3rd Level New Zealand

22 September 2022

For Sale

For sale on the Oceania Aviation site is a 2011 model Cessna T206H Stationair which looks remarkably like Air Auckland's ZK-DZH. The aircraft was certainly doing an Air Auckland scenic on Saturday so it might be still be used pending sale if it is in fact ZK-DZH.

Ooh La La Barrier Air

Arriving into Auckland last evening was Barrier Air's newest Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, French registered F-HFTR, after a 12-day ferry flight from France. The Caravan tracked down to New Zealand through Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia to arrive in Auckland just on sunset on the 21st of September 2022.

Arriving into Auckland on 21 September 2022, Cessna Grand Caravan F-HFTR after flying from Brisbane via Lord Howe Island. Photo : Andrew Aley

This morning it has flown to Flight Care in Napier to be readied for service with Barrier Air as ZK-SDG, the airline's fifth Caravan.

On it's way to Napier, Barrier Air's fifth Cessna Grand Caravan, F-HFTR, leaving Auckland on 22 September 2022.

Looking ahead Barrier Air has a number of increased frequencies planned. From the 20th of October it is trialling four flights between Kaitaia and Auckland on Thursdays only to assess whether there is demand for same day return Auckland-Kaitaia flights. The popular Whitianga flights were thwarted by winter runway issues at Whitianga but move back to twice daily in October and thrice daily in December. From the 2nd of December thrice weekly flights will begin between Tauranga and Great Barrier Island and in late December the airline will move to thrice daily flights between North Shore and Great Barrier Island for the peak summer period.

ZK-SDG will enter service sometime in October.

19 September 2022

West Coast Lodestars

NAC Lockheed Lodestar ZK-AIQ at Hokitika... the short-lived Lodestar service to Hokitika started on the 17th of December 1951 and operated the Wellington-Nelson-Westport-Hokitika run until the 29th of March 1952 when the type was withdrawn from service. See http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2012/07/hokitikas-nac-de-havilland-days.html

NAC Lockheed Lodestar ZK-AJM at Westport... The Lodestars replaced the Electras flying into Westport from the 27th of December 1948. See http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-national-carrier-at-westport-part-1.html

Photos from the J H Jamieson collection

18 September 2022

Ardmore on Friday

A quick drive by at Ardmore on 16 September 2022 scored the following...

Island Aviation's BN Islander ZK-PIZ

Piper PA34 Seneca ZK-SFC in a new paint scheme to when I last saw it. SFC has done service with
SouthFlight - https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2014/11/fly-south-southflight-aviation.html
Air Gisborne - https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2013/04/air-gisborne-40-years-old.html

Beech A36 Bonanza ZK-VRR

And the mystery... This biplane was on the taxi from one side of the field to the other. It is a Pitts S2 Special ZK-ELI still waiting for its rego to be applied after a repaint.

Pitts S2-E Special ZK-ELI on the taxi at Tauranga on 23 July 2015

17 September 2022

Wise Owl and A Black Hawk

Thanks to Terry Hodges for these recent pics from Nelson. He writes...

We had Kahu Helicopters Black Hawk here helping with flood relief in nelson moving cars and some trees - pic here was one morning about to get ready to depart for the days work

Sikorsky EH-60 Black Hawk ZK-HKU at Nelson

And lastly some pics I took this morning (15 September 2022) of 5 of 14 Squadrons T-6C Texans getting ready to depart for the last days flying for operation 'Wise Owl' here in Nelson and later in the day Herc 03 departed with all their gear!

Meanwhile I remember Wise Owl at Hokitika with Harvards and CT4 Airtrainers... and the same Hercules!

16 September 2022

Originair Flight OG813 to Palmerston North PMR

JustPlaneMad continues his report on a recent flight on Originair...

Originairs NPE Ground Handling Operations are taken care of by JNP, a common sight around most of NZs Regional Airports nowadays, go back a wee whiles though and not many people would have heard of the WHK based Company handing the Eagle 1900Ds, and then Air Chathams Metroliners.

Currently Originair are only flying two flights a week through to Napier, on Mondays and Fridays. Flights are generally operated NSN-PMR-NPE and return, which gives Hawkes Bay and Nelson passengers excellent access to each other via a quick stop in Palmerston North.

There is usually a 1hr 40min turnaround in Napier on the Monday flights, but after arriving late, the crew decided that we would get on our way back to Palmerston North early. In fact we left Napier over quarter of an hour early.

On the Departures Board at Hawkes Bay Airport

Start Up at NPE

Turning Around NPE Runway 16

Lift Off from Napier

Looking North with Hawkes Bay Airport towards the mid right of picture.

