Aviation notes 22 February - 12 March

Blenheim Scene
Over the past few weeks a regular visitor of note to Woodbourne has been Air National BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO. For details of its visits please see Mike's blog HERE

As we approach Easter weekend more and more interesting items and aircraft are arriving into Marlborough for Classic Fighters which is held biannually at Omaka. This years theme is Italy, and more details can be found at the Classic Fighters website HERE. As we get closer to the show I will note arrivals of interest.

Qantas/Jetconnect Notes
As mentioned in previous posts former Qantas Mainline Boeing 737-476 ZK-JTS ex VH-TJZ was due to enter service with Jetconnect. This occurred on 01-Mar-2009 with JTS operating QF117 SYD-WLG. It had positioned to SYD from MEL the previous day as QF6182. With the introduction of JTS to the fleet and the SYD-WLG route, the Qantas Boeing 737-800s were withdrawn from this route, with VH-VXG operating QF118/47/48 on 01-Mar-2009.
The 738s continue to operate the MEL-WLG-MEL QF37/38 route.

Pacific Blue Notes
The trait of canceling a night departure from Brisbane continued over the period.
Tues 24-Feb-2009 saw both DJ82 to CHC and DJ188 to AKL canceled with the corresponding DJ81 and DJ187 arrivals into BNE canceled the next morning.
Weds 25-Feb-2009 saw DJ188 canceled again.
Fri 27-Feb-2009 saw DJ175 to Nadi canceled.
Sat 28-Feb-2009 saw domestic problems for the Pacific Blue flights in NZ.
Sun 01-Mar-2009 saw DJ175 once again canceled.
Tues 03-Mar-2009 saw DJ82 canceled.
Fri 06-Mar-2009 and Sun 08-Mar-2009 saw DJ175 canceled.
Mon 09-Mar-2009 and Tues 10-Mar-2009 saw DJ82 canceled.

Pacific Blue also had delays of over 12 hours on its Denpasar services on 07/08-Mar-2009 with the scheduled arrival into Brisbane on the 8th operated by VH-VUN arriving over 12hrs late. The Outbound service was operated on time by VH-VUM but that too arrived back on its return service into Brisbane over 12 hours late.

Vincent Aviation Notes
Vincents Dash 8-102 ZK-VAC has arrived back into NZ after its charter operating for Solomon Airlines. It arrived into Wellington from Norfolk Island.

Also back after a stint away is B1900D ZK-VAB. VAB had been operating on charter in Mayanmar. It was based in Yangon and flew oil rig workers from Rangon to Sittwe 260nm up the coast, where they were then helicoptered offshore to the oil rig. VAB has been noted devoid of all title and colour scheme except for the blue stripes remaining on the engines. It has also been noted making a few flights for Air New Zealand on the Wellington-Whakatane route.

Work is continuing on former Origin Pacific J31s ZK-JSI and JSH to get them airworthy again to operate for Vincent on its flight calibration contract with Airways New Zealand.