Thursday, September 29, 2011

BNE today

Skytrans VH-QQM at BNE today
Cessna 310 VH-JMP of Air Link at BNE GA apron today
Australasian Jet B200 VH-ZMP at BNE GA apron
Serial no BB-259

Aviation Australia 727F VH-TBS at BNE


VH-TBS 727-77C at BNE several years ago.This aircraft is still parked at BNE near the Aviation Australia hangar near the old ITB.They also have a F28-1000 VH-XNG parked inside their hangar.
Photo R.Finlayson.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Further update on the Bizjets

Citation 550 will be G-SOVA and it has already departed on it's ferry flight to BNE.
Last photo shows a very nice scheme.


BNE the past few days

Pionair CV580 VH-PDW has been operating a freight schedule CNS-BNE-TSV-CNS the past 3 days.VH-PDW has been the aircraft on all 3 days.It arrives BNE around 3pm and departs at 0430 back to TSV.
G5 N712KT arrived BNE 26sep from HNL.It is due to depart shortly to Sydney.
First visit today from Global Express VH-VDX .This aircraft has only been in the country 4 weeks and is owned by the Pratt Company.Serial no 9101.It flew Bankstown to Brisbane this arvo.
Also in today was rare Merlin VH-SSM which arrived from Noumea.

QFlink increases including basing 717's at BNE

Qantaslink expands investment in regional Queensland

Brisbane, 28 September 2011

QantasLink has announced a significant boost to its product, service, and schedule offering throughout regional Queensland.

QantasLink’s Executive Manager Narendra Kumar announced that the airline’s two additional B717 aircraft will be based in Brisbane. These new 115 seater aircraft will commence service from early 2012.

In addition QantasLink will expand its network by launching a new Townsville to Moranbah service. From October this service will initially take-off twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays to provide customers with seamless connections to Cairns and between Far North Queensland and the Bowen Basin coal fields.

QantasLink also celebrated the arrival of a new $30 million next generation 74-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft, which will deliver the following network enhancements from 17 October 2011:

- Moranbah services will increase in frequency with a new late afternoon service departing from Brisbane at 5 pm on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. A Saturday service will also be introduced for the first time.
- Emerald customers will have access to an additional 396 seats per week with new flights introduced on Wednesdays and Saturdays. These upgrades will lift the number of return services to 38 per week
- Customers travelling between Cairns and Weipa will enjoy two additional services on Tuesdays and Thursdays which will result in QantasLink offering 16 return flights and 1016 seats per week on this route.

QantasLink will also offer increased capacity with a 50 seat Q300 aircraft on the following routes:

- Roma will be serviced by six return services per day between Monday and Friday and two return services on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Charleville will be serviced by a new direct service from Brisbane taking the number of direct services to four return services per week.

In addition to these announcements a new Qantas Regional Lounge will be officially opened in Emerald to offer Qantas Club members, and Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers greater levels of comfort when travelling through this port.

Mr Narendra Kumar said these product and schedule enhancements represented a significant increase in QantasLink’s investment in regional Queensland and were in response to customer demand for more services to and from regional Queensland.

"QantasLink has continued to respond to regional Queensland communities who rely on air services by introducing a new schedule that connects them with Brisbane and beyond.

“These new services will also support Queensland’s booming resource sector which will benefit through the link these services will provide to key mining centres across the state,” he said.

Queensland Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Minister Jan Jarratt welcomed QantasLink’s increased investment, describing it as a boost for regional Queensland.

“These new QantasLink services will be fantastic for people in our resource centres and they will also serve to open up regions to new tourism opportunities,” she said.

“Queensland is where Australia shines and these additional services and new aircraft will give more visitors even more reason to stay a little longer and enjoy what our incredible State has to offer.”

Background

As the country's largest regional airline, QantasLink is embedded in regional Australia. With a network of 56 metropolitan and country destinations across all states and territories, the airline also launched its first international destination - Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea - in July 2010. Services linking Perth and Exmouth in Western Australia commenced on 30 March. Further services in WA between Perth and Geraldton will also commence 21 November 2011.