We took a far more westerly track on this flight, over the far side of the Ruahine Ranges.

Cruising altitude on the way back was around 12000ft.

Windmills and the Saddle Road. After such a easterly track on the way down, I thought this meant an arrival into PMRs Runway 07, however a big dog leg out towards Woodville, and we made in for Runway 25.

Construction Work on the new Manawatu Gorge replacement Highway. Ashhurst just under the wing.

On Finals for PMRs Runway 25

Touchdown Palmerston North Airport after 29mins in the air.

Taxiing onto Gate 5 at PMR

ZK-JSK at Palmerston North after arriving from Napier. Have always thought Originair have a smart livery that looks good on the Jetstreams.

So two very brilliant flights with Originair from Palmerston North to Napier and back. However with only myself on the way up, and 4 of us on the way back (two continuing onto Nelson), the service is a loss maker for sure. Which makes me kind of sad. It's so nice to have such convenient direct regional connections. But with only two flights a week, and awkward timings, it's anyone's guess how long this NPE link will actually survive. The friendly Napier Ground Crew told me to "tell your friends about the service". And I guess it's only through awareness that people will actually know about the flight and consider it. At only 23mins on the way up, I was aware that I was already in Napier, where had I been driving, I would only be halfway up the potholed and now very busy Saddle Road.

It's a tricky one for Originair for sure. I get the whole Nelson to Napier with a quick stop in Palmey deal. But people tend to be very price sensitive, especially these days. On the day I looked, Origin wanted $299.00 for a one way flight between NSN and NPE (via PMR) with just the two Departures a week. Whereas on the same day Air New Zealand had multiple flights with short transits in either Wellington or Auckland for only $169.00. A big price difference. People won't mind a Transit in say Wellington when they save that much money. Also considering that on Originairs Palmerston North transits, it seems you cannot even remain on the aircraft. You have to deplane and head inside to wait for the onwards boarding call.

According to Originair staff the NSN link from PMR is going nicely for them, and I really hope over time that the NPE and also the HLZ service builds up for them too. A great airline, with some excellent staff, I enjoyed my quick trip up to the Hawkes Bay with them.

Much thanks to Flight Crew Brian and Sarah, and also the PMR and NPE Ground Crews.

If your a plane nut, in the Manawatu, and looking for a couple of hours out? Book yourself a trip with Originair and go for a ride. At $49.00 each way, it's very affordable

15 September 2022

Originair Flight OG812 to Napier NPE

Thanks to JustPlaneMad for these pics from a recent flight on Originair...

Just thought I would send through some pics and a few words, from a recent Originair trip from Palmerston North to Napier in case you are looking for any content for 3rdlevelnz...

Yes, I am always looking for content Liam... It is really hard to keep the blog current so I very much appreciate any content.

Whilst up that end of the country, I actually needed to pick something up from Napier. Being a Monday, I knew that Originair had restarted the NPE link two days a week (Mon & Fri). At $49.00 each way, I didn't hesitate to jump on board and try out the service. Beats the drive that's for sure!

Arrived at Palmy Airport only to find that the aircraft for today's flight was still in Nelson due to engineering requirements (ZK-JSH) and the flight was likely to be cancelled. I decided to stick around and see what would happen, and the PMR Origin crew were excellent at keeping me in the loop. Turned out ZK-JSH wouldn't be coming over from NSN, but Originair cleverly squeezed in a quick PMR-NPE return on British Aerospace Jetstream 32 ZK-JSK on its arrival from HLZ, and before its next flight to NSN.

Got waved over for boarding and walked out to what was my very own plane for this mornings Originair flight OG812 to Napier. Met at the bottom of the steps by First Officer Brian, with Captain Sarah already on the Controls. Brian shut the main door and gave me thorough safety briefing. Before we started engines, and started out taxi out.

Taxiing out PMR

Turning Around PMR Runway 07

Blast Off from Palmerston North

Urban Sprawl of Palmerston North

Manawatu River and Tararua Ranges

One thing I love about the Jetstreams are the large Windows. I did a lot of flying on Vincent's and Air Nationals Jetstreams over the years. Not quite as superior as a 1900D, but I may be biased.

Dannevirke from 11,000ft

Interior of ZK-JSK which was the aircraft Originair imported from Iceland where it served with Eagle Air as TF-ORG. Have always found the Interior of the Origins Jetstreams to be very smart and rather comfortable for a small 19 seat commuter. Weight and Balance on this empty flight meant I was at the back in Row 6.