More from Brisbane

A sister ship to what I was in... Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 at Brisbane on 6 April 2018

Another Boeing 737-800, Tigerair's VH-YUD

A desperation shot of McDonnell Douglas MD-82's VP-CBH and VH-CBI

Southern Courier - Aerial Charter (Southland)

Aerial Charter (Southland) Ltd was incorporated as a private limited liability company in Christchurch on the 13th of November 1975. The five shareholder/directors, G M Orbell, A N Eccles, N J Robertson, A C Mitchell and G B Orbell, the "Piper Comanche Partnership", owned Piper PA39 Twin Comanche ZK-ECS for their own private use as well as hiring out the aircraft to training organisations for advanced flying instruction and for private charter.

In 1976 the new company applied for an air service licence to operate an air charter and air taxi service from Invercargill to any licensed aerodrome in New Zealand using the Piper Twin Comanche. Several local companies and individuals submitted evidence letters of support and public interest. Supporting evidence also claimed that local sporting, farming and cultural groups members wished to travel to areas not served by scheduled airlines. The company was duly granted its air services licence on the 10th of June 1976 with the service to commence not later than the 1st July of 1976. 

By September 1976 Aerial Charter (Southland) Ltd had inaugurated a weekday Invercargill-Dunedin-Christchurch freight service on behalf of Airfast Freight Ltd, which leased Aerial Charter's Twin Comanche. This service was usually flown by company pilot Jeff Sly. A connection was made with Capital Air Services’ courier services at Christchurch. During the weekend the Twin Comanche was available for general charter work. However, the courier service was short-lived and had ended by the 31st of March 1977. At that date the aircraft had flown 523.7 hours and carried 211 passengers and 47,856kg of freight. 

Air Charter (Southland)'s Piper Pa39 Twin Comanche at Timaru on 29 February 1979

With the service ended the company applied to temporarily replace the Twin Comanche with a Cessna 185. The aircraft in question was operated by Hollyford Air Travel and due to the seasonal nature of Hollyford Air's business in northern Fiordland the aircraft was not required by that company until the spring. On the 1st of May 1978 the Licensing Authority approved an amendment of the company’s licence by deleting the Twin Comanche in favour of the addition of a Beech Baron, ZK-SUN, to the fleet.  

  

In November 1978 Aerial Charter (Southland) successfully returned to the Air Services Licensing Authority seeking permission to add a Cessna 177 Cardinal, ZK-DRC, to their fleet to "exclusively for work contracted by Hollyford Tourist and Travel Company Ltd". 

However, without the regular courier service there was no real demand for the company’s charter and air taxi services and these ceased in 1981. On the 29th of  November 1982 Aerial Charter (Southland)’s licence was revoked. 

Fokker Jets

Yesterday, 6 April 2018, was a real day for Fokker jets for me... 7 photos and my first flight on a Fokker 70...

At Brisbane Alliance Airlines' Fokker 100 VH-JFB was giving way to us...

Alliance Airlines' Fokker 100 VH-FGB was on push back - wearing a 90th anniversary of Sr Charles Kingsford Smith's Trans Pacific flight

At Port Moresby were Air Niugini's Fokker 100s P2-AND (above) and P2-ANF (below)

and Fokker 70s P2-ANT (above) and P2-ANU (below)

And my ride to Mount Hagen, Fokker 70 P2-ANV at Mount Hagen

I will never complain about Hamilton traffic again...

Talk about horrendous... trying to get to the Auckland International viewing park yesterday from the city... gridlock!

So late in the late with variable conditions but one or two nice pics...

Air Chathams Saab 340 ZK-KRA

Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 ZK-NZF

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKM

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKP

Barrier Air Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SDB

Fly My Sky BN Islander ZK-SFK

Jetstar Bombardier Q300 VH-TQK

Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-VOR

Sunair - Comments on the Grounding and Future Plans

Sunair Aviation has won the right to fly again after being grounded for six months. Owner Dan Power said the lengthy time out of the air had cost the airline "millions" and it could be several months more before it could resume full passenger services because of an acute pilot shortage. The company will recommence daily flights between Whangarei and Kaitaia, Hamilton and Tauranga on April 21 but difficulty recruiting at least four pilots would delay resumption of flights between Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua and Gisborne. Power is  upset about the time it took the Civil Aviation Authority to work through maintenance and other issues which he said should never had resulted in suspension of the airline's air operators certificate, and the certificate of airworthiness for its fleet of 13 aircraft. Sunair says the pilot shortage will make it difficult to resume full services following a lengthy grounding by the Civil Aviation Authority. "It's been a long winded affair to return to the skies and the down time has been expensive for the company." "I complained to the authority that they were not working with us in a timely fashion but they are of the view that they were, and did all they could." Irene King, part of a group of aviation consultants who worked unpaid with Sunair to help them get back flying, is also critical of CAA's handling of the case. "We didn't get a response to letters, we got told that staff are not available, they're on leave, they're too busy. "We've got a pretty good idea of what unsafe looks like, but we've not been able to see anything of any significance or substance anywhere and we have been over it [Sunair​] for months." CAA deputy director of air transport Mark Hughes is adamant that Sunair's suspension was warranted due to safety concerns which arose during a comprehensive audit and subsequent investigation of the company's operations. He said those concerns had been addressed by a change of senior management, improved maintenance control procedures, rectification of aircraft airworthiness deficiencies and improved management systems. 

