Air NZ ATR 72s @ WLG

 More from Wellington on the 7th of March 2024

ZK-MVB was off to Christchurch as NZ5343

ZK-MVW was arriving from Hamilton as NZ5527

ZK-MZB was off to Tauranga as NZ5264

ZK-MZC was off to Hamilton as NZ5820

Air NZ Q300s @ WLG

The viewing spot at the northern end of Wellington's runway 16 is one of the best aircraft spotting places in New Zealand... These are some of my photos taken on the 7th of May 2014 of 7 of Air New Zealand's 23 Bombardier Q300s.

ZK-NEA was off to Timaru as NZ5193

ZK-NEH was off to Gisborne as NZ5282

ZK-NEM was off to Invercargill as NZ5873

ZK-NEO was arriving from Nelson as NZ5314

ZK-NES was off to Gisborne as NZ5884

ZK-NEW was arriving from Invercargill as NZ5872

ZK-NFA was off to Nelson as NZ5305

Newest Saab ZK-CIT engine testing

Out for engine tests on the 12th of May 2024 was Air Chathams' Saab 340A ZK-CIT... The Saab 340 arrived into Auckland from Wagga Wagga and Sydney on the 4th of July 2023 as VH-EKD. New Zealand service looks to be drawing ever closer.

 

Golden Bay Air @ WLG

Following on from yesterday's post about Bayair, here is one of its successors on the Takaka-Wellington route... Golden Bay Air's Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-ZUG about to depart Wellington for Takaka as GBY211 on 7 May 2024 

Bayair - Regular Flights to Golden Bay

Bay Air Charter which traded as Bayair was the fixed wing division of North West Capturing Developments Ltd of Takaka which later became North West Helicopters Ltd. This company was established in 1978 by Takaka businessman Kerry Page and operated Hiller UH12E ZK-HDY and ZK-HGN, Hughes 369HS '500C' ZK-HTH and Hughes 369D '500D' ZK-HVE.

In August 1985 the Nelson Evening Mail reported that Confidence in the future development of Golden Bay's resources and tourist industry has prompted a Takaka businessman to set up a new air charter service with a local base. Mr Kerry Page has employed a full-time pilot to operate the new fixed-wing service, which will complement his existing helicopter business. An office will be set up in Takaka's commercial centre, and Mr Page hopes to create a further full-time job in administration, dealing with bookings and customer enquiries. A Cessna 206 aircraft based at the Takaka Aerodrome will be available to carry 5 passengers and half tonne of freight on non-scheduled charter flights, operating to any destination at the convenience of the customer, Mr Page has been a driving force behind regional development assistance for Golden Bay, and he believes promotion of local resources will enable the area to stimulate its own growth. The new venture however has not been assisted by regional development finance. Regular scheduled flights and charter services have been available in Golden Bay before, but Mr Page said there is a need for a home-based service working for the convenience of local people. He believes both business and tourist needs can be best served from within the area. He sees the air service as a complement to existing transport services and hopes to work with other local operators in promoting the area. Pilot Peter Jones has moved to Takaka from Nelson to operate the single-engined Cessna, which will be chartered at an hourly rate, and he is enthusiastic about the potential work available for it. Servicing the Heaphy Track will be the "bread and butter" of his new job, but he expects to be in demand from local people attending business meetings in the capital, getting fresh produce to markets and taking part in conferences and sports fixtures around the country. Scenic flights will also be offered this summer in response to frequent enquiries from campers and holiday makers. A planned route will be from Takaka to Farewell Spit, over Collingwood and Bainham, across Boulder Lake and the Cobb Valley to Separation Point and back over the sea to the aerodrome, a flight lasting about 50 minutes. Other flights will be available according to demand. 

Cessna 206 Super Skywagon ZK-DVI (c/n 206-0163) had been registered to Kepa Holdings Ltd of Takaka on the 14th of May 1985 and this was leased to Bayair clearing the way for the operator to get airborne.

Bayair's Cessna 206 Super Skywagon ZK-DVI at Palmerston North on 18 January 1986

 

Scenic flights included the "Karamea Lunch Flight" coastal scenic flights over Abel Tasman National Park or Farewell Spit and the mountain flight to the surrounding rugged mountainous area.

