjin via Chongqing as GS7957 as from 22 December with brand new B-8776 arriving almost 10 hours later than scheduled around 0420 23 December. It departed a couple of hours later on the return journey to Chongqing and Tianjin as GS7958. Presumably inclement weather across parts of China was to blame for the significant delay.

Flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through until late March when the frequency reduces to twice weekly.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/83516811/Chinas-Tianjin-Airlines-to-launch-direct-flights-to-Auckland

http://www.traveldailymedia.com/245100/tianjin-airlines-welcomes-auckland-aircraft/

http://centreforaviation.com/news/tianjin-airlines-a330--625637

B-8776 first flew 02 November 2016 and was delivered to China on 14 December 2016.

Global 6000 ZS-TDF

It has been unseasonably quiet for corporate jets so far this summer so it was great to see the arrival of Global 6000 ZS-TDF in Wellington late morning 20 December from Kansai as "Optima 2". 

The interestingly decorated Global is operated on behalf of Fireblade Investments Ltd by Vertis Aviation
http://www.africanaerospace.aero/vertis-aviation-expands-in-south-africa.html

The Global was met by Heliforce BK117 ZK-IED and EC130 ZK-IDY.

NZ Warbirds BE 2e ZK-PXA

As featured in recent months on the NZ Civil Aircraft blog : - 

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/11/nz-warbirds-armistice-day-open-day-at.html

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/11/nz-warbirds-be-2e-zk-pxa.html

The Vintage Aviator BE 2e ZK-PXA was pleasantly noted outside the "new" NZ Warbirds hangar @ Ardmore 18 December conducting an engine run. What an amazing aeroplane to now have as a resident!

Ardmore 18 December 2016. 

Learjet 60XR M-IGHT

Having been delivered to its Rotorua owner Mikro Aviation in mid August this year, Learjet 60XR M-IGHT has been relatively low profile so it was pleasing to finally catch up with it in person when it arrived in Auckland mid morning 15 December on just its fourth visit to the City of Sails. It departed around noon the same day on its return to Rotorua. It made a repeat visit 16 December.

Air Calin Airbus A330-200 F-OHSD

New Caledonia's national airline Air Calin operated Airbus A330-200 F-OHSD to Auckland on the morning of 17 December to cover for an unservicable Airbus A320. The widebody airliner arrived from Noumea as SB410 and departed on its return north as SB411. 

The Air Calin Airbus A330's were once a regular sight in Auckland however with the introduction of an additional Airbus A320 to their fleet the larger aircraft was redeployed and this is the first time one has visited in the carrier's new livery.

Meanwhile, Airbus A320 F-OJSB spent a couple of days in Christchurch recently arriving from Noumea as ACI980T 06 December and departing three days later as ACI981. 

Surveillance Australia Dash 8-202Q VH-LCL - updated with link

Dash 8-202Q VH-LCL has concluded its NZ deployment having flown some seven survey flights from Christchurch up along the Kaikoura coastline mapping the effects of the November earthquake. The Dash departed Christchurch lat morning 15 December for Norfolk Island on its return home to Cairns.

Christchurch 03 December, supplied. 

Arriving Christchurch 10 December, Z Rae photo

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Arriving in Christchurch mid afternoon 30 November from Sydney was the Surveillance Australia Dash 8-202Q VH-LCL. Operated on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy, the Dash 8 is specifically equipped with LADS - laser airborne depth sounder - and based out of Cairns, Far North Queensland. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_airborne_depth_sounder

http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/12/navy-lads-dash-8-deploys-to-new-zealand/

The aircraft is planned to conduct its first survey mission this afternoon (01 December).

VH-LCL arriving Sydney 29 November from Cairns, Grahame Hutchinson photos

Extra Festive Freight Capacity

Parcel Air has drafted in fellow Airwork-owned Boeing 737-400 freighter ZK-TLL from Toll in Australia to provide additional capacity for their domestic jet cargo operation supplementing ZK-PAK, ZK-PAQ and ZK-PAT flying between Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. 

