A6-EGM Boeing 777-31H ER (cn 41073/988)
Emirates.
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games decals

To promote Emirates’ sponsorship of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, this aircraft has special decals applied to either side of the nose:

GLASGOW 2014
XX COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Official Partner

After the decals were fitted, the aircraft operated a service to Glasgow on 7 November 2012. A close-up view is available HERE.

Flight EK422 from Dubai, landing on runway 03 at Perth Airport, at 13:01.

Photos © Keith Anderson

Three Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrels of HNZ Australia, on contract to Department of Fire and Emergency Services, taking off to fight a bush fire in Maida Vale at 14:50.

All are fitted with a Simplex Model 310-002 Fire Attack belly tank (1,100 Litres) and pump.

• VH-WCQ / 670 (cn 3195) (yellow)
• VH-WCX / 671 (cn 3491) (green)
• VH-WCD / 669 (cn 3266) (red)

Photo © Keith Anderson

VH-WCQ / 670 Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel
(cn 3195)
HNZ Australia, on contract to Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Fitted with Simplex Model 310-002 Fire Attack belly tank (1,100 Litres) and pump.

Departing to fight a bush fire in Maida Vale at 14:50.

Photo © Keith Anderson

VH-WCX / 671 Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel
(cn 3491)
HNZ Australia, on contract to Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Fitted with Simplex Model 310-002 Fire Attack belly tank (1,100 Litres) and pump.

Departing to fight a bush fire in Maida Vale at 14:50.

Photo © Keith Anderson

VH-WCD / 669 Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel
(cn 3266)
HNZ Australia, on contract to Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Fitted with Simplex Model 310-002 Fire Attack belly tank (1,100 Litres) and pump.

Departing to fight a bush fire in Maida Vale at 14:50.

Photo © Keith Anderson

VH-WCN / 668 Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel
(cn 3190)
HNZ Australia, on contract to Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Fitted with Simplex Model 310-002 Fire Attack belly tank (1,100 Litres) and pump.

Departing to fight a bush fire in Maida Vale at 14:50.

Photo © Keith Anderson

VH-DUA/608 Air Tractor AT-802
(cn 802-0366)
Dunn Aviation Pty Ltd
Named “Magic”.

On this 41°C day, a bushfire started at about 1.15pm near Bertram Primary School and moved quickly in a NE direction along Johnson Road, towards Thomas Road. Sections of Kwinana Freeway and Johnson Road were closed.

100 firefighters in 16 appliances on the ground and the following aircraft fought the blaze:

• C-GHTN/682 Sikorsky S-61
• N957AC/738 Sikorsky S-64E
• VH-DUA/608 AT802
• VH-DUN/604 AT802A
• VH-NIA/606 AT802A

WA Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Photo © Matt Hayes

VH-NIA/604 Air Tractor AT-802A
(cn 802A-0148, built in 2004, ex C-GSJB)
Dunn Aviation Pty Ltd

On this 41°C day, a bushfire started at about 1.15pm near Bertram Primary School and moved quickly in a NE direction along Johnson Road, towards Thomas Road. Sections of Kwinana Freeway and Johnson Road were closed.

100 firefighters in 16 appliances on the ground and the following aircraft fought the blaze:

• C-GHTN/682 Sikorsky S-61
• N957AC/738 Sikorsky S-64E
• VH-DUA/608 AT802
• VH-DUN/604 AT802A
• VH-NIA/606 AT802A

WA Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Photo © Matt Hayes

VH-DUN/604 Air Tractor AT-802A
(cn 802A-0328)
Aerowest Pty Ltd / Dunn Aviation

On this 41°C day, a bushfire started at about 1.15pm near Bertram Primary School and moved quickly in a NE direction along Johnson Road, towards Thomas Road. Sections of Kwinana Freeway and Johnson Road were closed.

100 firefighters in 16 appliances on the ground and the following aircraft fought the blaze:

• C-GHTN/682 Sikorsky S-61
• N957AC/738 Sikorsky S-64E
• VH-DUA/608 AT802
• VH-DUN/604 AT802A
• VH-NIA/606 AT802A

WA Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Photo © Matt Hayes

C-GHTN / HELITAC 682 Sikorsky S-61N Mark II (cn 61755) of Vancouver Island Helicopters, on lease to Department of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES – formerly FESA) for the 2012/13 bushfire season.

On this 41°C day, a bushfire started at about 1.15pm near Bertram Primary School and moved quickly in a NE direction along Johnson Road, towards Thomas Road. Sections of Kwinana Freeway and Johnson Road were closed.

