Boeing, Boeing, Gone - 3

NAC's Boeing 737s carried two colour schemes. ZK-NAJ is seen in the first.
Photo taken at Christchurch on 20 August 1971

Solid Start to Taupo Air Service

Passenger numbers flying between Wellington and Taupo airports are lower than previous years but Taupo Mayor David Trewavas is pleased rate-payers have not had to pick up the tab. When Sounds Air provided three daily flights along the route in June the council decided to underwrite the first three seats of each flight. "What that meant was if only two people got on the plane we would pay for one extra seat," Mayor Trewavas said. To date they have not had to  underwrite a single seat which Mayor Trewavas says is a sign the service is proving successful. "It's vital to keep links with Wellington and the service has proved popular with corporate clients," he said. "We're getting into the busier periods." In the first month of flying Sounds Air reported 511 passengers, in July that number rose to 689 but levelled off slightly in August at 631. The figures mean the service is running at close to 75 per cent capacity on average for the quarter during one of the less busy times of year. Taupo Airport Authority General Manager Mike Groome said the service is continuing to pick up but passenger numbers are unlikely to surpass previous year's numbers. "The service is going very well but we're comparing a 19 seat aircraft [which Air New Zealand used to run] against a 9-seater," he said. "Even if Sounds Air were running at full capacity they won't be at the same level." 

Source : Taupo Times, 25 September 2015

Air Chathams' Classic Flyer

It was a pretty gloomy afternoon at Ardmore on 21 September 2015 but getting these photos of Air Chathams' Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP made up for the dull weather.

A Youtube distraction or 2...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/NK-T_t166TY?feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/embed/qJHlXe_RnYo

Boeing, Boeing, Gone - 2

This post is taken from the January 1967 NAC staff magazine Skylines.

It is a reminder of the "buy British" debate... We needed to support the Empire. The airline fought an even fiercer political battle in the mid-1960s over the choice of a jet aircraft for the main trunk route. Issues of access to the British market for primary produce cut across the airline’s firm preference for the American Boeing 737. Confident in its judgement after the success of the Fokker Friendship, the airline held its ground against pressure for the British BAC 1-11. The jet age in domestic services began in 1968 with the delivery of the first Boeing. The airline’s choice was again confirmed by the spectacular longevity of the Boeing 737 series - http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/aviation/page-8

48 years on we need to be loyal and keep the Union Jack on our flag

Add one Metroliner to Air Chathams

A few weeks ago I noticed Metroliner ZK-LFT sitting outside the Air Chathams hangar... and it got to me wondering.

Since then I've been regularly checking the CAA register and today it confirmed a change of ownership to Air Chathams on the 14th of September 2015.

Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-LFT at Auckland on 25 March 2015

Since I saw LFT in the Air Chathams hangar I've been checking another website... but nothing has come up... yet!!!

UPDATE 25 SEPTEMBER - DEFINITELY JUST BEING USED FOR SPARES... MY THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE USED FOR MRO-AKL JUST WISHFUL THINKING

Boeing, Boeing, Gone! # 1

Today Air New Zealand operated its final flight with the Boeing 737... Boeing 737-300 ZK-NGI positioned backed to Christchurch as flight NZ 1737... 

Over the next few weeks I'll post some of my photos and archival material of the Boeing 737 in NAC and Air New Zealand service. 

But for now a final salute to NGI as she departs Air New Zealand service from Auckland on 21 September 2015.

NAC/Air New Zealand

Boeing 737

7 Oct 1968 - 21 Sep 2015

Napier flights delayed

One of the aircraft which will take on planned "wine flights" between Hawke's Bay and Marlborough next year made an early showing at Bridge Pa last weekend... 

The Pilatus will become a more regular visitor to the Bay in the second quarter of next year when a direct service between Blenheim and Napier is set to spark into life - aimed at the tourist industry and the wine industry. Hawke's Bay and Marlborough are leading players on the New Zealand wine-production front and business leaders believe there is potential for a successful service between the two. It had been due to begin last month but was postponed because Sounds Air did not have an aircraft available, with other services needing to be looked after. It will have a new aircraft next March. While the delay had been disappointing, Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said "it will happen".

Full article can be found here : http://m.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11515145

It's started!

Originair's Nelson to Wellington service has started, but without any of the fanfare of its arrival into Palmerston North. The first service was operated on Sunday the 13th of September 2015 with BAe Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH operating OGN 203 into Wellington arriving into the capital at 2.13pm. The return flight OGN204 left Wellington at 3.00pm. Since then four flights have been operated to Wellington using ZK-JSH and BAe Jetstream ZK-ECI.

The Lyall Bay Facebook page recorded these photos of Originair's first scheduled flight in and out of Wellington on the 13th of September 2015.

The Originair timetable as on their website today, 20 September 2015

Southern Cross Airways update

For those who are keeping a record of the airline profiles I have updated the post on Southern Cross Airways which can be found here...

