More from yesterday

A few more from Auckland International yesterday, 28 October 2024, while on my mission to capture Barrier Air's newest Cessna Grand Caravan... 

China Eastern's Airbus A330-200 B-5941

Air Chathams Saab SF340 ZK-CIY

Fiji Airways' Airbus A350-900 DQ-FAM

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MVI

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MVX

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEH

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEM

Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZM

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKQ

Air New Zealand Airbus A320-200 ZK-OXB

Barrier Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDC

SDA in action

I was delighted to catch Barrier Air's newest Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX, ZK-SDA, in action at Auckland on 28 October 2024 (just before the sun disappeared) heading off to Kerikeri as GBA 509. Previously registered ZK-ROW the Caravan entered service with Barrier Air in its new registration on the 23rd of October 2024, flying GBA 713 to Kaitaia and the return flight GBA 714.

 

Supporting Kaipara Excavators and Brookby Quarries' Operations

In addition to the various airlines that ply our skies there are also corporate aircraft that run semi-regular private air services supporting company interests. This post is about one such example...

 

Kaipara Excavators Ltd was formed on the 5th of June 1957 with the company changing its name to Kaipara Ltd on the 8th of May 2000. During the years it has used a number of helicopters and aircraft in support of its quarrying and mining operations. It has long standing links with the coal mining at the Stockton open cast mine north of Westport and gold mining operations on the West Coast.

It was in 1981 that it acquired its first aircraft in the form of Bell 206B Jet Ranger III ZK-HTA (c/n 3404) which was registered to Kaipara Excavators Ltd on the 7th of December 1981. With the change of company name it was registered to Kaipara Ltd on the 30th of August 2000. In May 2004 it was sold to Marlborough Helicopters (1981) Ltd.

Kaipara Excavators' Bell Jet Ranger ZK-HTA at Timaru on 30 January 1988

The first aircraft Kaipara Excavators' used was Cessna 402B Utililiner ZK-FXS (c/n 402B0601) which was registered to the company on the 7th of August 1992 and was with Kaipara Excavators until January 1999. 

Kaipara Excavator's first aircraft, Cessna 402 ZK-FXS at Hokitika on 25 January 1994

On the 31st of March 2010 Kaipara Ltd was bought out by Lachlan Holdings Ltd who operated Brookby Quarry. The Kaipara Quarries Group incorporates Brookby Quarries Ltd and Smythes Quarries Ltd. 

Meanwhile in January 2011 the Kaipara Excavators operation leased Beech C90GTi King Air N890LG (c/n LJ-1854) from Wells Fargo Bank to support the company's business operations on the West Coast. The aircraft arrived from the USA on the 13th of January. It was a regular visitor to Westport flying a regular weekly flight from Ardmore. It made its first flight to Westport on the 17th of January 2011. 

On the 4th and 18th of June Kaipara Excavator’s, Beech King Air N890LG made what were its last regular return flights from Ardmore to Westport for on the 21st of June 2014 it departed New Zealand on its way to Australia on export where it became VH-VWG on the 21st of August 2014.

Kaipara Ltd's newly acquired Beech C90 King Air at Ardmore on 26 January 2011

The Beech King Air was replaced by Cessna 510 Citation Mustang ZK-YDZ which was placed on the New Zealand civil register for Brookby Quarries Ltd on the 21st of May 2015. The Mustang arrived into New Zealand from Australia on the 1st of April 2015 as VH-YDZ. Its first flight to Westport was on the 15th of April. The MRC Aviation blog reported Its first flight as ZK-YDZ appears to have taken place on 03 June 2015 when it flew from Ardmore to Westport. It was also a visitor to Hokitika. It was with Brookby Quarries until the 22nd of July 2016 when it was sold to Napier-based Skyline Aviation Limited.

ZK-YDZ manoeuvring at Ardmore on 26 May 2015. MRC Aviation photo

Brookby Quarries replaced ZK-YDZ with a leased Cessna 510 Citation Mustang N890LG which was delivered on the 22nd of October 2016. On the 4th of November 2016 it flew a return flight from Auckland to Westport,  and followed by a Ardmore-Hokitika-Westport-Ardmore flight. On the 21st of September the Cessna 510 Mustang, N890LG flew Ardmore – Wellington – Hokitika – Wellington – Ardmore. This was its last domestic flight and it departed New Zealand on the 8th of November 2018 for the United States. 

