Challenger 350 M-SGJS

Isle of Man registered Challenger 350 M-SGJS, operated by Twenty 27 Ltd of New Delhi, arrived at Napier on the morning of 29 March from Singapore/Seletar via a techstop at Cairns. It made the short flight to Rotorua 31 March. 

Reduced Runway Length at Auckland - has concluded!

Taxiway works at Auckland International saw a displaced threshold implemented overnight 04 February with the transition being carried out during the early hours. The reduced runway length will be in effect until the end of March.

https://www.aucklandairport.co.nz/Corporate/NewsAndMedia/AllMediaReleases/Auckland-Airport-taxiway-maintenance.aspx

The taxiway works have been completed and the full length of the runway and associated eastern taxiways are now in use after the runway was closed for a couple of hours during the early part of 31 March.  

RAAF Depart Queenstown

The four Royal Australian Air Force BAe Hawk jets departed Queenstown for Hobart early on the afternoon of 29 March as ASY1016 and later the same day continued onto Edinburgh near Adelaide using the callsign "Raptor" which incidentally was their callsign whilst flying out of Queenstown for the Warbirds over Wanaka 2016 airshow. 

As per their eastbound Tasman crossing, the homeward overwater crossing saw them accompanied by a Boeing C17 Globemaster III. This job was undertaken by A41-207 with the transporter arriving at Christchurch on the evening of 28 March from Amberley and it departed at noon 29 March for Pearce intercepting the Hawk formation over Fiordland. 

A41-207 at Christchurch 29 March 2016, G Weatherby photo

05-5148 at Christchurch 29 March 2016 prior to its departure from Hickam the same day, G Weatherby photo

Lancair Legacy VH-LNZ

Apple Air PTY of East Devonport, Tasmania Lancair Legacy VH-LNZ is currently in New Zealand adding to the population of visiting Australian aircraft. It arrived at Kerikeri from Norfolk Island 24 March 2016 before flying onto Nelson and Wanaka 25 March where it is seen arriving through the lens of Bluebus prior to being hangared.

It was observed yesterday making its way from the Marlborough area to Kerikeri.

Corporate Corner Easter Activity

After a lull in activity Good Friday (25 March)  saw a trio of first time visitors arrive into New Zealand.

First up was Gulfstream 5 N727PR (c/n 613) co-owned by Corporate Wings LLC and Sparc Aviation LLC. The jet flew from Maui to Rotorua however its early morning arrival was thwarted by seasonal low cloud and after two missed approaches it diverted to Auckland. Its arrival at its alternate airport was not without disruption and it carried out a go around due to the Tasman Cargo Boeing 757 aborting its takeoff roll! So a very long trip for those onboard N727PR which ultimately remained at Auckland overnight.

N727PR is a 2000 model first registered N570GA before becoming N504QS with Netjets. It then became N721MM with MGM Mirage and most recently flew with Deerjet as B-8097. It moved back to the States last year and received this rather interesting colour scheme. 

The Gulfstream 5 departed Auckland for Queenstown 27 March. 



PMI Global Services Gulfstream G550 N551PM arrived at Auckland from Melbourne and was met by Bell GlobalRanger ZK-IXJ.

Avwest PTY of Perth, WA, took delivery of Global 6000 N599CH (9515) in early February 2016 and it made its first flight since delivery on 25 March when it flew from Perth to Auckland.

Vistajet Global 6000 9H-VJG arrived at Napier 26 March from Honolulu as VJT898.It departed Napier mid afternoon 28 March on return to Honolulu and then onwards to Newark, NY. 

Alticor/Amway Gulfstream G550 N250DV departed Queenstown 27 March for Auckland, Honolulu and Chicago/Midway while the operator's helicopter, Eurocopter EC130 N716LY, was noted arriving into Nelson late morning 27 March on its way north. 

In addition to the above, Noumea Renting Citationjet CJ4 F-ONCP arrived at Auckland late 23 March from Tarawa via Noumea. This is only the second visit by this aircraft to New Zealand with the first a few months ago when it visited Auckland and Wellington. 

