Busy Times at Christchurch

The 2010/2011 Antarctic season is well and truely ramping up with multiple support aircraft arriving into Christchurch over recent days.  The following snaps are thanks to Bargeld01 taken 24Oct with the arrival of C5 Galaxy 70-0455 and C17 08-8203 plus C130 76-3301 and the departure of C17 08-8195.

20 Years Ago Today

October 23 1990 signalled a wind of change for Air Nelson with the arrival of its second 33 seat Saab 340A from Switzerland's Crossair.  HB-AHP, c/n 340-120, arrived at Nelson on this day 20 years ago from Brisbane and Norfolk Island concluding its long delivery flight from Europe.  It remained with Air Nelson as ZK-FXA through to the types retirement from Air Nelson service (replaced by Q300's) and it departed Nelson for Auckland, Apia and beyond on October 08 2007 before being re-registered N418MW.   The first Saab to arrived was registered ZK-FXB (ex HB-AHQ) and it had arrived at Nelson over the same route on September 27 1990.

Moments after shutdown outside Air Nelson's hanger 23 Oct 1990, Mike Condon photos

 

From a Bygone Era

The significant number of locally based corporate jets in New Zealand took me back to a previous blog post I made almost 12 months ago where details of previously NZ based corporate machines was listed : http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2009/11/bizjets.html

Trawling through the 'shoe box' I can share the following snaps:

Bae 125-800B ZK-EUI (258058) operated by Euro International from 12/86 until 10/88, now flying in the UK as G-JJSI.



Christchurch, March 1987, Kelvin Paterson photo

Bae 125-800A ZK-MRM (258074) operated by Chase Corporation from 03/87 until 08/89, currently flying in the USA as N518S.



Hokitika 13/04/88, Mike Condon photo

Bae 125-800B ZK-RJI (258082) operated by Robert Jones International from 10/87 to 02/91, currently flying in the USA as N800S.

Timaru, 1989, Steve Lowe photo

 Bae 125-800B ZK-TCB (258001) operated by CF Herbert from 06/87 until 05/89, currently flying in the USA as N800RM.



Wanaka, 02/04/88, Ian Coates photo

 Falcon 200 ZK-MAY (505) operated by Goodman Fielder Watties from 04/87 until 09/90 when it became VH-NGF and based out of Sydney with the same operator. Currently on the Isle of Man register as M-DEJB.

At its Nelson base 09/09/90, Mike Condon photo

Falcon 100 ZK-MAZ (213) also operated by Goodman Fielder Watties and based at Sydney from 04/88 to 07/90.  Currently flying in the USA as N117HF.

Nelson, 05/03/90, Mike Condon photo



First Saab 340B to New Zealand

Arriving at Wellington 18Oct was Saab 340B VH-UYN (340B-301) direct from Brisbane where it had arrived the pervious day from Townsville, home of the defunct airline that once operated it, Macair. 
The aircraft is on delivery to Vincent Aviation, as will be another ex Macair 340B, VH-UYA.

VH-UYN arriving at Wellington 18Oct, via Mike Condon

Air Niugini's Second Q400 Arrives Down Under

Air Niugini's second Bombardier Q400, P2-PXT (4329),  arrived at Cairns from Biak 16Oct for final pre delivery maintenance with Hawker Pacific.  The aircraft had departed Toronto/Pearson 10Oct and its delivery route took it through the Aleutians and Japan.


P2-PXT undertow at Cairns soon after its arrival, photo supplied



17 October 2010 Activity

Falcon 900 N900HD flew from Queenstown to Timaru, Nelson and Auckland over the course of the day while local Falcon 900 N146EX flew from Auckland to Brisbane.

Another Auckland based jet, Citation 501 ZK-NBR, carried out a training flight this afternoon.

Learjet 35A VH-LPJ spent a couple of hours at Auckland during the middle of the day, arriving from Essendon and heading south to Queenstown while local Gulfstream G200 N533GA also flew from Essendon to Auckland late Sunday.

On arrival at Auckland 17Oct, Wayne Grant photo



Asian based Boeing 737-200 VP-CBA made its second visit to NZ this year when it arrived at Auckland today from Manila via a techstop at Cairns.  The 737 had been observed departing Tokyo/Narita 14Oct.

At Auckland on its previous visit 01Apr10, Mike Condon photo

Wedgetail A30-005

A recent visitor to Ohakea was the RAAF's Wedgetail A30-005 (see http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2010/10/raaf-boeing-wedgetail-visits-ohakea.html).  No photos from that visit however an image ofthe same aircraft arriving at Hamamatsu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamamatsu_Air_Base 16Oct has been beamed through.....

Touching down at Hamamatsu, Japan.  Bargeld01 photo

Air India back again

Air India's Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH arrived at Auckland before sunup 16Oct direct from New Delhi carrying Pacific Islands representatives from the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.  It departed just after 1000 on its way back to New Delhi direct.

