Hi, all.

I want to know your opinion on Airports here in Queensland. If you have any problems about airports here in QLD. Put them down on this thread. If you think that a redeveloped airport looks great. put it down and you would get the rest wouldn't ya.

Alright then, Okay, yep, Everything is in order except Mt Saint Helens.

Okay,
Gertzy

Brisbanes 2 airports are awesome.. some of the best in Australia.

Townsvilles is adequete, but last time iw as there there was alot of construction.. (getting off the plane had to walk thru some construction work/tunnels)

I dunno what they were doing..

But tville needs a second level with arms for planes to dock with. Getting off on tarmac isnt too great.


Maroochydoore is pretty modern for a small airport and i thought it was cool.. no need for any upgrades there.

Blend, Townsville's terminal now has a mezzanine level with 3 domestic aerobridges and 1 international aerobridge. The mezzanine level has a departure lounge which can hold roughly 300-350 people. There is also a downstairs departure lounge for flights which aren't using aerobridges. There is talk within the next few years about building a multi-story carpark as well as renovating the entrance to the terminal. (I believe that will happen before the carpark) The terminal really does need at least 1 more baggage carosel. (Virgin & Alliance are sharing a carosel currently)

so that was what they were doing when i was up there. good work to them

The common user area in Brisbane needs some attention. There is only 1 baggage carosel for both Alliance and Jetstar. I arrived on Friday night just before 2 jetstar flights arrived which were all using the same carosel. Needless to say, it was mayhem! I don't know where they would fit another carosel though.

I'd thought Jetstar would be using the Qantas Terminal as it is a QF Subsidary. Our Terminal in Townsville is great. The only problem now is the Baggage Carosels (As there is only two and Three airlines to use them) and with recently suppassing 1 milllion passengers and extra capacity being put on Townsville by Virgin Blue and Jetstar arriving in mid 2005 will keep a plane or two from docking at an aerobridge. Maybe if Qantas upgraded one flight to a 767, then maybe it could use the Intl Bridge and let the Jetstar, Virgin and Alliance Planes use the Dom Bridges. But however, the new Manager could expand the terminal and add two more aerobridges and another two carosels.

Jetstar are actually a seperate airline to Qantas and not a subsidury. They are Qantas owned but they are marketed seperately. Besides, there is not really enough room at the Qantas terminal to accomodate both Qantas and Jetstar. I think expansion of the domestic terminal in Brisbane will be happening sooner rather than later. As far as flights into Townsville go, i agree that some flights by Qantas could be upgraded to 767 equipment as most flights in and out are close to full, especially around the weekends. Maybe it's possible if the rumour that Qantas is going to take on alot more ex British Airways 767's for domestic ops. (They already have 10 ex BA 767's in service)

There was talk about a year ago that they were going to build a second airport for toowoomba (to the south near westbrook) because the existing airport was too small to land the larger planes, and was unable to extend the runway because suburbs have since grown all round the airport - urban sprawl at its best

LOL!!!! - from the Chronicle (darling downs newspaper)


Dalby airport rivals Heathrow
04.10.2004



THE Dalby aerodrome could be the busiest airport in the world during the Australian Gliding Championships this week.

About 55 competitors will converge on the town from today for the practice days before the competition gets under way on Wednesday. Contest director Ralph Henderson said during the two-week competition, 55 gliders would be launched in an hour from about 11.30am each day. "The Dalby Aerodrome could be the busiest airport in the world for this hour each day of the competition," he said.

The national championships were last held in Dalby in 1994.

Mr Henderson said pilots from Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Italy, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales would compete. About 25 of these competed in the State Championships held at Kingaroy last week.

During the championships, glider flights will be available from about 12.30pm to 2.30pm each day for spectators.

The opening ceremony will be held at Jimbour from 6.30pm to-morrow night.

Or at least start an International Flight back up and have International Connections to Brissy so then we could have 767 equipment but however that's unlikely to happen.

LOL @ Dalby Airport. :)
As far as international services into Townsville go, i tend to think that services to New Zealand could be viable at some stage? On the 767 front, keep an eye out over the christmas period as Qantas often upgrade some flights to 767 equipment.
I remember in 1981 (very vaguely mind you) my family and i flew Townsville - Honolulu - Los Angeles on a Qantas 747SP. Ahhh those were the days.

Blend, Townsville's terminal now has a mezzanine level with 3 domestic aerobridges and 1 international aerobridge. The mezzanine level has a departure lounge which can hold roughly 300-350 people. There is also a downstairs departure lounge for flights which aren't using aerobridges. There is talk within the next few years about building a multi-story carpark as well as renovating the entrance to the terminal. (I believe that will happen before the carpark) The terminal really does need at least 1 more baggage carosel. (Virgin & Alliance are sharing a carosel currently)
its pretty cool how they did it :)

Yeah it is pretty good what they've done. It gives alot better impression of Townsville now when you deplane, walking through an aerobridge always gives that big city feel! Lol

They sounded like the days. I never knew that Townsville had direct flights to LA and San Fran at our doorstep, and nowadays, the yanks want to go via our bigger cities. I remember when I was Four, My family and I went to the Airport to drop my dad off to go to Brisbane and there was a Cathay Pacific 747 headed off to Hong Kong, we watched it take off and it is on thing ill never forget. I've only seen a 747 three times in my life.

Townsville still gets the odd 747 every now and then. It has been a while since we had a visit by one though. I think the last visit was in February last year. A 747-300 from memory, was used as a replacement on the Tsv-Bne-Sin flight. At the time was operated by 767-300's.
On another note, i still remember the old Townsville terminal when it had a wire fence along the front of it where the departure "lounge" was!! Lol It was just an old tin shed.