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/03/southern-cross-airways-looking-back-25.html

More of PLT in service

The photos below are from Sounds Air's Facebook page recording the first day of Sounds Air's Pilatus PC-12 ZK-PLT at Taupo. Love the second photo... PLT looks stunning...

Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford loves operating his air service in Taupo and says he's here to stay. The air carrier began operating on the Taupo-Wellington route in June this year and this week began flying its new plane on the route. Air New Zealand pulled out of the route in April. The new plane carries the Great Lake Taupo logo to advertise its home. Air New Zealand's departure left an obvious gap that we had the right aircraft and capability to fill. It was the perfect fit for our company' Mr Crawford said. The council has a six-year agreement with Sounds Air to provide at least three return flights on each week day and two return flights on Saturdays and Sundays. If the average number of seats per flight per week is less than three, the council will pay the difference in the cost per seat. the support for the air service has meant that there has been no cost to council since Sounds Air launched its operation in the district. Mr Crawford said passenger numbers were still growing, even over the winter months. 'Starting a new service is always a challenge but the feedback we are getting has been astounding and word of mouth is proving to be our greatest asset.- he said. "Once people fly on our aircraft and experience our level of service, we have clients for life."

Source : Taupo Times, 18 September 2015

Recent photos...

Barrier Air's Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SDB taxiing into the gate at Auckland on 5 September 2015

Ex Piper Navajo ZK-WSB and ZK-NOW VH-OOI at Ardmore on 5 September 2015

Over at Tauranga on 7 September 2015 was Bell Jetranger ZK-IRJ

Tecnam Astore UL ZK-RGH was under assembly at Tauranga on 7 September 2015

Sunair bows out of Napier

Sunair are withdrawing from Napier after offering an air service to the Hawkes Bay for 19 years. The most regular feature of Sunair's service to Napier in recent time was the contract it held to carry bank data material from Napier to Hamilton on a dedicated courier flight. This ended on the 22nd of May 2015. In addition to this Sunair offered passenger flights to Gisborne, Rotorua, Tauranga and Hamilton. It would seem there has not been a demand for passenger flights to and from Napier and Sunair's timetable number 53, which is effective from the 5th of October, shows no service to the Bay city. 

Another change in the timetable is the dropping of flights between Whangarei and Great Barrier Island  

Scheduled DC-3 flights to Whakatane

This from the Air Chathams' website... http://www.airchathams.co.nz/whk-dc3.html 

Travel Back in Time to the Romantic Era of the Douglas DC3

• Perfect weekend getaway for that Once In A Lifetime experience
• Authentic & Unique Flight Experience with staff dressed in "of the era" uniforms
• Complimentary Meal and Beverage service with a distinctly local Eastern Bay flavour
• Stunning views enroute through AWP's large 'Skyliner' windows
• This unique schedule runs every weekend from the 24th October 2015 until 20th March 2016
• The Only Scheduled Douglas DC-3 Flight in the Southern Hemisphere

Air Chathams are proud to offer our customers an opportunity to fly between Auckland & the beautiful Bay of Plenty on board our classic warbird ZK-AWP.

Experience the best of aviation with comfortable seating, great food and beverage service, operated by an airline with a 30 year history of safe, reliable service. The Fly, Stay, & Play packages offered in collaboration with the great team at White Island Tours will make this a truly memorable family experience. 

Flight duration is 1 hour between Auckland & Whakatane.

We are very proud of our amazingly restored and maintained Douglas DC-3, and invite you to read more of her great  NZ history here or enjoy our photo gallery of her over the years.

Timetable and Booking Information

Booking is easy - you can book online or by calling our friendly reservations team on 0800 580 127

Here is what you need to know:

• Flights depart Auckland on Saturday at 4pm
• Flights depart Whakatane on Sunday at Noon
• Flight times are one hour
• Fares, one way, per person start from only $136
• This experience will be very popular so get in now to avoid disappointment! 

Bergmans and the Barrier

Another chapter of the Bergman family history in the Great Barrier Island aviation history has ended...  This from the Sunair Facebook page...

We would like to extend a huge Sunair THANKYOU to our Coromandel/Great Barrier pilot Ryan Bergman. It is with great sadness that we are saying goodbye to Ryan who is leaving Sunair to further his flying career. Ryan's last GBZ flight will be on Tuesday 15th September. So if you see Ryan around before then or are on any of his last flights please feel free to wish him well. Ryan has definately planted Sunair into the people of Great Barrier and the Coromandel and for that we are totally grateful. Thank you Ryan for all your hard work, your friendly and obliging personality will be sadly missed. All the best for your next venture and don't forget to pop in and say hello every now and again.

Ryan followed in his father's footsteps by pioneering an air service to Great Barrier Island... see : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/12/31-years-on.html