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.

Bell 212 ZK-HIB takes flight

Oceania Aviation's Bell 212 ZK-HIB MSN 31301 (ex JA-9929) conducted a local Ardmore-Ardmore flight late afternoon 13 January 2017 and has effectively lost most of its Japan Coast Guard identity and now wears the colours of a yet to be announced customer in the Pacific Islands. 

The chopper has featured a couple of times previously on the blog HERE

Thanks to agairnz for the timely tip-off about its pending flight. 

Bristol Freighter ZK-EPG headed off shore?

Ardmore's resident Bristol B170 Freighter ZK-EPG is earmarked for shipping to the UK if efforts abroad come to fruition.

Click HERE to read the article and catch up on some great historical shots of this old transporter.

Ardmore 13 January 2017. 

Airbus EC135 HB-ZSW revisited

Temporary Ardmore resident Airbus EC135 HB-ZSW has been conducting cross country flying activities in recent days with it being noted venture north to Kauri Cliffs, Cape Reinga and Kerikeri and over the last couple of days it navigated south via Whanganui to the Tasman and Marlborough regions before heading back to Ardmore via Huka Lodge.

Earlier mentions of the helicopter can be found HERE

Retro Roo Returns

Delivered to Qantas in November 2014, Boeing 737-800 VH-XZP features the airline's early 1970's livery as worn by their first Boeing 747's. 

The aircraft made its first flight to New Zealand back in July 2015 with a one off trip to Auckland http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=VH-XZP and I think this had been its only foray across the Tasman.

Until 10 January 2017 when the jet stepped in to cover for a Jetconnect 737 as QF123 from Brisbane to Auckland and returning to Brisbane as QF126.

The airline has a second Retro Roo in operation, VH-VXQ

http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-celebrates-95-years-of-history-and-innovation-unveils-retro-roo-ii-livery-on-a-b737/

The Magic of Flight - Landing in Queenstown, New Zealand

Awesome video showcasing New Zealand's Queenstown airport from the view point of an arriving North American based Global Express during late December 2016.

Mach Loop Airbus A400 debut - January 5th 2017

Will we see the Grizzly make its New Zealand debut at the RNZAF Air Tattoo next month??

United Airlines to adjust Auckland schedule

United Airlines has made two significant changes to their forecast schedule for services between San Francisco and Auckland - currently operating daily with Boeing 777-200's. From mid April 2017 through until 28 October 2017 United Airlines will suspend the service, originally planned to be operated by the Boeing 787-9 then changed to the smaller -8. It will recommence on a daily basis increasing frequency to 10 times per week from mid December initially planned to use Boeing 777-200's. 

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/270763/united-increases-auckland-seasonal-service-from-dec-2017/

Boeing 777-200 N784UA arriving Auckland in less than ideal conditions 07 January 2017. 

NZ Warbirds BE 2e ZK-PXA revisited

Last month we reported the arrival at Ardmore of the Vintage Aviator BE2e ZK-PXA for the NZ Warbirds.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=zk-pxa

The World War One replica subsequently made its first flight from Ardmore on 20 December 2016 (http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/12/zk-pxa-airborne-at-ardmore-this-evening.html). 

A chance visit to Ardmore late afternoon 06 January 2017 saw the opportunity to catch this gem take to the skies over the general aviation airfield. 

The Best Of Military Aviation - October 2016

Corporate Corner 25 December-31 December 2016

KAD II Aviation Gulfstream G550 N551GT arrived in Auckland early 26 December from San Jose/CA via Hilo/HI.

Vista Equity Partners Global Express N283DM departed Queenstown for Auckland 26 December as TWY66.

Ford Motor Corp Gulfstream G550 N322K departed Rotorua for Queenstown 26 December as EJM322 and then to Honolulu and Boca Raton/FL 29 December.

Premiair Embraer Legacy 650 PK-RJX arrived at Queenstown from Melbourne 26 December and departed for Sydney 30 December. 

