Mon 23 Nov - Thu 26 Nov 2009

Monday 23 November 2009
Falcon 900 G-SIRO which had arrived at Auckland 15Oct departed this morning for Papeete.

Boeing BBJ N164RJ also departed Auckland today for Rotorua and Sydney.

Hawker 850XP VH-RAM of Ramsey Air Charter made a brief visit to Auckland late Monday arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Darwin based Citation VII VH-LYM arrived at Auckland from its Northern Territory home via a stop at Sydney.

Tuesday 24 November 2009
Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 freighter N412MC operating as QFA7591 which normally operates from Sydney direct to Pudong was rerouted via Auckland due to Boeing N761AX that would usually operate through Auckland being out of service with an engine change.

Challenger 604 N604KJ departed Auckland mid morning for Nadi.

Citation Sovereign ZK-JTH made what is thought to be its first flight under its ZK rego today when it flew from Auckland to New Plymouth and back.

Wednesday 25 November 2009
Boeing BBJ N164RJ was in and out of Rotorua mid afternoon, arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Global Express N36LG flew from Christchurch to Hamilton and Auckland.

Arriving at Auckland, Steve Lowe photo

Citation VII VH-LYM left Auckland for Sydney and Darwin.

Metrojet's Gulfstream 550 B-KID arrived at Auckland from its Hong Kong home.

Thursday 26 November 2009
Air NZ's Airbus A320 ZK-OJC made the types first visit to Rotorua today as part of prelim work prior to the airline's commencement of scheduled international flights to Sydney from 12Dec.

Global Express N36LG arrived at Taupo from Auckland.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL P2-BWE commenced its delivery flight to Central Aviation of PNG today when it left Hamilton for Kerikeri and Norfolk Island.

Fugro's Aero Shrike Commander 500 VH-KAV arrived at Auckland from Norfolk Island.

Wayne Grant photo

Great Barrier Airlines took delivery of Trislander YJ-LGF when it arrived at Dairy Flat/North Shore from Norfolk Island and Auckland. The aircraft flying under a Vanuatu register appears to have only been put on this register for the delivery flight from the USA.

Wayne Grant photo

Mon 16 Nov to Sun 22 Nov 2009

Monday 16 November 2009
Falcon 900 VH-LAL departed Auckland for Sydney and Essendon.

Citation 550 VH-FGK arrived at Auckland from Essendon and Sydney.

Airbus A319CJ VH-VHD departed Christchurch for the Ice Runway and then Melbourne as "Snowbird 1".

Blue Line Airbus A310 F-HBOY arrived at Christchurch from Papeete as BLE910 on an around the world VIP trip.

At Christchurch 17Nov, Wayne Grant photo

Air NZ Boeing 737-300 ZK-FRE carried out a proving flight from/to Christchurch as its nears a departure for Brazil's Webjet in whose colour's its now wears. It is set to become PR-WJQ.

Graham Weatherby photo

Tuesday 17 Nov 2009
Citation 550 VH-FGK made the hop from Auckland to Taupo.

Gulfstream 4SP VH-DBT flew from Kaitaia to Auckland, Sydney and Essendon.

Learjet 45 VH-CXJ arrived at Christchurch this morning on a medivac flight from Rarotonga via Tonga. It departed later in the day for Coolangatta.

Boeing BBJ N164RJ arrived at Rotorua from Honolulu and later continued to Auckland for parking.

Wednesday 18 Nov 2009
Blue Line Airbus A310 F-HBOY departed Christchurch for Sydney.

Thursday 19 Nov 2009
Beechjet 400 VH-IPG flew from Sydney to Auckland.

Citation 550 VH-FGK flew Taupo-Woodbourne-Wanaka over the course of today.

Friday 20 Nov 2009
Beechjet 400 VH-IPG returned to Sydney from Auckland.