The Terminal is looking great compared to the tin shed of a Terminal. Ireckon the only thing now they really need to do is put an extra Bag Carousel, add another aerobridge for domestic and try to at least get a weekly or two to N.Z. Infact, the Virgin/Pacific Blue connections here are considered International.

Don't know if this is common knowledge, the international part of the terminal was built in the very early 80's for the commencement of international services to the U.S. by Qantas. If you look you can see where the building steps down in height from the newer domestic part of the terminal. The domestic part of the terminal was added in the mid to late 80's i think. Can't be sure. The old terminal before sure was a horror. Still remember going to the airport with my parents to pick up my grandparents, they would often come up from the Gold Coast on a TAA Fokker F27.

Brisbane Airport INTL terminal is the Best in Queensland I reckon.

Brisbane Airport INTL terminal is the Best in Queensland I reckon.
Thats a given!! :)
It doesn't have much competetion though...... Cairns, Townsville & Gold Coast. On a national front, the Brisbane International terminal would hold its own against any of the terminals about the country. It is also modular, which makes it easy to expand when the need arises. (I know alot about airports & aircraft cos i'm an aviation nut!!)
Grew up around aircraft and flying as my father used to be a pilot for Leanda Drilling. I currently hold a GFPT license.

Trying to find operational data for maryborough and hervey bay airports........

Queensland major airports has potential to expand their services to international status (already achieved at Bris, GC and Cairns...I think Townsville, too??). Rockhampton is next in line to upgrade to international status!

ShayPlan, Townsville airport is an International Airport, only thing is that we dont have International flights at the moment. I heard Hervey bay is going to go under a major redevelopment to upgrade to a 737 handling airport. Virgin Blue and Jetstar are going to launch services to hervey bay in July 2005. By then the redevelopments will be finished. It includes Runway extension and a $5m terminal.

Here's are a couple of photos of the new look TSV International Airport, taken off the Draft Master Plan.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p497cdb0b7f261d50cf37f9b10fb40e25/f6b79001.jpg.thumb.jpg
Alliance F100

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/pb486f90c17960198d9382ac30732ce6e/f6b78ffb.jpg.thumb.jpg
Inside Concourse

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p6f97dad8f2d6a6503f0539c7670c7821/f6b79006.jpg.thumb.jpg
Tarmac.

Enjoy

Rockhampton has handled international flights before, albeit charter flights. They have had a few flights by Singapore Airlines with 747-400 equipment when they have military excercises down that way. I think they may have had a 777 in there as well as well as an AN-124 carrying military equpiment.
And on the Townsville front, when Australia deployed troops to the solomons, there were a number of unusual aircraft passing through Townsville. I remember there was an AN-124, IL-76 (which was based in TSV for quite a while) a Hevilift Belfast (The only Belfast airworthy in the world!!) I believe it is based in Cairns at the moment?? New Zealand Air Force 757, which was in town again just the other day. A couple of KC-10's (USAF) and a few others i can't think of just yet.

We've also had a couple of MD-11's, Galaxy, Globemasters, Even the 757 or 767. With military Training exercises that is.

Also in other news. Townsville Airport Terminal was awarded Construction Project of the Year by Something Transport Australia or something a rather like that.

Brisbane Airport INTL terminal is the Best in Queensland I reckon.
yes it is the best, but it can be a hassle for traffic @ both terminals. Talk about meeting the whole population of Brisbane at once :lol:

Yep, talk about that alright :)

Here's a couple of pictures Of Townsville, I have taken Myself. (Loaded onto Planespotter.org)

http://www.planespotter.org/images/photoview.php?fid=453&quality=
Terminal Taken from Alliance or Common User Aerobridge at the Open Day (Dec 12/13 2003).

http://www.planespotter.org/images/photoview.php?fid=448&quality=
Alliance Airlines, New years Eve 2003

http://www.planespotter.org/images/photoview.php?fid=1100&quality=
Virgin Blue 737-700H (H=Winglets)

http://www.planespotter.org/images/photoview.php?fid=1098&quality=
Qantas 737H (737-800 Winglets) Tenerfield

Pic of Brisbane International:
http://www.reflections.com.au/GoldCoast/Transport/BrisbaneAirport2.jpg

Terminal:
http://www.familylawsection.org.au/11th%20Conf/conf048.jpg


GOLD COAST AIRPORT
http://www.wintersun.org.au/images/Logos/Airport.jpg

http://www.aussiegateways.com.au/gca/gca_aerial.gif

The site(at rear) in the 1960's:
http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/image_content/heritage_Bilinga.jpg

Virgin/International:
http://www.aussiegateways.com.au/gca/gca_bookings.gif

Bus Interchange:
http://www.aussiegateways.com.au/gca/gca_aerial_end.gif


http://www.aussiegateways.com.au/gca/gca_aerial_planes.gif

QANTAS @ front, Virgin/International at rear
http://www.aussiegateways.com.au/gca/gca_aerial_planes2.gif

Thanks Toadman for the Pics of Brisbane and Gold Coast International Airports.

Gertzy, your pics are red x's.

They were working when I placed them there, I'll try and see what I can do.

Heres the webpage instead
http://www.planespotter.org/?app=airports&pid=view&id=748

After the link, you will be in the Townsville Page of Planespotter.org, There will be two pictures, one of a Qantas 737 (Very bad one I took) and one of the airport itself. Scroll down to the bottom to find view aircraft at Townsville or something like that etc.

I like the new Townsville domestic airport, but interestingly I don't have much of an opinion of the place. It's pleasant and functional.

The tsv international is a bit more interesting to me because of the staircase tower/aerobridge construction which is separate to the terminal, but linked by a sort of corridor~tunnel. I found it unique.

Tango :D

Yeah, when Macair used to operate out of the International Terminal, but They moved I think when Qantas started TSV-BNE-SIN Flights, you had to walk down that corridor past the Aerobridge Staircase. I mean, if you designed the airport, you'd would've though of and esculator or lift to the top anyway.

