Eagle Air's first service was flown from Hamilton to Palmerston North on the 3rd of October 1975. The Manawatu Evening Standard of that day reported... The first flight in a new air service landed at Palmerston North Airport this morning in the form this twin engine Beechcraft flown by pilot Paul Wright. The $ 160,000 machine will offer direct morning and evening flights between Hamilton, Wanganui and Palmerston North. It is a first venture into daily air service for Eagle Airways of Hamilton and should provide a service for businessmen wanting to commute out of town for a day’s work and back in the same day.
Almost 40 years on I got to fly the Palmerston North to Hamilton sector on Friday night flying on Eagle 106 in not Beech Baron ZK-ECA but Beech 1900 ZK-EAC. The Hamilton-Palmerston North route will apparently be the last Eagle service to go next year.
For the 4 part history of Eagle Air see : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/eagle-airways-part-1-fledgling-eagle.html
Do you know what the Q300 schedule will be? I don't understand why Air NZ hasn't pulled out of HLZ-PMR-WLG. The Q300 is probably too big. Origin Air or Sounds Air could both provide a more business friendly service.
ReplyDeleteDuring June/July 2016.
DeleteHLZ-PMR will offer not only the twice daily Beech service but also an evening ATR72 service operated by Mt Cook. Presumably for field days?
I cant find any reference to any extra ATR flights? Apart from the usual Friday night HLZ-PMR-CHC run. Only difference i notice is NZ2106 now departs at 7.50pm
DeleteHamlton - Palmy (and Palmy - Wellington) has always been near-full when I've been booked on it. Although i[m also worried the Q300 will be too large and the route will be pulled. We use it for business flights.
ReplyDeleteNext year WLG-PMR will switch to the Q300 on Saturday and Sunday only, replacing the single Beech 1900 return.
DeleteWeekday services will continue as normal operated by Eagle Air into and during most of 2016.
Ah Mr Lowe, I saw your name on the manifest and wondered if it was you. I am a long time reader of this blog and wondered if I might bump into you on a service sometime. Regards, the Capt. EAG106 :)
ReplyDeleteAnd it was an excellent flight Capt EAG106! Thanks very much!
ReplyDeleteI must fly on the last Beech 1900D flight next year
ReplyDelete