Samoa Airways visits Christchurch - updated 31 May 2018

Samoa Airways leased Boeing 737-800 I-NEOS arrived at Christchurch early afternoon 27 May 2018 from Auckland as PAO01 having that morning flown the carrier's scheduled service south from Apia. The 737 was quickly inducted to the Air New Zealand maintenance facility for a planned visit.
It departed Christchurch early afternoon 30 May on return to Auckland then operated the PAO732 back to Apia, delayed by a few hours.

Nauru Airlines Boeing 737-300 VH-XNU was positioned from Nadi to Apia on the evening of 27 May 2018 as RON800 and it entered service on behalf of Samoa Airways the following morning operating under a slightly different identifier, OLT2731, but still the same radio callsign "Polynesian".  The aircraft operated the same flights 28 May however standardised its ATC designator as PAO. 

Citation Sovereign Delivery - Update 28 May 2018

Skyline Aviation's Citation 680 Sovereign ZK-RXD has been spotted out and about over the weekend. Given its pattern of flying it would appear the recently delivered jet has been conducting training flights.

26 May the aircraft flew Napier-Christchurch-Dunedin-Christchurch-Napier then the following day it flew a similar pattern however on the northbound leg from Christchurch it flew to Wellington then to Napier.

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Posted 20 May 2018 :

New Zealand's bizjet population has a new addition with the arrival of 2008 edition Citation 680 Sovereign VH-VPL MSN 680-0250. This medium range jet was delivered to the Gold Coast based Twentieth Super Pace Nominees PTY in October 2009 and was fitted with the life port medical equipment allowing it to conduct medivac operations along with corporate duties.

The Sovereign arrived at Napier direct from Essendon early afternoon 19 May 2018 and was registered ZK-RXD 22 May.  

http://www.skylineaviation.co.nz/private-charter/private-jets--

Pre-delivery work has been conducted at Melbourne/Essendon including a repaint into the colours of Napier based operator Skyline Aviation. 

At Essendon 19 March 2018, Transair photo 

This is the second Citation 680 Sovereign to have worn ZK markings. The first was ZK-JTH MSN 680-0058 operated by Pacific Jets from November 2009 until May 2012. 

Military Delivery and Export

Busy times at Lord Howe Island around noon 26 May 2018 with the arrival from Brisbane of the second Beech King Air 350i on delivery to the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the first Pacific Aerospace 750XL on delivery to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

King Air 350i VH-ZPG, registered to Hawker Pacific, arriving at Lord Howe Island from Brisbane having flown south from Cairns the previous evening. After refueling the King Air pressed onto its new home of Ohakea touching down after sunset.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=VH-zpe

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KDI had departed Hamilton 24 May 2018 for Ardmore, Kerikeri and Norfolk Island then continued to Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast 26 May 2018 on its delivery flight to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. This is the first of four such aircraft ordered back in 2014 for the Army.
http://news.pngfacts.com/2017/02/png-army-buys-four-new-military.html

More Military Movers

After a relatively quiet first quarter of 2018 the visiting military mover tempo has picked up pace.

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III A41-206 arrived at Whenuapai 17 May from Amberley on a training deployment. It then conducted a Whenuapai-Whenuapai local flight the same day.  According to NZDF Community Alerts, the C17 conducted navigation training through Taupo, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Nelson and South Island West Coast regions 18-19 May. It departed Whenuapai on return to Amberley 20 May. 

A41-206 during its visit to Ohakea. 

Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330-MRTT A39-006 arrived at Auckland mid afternoon 17 May from Amberley on a training deployment. After a crew seat change, the A330 departed for an approach and overshoot at Ohakea then onwards to Amberley.

Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330-MRTT A39-005 arrived at Christchurch early evening 17 May from Amberley and Sydney carrying NZDF personnel on return from deployment in the Middle East.  The A330 departed 18 May for Amberley.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104003079/defence-force-personnel-back-from-middle-east-deployment

United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 10-0223 arrived at Wellington mid morning 18 May from Guam/Andersen. It departed Wellington after dark 19 May destined for Kalaeloa/John Rodgers Field/HI. Like the USAF C17 visitor to Wellington last week, this machine is also from Charleston AFB. 

Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330-MRTT A39-006 arrived at Auckland early afternoon 21 May from Amberley on a training deployment. After a crew seat change the A330 departed for an approach and overshoot at Ohakea then onwards to Amberley. 

ATR72-212A ZK-MCF Retires - Updated 23 May 2018

ATR72-212A ZK-MCF departed Christchurch on the morning of 21 May 2018 for Brisbane as "Southern Cross 1820" commencing its delivery flight to Novoair, Bangladesh. It continued to Mount Isa, Darwin and Kota Kinabalu 22 May with its intermediate destination being Ho Chi Minh for pre-delivery maintenance and re-livery.

Arriving at Darwin 22 May 2018. 

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Posted 14 May 2018:

Mt Cook Airline ATR72-212A (500 series) ZK-MCF MSN 600 was withdraw from service on 06 May 2018 with the 19 1/2 year old aircraft flying as NZ5715 Christchurch to Invercargill and back to Christchurch as NZ5716. 

Delivered brand new in November 1999, ZK-MCF was repainted in the parent company's new livery during September 2014. It is reportedly destined for Bangladesh following 

This leaves Mt Cook operating 8 ATR-500's and 18 ATR-600's. 

Pilatus PC12 VH-ZWO - Updated 19 May 2018

We'd completely forgotten about this machine until it cropped up on a 3HR 20MIN test flight from/to Fielding 16 May 2018 at the conclusion of heavy maintenance with Pilatus specialist Avcraft Engineering.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHZWO/history/20180515/2100Z/NZFI/NZFI

The Pilatus PC12 VH-ZWO made its way from Fielding to Auckland on the afternoon of 17 May 2018 then flew direct to Pago Pago 18 May. It is expected to continue onto Christmas Island,  Hilo/HI and Van Nuys/CA over the coming days.

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Posted 11 November 2017:

Ex Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations) Pilatus PC12/45 VH-ZWO MSN 467 touched down at Auckland mid afternoon 10 November 2017 after a direct flight from Sydney. After clearing formalities, the 2004 edition Pilatus continued onto Fielding where it is understood to be receiving preparation work ahead of delivery to a North American customer.

The Pilatus made a brief visit to Nelson 11 November, arriving from and returning to Fielding.

http://www.aviationwa.org.au/2016/07/18/royal-flying-doctor-service-receives-funding-for-two-additional-and-two-replacement-aircraft-and-the-new-broome-rfds-operating-facility/

RNZAF takes delivery of first Beech King Air 350i - updated 18 May 2018

The first Royal New Zealand Air Force King Air 350i took to the skies from Ohakea for the first time wearing its Kiwi ensign 14 May 2018 confirming its identity as being NZ2353 (ex VH-ZPE). It made its first foray to Whenuapai 17 May arriving from and returning to Ohakea.

This is the second use of NZ2353. The first was worn by a DH98 Mosquito Mk FB.VI from 1947 until 1952.

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Posted 11 May 2018 :

Finally, after months of speculation, the NZ Government has finally announced the acquisition of four King Air 350i turboprop aircraft to replace the current fleet of King Air 200's based at Ohakea. Interesting to read the three aircraft currently in Australia (VH-ZPF, VH-ZPG and VH-ZPJ) are not due to be fully commissioned until 2019. Their delivery into Australia is recorded in the blurb further down this post.

Full press release can be found HERE

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Posted 25 March 2018:

The Royal New Zealand Air Force, operator of 4 Beech King Air 200's with 42 Squadron, Ohakea, has taken delivery of their first Beech King Air 350i with MSN FL-1017 arriving in the country. 

