ZIG ZAG ZOG - Golden Bay Air Update

Golden Bay Air's owner Richard Molloy has sent an update on the progress on their Seneca and another exciting development...

The Seneca is still at Ardmore, undergoing repaint, engine bulk strips, avionics and instrument upgrades. We were hoping to have it online by Easter but now May seems more realistic.

We also have another new arrival, a 1986 Archer, currently also being reassembled by Aero Technology at Ardmore. We imported it from Washington State. Apart applying its new registration marks (ZK-ZOG) we are not doing any upgrade work on it, so it should be on our Part 135 by Easter. I’ve attached a pic of it prior to its ferry flight to Oakland.

I will certainly be looking for the Seneca before it heads south! And QW - remember you heard it here first!

  

Soon to be ZK-ZOG before setting out for the journey down under

For an updated profile on Golden Bay Air see http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/golden-bay-air-profile.html

New Triple 7 for Air New Zealand

Captured on arrival at Auckland on the 1st of April 2011 (this is no joke) is Air New Zealand's newest Boeing 777-319ER ZK-OKO (c/n 38407). Photo : W Grant

Expansion Sought for Rotorua's Air NZ Domestic and International Flights

There have been a couple of articles about air services in Rotorua's Daily Post. On the domestic front...

Rotorua Airport manager George White is working on a business plan that may include lobbying Air New Zealand to establish direct flights between Rotorua and Queenstown. Rotorua International Airport may lobby Air New Zealand for direct flights between Rotorua and Queenstown. The airline won't be drawn on whether such a service would be viable but tourism leaders say it could be a short-term fix to counter tourist cancellations resulting from the disasters in Christchurch and Japan.

The full article can be found at : http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/have-your-say/news/airport-eyes-rotorua-queenstown-direct-flights/3946035/

Perhaps they could use a HS748?

Meanwhile on the international front

The number of transtasman passengers flying in and out of Rotorua International Airport is expected to nearly triple in just over three years. In the first year, 21,273 passengers used the service between Rotorua and Sydney.

The full article can be found at : http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/local/news/rotorua-transtasman-passengers-expected-to-triple/3945800/

I wonder if the loadings out of Rotorua are better than what Air NZ got out of Hamilton

The new Air New Zealand safety briefing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWhHpjZfTik&feature=player_embedded#at=88

Bring back the All Blacks

Jetstar cuts to Christchurch services

Jetstar will cut three daily domestic flights to Christchurch from April in response to reduced demand from the earthquake hit city. The Qantas-owned budget airline will also axe one Melbourne to Christchurch daily service.

Full article can be found at : http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/4826726/Qantas-to-scrap-planes-jobs-as-fuel-costs-bite

North Shore Activity

I spent a pleasant hour at North Shore yesterday afternoon and managed to capture...

Registered to Gerard Rea, part owner of Great Barrier Airlines is Cessna 172 ZK-DOL seen departing from North Shore for the Barrier on 29 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Thorp T18 ZK-EDF taxis in at North Shore on 29 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Robinson R22 ZK-HPT hover taxis for the pumps at North Shore on 29 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

In the circuit at North Shore on 29 March 2011 was North Shore Helicopters Robinson R44 ZK-IXG. Photo : S Lowe

  

A couple of Tomahawks, above ZK-MBZ and below ZK-PAF taken at North Shore on 29 March 2011. Photos : S Lowe

 

Great Barrier Airlines' Partenavia ZK-PLA seen departing from North Shore for the Barrier on 29 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

North Shore Aero Club's Cessna 152 ZK-SSG taxis in at North Shore on 29 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Back tracking is Cessna 172 ZK-XOX at North Shore on 29 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

While on an airport pickup today...

The last of Fly My Sky's Islanders to be painted in their scheme, ZK-PIZ at Auckland on 28 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe 

Airwork's Metroliner 23 ZK-POF at Auckland on 28 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Gulfstream G-V N914FJ at Auckland on 28 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Common Sense Prevails

