3rd Level New Zealand: September 2018

30 September 2018

A new airline coming to and in NZ???

Get behind a new airline! Looking for $500,000 to the airline and you go into the draw to win free flights for the first year! (T&C's Apply)

We are in the process of starting a New airline in New Zealand to provide reliable transport at cheap prices thought New Zealand and across the Tasman to Australia!

People are sick of paying to much for Air New Zealand, their flight not taking off for Jet Star and being stuck in the middle seat.... We have solved these problems! Our business strategy has allowed us to find the balance between cheap and reliable flights and we use Embraer Aircraft which NO other airline in New Zealand uses! They have no middle seats and we will be providing business class seats on domestic flights!

Focused on providing quality service, for both locals and tourists, we have the right strategy and we want your support!

The money will be used to help secure aircraft loans, fund high quality staff training and help supply accommodation to staff.

Source : https://givealittle.co.nz/project/new-airline-in-nz

Oceania Air is advertising for flight crew and cabin crew. Funding for the airline seems to be the Give a Little Page above... no one has given even a little at present!

So I don't think it would fly!

But I would love to see some E-jets in NZ skies!

29 September 2018

OG6214

Thanks to JustPlaneMad who sent this email and pics through... He writes...

Thought you maybe interested in a couple of pics from onboard Air Wanganuis ZK-MDC, operating Originair flight OG6214 from New Plymouth to Nelson on 23 September 2018. Twice now for me, my flight has been operated by Air Wanganui.

Origin appears to still be operating under Air2theres AOC. 'Operated by Air2there' printed on the boarding pass.

One of the Jetstreams was parked up at the gate at Nelson, the other I believe is parked up in PPQ.

King Air was a joy to fly in for a plane buff like myself, but certainly the appeal is lost on Mr and Mrs Normal.

There were several comments as to where the yellow plane was. Origin certainly have their Jetstreams looking very professional and inviting both inside and out. And a nice touch with the bottle of water and a few lollies :)

Unfortunately for me, with the introduction of the NPE flights, the NPL - NSN sector now departs far too late to be of any use to me :( Back to Air NZ for now :/

Cheers JPM

28 September 2018

Originair begins new Napier Service

Originair commenced services between New Plymouth and Napier today using Air Chathams' Metro 23 ZK-POF to inaugurate the service.

The airline is operating flights between New Plymouth and Napier on Fridays and Sundays with flights departing from New Plymouth for Napier at 2:10pm and departing from Napier to New Plymouth at 4:00pm. The flight times are 50 minutes.

On Monday the airline will start flights between Palmerston North and Napier. On Mondays and Wednesdays flights will depart Palmerston North and arrive Napier at 10:20am. On Monday the return flights depart at 11:10am and arrive at Palmerston North at 11:50am. On Wednesdays the return flight will depart at 4:00pm to arrive at Palmerston North at 4:40pm.

The inaugural New Plymouth-Napier service at New Plymouth today on 28 September 2018
Photo : Taranaki - Like No Other

Unfortunately Originair were not able to use their own Jetstream aircraft for the new service as it seems their aircraft operator, Air2there, seems to be not operating at present.

27 September 2018

Radio NZ on Fly My Sky's New Whangārei Service

Radio NZ had an interview this morning on Fly My Sky's new Whangārei service... You can hear it here: https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018664310/new-airline-to-compete-with-air-nz-on-whangarei-flights

They also posted a news piece

Small airline competes against Air NZ on Whangārei flights

A small Auckland airline is about give Air New Zealand some regional competition by offering cheaper flights to Whangārei. Fly My Sky operates between Auckland and Great Barrier Island and said there was a gap in the market for cheaper flights to Northland. The family-owned arline has operated for 38 years and has four 10-seater Britten-Norman Islander aircraft. The company wanted to expand and Whangārei looked like the perfect place to start, chief executive and co-owner Keith McKenzie said. "We believe that there is not the level of service for the public up there, there are not the number of flights that there are in other parts of New Zealand, and we think there's a niche in there for someone like ourselves to ... offer some alternative services," he said. The flight from Whangārei to Auckland with Air New Zealand takes 35 minutes. Fares can dip as low as $62 for travellers booking weeks ahead, but can be almost as much as a flight to Rarotonga - nearly $400 for a return flight. Fly My Sky fares would start at $99 one way with a 23kg bag, Mr McKenzie said. Overall we will be more than competitive with the current operator." There were gaps in Air New Zealand's Whangārei schedule and Fly My Sky intended to fill them, he said. It planned to begin with two return flights a day from Monday to Friday, but could expand to four if demand was strong. Air New Zealand chief executive Chris Luxon said the national carrier offered a good service to Whangarei and competition was welcome. "It's a really great thing actually, because there's a really vibrant, secondary and smaller airline market in regional New Zealand," Mr Luxon said. Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai was also embracing the competition. The city was growing fast, Air New Zealand flights were often full, and Fly My Sky's 7am flight from Auckland would be especially useful, she predicted. "Some of the DHB specialists from Auckland need to get up here in plenty of time to fill the day with appointments and I'm sure there will be many people who will take advantage of being able to come up, do a full day's business and head away again in the afternoon," Ms Mai said. Fly My Sky's Whangārei service will start on 23 October.

Source : https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/367364/small-airline-competes-against-air-nz-on-whangarei-flights

25 September 2018

Farewell to the Mount Cook Islanders

This was taken from the Milford Sound Scenic Flights Facebook page...

It's the end of an era here at Milford Sound Scenic Flights with the sale of the last of our twin engine Britten Norman Islanders! These aircraft were manufactured between 1970-1975, and were purchased brand new by Mount Cook Airlines to fly the Milford route. They became a beloved part of our fleet in the 1990's where they have continued to operate ever since.