Saturday 21 Nov 2009
Qantas/Jetconnect Boeing 737-300 ZK-JNC departed Auckland for Apia and Honolulu as QFA6024 (see earlier post)

Challenger 604 N604KJ arrived at Auckland from Sydney.

Noel Jones photo

Citation 550 VH-FGK departed Wanaka direct to Essendon.

Sunday 22 Nov 2009
Czech Airlines Airbus A320 OK-GEB made what should be its third and final visit to Auckland today operating on behalf of Air Calin.

At Auckland 08Nov, Colin Hunter photo

End of the 737-300 in Qantas Group Operations

Arriving at Wellington October 2005, Mike Condon photo

The departure from Auckland 21Nov of Jetconnect's Boeing 737-300 ZK-JNC signalled the end of this particular variant's life with Qantas.

ZK-JNC was delivered to Jetconnect in June 2004 and previously flew with Australian Airlines and most recently with Qantas Mainline as VH-TJB having entered service with Australian in 1988.

Like most aircraft nearing retirement, ZK-JNC had a protracted exit from service and having intially stopped flying in October was reactiviated due to disruptions before finally making its last flight as QFA125 from Brisbane to Auckland 09Nov.

It departed Auckland 21Nov for Apia, Honolulu and Tucson.

Bizjets

As previously posted, Citation 680 Sovereign N121TL has become ZK-JTH as from 20Nov and is registered to Pacific Jets of Christchurch however will be operated out of Auckland as a joint venture.

I also mentioned another jet to soon arrive in NZ and this is Citation 560 Ultra ZK-AWK ex N596VP. It was also registered 20Nov to Airwork Flight Operations of Auckland. It is currently undergoing pre-delivery work at Maroochydore.

Its rather significant to have two corporate jets registered on the same day!

The question was raised as to previous ZK registered corporate jets and for that matter foreign registered but NZ based. I can recall the following:

BAe 125-800B ZK-EUI 12/86 to 10/88 with Euro National
BAe 125-800B ZK-RJI 10/87 to 02/91 with Robert Jones Internationl
BAe 125-800B ZK-TCB 06/87 to 05/89 with CF Herbert
Bae 125-800B ZK-MRM 03/87 to 08/89 with Chase Corporation
There was a 5th 125-800, ZK-RHP, due around the time of the sharemarket crash in 1987 but did not get delivered.
Falcon 200 ZK-MAY 04/87 to 09/90 with Goodmans (also flew as N221FJ with Goodmans before entering the ZK register and then after that as VH-NGF based in Sydney)
Falcon 100 ZK-MAZ 04/88 to 07/90 with Goodmans (primarily based in Sydney)
Citation 500 ZK-LJL 03/94 to 12/98 with PDL Holdings
Citation 650 ZK-NLJ 03/95 to 08/98 with Air Nelson on behalf of Brierley Investments
Citation CJ1 ZK-TBM/2 05/03 to 05/05 with Pacific Jets (replaced with a CJ3+)

Foreign machines based in NZ since mid 1980's have included:
Falcon 10's VH-DJT and VH-MEI
Falcon 200 and then as a Falcon 50 VH-PDJ
Falcon 20 N876SC with Goodmans prior to the delivery of ZK-MAY
Falcon 900 N42FJ and N104FJ
Citation 650 N106CC, N143WR and N133LE (later N133LH which became ZK-NLJ).
Learjet 35 N110KG
Learjet 35 N8074A (later VH-LJJ)
BAe 125-800 G-GAEL
Hawker 800XPi N805M
Global 5000 N818FH
Falcon 2000 N185G
Falcon 900 N900FH
Global Express N18WZ
Boeing BBJ N66ZB

Any additions/comments greatly appreciated.

Westwind VH-NGA Water landing - Updated

Australian based medical evacuation Westwind VH-NGA made a controlled landing onto the waters off Norfolk Island in the early hours of Thu 19 November. In a press release from the aircraft's operator, Careflight Pel-Air, states in this abridged version:

A CareFlight medical evacuation flight operated by Pel-Air Aviation from Apia to Melbourne was scheduled to land at Norfolk Island for a planned fuel stop on Wednesday evening when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions.

