The End of Eagle

Beech 1900 ZK-EAH waiting at Hamilton before flying the last services from Eagle Airways... HLZ-PMR-WLG-PMR-HLZ...  As sad day...

Going, Going, Boeing

Airwork's Friendship's, ZK-PAX and ZK-POH at Auckland on 12 August 2016

It seems the Fokker Friendships have quietly slipped from service in New Zealand... POST 675 operated from Auckland to Christchurch on the evening of Monday 15 August 2016 arriving in Christchurch two hours later at 12.15am the following morning. POST 676 operated the return flight an hour later arriving in Auckland about 3.00am on Tuesday 16 August 2016. There have been no Friendship flights operated since then.

If anyone could confirm these were the last Friendship flights I would appreciate it...
If it was the final flight does anyone know which Friendship was used and who the flight crew were?

Last night all the Post and freight flights were operated by Boeing 737s and a Metroliner... no Convairs, so one wonders if they too have or are about to finish.

The replacement... Parcelair Boeing 737-400 ZK-PAK at Auckland on 31 July 2016

Lunchtime at Te Kowhai

It was a beautiful day at Te Kowhai yesterday I managed to score three new pictures...

Yet to fly #1 - Poorboy Aviation PB-1 ZK-BEE at Te Kowhai on 21 August 2016 

Yet to fly #2 - Just Aircraft Highlander ZK-MCQ at Te Kowhai on 21 August 2016 

And busy flying - Micro Aviation Bantam B22S ZK-PIK in the service at Te Kowhai on 21 August 2016
 

Checking out the Whanganui Saab

Thanks to Lawrence who has sent in this report of his travels on Air Chathams' new Whanganui service... He flew down and back on the morning of the 18th of August...

How could one resist not to fly on such a gorgeous winter's day with a full moon imminent???

A flight to Whanganui in Air Chatham's new service a treat for a mid winter escape.

The flight Captained by Air Chatham's owner Craig Emeny was anticipated to be an enjoyable experience and this flyer was not disappointed.

The flight, still operated by Kiwi Regional Airlines departing the busy Auckland International Airport on schedule.

The central North Island putting on a spectacular scenic splendor with few low morning clouds uninhibiting vista views of the landscape.

The cabin service provided by the very charming Eve enhanced to the already superb service for the 50 minute flight.

Craig Emeny pleased with his new aircraft and service to another regional community.

The return flight equally as a rewarding as the outward journey.  

The Air Chathams team once again to be commended for bringing service to another community.

Boeing 737 for Air Chathams?

This audio clip has a fuller interview than what is pasted below with Duane Emeny talking about the possibility of a Boeing 737 service to the Chatham Islands

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=201812471

The islands are New Zealand's most eastern point and lie about 700km southeast of the mainland. Council chief executive Owen Pickles said the fully government funded upgrade to Waitangi port was expected to be finished late next year. "What's involved is replacing the traditional wharf structure with a reclamation protected by a substantial breakwater which will then enable the Waitangi port to become an all-weather port. "One of the weaknesses of the old port has been that you'd lose 70 to 80 days each year because of tide and weather conditions," Mr Pickles said. He said the Islands' next transport challenge was to improve the airport. Air Chathams has said it will start a Boeing 737 service if residents and the government will fund an upgrade to the airport's runway. Air Chathams general manager Duane Emery Emery said the government had been given a draft feasibility study that put the cost of improving the runway at about $35 million. He said the Chathams' 600 residents were regular travellers, and there were growing visitor and freight markets. The Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust is helping to drive both the port and the runway projects. Chief executive Rob Pellikaan said confidence in the Chathams' future had been boosted by the recent upgrade of Moana Pacific Fisheries processing plant. The iwi-owned seafood exporter spent several million dollars upgrading the plant it recently re-opened at Waitangi Wharf. Mr Pellikaan said the port development was about long-term gain. "The hope is that we'll get more cruise liners in, and potentially more shipping companies - who knows. There's a lot of wishful thinking there but at least we'll have the capacity to deal with it."