Fun fact: x4 of our 7 Islander fleet were sold in 2013: ZK-ZQN and ZK-MFN went to Australia and ZK-MSF and ZK-TSS went to Germany, and we are now saying farewell to ZK-DBV, ZK-MCE and ZK-MCD who are off on their new adventure to Fiji!

Haere rā and happy travels!

Photo credit: Karl LC & Andy W

You can find photos of DBV, MCD and MCE in Mount Cook colours here...
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2018/07/fvd-to-fly-coop.html

C of A Day

Due to go through the Certificate of Airworthiness process today is Air Chathams' Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A, ZK-CIY (c/n 340A-135).

The Saab arrived in New Zealand from Guam as N135GU on 9 January 2018, see

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2018/01/air-chathams-update.html

ZK-CIY will then join Saabs KRA and CIZ on its scheduled services from the Kapiti Coast and Whanganui to Auckland.

ZK-CIY at Auckland on 24 October 2018

Meanwhile getting Metro 23 ZK-POE airborne is not a priority at present. Air Chathams' General Manager Duane Emeny said "POE it is a good ship with comparably low hours so will be put back on line when resources allow."

24 September 2018

Moving on...

Stripped of her Sounds Air livery Sounds Air's Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SAW is all white preparing to move on, apparently to a more northern New Zealand airline. It is currently en route to Feilding.

Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SAW at Wellington on 24 September 2018

23 September 2018

An interesting development

Noted doing Originair's flights between Nelson and New Plymouth and Nelson and Palmerston North over the last ten days has been Air Wanganui's Beech Super King Air seen below in Hamilton.

The last day Originair's Jetstreams were used seems to be 12 September. The Jetstreams are operated for Originair by air2there. An Air Chathams Metroliner was also noted in Paraparaumu last week and there was some speculation that it was operating an air2there charter...

22 September 2018

Are they still flying???

I'm wanting to keep my histories up to date and am looking to find out if anyone can help me on the status of two airlines, FlyStark and Air Auckland... Thanks, Steve westland831@gmail.com

FlyStark started off with a hiss and roar with scheduled services from Whitianga to Great Barrier Island and Ardmore... http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2016/11/flystark-little-boutique-airline.html

They seemed al lot quiter last summer... If anyone could let me know if they observed much activity???

I notice now FlyStark's website is no longer active, though their Facebook page still is.

I also note the registration of their Airvan FSR was changed to South Pacific Helicopters, Kaikoura in August.

Just for my records, can anyone confirm that FlyStark has ceased operations???

FlightHauraki was renamed Air Auckland May 2018, see

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2012/10/flight-hauraki-new-zealands-newest.html

FlightHauraki initially started services from North Shore to Whangarei and Kerikeri with later services to Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island. In October 2014 it moved its base to Waiheke Island and operated services to Ardmore and Great Barrier Island.

Since the renaming of the company to Air Auckland there is no website.

Again, just for my records, can anyone confirm when FlightHauraki/Air Auckland ceased operating the Ardmore-Waiheke Island-Great Barrier services???

19 September 2018

Sunderland Flight to the Chathams

Yesterday Will Lawson left me a comment on the blog about flying to the Chatham Islands on an RNZAF Shorts Sunderland in response to my post on the RNZAF's service to the Chatham Islands... http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-rnzaf-pioneering-air-services-to.html

Will wrote, I flew on a Sunderland from Evans Bay to the Chathams in January 1964. I was one of a group of surveyors from the Department of Lands and Survey (Brian Wells, Tony Bates, Ian Miles and myself). There was another group of private surveyors led by Ken Wynne. We had a number of attempts at take off, but the trip took less time than usual because of a tail wind. I would appreciate if the exact date could be confirmed together with any information about the particular aircraft and crew. Will Lawson.

It subsequently sent me another email and photos of the Sunderland at Wellington and the Chathams. The struggle to get airborne was on Wellington Harbour. We were on forms in the bomb bay if I remember rightly and somehow the propellers were whipping up water that somehow found it’s way into the bomb bay and we got quite wet. No complaints though – it was one of the more exciting journeys I have undertaken.

Short Sunerland NZ4120 in Wellington in January 1964...

and a little later at Chatham Islands

Will's question about the identity of the aircraft is is easily answered, from the Z on the fuselage, the Sunderland was NZ4120...

The questions about the crew and the exact date (sometime in January 1964) are something beyond my realm of knowledge or research. If anyone has information about the exact date and crew members please either email me (westland 831@gmail.com) or Will (will@foxsurvey.co.nz).

Also, if anyone has any photos of an RNZAF Bristol Freighter on the Chathams operating their post Sunderland service to the Chathams I would really love to get a copy for the blog! Cheers, Steve

11 September 2018

S8 322 from Nelson to Wellington

My return flight from Nelson to Wellington on 7 September 2018 on ZK-PDM

A glimpse at the new Nelson tower and stage one of the terminal...

A beautiful day in the South Island

Not so flash on the approach to the North Island

Mana Island coming out of the murk...

Wellington city...

Cleared to land 16

Back on the ground at Wellington

10 September 2018

North Shore - Great Barrier Flights Resume

Barrier Air resumed its flights between Great Barrier Island and North Shore today. The first flight were operated in Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDC which departed Great Barrier Island's Claris airport as flight GB204 at 11.16am and arrived at North Shore at 11:40am. The return flight, GB205, departed North Shore and 12.17pm and arrived at Great Barrier Island (Claris) at 12:41pm.

The North Srore flights operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays as follows

Route Flight Dep Arr

GBZ-NOR 204 10.50 11.20

NOR-GBZ 205 12.00 12.30