Sunday avo at North Shore

Operating Island Aviation's afternoon service from Great Barrier Island to North Shore on 2 March 2025 were BN Islander ZK-SFK...

and Cessna 172 ZK-RNX

Also captured on the same day were Piper Cherokee 140 ZK-DIW

Yakovlev Yak-52 ZK-DSJ

Cessna 172 ZK-EFA

Bell Longranger ZK-IND

Piper Warrior ZK-MBK

Cessna 182 ZK-NPC

Maule ZK-RLT

Skydive Auckland's Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-SDF

Robin R2120 ZK-TZG

and JMB Aircraft VL-3TE-915 ZK-VLT

Fleet Addition

Air Napier has added Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-YUG to its fleet. 

It was first used on Air Napier's courier service on the 5th of February 2025 flying the morning service from Napier to Gisborne and the return late afternoon service. It operated the medical flight from Napier to Wairoa for the first time on the 3rd of March 2025.

The aircraft is operating with the callsign NAPIER 8.

Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-YUG taken at Wellington on 21 October 2023 by T Gorman

Fleet Reduction follows Route Reduction

Sounds Air is looking to sell an aeroplane after giving up on Government assistance. The regional airline said it had been asked to apply for various government funds but were then declined, resulting in it dropping its Wellington-Taupō and Wellington-Westport services at the end of last year. Chief executive Andrew Crawford told Stuff Travel it was a tough time. “We're looking at selling an aeroplane and we're consolidating on the routes we've got and trying to offer more capacity and do it well. “We're happy with selling one at the moment because we've got rid of two routes so that freed up some aircraft capacity. “But once they're gone, they're gone. It's hard to get them back in again.” Sounds Air, which flies to and from Wellington 85 times a week, was seeing the impact of lessening business and government travel from the capital. “It's a challenging industry for everyone, but it's not just aviation. A lot of businesses in New Zealand are suffering, suffering hard, but [in] aviation we only deal with monopolies: airport companies, fuel companies, parts suppliers so it's very, very difficult to go out and negotiate cheaper prices. “The Civil Aviation Authority has just put their passenger service levy up 115%. Where are we going to get that money?” He said everything they buy is bought in US dollars, making business “diabolically expensive”. Crawford said there are “green shoots, but they’re very small.” “It is very, very difficult when you're flying nine and 12-seat aircraft around to make any money and when you've got all these pressures on the side that you have no control over it's even more difficult.” He said he was encouraged to apply for the Regional Infrastructure Fund and the Provincial Growth Fund by the Labour and National governments. “I mean, you can't get more regional infrastructure than a regional airline, but we were told that we didn't meet the criteria. “We didn't go to them and they came to us and said, you guys ... are right in the wheelhouse for the support but, by the time it comes to approval, you just get nothing. It's extremely frustrating,” Crawford said. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment told Stuff Travel that Sounds Air’s application was not eligible because it was for debt refinancing rather the delivery of hard infrastructure projects, as per the eligibility criteria of the fund. Crawford said Sounds Air had offered numerous low-cost solutions to improve the state of regional air services but it “falls on deaf ears.” “We don't know why. Anyway, we've given up. I'm not dealing with the government any more. We'll just do our own thing.” Despite reducing its routes from nine to seven, Crawford said it had increased its capacity by 14% on last year. Unlike Air New Zealand, which was seeing a softening demand and in turn cut capacity on routes, Crawford said demand on Sounds Air’s routes was “quite strong.” “A lot of people are flying and they're paying a lot of money to do it, which is in some ways embarrassing, but it's largely been brought about by supply chain issues which have continued since Covid. “We've had planes grounded just like Air New Zealand has. “It's a nightmare for any airline to have aircraft on the ground and we've had the same problem in the last year with parts supplies, inventory you cannot get.” 

The full article can be found here : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360596265/weve-given-sounds-air-looks-sell-plane-after-suggestions-fall-deaf-ears

New Arrival #2

Arriving into Auckland this morning was Texel Air's latest addition to its fleet, Boeing 737-86N(BCF)  2-BPDA.