100 firefighters in 16 appliances on the ground and the following aircraft fought the blaze:

• C-GHTN/682 Sikorsky S-61
• N957AC/738 Sikorsky S-64E
• VH-DUA/608 AT802
• VH-DUN/604 AT802A
• VH-NIA/606 AT802A

WA Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

This fire fighting helicopter was shipped by sea to Fremantle and flown to Perth Airport on 24 October 2012, to provide firefighting coverage around the Perth area.

Built in 1976. Ex G-BDKI, N9118Y, G-BDKI, N219AC.

Photos © Matt Hayes

N957AC / 738 Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane
(cn 64-065)
Erickson Air-Crane
Named “Ichabod”
Operated for Department of Fire and Emergency Services

On this 41°C day, a bushfire started at about 1.15pm near Bertram Primary School and moved quickly in a NE direction along Johnson Road, towards Thomas Road. Sections of Kwinana Freeway and Johnson Road were closed.

100 firefighters in 16 appliances on the ground and the following aircraft fought the blaze:

• C-GHTN/682 Sikorsky S-61
• N957AC/738 Sikorsky S-64E
• VH-DUA/608 AT802
• VH-DUN/604 AT802A
• VH-NIA/606 AT802A

WA Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

(History of this S-64E is detailed below – see photo taken 21 Dec 2012)

Photo © Matt Hayes

A7-BAB Boeing 777-3DZ ER
(cn 36103/686)
Qatar Airways (leased from SNC-Um-Amad Leasing)
Named “Um-Alamad”.

Flight QR900 from Doha, heading east at 3,500 feet at 17:20 before joining the final approach to runway 21 at Perth Airport.

Photos © David Eyre

9V-STP Airbus A330-343X
(cn 1146)
Singapore Airlines (leased from LCI Aviation)

Flight SQ213 from Singapore, taxying in to park at Bay 54 at 13:01.

Photos © David Eyre

9M-MUA Airbus A330-223F
(cn 1136)
MAS Kargo

Seen on final approach to runway 21 at 12:55, taxying in to park at Bay 56 at the International Terminal after arriving as flight MH6435 from Kuala Lumpur.

The last photo shows the aircraft taking off from runway 21 at 16:21 as MH6436 back to Kuala Lumpur.

First flight 18 Aug 2011 as
F-WWYZ, delivered 15 Sep 2011 as 9M-MUA.

This aircraft first visited Perth on 13/14 Feb 2012.

The A330-200F is a dedicated freighter version of the A330-200, and can carry 65 Tonnes over 7,400 km or 70 Tonnes up to 5,900 km (3,200 nmi).

To provide a level cargo floor during loading, the aircraft features a revised nose undercarriage arrangement to overcome the standard A330’s nose-down body angle on the ground. A normal A330-200 nose gear is used, but attached lower on the fuselage. This requires a bulbous fairing under the nose to accommodate the retracted nose gear.

Photos 1 & 7 © Keith Anderson

Photo 2 © Steve Jaksic

Photos 3 – 6 © David Eyre

A6-EGZ Boeing 777-31H ER
(cn 41081/1044)
Emirates

Flight EK422 from Dubai, taxying in after landing at 12:53.

Photo © David Eyre

ZS-SXG Airbus A340-313X
(cn 378)
South African Airways

Flight SA280 from Johannesburg, taxying in to park at Bay 55 at 12:42.

Photo © David Eyre

PK-AXI Airbus A320-216
(cn 3963)
Indonesia AirAsia

Taxying in to park at the recently rebuilt Bay 51 at the International Terminal at 12:30 as flight QZ8412 from Denpasar (Bali).

Photo © David Eyre

9V-TRD Airbus A320-232
(cn 4931)
Tiger Airways (Singapore)

On final approach to runway 21 at 16:17 as flight TR2714 from Singapore.

Tiger Airways has recently been operating a number of daytime supplementary flights from Singapore, in addition to the daily night time flights.

Photo © Ian Moy

N409MC Boeing 747-47UF (SCD)
cn 30558/1242
Atlas Air (operated for Qantas Freight)

Flight QF7581 to Bangkok, climbing away after takeoff from runway 21 at 16:33. The aircraft had earlier arrived from Sydney at 14:04.

Photo © Ian Moy

ZS-SNH Airbus A340-642
(cn 626)
South African Airways (leased from ILFC)

Flight SA280 from Johannesburg, flying north east over the northern suburbs of Perth at 13:03, at an altitude of 2,800 feet, before joining final approach to runway 21 at Perth Airport.