Embraer EMB-550 Legacy 500 N142GZ - first of type

Avesco PTY Embraer E550 Legacy N142GZ touched down at Christchurch on the afternoon of 

28 March from its Mackay base via a techstop at Brisbane. The arrival of this aircraft, delivered to Australia in February 2015, marks the first time this particular Embraer variant has visited our shores. 

File photo - N142GZ on static display at the Avalon 2015 airshow, Transair photo

Boeing C17 05-5148

United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 05-5148 was deployed from its home of Hickam AFB to Christchurch on the evening of 23 March 2016 as JUNGL17 ahead of its participation at this years Warbirds over Wanaka Easter airshow event. The aircraft conducted aerial displays at Wanaka on all three days of the airshow.

C Crew photos

In addition to the C17, Armee de L'Air Casa 235 66 arrived at Wanaka 25 March from Whenuapai having the previous day flown in from Noumea.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 1960s/1970s

A big thanks to Flipper for drawing our attention to this gem! 

Airbus A320(SL) VH-VFV

Jetstar Airbus A320's are far from strangers in our skies with the type a regular sight operating both domestically and internationally from across the country.

However sharklet variants operated by the airline have been infrequent visitors up until recently and it has been pleasing to note VH-VFX (see earlier post) and VH-VFV "Sunglass Hut" gracing our skies in recent days.

Departing Christchurch, G Weatherby photo

Earlier in the day at Auckland post arrival from Australia. 

ATR72-600 ZK-MVJ

Air New Zealand's Mount Cook Airline has taken delivery of its 11th ATR72-212A (600 series) aircraft with the arrival of ZK-MVJ at Christchurch late afternoon 24 March as "Southern Cross 1614". 

The 68 seat turboprop has made the journey from Toulouse over the last few days and its most recent overnight stop was Brisbane.

The arrival of ZK-MVJ brings the Mt Cook ATR72 fleet to 22 aircraft in total with four more -600's due before the end of the year.

Resting up at Brisbane before the final leg to Christchurch. 

Air Asia X returns to NZ

Yesterday signaled the return to New Zealand of Malaysia based Air Asia X.

The low cost carrier announced its intention to start daily Airbus A330-300 services to Auckland from Kuala Lumpur via the Gold Coast in mid January this year and the first of these flights touched down on the afternoon of 23 March as "Xanadu 206" with 9M-XBC operating the inaugural service.

Air Asia X first NZ foray was from April 2011 through until May 2012 when it operated 4 times weekly services through Christchurch

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=air asia x

File photo

9M-XBC arriving under ho hum conditions. 

RAAF Hawks jet into Queenstown - updated with photos

Four Royal Australian Air Force Hawk 127 jets (A27-01, 02, 20, 23) from No. 79 Squadron based at Pearce, Western Australia, arrived at Queenstown 22 March ahead of their participation at this year's Warbirds over Wanaka Easter airshow extravaganza. 

The two place introductory jet trainers made flew from RAAF Pearce to RAAF Edinburgh then onto Hobart 21 March before making the Tasman crossing late the following afternoon.

Their arrival at Queenstown was supported by Royal Australian Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III A41-213 with the heavylift transport arriving at Christchurch from RAAF Pearce 22 March and departing the same evening for RAAF Amberley. Thanks to LiveATC, the Hawks over-water crossing was timed to coincide with the C17 overflying Hobart to provide "top cover" communications and support.  

No. 79 Squadron was re-formed in July 1998 as a training unit and currently operates 15 of the 33 Hawk jets in service with the RAAF.

The Hawks first appeared at Wanaka in 2014 when three aircraft were deployed from 76 Squadron operated from  RAAF Williamtown.

http://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/latest_news.html

File photo - A27-11 arriving at Queenstown April 2014. 

Pilatus Demonstrator

This year's Warbirds over Wanaka airshow is in part being sponsored by Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus.