The Boeing 737-8U3 entered life as a leased airliner in 2010 being registered to the Indonesian international carrier Garuda Indonesia as PK-GFE on the 20th of August 2010. After being withdrawn from use on the 27th of April 2021, in June 2021 it was recorded being placed on the Isle of Man register as M-ABOL and placed in storage in Tainan in Taiwan. In October 2021 it went to Jinan in China for conversion to a freighter aircraft. Following its conversion it was flown to Kuala Lumpur,  Malaysia using Guernsey-registered ferry registraton 2-BPDA and was registered to World Cargo Airlines of Malaysia as 9M-WCI on 26 July 2022. 

Placed again in storage in November 2024 it flew yesterday, 28 February 2025, again using its Guernsey-registered ferry registration 2-BPDA. The Boeing flew from Jakarta to Denpasar and then on to Auckland arriving this morning. After clearing customs and refuelling it continued to Hamilton. It seems as if it is to be registered as ZK-TXF and given the colour scheme seems likely to see service in New Zealand. 

Texel Air's latest addition, Boeing 737-800F, 2-BPDA, departing Auckland for Hamilton on 1 March 2025 

New Arrival #1

Thanks to Terry from TNH Aviation Photography for sending through some pics of Diamond DA-42NG VH-YDZ arriving at Nelson direct from Sydney yesterday, 28 February 2025, before flying on to Whanganui.

I was also interested in the background aircraft...  in the first photo. Golden Bay Air's Gippsland GA8 Airvan is seen operating a Takaka-Nelson-Takaka service. In the third photo Air Chathams' Rockwell Turbo Commander 690A ZK-PVB is seen. Much to my disappointment it doesn't operate scheduled services and is currently used for aerial mapping work and the airline's corporate work.

Originair commences Taupō Service

 

Originair commenced its new Wellington-Taupō service today with the inaugural flights, OGN732 from Welllington and the return OGN733 being operated in British Aerospace Jetstream 32 ZK-JSJ under the command of Captain Damien King and First Officer Jason Salo.

The service will operate thrice weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Masterton - It looks like they are serious

This on the Air Chathams' Facebook page today....

Air Chathams are excited to showcase our SAAB 340 aircraft with our aviation team, at the Hood Aerodrome Open Day on Sunday, 2nd March 2025. Come along to this great community day and get an up-close look at our aircraft and learn more about the services Air Chathams offer around New Zealand and the South Pacific.

We look forward to meeting you all!

 

Helicopter Help...

A request from Mike Richardson who is doing an article for SPaNZ on some Wellington-based helicopters from the late 1980s.

ZK-HMG's initial stint on the register looked like this.

             07/11/1979   Dalhoff & King Aviation Ltd, Auckland

                     28/02/1980     Mountain Helicopters Ltd, Greymouth

                     30/11/1981     Marlborough Helicopters Ltd, Greymouth

                     21/10/1982     West Coast Helicopters Ltd, Greymouth

                     23/09/1985     West Coast Helicopters (Hokitika) Ltd, Hokitika

                     22/11/1985     Heli-Corp (NZ) Ltd, Greymouth

                     02/03/1989     Registration cancelled

Heli-Corp went belly up in April 1988 and it seems it was leased to someone...

Mike writes, ZK-HMG is proving difficult to get data on just wondering if you might know anything about it. It was with a Wellington based owner although I don't think he had it for more than 2 years or so. I have an idea he was connected to the fishing industry.

Any ideas who might have been using it at Wellington? If you could email me at westland831@gmail.com it would be much appreciated...

ZK-HMG at Greymouth on 10 May 1985

ZK-HMG at Wellington on 23 October 1987. Photo Mike Richardson

Kerikeri on Waitangi Day

After the Waitangi Day celebrations on 6 February 2025 I had a couple of hours to wait for my flight back to Auckland...

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NFB was departing for Auckland as I arrived

Shortly after Tasman Aviation's Beechcraft King Air B350 departed

Arriving from Auckland was Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NFA

TL Ultralight TL-3000 Sirius ZL-SRZ was in for a fuel stop

Pacific Aerospace 750XL is now devoid of titles and went to the pumps after a skydiving mission

Salt Air's Gippsland GA8 Airvan returned from a Cape Reinga run

My ride back to Auckland, Barrier Air's Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-SDC

Taking forever to start and depart was the Royal New Zealand Navy's Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite NZ3617... the last two photos taken from the Caravan 

Recalling NAC's Norfolk Island Days

Thanks to Louise De Chesne who let me use her photo of the Air Chathams' DC-3 at Norfolk Island on 8 February 2025. Painted in NAC colours it reminded me of the air service NAC operated to Norfolk Island with DC-3s in the early days and later with Fokker Friendships.