Interesting piece of trivia: the building which is the tsv intl may not actually the original plan which was conceived/proposed for construction. The reason I say this is because of the intl. airport special feature in the townsville bulletin back in 1981. I think somewhere in the article it's mentioned designs and construction of the terminal had to be adjusted because of the big 1980/1981 wet season. If you want to look up the special feature in question, it's in the t'ville bulletin- i can't remember a date, but it's definitely around january/february 1981. The feature is called 'going intl'.

Btw- the staircase tower's got a lift for people who can't take the stairs. (lazy people like me excluded from use, though :hahaha: )

Tango

i was looking at hamilton island in my atlas, in 1976 or so it didnt have an airport, and in the pic comparing (satelite) from the same spot it does, Very impressed.

Ok, so it has a lift, never noticed before. P4L, I've seen some very interesting photos of Hamilton Island Airport. As you were saying before about 1976, Ansett had a Helipad at Hamilton Island where passengers heading to Hamilton off flights from Brisbane to Proserpine where immediatly connected to helicopters and flow to Hayman, Long, Linderman and Hamilton Islands and Back.

Just to kick this thread off for the New Year, heres some Pics from Airliners.net
http://photos.airliners.net/180a1a1b1d0b7662fb971085f3573617/42258565/middle/7/1/5/747517.jpg
http://photos.airliners.net/ee735d6bb55f3a484651fc052c1df5e9/422585e1/middle/3/9/1/719193.jpg
Both Taken at Townsville

Another Item, Reading through Market Information with The Gateway on Palmer Booklet, I found this while reading.

"Virgin has also added a direct service between Sydney and Townsville, and is Increasing frequencies on its Townsville-Brisbane route. Qantas also recently incorporated a number of new A330 aircraft into its flight schedule to boost their capacity by a reported 30% on some routes"

Are they talking about a different aircraft or are they actually meaning that Airbus A330 have been operating in Townsville on Various Occasions, If so, that'd be like when they had A300 on TSV-BNE and TSV-SYD.

I'm yet to see an A330 in Townsville. Maybe they mean they have incorporated the A330's into it's schedule to free up other aircraft which could be deployed on other routes such as BNE-TSV etc etc

If its true, as I said, It'll be like the old days (Back around 96, 97) when Qantas had A300 on its TSV-BNE and TSV-SYD schedules.
I think its true though, I saw a very large aircraft at the International Terminal Airbridge.

And It looked like a Qantas Aircraft, couldn't tell because it was around 8pm and most of the Tarmac was dark.

Was this tonight?

Yep, tonight. I was with my brothers and my mother picking up my Dad from Mackay but however, I saw it from Ingham Road.

Fair enough. I've had a bit of a look through the Qantas website, i can't find anything larger than a 737-800 scheduled through Townsville. It might have been a charter of some sort?
The largest a/c i've seen in Townsville of late would probably be the IL-76 which has been operating military charters. But it's usually parked on the airforce apron.

757's have been quite common lately with These Ventures hiring Air2000, or First Choice Airlines 757's, but this probably was 767 or A330 size. Then again, these airlines also use these aircraft.

I've seen the NZ Air Force 757's in town a bit. But they're still only a narrowbody a/c.

I've noticed that too, but I mean, the RNZAF 757's are usually on the RAAF Tarmac, not the Terminal Tarmac.

I am bloody sure about this one, I saw what looked like a 767 of Qantas coming in today at 6:15pm, It sounded very much like a 767-300ER and this was at Rugby (Union) Training.

Interesting. I wonder if it was a charter flight.
Qantas do have a scheduled flight that arrives @ 6:15pm every night, but it's scheduled as a 737-400. Could be a late change of equipment.

Thats the most probable reason, infact when they had the 737 break down on the runway last year, they did maintenance and every thing on it here, but the best part was that they used an Australian 767 on the Townsville Brisbane Flights.

Here's a couple of Mackay Airport for this thread.

http://www.mackayports.com/images/gallery/large/aerial1.jpg
Airport Looking Towards City and Pioneer River.
http://www.mackayports.com/images/gallery/large/aerial.jpg
Tarmac Shot with a QantasLink BaE-164 And Virgin Blue 737.
http://www.mackayports.com/images/gallery/large/b001.jpg
Inside the Terminal.
http://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_25_r1_c1.jpghttp://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_25_r1_c2.jpg
Qantaslink 717
http://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_22_r1_c1.jpghttp://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_22_r1_c2.jpghttp://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_22_r1_c3.jpg
Virgin 737-700
http://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_01_r1_c1.jpghttp://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_01_r1_c2.jpghttp://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_01_r1_c3.jpg
Qantas BAE-146 and Virgin Blue 737-700
http://www.mackayports.com/images/headers/airport/top_image_03_r1_c2.jpg
QantasLink Bae 146-300.

Thought I'd post some shots of Brisbane International Airport. These shots were taken 27th June 2004. I've resized all to 512x384 for the dial-up users - but apologies still, as there are quite a few images. Some of them did not resize all that well either.

The Airtrain Station for the Airport:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0918_512x384.jpg

From the carpark:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0922_512x384.jpg

Entrance:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0923_512x384.jpg

Back of the train station:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0924_512x384.jpg

Arrivals section:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0926_512x384.jpg

Arrivals section again:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0927_512x384.jpg

The escalators:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0928_512x384.jpg

The walkway from the escalators to the train station:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0929_512x384.jpg

Departures board:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0931_512x384.jpg

Departures area:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0932_512x384.jpg

Check-in:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0933_512x384.jpg

Skylight:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0935_512x384.jpg

Fountain:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0937_512x384.jpg

?:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0941_512x384.jpg

Through to customs:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0942_512x384.jpg

Departures again:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0944_512x384.jpg

Departures lounge:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_0997_512x384.jpg

Departures again:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_1010_512x384.jpg

Departures again:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/IMG_1011_512x384.jpg

Gee, Thanks for that Ausilencer, We needed Inside Pics of Brisbane International.