South African has been using A340-600s on Mondays for the past few weeks, instead of the usual A340-300.

An interesting fact about the A340-600 is that it held the record for being the world’s longest commercial aircraft until the Boeing 747-8 began flying. At 75.3 metres long, the A340-600 is four metres longer than the Boeing 747-400 and 2.3 metres longer than the Airbus A380.

Photo © David Eyre

N957AC / 738 Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane (cn 64-065) of Erickson Air-Crane, named “Ichabod”, operated for Department of Fire and Emergency Services

This fire fighting Skycrane is now based at Jandakot Airport for the 2012/13 fire season, with its own dedicated helipad being built. It is seen here near the RAC Rescue helicopter hangar at Jandakot Airport.

Built Nov 1968 for US Army as Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe (S-64A), serial 68-18460. Served 295 Aviation Company (Heavy Helicopter), (1160 Aviation Company), Fort Sill, Oklahoma, later West Germany. Preserved at Hunter Army Airfield Collection, Savannah, Georgia.
Sold to Erickson Air-Crane and registered 8 July 1992 as N157AC, converted to S-64E Skycrane. Leased to Canadian Air Crane Ltd in Delta, British Columbia, registered C-GESG on 12 February 1997, and wore the number 749, and later 743. It also flew in the USA, being photographed at LA County Fire Department in September 2008. Its Canadian registration was cancelled on 6 March 2009. Returned to US register with Erickson Air Crane as N957AC on 11 March 2009. Its number was still 743, later changed to 738. Based in Greece in mid-2012 for their fire season, before being shipped to Fremantle.

Photo © Matt Hayes

HS-TER Airbus A330-343X
(cn 1060)
Thai Airways International
Named “U-Thong”

Flight TG484 to Bangkok, taking off from runway 21 at 09:42.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-XZC Boeing 737-838
(cn 39361/4199)
Qantas
Named “Walwa”

Flight QF792 to Darwin, taking off from runway 21 at 09:04.

This is Qantas’ newest aircraft – it made its first flight on 24 September 2012 and was delivered from Boeing Field, Seattle via Honolulu (Hawaii)-Nadi (Fiji) – Melbourne during 3-5 October 2012.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-YIJ Boeing 737-8FE
(cn 39924/4109)
Virgin Australia (leased from RBS)
Named “Pennington Bay”.

Flight DJ1433 to Darwin, taking off from runway 21 at 08:26.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-FNN Fokker 100
(cn 11326)
Skywest Airlines

Flight XR21 to Kalgoorlie, taking off from runway 21 at 08:22.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-EBO Airbus A330-202
(cn 1169)
Qantas
Named “Kimberley”

Flight QF650 to Brisbane climbing away from runway 21 at 08:03.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-NHM Fokker 100
(cn 11449)
Network Aviation

Taking off from runway 21 at 07:36 on a FIFO flight to the Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon iron ore mine, 60km north of Tom Price, in the Pilbara.

This aircraft was first flown on 26 March 1993 as PH-EZS, and was delivered to American Airlines as N1446A on 15 May 1993. It was withdrawn from service in Febuary 2004 and stored at Mojave, California the following month.

On 16 June 2006, it was delivered to Avianca in Colombia as HK-4445-X, later HK-4445. In 2012, it was one of ten Fokker 100s sold to Network Aviation.

Ferried 28 Feb-1 Mar 2012 Cali-Nassau-Halifax-Keflavik-Woensdrecht as HK-4445. Refurbished by Fokker Services.
Delivered 20-23 Nov 2012 Woensdrecht (Netherlands) – Trabazon (Turkey) – Al Ain (UAE) – Nagpur (India) – Penang (Malaysia) – Jakarta Halim (Indonesia) – Perth, as PH-AQA, later registered as VH-NHM.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-ZXG Boeing 767-336ER
(cn 25443/419)
Qantas

Flight QF572 to Sydney, climbing away from runway 21 at 07:32.