ZK-TLL arrived in Auckland from Brisbane as "Airwork Zero One" on the evening of 11 December and entered service the following night flying to Christchurch and back. 

Vale ex Air Nelson Metroliner ZK-NSI

Ex Air Nelson Fairchild-Swearingen SA227-AC Metroliner III ZK-NSI MSN AC765B was involved in a fatal accident last week when it crashed while conducting a freight flight near Albany-Southwest Georgia/GA killing the sole occupant. The aircraft, aptly registered N765FA,  was operated by Key Lime Air, a Colorado based air charter provider.

AC765B first flew in November 1990 using Fairchild test registration N27521 and was delivered in full Air Nelson livery arriving in Nelson from Pago Pago on 21 November 1990 with just 16 cycles and 40.08 hours on the clock. It entered service 29 November as PG226 flying from Nelson to Wellington and remained in operation until 26 July 2002 when it flew its final flight for the airline as NZ8537 from Wellington to Nelson under the command of Capt G Osborne and F/O F Collie. It was then placed in storage before ferrying to Gisborne for livery removal on 29 November 2002. On exit from the fleet the Metro had completed 29647 cycles and accumulated 17546 hours.
It became N765FA with OK Aviation and departed Nelson for Auckland and Apia 19 April 2003 as SXI147. It continued onto Honolulu and Camarillo/CA over the next couple of days. 

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2016/12/swearingen-sa227-ac-metro-iii-n765fa.html

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20161205-0

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/LYM308/history/20161206/0130Z/KECP/KABY

http://www.keylimeair.com/

Arriving in Centennial/CO 03 November 2015, Braden Hicks photo (via Flickr) 

88th Emirates A380 enters service

Emirates 88th Airbus Airbus A380, A6-EUK, has entered service with its first revenue flight being EK412 from Dubai to Sydney and Christchurch arriving 12 December. 

The aircraft, configured as 14F/76J/426Y, was delivered to Dubai 09 December arriving from Finkenwerder as UAE6CP. Its first flight, under Airbus test registration F-WWSH, was conducted back on 29 June with it departing Toulouse for Finkenwerder.

Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCL - update

Ex Air New Zealand Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCL, now registered TF-ISW with Icelandair, departed its medium term storage in Alice Springs 11 December destined for Xiamen, China as ICE6767. 

Meanwhile, , Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCJ retired from service a little while back has had most of its identity removed (including registration) and for a time was minus both winglets but these have now been re-fitted (one was still absent when this shot was taken earlier in the month).

ZK-NCJ, Auckland 03 December 2016. 

Diamond Delivery

Diamond Aircraft DA42 Twin Star Platinum N121TS has recently arrived in New Zealand with the light twin touching down in Auckland 06 December concluding its Trans Pacific delivery flight from Merced/CA via night stops in Honolulu/HI and Apia. The 2008 edition low timed aeroplane has arrived with low hours on the clock and from the video embedded in the link below is in immaculate condition.

http://lifestyleaviation.com/featured-aircraft-2008-da42-n121ts/

The aeroplane has conducted a number of locally operated flights from Auckland and Ardmore including a visit to Pauanui and on the morning of 10 December made its way south to Hamilton. 

RAAF Wedgetail visitor

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 Wedgetail A30-003 made a two night visit to New Zealand last week. Using the callsign ASY259, the AEW&C configured aircraft arrived in Whenuapai late 07 December from Williamtown via Apia. The following day it conducted a navigation exercise spanning the length of New Zealand before departure 09 December for Norfolk Island and Williamtown. 

First known visit to NZ by this particular airframe.

RNZAF Black Falcons

Gavin Conroy from Classic Aircraft Photography had the pleasure of flying with the recently formed Royal New Zealand Air Force Beechcraft Texan II formation team, the Black Falcons. The nine ship formation were photographed from a very unique aerial platform - Ohakea-based TBM Avenger ZK-TBE.  Thanks to Gavin for sharing these shots. 

Combined Central Flying School and 14 Squadron Diamond Nine formation off the Manawatu coast. 

Five ship vic formation off the coast of Ohakea.