Aeronexus Boeing 767-300 ZS-NEX

Touching down in Wellington early on the morning of 31 January direct from Tokyo/Haneda was South African based Aeronexus Boeing 767-300 ZS-NEX. Using the callsign ARN1A, the widebody airliner has been chartered by heavy metal group "Guns and Roses" for parts of their global tour having earlier leased a Maltese registered Boeing 757.

Interestingly, ZS-NEX has spent some time flying from New Zealand in its previous life with Polish airline LOT when registered SP-LPA. It was dry leased to Air New Zealand from November 1995 until April 1996, then again from November 1999 until March 2000. 

http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-767i/Poland/sp-lpa.html

First A380 to Ohakea! (updated with photos)

A momentary runway closure at Auckland International to clear debris early on the afternoon of 29 January saw the traffic flow into and out of the airport become quickly congested and most notably affected was Emirates flight EK406 from Melbourne being operated by Airbus A380

A6-EEF which, after briefly holding, had to divert to RNZAF Base Ohakea for fuel marking the first time the super jumbo has visited the airport.
It spent just over two hours on the ground in Ohakea before heading back to Auckland. 

With the limited number of "large" airports in New Zealand the NZ Defence Force/RNZAF and about 12 airlines have an arrangement to have Ohakea available as an alternative airport in the event the flight's destination is not suitable for landing. While this would normally be weather related, today's was a result of runway light damage which may have occurred during a rejected takeoff by Singapore Airlines flight SQ286 Airbus A380 9V-SKG. 

GF Air Gulfstream 650ER N912GG - UPDATED

Touching down to a gloomy, showery Auckland summer day 19 January was GF Air/GF Management Company, LLC of Durham/NC Gulfstream G650ER N912GG. The sleek jet wearing bright colours (to brighten the dull day!) arrived from Melbourne/Tullamarine having crossed the Pacific Ocean two days earlier from Kona/HI. The 650ER also visited Melbourne during December 2016 arriving on the 13th from Kona and returning two days later. 

N912GG flew from Auckland to Melbourne 22 January returning to Auckland the following morning before departing just prior to noon the same day for Kona/HI. 

Chinese Carriers Upsize

China Eastern Airlines daily service to Auckland from Shanghai/Pudong is temporarily upsized from the regular Airbus A330-200's to Boeing 777-300's from 20 January for a couple of weeks to provide capacity over the Chinese New Year. 

The airline operates a fleet of 16 -300's (designated 39PER) with the first service, MU779, being operated by B-7367 delivered to the carrier in October 2016 while the second (pictured below) was flown by B-2002.

In addition, China Southern have upsized their afternoon Auckland service from Guangzhou to Boeing 777-300's from 21 January with B-2049 operating the first CZ305/306 for the seasonal adjustment. However the aircraft became unservicable and was still at Auckland late 22 January.

Going, Going.............

and almost gone.

Ardmore-based Strikemaster Ltd, owners of BAC BAC-167 Strikemaster MK88 ZK-NTY (NZ6362) and ZK-STR (NZ6370), formally announced last week the sale of both aircraft and spares inventory to Las Vegas/NV company Blue Air Training. The US company already operates a gaggle of Jet Provost and Strikemaster aircraft in the close air support role.

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/24986/strikemasters-leaving-new-zealand

http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/news/

https://www.blueairtraining.com/

Before making their final flight/s over NZ soil the two Strikemasters were the feature act at this past weekend's Classic of the Sky's airshow event held at Tauranga. 

Inclement weather precluded the aircraft from returning to Ardmore Sunday 22 January however winds finally abated (a little) and the jets arrived back within 15 minutes of each on the morning of 23 January with both aircraft then conducting a couple of local flights as a farewell to those associated with them. Both ZK-NTY and ZK-STR were then parked with fellow ex RNZAF Strikemaster ZK-BAC (NZ6372) for a quick pose for the cameras. 

Previous posts on the Blunties can be found HERE

The New Zealand warbird jet population is now made up of:

Aero L29 Dauphin - JET/JRF/SSU/VAU/WBD

Aero L39 Albatros - CCP/EJA/TCS/VLK/WLM

BAC Strikemaster - BAC/VPR

DH112 Venom - VNM

DH115 Vampire - RVM/VAM

Hawker Hunter - JIL (still registered but no longer flying)

Papeete's Faaa Airport waterlogged

French Polynesia's primary international airport Faaa located near Papeete was closed during the early hours of 22 January local time following a period of torrential rain compounded by high tide perhaps creating a situation which will see the airport remain closed for up to 24 hours.

The most notable disruption associated with the closure was the diversion to Rarotonga of Air France's Boeing 777-200 F-GSPD flight AF76 from Los Angeles. 