Executive Jet Management Global 5000 N176HS flew from Auckland to Queenstown and Christchurch 27 December. It returned to Queenstown 28 December and from there departed for Sydney 29 December.

ANZA Tyres Challenger 604 N604AU spent several hours in Nelson 27 December arriving from and returning to Palmerston North. It flew from Palmerston North to Nelson and Auckland 28 December.

Avwest PTY Global Express N599CH arrived in Queenstown 27 December from Perth.

TAG Asia Falcon 7X VP-CTG arrived in Auckland just prior to midnight 27 December from Hong Kong. It flew to Queenstown 28 December and to Papeete 29 December.

Albinati Aeronautics Global 5000 HB-JRS departed Rotorua 28 December for Sydney.

Czar Aviation Gulfstream G550 VP-CJM concluded its Christchurch layover 28 December and departed for Queenstown and Rotorua. It then headed to Sydney 29 December.

Fireblade Investments Global 6000 ZS-TDF arrived in Napier from Queenstown 28 December. It then departed the Hawkes Bay regional airport during the first hour of 30 December on a direct Easter Island.

Lyon Aviation Inc Gulfstream 5 N900LY arrived in Dunedin mid afternoon 29 December from Reno/NV via a techstop at Papeete. 

Nucap Industries Inc Global Express XRS C-GRNS arrived in Queenstown mid morning 30 December from Toronto/Pearson via a techstop in Honolulu. 

Executive Jet Management/Air Tiger 1 LLC Gulfstream 5 N50KC flew from Kaitaia to Auckland as EJM659 31 December.

First to see the sunrise of 2017

Ardmore-based Diamond DA42 Twin Star ZK-ZYX, recently arrived in the country as N121TS, took off from its home airport in the early hours of

01 January 2017 and headed out to East Cape then to Gisborne presumably to take the unique opportunity to see the first sunrise of 2017.

Ardmore 23 December 2016. 

And for those of us land dwellers here is some sunrise shots from Auckland South:

And... the early bird catches the worm (and sunrise!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing our audience a very happy and safe New Year!

Thank you for the continued support and for the "team" of contributors which has expanded year on year. 

This year marks the tenth anniversary of when this blog was created and we are proud to have been part of assisting with the formation of 3rd Level NZ and NZ Civil Aircraft

A change in tempo is inevitable this year as it has become increasingly difficult to plan daily posts  - but we will be doing what we can and continue to provide coverage of aviation items not generally mentioned elsewhere. 

Hainan Airlines inaugurates services to Auckland

Hainan Airlines is the latest (and last?) new entrant to the now burgeoning Chinese tourism market to New Zealand inaugurating services to Auckland from 29 December operating three times per week from Haikou and Shenzhen. The first flight, HU7931, arrived in Auckland on time at 0630 30 December with Airbus A330-200 B-5955 (one of eight -200's in their fleet) taking out the honours. Flights will operate Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

In early October the carrier announced it would start operations from 01 January 2017 so interesting to see them turn up two days earlier.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/84908947/Chinas-Hainan-Airlines-to-fly-between-Shenzen-and-Auckland

Its now a couple of months before the next new airline to service Auckland begins services with Qatar planning to fly direct services from/to Doha with Boeing 777-200LR's with the block time Auckland-Doha scheduled to be 17hr 30min (5min longer than Emirates A380 service to Dubai). 

The first Qatar service, QR920, is due to arrive Auckland 06 February at 0500 and depart at 1440 as QR921. 

American Airlines (N800AN) Tahiti diversion 24/11/2016

American Airlines flight AA83 from Los Angeles to Auckland diverted to Papeete 24 November due to passenger illness. Enthusiasts were on location to catch the Boeing 787-8 N800AN arriving just before 0700. Due to crew hour limitations the flight remained in Papeete until the following morning when it eventually continued to Auckland.