Qantas has started to retire its six Rolls-Royce RB211 engined Boeing 767-336ER aircraft, all of which were leased from British Airways. The first to depart was the sistership to this aircraft, VH-ZXB, which left Sydney on 11 December 2012, flying to Honolulu and Roswell, New Mexico for storage and perhaps later to be scrapped. The Rolls-powered 767s will all be gone by late 2013. Qantas will standardise on its 767-338ER GE CF6 powered fleet, which are undergoing cabin refurbishment before they too are replaced by A330-200s (being returned from lease to Jetstar). All Qantas 767s will be gone by 2015.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-VYC Boeing 737-838
(cn 33991/1612)
Qantas
Named “Arnhem Land”

Flight QF900 to Karratha taking off from runway 21 at 07:28.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-NXQ Boeing 717-231
(cn 55097/5095)
QantasLink
“Regional Airline of the Year 2012” titles

Taking off from runway 21 at 07:21 as flight QF1926 to Broome.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-FZO Fokker 100
(cn 11305)
Skywest Airlines

Taking off from runway 21 at 07:16 on a FIFO flight to the iron ore mine at Barimunya, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Photo © David Eyre

PK-GMH Boeing 737-8U3
(cn 30142/3213)
Garuda Indonesia

Flight GA727 to Denpasar (Bali), taking off from runway 21 at 07:15.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-VXF Boeing 737-838
(cn 29553/1096)
Qantas
Named “Sunshine Coast”

Recently repainted with the newer Qantas titles – see earlier photo with the old titles on 1 September 2012 HERE

Flight QF1380 to Christmas Creek iron ore mine in the Pilbara region, taking off from runway 21 at 07:13.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-VON Boeing 737-8FE
(cn 33795/1375)
Virgin Australia
Still in old Virgin Blue colours.
Named “Scarlett Blue”

Flight DJ1721 to Karratha, taking off from runway 21 at 07:08.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-FVQ ATR 72-600 (ATR72-212A)
(cn 1053)
Skywest Airlines, operated for Virgin Australia,
Named “Christies Beach”

This aircraft is new, hanving made its first flight at Toulouse, France as F-WWEO on 31 October 2012.

It commenced its delivery flight on 30 November 2012 from Toulouse (France) – Borg El Arab International Airport at Alexandria (Egypt) – Al Ain (UAE) – Nagpur (India) – Penang (Malaysia) – Jakarta-Halim (Indonesia) – Perth, arriving at 20:11 on 3 December 2012. It was ferried by Southern Cross International using call sign “SXI-1281”.

After some engineering work to prepare it for Australian registration, it was parked near Terminal 2 for a few weeks.

Virgin Australia recently announced its intention to acquire Skywest Airlines, and if this receives regulatory approval, the Skywest name will disappear.

Photos © David Eyre

ZK-TLC Boeing 737-3B7(SF) (cn 23705/1497)
Toll Priority (Airwork New Zealand).

Seen parked near Terminal 2 and taking off from runway 21 at 08:44 using callsign “Toll Freight 100” to Brisbane.

This aircraft was originally configured as a passenger aircraft, and was originally delivered to US Air as N388AU on 27 January 1988. It was later reregistered on 10 November 1988 as N519AU. After conversion to freighter configuration, it was delivered to Toll Priority on 27 August 2007 as ZK-TLC.

Photos © David Eyre

VH-QQG De Havilland Canada DHC-8-102 Dash 8
(cn 036)
Skytrans Airlines (leased to Maroomba Airlines)

Taking off from runway 21 at 06:38, on a FIFO flight to Meekatharra.

Ex C-GEVP, N806MX, VH-TND, P2-MCM, 5W-FAA.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-VUG Boeing 737-8FE
(cn 34438/1948)
Virgin Australia, named “Jasmine Tasman”

Flight DJ552 to Sydney, taking off from runway 21 at 06:37.

Photo © David Eyre

B-LAQ Airbus A330-343E
(cn 1349)
Cathay Pacific

Seen landing on runway 21 at 06:07 as flight CX137 from Hong Kong, and taking off from runway 21 at 08:06 as CX136 back to Hong Kong.

This is Cathay’s third newest A330. It made its first flight 29 Aug 2012 as F-WWCO. Delivered from Toulouse to Hong Kong as B-LAQ during 17-18 Oct 2012. Made its first visit to Perth on 10 November 2012.

Photos © David Eyre

VH-XZA Boeing 737-838
(cn 39367/4150)
Qantas, named “Leeton”.

Wears “Spirit of Australians ” special titles, and the winners of a competition to have their names painted on the aircraft.

Flight QF1122 to Port Hedland taking off from runway 21 at 06:01.

Photo © David Eyre

B-6500 Airbus A330-343E
(cn 954)
China Southern Airlines

Parked at Bay 55 at 05:55, 30 minutes after arrival as flight CZ319 from Beijing via Guangzhou. It is also seen taking off from runway 21 at 09:31 as flight CZ320 back to Guangzhou.