QantasLink has invested more than $850 million in 28 new Q400 aircraft since 2006, with the current fleet of 25 Q400 aircraft to grow to 28 over the next 18 months. The airline's fleet also includes five Q200, 16 Q300 and 11 B717 aircraft.

QantasLink is also overseeing the operation of the Qantas Group’s recently purchased Western Australian resources charter airline Network Aviation. Its fleet of nine aircraft is set to grow further, with the addition of a further 10 Fokker F100s.

Thanks for Qantas basing 2 717's at BNE early next year.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

More QFlink flights next month

Qantaslink will increase BNE-Roma (RMA) from 28 a week to 34 flights.This will mean there will be 6 flights BNE-RMA on weekdays.BNE-Hervey Bay(HVB) will also increase by 1 flight a week and BNE-Emerald(EMD) by 2 a week.
BNE-Moranbah(MOV) will increase by a extra 7 flights a week as well.Flights are expected to increase by the middle of October.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Brisbane to get 2 new biz jets based very soon

Within the next 2-3 weeks BNE will have a Challenger 600 from the USA and a Citation 550 from the UK .Both will be re registered on the Australian register shortly.I do not have any details of ownership at this time.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

New airlines for BNE

I posted some thoughts on this a few weeks back well as we all know Air Australia (VC) will be the new name for Strategic Airlines.First aircraft A330-200 is due in November.

However a 2nd carrier has reared it's head recently .I will reveal more about this carrier in the weeks to come but it will bring a new aircraft type to BNE skies very soon.

With Heavylift expected to resume operations by November there will a few more new tails to view out of BNE before the end of the year.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Aeropelican increases BNE-Narrabri

AEROPELICAN will further increase the number of services to Narrabri in October.
The airline has announced that from October 17, Narrabri will be served by three daily return flights to Sydney on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with the addition of a midday service on those days.
And the Narrabri Brisbane service will be increased to a twice-daily service Monday to Friday.
The extra services means that Narrabri will have 52 flights per week to the major metropolitan centres on the east coast, a service unmatched by any other NSW regional centre of Narrabri’s size.
The additional services are being scheduled to meet continually growing demand for air travel to and from Narrabri. The growing volume of passengers now using Narrabri Airport gives added impetus to the Shire Council’s plans for an upgrade to the Airport Terminal and Airport infrastructure.
“The increase in activity from the Narrabri communities, industries and businesses is encouraging Aeropelican to commit further to its Narrabri network by not only increasing its frequency from Sydney for the second time in twelve months, but also opening its first base out of New South Wales with its Brisbane operation” commented Fabrice Binet, Business Development Manager for Aeropelican Air Services.

BNE details are OT5701 MON-FRI dep BNE at 0645
OT5702 MON-FRI arr BNE at 0950
OT5709 MON-FRI dep BNE at 1630
OT5710 MON-FRI arr BNE at 1935

This will mean a J32 will be based in BNE.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Gold Coast airport to extend runway

Coast Airport plans to adjust runway

JUST days after it was revealed China Southern Airlines could not fly to the Gold Coast because the city's runway was too short, the airport has released plans which appear to resolve the issue.

The Gold Coast Airport will this morning unveil plans to relocate the landing threshold on runway 32 by about 310 metres to the south, which would allow planes to make use of the full runway length.

The details are part of the 2011 preliminary draft master plan for the airport, which would see the runaway change occur in the next five years.

China Southern Airlines had hoped to launch direct flights from Guangzhou by 2015, but this week explained the airport could not cater for its Boeing 777 aircraft.

The master plan also shows that the Gold Coast Airport is expecting a heavy rail link to be built in the future to drop passengers at its door and for improved road access to the airport.

Gold Coast Airport has also detailed that it plans to make way for more aviation businesses to set up at the airport, while before it was nominated as a general business park.