For the full article see : https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/102828064/sunair-wins-right-to-fly-again-but-says-lengthy-grounding-cost-millions

Sunair Rises

This from the Sunair Facebook page

Hi Everyone.

We are excited to announce that Sunair are now operational again. We look forward to carrying our regulars and new customers as soon as we are up and running.

We want to thank everyone for their patience over the past 203 days, who's been counting!! It would have been a much harder task to be operational again, if it wasn't for the huge support we have been offered from everyone who has been affected by the closure. Kudos to our colleagues within the industry who have been behind us 100% throughout this journey.

We look forward to taking bookings in the very near future, we need a little time to organise pilots and schedules!

Further updates to follow!

Kind Regards
The team at Sunair

Flying to a town near you...

Smaller airlines are in the wings ready to swoop if Air New Zealand ditches more regional routes, and the national carrier is getting the hard word to help third tier operators that step up when it bows out. Chathams Air has already expressed an interest in taking over the Kapiti to Auckland service from Air New Zealand which ended on Tuesday. Sounds Air and Barrier Air both are eager to expand further but were tight lipped about the destinations they were eyeing up. Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12 service from Westport has been a hit with local mayor Garry Howard, but he wants Air NZ to sign an interline agreement to ease the way for passengers. Having already taken on services between Wellington, Westport and Taupo, and between Blenheim and Christchurch, Sounds Air chief executive Andrew Crawford said they were looking at what other routes Air New Zealand could pull out of.  "We're not looking to compete head to head with Air New Zealand or Jet Star, we just haven't got the ability." After a bumpy start Barrier Air cut back from three return flights a day between Kaitaia and Auckland to just one, but chief executive Nick Pearson said business was building and the airline wanted to expand into other regional areas. "We've learned some lessons from Kaitaia and we're very excited if the right thing comes up". Aviation consultant Irene King believes Air New Zealand may reconsider its Auckland Whangarei service during the day, and said it could opt to pull out altogether. The service has been the focus of complaints about flight cancellations, particularly on Friday nights, and King said the larger airline also faced constraints on loadings during certain weather conditions. "It's about the economics of smaller airlines carrying less overheads, they have older aircraft which are not as fuel efficient, but on the other hand, they don't have the high capital costs associated with them." Third tier operators were also eager to get an interline agreement with Air New Zealand so passengers could check their bags all the way through if they were catching connecting flights. An earlier Sounds Air request for an interline deal was turned down but Crawford said they had not given up on the idea. "Two or three years ago, yes the technology wasn't there, whereas we've certainly got it now." Buller District mayor Garry Howard said he was very happy with Sounds Air's service between Westport and Wellington. It ran at much more convenient times compared with the previous Air New Zealand timetable which meant passengers had to spend two nights away to get a full day in the capital. "It turned a one day event into a three day episode. Now I can leave at 6.15am and I'm in Wellington at 7am … I can attend anything I like and be back for tea that night." However, he said the lack of an interline agreement was inconvenient and Air NZ would gain a competitive advantage by making it easier for passengers to check their bags through, "Air New Zealand has lost its status as our national carrier because it's not a provincial service provider, it has decided to it's a volume provider out of the cities and I personally believe they will regret this." Sounds Air's service between Wellington and Taupo, which it took over from Air New Zealand, is so popular Taupo mayor David Trewavas said they might need to look at increasing the service or using a larger aircraft than the 9 seat Pilatus PC12. "It goes higher and faster than Air New Zealand. It's just like a corporate jet, 40 minutes and we're in Wellington." But he agreed with Howard that the inability to use Koru lounges or to check luggage through was an inconvenience customers could do without.  Air New Zealand said it did not have any interline agreements in place with domestic carriers. Such agreements tended to be between large international long haul carriers that were able to easily meet the significant requirements including, for example, having compatible booking systems, said the airline.

