Ardmore on ANZAC Day

Operating Sunair's flights between Great Barrier Island and Ardmore on 25 April 2022 was Piper Aztec ZK-ERM 

Diamond DA42 Twin Star ZK-EAN was departing Ardmore on 25 April 2022

The Airline Flying Club's Cessna 152 ZK-ETZ was in the circuit at Ardmore on 25 April 2022

Sikorsky S-76C ZK-ICG returning to Ardmore on 25 April 2022

A desperation of Aeropro EuroFox 3K ZK-LKL at Ardmore on 25 April 2022

Cessna 510 Mustang arriving at Ardmore from Christchurch on 25 April 2022

Albatros D.Va Replica ZK-ARS at Ardmore on 25 April 2022

Tecnam P2006T ZK-TWN at Ardmore on 25 April 2022

 

Sunair Bids Farewell to Gisborne

 

Sunair have released their winter timetable which reveals the airline is relinquishing its services to Gisborne. Sunair commenced a twice daily service between Gisborne and both Hamilton and Tauranga on the 15th of September 1997. At various times on Sunair's East Coast route stops were made at Whakatane and Rotorua as passenger demand dictated. Sunair has also operated passenger services south from Gisborne to both Napier and Palmerston North. Dedicated freight flights also flew south calling at Wairoa and extending south to Paraparaumu and Wellington at various times.

Sunair now seem to be focussing on services to and from Great Barrier Island.

 

Kaitaia Covid Comeback

 

Barrier Air has announced that from the 25th of May they will be back to be operating their full 13 return flight per week schedule. Flights had been reduced due to the Auckland down last year and then the Omicron outbreak.

Easter Sunday at North Shore

North Shore Airport was relatively quiet on Sunday 17 April 2022...

My first photo of Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV ZK-LGR

A couple of Massey Aviation's Diamond DA40 Star's were in... ZK-MTJ

and ZK-MTL

Piper PA28 Warrior ZK-RJD had been out for a fly

Barrier Air's Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-SDC came and went on a scheduled service from Great Barrier Island

Beech A36 Bonanza ZK-TRC had been out flying as well

 

Nine Turboprops

Still on the 3rd of April 2022 at Auckland

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MVI

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MVW

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MVZ

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MZB

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MZD

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MZF - The last of the fleet

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q33 ZK-NEJ

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEO - what would the blue look like in the black scheme?

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q33 ZK-NES

 

Ten Buses

And yet more from Auckland on 3 April 2022... this time Airbuses

First up the Airbus 320 Neos, ZK-NHB

ZK-NHF - my first photo of this aircraft

A couple of Airbus 321 Neos - ZK-NNE

and ZK-NNF

ZK-OXG

And your standard Airbus 320s... ZK-OXJ

ZK-OJM

And Jetstar's VH-VFV

VH-VFX

VH-VGA

 

No More Seaplanes

 

Auckland Seaplanes' DHC Beaver ZK-AMA is currently listed for sale at Denis Thompson  International. The new DHC Beaver, ZK-AMD, that Auckland Seaplanes bought in from the States has been sold back to the States and has left Mercer. The remains of DHC Beaver ZK-BBX are in the large hangar at Mercer while DHC Beaver ZK-WKA is in a container at Mercer.

Auckland Seaplanes Ltd also operate Waiheke Wings which uses Cessna 172 ZK-RNX.

Auckland Seaplanes Ltd bought two of Fly My Sky's Britten Norman Islanders, ZK-SFK and ZK-PIZ, but nothing seems to be happening with either of these aircraft at present. 

 

Two Air Ambulance and Two Corporates

Auckland on 3 April 2022 continued

The NZ Flying Doctor Service's Beech Super King Air ZK-FDS

Jet Charter Services' Cessna 510 Mustang ZK-LCA - with heat haze

Skyline Aviation's Beechjet 400 ZK-NXJ

Tasman Aviation's Beechcraft B300 King Air 350i ZK-VME

 

Upping the Frequency

 

Covid has certainly had an impact on our regional airlines with a number running reduced schedules. The Omicron outbreak has certainly dampened not only airline operations but also news to report on this blog. At last a little bit of news.

Barrier Air is upping the frequency of its flights to Whitianga. From the 1st of December there will be three return flights between Auckland and Whitianga each weekday, one on Saturdays and two on Saturdays. 

The schedule will see flights departing Auckland at 7.00am Monday to Friday, 7.30am on a Saturday and 3.30pm and 5.30pm Sunday to Friday. The return flights depart Whitianga at 8.00am Monday to Friday, 8.30am on a Saturday and 4.30pm and 6.30pm Sunday to Friday. 

Barrier Air commenced the service on the 16th of December 2021. The airline is very pleased on how ther service is working and numbers building.

Meanwhile the company's Facebook page is hinting a new destination later in the year.... I wonder if the photo they posted is a clue...