Gladstone Flying Training and Air Charter

Gladstone Flying Training and Air Charter is a Gladstone Airport based operation providing the port city and surrounding area with quality Commercial (CPL), General Aviation (RPL / PPL) and Recreational Pilots Certificate (RA-Aus) flying training.

In addition to flying training, other services offered by Gladstone Flying Training include Trial Instructional Flights (TIF), Flight Reviews, Conversion Courses (eg. RA-Aus to GA), scenic flights and general air charter.

At present, Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II VH-FKU and Cessna 182P VH-WTH are operated by Gladstone Flying Training, however, an Fly Synthesis Texan will become available very shortly when maintenance currently being conducted on the plane is complete. Additional information (and photos) about the Texan will be published as soon as it becomes available.     

If you live in the Gladstone region and considering conducting flying training, have a requirement to charter a light aircraft wether it be recreational or business related, or would simply like to enjoy a scenic flight of the local area, more information can be obtained by ringing John-Jon Roberts on 0408 984 007 or forwarding an email to : info@gftair.com.au

Gladstone Flying Training and Air Charter : http://gftair.com.au/

 

Gladstone Flying Training and Air Charter can also be found on Facebook :

https://www.facebook.com/Gladstone-Flying-Training-and-Air-Charter-497574256963618

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 VH-XWR

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 VH-XWR replaced the usual scheduled Fokker 70 Brisbane - Gladstone - Brisbane service as VA2905 / VA2904 on Friday 16 March to help move additional passengers left stranded due to Fokker 70 VH-NKU becoming out of service at the port city.

VH-NKU operated the late afternoon / early evening Brisbane to Gladstone service as VA2913 on Thursday 15 March, and after remaining overnight as intended, the flight was cancelled Friday morning prior to departing to Brisbane as VA2700. Coincidentally, VH-NKU eventually departed empty to Brisbane late morning only moments before VH-XWR got airborne with a heavy payload.

Commencing operations in 2002 with a modest fleet of two Fokker 100 and two Embraer EMB120 Brasilia aircraft when Brisbane based Queensland Airline Holdings acquired the assets of Flight West Airlines which had become dormant after the collapse of Ansett Airlines, Alliance Airlines has grown since it's inception to become the worlds largest operator of Fokker aircraft.

Initially leveraging the business towards Fly-in / Fly-out (FIFO) operations in support of the mining and energy sector, adhoc charter services to a number of airlines including Qantas and Virgin Australia, as well as corporate and government customers, Alliance Airlines has never stopped seeking opportunities to strengthen the airline leading to the commencement of commercial services in more recent times to a number of cities in Queensland and New South Wales, most of them in partnership with Virgin Australia.

While it is difficult to ascertain exactly the current "operational" size of Alliance Airlines fleet, it appears five Fokker 50s, nine Fokker 70s and eighteen Fokker 100s may be a good (or close) number.

 

 

Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD

There was a rare but welcomed arrival at Gladstone Airport on Sunday 04 March when Skytraders Pty Ltd Airbus A319-115(LR) VH-VHD touched-down from Melbourne / Tullamarine during the afternoon. Shortly after arrival, the Airbus was refuelled before being secured for an overnight stay.

On Monday 05 March, VH-VHD made a late morning departure back to Melbourne / Tullamarine, and the purpose of the flight to Gladstone remains unknown, however, assume it was a government related charter.

VH-VHD is one of two Airbus A319s operated by Skytraders, the other being VH-VCJ, both 2003 manufactured airliners and the only examples of their type on the Australian register.

Readers who may not be familiar, Skytraders is small Tullamarine based airline that provides specialist air services to the Australian Federal Government including operations to Antarctica, relocation of refugee / illegal immigrants around Australia and parts of the Pacific, and general charter / logistics.

Further information about Skytraders can be found at : http://skytraders.com.au/