Cessna Citation C510 Mustang N890LG was returning from Hokitika, 3 September 2019

In 2018 Brookby Quarries Ltd acquired Bell 505 Jet Ranger X ZK-HTI which was registered to the company on the 24th of August 2018. It was operated by Brookby Quarries Ltd until April 2024, with its registration being cancelled as exported on the 8th of April 2024. 

Brookby Quarries Bell 505 Jet Ranger X at Tauranga on the 16th of November 2020

The replacement for N890LG was another American registered Cessna 510 Mustang, N2WG (c/n 510-0459) which arrived into New Zealand on the 19th of April 2021. It started work on the 28th of that month flying Ardmore–Hokitika–Christchurch–Hokitika–Ardmore.

Brookby Quarries' Cessna Citation Mustang N2WG at Hokitika on 13 May 2024. Photo : M Beaven

Cessna Citation Mustang N2WG again, this time arriving back into Ardmore on 17 June 2024 following a flight to Hokitika and Christchurch.

The Cessna Mustang remains a regular visitor to Hokitika and Christchurch on flights from its Ardmore base.

ZK-OKW launches into service

Air New Zealand's latest Boeing 777-300, ZK-OKW, entered service today, 26 October 2024, flying NZ175 from Auckland to Perth.

Previously registered to Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific Airways, Boeing 777-367(ER) B-KQG  was delivered on the 20th of August 2013 serving with Cathay Pacific on the 28th of May 2024. It arrived into Auckland from Alice Springs as T7-L289 on the 26th of September 2024. 

It was placed on the New Zealand register as ZK-OKW on the following day, the 27th of September. It did a test flight on the 23rd of October before entering revenue service today

Auckland Freighters

Airwork Boeing 737-400 freighter ZK-PAU at Auckland on 21 October 2024

Another one for the chop??? Engineless Airwork Boeing 737-400 ZK-TLJ at Auckland on 21 October 2024

ZK-SDA enters service

 

Barrier Air's newest Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, ZK-SDA, entered service yesterday, the 23rd of October 2024, flying GBA 713 to Kaitaia and the return flight GBA 714. 

Two more from Ardmore on Monday

Piper PA31 Navajo ZK-WHW at Ardmore on 21 October 2024... Previously ZK-WHW was an airliner with Air Wellington https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2018/03/air-wellington-another-paraparaumu.html
and air2there https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/03/air2there-city-hopper-air-service.html

Extra EA 300/LC ZK-XLX at Ardmore on 21 October 2024

Four pics from Ardmore today

Flight 2000's Douglas DC-3 ZK-DAK at Ardmore on 21 October 2024

Robinson R66 Turbine ZK-HNG at Ardmore on 21 October 2024

Interesting - CAA says ZK-IDU is an Airbus Helicopters MBB-BK117 D-3

But here is Airbus Helicopters H145 ZK-IDU at Ardmore on 21 October 2024

Delighted to capture Canadian Home Rotors Safari ZK-IOU at Ardmore on 21 October 2024

Boeing 737 ZK-JJD

While preparing another post some time ago I came across a New Zealand registered Boeing 737 I had never heard of, Boeing 737-2H6 ZK-JJD which was on the New Zealand register for 10 weeks in 1998.

ZK-JJD/1      Boeing 737-2H6                                     Line No. 559                     c/n 21732

9M-MBJ       28/02/1979     First flight

                     19/03/1979     Malaysian Airline System, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

                     05/04/1991     International Lease Finance Corp, California, USA

                     05/04/1991     Malaysian Airline System, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...leased

                     00/07/1993     Registration cancelled

PK-IJF          19/07/1993     Bouraq Indonesia Airlines, Jakarta, Indonesia

                     00/07/1998     Registration cancelled

ZK-JJD         10/07/1998     Air New Zealand Ltd, Auckland

                     31/07/1998     Air New Zealand Engineering Services, Christchurch

                     29/09/1998     Registration cancelled

3B-LXM       29/09/1998     Air Gabon, Libreville, Gabon

                     00/00/2000     Registration cancelled

PK-IJO         05/12/2000     Bouraq Indonesia Airlines, Jakarta, Indonesia

                     00/00/2001     Registration cancelled

PK-ALH       00/09/2001     Star Air, Juanda, Indonesia

                     00/00/2002     Registration cancelled

PK-KJM       18/09/2002     Bali International Air Service, Jakarta, Indonesia

                     00/00/2004     Registration cancelled

PK-RIN        00/09/2004     Mandala Airlines, Soekarno, Indonesia

                     00/01/2006     Withdrawn from use and stored Jakarta, Indonesia

I had never heard of this aircraft so I contacted ex-Air New Zealand's John Mounce who was able to fill me in with the details.