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/102643448/smaller-airlines-will-swoop-in-if-air-new-zealand-quits-more-regional-routes

I wish they would get the name right... Air Chathams... NOT Chathams Air

Air New Zealand does codeshare with Air Rarotonga for flights between Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Air Rarotonga operate a Saab 340 (the same as Air Chathams use) on this route

Air Chathams' Plans for PPQ

Air Chathams is flying to the rescue of the Kāpiti Coast Airport, promising more flights for the region if it picks up the service axed by Air New Zealand. On Tuesday, as the national carrier's last flight left the airport an hour north of Wellington, Air Chathams chief executive Craig Emeny said his airline would double the flights from Auckland to Kāpiti and look to offer more services such as a Christchurch route. "We absolutely want to do it, we just need to go through the logistics," Emeny said. Air New Zealand announced it was axing its Kāpiti service less than a month ago, prompting fears it could spell the end for the privately-owned airport. The announcement caused a national outcry, with Regional Development minister Shane Jones accusing the airline of abandoning the regions and the Kāpiti mayor saying the loss of the airport would leave the region vulnerable in a disaster. Family-owned Air Chathams could not confirm it would pick up the route until it had finished a feasibility study and analysis of the airport route, expected to take a few weeks, Emeny said. "Then we'll be able to say 'absolutely' which is the answer we want to give." Traffic lights would be needed on the already-clogged Kāpiti Rd, that runs parallel to the airport to ensure the intersection was free, when the small planes needed to fly low in some traffic conditions. But the flights would not be needed to be used for every flight, Emeny said. "It would stop traffic for about a minute and be maybe ten times a week." The company normally had a couple of months to establish its service but Air New Zealand's quick withdrawal from the region meant there would be some months before new flights were underway. Although their Saab 340 aircraft had 34 seats compared to the 50 seats the Air NZ planes had, passengers on the Auckland-Kapiti route would have more flights to choose from, Emeny said. In a statement, Todd Property managing director Evan Davis said the airport was currently in discussions with Air Chathams and the Kāpiti Coast District Council. "Because Air Chathams' aircraft are different to those that have previously operated commercially from Kāpiti Coast Airport, technical and regulatory requirements are being carefully considered. "Kāpiti Coast Airport, expert external advisors and Air Chathams are currently exchanging information and we hope to have this work completed as soon as possible, allowing us to move forward and determine any commercial arrangements." Acting Kāpiti mayor James Cootes farewelled Tueday's flight, and said the mood among staff and councillors at the airport was positive. "It was actually quite upbeat, there was a bit of a buzz. We certainly don't believe this is the end of the flights out of Kapiti." Air Chathams would provide Kapiti residents a more reliable service with more destinations, he said. Air New Zealand has been approached for comment.

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/102775248/as-air-nz-departs-air-chathams-plans-to-fly-to-the-rescue-of-kpiti-airport

Kaput - Air New Zealand's Kāpiti Air Service

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Plans for an Air New Zealand service from Paraparaumu to Auckland and Christchurch go back to 2007 when Paraparaumu Airport Holdings major shareholder Noel Robinson and Air New Zealand starting evaluating domestic services using Paraparaumu Airport. Paraparaumu Airport Holdings had bought the airport in 2006 for "well under $40 million" and had announced a $450 million redevelopment plan, including upgrading the airport and building a surrounding business park. In October 2007 Air New Zealand announced it planned to offer at least two flights a day by 2009 to Auckland from Paraparaumu, increasing to up to four a day, along with plans for direct flights to Christchurch.

In March 2010 planning commenced for an $800,000 upgrade of the main runway to prepare for an Air New Zealand service which was then expected to start in October 2010. At that time local authorities were expecting the new service to offer four return flights a day to Auckland – two early morning, one at lunchtime and one in the late afternoon using 50-seat Bombardier Q300s. At the same time concept drawings were being prepared "for a half-million dollar temporary terminal, which would feature a 'fun, eclectic' theme with beach umbrellas and maybe an old aeroplane in a hangar-shaped building which is expected to be completed within six to eight months." 

By June 2010 it was announced that the new service would not start until February 2011 as Air New Zealand had requested some changes to the airspace management, necessitating the airport company applying to the Civil Aviation Authority for these changes. In August 2010 the Civil Aviation Authority said Paraparaumu Airport needed a staffed control tower supplying a flight information service to all aircraft using the airfield. The Authority's recommendation followed a fatal collision involving trainee pilots near the airport two years before. This decision stalled the Air New Zealand flights even more.

On the 26th of January Air New Zealand was announced that Paraparaumu is set to become the 27th domestic airport serviced by Air New Zealand, with its subsidiary Air Nelson beginning scheduled commercial services between Auckland and the Kāpiti Coast from Labour Weekend this year. Air Nelson will operate three return services a day (Monday to Friday) between Paraparaumu and Auckland using its 50-seater Bombardier Q300 aircraft, with a further three return weekend services. Flight time is 70 minutes, with a total of 1800 seats available per week on the route. Air Nelson GM Grant Kerr says, "Paraparaumu Airport Limited is making a multi-million dollar investment to bring the airfield up to the standard required for regular commercial flights including resurfacing the main runway, upgrading the runway lighting, and installing new airspace safety controls via an Airways NZ operated Aircraft Flight Information Service (AFIS). They will also provide a brand new terminal building and car park."

