Season's Greetings to all.
Special thanks to those who have provided pictures and reports throughout the year!
Thanks GAFLIKS for the Yestayear report and pictures!
DEC 01
Former TAA DHC-6-300 Twin Otter displays Islands Helicopters (PNG) billboard trim on its delivery flight through Cairns for Rabaul, but still wears its TAA registration VH-TNS. It became P2-IAE.
VH-TNS DHC6 at Cairns |
DEC 02
Nationair (PNG) commenced contract flights from POM to CNS on behalf of OK Tedi Mining with EMB110 P2-NAL. Note Lloyd titling. These flights were the beginning of what became a regular specialised service for OK Tedi, still in operation today operating Dash 8’s.
P2-NAL E110 at Cairns |
DEC 03
A pair of former Asahi Airlines EMB110’s overnighted Cairns on their delivery flight to Aeromil. They were JA8842 and JA8843 seen here after arrival. The rather lengthy routing (standard tanks) was Oita-Okinawa-Manila-Davao-Biak-Wewak-Port Moresby-Cairns-Rockhampton-Tamworth. Aeromil refurbished the aircraft to pure freighters (along with two other examples from other sources) for onward delivery to Payam Aviation Svcs, Teheran, (for Iranian Postal Service).
JA8842 and JA8843 E110 at Cairns |
DEC 15
Bringing a splash of colour to the Britannia charter programme was B767-200 G-BYAA wearing full Air Aruba trim with Britannia titles. The aircraft had been leased previously by Air Aruba and was about to return to them for a further lease, hence the retainment of the trim.
G-BYAA B762 at Cairns |
DEC 20
With just five days before Christmas, Compass collapsed, stranding passengers in this busy period, with the fleet grounded in Sydney and Brisbane. Sadly all that was left in Cairns was the Airline’s coach.
Compass bus at Cairns! |
HAPPY NEW YEAR