Initially registered as N817AP, the 2015 edition King Air turned up at Sydney/Bankstown 15 August 2017 having arrived from Jakarta/Halim and Broome. It headed north to Hawker Pacific's Cairns facility 26 November 2017 for painting. It was later registered to Hawker Pacific as VH-ZPE MSN FL-1017 on 18 December 2017. 

https://www.jetphotos.com/aircraft/manufacturer/Beechcraft/serial/FL-1017

VH-ZPE conducted post maintenance test flights from/to Cairns 09 and 20 March 2018 before heading to Brisbane 23 March 2018. From there it made the journey to Lord Howe Island and Ohakea arriving not long before sunset 24 March 2018. 

VH-ZPE at Cairns. 

The aircraft, painted charcoal grey, was delivered with its VH registration boldly applied but its RNZAF identity covered up. We await with interest if it keeps the King Air sequence of numbering and becomes NZ7125. And given it's somewhat utilitarian colour scheme, what is its role with Air Force, or is it a straight replacement for the 200 fleet?

Arriving to a grey, damp Ohakea evening, Padre007 photo

Three more Beech King Air 350i appear destined for the RNZAF with N979KA FL-979 arriving at Sydney/Bankstown on delivery in mid December 2017. This 2015 edition King Air is effectively brand new with a mere 7 hours on the clock when it departed the USA on its delivery flight. It was later registered VH-ZPJ MSN FL-979 on 04 January 2018.

Beech King Air 350i N5062T FL-962 arrived at Cairns 20 December 2017 and was later registered VH-ZPG.

Beech King Air 350i RP-C1834 FL-897 fits in the sequence of expected RNZAF deliveries with it becoming VH-ZPF and arriving at Sydney/Bankstown 23 February 2018 from Manado via Darwin and Mount Isa.

VH-ZPF during its Darwin overnight stay. 

St-Barth.com Live Webcam

Stumbled upon this live webcam of St Barth in the Caribbean, sadly no audio feed that I could find but neat to watch the comings and goings. 

If you open another browser tab with http://www.mahobeachcam.com you can stream the air traffic feed for Juliana Tower/SXM and hear the aircraft heading to/from St Bart, just not the communications in the immediate circuit area. 

Military Movers

A few military movers to report on from the last few days.

United States Navy Gulfstream C37B 166377 arrived in Wellington on the evening of 08 May 2018 from Hawaii as "Navy VV 700". It headed to Canberra on the morning of 12 May then to Alice Springs 13 May. It made its way back to Canberra 14 May via a few hours layover at Edinburgh. 

United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 10-0221 arrived in Wellington just after sunset 09 May 2018 from Hawaii as "Reach 101" carrying US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and entourage.  It departed the Capital after dark 11 May destined for Sydney then onto Canberra 13 May. From there it departed 14 May for Hickam. 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12049004

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 Wedgetail A30-002 made a return visit to New Zealand arriving at Whenuapai 09 May 2018 from Williamtown via an approach and overshoot at Wellington. It departed mid morning 10 May for an approach and overshoot at Christchurch then onto Wiliamtown. 

File photo

Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330 MRTT A39-002 conducted a training detail to New Zealand 16 May 2018 arriving at Auckland from Amberley, then flying onto Ohakea and Amberley. 

Corporate Corner 01 May - 14 May 2018

As mentioned in our previous review, Gulfstream 4 VH-CGF and Falcon 900 VH-OAA departed Auckland for Norfolk Island 01 May and then onto Sydney 02 May concluding their participation in the Captains Choice NZ tour.

Executive Airlines Citation Sovereign VH-EXG arrived Queenstown 02 May from Essendon. It headed north to Rotorua and Auckland 11 May. 

CML Aviation Gulfstream G350 VH-NKD departed Queenstown 03 May for Sydney.

SG Aviation Global Express VH-SGA departed Queenstown 03 May for Sydney and Essendon.

Execujet Global Express VH-ICV visited Auckland on the afternoon of 03 May, arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Avwest PTY Global Express N599CH returned to NZ 05 May arriving at Christchurch from Sydney. 

Twenty 27 (IOM) Ltd Challenger 300 M-SGJS arrived at Queenstown 05 May from Singapore/Seletar and Cairns. It departed 07 May for Essendon, Darwin and Seletar. 

