Thanks Wayne...

Thanks to Wayne's tip off I got Fiji Airway's third Airbus 330 DQ-FJV on approach to Auckland today, the 10th of March 2014

Rather than hang around Auckland International I did a quick drive by at Ardmore and was delighted to get Miles M.38 Messenger 2A, ZK-CMM

Two Virgins and a new Boeing 787

My first photo of Boeing 737-800 ZK-PBG in Virgin Australia colours - Auckland, 6 May 2014

Into Auckland for maintenance was Virgin Australia's Boeing 777-300 -- Auckland, 6 May 2014

On her first visit to Auckland, China Southern's Boeing 787-8 B-2787 which was only delivered to the company on the 1st of May - Auckland, 6 May 2014

An expensive trip to the Airport

Having been laid up this week with shingles I finally ventured out to do some plane spotting...

Plane of the day would undoubtedly have to be Air Chathams' Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP... she looks absolutely beautiful. I look forward to seeing what Air Chathams use her for! All photos taken at Auckland on 4 May 2014

Air Chathams' Convair 580 ZK-CIF barrelled in to Auckland from Napier. 

Air Freights' Convair 5800 ZK-KFS

China Southern Airways' Boeing 787-8 B-2726 on arrival from Guangzhou...

...while Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-200 ZK-OKC was departing for Perth. This is what I was waiting for and that's when the car wouldn't start, and that's when I had to join AA, and that's when I had to buy a new battery and that's why it was an expensive trip to the airport.

Mount Cook Airline and its Air War with Air Chathams

In August 1990, following the announcement of Safe Air’s closure of its air freight and airline services, the Chatham Islands’ Local Authority Trading Enterprise Board chartered Mount Cook Airline to operate a temporary air service between the Chatham Islands and the mainland until a permanent service was established. The first service was flown from Christchurch on the 1st of October 1990 with Hawker Siddeley 748 ZK-MCA flying the return service. During the month a Christchurch-Chathams return flight was flown on Mondays with additional flights being operated from Wellington on the 4th and 25th of October. Given the rapid shut-down of Safe Air, some early flights were flown for Mount Cook by Air New Zealand Fokker F27-500 Friendships ZK-NAN and NAO and Air New Zealand crews with the flights flown under Mount Cook callsigns.

The Local Authority Trading Enterprise Board received 10 applications to take over the Chathams’ air service including Ansett, Vincent Aviation and Fieldair Freight and Mount Cook Airline and it was Mount Cook that finally secured the contract to operate the Chathams’ service using their Hawker Siddeley 748s. On Saturdays Mount Cook operated a Christchurch-Chathams-Christchurch service while on Tuesdays a Christchurch-Wellington-Chathams and return service was operated. Hawker Siddelelys ZK-CWJ and ZK-MCA most commonly operated the route. While the 748 offered increased passenger it had less room for freight. This reduction in cargo capacity was somewhat offset by the rise of Air Chathams.

Mainstay of Mount Cook Airline's Chatham Island service was Hawker Siddeley 748 ZK-CWJ seen here at the Chathams on 13 October 1992 

Mount Cook Airline's timetable, October 1992

When Mount Cook began operating the service Air Chathams were using a ten-seat Beech Queen Air for passenger and freight services from the Chathams to Christchurch, Wellington and Napier. In August 1991 the Queen Air was replaced by a 15-seat turboprop Beech 99 in August 1991 and in September 1993 Air Chathams’ added a Fairchild Metroliner III to its fleet. Unlike the Mount Cook service the Air Chathams’ service was unsubsidised.

Mount Cook Airline's timetable October 1993

ZK-CWJ again, at the Chathams in July 1993

Both Mount Cook and Air Chathams experienced a down turn in traffic in and this resulted in an air war developing between the two companies. Mount Cook discounted its fares and from the 5th of December 1994 Mount Cook sought a greater share of the cargo market by boosting its freight services by operating up to five services a week to Wellington or Christchurch with Hawker Siddeley 748s flying twice a week and chartered Metroliners doing three flights a week from Wellington. Mount Cook Airlines’ Product Manager, John Whittaker told the Chatham Islander, the local newsletter, that there had been an increase in goods, particularly fish, being freighted from the Chathams. 'We are responding to market demands for more freight space, and hope to boost growth further by enhancing services. The airline's HS 748 aircraft has the ability to carry up to four and a half tonnes of freight each flight."  Malcolm Clunie was appointed as a dedicated freight representative for the services.

Air War - 30% of all fares... The Chatham Islander, 8 November 1994

The Chatham Islander 6 December 1994

Operating 748s and Metroliners to the Chathams, 5 days a week... Mount Cook Airline's timetable May 1995

Air Chathams lost close to $400,000 fighting Mount Cook Airline but in the end Air Chathams was to prevail. While it had the advantage of being locally-based the main reason for Air Chathams’ victory was that in late 1995 Mount Cook Airline announced that it would replace its Hawker Siddeley 748s with 66-seat ATR-72s. In October 1995 The Chatham Islander reported that Mount Cook had advised that they were still assessing their service to the Chathams but the current HS748 aircraft would continue to operate until March 1996.