Taxying for departure from Auckland 16Oct, Colin Hunter photo

Bountiful Bizjets

The United States FAA have been carrying out calibration type operations in Antarctica for the last couple of years using Challenger 601 aircraft.  N87 arrived at Christchurch 15Oct from Pago Pago and the same aircraft was here in 2009. 



Graham Weatherby photo



Falcon 900EX N900HD departed Auckland 15Oct for brief visits to Tauranga and Timaru before ending its day at Queenstown.



Arriving at Timaru, Hayden Brown photo



Skyservices Citation X C-FNRG briefly visited Auckland 16Oct on its way from Brisbane to Taupo.

This is the first time a Citation X fitted with winglets has visited NZ. 



Arriving at Auckland, Mike Condon photo

Gulfstream 5 N371JC flew from Auckland to Taupo and Nelson 16Oct while Falcon 2000EX VH-CRW arrived at Napier from its Brisbane base. 

Not a bizjet, but a visitor none the less. Cirrus SR22 VH-JWI overnighted Auckland 15Oct arriving from Norfolk Island and departing 16Oct for Queenstown.



Is this still in New Zealand?

This Kaman K-Max N312KA was based out of Tauranga and was photographed by Dave Bates at Balclutha on 06 October 2008. Does anyone know if it is still in the country?

Another New Bizjet for NZ

Global Express XRS N18WZ/2 (c/n 9338 ex C-FVFW) arrived at Auckland in the early hours of 13Oct from South America via a techstop at Easter Island having been handed over to its new owners, Rank Services, last week in the USA. It replaces Global Express XRS N57LE which Rank had operated since 19 May 2008 until its departure at the end of September this year. It replaced the Boeing BBJ N66ZB which had in turn replaced the operator's first bizjet, Global Express N18WZ/1 (9059).

Recent Activity

Toll Holdings/Airwork Boeing 737-300 freighter ZK-TLD carried out a post maintenance test flight 09Oct from/to Auckland and again on 11Oct before departing later the same day for Brisbane.

Arriving post its maintenance test flight 11Oct, Mike Condon photo

Boeing BBJ VP-BJJ was noted at Christchurch carrying out compass swings 10Oct.

Graham Weatherby photo

Challenger 300 N448AS arrived at Queenstown from Tahiti 09Oct and flew to Auckland 11Oct.

Arriving at Auckland 11Oct, Mike Condon photo

Gulfstream 5 N371JC arrived at Auckland from Seletar 10Oct. It visited Auckland, Kaitaia, Napier, Christchurch and Queenstown during March/April of this year. It flew south to Taupo 12Oct.

Noel Jones photo

Locally based Gulfstream G200 N533GA (ZK-VGL) departed Auckland for Essendon 12Oct while in the opposite direction Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB flew from Cocos Island to Adelaide and Auckland having left NZ late July.

At Auckland on its arrival 05Oct, Graham Weatherby photo

Falcon 900EX N900HD arrived at Auckland 12Oct from Kona and Apia.

Mike Condon photo

Gulfstream 550 N55AL arrived at Auckland 12Oct from Van Nuys, Oakland and Honoluluu carrying heavy metal group "Metallica". This aircraft spent a couple of nights at Christchurch during September where the group performed two concerts.

RAAF Challenger 604 A37-001 departed Wellington for Avalon 12Oct having arrived the previous day from Noumea.

A380-800 A6-EDM

Noel Jones was on hand today to catch up with Emirates most recently delivered Airbus A380-800 A6-EDM arriving at Auckland on the scheduled EK412 service from Dubai and Sydney. This particular aircraft, c/n 42, was only delivered to the airline on the 28th of last month and it marks the first time the carrier has flown an A380 other than A6-EDA/B/C/D/E to Auckland as the other A380's in their fleet feature a different configuration to those normally deployed 'down under'.

RAAF Boeing Wedgetail visits Ohakea

The first visit to our shores of the recently introduced to service Boeing 737 Wedgetail A30-005 took place 07/08 Oct with it overnighting at Ohakea before returning to Williamtown Friday afternoon.
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/737aewc/

Update on Boeing 747-400 ZK-SUI

Air NZ's Boeing 747-400 ZK-SUI, having retired from the fleet in August of this year (see http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2010/08/farewell-sui.html) underwent an operational check flight from/to Xiamen in China on 26 September as ANZ6002 wearing the colours of Saudi Arabian and marked as TF-AMX.

On pushback at Xiamen, photo supplied.

Gulfstream N198GS

AVN Air Gulfstream 4 N198GS arrived at Auckland from Male and Darwin on the morning of 01Oct.

Wayne Grant photo

Chilean Visitor

Chilean Navy P3 Orion "407" overnighted at Wellington 03Oct on its way to a maintenance visit with Safe Air at Woodbourne. This aircraft was last at Woodbourne for heavy maintenance in late 2002 and departed 23 January 2003.

