Inflite Charters In Flight

I was out seeing a friend off at the airport today... There was a lot of unusual traffic out flying, including Airwork's 737 ZK-FXT, Air Freight's Convair 5800 ZK-KFS and an Air Post Friendship. For me the highlight was Inflite's Jetstream 32 ZK-ECI...

Out flying today was Inflite Charters' BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-ECI. Photo taken at Auckland on 17 August 2012 by S Lowe

ExecuJet New Zealand's Gulfstream GV-SP ZK-KFB at Auckland on 17 August 2012. Photo : S Lowe

Eagle flights still out - Just how many Beeches are still grounded?

The effects of the Eagle Beech 1900 grounding are still continuing. Wanaka has not had an Eagle service since the initial grounding last week and their is not indication as to when the service will resume as this piece from the Wanaka Sun (16 August 2012) makes clear...

No definite date has been set by Eagle Air for the return of scheduled air services between Wanaka and Christchurch. The fleet of 18 Beechcraft 1900D aircraft used for the fligpts were wounded last Tuesday after cracks were discovered in the tail area of an aircraft. The company has now reported 11 of their aircraft fully cleared and back in service after additional inspections were made in consultation with the manufacturer. Attempts to contact Eagle Air general manager Carrie Hurihanganui were declined by the company with the Wanaka Sun directed to Air New Zealand publicity spokesperson, Brigitte Ransom. She was asked by email for a definite date of resumption of services, what passenger numbers had been like, whether there were financial difficulties affecting the service and whether there were any plans for any schedule changes or a larger plane such as a Dash 8 enabling a greater number of discounted seats. Her reply did not address the questions but reiterated what she had written in an earlier press release which said: "We are currently working through the schedule adjustments for next week which are expected to include the resumption of some flights into and out of Wanaka."

I notice a few cancellations for this afternoon on the Air NZ website including Auckland-Kaitaia, Wellington-Whangarei, Taupo-Wellington and Masterton, like Wanaka, hasn't been getting a service since the grounding started. But it is the South Island that seems to be really hammered. Hokitika's four daily Beech flights have been changed to two Q300 flights most days which may move the passengers but the overnight service is not operating. Most Eagle flights to Blenheim have been cancelled this afternoon. Vincents have at times been using two Jetstreams but one wonders if they have enough crews to keep both them in the air.

So, just how many Beeches are still grounded I wonder?!

Tuesday Checking the Traps

Caught a couple of Inflite Charters' helicopters today, Bell 427 was at Ardmore while Aerospatiale AS-355F1 Squirrel ZK-HPA was down at Mechanics Bay. The Jetstream ZK-ECI was also out of the hangar just at Auckland International but couldn't get a decent angle. Photos taken on 14 August 2012 by S Lowe

 

Keeping on the black theme Eagle's Beech ZK-EAK was on a training flight. Photo taken at Auckland on 14 August 2012 by S Lowe

air2there's Piper Chieftain ZK-MYS taxis back in... Is Airwork using it?  Photo taken at Auckland on 14 August 2012 by S Lowe

And finally three Boeing 737-800s... above the disappearing scheme of Pacific Blue as displayed by ZK-PBL, centre Air Pacific's newest machine DQ-FJM, and bottom, one kangaroo they didn't tie down, Qantas' ZK-ZQG. Photos taken at Auckland on 14 August 2012 by S Lowe

Hamilton's International Flights to End

Hamilton Airport is losing its trans-Tasman air services.  Hamilton airport chief executive Chris Doak said the airport company had been advised by Virgin Australia that the airline would cease operating its Brisbane-Hamilton route from the end of October due to a lack of demand.  Virgin Australia, previously Pacific Blue, started flying three times a week between Hamilton and Australia three years ago.  Virgin Australia said despite a good relationship with Hamilton airport since September 2009 demand for the service had deteriorated and the service was now financially unsustainable for the company.  The last flight will be on October 27. Doak said the announcement was disappointing however the airport was in a much better financial position now than when Air NZ announced earlier in 2009 that it was ceasing its trans-Tasman service with Hamilton.  Airport chairman John Birch said the airport was in a viable financial position and would continue to run profitably because it was now a diversified operation.  "We've spent the last few years restructuring and paying back debt. Additionally we are now seeing increased diversification of revenue from selling and leasing land, managed through the airport's property joint venture Titanium Park. "The airport is a multi-faceted business which helps protect us from exactly this scenario."  Birch said the airport company expected to remain profitable despite the Virgin Australia decision.  The airport is owned by five Waikato local authorities.

Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/7475843/Hamilton-airports-trans-Tasman-service-ends

Beeches slowly getting airborne

More Air New Zealand Beech 1900Ds planes have been cleared to fly, but seven still remain grounded after a crack was found in the tail of one of the aircraft. The 18-strong fleet was grounded when a hairline crack was found in the tail during routine maintenance last Tuesday, prompting engineers to inspect all of the twin-turbo prop planes in Eagle Air's fleet. On Monday a statement from Air New Zealand - of which Eagle Air is a subsidiary - said 11 of the planes had so far been cleared to fly. About 90 per cent of Eagle Air's flights are running on Monday. The 19-seat Beech 1900DS operate to 20 destinations around New Zealand.

Source : http://money.msn.co.nz/businessnews/national/8515471/seven-eagle-air-planes-still-grounded

Grounded Beeches

Bargeld01 captured some nice pics of some grounded Beeches at Auckland on 8 August 2012...

Another nice shot... 2 of Fly My Sky's Islanders, ZK-PIZ and ZK-SFK, Great Barrier Airlines' Trisland ZK-LGC and Embraer 820 ZK-RDT, Air2there's Chieftain ZK-MYS (what is it doing in Auckland???) and one of the grounded 1900s. Photo taken at Auckland on 8 August 2012 by Bargeld01

Vincent Aviation Happy

While Eagle Air might be gloomy with the grounding of its Beech 1900 fleet the sun is certainly shing on Vincent Aviation. BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-VAH at Auckland on 9 August 2012. Photo : S Lowe

Vincent Aviation must very happy over the Eagle grounding. Yesterday I captured their newest Jetstream, ZK-VAH off on another Eagle service. Yesterday the NBR reported Eagle are still awaiting advice on how to fix hairline cracks discovered in fourteen Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, two days after they were grounded. The cracks, found near the top of the vertical stabiliser, were initially detected on one aircraft during routine maintenance... Air New Zealand spokeswoman Marie Hosking says discussions are continuing with the aircraft’s US manufacturer, Hawker Beechcraft, to see “what the fix needs to be... I’m hoping to know by tomorrow morning [Friday] what the timeframe is likely to be from here. Hopefully, by then we’ll have a schedule which identifies what aircraft can be returned to service and when.”

For the full article see : http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/eagle-air-still-dark-over-fixing-cracked-aircraft-rv-125525

Another Aztec on the line for Sunair

Sunair has added another Piper Pa23 Aztec to its fleet. Piper Pa23-250 Aztec ZK-FVP (c/n 27-7854096) was first registered to Whitianga-based owned in June 2011. It was registered to Sunair on the 1st of August 2012.

Aztec ZK-FVP at North Shore on 7 September 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Eagle Grounding Continues

Most of Eagle Air's Beech 1900 are still grounded and the latest media release tends to indicate things will continue up to and including next Tuesday (August 14),. Looking at the arrivals and departures on the Air New Zealand website shows the airline is trying its best to move its passengers today... A glimpse at a few movements...

• Timaru... three Beech 1900 flights replaced by a Q300 flight
• Hokitika... four Beech 1900 flights replaced by two Q300 flights
• Westport... operating as normal
• Blenheim... only two Beech 1900 flights operating by services to Wellington being operated with Q300s and an ATR
• Wanganui... all flights cancelled with the exception of Vincent Aviation's Jetstream service
• Taupo... a single Beech 1900 flight to operating to Auckland instead of two and a single Beech 1900 flight to operating to Wellington instead of three
• Gisborne... seven Beech 1900 flights cancelled with an ATR operating a service to and from Wellingon
• Whangarei... four flights cancelled, five still operating
• Kerikeri... three Beech 1900 flights cancelled, two Q300 flights operating.

All flights to Wanaka, Masterton and Kaitaia have been cancelled.

Meanwhile the Wanganui Chronicle needs to match up their story and photo... they have a picture of Air National's Jetstream at Christchurch after the hijacking incident... Surely it can't be too hard to find an Air New Zealand Link Beech 1900! See : http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/eagle-air-safety-checks-affect-1000/1498320/

Eagle's Beech 1900 experienced a similar grounding in 2007 after an issue was discovered with an undercarriage component... see : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10466025

Eagle Air Beech Fleet - Update 3

Eagle Air is confident of moving two thirds of passengers booked to travel today close to their scheduled times. Four Eagle Air Beech 1900D have been fully cleared and returned to service following a precautionary fleet inspection yesterday. “By utilising other aircraft across the Air New Zealand fleet we’re able to fly approximately 1000 of our customers to and from their destinations today,” says Eagle Air General Manager Carrie Hurihanganui. “We are also providing air services into nearly all of the 20 airports around the country that we normally operate into, excepting Masterton, Kaitaia and Wanaka which are being covered by road transport. We regret the inconvenience caused to customers in these three regions. “We sincerely apologise to all customers affected by unavoidable schedule changes, however, safety is paramount and non-negotiable,” she says. The airline is consulting with the aircraft manufacturer to seek advice about any further maintenance work that may be required to on the remainder of the fleet. Passengers booked to travel on Eagle Air flights (NZ2000 series flight numbers) up to and including Tuesday 14 August can choose to switch to another Air New Zealand flight on the same route, apply the fare to another destination, or choose to have the fare held in credit. A full refund is available where none of these options meets the customer’s needs.

