New Titles on DC-3

I had heard a whisper that Air Chathams had changed the titling on their Douglas DC-3, ZK-AWP...

...and here it is looking very smart. Photo taken at Auckland on 23 November 2015

A gloomy day in Tauranga

It was a gloomy day at Tauranga on 16 November but my drive around the airport was well worth it... two new photos 

Pipistrel Alpha Trainer ZK-JAT taken at Tauranga on 16 November 2015

Tecnam P2002 Sierra RG ZK-SGO taken at Tauranga on 16 November 2015

Tecnam P96 Golf ZK-TEB taken at Tauranga on 16 November 2015

OG 2202 - Wellington to Nelson

It was a gloomy day in Wellington on 18 November 2015 for my Originair flight to Nelson

Originair BAe Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH arriving into gate 20 at Wellington Airport

The beautifully presented cabin of ZK-JSH... it even smells new

The inflight snack to the left - a bottle of water and jet planes - beautifully presented

Departing over Lyall Bay and passing Island Bay. The brightest thing to see was the engine cowls

All we got to see until well into the let down

A number nicer day in Nelson, looking over Tasman Bay...

...the Waimea Plains...

...and Richmond

Safely in Nelson

All in all I thought Originair was pretty good... The one observation I think they need to look to was their seat allocation. A mother with a 4 or 5 year old sitting across the aisle from each other... So Mum and a larger man sitting in the double seat while the little one sat in the single seat. Thankfully they saw sense and the man and child swapped! I thought the water and jet planes were a very good touch! As for me I got an aisle seat with only 5 other passengers on the plane... So I slid into the window seat as well!

Taupo Visitors

The most exotic visitor was Learjet 60 VH-XPN on its first visit to New Zealand at Taupo on 13 November 2015... http://www.mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/learjet-60-vh-xpn.html

Cessna 152 ZK-EJV at Taupo on 12 November 2015

The Wairoa Aero Club's SG Aviation Storm 300 ZK-ULT at Taupo on  14 November 2015

Check this Air Chathams' video clip out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIXEpqyMeRQ

Choppers at Taupo

Visiting Taupo on 12 November 2015 was MBB BO 105 ZK-IKK

Locally based  Eurocopter AS350BA Squirrel ZK-HZD at Taupo on 13 November 2015

Inflite Charter's Aerospatiale AS 355 F1  Squirrel ZK-HPA at Taupo on 14 November 2015

Christchurch-Paraparaumu service to be chopped

Air New Zealand will cut flights between Christchurch and the Kapiti Coast, due to a lack of demand. The Kapiti Coast Airport to Christchurch route had been operating at a loss since it was launched two years ago, a statement from the airline said. "Unfortunately the Paraparaumu to Christchurch route has been operating regularly at little over half full and that's simply not sustainable long term,"  group general manger for New Zealand and Pacific Islands Louise Struthers said. The airline was increasing return services on the more popular route between Kapiti and Auckland by two per week, to a total of 16 weekly flights. Struthers said this would create more opportunity for customers to connect via Auckland to the rest of the airline's domestic and international network. Air New Zealand launched the daily service between Kapiti and Christchurch in November 2013 using 50-seater Bombardier Q300 aircraft. At the time, Kapiti Coast Airport chairman Sir Noel Robinson said it was a big step forward and would boost tourism in the district. "For the international traveller, it means they can come to Kapiti before going to the South Island, instead of going to Wellington and missing Kapiti out." Kapiti Mayor Ross Church said he was disappointed to see the Christchurch service go, "however there simply hasn't been the demand we had hoped for". The last Paraparaumu to Christchurch service will be on February 28. Passengers already booked on services beyond that date will be given the option of flying via Wellington or Auckland, or receiving a full refund. Flights from Paraparaumu to Auckland started in October 2011.

Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/kapiti-observer/74208208/air-new-zealand-drops-christchurch-to-kapiti-flights

What do you reckon Andrew???

Taupo Jump Ships

Tandem Skydiving' Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-JQK at Taupo on 14 November 2015

Skydive Taupo's Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-SDT at Taupo on 14 November 2015

A desperation shot of Tandem Skydiving's Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-JMP at Taupo on 13 November 2015

A Busy Kaitaia Airport

Thanks to Mitch for sending in these photos taken at Kaitaia on 17 November 2015. He writes "Fly DC3 are up here flying 2 sorties around the Far North taking Kids from Kaitaia Primary for a Wardbird jolly." 

The Fly DC3 Douglas DC-3 ZK-DAK at Kaitaia

Nice to see the Barrier Air Chieftains at Kaitaia... The only problem is they spend the day sitting in Kaitaia.

Floatplane Taupo

I had the opportunity to go on a cruise on Lake Taupo on 12 November 2015 and was delighted to be able to get a photos of Floatplane Taupo's two Cessna 206 floatplanes ZK-EFI and ZK-FPO

Increase in Originair Frequencies

Originair has issued a new timetable as follows...

Depart Nelson to Wellington 

M  W  Th             8.00 am
                  F         2.10 pm

M  W  Th  F         4.20 pm

                      Su   1.40 pm
                      Su   7.05 pm

Depart Wellington to Nelson

M  W  Th             9.10 am
                  F         3.30 pm

M  W  Th  F         5.30 pm

                      Su   3.00 pm
                      Su   8.15 pm

Depart Nelson to Palmerston North 

M  W        F         8.20 am

           Th             12.00 noon

M  W        F         3.30 pm

                     Su   4.10pm

Depart Palmerston North to Nelson

M  W        F         9.40 am

           Th             1.20 pm

M  W        F         4.50 pm

                     Su   5.30pm

3rd Level Taupo

On Saturday 14 November Eagle Air's Beech 1900 was operating an Auckland Taupo Air New Zealand return service while Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLZ was finished work for the day.

Beech 1900 ZK-EAR arriving from Auckland into Taupo on Friday 13 November 2015 

Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLZ departing for Wellington on 13 November 2015. I was hoping to get PLT!!!

Beech 1900 ZK-EAF arriving into Taupo on 14 November 2015