On arrival at Wellington 03Oct from Papeete, Phil Craig photo

And on departure the following day for Woodbourne, Peter Van Dyk photo

NZ's Latest Bizjet Touches Down

Sporting a small NZ flag on the tail and a temporary registration N533GA, Gulfstream G200 ZK-VGL touched down at Auckland early on the afternoon of 05 October having originated at Singapore with stops at Darwin and Brisbane. ZK-VGL is a brand new aircraft having been built in 2009 and has recently spent time flying around the European Union. The owners of the aircraft are from the Waikato region so it will be interesting to see if it is based out of Hamilton.
The arrival of NZ's second G200 brings the total bizjet population based or registered in the country to 14.

Wayne Grant photo

ZK's Abroad - Update and additions

Since my earlier post http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2010/09/zks-abroad.html, there have been a few updates I can add.

Cessna 402 ZK-PVC returned home to Hastings 03Oct having arrived at Auckland the previous day from Nadi and Norfolk Island.

Beech 1900C ZK-VAE was cancelled from the NZ register on the 1st of this month as exported, to VH-??? I presume.

HNZ's Bell 412EP ZK-HVM was also cancelled from the NZ register today, 06Oct.

I should have mentioned Pilatus PC6 ZK-PCI which was last known to have been resident on parachute operations in the UK, but check out http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2010/08/missing.html

Jeremy from www.helihub.com has kindly provided the following:

Eurocopter EC135 P2 ZK-HLH, registered to ICE Yacht Managment (as is Koala ZK-ISR) is operated from superyacht "MV Ice" and can be seen at http://www.aviationcorner.net/show_photo.asp?id=4502 and http://yachts.monacoeye.com/yachtsbysize/pages/ice01.html

Korean Corporate

LG Electronics Gulfstream 550 HL-7799 rounded out this months activity when it arrived at Auckland from Punta Arenas, Chile 30Sep. It departed exactly 12 hours after its arrival at 2343 its journey home to Seoul/Gimpo. HL-7799 spent a similar amount of time at Nadi 27Sep when it arrived from Gimpo and departed later to Easter Island.

Arriving at Auckland just before midday 30Sep, Wayne Grant photo

Skyteam visit

Korean Airlines operated their Boeing 777-200 HL-7733 in the Skyteam livery on the carrier's scheduled service through Auckland 29Sep.

Lifting off from Auckland's runway 05, Wayne Grant photo

Subcontinent Visitor

Air India Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH arrived at Auckland this afternoon (27Sep) direct from Indira Ghandi International Airport, Delhi as AIC5412. The aircraft collected approximately 150 Pacific Island Commonwealth Games participants and flew them direct back to Delhi as AIC5411 in a planned flight time of 14hr 39mins.

Above and below, Mike Condon photos

Below, Wayne Grant photo of the aircraft's titles in Hindu.

BBJ Departs

Following a successful "cold soak" 5 hour test flight 26Sep, Boeing BBJ VP-BEL departed from Christchurch's runway 02 at 1203 today heading for Singapore at the conclusion of its extensive maintenance visit with Altitude Aviation. The BBJ had arrived at Christchurch from Singapore and Wellington (diversion due fog) back on 03Jun.

Glen Reid photo

Visiting Helo

PHI Inc Bell 212 N227PH was observed at Christchurch today having most likely alighted from the USAF C17 as pictured below in readiness for future transportation to Antarctica for operations on behalf of the National Science Foundation.
http://www.phihelico.com/

Glen Reid photo

More on the J's

Gavin Conroy was on hand at RNZAF Woodbourne this afternoon shortly after the arrival of RAAF Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-450 from Christchurch via stopover's at Dunedin and Queenstown as part of a navigational exercise which was inturn followed by A97-447.
These close up shots of the Herc display the nose and tail art on -450.

ZK's Abroad Update

Updating an earlier posting, Great Barrier Airlines Embraer 820C (Cheiftain) ZK-RDT arrived back at Auckland 24Sep from Tonga via Nadi and Norfolk Island possibly spelling the end of its time in the Islands where it has been flying since 30Sep 2008.
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/zk-rdt-returns.html

Helicopters NZ Bell 412 ZK-HVM arrived at Truscott, Western Australia 24Sep from Darwin perhaps indicating it is heading out of the region through Indonesia from where it arrived back on 18 Sep 2009.

Military Arrivals - updated

Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-450 arrived at Christchurch Saturday 25Sep from Hobart as "Ausy 672". It was joined on the ramp at Christchurch late 26Sep by A97-447.


United States Air Force Boeing C17A 08-8195 arrived at Christchurch early on the afternoon of Sunday 26 September from Honolulu as Reach 5E4.

Tony McFarlin photos