Barrier Air @ AKL

Barrier Air's Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDG was off to the Barrier on 12 May 2024

...and later Barrier Air's Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDD was returning from the Barrier

All Black Air NZ @ AKL

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEM landing at Auckland on 12 May 2024

Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZE landing at Auckland on 12 May 2024

 

On Flight Training @ WLG

 The final photos from Wellington on 7 May 2024

Life Flight's Beech B200 Super King Air ZK-LFI was too to Paraparaumu to do some IFR training

The Wellington Aero Club's Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-WAC was in the circuit

Air NZ A320s @ WLG

The final installment of airliners at Wellington on 7 May 2024, this time a look at Air New Zealand's Airbus 320s...

ZK-OXC was arriving from Christchurch as NZ338

ZK-OXJ was arriving from Auckland as NZ409

ZK-OXM was off to Queenstown as NZ605

 

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.