Source : http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2012-eagle-air-beech-fleet-update-3

Hokitika had its normal Wednesday morning Q300  service and an ATR in the afternoon... A lot of Eagle flights across the network appear to be cancelled tomorrow morning

Eagle Air Beech Fleet – Update 2

Eagle Air will resume operation tomorrow morning following the completion of a precautionary fleet inspection this evening. Air New Zealand elected to cancel Eagle Air services this afternoon after a small hairline crack was found in the tail area of an aircraft undergoing routine maintenance. “We sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience, however, safety is paramount and non-negotiable and we have deliberately chosen to take the conservative approach of completing a one-off inspection of the whole fleet,” says Eagle Air General Manager Carrie Hurihanganui. The airline will tomorrow operate services using four aircraft that have been inspected and fully cleared to return to service after meeting all operational standards. Eagle Air will consult with the aircraft manufacturer to seek advice about any further maintenance work that may be required on the remainder of the fleet. Other aircraft from across the Air New Zealand fleet will support Eagle Air tomorrow in order to minimise disruption. It’s estimated that around 1,000 Eagle Air passengers may be inconvenienced by unavoidable schedule changes. Customers whose flights have been cancelled will be contacted where possible and alternative arrangements made free of any change fees. Passengers booked to travel on Eagle Air flights (NZ2000 series flight numbers) up to and including Tuesday 14 August can choose to switch to another Air New Zealand flight on the same route, apply the fare to another destination, or choose to have the fare held in credit. A full refund is available where none of these options meets the customer’s needs.

Source : http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2012-eagle-air-beech-fleet-update-2

Inflite Charters - A Smart New Look for NZ Skies

Wayne Grant caught Inflite Charters' new look for its Jetstream ZK-ECI... White with a black tail... now didn't I hear something about that recently?

BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-ECI in its new Inflite Charters' colour scheme at Auckland on 7 August 2012. Photo : W Grant

Beech 1900s grounded again!

Air New Zealand has grounded a fleet of 18 aircraft after hairline cracks were found on a plane's tail area during a routine maintenance inspection. Engineers inspecting the Beech 1900Ds, which were operated by subsidiary Eagle Air, have already examined four aircraft and found three were affected. Eagle Air general manager Carrie Hurihanganui said Eagle Air services were cancelled this afternoon as a precautionary measure and alternative arrangements would be made for the about 800 customers affected.  "We apologise to customers for the inevitable inconvenience caused by undertaking a full check of our fleet. However, the safety of our customers, our staff and our aircraft is paramount and non-negotiable for the airline," she said.  Customers were advised to check flight arrivals and departures for the most up to date schedules.  The Beech 1900D aircraft have been in service with Eagle Air since October 2001 and have an average age of 10.5 years.  The 19-seat aircraft operate to 20 destinations around New Zealand.

Coming home to the nest... heaps of Beech 1900s arriving at Hamilton to have their tails checked

More Taipei flights for Auckland

China Airlines has announced an additional four flights a week from Auckland to Taipei, the flights operating via Sydney. The new flights start on the 28th of October 2012 and they will give Auckland a daily service to Taipei. China Airlines, which is part of the SkyTeam Alliance, commenced thrice weekly flights from Taipei to Auckland via Brisbane on the 1st of January 2011. All China Airlines services to New Zealand will be operated with Airbus 330-300 aircraft which seat 30 in Business Class and 277 in Economy Class.

Great Barrier Airlines' planes to look out for...

I had my first trip to North Shore in over three months... An interesting surprise was repainted Piper Cherokee 6 ZK-ENZ, though it was not parked in the best position for even a half decent photo. It is painted in the same scheme that Cessna 172 ZK-DOL wears.

Piper Pa32 Cherokee 6 ZK-ENZ at North Shore on 5 August 2012. Photo : S Lowe

A couple of other observations was that the still unregistered BN Islander that was parked outside the hangar for some time had disappeared, though it could have been in the hangar. There has been no visible progress on Trislander ZK-LOU.

Will it fly - the missing unregistered Islander at North Shore on 26 January 2009. Photo : S Lowe