After several unsuccessful approaches and with diminishing fuel, the pilot-in-command, Captain Dominic James, made the decision to carry out a controlled landing onto the water off the coast of Norfolk Island.

The aircraft, a specially-equipped medical retrieval Westwind jet carried out a successful landing on the water and the patient, accompanying spouse and two medical crew as well as the pilots evacuated safely. They were rescued by boat and brought to the local Norfolk Island hospital for observation. The Captain reported that all passengers and crew did not have any apparent injuries.

John Sharp, Chairman of Pel-Air Avaition said that he was very proud of the Captain and the First Officer. "They performed an intricate landing on water in darkness resulting in the evacuation of everyone safely and quickly. The training of both the Pel-Air and Careflight crew came to the fore as everyone kept together and remained calm. Their professionalism stood out on the day and made a substantial difference to the outcome".

"I also want to thank the rescue team and the local authorities for their prompt action and dedication which resulted in a speedy rescue and evacuation to the hospital".

End.

The Sydney Morning Herald has the following news item on the event painting an interesting picture:

Rescue plane sinks after ditching
November 19, 2009 - 12:26PM
Six people including a sick woman have been rescued after a medical evacuation plane was forced to ditch in the sea off Norfolk Island.
The CareFlight plane was taking a critically ill patient from Samoa to Melbourne and was attempting to make a refuelling stop at Norfolk Island, the Seven Network reports.
Bad weather thwarted three attempts at landing, so the pilot peeled away from the island and put the plane down in the sea about two nautical miles offshore.
The crew and the patient were all able to get safely off the plane before it sank three minutes later.
All six people were forced to tread water, only three of them wearing lifejackets, for about 90 minutes before they were rescued by boat.
All were in shock and suffering from hypothermia but no one suffered major injuries.

Westwind VH-NGA has been a regular sight in NZ for many years carrying out a range of tasks from military liasion flights to organ retreivals.

VH-NGA at Auckland 11Oct 2009, Wayne Grant photo

USS Midway

A visit to the retired USS Midway in Downtown San Diego is a must!

USAF even arranged an F15 flypast (departed from North Island NAS) for us!

More from SOCAL

Air NZ 747-400 from Knotts Berry Farm




Air NZ 747-400 from Knotts Berry Farm

Marsh Aviation S2F N426DF in transit near San Diego Wild Animal Park

R44 on a photo mission over Knotts Berry Farm

Hughes 500D departing Santa Monica

Bell 412 N18LA tracking north at Santa Monica

Blimp N10A at its moorings near Long Beach

Squirrel N223LA over Santa Monica

Sea Stallion near San Diego

Sea Stallion's near Oceanside

Bell 407 N25NK departing Santa Monica

Coast Guard SH60 6037 inbound to a San Diego Hospital

Taken from Air & Space Museum, San Diego

Above and below taken from Air & Space Museum, San Diego

Another Corporate reaches the ZK register

Cessna 680 Sovereign ZK-JTH is yet to reach the CAA online records, however it was duly noted 16Nov outside at Auckland and is ex N121TL. The aircraft arrived in NZ early August this year and is a joint venture between Auckland businessman Craig Heatley and Christchurch's Pacific Jets. Mr Heatley has in recent years owned other American registered jets with a partner under the banner of Network Jets however this arrangement was terminated earlier this year.

Wayne Grant photo

The arrival of ZK-JTH onto the register is just ahead of another new type due before month's end with a Cessna 560 Citation Ultra due for an Auckland operator and to be placed on the ZK register!

