Notes for April 22nd

Pacific Blue
As mentioned in a previous post ZK-PBL Canterbury Belle has left the Pacific Blue (NZ) fleet. It was removed from the NZ register on 02-Apr-2009. It then joined the Pacific Blue (Aust) fleet joining the Australian register as VH-VUQ on 03-Apr-2009. Its entry into service happened on 18-Apr-2009 as DJ950 from Brisbane to Sydney.
With the introduction of VUQ the Pacific Blue (Aust) fleet now stands at 5 aircraft.

Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand operated Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCJ on NZ937/938 Auckland-Gold Coast/Coolangatta-Auckland on Sunday 05-April-2009, marking the first time an NZ 767 had operated into Coolangatta.

NZ731/732 Auckland-Brisbane-Auckland was cancelled on Monday 06-Apr-2009.

Air New Zealand operated Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCJ on NZ739/738 Auckland-Brisbane-Auckland on Sunday 19-Apr-2009 in lieu of the usual A320.

On Tuesday 21-Apr-2009 Air New Zealand Airbus A320-232 ZK-OJB operated the final international services to Hamilton, arriving from and returning to Brisbane.
This was sad for Hamilton as it marked the end of continuous international (trans-Tasman) services, which began back in the 90s with the start of Kiwi International Airlines, and the creation of Air New Zealand's own low cost subsidiary Freedom Air.

In better news the Dunedin International (trans-Tasman) services have been saved. Full details can be found HERE, but Sydney services wil remain twice weekly, with Melbourne once weekly and Brisbane services expected to be seasonal only.

The EPMU which represents the Zeal320 cabin crew has issued a fresh strike notice beginning 07-May-2009. The response from Zeal320/Air New Zealand management can be found HERE This will impact on trans-Tasman and Pacific Island flights operated by Zeal320 (A320 services), but Air New Zealand have contingencies in place.

Blog Name
You will by now have noticed that this blog has shifted its name and focus from Marlborough Aviation Scene to NZ Aviation Notes. This has happened as a result of the blogger moving away from Marlborough, and being unable to continue to provide the local Marlborough content. We will continue to provide news on New Zealand airlines, now as NZ Aviation Notes

Classic Fighters '09 RNZAF/RAAF

The RAAF once again supported Classic Fighters with their DHC-4 Caribou, with A4-195 displaying at Omaka. It had flown in convoy with A4-199 from their home base at Townsville via Amberley and Lord Howe Island to Norfolk Island. A4-199 then went u/s and A4-195 continued on solo to Omaka.


The RNZAF participation featured the Kiwi Blue Parachute Display team, as well as Sioux Blue, Iroquoi Black, Harvard One Five, and the Red Chequers.

The Chequers operated Airtrainers NZ1987, NZ1994, NZ1995, NZ1996, NZ1997 with back up aircraft NZ1991.
Sioux Blue was NZ3702 & NZ3706
Iroquoi Black was NZ3814 & NZ3815
Historic Flights Harvard was NZ1015

The red chequers performing their new ripple roll

One of the Sioux Blue helicopters

Iroquoi Black performing their Iroquoi on a stick routine

The RNZAF Historic Flights Harvard One Five

Notes for 05 April

Marlborough Movements
Arriving into Woodbourne from Queenstown on Saturday 04-Apr-2009 was regular visitor Falcon 2000EX VH-CRW. It later departed for Napier.

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Air New Zealand Notes
An interesting period for Air New Zealand. Everyday so far in April the A320 fleet has made domestic flights with ZK-OJD, ZK-OJE and ZK-OJG noted making the flights. All flights were with NZ65** codes.

The weekend of Saturday 04-Apr-2009 & Sunday 05-Apr-2009 saw quite a few Air New Zealand birds parked up at open days.

Air New Zealand Engineering Services held their annual staff open days in Auckland on Saturday and Christchurch on Sunday.
The line up at Auckland included
Boeing 747s ZK-NBS, ZK-NBU & ZK-SUH
Boeing 777 ZK-OKH
Boeing 737 ZK-NGK
Beech 1900D ZK-EAA

Photos from the Auckland open day can be seen HERE or HERE

Also on the Saturday was Wellington Aero Clubs open day which saw Boeing 737 ZK-FRE parked up at the aero club and open for public inspection. Photos HERE

Boeing 747 ZK-NBU which arrived into Christchurch from Bandar Seri Begwan as NZ1992 on Thursday 02-Apr-2009, remains at Christchurch to star in today's CHC ANZES open day.

Noted operating trans tasman on Saturday 04-Apr-2009 were two Boeing 737s with ZK-NGJ operating AKL-BNE-AKL NZ739/738 and ZK-NGH operating CHC-OOL-CHC as NZ957/956.

It was also noted that NZ731/732 AKL-BNE-AKL was cancelled today Sunday 05-Apr-2009.

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Pacific Blue Notes
Pacific Blue placed VH-VOQ into service on the BNE-WLG and BNE/islands routes, starting with DJ68 on Saturday 28-Mar-2009, when ZK-PBL entered the Brisbane Hanger after having arrived as DJ83 from Christchurch the same evening.

It is believed that PBL is undergoing transition maintenance before entering the VH register and starting operations for Pacific Blue (Aust) on the Islands/Bali/Wellington routes.