China Southern is reportedly considering the future of this service, as passenger loads from Perth are lower than from Guangzhou, and the tickets sold in Australia are more profitable for the airline.

Photos © David Eyre

A6-EWD Boeing 777-21H LR (cn 35577/688)
Emirates

Taxying out at 05:51 and taking off from runway 21 at 06:02 as flight EK425 to Dubai.

Photo © David Eyre

9V-SQJ Boeing 777-212ER
(cn 30875/406)
Singapore Airlines

Taxying in to park at Bay 52 at 05:51 as flight SQ225 from Singapore, and taking off from runway 21 at 07:50 as SQ224 back to Singapore.

Photos © David Eyre

VH-EBI Airbus A330-202
(cn 898)
Qantas, named “Yarra Valley”

Seen in the pre-dawn light at Bay 54 at 04:59, just after arriving as QF72 from Singapore. It departed back to Singapore as QF71 at 15:55.

Photo © David Eyre

A7-BAN Boeing 777-3DZ ER (cn 38246/925)
Qatar Airways

Flight QR900 from Doha is seen heading north east at 3,000 feet, to join the final approach to runway 21 at 17:36.

Photo © David Eyre

A7-BAJ Boeing 777-3DZ ER (cn 36096/851) of Qatar Airways

Flight QR900 from Doha is seen on final approach to runway 21 at 17:33.

Photo © Keith Anderson

A6-EGP Boeing 777-31H ER (cn 35599/1010) of Emirates

Flight EK420 from Dubai is seen here flying east over the northern suburbs of Perth at 17:25 to join the final approach to runway 21 (as seen on the last photo) at Perth Airport.

Photos 1 – 4: over northern suburbs of Perth
© David Eyre

Photo 5: on final approach to runway 21 at Perth
© Keith Anderson

VH-EBV Airbus A330-202 (cn 1365) of Qantas, named “Kangaroo Island”. Leased from CIT Aerospace. Oneworld titles.

On final approach to runway 21 as flight QF577 from Sydney at 14:03, and later taking off from runway 21 as QF566 to Sydney at 16:02.

This aircraft is new – it made its first flight on 26 October 2012 with Airbus test registration F-WWKN, and was painted with special Oneworld titles, as Qantas is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance. The aircraft was delivered to Qantas from Toulouse, France via Singapore to Sydney on 23 to 25 November 2012 and made its first visit to Perth on 29 November 2012.

Photos © Keith Anderson

HB-JOB Dassault Falcon 7X (cn 80) of Cat Aviation AG, Zurich, Switzerland

Flight CAZ901 arriving from Lanseria, South Africa – a flight time of 8 hours 39 minutes. On final approach to runway 21 at 12:46.

The aircraft departed to Sydney after taking on fuel, departing at 14:15. On 18 December, it flew from Sydney to Melbourne-Tullamarine, and then Brisbane. On 19 December, it departed Brisbane to Colombo, Sri lanka, and presumably back to Europe.

Photos of the interior of this aircraft are available on their website HERE.

Built in 2010, ex F-WWUF.

Photos © Keith Anderson

A6-EGL Boeing 777-31H ER (cn 41072/985) of Emirates

Emirates started a third service to Perth (EK422/EK423) on 1 December 2012, initially operating five times per week, but soon to go daily.

Flight EK422 from Dubai is seen arriving on runway 21 at 12:24, and later taking off from runway 21 as flight EK423 back to Dubai at 15:26.

Photo © Keith Anderson

VH-VDX Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express (cn 9101) of Pratt Aviation Pty Ltd

Arriving on runway 21 from Essendon at 10:49.

Built in 2001. Ex C-GIXJ, VP-BOK, N800TK.

Pratt Aviation is based at Essendon and provides private jet charter services.

Photo © Keith Anderson

VH-ZXG Boeing 767-336ER (cn 25443/419) of Qantas

This is actually flight QF569 from Sydney, which had conducted an approach to runway 24, but had to execute a go-around due to a Fokker 100 from Kalgoorlie landing in front of it. The 767 then turned north and went around for another attempt to land and was successful second time around. It is seen here over the northern suburbs, taking its passengers on an impromptu scenic flight.