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2021/08/norfolk-island-just-4-hours-away-by-nac.html

Sadly the connection will agai be broken when Air Chathams withdraws from the route at the end of April.

Hercules Airlines - Safe Competition

 

As an armchair aviation nut this post has been difficult to stitch together... if you addditions, corrections, stories I would love to hear them and update the post... Steve - westland831@gmail.com

In March 1984, following the deregulation of the New Zealand aviation industry Auckland based National Air Freighters (N.Z.), Limited, applied to the Air Services Licensing Authority to operate a Category A air transport service between Christchurch and Auckland and return five times per week with a fleet of three Bristol Type 170 Freighter aircraft. Chief shareholder was Dwen Airmotive Ltd, the company that was to provide the aircraft. The company itself was registered on the 4th of May 1984 and was to provide the first real competition to the air freight market that Safe Air had dominated since its inception.

On the 8th of June 1984 the Press reported that, A new air freight service making round trips between Christchurch and Auckland five nights a week may start later this month. A new Auckland company using Christchurch Airport as a base would fly two renovated Bristol Freighter 8170 aircraft to begin, said Mr K. W. James, chief engineer of National Air Freighters N.Z., Ltd, from Auckland yesterday. Mr James said that the aircraft were formerly owned by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. A third aircraft was near refurbished, and a fourth was being prepared, depending on how business went, he said. “We are concentrating on one customer at the moment, but we will see how it goes," said Mr James. The Christchurch City Council's airport and electricity committee was told that one aircraft would be based at the airport. It would leave Christchurch between 8 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. on four nights and return between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Mr James said the new company’s start was the result of delicensing, and an air transport licence was awaited. Councillors were told that airport tarmac space was needed for the parking, loading, and unloading of the aircraft. Each turnround would involve two cartage contractors trucks, a fork hoist or cargo-handling vehicle, a refuelling tanker, and a crew car. The Auckland company is negotiating with Southair Aviation Services at the airport to handle its servicing. Its aircraft will be parked and worked in the freight forwarding area.

Meanwhile, the application to the Air Services Licensing Authority was successful and National Air Freighters was granted a temporary licence on the 16th of June 1984 and a full licence on the 11th of July 1984.

The airline was to use three ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31M aircraft, ZK-EPC (ex NZ5906), ZK-EPD (ex NZ5907) and ZK-EPF (NZ5910). These, along with other ex-RNZAF Bristol Freighters ZK-EPA (NZ5902), ZK-EPB (NZ5904), ZK-EPE (NZ5909), ZK-EPG (NZ5911), ZK-EPH (NZ5912), had been bought by tender by Ron Dwen’s, Dwen Airmotive NZ Ltd, of Ardmore. They were placed on the civil register on the 17th of August 1978 and flown to Ardmore in late August/early September 1978 and had been in storage since that time.

In preparation for the new service ZK-EPC, which had been operated by Instone Airlines in the UK returned to New Zealand was registered to National Air Freighters NZ Ltd on the 27th of June 1984.

National Air Freighters' Bristol Freighter ZK-EPD at Christchurch on 2 August 1984

The contract mentioned in the Press article was with TNT with a Bristol Freighter operating a 'TNT Overnite' service, carrying freight five nights a week between Auckland and Christchurch. Bristol Freighter ZK-EPC was painted up in a special TNT scheme. The service began sometime in either late June or early July 1984.

National Air Freighters' Bristol Freighter ZK-EPC at Ardmore with TNT Overnite titles. Photo : D Noble

Cargo is loaded at Christchurch Airport into one of the two renovated Bristol Freighters being used in the new air freight service between Christchurch and Auckland. At left, Mr Alan Beazley, an aircraft engineer, passes a parcel to Mr Byron Phillips, the co-pilot of the plane. The new service, run by National Air Freighters N.Z., Ltd, of Auckland, makes round trips between Christchurch and Auckland five nights a week. The Press, 21 July 1984

On the 21st of August 1984 the Registrar of Companies gave notice that "National Air Freighters N.Z. Limited" had changed its name to "Hercules Airlines Limited" on that day. The three aircraft were registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd on the 27th of August 1984. The name new company name reflected Bristol Hercules engines used in the Bristol Freighters.