^^hehehe, those bring back some memories.

Oi, what's the name of the footy club just north of Mackay Airport. The planes fly really low overhead. It's really freaky for the first time.

I'm not sure. I don't think we have any Mackay forumers that could shed some light on this either.

I cant help you there toadman, I'm not that all familiar with Mackay.

I wish Qantas had like say a 2 hour or 1 hour and 1/2 Cityflyer Service between Here and Brissie.

Wow. Bris international is awesome.

Ive never been in sorry to say. Ive only been to the domestic. Never been overseas, and never see anyone off lol.

http://www.kingaroygliding.com/photo/Kingaroy_airport.JPG

Kingaroy Airport.
I didnt put it in image tags because its so large.. it would just wreck the thread lol.

Click it!, Click it good (ty Danubis for that one)

I wish Qantas had like say a 2 hour or 1 hour and 1/2 Cityflyer Service between Here and Brissie.
Townsville couldn't sustain that amount of flights to and from BNE. I know the flights in and out now are often full, but that would be a massive increase in capacity.

Cityflyer services are only between capital cities as well.

Yeah I Know, But I just said that, Even If it was 1 hour and a half, it would be an extra 3 flights a day so 8 if that happened.

I think the Queensland regional cities - Tsv, Cns, Mky etc have excellent airports for their sizes. I was in Japan recently, and they only have Airports in the major cities, i.e some cities with pop's of over 300,000 dont have an airport- you have to drive 2 hours to the nearest major city. Obviously the country's size matters as well.
I have mainly been through Fukuoka airport.....WOW....check it out if you can...BIG!
And i can go direct there from Cairns.....Easy!!!

Yeah, with Australian Airlines. They're building a new Airport in Japan in Nagoya called Central Japan International and the renders seem like this Airport is going to be Huge.

Asian cities don't usually muck around when they build an airport!! :)

They Don't, they may take years but if you think about it, they build them reasonably fast, like Kansai (Osaka) Even if it was a Man Made Island, It still took quite the while but it was still reasonably fast for an airport of that size, Infact Is it still sinking back into the sea.

I think the Queensland regional cities - Tsv, Cns, Mky etc have excellent airports for their sizes. I was in Japan recently, and they only have Airports in the major cities, i.e some cities with pop's of over 300,000 dont have an airport- you have to drive 2 hours to the nearest major city. Obviously the country's size matters as well.
I have mainly been through Fukuoka airport.....WOW....check it out if you can...BIG!
And i can go direct there from Cairns.....Easy!!!

Bullet Train (High-Speed) travel is popular there, due to density and size. Why many smaller cities dont have airports.

Why is Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport so crap & shabby, considering its such a tourist hub? :weird: (But then again, so is Hawaii's airport)

I don't know why, infact just mentioning that, our airport in Townsville is better, with Aerobridges and Raised Mezzinine level and flash Arrivals/Departures lounge.

Why is Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport so crap & shabby, considering its such a tourist hub? :weird: (But then again, so is Hawaii's airport)
I've always thought that as well. Oh well, the owners of Gold Coast Airport now own Townsville as well, maybe they can get some ideas from the Townsville terminal?

Why is Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport so crap & shabby, considering its such a tourist hub? :weird: (But then again, so is Hawaii's airport)

I agree with your first comment, but Honolulu's Airport is far bigger (900 hectares with 4 runways) and quite nice. Recent renos...

Gold Coast will always be Queenslands 2nd airport, but Cairns may be tipped to top it by some. Its location is terrible, with flight paths over nearby residents, i cant see this airport being great (in its current loction ) that is.

Yep, Cairns is forecast to be Queenland's 2nd busiet airport within the next decade or so.

If you go by international movements, Cairns is well ahead of Gold Coast.

Yeah, something like 2.4 million Domestic and 700k International.

This is something that Iam saying this is a Definite Sight, At around 11:50am this Morning, I sighted a larger than usual and very strange plane, It was too large to be a 737 (by definite size) and it wasn't of an airline of domestic Origin, It had a Blue Tail, and Blue Winglets and kinda looked like an ansett jet but etc, I quickly ran outside a classroom door to see it and It was none other than an Airbus A330-300 of probably British Charter Airline Air 2000 coming in on approach to Townsville, I will not give names of the school I saw it from because I attend that school.

There is alot of Work going on at Cairns Airport at the Moment, looks like there is a Concourse extension including an extra Aerobridge that wont be finished till September and they've already completed extending the Domestic Terminal Tarmac for extra Aircraft Parking

This is something that Iam saying this is a Definite Sight, At around 11:50am this Morning, I sighted a larger than usual and very strange plane, It was too large to be a 737 (by definite size) and it wasn't of an airline of domestic Origin, It had a Blue Tail, and Blue Winglets and kinda looked like an ansett jet but etc, I quickly ran outside a classroom door to see it and It was none other than an Airbus A330-300 of probably British Charter Airline Air 2000 coming in on approach to Townsville, I will not give names of the school I saw it from because I attend that school.
It's possible the aircraft could have been an Air Luxor A330-300 which is operating in Australia on charter work.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/819081/M/
Here she is.
On another note, i noticed an AO 767-300 on approach at about 4:10pm yesterday afternoon. It could possibly be operating ADF charters.

Yeah, that is the one, except for some reason it didn't have the large Air luxor titles, but the rest is exact. Isn't Air Luxor an Egyptian Airline. If its AO as in Australian, I've seen a few in town lately, One occasion, it parked at the Intl Aerobridge and It was from Brisbane, this was late last year when the 737 broke down, but the other times, they were on approach for some reason.