The Press, 9 September 1986

Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six ZK-ERL (c/n 32-7540184) was used from mid-1987 and this aircraft was used to operate a regular on demand service from Takaka to Wellington on Fridays and Sundays if sufficient traffic was available.`

Bayair's Piper Cherokee 6 ZK-ERL at Takaka in 1988. Photo : R M Gavin, F B Gavin Collection

The Press, 2 February 1988

The Press, 23 February 1988

In late 1988 the parent company North West Helicopters was placed in receivership and the Piper Cherokee 6 ZK-ERL was sold as past of the company assets.

Air Chathams @ WLG

Air Chathams' ATR 72-500 ZK-MCO about to land at Wellington from the Chatham Island as 3C 530 on 7 May 2024 and in the last two photos departing back to the Chathams as 3C 531

 

Sounds Air @ WLG

Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLV was operating S8 891 from Taupō to Wellington on 7 May 2024

Cessna 208 Caravan ZK-SAN was operating S8 112 from Picton on 7 May 2024...

... and later in the day S8 268 from Blenheim

The larger Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SAY was about to depart for Blenheim with S8 273.

 

Return to Tonga?

A couple of interesting pieces... the first was from Air Chathams' Chatters email newsletter is a little more on ZK-MCO's recent Pacific operations...

Air Chathams goes International!

Air Chathams were proud to be flying a delegation around several Island Nations in the Pacific. Consisting of members from the United Nations, UNICEF, and the United States Congress, the delegation was interested in looking through these nations to see the effects of climate change first hand, as well as hold high level meetings in the Pacific ahead of the Pacific Island Leaders Forum in Nuku’alofa later this year. 

The Air Chathams; crew spent three nights based in Suva flying the delegation on day trips to Tuvalu and Tonga. The weather was gorgeous (and hot!), with smooth flying all the way. The ATR72-500 was the perfect aircraft for the mission, allowing the range to fly from Norfolk Island to Suva in one hop.

With smiles and stories galore on arrival, we are wondering where the next exotic destination may be. Whatever it is, Air Chathams is ready and willing to make it happen.  

Meanwhile the Kanivatonga website had this to stay on the 5th of May...

The Chathams airline, which previously ran the kingdom’s airline service, has been approached by the Tonga government for aircraft lease, Kaniva News can reveal. This has been confirmed to us this morning by Lulutai Airlines’ CEO Poasi Tei. He said a statement was expected to be released to the public when the negotiation was finalised. It is understood Air Chathams officers had been in Tonga recently to negotiate with the government as part of the deal. The Prime Minister did not mention Air Chathams airlines on Friday when he was asked about the future of Lulutai. The Prime Minister has been reticent to speak openly about the airline, which is run by the government. For instance, Parliament only found out about the purchase of Lulutai’s new Twin Otter after we published the news. Air Chathams ran Tonga’s domestic airline from 2007 to 2011. The airline’s CEO, Craig Emeny, said he believed Chatham’s was the 11th airline to operate in Tonga. He blamed his airline’s departure on the then government’s decision to establish a rival airline using donated Chinese aircraft. Emeny told media at the time that Chathams was financially secure and sustainable. “I would continue to operate the domestic air service in Tonga in a normal operating environment. It is the government’s decision to sponsor competition with donated aircraft from China and that will make Chathams Pacific untenable in the future,” he said. Chatham airlines currently operates 10 aircraft, including two ATR72s and three Saab 340s, the same type operated by Lulutai airlines. It serves destinations in New Zealand’s main islands and the Chathams, as well as Norfolk Island in Australia. Lulutai airlins has kept functioning with technical and financial help from Australia. In February last year Australia’s High Commissioner Rachael Moore told media in Nuku’alofa that Australia would help develop a business plan with Lulutai. However, little detail of this has emerged.

Source : https://www.kanivatonga.co.nz/2024/05/lulutai-desperate-for-planes-approaches-air-chathams-for-aircrafts-lease/, 5 May 2024

 

Barrier Air @ NZNE

Barrier Air's Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDC arriving at and departing from North Shore on 6 April 2024

 

Island Aviation and a Helicopter @ NZNE

It was a grotty day at North Shore on the 6th of May 2024... I arrived just as Island Aviation's BN Islander ZK-SFK was taxi-ing in having arrived from Great Barrier Island

Island Aviation's Cessna 172 ZK-RNX is still not wearing titles.

The Island Aviation fleet, Cessna 172 ZK-RNX and BN Islanders ZK-PIZ and ZK-SFK

Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-ICN