3rd Level New Zealand

30 December 2022

2022 - The NZ domestic airline scene in review

On the 1st of January I made some predictions of what might be this year... you can read them here...

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2022/01/crystal-ball-gazing-for-2022.html

2022 wasn't the year many hoped for... We were coming out of the pandemic and the recovery was just taking off when the impact of the Ukraine war sent the price of Jet A1 skyrocketing. And just to top it off we are experiencing the challenge of a wet summer... Despite the slow start airline scene started to evolve in the second half of the year.

March 2022

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-PPR entered service with Glenorchy Air while Gippsland Airvan ZK-JRR left the fleet

2 May 2022

Sunair removed Gisborne from its schedule. Sunair had been serving Gisborne since the 15th of September 1997 and at various times offered Gisborne connections to Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatane, Napier, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu.

Sunair's Piper Aztec ZK-DGS at Gisborne on 11 February 2020.

21 May 2022

Air Chathams' Convair 580 ZK-CIB flew a final sector from Auckland to retirement at at the National Toy and Transport Museum in Wānaka.

2 June 2022

Airwork's Boeing 737-4Y0F ZK-FXM entered service flying AIRWORK 1 from Auckland to Sydney and the return service AIRWORK 2 in the early hours of 3 June 2022.

Boeing 737- ZK-FXM at Auckland on 17 November 2023

Early July 2022

Ongoing sodden runway conditions at Whitianga forced Barrier Air and Sunair to suspend their services. Barrier Air services resumed on 1 August but the frequency was reduced despite due to uncertainty of runway conditions despite the success the service had been having

18 August 2022

Barrier Air added an additional daily Auckland - Great Barrier Island return flight to their schedule.

Barrier Air Cessna Caravan ZK-SDB at Claris on 2 December 2022

1 September 2022

Air Chathams resumed flights between Auckland and Norfolk Island. The service had been suspended on the 17th of August 2021 when New Zealand went into lockdown, with Auckland being locked down for a prolonged period. Previously, after the lockdown of the 20th of March 2020, Air Chathams resumed their Norfolk Island on 21 June 2021.

Air Chathams Saab 340 ZK-CIZ at Norfolk Island on 1 September 2022. Photo : Burnt Pine Travel Facebook Page

September 2022

Sunair added Cessna 172 ZK-DXO to its fleet.

Sunair's Cessna 172 ZK-DXO at Whangarei on 29 September 2022.

October 2022

Air Auckland withdrew offering their regular air taxi services that operated from Ardmore to both Whitianga and Great Barrier Island using Cessna 206 ZK-DZH and Cessna 172 ZK-MDV.

Air Auckland's Cessna 206 arriving back to Ardmore on a scenic on 6 March 2022

20 October 2022

Barrier Air introduced three flights between Auckland and Kaitaia each Thursday. The frequency was later increased to four flights.

21 October 2022

Barrier Air introduced a fifth Cessna Grand Caravan to its fleet. ZK-SDG's first flight was GB831, a freight flight from Auckland to Great Barrier Island. It's first passenger flight was GB705 to Great Barrier Island.

Barrier Air's 5th Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDG at Claris on 22 October 2022

4 November 2022

Air Chathams retired its first Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-CIC. It operated its final passenger flights on the 17th of October 2022 flying flight 3C 824 from Auckland to Auckland to Whakatane under the command of Alan Breen and Tom Fackney and then 3C 829 from Whakatane to Auckland under the command of Tom Fackney and Daryl Petit. The final freighter flights were operated on the 4th of November 2022 from Wellington to the Chatham Islands and the final freighter flights, 3C 221 from Wellington to the Chatham Islands and the return flight 3C 212 from the Chatham Islands to Wellington under the command of Darron Kyle and Gary Downs. Its final positioning flight was from Wellington to Auckland on the 24th of November 2022 as 3C 251 under the command of Nico Matsis and Nick Reid.

Flying into the history books... ZK-CIC departing Auckland on 13 February 2021

8 November 2022

Air New Zealand's first domestic Airbus A321-271NX, ZK-OYA, entered service with the first flights being NZ405 from Auckland to Wellington and the return NZ412.

Airbus A321-271NX, ZK-OYA, at Auckland on 30 December 2022

19 November 2022

Golden Bay Air's Britten Norman BN2A-26 Islander ZK-EVO entered service operating the Takaka to Wellington service as G1 121 and the return service G1 211.