John writes, Here she is. It was a deal arranged with one of the company Lessors........Indigo Aviation (Sweden) and was to facilitate maintenance on the aircraft prior to going to Air Gabon. Norm Taylor handled it for Indigo and pulled in some favours to make it happen. Air New Zealand was the only legal entity recognised by CAA (rather than Air New Zealand Engineering Services) but it was never intended to be more than a project for enabling maintenance. 

Here is the aircraft on delivery.........Norm was on the flight and took this image.

Beyond that I have memory fade!

On its delivery flight to Gabon and carrying a New Zealand registration, Air Gabon's Boeing 737 ZK-JJD at Honiara, Solomon Islands, in September 1998. The aircraft became 3B-LXM in Gabon. Photo : N Taylor

Westport's New Schedule

Originair's new Westport schedule gives an impression of what the region's air service will look like. Sadly Westport's daily service won't be suitable for business people and it more or less returns to what Air New Zealand offered back in 2015 and before. 

Originair will operate flights to and from Westport six days a week, Sunday to Friday with a daily service each day. 

Wellington to Westport
Sun and Fri   1430-1530
Mon-Thu    1040-1140

Westport to Wellington
Sun and Fri   1720-1820
Mon-Thu    1230-1330

An index my posts on air services through Westport can be found here

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/04/westport-index-of-posts.html

A post on the last Eagle Air operated Air New Zealand flights to Westport can be found here

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/04/end-of-link-westport-farewells-air-new.html

A post on the commencement of Sounds Air's flights to Westport can be found here

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/04/sounds-airs-westport-service-takes-off.html

Westport says, Good Bye Sounds Air - Hello Originair

A new operator has been revealed on the Wellington-Westport regional route after Sounds Air confirmed it is dropping the service from December 31. Nelson-based Originair has stepped into the void, flying six times a week between the centres from January 3, down from the 15 that Sounds currently operates. Originair uses the 18-seat British Aerospace Jetstream, while Sounds mainly used the PC12 which can carry nine. Originair currently operates flights from Nelson to Palmerston North, Wellington and Hamilton, and between Palmerston North and Hamilton. Tania Armstrong, Originair’s customer service manager, said the airline will provide more than 11,200 seats annually. “Morning flights will connect Westport with Wellington from Monday to Thursday, while afternoon services on Fridays and Sundays will cater to leisure travellers, aiming to grow the weekend market between both destinations. These weekend flights alone will offer over 3700 seats per year.” CEO Robert Inglis added that depending on passenger demand, the airline could include connections to Nelson in the future. Blenheim-based Sounds has been operating the route since April 2015, but is leaving after “reviewing the sustainability of its regional network”. CEO Andrew Crawford admitted to Stuff Travel it was a “sad day“. “We've been doing it now for nine years and really feel we've given Buller tremendous support and they admit that, but the economic climate is such that it's just not tenable. It’s depressing really.” The service had a “pretty reasonable” 65% capacity on flights. The aviation market is the toughest he has seen in his 21 years at the airline: “Post Covid, the combination of staggering jet fuel costs, a weak NZD exchange rate, increasing landing fees and CAA charges, wage pressures, high interest rates, and the dramatic international escalation in the costs of servicing engines have been crippling. This coupled with ongoing supply chain disruptions has been brutal for us, as it has been for Air New Zealand. We currently have two aircraft grounded awaiting parts, with no known delivery dates.” He also stressed a frustration with a lack of government support, having been encouraged to apply for funding through the Provincial Growth Fund and the Regional Infrastructure Fund, but had been rejected twice. Sounds Air confirmed it is dropping the route from December 31. “I don't have the time or the energy (to apply again). It's just (a) very, very long and painful process and I'm not doing it again. When you see the support that the national carrier has gotten over the years and (with) regional aviation, the regional operators are expected to mortgage their properties to support regional connectivity in this country. Frankly, I find it embarrassing.” But he added: “There's no shame in pulling out. I mean at some point you got to make business decisions and this is a decision.” Sounds had recently announced it had overhauled its schedule, which took more than a year of planning, and it had factored in the loss of the Westport service. Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine thanked Sounds Air for its nine years of service, saying it had been “instrumental in connecting Buller with the capital. We recognise the challenging market conditions that have impacted the route and truly appreciate the great service they have provided over the years”. “We're looking forward to working with Originair to ensure this essential connection continues. I’m very pleased that Originair share in our aspirations to grow the Buller as a destination in its own right.” Tourism in Buller is on the up, with visitors staying 330,800 nights in the year to June 2024, that’s an increase of 8000 guest nights from the previous year.