Qantas has started to retire its six Rolls-Royce RB211 engined Boeing 767-336ER aircraft, all of which were leased from British Airways. The first to depart was the sistership to this aircraft, VH-ZXB, which left Sydney a few days before this photo (on 11 December 2012), flying to Honolulu and Roswell, New Mexico for storage and perhaps later to be scrapped. The Rolls-powered 767s will all be gone by late 2013. Qantas will standardise on its 767-338ER GE CF6 powered fleet, which are undergoing cabin refurbishment before they too are replaced by A330-200s (being returned from lease to Jetstar). All Qantas 767s will be gone by 2015.

Photos © David Eyre

A6-EBZ Boeing 777-36N ER (cn 32789/508) of Emirates (leased from GECAS)

Flight EK3426 from Dubai – an extra service which arrived shortly after the usual EK420 service.

Heading north east over the northern suburbs of Perth at 18:29 at around 3,700 feet, before joining the approach to runway 21 at Perth Airport, where it landed six minutes later.

Photos © David Eyre

A6-EBB Boeing 777-36N ER (cn 32789/508) of Emirates (leased from GECAS)

Flight EK420 from Dubai, heading north east over the northern suburbs of Perth at 18:00 at around 3,300 feet, before joining the approach to runway 21 at Perth Airport, where it landed six minutes later.

Photo © David Eyre

A7-BAA Boeing 777-3DZ ER (cn 36009/676) of Qatar Airways (leased from Al Khattuya Leasing SAS)

Flight QR900 from Doha, heading north east over the northern suburbs of Perth at 17:35 at around 3,100 feet, before joining the approach to runway 21 at Perth Airport, where it landed six minutes later.

Photo © David Eyre

VH-PPJ Dornier 328-120 (cn 3059) of AeroRescue Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Pearl Aviation Australia), operated for Customs and AMSA.

On final approach to runway 21 at 16:13.

AeroRescue is a subsidiary of Darwin-based Pearl Aviation Australia, a subsidiary of Paspaley Pearls Group – hence the “PP” in its aircraft registrations.

AeroRescue operates a fleet of five Dornier 328 turboprops with one aircraft each based at Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane and Melbourne. The aircraft are modified for SAR (Search And Rescue) and operate under a 10-year contract to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). When not used for SAR duties, the aircraft are also used for pollution detection and by Customs / Border Protection for maritime suveillance duties, using Customs callsigns.

VH-PPF was the aircraft based at Perth, but recently VH-PPJ seems to have replaced it.

This aircraft first flew as D-CDXA with Dornier in Germany. Delivered 9.11.1995 as N441JS to US Air Express/ Jetstream International (renamed PSA Airlines in 11.1995). Returned to Dornier as D-CCAD, it was converted to Search and Rescue/Surveillance configuration. Registered VH-PPJ Pearl Aviation / AMSA 30.9.2006, delivered 6.10.2006.

Photo © Ian Moy

A9C-AO Airbus A320-214 (cn 4865) of Gulf Air, with titles “2012 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX”

This aircraft was chartered by singer and actress Jennifer Lopez to bring her entourage from Singapore-Changi to Perth. Jennifer Lopez arrived separately aboard Gulfstream IV N726RW (see photos below).

Flight GFA8602, landing on runway 03 at 08:26.

Photos 1 – 3 © Keith Anderson

Photos 4 – 9 © David Eyre

N726RW Gulfstream Aerospace Gulfstream 4 (cn 1039) operated by Pegasus Elite Aviation (owned by N444SS LLC, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California)

* Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez is aboard, arriving in Perth to perform at Perth Arena on Thursday 6 December 2012, as part of her “Dance Again World Tour”.

Photos of the interior are available HERE.

Landing on runway 03 at 07:48 using call sign “PEGJET 26” from Singapore-Seletar, a 5-hour flight.

This aircraft was built in 1987 and registered by Gulfstream as N431GA. It was delivered as N1901M to Monsanto Company on 4 Nov 1988. It was reregistered as N726RW on 13 February 2004.

Photos © David Eyre

B-HLP Airbus A330-343X (cn 418) of Cathay Pacific

Flight CX136 to Hong Kong, taxying to runway 03 for takeoff at 08:00.

Photos © David Eyre

VH-NXJ Boeing 717-2BL (cn 55166/5116) of QantasLink, with “Regional Airline of the Year 2012” titles

Taxying to runway 03 08:00 for takeoff as flight QF1804 to Paraburdoo.

Photos © David Eyre

9V-SRQ Boeing 777-212ER (cn 33371/449) of Singapore Airlines

Flight SQ224 to Singapore, taxying to runway 03 for take off at 07:55.