Golden Bay Air's Britten Norman Island ZK-EVO at Nelson on 4 July 2022. Photo : Cody Forward

25 November 2022

Island Aviation began operations with Britten Norman Islander ZK-SFK operating the inaugural services from North Shore to Great Barrier Island and return under the command of Jacob Taylor as Pilot in Command with Ben Yeardley with him as the second pilot.

Island Aviation's BN Islander ZK-SFK operting the afternoon flight to Great Barrier Island departing North Shore on 25 November 2022

27 November 2022

Barrier Air resumed daily North Shore - Great Barrier Island summer flights... From the 19th of December 2022 twice daily flights were started and from the 26th of December thrice daily flights.

Barrier Air's Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDC at North Shore on 28 August 2022

1 December 2022

Airbus A321-271NX, ZK-OYB, painted in Air New Zealand black with Star Alliance titles, entered service. It's first flights were NZ527 from Auckland to Christchurch and a return flight NZ542.

Air New Zealand Airbus 321Neo at Auckland on 18 December 2022

2 December 2022

Barrier Air introduced thrice weekly flights between Great Barrier Island and Tauranga. Flights operate, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-SDC at Tauranga on 2 December 2022 after operating the first flight from Great Barrier Island

2 December 2022

Air Chathams' second ATR 72-500, ZK-MCU, entered service operating its first revenue flight from Auckland to the Chathams as 3C 591 followed by a flight from the Chathams to Wellington as 3C 512..

Air Chathams' second ATR 72-500 ZK-MCU at Auckland on 5 December 2022

5 December 2022

Air Chathams increased the frequency of their Norfolk Island flights to twice weekly, the flights operating on Mondays and Thursdays.

20 December 2022

Britten Norman Islander ZK-PIZ, Island Aviation's second Islander, entered service in full Island Aviation colours flying from Waiheke Island to North Shore before operating an afternoon return North Shore-Great Barrier Island service.

Island Aviation's BN Islander ZK-PIZ departing North Shore on 22 December 2022

20 December 2022

The 3rd Level New Zealand blog had its 2 millionth hit. Thanks to all supporters of this niche blog

29 December 2022

Air Auckland at Ardmore

Even though Air Auckland has finished operating a regular air service the operator continues to operate scenic flights and packages around the Hauraki Gulf. On 28 December 2022 I caught their two aircraft at Ardmore

Cessna 206 ZK-DZH

Cessna 172 ZK-MDV

Red or Blue?

Which is nicer, Blue and White or Red and White? That's the question the photographer, Barry Stern, asked of these two photos he took at Ardmore on 28 December 2022? So what do you think, Blue and White or Red and White?

Mount Cook Skiplanes and Helicopters' Pilatus Porter ZK-MCN taken at Ardmore on 28 December 2022

Island Aviation's Britten Norman Islander ZK-PIZ taken at Ardmore on 28 December 2022

(4) Cliff Lewis' Air Travel Memoirs

Part 4 of a twelve part memoir written by Cliff Lewis, an Air Travel (NZ) pilot...

This memoir relates to my my larger post on Air Travel (NZ) Ltd which can be found here -

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2016/09/air-travel-nz-new-zealands-first-airline.html

Chapter 4 - - Aerodromes and Landing Places

When Bert Mercer made his first exploratory flight to the Coast there had only been one area prepared that could be termed anything that resembled an airfield. This was a flat alongside the Hokitika River just below the late Paul Renton Snr's property upon the southern bank of the river, immediately adjacent and below the rail bridge. It was upon this site that Air Travel (NZ)'s first hangar was erected.

Flying south to the small township of Ross, Mercer sought out a paddock alongside Stewart and Chapman's sawmill, landed his aircraft and persuaded the local residents that if they could keep this area clear for his aircraft to land on, he would be able to render them a service.

Link to more on Ross aerodrome

On south again he chased the sheep off Mr Nolan's paddock at Wataroa and delivered his message again.

Link to more on Wataroa aerodrome

Then onto the Franz Josef Glacier where stood the Graham's hostel, just below which, alongside the Waiho River, was a small grazing area. Again the same message was passed.