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/350454691/big-changes-coming-wellington-westport-route-new-operator-steps 

A Moot Point

 I keep a list of the aircraft types I fly on... Last weekend I flew on a Q400... 

My question is, a Q400 a new type or a variant of a Q300???  

Any thoughts???

ZK-NEY Dash 8-100 before flying Rotorua-Christchurch on 25 March 1987

Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEE before flying Kerikeri to Auckland on 10 December 2023

Bombardier Q400 VH-QOM before flying Canberra to Sydney on 12 October 2024

My type list at present is...

Aerospatiale ATR 42

Aerospatiale ATR 72 -200 -500 -600

Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat

Airbus 220

Airbus 300

Airbus 310

Airbus 319

Airbus 320

Airbus 321

Airbus 330 -200 -300

Airbus 340 -300 -600

Airbus 350 -900

Airbus 380

Alpha R2160

Auster

Beech 1900 -C -D

Beech 99

Bell Jetranger

Boeing 717 -200

Boeing 727 -200

Boeing 737 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 -700 -800 -900 -Max 8

Boeing 747 -200 -300 -400

Boeing 757

Boeing 767 -200 -300

Boeing 777 -200 -300

Boeing 787 -8 -9

Boeing C-17

British Aerospace 146 -200

British Aerospace Jetstream 3x -31 -32

British Aerospace Jetstream 41

Britten Norman Islander

Britten Norman Trislander

BRM Aero Bristell LSA

Canadair Regional Jet 700 900

Cessna 172

Cessna 180

Cessna 185

Cessna 206

Cessna 207

Cessna 208  Caravan, Grand Caravan

Cessna 402

Cessna 404 Titan

Convair 580

De Havilland 104 Devon

De Havilland 82 Tiger Moth

De Havilland 83 Fox Moth

De Havilland 84 Dragon

De Havilland 89 Dominee

De Havilland 90 Dragonfly

DHC-3 Otter Piston Turbo

DHC-6 Twin Otter

DHC-7 Dash 7

DHC-8 Dash 8 -100 -300 -400

Dornier 228

Douglas DC-3

Embraer 110 Bandeirante

Embraer 145

Embraer 170

Embraer 190

Embraer 195

Fairchild Metroliner II III 23

Fokker 100

Fokker 50

Fokker 70

Fokker Friendship -100 -500

Gippsland Airvan

Hawker Siddeley 748

Hiller UH-12

Let 410

Lockheed Hercules

Lockheed Starlifter

McDonnell Douglas DC-10

McDonnell Douglas MD-82

Mitusubishi Mu2

NZAI Fletcher

Pilatus PC12

Pilatus Porter

Piper Pa18 Cub

Piper Pa23 Apache Aztec

Piper Pa28 Archer 161 181

Piper Pa28 Cherokee 140 235

Piper Pa28 Warrior

Piper Pa31 Navajo Chieftain

Piper Pa32 Cherokee 6 Saratoga

Piper Pa34 Seneca

Piper Pa38 Tomahawk

Piper Pa39 Twin Comanche

Piper Pa46 Meridian

Rans Courier

Robin

Saab 340

Waco F series

POE Departs

Air Chathams' Fairchild Metro 23 ZK-POE is in the final boarding process before departing Auckland in an Australia-bound container. A big thanks to Alex Parker who caught it being loaded at Auckland on 17 October 2024. Alex writes...

I was dropping someone off at Auckland Airport today and I noticed something interesting - POE with her wings and empennage snipped being prepped for a shipping container! Not shown in the photo was the empennage itself, lying just behind the shipping container. I apologise that the photo couldn’t be clearer, I wasn’t expecting to see anything that required a camera!

ZK-POE was cancelled from the New Zealand civil aircraft register as "withdrawn" on the 6th of June 2024 and was placed on the Australian civil aircraft register as VH-AC5 on the 19th of July registered to EastWest Aviation Pty Ltd and being operated by Sharp Aviation Pty Ltd.

A full history of ZK-POE's New Zealand history can be found here : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2024/06/zk-poe-cancelled-from-register.html