But I think Air luxor is a scheduled airline, isn't it.

It is a scheduled airline but, they can still charter aircraft out for private use. I was also thinking maybe you saw the 737 that Alliance is chartering at the moment, it's an ex Ansett aircraft with a dark blue tail and white fuselage and no titles on it? It's been in Townsville quite a bit lately.

P.S. AO is Australian.

Nope, too big to be a 737, It had blue engines, blue winglets and a blue undercarriage, probably Volare (which also happens to mean "to fly" in English from the Italian translation)

There was an Orient Thai 747-200 in Townsville this morning. It was parked at the RAAF apron. Must have been a military charter or something.

Yeah, Thai Military in town, but has anyone gotten pics, I cant get any because I wont be able to be driven to that part of town to get pics, but seriously a jumbo in town again.

I only had my phone camera on me, i wouldn't have been able to get close enough to make it worthwhile taking a shot. My digital camera is broken. It wasn't the prettiest looking bird i've ever seen. lol

Yeah, but still, a 747 in town.

Hi everyone, this is my first post. Toadman, the football club just north of the airport in Mackay is Souths Leagues Club. It is true, the Planes do fly precariously low in that area, as the runway is just across the road. It probably scares the life out of visitors, but we are used to it here in Mackay.

Cool, A member from Mackay, your the only Mackay member so far on this forum, so yeah welcome.

Noel Gordon claims that his private meeting with Qantas, Jetstar and Tourism Queensland was a success, saying that QaNTaS is planning to upgrade all remaining 737-400 flights to 737-800 flights so that means about another 72 seats extra daily.

so that means going from this:
http://www.qantas.com.au/img/page_graphics/graphics/flying_with_us/in_the_air/our_aircraft/img_737476.gif

To this:
http://www.qantas.com.au/img/page_graphics/graphics/flying_with_us/in_the_air/our_aircraft/img_737838.gif

But I'd like to see At least a daily BNE 767-300ER being in Scheduled service.
With at least 230 Seats config to about 240 seats config.

GREAT NEWS!!
I read in the Townsville Bulletin today that we can expect an announcement from Jetstar tommorrow on the commencement of services into Townsville.

Also, i noticed Air Luxor were in town again last Friday with an A330.

Well, I can tell you wezza, that I actually saw Jetstar GM Simon Westaway and Com Ops Manager Bruce Buchannan at the Airport with Chris McHugh at the Cafe there, then Westaway went and sat in one of the offices behind the Qantas Check Inns there, calling Jetstar and Doing work on his laptop, How do I know, Because I'm doing work experience with Qantas, infact I had been doing it all week since Tuesday, so if you see a kid wearing business like clothes and a Qantas ID Tag, maybe even the Flourescent Jacket, thats me.

Lol.
I was only at the airport on Tuesday. But can't say i saw you. :) Was also there on Sunday morning boarding a flight to Brisbane, but i dare say you weren't there on Sunday!

Yeah, I've only been doing Check-Inn, Baggage Services and Movement Operations (i.e Docking Aerobridge, Cleaning Plane between Arrivals and Departure etc) since Tuesday, so I've mixed it round.

GREAT NEWS!!
I read in the Townsville Bulletin today that we can expect an announcement from Jetstar tommorrow on the commencement of services into Townsville.Finally :banana:

God knows they've snubbed Townsville for long enough. Jetstar will fly to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne from October 30. You can already book a flight - sale prices are Bris $69, Syd & Melb $99. Should give the tourism industry a big boost although it's been a setback it could have done without in the first place :mad:

My Views on Jetstar have changed abit but I was at the Media Conference just outside the Arrivals Exit, when they annouced flights.

I found A couple of Pics of the Air Luxor A330 and the Oriental Thai 747 that was taken by Grahme Harris, who I worked with during Work Experience.

you can find them here:
http://www.airfleets.net/photo/index.php?search=||||YBTL|21259||||0|132|||||||

there are other stuff from last year and such with a Air Nugini A310 in 1999, A Thai DC-10 from 2003, and Airworks 737 jet from this year.

Anyone know how the Hervey Bay Airport upgrade is going? Cant find any threads on it... :) ...Jetstar has direct services to/from Sydney once the upgrade is completed.

Apparantly the upgrade wasn't enough to satisfy the Hervey Bay Council etc, Because Jetstar and Virgin wont be doing Daily flights like they annouced, only 4x Weekly both airlines.

In other news, I saw an American Trans Airlines (ATA, 11th Biggest US Carrier) 757 in town a few weeks ago (Townsville). and other years when Military exercises are going, ive seen ATA Tristars as well, but they got rid of the tristars.

Here is a Singapore Airlines 747 at ROCKHAMPTON. They have international flights by Qantas and Singapore airlines a few times a year by the military.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7543/rockysingaporeair7472uc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Yeah, I've seen that pic before on Airliners.net.

^Likewise. :) I have seen an AN-124 in Townsville a few times of recent as well.

Two black hawks landed at school on Friday, the pilots were giving the year 12's some motivational speech, and we were waiting on the mound at school to do P.E and It was awesome just watching two black hawks land on our main school oval 50 to 70 metres away from me and around 300 other people.

Townsville has been getting individual articles in major Aviation Magazines lately which is good stuff for us, There is that Article in this month's Australian Aviation about Qantas Services increase with Jetstar and all and Also this month in the lastest edition of Airliner World (One of the World's Biggest Aviation Mags) there is an Article about Ansett which mentions Townsville as the HQ and there's also an Interview with Australian Airports TSV Boss Chris McHugh about it. So it looks like we are starting to get up there in the Aviation Industry.

yay for blackhawks :)

I used to like news choppers landing on the field lol, 2 blackhawks would pwn

It was awesome, especially two helicopters, The were some people who were standing right under the approach path of the black hawks and they were getting pushed back by the gusts of the helicopters.