The corporate jet register in NZ is now made up of:

Citation Mustang ZK-LCA (Hastings)
Citation Mustang ZK-MUS (Wellington)
Citation Mustang ZK-PGA (Auckland)
Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM (Christchurch)
Citation 680 Sov ZK-JTH (Auckland)
Learjet 35A ZK-XVL (Ardmore)
Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB (Auckland)
Westwind II ZK-RML (Auckland)
Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB (Auckland)

then foreign registered aircraft
Global Express N57LE (Auckland)
Falcon 900EX N146EX (Auckland)
Citation 501 N800DT (Ardmore)

Back on Deck

I've just returned from a three week family vacation in Southern California. Unfortunately I won't be revisiting what activity there has been in my absence as time just does not permit.

Hopefully from today onwards I'll start reposting comings and goings.

Our trip to SOCAL was fantastic with great weather and no rain seen for the entire 21 days. Our schedule of activities was hectic so aviation took very much a back seat. I did however capture a few images while out and about!

A visit to Coronado, opposite downtown San Diego, netted some interesting military movements from the large Naval Air Station - North Island. Its home to a massive fleet of Sea Hawks and other naval aircraft, namely F18's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_North_Island

The USS "Ronald Reagan" had recently returned to its home port of San Diego and was berthed a short distance from North Island, its deck devoid of all aircraft except for a lone F18.

North Island gate guardian. Google Maps reveal's a number of other retired aircraft on the base on display.

F18 short finals for runway 29 at North Island NAS.

The Navy obviously use Lear's for crew training as this machine was in the circuit for quite sometime.

Phoenix Air Lear on the drop.

One of many SH60's seen during our SOCAL visit

Viking on finals

Greyhound inbound. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRC-30

Sat 17 - Sun 18 October 2009

Saturday 17 October 2009

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N589HA arrived at Auckland from Sydney as ANZ700 for maintenance with Air NZ.

Jetconnect Boeing 737-400 ZK-JTS arrived at Christchurch ex Wellington as QFA6019 for a C check with Air NZ.

Sunday 18 October 2009

Vistajet Global Express OE-LXR jetted into Auckland from Kansai early this morning as "Vistajet 700". It then departed mid morning for Queenstown having been met at Auckland by Eurocopter EC130 ZK-IFC.

At Auckland, 5am Sunday, MRC photo

The Aramco Gulfstream 5 N585A, resident at Auckland since 10Oct, was joined by another company machine today with Boeing 767-2AXEREM N767A arriving from Daharan and Singapore.

Short finals runway 23L, Auckland, MRC photo

Thu 01 Oct - Fri 16 Oct 2009

A fairly quiet first couple of weeks for NZ hence not a great deal to report. Activity around Samoa has been frantic however with visitors ranging from Centurion and Arrow Air freighters to the one and only Antonov 225!

Thursday 01 October 2009
Citation VII VH-DHN arrived at Auckland from Coolangatta and Sydney.

Friday 02 October 2009
Thai based medivac Learjet 35 HS-CFS made for an interesting arrival at Dunedin this evening with it arriving from Ujang, Darwin and Brisbane.

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N588HA departed Auckland as ANZ6311 for Sydney where it then operated HAL450 to Honolulu.

Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIF departed Auckland for Tonga.

Saturday 03 October 2009
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N590HA arrived at Auckland as ANZ6316 from Sydney.

Learjet 35 HS-CFS departed Dunedin for Brisbane, Darwin and Singapore.

Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIE arrived at Auckland from Tonga.

United States Navy Boeing E6B 163919, as previously mentioned, arrived at Christchurch from Hickam AFB as "Razz 87".

Sunday 04 October 2009
Challenger 601 HB-IKS arrived at Wellington from Sydney on its annual visit downunder.

Monday 05 October 2009
Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBN arrived at Christchurch from Melbourne.

United States Navy Boeing E6B 163919 departed Christchurch for Perth.

Tuesday 06 October 2009
Virgin Blue Boeing 737-800 VH-VOX departed Christchurch for Melbourne at the conclusion of its most recent stint flying for Pacific Blue (in whos livery it wears).