The three Hercules Airlines' Bristol Freighters... ZK-EPC at Christchurch on 26 December 1984 with the TNT titles replaced by Hercules Airlines' titles

ZK-EPD at Ardmore on 14 May 1985. Photo : F B Gavin 

Bristol Freighter ZK-EPF at Ardmore. Photo : D Noble

The service’s early success was somewhat stymied by Safe Air announcing on the 6th of September 1984 they would start their own Safe Air Christchurch to Auckland Bristol Freighter charter service. Safe Air’s marketing manager, Mr Denis Morgan, said that the service would run from Monday to Friday but a starting date had not been set.

For the next 18 months or thereabouts the Ardmore-based company's three Bristol Freighters were regularly plied the Christchurch-Auckland route. In addition to this contract Hercules Airlines operated charter flights to transport livestock and general cargo around the country New Zealand.

A Chris Mak postcard of Hercules Airlines ZK-EPD over the Hauraki Gulf

Hercules Airlines ceased operating in the second half of 1986.

Finally, a little history of the three Bristol Freighters used…

ZK-EPC (c/n 13059) made its first flight at the Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd plant at Filton in the UK as G-18-113. It became NZ5906 with the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 17th of October 1952. After being retired from the RNZAF it became ZK-EPC registered to R S Dwen on the 17th of August 1978 and placed in storage at Ardmore. On the 27th of June 1984 it was registered to National Air Freighters NZ Ltd of Auckland and reflecting the change of the company name it was registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd of Auckland on the 12th of November 1984. ZK-EPC was withdrawn from service on the 21st of October 1985 and was cancelled from the register on the 18th of January 1991 having flown for a total of 14,996 hours and having made 11,527 landings.

Bristol Freighter ZK-EPC languishing at Ardmore 6 August 1990. Photo : P Campbell

ZK-EPD (c/n 13060) made its first flight at the Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd plant at Filton in the UK as G-18-114. It became NZ5907 with Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 22nd of December 1952. After being retired from the RNZAF it became ZK-EPD on the 17th of August 1978. R.S. Dwen sold it to British operator, Instone Airlines Ltd. Its New Zealand registration was cancelled on the 8th of September 1982 and placed on the UK register a couple of days later as G-AMLK. Some 18 months later The aircraft returned to New Zealand and was restored as ZK-EPD on the 5th of April 1984 being registered to ZK-EPD Dwen Airmotive Ltd of Auckland before being registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd on the 27th of August. It was cancelled from the register on the 29th of September 1987. A few days later on the 30th of September 1987 it was placed on the Canadian registers as C-GYQS  being registered to Trans-Provincial Airlines of Terrace, British Columbia. In 1993 it went to Hawkair Aviation. Its final flight was made on the 6th of September 2004 to Wetaskiwin for preservation at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. The aircraft in its lifetime had flown 17,174 hours and 21,885 cycles.

ZK-EPF (c/n 13134) was assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ5910 on the 24th of April 1954.  After being retired from the RNZAF it became ZK-EPD on the 17th of August 1978 registered to R S Dwen. On the 27th of August 1984 it was registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd. In 1987, following the end of Hercules Airlines operation ZK-EPF became a movie star appearing in the Walt Disney film The Rescue as a North Korean aircraft. In finally departed New Zealand on the 9th of December 1987 for Canada.  It was finally cancelled from the New Zealand register on the 12th of January 1988. Its new owner was Trans Provincial Airlines of Terrace, British Columbia, Canada who registered it as C-GYQY on the 2nd of February 1988. Sadly, four months later it was destroyed at Bronson Creek, 350kms north of Terrace, British Columbia when it crashed on landing on the 21st of June 1988. It was cancelled from the Canadian register on the 23rd of November 1988.

Bristol Freighter ZK-EPF at Queenstown 3 May 1987 in North Korean colours for the Disney film, The Rescue. Photo : P Campbell