MA60 to return to Tongan Skies

A controversial aircraft that has been grounded in Tonga for over a year is due to take to the skies again this month. The MA60 was gifted to Tonga by China in 2013 and it started flying domestically in August of that year. However the New Zealand government called for the aircraft to be certified by an international recognised certification authority, suspending some aid and issuing a travel advisory for Tonga over safety concerns. Koro Vaka'uta has the latest...

The CEO of Tonga's domestic carrier Real Tonga, Tevita Palu says the MA60 is finally ready for operation. Mr Palu says his company has signed a four-year contract with the Tongan government to operate the 56-seater aircraft which has now been issued an Air Operator Certificate by local authorities. He says in 2015 the Civil Aviation Act was changed to be more acceptable internationally. "The new change to Tonga legislation, they have now adopted to New Zealand laws.  I believe what they have done is very much in line with their requirements, their laws, in the Tonga Civil Aviation Act." Mr Palu says the government should communicate with New Zealand to ease any concerns they might have over domestic air safety. "The Government of Tonga should do what they are supposed to do and clarify these issues, if they have any issues or clarify any concerns.  I think that's a role that government should confirm what's been done but from the airline's point of view, we go through the process as required." New Zealand's foreign ministry website says safety standards can vary and should be closely monitored. In a statement, their Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said he was aware of the new certification.  "My understanding is that the process which led to the recent certification of the MA60 did not involve the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) or New Zealand Authorities.  I have continued to reinforce with representatives of the Tongan Government, the New Zealand Government's commitment to aviation safety standards and our readiness to assist in this regard. However, we also accept that Tonga is a sovereign nation and entitled to make its own decisions in such matters." The acting CEO of Tonga's Ministry of Infrastructure, Kisione Taufa, admits that New Zealand and PASO were not a part of the certification process. "We were going to organise a four party agreement, unfortunately China didn't turn up and it didn't make it happen to have the four party between PASO,  Tonga, New Zealand civil aviation, but because this thing has been delayed a long time, I think in the end we just agreed to go ahead with China and do it." Mr Taufa says six Chinese inspectors examined the MA60 twice this year before passing it in July, leading to the certification. He says the aircraft is safe. "We believe so but at the same time, just to make it clear for the public, it is just like an annual examination for a car.  We do it once and at the same time the maintenance and operation will be a job for the operator but if there is an issue we step in and check whether it's OK and safe for the public." Real Tonga is now working on insuring the aircraft before using it for flights between Tongatapu and Vava'u within the next few weeks.

Source : http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201811768/tonga's-ma60-flies-again