Maroochydore airport expansion

$10m precinct plan for airport

Tags aerospace precint, jobs, regional aviation association of australia, sunshine coast airport

SUNSHINE Coast Airport will soon have a $10 million aerospace precinct that will create up to 150 specialist jobs.

An artist’s impression of the new aerospace precinct at Sunshine Coast Airport.

SUNSHINE Coast Airport will soon have a $10million aerospace precinct that will create up to 150 specialist jobs.

This exclusive announcement follows the start of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia conference last night.

Those firms willing to set up shop on the Coast will fund the construction of hangars customised to their needs.

Discussions with interested companies has already begun but so far remain confidential.

Before the dotted lines are signed, Sunshine Coast Council will spend $10million on drainage, sewerage, telecommunications and road access.

Construction is expected to begin by late next year, once investors are secured.

Airport general manager Peter Pallot said the project would boost the airport's reputation.

"It will introduce new aviation services such as fixed-base operators, maintenance repair operators that could lead to jet aircrafts being overnighted,'' Mr Pallot said.

"In addition, the Sunshine Coast Aviation Precinct will allow for larger development sites for aviation businesses."

The sites will add up to 52,100sq m, with half of that to have easy access to the runway for jet maintenance or repair.

These will be large enough to handle B737 or A320 aircrafts.

Aeromil Pacific chairman Steve Padgett said the precinct was a chance to promote the airport and the Coast's aviation industry.

"These could be maintenance, support or operational aviation businesses," he said.

"It's not unusual to have these at an airport, but for a regional airport it's a new approach and one I think we should do pretty well."

Mr Padgett already has four hangars at the airport, and Aeromil Pacific supports the Singapore Flying College with its infrastructure.

He said the new area had a "limitless" potential.

"There is no need to be on a capital city airport to be successful, as we have proven," Mr Padgett said.

"As long as you have the land and it's cost effective.

"The Sunshine Coast Airport is newish and far more attractive."

Solomons news

Solomon Airlines receives approval from CASA Australia

E-mail Print
National flag carrier Solomon Airlines yesterday announced that CASA Australia (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) has finally approved their FAOC (Foreign Air Operators Certificate) application.

This means it has now given them their operating licence to commence scheduled flights to and from Brisbane; Australia.

The airlines yesterday described this as a good news for the airline and its travelling public.

The airline indicated that whilst the approval is almost immediate to commence operations, it has a contract with Our Airline to complete this week’s flying which will end at the completion of next Sunday’s flight 11th September.

This will also give the airline some room to move to complete its charter mandate to return the Team Solomon Pacific Games contingent from Noumea of which the first flight arrived yesterday afternoon.

Solomon Airlines also indicated that the first charter arrival will see the newly received Airbus A320 remain in Honiara till Sunday when it brings in the final charter from Noumea.

It would then return to Brisbane that evening to commence its first commercial scheduled flight on Monday morning the 12th September from Brisbane to Honiara and return.

Source Solomon Airlines web page.


Friday, September 9, 2011

BNE movements this week so far.

Alliance Fokker 50 movements this week have been VH-FKZ on 5 and 6 sep and today VH-FKW operated ADL-BNE-BKE(Bourke) on it's Lake Eyre tour.
Exciting biz this week has been G-SANL a Global Express which arrived yesterday from the Maldives.It is expected to depart today or tomorrow to NZ.
Arriving today was Falcon 900 P2-ANW from AKL.
N55LC a Falcon also arrived during the week as well as N550PR a G550 which had done a few trips ex BNE over the past week.

New delivery was Virgin Australia 737-800 VH-YIB arriving from CHC on 07sep.