In the event the service did not last that long. The Chatham Islander of 9 January 1996 reported that the Mount Cook service would end on the 29th of January 1996. The airline said, Support for the airline's freight and passenger service on the route had not met expectation during past 12 months and would not be economic with the airline’s new ATR-72 aircraft. Passengers booked to travel with Mount Cook Airline would be accommodated on the Air Chathams service. Chatham Islands mayor Pat Smith said islanders were not surprised by the airline decision and were not bitter about the lost service. The community was grateful to Mount Cook for coming to its rescue more than four years ago when it only received up to three flights a fortnight. The airline provided up to four flights a week at times. “When Mount Cook bought their new aircraft airline, we knew they were not designed to cater for the islands and clientele on the service was declining," he said. “A local company, Air Chathams, has been pushing the market and being island-owned and based, it really had the edge."

Mount Cook Airline operated the final service to the Chatham Islands on the 29th of January leaving the door open for the expansion of Air Chathams.

For links to other air services to the Chathams see...

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/chatham-islands-index-of-posts.html 

Argosies on the Chathams...

Would anyone happen to have any photos of Safe Air Argosies taken on the Chathams?  I am in the final stages of preparing a post on the Safe Air service to the Chathams which I will post in about 3 weeks. If you can help my email address is westland831@gmail.com

Thanks

Steve

Okiwi Opened

After a protracted battle to develop Great Barrier Islands northern airfield at Okiwi the newly sealed runway was officially opened today...

Kevin Burke from the Barrier Bulletin captured these great photos of aircraft movements

Taken on 1 May 2014, Great Barrier Airlines' BN Trislander came and checked out the new runway.

The first commercial flight this morning was Great Barrier Airlines' Piper Pa31 Navajo ZK-NSN.

Also at the opening from the Great Barrier Airline stable has BN Trislander while Partenavia ZK-PLA was there this afternoon doing touch and goes

Fly My Sky brought the whole fleet over for the opening with BN Islanders ZK-PIY, ZK-PIZ and ZK-SFK

On the private front Tecnam P92 Echo Super ZK-CDL,

Socata TB20 Trinidad ZK-JFC

and Cessna 206 ZK-NOC were all in attendance

Some 200 people gathered for the opening.

From the Great Barrier Airlines' website seats are now available for flights between Auckland and Okiwi.

For more on the development of air services to Great Barrier Island see http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2011/06/air-services-to-great-barrier-airline.html

Grand Caravans

Snapped at Wellington on 28 April 2014 as the Convair taxied past, Sounds Air's Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-SAA...

...and the one I was really after, Sounds Air's Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-SAy

Wanganui's Capital Flyer

Flying from Wanganui to Wellington with Sounds Air is more like an adventure than a piece of routine travel. The Wanganui Chronicle was offered a free trip there and back last week. I was the lucky taker and I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat in front of all those instruments and talk to pilot Andrew Daken through headphones. Sounds Air began the Wanganui-Wellington service at the end of January. Passengers average four per flight - which is not enough - but the numbers are building. The usual cost is $125 each way. There is just one flight down and one back on each weekday. Each takes 30-40 minutes. It's okay to leave your cellphone on with Sounds Air - Mr Daken said it only causes a little bit of annoying static. The company does not like to cancel flights. Often it will wait until weather clears, sometimes hours later, and fly then. The morning flight leaves Wanganui at 6.45am and the evening one gets back at 6.40pm, allowing people to spend a nine-to-five working day in the capital. The plane is a Cessna 208 Caravan, which seats 11 people plus the pilot. It is smaller and more compact than the Air New Zealand Beech 1900Ds that fly to and from Auckland. It flies at the same height as them. Flying to Wellington on Monday morning, it was nearly full. Two people were going to Picton, three to Blenheim and one onward to Invercargill. One man was heading for the Hutt Hospital for an appointment, one was returning to Wellington after a weekend wedding and one was staying there all week for work. Pilot Andrew Daken spends a night in Wanganui at Anndion Lodge several times a week. "Everyone is so warm and welcoming in Wanganui. "I really enjoy going up there," he said. He stood behind a desk to check us in, saw us into the plane and told us about safety. Caravans have such safe engines that only one pilot is needed and they have all the safety gear of a bigger plane. Morning flights like Monday's, with a pink, cream and crimson sunrise, are Mr Daken's favourites. Taking off from Wanganui, we could see the lights of early cars heading down Heads Rd for work. The plane's instrument panel stretched across the cabin and the co-pilot steering wheel in front of me moved in sync with the pilot's. Mr Daken often lets people sit up the front with him but he has to choose the right people. "I thought I could trust you. If not, I could overpower you," he said. Partway down the coast it was dawn, and air traffic control switched from Ohakea to Wellington. The Marlborough Sounds emerged as a blue line of hills, with tiny lights in their folds marking Picton and Blenheim. Mr Daken talked about his flying career as we hummed down the coast. He has been with Sounds Air for six months and flew in Australia's Northern Territory for six years before that. He said flying is a small industry and everyone knows someone who has had a serious accident. A pilot must always be aware of where the plane can land if something goes wrong. On a Wellington-Wanganui flight it would be a long, bare stretch of beach. Landing was the most challenging part of flying, he said, but also the most enjoyable. Once in the air on autopilot, a Cessna Caravan basically flies itself. "They say a pilot's life is 99 per cent boredom and 1 per cent sheer terror," he said with a smile. From the air, Wellington looked like a craggy, knobbly cake with fairy lights. The air traffic controller there calls Mr Daken "Mindy" - a joke - because he has an Australian accent. Gazing straight down the runway out the front window during landing was an experience. All that city and bay coming towards me. Once landed, Mr Daken was flying on to Picton, then having a rest break at home in Wellington and flying back to Wanganui in the evening. The little Sounds Air terminal is off to the side of Wellington Airport. Outside the big building and to the right is the Airport Flyer bus stop, with buses to Wellington and the Hutt Valley leaving every 10 minutes. Getting to the central city costs $9. The flight back in the evening was clearer, with views of two mountains. There was only one other passenger on board, a Christchurch man going to a funeral.

