Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDC

As a follow-up to yesterday morning's post, here is a shot of Barrier Air's recently delivered Grand Caravan ZK-SDC after it was "put to bed" for the evening at Auckland 30 January 2018 and parked nicely into wind.  Meanwhile ZK-SDB had recently departed heading for Great Barrier Island. 

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N2057 / ZK-SDC

The much anticipated second Cessna 208B Grand Caravan for Auckland based Barrier Air finally arrived in New Zealand 19 January 2018 concluding its trans-Pacific ferry flight. N2057 MSN 208-2057 had flown from its previous home of Leesburg/FL to the manufacturer's Wichita/KS via a brief visit to Little Rock/AK on 04 January 2018 then pressed onto the West Coast launching spot of Santa Maria/CA 11 January having had ferry tanks installed. An aborted attempt to reach Hilo/HI was flown 13 January which saw the 208 return to Santa Maria after a short time airborne. It successfully flew to Hilo 16 January then onto Apia the next day. 

On arrival at Auckland. 

N2057 flew from Auckland to Napier 20 January where it underwent pre-service maintenance and NZ certification becoming ZK-SDC following on from the operator's other 208, ZK-SDB. As ZK-SDC it flew from Napier to Auckland 26 January and was promptly pressed into service flying to Great Barrier Island adding much needed capacity for the Auckland Anniversary Weekend travel demand.

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2018/01/sdc-in-service.html

At Napier prior to its identity change. 

Ohakea Drop-in

RNZAF base Ohakea, located in the Manawatu, has over the years been used on a number of occasions as an alternate airport for diversions by commercial airliners with its long runway, large ramp space and easy instrument approach paths all factors in making it an attractive proposition. 

This was to be the case on the morning of 20 January 2018 when an unexpected, short lived fog bank drifted across Christchurch International Airport which saw Cathay Pacific's CX123 service from Hong Kong, operated by Airbus A350 B-LRR, unable to land forcing it to divert to the planned alternated of Ohakea. After refueling the A350, making the type's debut to Ohakea, departed on its return to Christchurch.

OFF AIR - AGAIN!

Yes yes, a tad spasmodic this month but summer can be like that so we're off air again until late January.

Flying a Gulfstream - New Zealand (summer 2013)

From a few years ago, but still worth watching.

Gulfstream 4 N435HC operated by Hood Capital LLC as seen from the sharp end on its journey from Christchurch to Queenstown on 22 February 2013. The GIV had arrived into Christchurch 17 February from Papeete. It departed Queenstown direct to Bora Bora 27 February and then flew from Papeete to Brownsville, TX 04 March. 

Summer Snaps

Having recently shared a spate of chilly, winter shots from Canada its time to warm up a little and review a gaggle of snaps taking in recent days under sunny skies.

Cessna 210G ZK-DCA at its home strip, Thames on 9 January 2018. 

Recently re-registered Cessna 152 ZK-TAE )ex ZK-NPD) arrives at Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Tauranga based Vans RV6A ZK-RVF arrives at Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Piper PA28R-200 Arrow ZK-DQV prepares to depart Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Another Vans from Tauranga, RV7A ZK-ECE arrives at Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Pukekohe Flying Group's Cessna 172N ZK-ELY at Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Helicopter Corporation operated EC130T2 ZK-IPV on behalf of the Vela Family and it seen here departing Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Glasair Sportsman 2+2 ZK-SPZ launches off runway 05 at Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Piper PA28-140 ZK-DGH rolls out after landing runway 23 at Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Vans RV6 ZK-OPA taking serious note of sun protection at Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Locally based Alpi Pioneer 300 ZK-TNB prepares to take Master MRC on a scenic flight from Pauanui 9 January 2018. 

Piper PA22-135 ZK-PAL lifts off Pauanui's runway 05 in a sprightly fashion 9 January 2018. 

De Havilliand DH82 ZK-BEN taxis for departure from its private airstrip near Clevedon 13 January 2018. 

De Havilliand DH82 Tiger Moth ZK-BEN makes a photo pass with Miss MRC on board!

Clevedon Aviation's Progessive Aerodyn Sea Rey ZK-REY at its private residence 13 January 2018. 

Also from the Clevedon Aviation stable is the immaculate Cessna 180 ZK-BDB. 

Above and below - DH82 ZK-BEN returns from a spectacular local jaunt. 

Corporate Corner 01-14 January 2018

I think it would be safe to say this is the quietest first of the month of January for many years with very few visitors to our shores. 