Photos © David Eyre

VH-VXR Boeing 737-838 (cn 33724/1340) of Qantas, named “Shepparton”

Lining up on runway 03 for take off at 07:49 as flight QF900 to Karratha.

Photo © David Eyre

PK-GFT Boeing 737-86N (cn 38032/3869) of Garuda Indonesia (leased from GECAS)

Taxying out to runway 03 at 07:16 for departure as flight GA727 to Denpasar (Bali).

Photos © David Eyre

VH-ZPM VH-ZPM, Embraer 190AR (ERJ-190-100IGW) (cn 19000262) of Virgin Australia, named “Emma-braer” – still wearing the old Pacific Blue colours and titles. Leased from Aldus Aviation Ltd.

Flight DJ713 from Adelaide, arriving on runway 03 at 07:11.

Photo © David Eyre

A6-EGM Boeing 777-31H ER (cn 41073/988) of Emirates

To promote Emirates’ sponsorship of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, this aircraft has special decals applied to either side of the nose:

GLASGOW 2014
XX COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Official Partner

After the decals were fitted, the aircraft operated a service to Glasgow on 7 November 2012. A close-up view is available HERE.

Flight EK420 from Dubai, heading north east over the northern suburbs of Perth at 17:48 at around 2,800 feet, before joining the approach to runway 21 at Perth Airport, where it landed six minutes later.

Photos © David Eyre

VH-QQG De Havilland Canada DHC-8-102 Dash 8 (cn 036) of Skytrans Airlines (leased to Maroomba Airlines)

This aircraft was delivered to Perth today, to replace Maroomba Airlines’ other leased Dash 8, VH-QQE, which has gone to Darwin.

Ex C-GEVP, N806MX, VH-TND, P2-MCM, 5W-FAA.

Photo: Supplied – © Aviation Association of WA

N733HL Boeing 737-229 Advanced (cn 21176/431)
&
N737HL Boeing 737-229 Advanced (cn 21177/433)

Owned by Red Cloud Assets LLC, Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA (formerly owned by OzJet Airlines)

The aircraft on the right in the first two photos, N733HL, weathervaned in strong winds during a storm on the previous night, turning right through 90°. See its original position in photos taken by David Eyre a few days earlier on 23 November 2012 below.

N733HL history:
This aircraft was originally ordered by the Belgian airline Sabena, and first flown on 30 September 1975 as N8277V. It was delivered to Sabena as OO-SDN in December 1975. It was occasionally leased to Gulf Air, Air Gabon, Malaysia Airlines (registered as 9M-MBP), before returning to Sabena as OO-SDN. After leases to Sobelair, it was sold to European Airways in the UK, but leased back by Sabena for another couple of years, operating its final Sabena service on 30 November 2000.

In March 2001, it was registered G-CEAI to European Aircharter, and delivered to them in May 2001.

In 2005, it was painted in full Ozjet livery as G-CEAI and delivered to OzJet on 22 Feb 2005. In March 2005, it flew promotional flights within Australia, whilst awaiting OzJet’s Air Operator Certificate.It was registered VH-OZU on 26 Oct 2005. On 29 Dec 2005, it operated OzJet’s first revenue service in Australia, flying from Melbourne-Sydney as flight O7 004. OzJet later began operating services from Perth to Derby (RAAF Curtin), and Perth to Denpasar (Bali). In 2008, Ozjet Airlines was purchased by Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines Pty Ltd, and continued to operate.

On 20 May 2009, Ozjet Airlines ceased operations and
VH-OZU was stored at Perth (parked on the Terminal WA apron), and has never flown since.

The aircraft was registered N733HL in July 2009 and put up for sale. It is no longer considered airworthy and its US registration expired on 30 September 2011.

N737HL history:
Ordered by Sabena and first flown at Renton as OO-SDO – 18 September 1975. Registered OO-SDO – November 1975. Accepted by Sabena at Boeing Field – 9 December 1975. Sold to Certifair, NV & leased back by Sabena- 16 March 1993. Sold to European Aviation Ltd (U.K.) – 15 May 1998 and leased back by Sabena. Withdrawn from service with Sabena at Brussels – 5 November 2000.

Registered G-CEAJ (still painted as OO-SDO) 27 Nov 2000, leased to European Air Charter 5 Dec 2000. Leased to Palmair (Spain) – 2004. Registered to European Skybus Ltd – 8 Feb 2005.