Its good to see there is people here intereted in aviation and aircraft. Iam actually training to be an airline pilot myself.

Apparantly the upgrade wasn't enough to satisfy the Hervey Bay Council etc, Because Jetstar and Virgin wont be doing Daily flights like they annouced, only 4x Weekly both airlines.
.

On Airliners.net there is a photo of Hervey Bay runway under construction. Also there is tree clearing for the shorter cross wind runway.

Im going to Mackay next week. Hope to snap some photos of the area. Mackay is not well represented here on the forums... sad, because it has a lot of potential!

Its good to see there is people here intereted in aviation and aircraft. Iam actually training to be an airline pilot myself.
I've got a GFPT license. I'll get around to my PPL one day when i pull my finger out. Lol.

I Reckon Mackay should be a better Airport than what it is now, Its Terminal is alright, pretty good actually, but I think it should be an Aviation Hub of some sort, theres alot of land to use at that airport, not much (not sure if any at all) hangars for aircraft and Maintenance and so on.

While we are on the subjects of Regional Airports, here's a photo of Cairns International

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8f/Cairns_Airport.JPG/800px-Cairns_Airport.JPG

With 4 767 (2 Qantas, 2 Australian), 1 747 (ANZ), 1 A330 (Qantas), 1 737 (Virgin Blue), 3 Dash 8's (QFLink), 1 727 (Aus air freight).
From Wikipedia.

Cairns is fast becoming 767 central..... lol

Cairns is fast becoming 767 central..... lol

Last time I was in Cairns International Airport it was in 1992. I had just come back from Tokyo on a JLflight - JL776 I think it was. Anyway it was about 4:30am and the airport was packed out. There were two Japan Airline 747's in, an AirNZ 767, a Qantas 747 and a Qantas 767. They made us get off the plane for about 30 minutes, not sure why but that tiny international terminal was packed because all the people from all the other flights were in there too.

Hope things have changed in Cairns, hope the International terminal is bigger than it was. There was only 1 shop open so it was impossible to get anything.

Yep, they're upgrading and extending the International Terminal as you can see there in the back there.

ANZ is the only 747 flight that Cairns will see for a while, Its only the Qantas 767's on the Tokyo Flights and the Australian 767's and then they also have A330's and A340's on the CNS-Chep Lak Kok Airport(A330's) and the HK-BNE-CNS-HK Route (A340's)

But by the looks of it that A330 at the Domestic Terminal is from Sydney and that 767 Taxing there in the foreground is from Brisbane, Infact 2 out of the 4 Brisbane flights to Cairns is 767 operated and Domestic Flight numbered (QF400-1??? QF Domestic).
I wish that was with Townsville (but only 1 767 operated daily service).

Yes, I wish Townsville got 767 service too. Even once a week would be enough for me..earlier in the year I used to think that it would happen within 8 to 18 months, but i dunno, with jq starting services and the increase in flights brought on by the new sched qf might have chosen the other option- increasing the number of narrowbody flights rather that put on a larger qf plane, like the 767. Never can tell though.

Tango

I mean as replacing a 737 on one of QF 5 Daily Flights with a 767 so the frequency can still stay but just increasing a few seats and replacing an aircraft in favor of another, I would also like to see Jetstar and Qantas doing daily Sydney Flights, instead of JQ doing 4x Weekly's on the TSV-SYD Route and then Qantas taking over the next 3 days services on that route, It should be a Continuous thing with both Airlines instead of swapping over services between two Airlines.

I think Qantas' plan might be more frequencies with smaller a/c rather than put larger a/c on and have less frequencies. It works better with travellers as well, having more options on flight times etc. But don't get me wrong, i'd like to see some widebodies in here as well. Sometimes around the christmas/new year period they replace some flights with 767's, though this is becoming less likely now with the 737-800 in sevice.

Remember, never say virgin has bad service. After being in China and travelling on so many domestic flights on air china, china eastern, hainian, shanghai airlines(boeing 737's a320's) i can see why. Planes with no aircon in outside temp's of 38, no baggage space, bad flight control, and of coarse squid lice as your inflight meal lol. But, atleast they have nice airports. Cities that most people have never herd of such as; xian, chongqing have airport terminals bigger than sydney international. Might be a bit out of topic, but i thought i might bring it up.

^ Virgin has very good service actually. It's just that you have to pay extra for anything on the flight, which is not all that bad because most of the time the flight is not all that long anyway. Well, most eastern seaboard routes anyway!! :)

I like dj too...it took me about 4 years to fly with them though and have flown with them each dom trip except a couple with qq. DJ is more "fun" i've found, and that is good. Oh and i love the way the cabin crew are introduced by name, i can't remember hearing that on other airlines.

Tango

I think Qantas' plan might be more frequencies with smaller a/c rather than put larger a/c on and have less frequencies. It works better with travellers as well, having more options on flight times etc. But don't get me wrong, i'd like to see some widebodies in here as well. Sometimes around the christmas/new year period they replace some flights with 767's, though this is becoming less likely now with the 737-800 in sevice.

That Pretty much is their plan, as one Qantas Customer Service Agent here in Townsville (The Airport, on Check-Inns, and Baggage) told me when I was doing work experience, that It fitted with people's timeframes, Business friendly and so on, but I'm just saying, Keep the frequency, but replace one of the flights with a 767, if fitted with the Average 240 seats, compared to the average QF 737 seats of 160, that'll be another 80 seats added, and you can easelly fit another 80 seats into our schedule.

This might be a bit off topic, but does anyone use microsoft flight simulator here, and has the computer skills to create brisbane real scenery. All the times i use it all u can see is the brisbane river. Would be nice if their was some more landmarks.