Pilatus PC12/47E VH-PIL (1389) arrived at Auckland direct from Sydney 20 March and flew north to Springhill (home of ZK-TFL) 21 March before making its way to Wellington 22 March. The aircraft is on charge as a demonstrator for the manufacturer and wears The Tailor titles

http://www.thetailor.com.au/

Corporate Corner

Executive Airlines Citation 680 VH-EXG made a nocturnal visit to Christchurch 12 March arriving from and returning to Essendon.

Brenzil PTY Falcon 7X VH-CRW departed Napier for its Brisbane home 16 March. It had flown from Napier to Woodbourne and back 10 March.

As previously mentioned, Visa's Gulfstream G550 N107VS departed Auckland for Oakland 12 March and it actually wears a new scheme since the photo posted earlier.

Learjet 36 N82GG arrived at Hamilton from Wellington 11 March and then conducted a survey flight 12 March. The Lear flew south to Christchurch 14 March and then conducted a survey flight 17 March before flying back to Wellington 18 March. It departed the Capital 22 March for Essendon.

Flying Falcon Operations Falcon 900EX N940CL arrived at Auckland from Essendon 17 March and departed for Honolulu 19 March.

Marcplan Gulfstream G450 VH-MBP flew Essendon-Auckland-Queenstown-Sydney 18 March and returned to Queenstown from Sydney 20 March. It then made a return trip to Christchurch and back 21 March before heading to Sydney 22 March. 

Gandel Aviation/Execujet Global Express VH-TGG flew Essendon-Auckland-Queenstown 18 March. The Global flew to Christchurch and Essendon 21 March. 

Making Its first visit to NZ 18 March was Crown Casino's Global Express VH-CCD. It made a brief appearance at Christchurch arriving from Melbourne and Hobart and departed for Melbourne. VH-CCD was delivered to Crown in July 2015.

Alticor/Amway Gulfstream G550 N250DV arrived at Queenstown soon after sunrise 18 March from Maui. The operator's EC130 N716LY continues to be flown in the Fiordland/Wakitipu area. 

A trio of jets visited Dunedin 20 March starting with the arrival of Skyline Aviation's Nextant 400XTi ZK-NXJ from Auckland following by Queensland Government Hawker 850XP VH-SGY from Brisbane (returning to Brisbane later) and Business Aviation Solutions Falcon 20F VH-FAI arriving from Sydney (returning to Sydney later). 

Jetcity/ANZA Challenger 604 N604AU arrived at Auckland from Sydney 20 March.

Jetcity Learjet 45 VH-LJQ visited Auckland during the early hours of 22 March arriving from and returning to Essendon.

Boeing 737-476 N943NZ

Airwork/Parcelair Boeing 737-476 N943NZ arrived at Auckland 20 March concluding its delivery flight from the USA post freighter conversion. This example is ex VH-TJR and was delivered to Australian Airlines in November 1992. It was transferred to the Qantas fleet in October 1993 after the airline's merger and named "Cockatiel". VH-TJR was withdrawn from service 20 years later and ferred to Victorville, CA during December 2013. Following its purchase by Airwork the 737 was flown to Dothan, AL in May 2015 for freighter conversion. It flew from Dothan to Honolulu via Oakland, CA 19 March and onto Auckland via Pago Pago 20 March where it arrived after dark and was devoid of any colours and no ZK registration on the nosegear door to guide us to its future markings however it was registered ZK-PAQ on 22 March. 

The arrival of this airframe brings the dedicated Parcelair jet fleet to three airframes as the retirement of the F27 and Convair fleets closes in. The final Airpost F27 Friendship to fly from Woodbourne departed on the evening of 18 March with ZK-PAX operating as PST20 to Wellington. 

Boeing 787-8 A6-PFC at Auckland & Christchurch

The Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight Boeing 787-8 A6-PFC positioned from Auckland to Christchurch 20 March as Sultan 04. It is understood the passengers made their way from Auckland to Queenstown late last week on charter aircraft. From Christchurch the Dreamliner departed direct to Singapore early on the afternoon of 21 March. 