This week has seen some new mining FIFO flights with yesterday seeing Skytrans add 2 extra flights BNE-Clermont and BNE-Emerald as SKP 1044 and SKP 1018 respectively.On the inbound yesterday Skytrans had a extra 3 new arrivals being SKP 1045 AND 1047 from CMT and SKP 1019 from EMD.
Out of interest BNE had 25 mining departure flights yesterday alone and 20 arrivals.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

BNE airport works over the next 20 years

PERIOD 2009-2014

As you may have noticed from the Loop Rd work has commenced on the Northern Apron expansion at the domestic terminal.These works will be completed by end of 2012 .Listed below is a list of planned works till june 2014 from the BAC website.Some have been completed and some are about to start and others are yet to start.
Over the next 10 years up to 4 Billion dollars of work will be happening at this airport.

As you can see below extension of the current international terminal concourse to the north and apron extensions and aerobridges are due to start in 2012 as well as the pavilion at the domestic terminal.Also airfield works to address Scheduled A380 ops is also planned. Additional maintenance facilities and taxiway links are also planned.Very exciting development over the remaining 3 years till june 2014.

14.2.1 Short-Term Development (2009- 2014)
Developments required to facilitate short-term forecast
growth of traffic demand and business and industry attraction
are expected to include but not be limited to:
• provision of additional taxiway links to existing runway/
taxiway/apron systems;
• preliminary works for the New Parallel Runway;
• expansion of terminal, aircraft apron, taxiway system and
gate capacity at the Brisbane International and Brisbane
Domestic Precincts, including:
- Domestic Terminal Common User Terminal, Common
User Satellite, Virgin and Qantas Terminals, with apron
expansion, and an elevated pavilion;
- International Terminal Building Northern Concourse
and apron;
- capacity upgrades to the public parking facilities
including a new short-term multi-level facility at the
Domestic precinct and staged relocation of staff
parking facilities to Central Parking Area; and
- airfield works to address scheduled Airbus
A380 operations.
• business, industry and commercial developments at all
airport precincts, including:
- offices at Export Park, Brisbane International and
Airport Village;
- further freight facilities including offices and
warehouses at Export Park;
- further retail and commercial facilities, a golf course
and an additional Airtrain station at Airport Village;
- Business Park at Banksia Place;
- additional aircraft maintenance facilities and expanded
taxiway systems at Aerotech Park;
- construction of additional freight handling capacity; and
- delivery of the first phases of the Central Parking Area
including ground transport facilities.

PERIOD 2014-2019

14.2.2 Medium-Term Development (2014 - 2019)
Developments required to facilitate medium-term forecast
growth of traffic demand and business and industry attraction
are expected to include but not be limited to:
• construction of the New Parallel Runway to 3300 m, with
the associated stage 1 taxiway system, navigation aids
and supporting facilities and infrastructure;
• further passenger terminal expansion and apron
development at both the international and domestic
terminals, including Virgin Terminal and International
Terminal concourse (north) and Terminal core;
• further cycle and pedestrian path network expansion;
• further capacity upgrades to the airport road network;
• expansion of the International Terminal mult-level car park;
• realignment of Airport Drive in the International
Terminal precinct;
• further development of the Central Parking Area;
• further passenger terminal expansion and apron
development at both the international and domestic
terminals, International Terminal Building Concourse
expansion and associated infrastructure;
• further Taxiway link development to access additional
hangars at Aerotech Park; and
• further cycle and pedestrian path network expansion.
• additional public and staff car parking facilities including
expansion of the Central Parking Area;
• International Terminal entry roundabout upgrade;
• upgrade of road access to International Terminal from the
Northern Access Road;
• construction of additional freight handling facilities and
aircraft maintenance facilities;
• further taxiway system elements to access additional
hangars at Aerotech Park;
• further business, industry and commercial development at
all airport precincts; and
• additional aviation support facilities.

PERIOD 2019-2029

14.2.3 Long-Term Development (2019 - 2029)
Developments required to facilitate long-term forecast growth
of traffic demand and business and industry attraction are
expected to include but not be limited to:
• further capacity upgrades to the airport road
network, including:
- enhancement of International Terminal road network;
- Airport Drive and Lomandra Drive intersection upgrade;
- Dryandra Road and Airport Drive to the Northern
Access Road connection; and
- enhancements of Gateway Upgrade and the Northern Access Road.