Paraparaumu Schedule, effective 25 October 2011

By March 2011 Paraparaumu's airport upgrade was doubled to cope with "likely increased commercial flights" to new destinations including Queenstown as well as Napier and Christchurch. Paraparaumu Airport Ltd director Sir Noel Robinson was so confident in services expanding he was reported as saying he has doubled the budget for a runway upgrade, starting this month, to $3 million to increase parking space for planes. "Air New Zealand are now talking a lot more flights, and they want it [Paraparaumu] as an alternative to Wellington when there's fog or rain, so we've decided to invest the extra $1.5 million." The planned airport terminal, now consented, will double in size to about 450 square metres to take the increased flights and passengers. The terminal will include a VIP room for passengers, a cafe, check-ins for Air New Zealand, Air2there and another air company that Sir Noel would not name. There will be a covered walkway to the tarmac, a drop-off carpark and $8-per-night long-term car park, and a covered baggage collection area. The airport terminal will be completed by the end of July. 

Air New Zealand commenced Paraparaumu-Auckland services on the 25th of October 2011 under its Air New Zealand Link brand. Services were operated by Air Nelson using Bombardier Q300s. The first flight, NZ8490, which left Paraparaumu for Auckland at 0655, was operated by ZK-NES. The first flight into Paraparaumu, NZ8491, was operated by ZK-NEJ. The schedule saw 18 flights a week operated between Paraparaumu and Auckland. 

First day photos... A prophetic murky day for a murky future for Air NZ's Kāpiti service... Kāpiti Island appears through the murk for the first inbound scheduled service on 25 October 2011

The walkway to the terminal is to the left of the hangar

Passengers disembarking from the first inbound flight, NZ8493 operated by Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEJ... And would you believe it - I had locked the focus on the camera for air to ground photos earlier and so they are all a little blurred

The terminal in the rear of the then Helipro hangar

 

The return flight to Auckland which was operated by ZK-NES which had operated the first flight to Auckland earlier that morning...

In the 12th of July 2013 Air New Zealand announced the introduction of a new daily Paraparaumu-Christchurch service offering a morning departure from the Kāpiti Coast Monday to Saturday with a returning service from Christchurch in the afternoon, plus a return service on Sunday afternoons. The new flights were to be operated by Air Nelson's 50-seat Bombardier Q300s.The Christchurch service began on 4th of November 2013. The first southbound flight was operated by ZK-NEO and ZK-NEF operated the first northbound service. With the introduction of the Christchurch service the Auckland services was reduced to two flights a day.

Bombardier Q300 ZK-NFA arrives at Paraparaumu from Christchurch on 24 October 2014 (above) and an hour later (below) starts for its departure to Auckland.

Air New Zealand's timetable though Paraparaumu effective 15 February 2015

On the 19th of November 2015 Air New Zealand announced it would cut flights between Christchurch and the Kāpiti Coast, due to a lack of demand. The airline said the Kāpiti Coast Airport to Christchurch route had been operating at a loss since throughout its two years of operation. "Unfortunately the Paraparaumu to Christchurch route has been operating regularly at little over half full and that's simply not sustainable long term."  The last Paraparaumu to Christchurch service operated on the 28th of February 2016. ZK-NEK flew both the northbound flight, NZ8488, and southbound flight, NZ8483.

With the removal of the Christchurch service the Auckland flights were increased to 16 flights per week. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays Air New Zealand operated two return Auckland-Paraparaumu services with three return flights on Thursdays and Fridays. On Saturdays there was one northbound service and two southbound while on Sundays there are two northbound and three southbound services.

A change of scheme - Bombardier Q300 ZK-NFB in the current colour scheme taxis into Paraparaumu on 31 March 2017

The All Black colour scheme... Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEM at Paraparaumu on 18 October 2017

On the 9th of March 2018 Air New Zealand announced it was "suspending its service between Kāpiti Coast and Auckland from April this year... Air New Zealand has operated the Kāpiti - Auckland service since 2011 and recognises the support the community has given to it." No reason was given as to why the airline was withdrawing from the Kāpiti Coast service.

The final flight into Paraparaumu, NZ8869 was operated on the 2nd of April 2018. The final flight from Paraparaumu to Auckland, NZ8860 was operated on the 3rd of April 2018. Both these flights were operated by Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEC.

From the Air NZ website, showing the last flights to and from Paraparaumu over Easter 2018

Chocks away on NZ8860 the final flight from Paraparaumu on 3 April 2018

The final flight operated by ZK-NEC pulls away from the terminal

 

Closed up shop

Departed - No more arrivals