Arriving Rarotonga, Ewan Smith photo

Avjet Corp Boeing BBJ N8767

It appears the drought for visiting bizjets to our neck of the woods has finally broken with two arrivals into the country 19 January chased up the following morning with the arrival in Auckland of Avjet Corp/Star Aviation Boeing 737-7EG BBJ N8767. The Boeing Business Jet arrived early morning 20 January from its base of Burbank/CA via a techstop at Kona/HI. Its visit was brief with the BBJ leaving Auckland late 21 January (in very storm conditions) for Kona/HI and Burbank/CA.

This particular airframe, MSN 32807, was built on order for Samsung Aviation and was operated by them from 2002 until 2008 as HL7770 before moving to the States becoming N8767. 

Royal Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster ZZ172 - updated

Arriving in Whenuapai on the evening of 20 January from RAAF Pearce/WA was Royal Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III ZZ172 as RRR6732. The heavylifter had arrived into Pearce early 19 January from Brunei.

The C17 departed Whenuapai mid morning 22 January destined for Darwin as RRR6733 but seems it returned a short time after takeoff. 

This aircraft most recently visited NZ in April 2016 with it delivering munitions for military exercises.

ZZ172 during its November 2003 visit to Auckland. 

Qantas Widebodies

This summer season has produced a proliferation of Qantas widebody visitors to New Zealand as the Australian carrier upped the capacity on key routes often dovetailing short-haul Tasman services with their Perth-Auckland run. Airbus A330-200's have been the chariots of choice with the exception of one pre-Christmas Perth-Auckland-Sydney operation which was flown by new livery Airbus A330-300 VH-QPJ on the 24th and a handful of -300's between Christmas and New Year. 

In addition, the Airbus A330-200 is being utilised on the overnight Qantas Freight run from Sydney to Auckland, Christchurch and back to Sydney in lieu of Boeing 767-300 freighter VH-EFR currently out of service on scheduled maintenance. 

Eurocopter AS350B3 VH-BCR

Turning up at Wanaka late 14 January was this 2001 edition Eurocopter AS350B3 VH-BCR MSN 3409. Most recently registered to Rotor Force Australia PTY of Woolford/QLD the AS350 was noted arriving at Brisbane's port from Archerfield 07 January and obviously quickly sailed across the Tasman but not sure where it arrived at in New Zealand before flying south. It is understood the Squirrel will become ZK-IGY. 

Windy Wellington!

As this video, from January 2012 shows, it is not unusual for Wellington to experience winds of 50-60 knots in the middle of summer - just as it has been earlier this morning!

Air Vanuatu ATR72-500 YJ-AV72

Arriving in Christchurch mid afternoon 16 January direct from its Port Vila home was Air Vanuatu's ATR72-500 YJ-AV72. Operating as AVN5000 the regional turbo-prop is presumably in New Zealand for maintenance having spent just under a month there in early 2011. Subsequent maintenance visits were conducted in Singapore with the aircraft visiting in November/December 2012 and February until April 2015. 

Corporate Corner 01 January-16 January 2017

This has to be the quietest January for corporate jets in many, many years - hopefully the activity will pick-up! Clearly evident is the distinct lack of Chinese based jets visiting the region. Perhaps all the prospective travellers who would have once chartered a jet are now flying cattle class on the myriad of local operators.

MKAir 7X PTY Falcon 7X M-GMKM arrived in Te Anau 01 January from Mildura via Sydney and Queenstown. It departed over the reverse route 09 January. 

Avwest PTY Global Express N599CH departed Queenstown 01 January for Rarotonga and Aitutaki before heading onto Bora Bora a couple of days later. The Global arrived back in Sydney 12 January from Denver/CO via Honolulu and departed 14 January for Honolulu and Eagle/CO. 

Jetcity Learjet 36A VH-JCX arrived in Auckland 02 January from Essendon. The frequent visitor to NZ has received a refreshed look since its last visit. 

At Auckland 08 January 2017. 

Executive Jet Management/Air Tiger 1 Gulfstream 5 N50KC concluded its NZ visit and departed Auckland 02 January for Honolulu and Teterboro/NJ.

KAD II Aviation Gulfstream G550 N551GT visited Kaitaia 02 January arriving from and returning to Auckland. It made a second visit to Kaitaia 03 January, again arriving from and returning to Auckland then the same evening it departed direct to San Jose/CA.

Nucap Industries Global Express C-GNRS departed Queenstown 03 January for Sydney and continued to Hamilton Island the following day before heading back to Sydney 07 January and onto Kona/HI 08 January. 