Brenzil PTY Falcon 7X VH-CRW flew Sydney-Napier-Woodbourne-Napier over the course of 05 May. On 07 May it flew to Auckland and onto Kona/HI. 

Marcplan Gulfstream G450 VH-MBP arrived at Queenstown 06 May from Essendon. It departed for Christchurch, Sydney and Essendon 07 May. 

Falcon 7X N818TL flew from Queenstown to Auckland 07 May then onto Maui 08 May. It returned to Auckland 12 May. As per our policy, we will not be recording any further movements of this now locally based jet. 

Arriving Auckland 12 May 2018. 

Christ Holdings LLC Challenger 605 N913TK arrived in Wellington 09 May from Kona/HI via Pago Pago. Its visit was brief with it departing after sunset 10 May for Pago Pago and Honolulu and later onto Aspen/CO. 

Villages Equipment LLC Falcon 900EX N900YP arrived in Queenstown 09 May from Maui/HI via Pago Pago. 

Executive Aviation Corp of Brazil Gulfstream G450 N899FS arrived in Queenstown 12 May from Sydney and continued to Auckland 14 May.

Arriving Auckland 14 May 2018. 

Linfox Express Challenger 650 VH-LEF arrived in Auckland after dark 13 May from Adelaide.

Parked at Auckland 14 May 2018. 

Fiji Airways adds 5th Airbus A330 - Updated 13 May 2018

Fiji Airways recently delivered Airbus A330-200 DQ-FJO, christened "Island of Beqa" in a formal ceremony 11 May, entered commercial service with the Fijian carrier on 12 May operating as FJ411 from Nadi to Auckland, then back to Nadi as FJI410.

DQ-FJO departs Auckland after on its second commercial flight for Fiji Airways. 

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Posted 30 April 2018:

Fiji Airways have taken delivery of a fourth Airbus A330-200 with the arrival of ex Air Seychelles S7-ADB MSN 751. The 12 year old airliner arrived at Nadi mid morning 29 April 2018 after a direct flight from Abu Dhabi as SEY9778.  The A330 will enter the Fijian register as DQ-FJO joining -200's DQ-FJT, DQ-FJU and DQ-FJV along with -300 series DQ-FJW. 

Fiji Airways newest A330-200 can be seen in this shot taken at Nadi a couple of hours after its arrival 29 April 2018. 

The arrival of this aircraft will enable Fiji Airways to expand their route structure and add Tokyo/Narita three times per week from 03 July. Narita will become the carrier's fifth longhaul destination following Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Singapore. The A330's also operate services to Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne. 

File photo - DQ-FJV departs Auckland March 2015. 

More on the Found

Our blogpost from earlier this week on the Found E350 Expedition generated overseas interest and below is a link to a very interesting article from 2012 (prior to the company winding up) written by our North American correspondent Frederick K Larkin. 

https://www.wingsmagazine.com/operations/an-iconoclast-thats-built-to-last-6507

Boeing 737-800 ZK-ZQE exits Jetconnect fleet

Boeing 737-838 (WL) ZK-ZQE "William Pickering" has exited the Jetconnect fleet flying its final service under ZK markings as QF120 from Auckland to Brisbane 10 May 2018. It was subsequently removed from the ZK register the same day. 

Presumably it will take up the Australian registration it was allocated but not taken up, VH-VZJ. 

It arrived in Melbourne at the conclusion of its delivery flight on 17 February 2011 registered as ZK-ZQE and then positioned to Auckland three days later. Its first revenue service was flown 21 February 2011 as QF132 from Auckland to Melbourne. 

For more on this airframe check out http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-737/zk-zqe/zkzqe.html

Tasman Crossers

Tex On-Site PTY Beech Baron VH-KJV arrived at Ardmore 20 April 2018 from Norfolk Island and Kerikeri. It departed 21 April for Omaka then onto Oamaru 22 April. It was noted arriving Christchurch 09 May. 

http://www.texonsite.co.nz/

North Shore based Beech G58 Baron N298WA departed Kerikeri for Lord Howe Island, the Gold Coast and Bundaburg 04 May 2018.

