Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Air Queensland Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain VH-XLB passes through Central Queensland

It appears Air Queensland Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain VH-XLB may have been conducting training flights over the past few days with the light twin-engine aircraft first observed flying from Redcliffe to Cairns via Maryborough, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Bowen and Townsville on Sunday, January 29.

After remaining parked overnight at the Far North Queensland city, VH-XLB conducted a Cairns to Cairns flight lasting 3hrs / 40 mins on Monday, January 30, before later departing again, but this time southbound to Mackay.

Staying overnight at Mackay, VH-XLB returned to the air on Tuesday, January 31, and trekked south to Gladstone (pictured) where it took onboard fuel before continuing onwards to Redcliffe.

Of interest, Air Queensland is a Redcliffe based Flying Training and Air Charter company that operates a variety of RA-Aus and VH registered single and twin-engine aeroplanes including (but not limited too) Sling, Tecnam, Jabiru, Cessna and Piper aircraft.

Air Queensland also operates from Caloundra, and more recently, Bundaberg.

For additional information, the Air Queensland website can be found at :
 
 





Sunday, January 29, 2017

Planespotting ... Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (pt.3)

For the past two weeks, we have been publishing in a three-part series planespotting photo's captured earlier this month at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport located at Ballina on the north coast of New South Wales.
 
Given that information about Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and airlines currently providing RPT and freight services to the region was highlighted in the previous two articles, we have taken a step away from that on this occasion, and maintained a basic approach by simply posting the remaining photo's in our collection from Ballina Airport.
 
For readers who missed part-one and part-two, here are the links again :
 
 
 







 



 














 








Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Regional Express Airlines (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZRY overnights at Bundaberg

Presumably a closed charter flight, Regional Express Airlines (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZRY flew direct from Sydney to Bundaberg as PFY9880 on Monday, January 23, were it was then secured for an overnight stay.

Early the following morning, VH-ZRY departed back to Sydney via Bankstown as PFY9281.

Over the past two years, Regional Express Airlines has increased it presence in the sunshine state, and arguably no-more-so then when the company took over a number of subsidised routes from Skytrans Airlines on behalf of the Queensland State Government in January 2015.

REX has since been responsible for providing RPT services to remote destinations from Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns.

More about this can be found in a review published by Air Queensland.blogspot in October 2015 :

http://airqueensland.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/regional-express-airlines-queensland.html


 
Photo's contributed by Micah S.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Planespotting - Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (pt.2)

As highlighted in 'Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (pt.1)', Ballina Airport is located on the north coast of New South Wales, and services the townships of Ballina, Byron Bay, Lennox Heads and surrounding region.

At present, four airlines operate regular RPT flights to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport with Jetstar Airways (Sydney and Melbourne / Tullamarine), Virgin Australia (Sydney), Regional Express Airlines (Sydney), and Fly Pelican (Newcastle / Williamtown) being those operators.

On this route, Jetstar Airways utilise Airbus A320-200's, Virgin Australia schedules Embraer E190-100's or Boeing 737-800's, Regional Express Airlines (REX) is represented by SAAB 340B turboprops, and if travelling with Fly Pelican, will find yourself onboard one of their BAe Jetstream 32 turboprop aircraft.

Also mentioned, Sharp Airlines provides a weekday freight service connecting Sydney / Bankstown - Coffs Harbour - Ballina / Byron - Gold Coast / Coolangatta with Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner VH-OZV.

Readers would have noted that a selection of Jetstar Airways Airbus A320-200 photo's captured during recent visits to Ballina Airport were the main feature of the 'part-one' post. As can be seen with 'part-two', Regional Express Airlines (REX) SAAB 340B turboprops is the focus for this article. A third and final post will be published shortly.

If you missed 'Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (pt.1)', the article can be found at :