Sounds Air Flying High

Short of sourcing their own fuel supply, the owners of Marlborough airline Sounds Air have taken every step to ensure their business flies or falls on its own merits. Reacting to the suggestion the company should invest in oil, all airlines are beholden to it after all, managing director Andrew Crawford shrugs. "Perhaps," he says, clearly exasperated by the line of questioning. A joke, sure, but one that reflects the steps taken by the company to bring other previous uncontrollables, like maintenance fees, under their wing. Sick of the delays contractors were taking with their growing fleet, the owners of Sounds Air simply created another company, Sounds Aero Maintenance. "We were getting bigger and bigger and we couldn't find anyone who was suitable to maintain the fleet when we wanted it maintained, so we thought, 'why don't we do it ourselves'," Crawford says. That was 2008. Close to a decade later, Sounds Air is still charting an upward trajectory, adding new routes dropped by the national carrier Air New Zealand and boasting record passenger numbers. In 2003, when Crawford joined the company, the airline had a single 12­-seater Cessna Caravan flying one route, between Picton and Wellington. That year 14,000 people flew Sounds Air, opting out of the beautiful three-­and­-a-­half hour drudgery of the ferry for the much faster scenic flight across Cook Strait. "It's one of the main reason people fly with us," Crawford says. Since then, passenger numbers have increased massively. An estimated 100,000 people are expected to fly Sounds Air this year, up from 78,000 the year before. This comes after the Marlborough airline swooped in to pick up flights Air New Zealand dropped as a result of a regional restructure last year. As a result, Sounds Air was able to expand its fiefdom, adding flights between Westport and Taupo to Wellington as well as the Blenheim­ to Christchurch sector it started flying at the beginning of August. But Crawford is loathe to attribute this success to the cost­-saving mechanisms of Air New Zealand, saying Sounds Air was in expansion mode before the reshuffle. It was, however, a welcome boost, he says. With the new routes came more planes, four Pilatus PC-­12s, the nine-­seater, single-turbine beauties whose inclusion has brought total fleet numbers to nine, alongside five Cessna Caravans. Single­-engine planes are at the core of the Sounds Air business model; they save on fuel and, safety­-wise, Crawford is adamant they are just as reliable. "We base our entire business on a single-engine turbine. When you look at the facts, the accident rate between single-engine turbines and twins, there's no difference." He also laughs off the suggestion that the smaller planes might be more susceptible to turbulence, something which might scare cautious flyers out of choosing to fly with the company. "There are a few comments, but then they get off and go, 'that was so much better than I thought it was going to be', and then once you've got them once, they go, 'that's great, it's no problem'." He puts this down to the fact the PC-12s tend to fly higher than other domestic services, routinely cruising at between 18,000 and 25,000 feet, a lofty enough altitude to evade the worst of the weather. Sounds Air pilots are also highly trained and, he says, more flexible in their landings than other providers, tailoring their approaches to suit the conditions. "If it's a really windy northerly in Wellington, we come in slow and high and then get down to the ground quicker, instead of barrelling in at a certain speed, or a certain time we put the flaps down. "We fly to the conditions." Consequently, companies that used to ban their staff from flying single­-engine planes have come around, succumbing to the Sounds Air ethos, which Crawford says is also defined by their dedication to service. There are no cabin crew on the flights, the planes are too small for that. What he means is the willingness to put the needs of the customer first by making it as easy to book as possible and dropping the penalties other airlines dole out for changing fares. "If someone turns up to our gate at Wellington Airport two hours early and wants to get an earlier flight, we'll move them for free. Why wouldn't we? It gives us a chance to sell the seat later in the day," he says. "You go to other airlines, 'oh, sorry, that'll be another $150'." This commitment to service,­ which Crawford says is the thing passengers most frequently remark on, is one of the reasons, combined with the direct nature of the routes they fly, the airline has done so well. Getting into a price war with other airlines like Air New Zealand and Jetstar, whose economy of scale means they can sell cheap fares at a loss, is out of the question, every seat has to pay its way for Sounds Air. "I don't know how that's allowed to happen, that these airlines are allowed to sell their product so cheaply," Crawford says. "All it does is create a monopolistic society, where the rich get richer and the poor have to suck it up. "In other parts of the world you're not allowed to do that, you're not allowed to sell for less than what it costs, because all you're doing is driving the small fella out of business." While the topic obviously frustrates him, it seems equally clear that Sounds Air, one of the "small fellas" of the New Zealand aviation industry, is far from being priced out of the market. From the outside, the company and its flying progress have all the hallmarks of a business success story, but try telling that to Crawford. The Sounds Air director simply shrugs, admits he is proud of what the company has achieved, but then deflects attention by saying people are only interested in aviation because of its sex appeal. It is a hard industry to make money in, aviation, the landing fees are astronomical, combine that with staffing ­- Sounds Air now employs 65 people -­ maintenance and fuel and the costs begin to add up. A tough nut to crack, but the Marlborough airline, which was started in 1986 by Diane and Cliff Marchant, seems to be making a good go of it. Looking to the future, Crawford says he is excited about some of the opportunities the airline hopes to take advantage of, including a government contract for air travel which they are in the middle of tendering for. The Cessna Caravans, which were originally commissioned by FedEX in the United States, are also perfect planes for shifting freight. Sounds Air already moves products but the demise of some mail services means they are being approached by more and more companies who want to shift perishables, lobsters and fresh blood for hospitals around the country. Throw in expansion on their existing routes, the company hopes to add in a lunch-time service to complement the morning and evening slots on the new Blenheim to Christchurch sector, and the future looks bright for Sounds Air. From an airline that started as a tourism venture getting people in and out of the Marlborough Sounds, the company has carved itself a niche in New Zealand aviation. "It's been a challenge," Crawford says. "No doubt about that, but any small business owner would tell you the same."

Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/83206770/charting-its-own-course-marlborough-airline-sounds-air-is-flying-high-in-the-cutthroat-world-of-aviation

Sunny Sunday

A lovely sunny Sunday afternoon at Taupo on 14 August 2015 catching up on catching up on paperwork and the occasional aircraft flying by...

Piper Cherokee 140 ZK-CNU returning home

Floatplane Taupo's Cessna 206 ZK-EFI drying out its feet

Rangitikei Helicopters' Robinson R44 ZK-HLY bathed in the soft light of sunset

Inflite Charter's Aerospatiale Squirrel ZK-HPI on departure

Robinson R44 ZK-ILC on the hover taxi to the pumps 

A look at both sides of Taupo Tandem Skydiving's Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-JMP

Arriving from Auckland, Air Nelson's Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEH

And a look at both sides of Skydive Taupo's Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-SDT

Piper Tomahawk ZK-WAJ was on a cross country

Sounds Air's Corporate Pilatus...

Due across the Tasman tomorrow is Sounds Air's Pilatus PC-12 ZK-PLZ in a rather surprising scheme... Flinders Aviation's Facebook page says, "Here it is! SoundsAir corporate aircraft. Full metallic Axalta finish. Heading home to NZ today. Beautiful. Thanks once again Sounds Air it's always a pleasure." 

Westport’s First Air Service - Cook Strait Airways

In February 1937 Cook Strait Airways extended its Cook Strait service from Nelson to Greymouth and Hokitika. At that time the Westport airfield on the north side of the Buller River was unsuitable for the company’s de Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapides. In 1938 work began on a new airfield at Carter’s Beach allowing the company to commence operations to Westport in March 1939.

The Christchurch Press reported that The present Westport aerodrome on the northern side of the river may be used by light aircraft landing in any direction, but as the runway faces north-west and south-east it cannot be used by larger machines except when the wind is suitable. Both landing-grounds are near the mouth of the Buller River, but the recently completed aerodrome has only one runway suitable for the machines operated by Cook Strait Airways. This runway faces north-east and south-west, and when the new service is inaugurated both aerodromes will be used, according to the direction of the wind. It is understood that the extensions to the landing ground on the northern side of the river are not possible, and the new landing-ground may eventually become Westport’s official aerodrome for all types of aircraft.

Carter’s Beach airfield was used for the first time on the 10th of February 1939 when de Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapide, ZK-AEC, Mercury, arrived piloted by Mr Keith Johnston. The Press reported that, The landing caused considerable interest in the town, and there was a good gathering of local body representatives, Public Works Department, and Westport Aero Club officials to meet the machine on its arrival from Nelson at 10 a.m. A call was made during the journey from Nelson to Greymouth to drop Mr E. H. Thompson (managing director of Cook Strait Airways) and Captain G. Bolt (chief pilot), who inspected the new runway which was recently completed by the Public Works Department. A perfect landing was made by the machine, and it made an. equally good take-off with plenty of room to spare on both occasions. It was intended to land again at the Carter’s Beach aerodrome on the return journey, but a thick low-lying fog made this impossible, and unknown to the people who were waiting at the larger ground the Dragon Rapide made an emergency landing on a small runway on the North Beach aerodrome on the Westport side of the Buller river. Because of concern at the delay in the return to Carter’s Beach a call was made from a residence nearby to the Government radio station at Nelson, where the information was received that the machine had landed a mile or so away. Mr M. W. Smith (manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, at Westport), who inspected Carter’s Beach aerodrome with Mr Thompson and Captain Bolt, when interviewed by "The Press,” said that the officials were very pleased with the condition of the new field. He said that when a radio house and equipment were provided at the aerodrome Cook Strait Airways would immediately commence a daily service to include calls at Westport. It was hoped, he said, that this service would be running by March. Connexions could then be made daily at Westport with all parts of New Zealand. He said that Mr Thompson and Captain Bolt considered that when the complete aerodrome was finished it would compare with the best in New Zealand.