Source : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11238345, 15 April 2014

June Start for Oamaru Air Service

A Dunedin company is to start a new air service between Oamaru and Christchurch starting on June 4, just after Queen’s Birthday Weekend. Philip Kean, chief executive officer of Mainland Air Services, which is based at Dunedin International Airport, said a nine-seater Piper Chieftain aircraft would be used on the new service. There will be flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week leaving Oamaru at 7.30am, returning by 9am. Afternoon flights from Oamaru would leave at 4.30pm and return at 6pm. There would also be a flight on Sunday afternoons leaving at 4.30pm and returning at 6pm. Each flight would take about 40 minutes. The price will be in the vicinity of $200 one way “Air New Zealand used to do it and we’ve looked at it for a couple of years,” Mr Kean said. “We think it will work. Oamaru is a growing area and we’ve been looking at developing our company. We’ve bought a Piper Chieftain for the service. “Air New Zealand had good loadings; they pulled out about four years ago. We’ve seen the figures out of there and we think we can make it pay.” He said the flights would be trialled and it would be a case of “use it or lose it” for the North Otago public. He said the idea was to have the flights connect with others to Wellington and Auckland. The North Otago business community has been advised of the new service and Mr Kean planned to make a presentation to the North Otago branch of the Chamber of Commerce. Simon Berry, spokesman for the North Otago branch of the Otago Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news. “It’s very exciting and for businesses it’s great; we’ll support it as much as possible.” Mr Berry said local people were presently disadvantaged by having to travel to Dunedin for flights and it was difficult to make appointments. “It takes a whole day to get to Auckland.” He believed the service could be economically sustainable as long as the scheduling was right. “If it gets the connections (flights), it’s a real plus.” Mainland Air Services owns eight aircraft and runs charters and transfers all over New Zealand as well as a flight training school.The company employs six pilots. Former Oamaru man Sven Thelning will be the pilot on the Oamaru-Christchurch service.

Source : http://www.oamarumail.co.nz/featured/air-service-launching-flights-to-christchurch/ 

Mainland Air's Piper Chieftain, ZK-KVW at Dunedin on 6 August 2001

Tongan Aircraft Accident

Real Tonga airline's Beech Queen Air, A3-CIA crashed at 'Eua in Tonga this morning after a landing gear failure. Thankfully there were no injuries.

A rather sorry looking Beech Queen Air A3-CIA at 'Eua on 30 April 2014. Source : http://www.nzkanivapacific.co.nz/

A3-CIA has a New Zealand history where it operated in New Zealand for Port Hutt Air as ZK-WKA from February 2002 until 2004 (http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/06/ex-port-hutt-air-queen-air-for-chathams.html). It's last flight in New Zealand as ZK-WKA was from Paraparaumu to Palmerston North on the 11th of October 2004.

The new Beech Queen Air ZK-WKA about to depart Nelson on the 3rd of November 2003.

For some years WKA lay rather forlornly at Palmerston North Airport but in 2010 it was brought up to flyable standard and was registered as A3-CIA for Chathams Pacific’s Tongan operation.

The once again flyable Beech Queen Air A3-CIA arriving at Auckland on 15 June 2010 en route to Tonga

Chathams Pacific ceased operations on the 2nd of March 2013 but the Queen Air was leased by the new Tongan airline, Real Tonga. Subsequently A3-CIA was sold to Real Tonga and repainted in their colours.

Beech Queen Air A3-CIA arriving into Fua'amotu on 13 January 2014. 

One wonders what the aircraft's fate will be after today's incident!

CV12 to Wellington

My ride home, Convair 580 ZK-CIF at Chatham already for departure to Wellington on 28 April 2014

The solar power runway lights as we prepared to take off on runway 05 

Departing the Chathams flying along the north coast - Taupeka Point 

Cape Young - the last glimpse of the Chathams

The nicer cabin of ZK-CIF

Coming up on the lower east coast of the North Island

Lake Onoke with Lake Wairarapa behind

Joining right base runway 34 at Wellington

with one notch of flap...

...a second notch

...full flaps!

ZK-CIF on gate at Wellington - where it remained overnight, the return flight didn't go until this morning!