Gandel Aviation Global Express VH-TGG arrived in Queenstown 03 January from Essendon and Sydney then to Nelson 08 January from where it departed 10 January for Sydney and Essendon. 

Vista Equity Partners Global Express N283DM departed Auckland 05 January for Kona/HI as TWY66. 

TAG Asia Falcon 7X VP-CTG arrived in Auckland 05 January from Bora Bora and Papeete and flew onto Sydney and Hong Kong 06 January. The Falcon had visited NZ late December.

Departing Auckland 06 January 2017. 

Falcon 20 VH-FAI made a brief visit to Auckland 06 January arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Blue Ridge Capital Global Express N12G arrived in Tauranga 06 January from Auckland and Gisborne. It departed the following afternoon for Gisborne and Auckland. It then departed Auckland 13 January for for a return trip to Gisborne and back then crossed the Tasman to Essendon.  

Arriving runway 07 Tauranga 06 January 2017. 

And finals for runway 23L Auckland 07 January 2017. 

Viper Capital Logistics Falcon 7X N37TY arrived in Queenstown 14 January from Nadi and after a brief time on the ground departed for Christchurch. 

ANZA/Tyremax Challenger 604 N604AU departed Auckland 16 January for Sydney. It had arrived in the country prior to Christmas.

Sky Prime Aviation Airbus A340-212 HZ-SKY1

Saudi Arabian charter operator Sky Prime Aviation operated their corporate configured Airbus A340-212 HZ-SKY1 to Auckland 17 January with the airliner arriving early evening from Melbourne. Using its registration as callsign, the A340 had arrived in the Victorian capital city direct from Riyadh 13 January. 

http://www.skyprimeav.com/en/fleet/luxury-Privet-Jet-Airbus/44

This example, MSN 9,  first flew just over 24 years ago on 13 January 1993 and was initially registered to Lufthansa as D-AIBB before quickly becoming V8-BKH with the Brunei Royal Flight. I'd have to trawl back through the archives but I think it visited NZ during its time under this registration. It went onto become V8-JP1, V8-AM1 and then JY-ABH, HZ-AJ1, HZ-A1 and finally HZ-SKY1! 

First of type visit!

The first visit by the largest of the single aisle Airbus family has finally made an appearance in New Zealand with Philippine Airlines operating Airbus A321-231(SL) RP-C9905 to Auckland as PR218 arriving 16 January from Davao and Cairns and departing as PR219 for Cairns and Manila. The flight would normally originate at Manila however there have been three recent occasions where it has started from Davao. 

The A321 fleet are fitted with 199 passenger seats configured with 12 business class, 18 premium economy (standard economy seats with greater pitch) and 169 economy seats. 

Daniel Talbot photo

It seems another A321 is inbound today, 17 January, with RP-C9915 on the cards to arrive as PR218 again from Davao and Cairns.

The Airbus A321 was first flown in 1993 and entered service the following year with Lufthansa. As at the end of 2016 Airbus had delivered 1433 of the type with another 308 of the type on order which includes 5 A321NEO with the first due for delivery later this year.

https://www.ausbt.com.au/air-new-zealand-airbus-a321neo-business-class-is-very-unlikely

Sunny Saturday

A sunny Saturday finally afforded Aucklander's a day that looked and felt like summer after an extended period of persistent cloud and cool winds. So the local aviation fraternity were busily putting their machines in the air providing ample variety in the Ardmore circuit 14 January. 

Cessna 210 Silver Eagle, powered by a Rolls Royce turbine, has been an Ardmore resident since September 2013.

Cessna 172E ZK-FNT arriving home. Its been around since April 1987 and was registered to a Papakura address in April last year. First time I've seen it in a long while.

Stark's second Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-FSS, ex ZK-SAF, is seen here arriving as STARK 3. Their Cessna 172 ZK-CWD was also parked up.

Flight Hauraki Cessna 207 ZK-MDZ short finals for grass vector 21. This operator seems to be frequently coming and going with the 207 and Cessna 172 ZK-MDV. Their PA31 Navajo ZK-JGA is due to become operational before months end.

A couple of shots of resident King Air 300 ZK-SMC. Above it is seen arriving 13 January from Hamilton while below its seen conducting a low approach and overshoot 14 January.

Cessna T206H N26NZ has been busy enjoying the summer weather. The above photo was taken shortly after it arrived from the east 13 January, just ahead of the owner's King Air ZK-SMC. The amphib was out flying again 14 January and last noted pushing eastward again, perhaps to conduct a water landing.

Cessna 402B ZK-SVQ, while still wearing Australian Aerial Mapping titles, is being operated by Gisborne's Kiwi Air and has been spending a considerable amount of time lurking at Ardmore.

Cessna 172S ZK-ZAC outside a local maintenance facility.