Then over the hill to the Fox Glacier river valley and once more after a little sheep mustering with his sturdy Fox Moth he landed in the paddock belonging to the Williams family who were conducting the Fox Glacier hostel. The message was passed once more.

Link to more on Weheka aerodrome

Air Travel (NZ)'s de Havilland DH83 Fox Moth ZK-ADI landing at Weheka, with the Fox Glacier in the background

Still aiming for the south, but with the advice that the road terminated at the Mahaitai River and there would be no more suitable areas for an aeroplane to land on that there were residents located at Bruce Bay, the Haast and Okuru, Bert promptly put his aircraft down upon the beach at Bruce Bay. He repeated the message and explained to the residents that if they would be kind enough to see that their beach was always kept clear of debris after spring tides he would be able to offer them a regular service.

Here he learned that they were men engaged in whitebait fishing upon the Paringa, so, he sorted out a reasonable shingle strip adjacent to their hut (MacIntyre and Douthwaite) and assured them that he would call and regularly during their fishing season and uplift their catch and take it to the railhead at Hokitika in time to catch the night goods train to the Christchurch market. He would charge them 6 pence per pound for freighting it. (They used to receive 7/6d per pound on the market).

On to the Haast and nowhere to land except upon another shingle strip in the Haast River. He had attracted the attention of the local resident, the late John Cron, and in true West Coast custom he came over upon his horse to aid a friend in need, doubled Bert across the river to his homestead, offered the customary hospitality, first, a White Pidgeon whisky and milk, and then from the wood fired stove where the kettle was never off the boil, his lovely wife brewed the traditional cuppa and presented homemade bread, fresh scones and homemade biscuits. Again Mercer’s message was given to the Cron family. They assured him that a paddock adjacent to the homestead would be made available.

A 1935 photo of Haast Aerodrome with the Cron homestead... Photo : National Library... PA-Group-00080: Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs

Link to more on Haast aerodrome

John Cron introduced his son Allan to Mercer. Allan told him of an area away up the Haast River where the Clarke and Landsborough Rivers met where he ventured up to and camped when deer stalking. He asked if Mercer thought it would be possible that an aeroplane could be put down in such a place. The cuppa finished, Mercer said to Allan let's go up and have a look at this spot. Out came two horses and back to the river where the aircraft was. John Cron took the horses back to the homestead and Mercer and Allan flew up river to the location. Bert expertly put the little Fox Moth down and he and Allan discussed the possible construction of a sleeping hut and separate cookhouse and refrigerator (West Coast style, a 40 gallon drum set in the ground). Yes!!! It was on, shooting parties could be brought into this place and Mercer again offered Allan and any parties he brought in to freight out the deer skins at 6d per pound.

Back to the Cron Homestead where John Cron told Mercer of his great friend and neighbour Dinnie Nolan whom he felt sure would clear a paddock for him at Okuru. Out came the horses and they both rode down some 4 miles to meet the Nolan family. The White Pidgeon and the cuppa once more. Why, yes!!! Dinnie assured Mercer he would be only too grateful to have a paddock kept clear.

Link to more on Okuru aerodrome

Dinnie and John mentioned to Mercer the Public Works Department were building a camp at Jacksons Bay from whence they would commence road construction and bridge building but at the moment the only way they got the supplies into the Bay was by the coastal vessel “Gael” which had to stand offshore while all cargo was taken ashore in the vessel's dinghies. The alert Mercer bade farewell to Dinnie and John and hopped into the little Fox Moth and promptly put her down upon the very narrow Jacksons Bay beach. Bert chatted with the PWD, got his message across, and again he was assured the beach would be regularly inspected.

The landing places were all practical to Mercer’s careful judgement. It was on!!! So, back to Hokitika. Mercer had eleven points of call. Air Travel (NZ) was afloat.

28 December 2022

SFK @ North Shore

Operating out of North Shore to a scheduled service to Great Barrier Island today, 28 December 2022, was Island Aviation's Britten Norman Islander ZK-SFK.

DC-3ing over Auckland

Fly DC-3 operates one of the two Douglas DC-3s licenced to fly in New Zealand. One of the options it has for locals and visitors to Auckland is a flight over the Auckland CBD... Yesterday I had the opportunity to go flying in this airliner over the city... I was a bit slow and missed getting a picture of my place...

For more info go to their website... https://www.flydc3.nz/