Great Barrier Island Scenic Flights

 

Island Aviation has announced that it will introduce on demand local scenic flights from and around Great Barrier Island. This follows on from the operators popular scenic flights from and around Waiheke Island. The Waiheke Island scenic flights are operated according to demand by the company's Cessna 172 ZK-RNX or Britten Norman Islanders ZK-PIZ and ZK-SFK. 

Island Aviation is offering a flight today from Claris at noon. This group booking requires a minimum of 6 people and costs just $149 per person. Bookings can be made at info@islandaviation.co.nz or calling 09 390 1122.

Masterton Still on the Cards

 

A risk of “inclement weather” delayed major works at Hood Aerodrome, setting the runway’s completion back six months. Although this has also pushed back the plans of a regional airline to set up in Masterton, work to achieve certification at the airport has been brought forward, the council says. A $17 million upgrade was underway at Masterton’s airport in preparation for a possible commercial air link between Wairarapa and Auckland. Air Chathams chief operating officer Duane Emeny said the company had been keen to “start something [in Masterton] in November this year”, but that was no longer possible due to delays. Masterton District Council chief executive Kym Fell said the upgrade to the runway had been delayed due to “inclement weather affecting the contractor”. “This has created a domino effect of delays which is outside of council’s control,” he said. “The physical works are now due to be completed in November 2024, impacting our ability to achieve Civil Aviation Authority certification as early as we might have expected.” Emeny said the delay was a “bit of a shame”. “But we will let Masterton District Council get on with their work and see what the new year brings for the Wairarapa and potential reinstatement of air services.” The venture remains dependent on achieving an acceptable RESA (runway end safety area regulations) and the council achieving CAA certification. A council spokesperson said they were advised in May by the contractor that there was a “very high risk of the asphalt not meeting the contracted quality requirements due to expected colder temperatures in June/July”. The temperatures in June were warmer than average, and rainfall much lower than average, MetService told the Times-Age. As a result of the warning from the contractor, the council implemented a back-up plan to seal the new parts of the runway with prime coat, to make sure the airport remained operational over winter. CAA Certification was required before an air passenger service could operate at Hood Aerodrome. An application for certification was originally planned for July 2025, but Fell said it would now be lodged this month. “If granted, certification can be expected to be conditional on completion of physical works,” he said. A runway lighting upgrade was also required before Hood could be fully certified and this work was on track. Air Chathams initially put a bid in for the route after Air New Zealand announced its permanent departure from Masterton 10 years ago but was unsuccessful, losing out to Vincent Aviation Australia — a venture that failed after the company went into receivership. Four years ago, Air Chathams was asked if it wished to service the region but had to decline because the aerodrome wasn’t certified for the 34-seat Saab aircraft the airline operates. Fell said while the council continued to work closely with Air Chathams, “it is important to highlight that any commercial airplane under 30 seats can operate out of Hood Aerodrome in its current form”. The complexities surround larger aircraft looking to land, due to runway length limitations. The purpose of the council’s $17m project is to transform Hood Aerodrome into a more modern, functional airport and centre for aviation activity, with capacity for growth beyond the current activity. Of the total budget, $10m was funded from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund.

Source : https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350335104/airport-upgrade-not-plane-sailing

The last from Vancouver

The last of my plane spotting at Vancouver airport's float plane operations on 3 July 2024

Two more De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers, C-FOCN of Gulf Island Seaplanes at Vancouver on 3 July 2024

...and Canada DHC-2 Beavers, C-GOVC of Van City Seaplanes at Vancouver Airport on 3 July 2024

HeliJet's Sikorsky S-76A C-FZAA was joining for the airport proper

 

Seair Seaplanes' Ops at Vancouver

More from the floatplane (or seaplanes as they call them here) ops at Vancouver on 3 July 2024

This time focussing on Seair Seaplanes 

Here's an idea for Barrier Air, Seair's Cessna 208 Caravan C-GUUS about to land on the Fraser River on 3 July 2024

Meanwhile sister Caravans C-FJOE...

...and C-GSAS were on the hard stand

De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Turbo Beaver C-FPMA departed

...while piston powered De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver C-FZZJ departed

While I was there piston powered De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver C-FOBC departed and returned

 

...And the return trip

Time to check in for the return flight and grab a quick photo of the DHC-3 Turbo Otter C-GHAZ at Nanaimo on 3 July 2024 and it was time to board for the return flight to Vancouver

And a big thanks to Simon the pilot for allowing me to sit up front

Not something you usually expect to meet on a taxiway

Lining up for take off

Newcastle Island on the left, Protection Island on the right

The beautiful forests of Canada crossing Newcastle Island

Nanaimo with Protection Island now on the left and Newcastle Island on the right

The Nanaimo Pulp mill coming up... log rafts bottom left

The beautiful outer islands off Vancouver Island

Approaching Vancouver Airport again and flying down wind for the Fraser River

Base turn

Turning on to finals

Finals after a spectacular flying adventure

 

You just can't watch them

Having flown into Vancouver from Auckland at 2pm on the 3rd of July, having checked into my overnight accommodation I not only went plane spotting at the Harbour Air seaplane base, I also had to try them. 

There were seats available to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island so it was off for the 20 minute flight...

Here is flight H3 679 to Nanaimo... I was sitting in the back row due to being busy photographing a Beaver taxi by but it turned out to be a great spot

13 pax on the Otter

Harbour Air's base at Vancouver Airport, Seair further down the Fraser River... Harbour Air have a Beaver and three Turbo Otters moored

Taking off from the Fraser River with Vancouver Airport out on the right

Harbour Air operates VFR, 500 feet to Vancouver Island, 300 feet back 

Looking back to Vancouver

Bowen Island and the Strait of Georgia

Bowen Island again

Entrance Island Lighthouse

Turning base for Nanaimo

Protection Island

Surprisingly not interested in the Turbo Otter... crabbing - meanwhile seals are watching for the crabs too

The ground crew waiting to moor us

Harbour Air's Turbo Otter C-FRNO about to board for downtown Vancouver