Thanks to all those providing coverage of the aircraft at both cities. 

Piper Comanche Convention Participants cross the Tasman - updated

Thanks to ZKBAZ for the following press release regarding the international Comanche convention:

29 February, 2016

Piper Comanche Aircraft owners hold international convention in

Queenstown, New Zealand

The International Comanche Society (ICS) www.comancheflyer.com is a

not for profit aircraft type club representing owners and pilots of Piper

Comanche airplanes.

During 22-26 March 2016 over one hundred International Comanche

Society members from around the world will gather in Queenstown for

the society’s annual convention. www.ics2016.com

ICS conventions are normally staged in the USA and this year is a first for New Zealand and only the third time the event has been held in the

southern hemisphere. Fully 90% of the people attending the Queenstown convention will be from overseas, including Australia, USA and Europe.

Five (5) Australian members are flying their personal Comanche

airplanes across the Tasman Sea to join the six (6) New Zealand based

Comanche’s for an Australasian Tribe www.comancheflyer.com.au lineup

on Queenstown airport.

Making their way to Norfolk Island from Port Macquarie via Lord Howe Island 09 March were Piper PA30 Twin Comanches VH-MEG, VH-PBH and VH-TSJ with a ring-in Cirrus SR22 VH-SRI. All four aircraft are due onto Kerikeri and Taupo in the next day or so.

As it happened, the Twin Comanches flew onto Taupo from Kerikeri 12 March then to New Plymouth and Takaka 14 March and have since made their way to Southland. Cirrus VH-SRI arrived at Kerikeri from Norfolk Island 12 March and flew to Tauranga 13 March. It then made its way to Timaru 18 March and marched further south the following day. The three Twin Comanches, in conjunction with PA24 ZK-BAZ, flew to Invercargill 20 March and onto Queenstown 22 March. 

Piper PA30 Twin Comanche VH-HPR arrived at Norfolk Island 19 March from Bankstown and Lord Howe Island and proceeded to Kerikeri and Nelson 20 March. 
Piper PA30 Twin Comanche VH-MAC arrived at Norfolk Island 20 mARCH from Coffs Harbour and Lord Howe Island. 

Local Twin Comanche ZK-DOK arrived at Queenstown 20 March direct from its Hamilton home. 

Kung Fu Panda 3

Jetstar have entered an agreement with the makers of animated movie "Kung Fu Panda 3" with their Airbus A320SL VH-VFX (apt registration .... Visual Effects!) rolled out earlier this week with the snazzy decals. The aircraft has visited Wellington twice since having the decals added, the first in the early morning light of 17 March and again during the more civilised lunchtime hours of 18 March. 

Thanks to Lanzi for these shots.

Beech Exodus

Eagle Airways Beech 1900D's ZK-EAD, EAF and EAO underwent a change of ownership 10 March to Mesiglo (PTY) of Lanseria, South Africa and are reported to be destined for United Nations flight operations.
The trio departed Hamilton for Norfolk Island and Brisbane 15 March on and set off for Alice Springs and Broome 16 March and continued to Bali 17 March.

ZK-EAD flew its last service for Air New Zealand Link on 05 February 2016 as NZ2215 from Auckland to Hamilton.

ZK-EAF flew its last revenue flight on 07 February 2016 as NZ2215 from Auckland to Hamilton.

ZK-EAO was withdrawn from service back on 19 April 2015 and its last revenue flight was as NZ2217 from Auckland to Hamilton.

From left to right - ZK-EAR, EAJ, EAM at Hamilton 24 December 2015. These three are still at Hamilton awaiting disposal along with ZK-EAH. 

Boeing 787-8 A6-PFC

United Arab Emirates Amiri Flight Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner A6-PFC arrived at Wellington on the evening of 16 March from Sydney and Canberra as "Sultan 4".
The corporate configured airliner is making its second visit to New Zealand having visited the Capital in February 2015.

A6-PFC flew north to Auckland on the evening of 17 March marking its first visit to the City of Sails.