Air National's BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO carried out a test flight at Auckland today.

Citation VII VH-DHN departed Auckland for Nadi and flew to Port Vila and back to Nadi 07Oct.

Royal Australian Air Force King Air 350 A32-437 arrived at Ohakea from Norfolk Island as ASY858 today.

Wednesday 07 October 2009
Challenger 601 HB-IKS flew from Wellington to Narita via a techstop at Port Moresby.

RAAF King Air 350 A32-437 made the short trip from Ohakea to Woodbourne and back.

Thursday 08 October 2009
Citation VII VH-DHN arrived at Auckland from Nadi today and as at 16Oct was still hangered here.

Air National BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO made its first overseas trip when it departed Auckland for Sydney.

RAAF King Air 350 A32-437 departed Ohakea for Norfolk Island.

Friday 09 October 2009
Pelair Westwind VH-NGA made a short visit to Auckland arriving from Apia and departing for Sydney on a medical evacuation flight.

Air National BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO flew from Sydney to Christchurch where it cleared formalities before heading to Woodbourne.

Saturday 10 October 2009
Aramco Gulfstream 5 N585A flew from Christchurch to Auckland this afternoon.

Qantas/Jetconnect Boeing 737-300 ZK-JND departed Auckland on its delivery flight to Tucson via stops at Apia and Honolulu.

Sunday 11 October 2009
Flying Lion Falcon 7X VP-BZE, carrying Lord Ashcroft, arrived at Auckland mid morning from Hong Kong.

Sportscruiser ZK-CXY commenced its delivery flight to Australia today with it departing Hamilton for Auckland and Norfolk Island.

Monday 12 October 2009
Air National BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO departed Woodbourne for Queenstown, Sydney and finally back to Auckland.

Walker Air Falcon 900C VH-LAL arrived at Auckland from Essendon and Sydney.

Tuesday 13 October 2009
Vincent Aviation Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH departed Auckland for Norfolk Island and Port Vila on an Airways Corporation calibration mission. It was noted heading for Honiara 14Oct.

Flying Lion Falcon 7X VP-BZE was into Wellington just on 0630 this morning from Auckland before continuing a short time later to Tonga. It was also noted during the week at Port Vila and Honiara.

Falcon 900C VH-LAL flew back to Sydney from Auckland this afternoon.

Wednesday 14 October 2009
Careflight Learjet 45 VH-CXJ spent a short time on the ground at Auckland early today arriving from Norfolk Island and departing for Coolangatta.

Thursday 15 October 2009
Falcon 900 G-SIRO arrived at Auckland from Vavau and Tonga today and is beleived to be hangered here for the next couple of months. It had arrived at Vavau 14Oct from Barbados via Mexico and Hilo.

Friday 16 October 2009
Cessna 402 ZK-PVC flew from Norfolk Island to Auckland this afternoon at the conclusion of its survey work in Fiji.

Cessna U206G ZK-SDG was noted departing Kerikeri for Norfolk Island this morning.

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N590HA departed Auckland for Sydney as ANZ707.

Federal Aviation Challenger 601 N87 arrived at Christchurch this evening from Pago Pago as "Flightcheck 87".

Mercury Rising!

United States Navy Boeing E6B "Mercury" Bu 163919 arrived at Christchurch on the afternoon of 03Oct from Honolulu's Hickam AFB using the callsign "Razz 87".

From internet sources, the US Navy have 16 of these aircraft which are code named "Looking Glass" and are commonly referred to as TACAMO (Take Charge And Move Out) aircraft. The E6B is an updated combination of the old E6A Navy TACAMO aircraft and the USAF EC135 Airborne Command Post. By combining the two the aircraft has the capability to control all US strategic nuclear assets.

This is an Airborne Strategic Command Aircraft with a crew of 22 and has an impressive array of communication devices including a trailing VLF (very low frequency) antenna for submarine communications.

Torin Wilson photo