Noteworthy movements in date order:

F7X Limited Falcon 7X M-GMKM arrived at Queenstown 01 January from Mildura and Sydney. It departed for Sydney, Mildura and then back to Sydney 07 January then onto Male two days later. 

Government of Jordan Gulfstream G650 VQ-BNZ departed Auckland 01 January for Los Angeles. 

Cindic Holdings Global Express N526GX departed Queenstown 01 January  for Biak and Hong Kong.

Global Jet Luxembourg Airbus A319CJ P4-MIS arrived at Queenstown 01 January from Sydney.  It then made the short hop to Dunedin 04 January where it spent several hours before heading to Brisbane and Mackay. It departed there 08 January for Hamilton Island, Cairns, Honolulu and Newark/NJ.

Journey Aviation LLC Gulfstream 5 N588AT departed Queenstown 01 January for Hamilton and Auckland. It departed for Bora Bora 03 January. 

Flight Options Citation VII VH-ING departed Queenstown 02 January for Wellington, Napier and Auckland then onto Sydney 04 January. It returned to NZ 08 January when it flew from Sydney to Queenstown and back. 

Execujet Global Express VH-IQR visited Auckland 02 January arriving from and returning to Sydney. Then on 07 January it flew from Sydney to Queenstown and Essendon. The following day it returned to NZ arriving at Christchurch from Essendon. It then continued to Auckland 10 January where it remained until 13 January when it headed to Rotorua. 

Abelag Aviation Falcon 7X OO-EJA arrived at Auckland 02 January from Melbourne and departed 04 January for Bora Bora.

Global Management Consulting Ltd Gulfstream G550 N550JU arrived at Queenstown 02 January from Sydney and departed 09 January for Honolulu.

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors Gulfstream G650 N829JV departed Auckland 02 January for Los Angeles and Van Nuys.

Vistajet Malta Global Express 9H-VJV departed Auckland 03 January for Papeete as VJT965. It continued to Guayaquil, Ecuador two days later.

Execujet Challenger 604 VH-VSZ arrived at Auckland 04 January from Sydney and departed the following day on return to Sydney. 

Embraer E190 Lineage A6-HHS arrived at Christchurch 06 January from Bali via Melbourne and Queenstown. It returned to Queenstown from Christchurch 07 January. On 10 January it flew from Queenstown back to Christchurch then onto Darwin and Kuala Lumpur/Abul Aziz Shah. 

Executive Aviation Taiwan Global Express B-95959 arrived at Auckland 06 January from Taipei/Songshan and departed on return to Songshan 09 January. 

Careflight Learjet 45 VH-VVI arrived at Auckland 06 January from Brisbane and it departed for Sydney, Brisbane and Honiara 07 January.

Executive Jet Management/Air Tiger 1 Gulfstream 5 N50KC departed Auckland  06 January for Los Angeles, Teterboro/NJ and Westover-Springfield/MA.

Air Alise Falcon 7X OY-PGA arrived at Auckland 07 January from Bangkok/Don Mueang as MMD6859. It departed on return to Don Mueang 10 January. 

Vistajet Malta Global Express 9H-VJS arrived at Napier 07 January from Honolulu as VJT929. It departed 08 January for Honolulu and Teterboro/NJ.

Global Jet Aviation Global 5000 VP-CES departed Queenstown 07 January for Sydney. It had arrived 02 January from Melbourne.

Jetcity Learjet 45 VH-LJQ arrived at Dunedin 08 January from Essendon and departed the next day on return to Essendon.

Meisner Aircraft Inc Learjet 36 N82GG arrived at Wellington 08 January from Essendon. It made its way to Christchurch 11 January from where it then conducted aerial photography work over Southland and Otago 13 & 14 January. 

Beech King Air 350 F-OZEN arrived at Auckland 10 January from Noumea/Magenta and departed 14 January for Noumea/La Tontouta. 

Mayo Aviation Gulfstream G450 N451PW arrived at Christchurch 11 January from Fort Collins/CO via Honolulu and Pago Pago.

Speed Up Overseas Inc Gulfstream G450 VP-CQQ arrived at Christchurch 11 January from Manado, Indonesia. 

Blue Ridge Capital Global Express N12G departed Auckland 12 January for Gisborne and flew direct to Essendon 13 January.

Postcard from Canada - Part Five

Final postcard from the recent Canadian adventure is thanks to a brief opportunity to check out the southside of Vancouver International on the day of our departure.