Cessna 210 Centurion VH-ZIO concluded its New Zealand aerial survey job and flew from Kerikeri to Norfolk Island 05 May 2018. It continued to Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast the following day.

Diamond DA40-D VH-PDQ arrived at Auckland from Norfolk Island 05 May 2018. This aircraft, most recently registered in Katherine/NT, had flown from Coffs Harbour to Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island the previous day. 

Cessna 310 VH-JTV flew from Redcliffe to Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island 07 May 2018 and onto Kerikeri the following day with it pressed straight into service. This light twin is no stranger to NZ having spent considerable time on aerial survey activities, primarily flown from Rotorua. 

Uzbekistan Airways Boeing 767-300 UK-67008

Uzbekistan Airways have once again conducted a fishing trawler crew transfer flight to Christchurch with Boeing 767-300 UK-67008 arriving on the the evening of 05 May 2018 from Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur. The aircraft departed mid morning 07 May flying back to Tashkent via Kuala Lumpur. 

Uzbekistan Airways operate a fleet of seven Boeing 767-300's and in 2016 the received two Boeing 787-8's. 

NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA set to return - UPDATED 08 MAY 2018

As forecast last week, the NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA arrived Christchurch late afternoon 04 May from Nadi via a data gathering exercise which included a low level (below 2000ft) fly-by of Lauder. It departed on the long journey to Punta Arenas 07 May lifting off from runway 02 at 0820. 

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Posted 01 May 2018:

Once again, Christchurch is set to host the NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA as the classic jet conducts aerial work for the Atmospheric Tomography Mission (AToM). 

It has arrived into Kona/HI from Anchorage 29 April 2018 (Hawaii date) and is due to Nadi 02 May and onto Christchurch 04 May. A departure for Punta Arenas is expected on 07 May. 

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Posted 02 February 2017: 

N817NA departed Christchurch 11 February on the continuation of its global mission with its next stop being Punta Arenas. Its plan, of just under 10hr 30min, saw the jet head as far south as 65S. 

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As reported a couple of days ago, the NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA has arrived in Christchurch touching down on runway 02 at 1807 after a somewhat circuitous data gathering flight from Nadi.

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NASA's Douglas DC8-72 N817NA is headed for another visit to New Zealand as part of its participation in the ongoing Atmospheric Tomography (AToM) mission. It is due Kona/HI to Nadi 04 February then to Christchurch 06 February. It will depart for Punta Arenas/Chile 10 February before making its way Ascension, Lajes, Thule, Anchorage and home to Palmdale arriving 22 February. 

N817NA schedule

For more on the mission please click HERE

Interestingly, while trawling around the world-wide web, we discovered NASA's Lockheed ER-2 N806NA is operating from Hickam/Honolulu on mission HyspIRI Tropical (Hawaii) from 13 January through until 04 March. 

N817NA @ Christchurch during its 2016 visit, Matt Hayes photo
N817NA arrived on 09 August from Pago Pago and departed 13 August for Punta Arenas. 

Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight Boeing 787-9 A6-PFE

Touching down at Auckland after sunset 01 May 2018 was the Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner BBJ A6-PFE. The VVIP configured airliner had flown direct from Abu Dhabi as "Sultan 5" marking its first visit to the region. It would appear the passengers transferred to a Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-YIM for the continuation of their journey to Wellington. 

The Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight operate six widebody VVIP aircraft with their smaller -8 Dreamliner, A6-PFC, having visited NZ on a couple of previous occasions.

The Dreamliner departed Auckland early afternoon 03 May for Christchurch while the passengers embarked on a chartered Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-YIR for their journey from Wellington to Queenstown. The 737 had positioned from Auckland to Wellington, then positioned from Queenstown to Melbourne.

From Christchurch, the 787 made its way to Sydney on the afternoon of 07 May. In conjunction with its Christchurch visit, Gulfstream G450 VH-MBP flew Essendon-Queenstown 06 May, then Queenstown-Christchurch-Sydney 07 May while Falcon 2000 ZK-OCB flew Auckland-Queenstown-Christchurch-Queenstown-Christchurch-Auckland 07 May.