Evening Post, 15 March 1939

The new Monday to Saturday service commenced on the 15th of March 1939. This replaced the previous thrice weekly service from Wellington and Nelson to Greymouth. Two Cook Strait Airways de Havilland 89A Dragon Rapides, ZK-AEC Mercury and ZK-AGT Neptune, flew the first service, these being flown by Arthur Orchard and Keith Johnston.

The first day of the Westport service on the 15th of March 1939... In the foreground De Havilland 89A Dragon Rapide ZK-AGT while sister ship ZK-AEC departs

On board the first flight were Messrs R. C. Cock (chairman of directors), E. H, Thomson (managing director), W. Rogers. J. Newman, C. G. White, and H. R. Duncan (directors). Captain G. B. Bolt (technical adviser), and Mr K, Jones (traffic officer). Mr N, S, Falla, chairman and managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Ltd,, and of Union Airways of New Zealand, Ltd., will accompany the party. Also on board were the Westport mayor, Mr J Kilkenny who had pioneered motor services at Westport.

The NZ Herald gave good coverage of the speeches. The inauguration of the Cook Strait Airways service to Westport was an important event in the history of the Buller district, which has suffered in the past through its partial isolation from larger centres. The main outlets from Westport have been through the Buller Gorge to Nelson and Picton, the Lewis Pass to Christchurch, and the Wcstport Greymouth coastal road to connect with the rail service to Christchurch through the Otira tunnel. To carry on to the North Island necessitated almost 24 hours' travelling, which will now be reduced to two and a-half hours. It will now be possible to go from Westport to Auckland by air in six hours. Mention was made at the inauguration ceremony at the new aerodrome near Carter's Beach by the Mayor of Westport, Mr. J. Kilkenny, of the great part which the pioneers in the coaching and paddle steamer days had played in the development of the Buller district. He mentioned Messrs. Newman Brothers, the introducers of the first motor service which operated on the Nelson-Reefton route through the Buller Gorge. Mr. Jack Newman, a son of one of the founders of Messrs. Newman Brothers, and a director of Cook Strait Airways, was present at the ceremony. Memories of the old shipping days at Westport were recalled by Mr. H. C. Cock, chairman of directors of Cook Strait Airways, and managing director of the Anchor Shipping Company, who reviewed the steps made in modern transport on the West Coast of the South Island, culminating in the connection by air of Greymouth and Westport with the air service to the North Island. Special mention was made of the visit of Mr. N. S. Falla, chairman of directors of Union Airways and the Union Steam Ship Company, who, as a native of Westport, was returning to his home town as the guest of Cook Strait Airways.

Meanwhile the Westport News section of the Press covered the morning tea. A number of women, with their husbands, were the guests of the Cook Strait Airways Company at the aerodrome on the South Beach, when the two aeroplanes arrived from Nelson to commence the daily air service. Morning tea was served under the supervision of Mrs W. Smith, the tables being decorated by Miss Bailie with carnations and maiden-hair fern. The weather was brilliantly fine, and after the official ceremony, through the courtesy of the directors of the company, the women were given complimentary rides over the town and Buller river. Among those present was Mrs S. Falla, sen., who welcomed her son, Mr N. S. Falla, chairman of directors of Union Airways, and the Union Steam Ship Company, who also arrived by the official aeroplane. 

The Monday to Saturday service left Wellington at 7.35am and after a brief stop at Nelson arrived at Westport at 9.30am before continuing on to Greymouth. The return service left Greymouth at 11.15 arriving at Westport at 11.45am before continuing on to reach Nelson at 12.45pm and Wellington at 2.15pm. A feature of the service was that there were often passengers between Greymouth and Westport. At this stage the Coast road was rather torturous and the railway line between Greymouth and Westport had not been completed.

Westport's Cook Strait Airways service was, however, to be short-lived. With New Zealand entering the Second World War on the 3rd of September 1939 there was a need for aircraft and Cook Strait Airways’ five de Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapides were impressed into the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The final service to Westport was to be flown on the 9th of November 1939 but the Dragon Rapide from Nelson to Westport turned back after being 15 minutes on the journey due to bad weather. The following day Air Travel NZ took over the services and inaugurated a Hokitika-Greymouth-Westport-Nelson service to connect with Union Airways Lockheed Electra service from Nelson to Wellington.

De Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapide ZK-AGT over Westport in 1939

Westport's first air service became one of the first casualties of the war lasting just under eight months. In those months between the 15th of March 1939 and the 9th of November 1939 1213 passengers, 2942lb of mail, and 8583lb of freight were carried to and from Westport by Cook Strait Airways.  

Whanganui Doing Well

Air Chathams says two weeks into its new Whanganui-Auckland air service and things are panning out as they expected. The privately-owned airline stepped in to fill the breach when Air New Zealand announced it would be quitting the service on July 31. Air Chathams services kicked in from Monday, August 1. Duane Emeny, the company's airline and charter general manager, told the Chronicle that overall "things are going great" and integrating the 34-seater Saabv aircraft onto the week-day service was going well. "Obviously you're going to have teething problems when you bring in a new aircraft but we've been really impressed with the way the crew have handle things," Mr Emeny said. He said the company's arrival in Whanganui had been made easier by the fact the ground agents at the city airport were from the same company working the Whakatane airport. "It meant they were used to our systems and how we operated," he said. Mr Emeny said the first nine days of the daily Whanganui-Auckland service had been "a mixed bag" in terms of passenger numbers. "In the weeks leading up to our taking over the route it's fair to say we were a little depressed when looking at the numbers. But we made the decision to push out some really cheap promotional fares all the same. "We've had a large number of sales of those special fares (one-way tickets for as little as $59) which means we're effectively losing money to make it work. But we wanted to make sure people were aware of the flights and the service we were bringing to Whanganui." However, Mr Emeny said they had noticed some positive trends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays had been light in terms of numbers but then passenger loadings climbed towards the week's end and into the weekend. "We're talking loadings on each flight of 85-95 per cent plus which is great. "The first flight out and the last home in the evening are generally carrying the peak loads but we're noticing the 10.30am and 3.15pm flights are proving popular as well. "But really things are panning out as we expected them to. We budgeted for a reasonable loss initially but this gives us time to see what schedules are popular and what people expect from our airline. Then we can look at our planning ahead and what resources we need to have in play, whether that be having the Saab running on certain routes or putting the 19-seater Metroliner on. "It's just that you have to be smart about things," Mr Emeny said. He said marketing the service was always going to be major hurdle. "We don't have agreement like Air New Zealand has with overseas markets which means people flying with them will be directed to carry on flying with them to their nearest destination once they arrive in NZ. And remember they're not flying into Whanganui so it's word of mouth that's going to do it for us at this stage at least," he said. Mr Emeny said Air Chathams was talking with Air New Zealand and had good lines of communication with them. "We want to work with them where we can. We understand they have their business policies but hopefully one day we'll be working much more closely with them." He said among those topics up for discussion is Air Chathams passengers being able to access the Air New Zealand Koru lounges. He said the cheap fares would continue and although the airline was losing revenue doing it, it remained a major drawcard and method of promoting their services. Meanwhile Whanganui MP Chester Borrows said the arrival of the Saab on the route was going to be "very good" for the city and district. But Mr Borrows said it was important now that the locals get in and support the new airline so it remains a viable service. "What we don't want now is for people to continue to do what they started doing which was moving across to Palmerston North and flying out of there." He said it was vital the Air Chathams schedules were supported to maintain a service flying in and out of Whanganu. "We need to get behind it and make sure we support it," he said.

Source : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11691068, 10 August 2016

Once an Airliner... Aerostar MVY

A brief stop at Ardmore yesterday netted me Piper PA60 Aerostar ZK-MVY. This aircraft was for a short time employed on an air service operated by Buckley Air between Auckland and Tokoroa... see : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/08/last-flight-to-tokoroa-buckley-air.html

Piper PA60 Aerostar ZK-MVY at Ardmore on 12 August 2016

Aerostars were also used by Akarana Air... see : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/07/who-was-akarana-air.html

They certainly are a beautiful looking aircraft. I would love to see one on an air service in NZ again!

When do the Friendships finish???

Time must certainly be running out for Airwork's Friendships...

On Wednesday night one flew AWK 47 from Auckland to Christchurch and return flight AWK 40.

There were no Friendship flights last night!