In basic Ozjet livery – 1 Nov 2005. Arrived Melbourne as Ozjet livery via Kuala Lumpur and Darwin 14 Nov 2005. Leased to Ozjet Australia as G-CEAJ – 15 Nov 2005. Flown back to UK in early 2006 then returned to Australia.

Registered VH-OZX 25 Oct 2006 to Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd, Melbourne. OzJet later began operating services from Perth to Derby (RAAF Curtin), and Perth to Denpasar (Bali). In 2008, Ozjet Airlines was purchased by Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines Pty Ltd, but continued to operate.

On 20 May 2009, Ozjet Airlines ceased operations and
VH-OZX was stored at Perth (parked on the Terminal WA apron), and has never flown since.

It was registered N737HL in July 2009 and put up for sale. It is no longer considered airworthy and its US registration expired on 30 September 2011.

Photos: Supplied – © Aviation Association of WA

N957AC / 738 Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane (cn 64-065) of Erickson Air-Crane, named “Ichabod”, operated for Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Leased by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Western Australia, this fire fighting Skycrane is now based at Jandakot Airport for the 2012/13 fire season, with its own dedicated helipad now being built.

It is seen here at Berth 1 at Fremantle, having been offloaded from the ship it arrived in. It flew to Jandakot shortly afterwards.

This helicopter was built in November 1968 for the US Army as a Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe (S-64A), with serial number 68-18460. It served with 295 Aviation Company (Heavy Helicopter), (1160 Aviation Company), based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and later in West Germany.

Upon being withdrawn from service, it was preserved at Hunter Army Airfield Collection, Savannah, Georgia, USA.

It was later sold to Erickson Air-Crane and registered on 8 July 1992 as N157AC and converted to a civilian Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane, named “Ichabod”.

It was then leased to Canadian Air Crane Ltd in Delta, British Columbia. It was registered on 12 February 1997 as C-GESG, and also wore the number 749, later changed to 743. During this time it also flew in the USA, being photographed at LA County Fire Department in September 2008. Its Canadian registration was cancelled on 6 March 2009.

It was later returned to the US register with Erickson Air Crane as N957AC on 11 March 2009. Its Helitak number was still 743, but later changed to 738.

In June 2012, it was based in Greece for their fire season, before being shipped to Fremantle.

Photo © Ian Moy

UR-82008 Antonov An-124-100M-150 Ruslan (cn 19530501006 / LN 01-06) of Antonov Airlines

The aircraft arrived in Perth the previous evening at 17:29 from Vancouver (Canada), via Stavanger (Norway), and Colombo (Sri Lanka) as flight ADB2406.

Taking off runway 21 at 06:33 as ADB2406 to Karratha.

It later departed Karratha to Port Hedland and Brisbane.

The aircraft was originally built on 31 December 1986 and registered as CCCP-82008, painted in Soviet Air Force colours. It was based at Syeshcha, in the Bryansk Region of Russia from 1987 until 1991.

On 28 February-1 March 1990, this was the first Antonov An-124 ever to visit Perth – see David Eyre’s photo HERE .

This visit was a charter by Antonov Airlines and Ansett Air Freight. It wore Ansett stickers. It carried pop singer Elton John’s concert gear from Sydney to Auckland, then positioned to Melbourne and brought singer Cliff Richard’s concert gear to Perth, arriving 19:45 on 28 Feb 1990. On 1 March 1990, the general public were given special airside access to inspect the aircraft from 08:00-11:00. It departed late as “Aeroflot 9110”, carrying farm machinery & food to Cocos Islands.

Later in 1990 it was operated on charter flights for the UK airline Air Foyle, and wore their titles and large ‘Ruslan’ on the tail, without Aeroflot titles in September 1990.

On 3 Apr 1991, it was registered to the Soviet Air Force, but in August and September 1991 was operated by Luxembourg-based cargo airline Cargolux, with their sticker on the port side.

In January 1992 it was registered to Antonov Design Bureau, and in December 1992 was re-registered as
UR-82008.

It was converted to An-124-100M-150 with Stage III engine hushkits in 2004.

Photos © Matt Hayes

VH-XFB Airbus A330-243 (cn 372) of Virgin Australia, named “Cable Beach”

Flight DJ556 to Sydney, taking off from runway 21 at 10:30.

Photo © Steve Jaksic

VH-VWT Airbus A321-231 (cn 3717) of Jetstar

Taking off from runway 21 at 10:28 as flight JQ985 to Sydney.

Photo © Steve Jaksic