Flight deck barriers will not be required on planes with fewer than 19 seats despite the 2008 attempted hijacking of a domestic Air New Zealand flight. Somali refugee Asha Ali Abdille was last year sentenced to nine years in prison with a minimum non-parole period of six years for her actions on the flight from Blenheim to Christchurch. She took three knives onboard the plane and told staff she had a bomb. She was overpowered by crewmembers and the plane was landed safely. In 2009 the Government mandated strengthened flight deck barriers on aircraft with more than 30 seats and undertook a feasibility study for requiring the same on 19-seat aircraft. Today, Transport Minister Steven Joyce said while the barriers were technically possible on the smaller aircraft it would add to the cost of flights to provincial destinations and could prove cost prohibitive for small operators. Officials did not find the requirement in any other countries for aircraft of that size. "Strengthened flight deck barriers have been introduced so far for about half the number of domestic aircraft with more than thirty seats." Once completed 92 percent of domestic Air New Zealand flights would have strengthened cockpit door. Security committees were also now in place in 19 regional airports, Joyce said.

Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4809311/No-flight-deck-barriers-for-smaller-planes-Govt

North Shore this week

Grumman Cougar, ZK-CGR, at North Shore on 22 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Piper Pa28 Cherokee ZK-DOQ in the circuit at North Shore on 22 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Cessna 182 ZK-JCV at North Shore on 22 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Great Barriers Trislander ZK-LGC with a very good load at North Shore on 22 March 2011. Photo : S Lowe

Cessna 185 ZK-EFB at North Shore on 22 March 2011... such a nice background as they taxi in here. Photo : S Lowe

You can't keep a good 737 down...

A second postscript on my post of the other day on the retirement of Qantas' ZK-JTR, (http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/03/farewell-to-another-qantas-boeing-737.html)... it is again back in the air again.

ZK-JTR has yet to retire fully, its back flying today, the 24th of March as QFA124/115 Auckland-Brisbane-Auckland covering for a Boeing 737-800 out of service with a fuel leak!

Sunair Post Updated

I received an email the other day from Sunair's Dan Power pointing out an error on my profile on Sunair and in particular their service through Wairoa...

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/02/sunair-still-shining-25-years-on.html

He writes...

We ceased ops through WO a couple of years ago as we lost the contract for the carriage of courier freight to Air Napier. We never offered a pax service to WO. The airplane used to land at WO twice daily to deliver and uplift freight only.

The original post has been updated.

Air Services Through Tokoroa - Index of Posts

This is the index page of the airline operators that flew scheduled services into Tokoroa. a history of each of these services can be found by following the links below

James Aviation

1954-1955

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/06/beavering-away-in-tokoroa.html

Auckland Aero Club

1954-1970

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/06/forestry-towns-businessliners.html

 

1976

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/07/akarana-to-tokoroa_04.html

 

 

1976-1977

Company Profile

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/air-north-big-enough-to-serve-small.html

Air North's Tokoroa air service

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/07/air-north-to-tokoroa.html

1970-1989

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/06/forestry-towns-businessliners.html

1985

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2018/06/kiwiair-successor-to-air-albatross.html

1989-1991

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/06/forestry-towns-businessliners.html

1993

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/07/pineland-airline-pine-air.html

 

1995

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/08/last-flight-to-tokoroa-buckley-air.html

Air Services Through Alexandra - Index of Posts

The following are links to posts on the airlines that have served Alexandra

1950-1962

 http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/08/southern-scenic-and-nac-vying-for.html

1960-1966

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/08/spanz-connecting-alexandra-to-country.html 

1966-1991, 1992

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/25-years-of-mount-cook-airlines-flights.html

1985-1986

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/goldfields-air-alexandras-airline.html

1988

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/air-express-calling-at-alexandra-on.html

1988-1989

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/10/pacifica-air-profile.html

1989

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/10/airlink-to-alexandra-for-15-weeks.html

2000-2001

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/alpine-air-services-flying-whenever.html

2007-2008

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/10/mainland-air-last-airline-to-operate-to.html

James Aviation Profile - Index of Posts

This profile for this company covers two posts as below:

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/06/beavering-away-in-tokoroa.html

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/06/nac-apache.html

Special Schemes at Queenstown

Air New Zealand's "All Black" Airbus A320 ZK-OAB is now a regular sight around NZ skies and on 21 March it was in and out of Queenstown on the service from Auckland.

Mike Condon photo

Mike Condon photo

Jetstar's Airbus A320 VH-VGP with the "Powderfinger" decal was once elusive this side of the Tasman, but in recent months it seems to have become a common sight flying both domestic and Trans-Tasman services for the Qantas offshoot.

Mike Condon photo

And just another shot for good measure:

Mike Condon photo