I've got FS2002 with the Brisbane Airport scenery on it. The detail is pretty much spot on. The only fault i can find is at the domestic terminal, all the airlines just park wherever. There is no set terminal for the airlines like in real life.

Check on www.flightsim.com if you haven't already. :)

Wezza, i have brisbane's add on airport aswell. It's pretty decent (terminals etc) but like i said, once u leave the airport there is nothing (gateway and port of brisbane on my version). Ive done serches everywhere but i cant seem to find anything.

Sorry mate, can't help you then. :) Hopefully someone might develop a package soon.

I had FS2000, Probably going to get a new one soon and there was a Package that I got that was just more detailing for Queensland Airports, like detailed and everything, It had Gateway, Story and Captain Cook Bridges and the others as well and It had Central Plaza, Riverside, Waterfront and all the main landmark buildings on the Eastside of the CBD.

I only own FS 98. :cry:

The new fs will be bought as soon as I am home...

Tango

I had FS2000, Probably going to get a new one soon and there was a Package that I got that was just more detailing for Queensland Airports, like detailed and everything, It had Gateway, Story and Captain Cook Bridges and the others as well and It had Central Plaza, Riverside, Waterfront and all the main landmark buildings on the Eastside of the CBD.

Gertzy if u remember, where did u get this package from?

I remember seeing it at Electronics Boutique (Here in Townsville) when I brought FS2000, It was Queensland Scenary for FS 2000, But I haven't seen it lately, because That was like 4 years ago now to be frank with you there cp1.

i had 98 somehwhere. after a quick search, i found nothing.

The graphics were crappy lol.

And i once tried to fly across the pacific but gave up. after finding nothing for hours and hours.

I've got the Queensland scenery package for FS98. It was good at the time.

I also had that one too, but this was similar, except for FS 2000, It even had Buildings for Cairns and Townsville.

Air Luxor A333 back in TSV this afternoon picking up troops going to Iraq for security work. Was nice to see another widebody in town. :)

Do you think that the airbus a380 will land at brisbane or sydney airport first, becuase brisbane does have the longest runway out of any city in australia

^^ Is Brissy ready for one yet? Coz Melb's runway works are finished and waiting. The media has always hinted that Melb will be the first to host one.

Do you think that the airbus a380 will land at brisbane or sydney airport first, becuase brisbane does have the longest runway out of any city in australia

No it doesn't.

Sydney RWY 16R/34L = 3962m
Melboune RWY 16/34 = 3657m
Brisbane RWY 01/19 = 3560m

Source: ERSA (Official aviation publication produced by Airservices Australia. I have it right here next to me.)

Sorry cp1, Neo is exactly right. :) It's not the runway length that is the problem, it's actually the width and possibly pavement strength. Brisbane Airport Corporation have said that the A380 could land there today, only the taxiways need to be widened.

Having said that, BAC is pushing to be the 1st Australian city to host the A380 when Qantas holds their 85th brithday celebrations. Qantas are planning on bringing the A380 downunder as part of the celebrations. It is between Sydney or Brisbane who will hold the celebrations, with both cities having good reasons for wanting to hold them. Sydney is Qantas' main base currently, but Queensland is the spiritual home of Qantas. Bring it to BNE i say!! :D

Iam sure i herd that brisbane had the longest runway, but anyway i guess i herd wrong.

I say bring it to Brisbane to, Brisbane is the Capital of the State which Qantas's first letter Stands for, Queensland. Or they could also land it in Darwin, because of NT in the Name but yeah, Qantas did start in Winton, which is in QueenslandANTAS.

Iam sure i herd that brisbane had the longest runway, but anyway i guess i herd wrong.
Lol
You'll have to have a word to your source. But yeah, i have an ERSA (En Route Supplement Australia) right here in front of me as well and the figures that Neo gave you were correct.

I think I heard the world's longest public use runway is in Denver International Airport, Colorado, at a length of 4'958m or somewhere close to that but it was 4.9km something.

^I'll see if i can find out. It could be right though because of the altitude in Denver, aircraft would have a longer takeoff run than normal.

Did u know that since the mid 80's a parralell runway to (runway 1/19) has been proposed. It should be built by 2012 to meet demands.

^ Yeah, it was always a vision to have a parallel runway when the new airport was being constructed back in the mid to late 80's. Watch how many people will be up in arms about the new runway when construction begins.

Where i live, is directly under localisers at runway 1, so i always see and hear the planes. The sound doesnt worry me one bit, and i love to watch them fy in.

Actually no, Its only 4'877m the Denver Runway, at DIA or Current Denver International, not the old Denver Metro Stapleton International.

I reckon the Airport should be Renamed Townsville-Thuringowa International Airport, be pretty good for a name though.

brisbane has i think five or 4 airports in caboolture, redcliffe, bayside, archerfield, etc. but theyve moved a huge bloody store right in next to the airport, causing alot of traffic, pilots even missed theyre flights because of it. there should be a few airports in brisbane, and one between cairns and townsville. but they should all be decent. thats all we need.

BRISBANE, where is this huge store ur talkin about?

I think he means the new DFO store on Airport Drive.

Cowboys & Townsville Bulletin are chartering a 747 to Sydney for the grand final. It will be leaving Townsville 9am Sunday morning. Then leaves Sydney 9:15am Monday morning coming back. Your camera has got a good zoom hasn't it Oriolus? ;) ;)

We must be spoilt in Brisbane, seeing atleast 4 jumbo's (747's) every day lol.

^ This is Townsville.......... We don't get any international flights. This will probably only be the 2nd 747 this year. Had a few 767, A330 & AN124's this year though.