BNE foreign Biz past few days

N550PR G550
GLEX N528MP
G450 B-KHK
FA7X N55LC
N146EX F900
All 5 biz have landed within past week and some photos already appear on this blog of N528MP and B-KHK.
BNE has also been visitor to C130 164997 for the past week as well.
MD-82 VP-CBH operated BNE-SYD yesterday.

Lloyd

New Mining flights from BNE

In the past few weeks mining flights have started linking Emerald with Woolongong via BNE.
Schedules appear to be Mondays Pelair metro BNE-WOL-EMD-BNE 0615-1645
Also Mondays Brindabella BR41 BNE-WOL-EMD-BNE 1230-2045

On Thursdays Skytrans Dash 8-300 operates as SKP 1030 BNE-EMD-WOL-BNE 0715-1500
and again on Fridays SKP1030 BNE-EMD-WOL-BNE 1145-1945.

Schedules are subj to change.


Saturday, September 3, 2011

BNE TODAY

Qantas VH-VZD Optus Logo jet
ATR 72-500 VH-FVH today
B-KHK G450 at BNE today
Glex N528MP today
US C130 84997 at BNE today

Wedgetail at OOL

31 August A30-004 RAAF Wedgetail at OOL
Photo Terry Magee

Thursday, September 1, 2011

BNE airlines as at 01September 2011

BNE airport handles aircraft from cessna 172 up to A380 (Diversions only)
There are around 60 airlines offering regular weekly services from small commuter carriers and air ambulance operators up to the large international carriers.
I have made a list below.
Australia Air Express XM 733F,146F
Brindabella FQ J41 and Metroliner
Qantas QF Numerous aircraft
Qantaslink Q400,Dash-300,Dash 8-200
Jetstar JQ A321,A320
Strategic VC A330-200,A320
Pelair ZL SF340,Metro
REX ZL SF340
Skytrans Q6 Dash 8-300,Dash 8-100
Aeropelican OT J32
Sharp SH Meroliner
Tiger TT A320
Alliance QQ F100,F50
Virgin Blue DJ 73H,73G,E-190
Pacific Blue DJ 73H,E-190
Virgin Australia VA 73H,E-190
Skywest XR ATR-72 in Virgin Australia c/s
V Australia VOZ 77W
TOLL Priority HT 737-300F
Toll Express HT ATR 42F,Metro F
GAM AIR DO-228
GWA B200,PA-31
Airlink DR B1900,PA-31
Corporate Air c441
Advance Air PA-31
RFDS B200
NSW AIR Ambulance B200
QLD Govt B1900,B350,C208
Pelair Cargo SF340F
Pionair Cargo CV580F
Mineralogy MD-82 -Private
Heavylift HN 734F
Pacific Air Express PAE 733F leased from TOLL
HI FLY 5K 340-300
RAAF ASY BBJ,CL600
Air Cruising Australia Dash 8-100
Air Services Australia B350,B200
SEAIR C208
Jetconnect QNZ 73H,734
Air New Zealand NZ A320,772,763,773,744
Polynesian Blue 73H
Air Pacific FJ 763,73H,73G
Aircalin SB A320,332
Solomons IE A320
Air Vanuatu NF 73H
MACH JET B200
Our Airline ON 733
Norfolk Air N5 733
AMSA DO328
Customs Dash 8-200
Korean Air KE 333,332
China Airlines CI 333
EVA AIR BR 332
Cathay Pacific CX 333
China Southern CZ 772
Air Niugini PX F100,763
Royal Brunei BI 772
THAI TG 773,772
Malaysian MH 333
Singapore SQ 333
Emirates EK 77W
Etihad EY 332

As well as these airlines you can also see Aviation Australia 727-100F and F28
Germania F100
AFL Liveried Virgin aircraft.

Also very soon livery of Air Australia with 332 and 320's will be seen at BNE.
Other carriers seen throughout the year are Atlas,MasKargo,DHL .These are not weekly but are regular throughout the year.