This is bloody good!, It Qantas from what the article says but, the plane should be dubbed for the charter, Bowen 747, but if its carrying around 343 people (another 100 apparently are set to be booked on) for the first flight, and Doug Kingston is saying that there will be a "larger" 747 coming back up. Don't know how that works, It must be a 747-400 going down and a 747-300 coming back up, because the 300 carries abit more than the 400.

^ There are 2 767-300's & the 747 charter on Monday. I might be going yet. Probably on the 767 flights.

P.S. The charter flight is booked solid.

I went out to watch the 747 take off on Sunday morning. What a sight. Townsville's 1st visit by a 747-438ER!! Operated by Wunala Dreaming. :) There was a big crowd out there to see it.

Yeah, I wanted to see the 747 but didn't see it, but I did see a 767 flying over School today, Funnily enough, I was doing Maths B at the Time and saw it from the window, really wanted me to do heaps of maths equations.

LOL Maths B, remember u dont need maths B to be a pilot. LOL

And Physics and English as a Minimum, Maths B is still a minimum requirement by Qantas (especially for the Cadet Program).

ha ha ha ha, exactly the cadet program, but remember theres alternative ways (which iam taking) i only did maths A, and no physics lol. U just have to come up with $54, 000.

Thats stupid...if cairns has an international airport, howevermuch tourism it get, townsville should definatley have a reasonable airport...all 3 times ive been there all my flights were delayed...thats what comes of #### little airports.

and isnt townsville qantaslink? thats even dumber.

^I don't know when the last time you flew into Townsville was, but it does have quite a good airport. It was upgraded not all that long ago. The terminal now features 4 aerobridges, it's also quite modern. Could probably do with more baggage carosels though.

It might not be that big, but it serves its purpose.

In the Early 90's Townsville was a mini-hub for Qantas, A300 were used on flights to Brisbane, Sydney and we had flights to Darwin and Alice Springs both using 737's, but when The International flights left, they took away the Darwin and Alice routes but they still used A300's on Sydney flights and so on, but it declined from there to only 5 flights a day to Brisbane (737's) and daily Sydney flights with Jetstar soon to return.

Carins has alot of international flights because it serves as a stop over between australia and japan. I have been on jumbos from brisbane - cairns, only because they pick up japanese on the way.

They ruined it for Townsville Airport, Why Cairns, Why!!!!! :D, anyway Thanks to Graeme Harris at Qantas Townsville Airport, a man I had the pleasure of working with when I did work Experience there, he has gratefully given me some photos of Wunala, and 767 VH-OGG.

But Copyright depending on it use, so i'm yet to get an answer on that, so incase, don't go putting this on anyother thingos and such, I'm going to put them on my Townsville Airport Wikipedia Article.

Here it is (just VH-OGG)
http://64.4.51.250/cgi-bin/getmsg/AIRFLEETSVH-OGG.jpg?&msg=3F95AC67-72D0-4F9E-B47F-8A55C0EB1A18&start=0&len=1025388&mimepart=3&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&b=4563b447a709e5df3234e6b64455e82d&disk=10.1.106.204_d1327&login=ben_gertz&domain=hotmail%2ecom&hm___sig=ed133e5d01c5c8d0499ff638bde66133c8ff77959cacc407

Can't see your pic Gertzy. Maybe you might have to rehost it?

Carins has alot of international flights because it serves as a stop over between australia and japan. I have been on jumbos from brisbane - cairns, only because they pick up japanese on the way.

Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines used to fly into Cairns some time ago, both airlines have sinced dropped the route.

I guess they were serving tourist going to the Great Barrier Reef.

In December last year, I took a Japan Airlines flight from Brisbane to Sydney, it was weird flying a foriegn airline domestically, I had to go to the international terminal.

Yer, they use to, but i think now its only qantas and JAL airlines.

Cairns also has Continetal Micronesia, Air Niugini and so on.

JAL doesn't service Cairns in it's own right, they codeshare with QF.

Townsville Airport has got a new Logo and Marketing Strategy for the Airport.
http://www.townsvilleairport.com.au/homepage/TSV_HOMEPAGE.jpg

Enjoy

I saw that on the news last night. They seemed to be making a big deal about it. I can't see what all the fuss is about really, the average joe already knew it as Townsville Airport anyway!!

True, I always called it Townsville Airport, and everything else at the airport was either Townsville International Airport or Townsville Airport, except for the signage the said AAL Townsville Airport.

According to a source of Terry Butts, it was reported by Townsville's No1 snitch that apparantly Jetstar may start flight to Phuket from our Airport (sounds more like Jetstar Asia), but however, my opinion, could be a possiblity but not likely to Phuket, maybe more Towards N.Z.

I'll believe it all when i see it.

With Terry Butts, half his stuff turns out full of crap, I believe that it may be a possibility, I think International Flights will happen in Townsville again but it won't happen within the next Decade.

Yeah, NZ is definetly the most obvious destination for international flights out of Townsville. I don't believe most of the crap in Butt's column.

Edit: LOL i just read my last sentence, sounds kinda funny when you think about it.

LoL, Crap in Butts Column, It does sound kinda funny.

Terry Butts? Sometimes I think that because of all of his little "rumours" he must know most of the people in Townsville.

And yes, I agree about the concept of flights to NZ. Pacific Blue maybe flying DRW-TSV-NZ or CNS-TSV-NZ. Surely a couple of narrowbodies a week (and taking on pax in two Australian cities) wouldn't be too unprofitable?

And as for the name change, ha!

BTW, did Townsville ever have an actual airport name? Such as BNE has Eagle Farm, SYD has Kingsford Smith and MEL has Tullamarine.

Oh and sorry Gertzy, no could do about the KIX pics- my connection was too tight and the airport was hard to navigate.

Tango

I'm sure you already know this but the only reason Brisbane is Eagle Farm & Melbourne is Tullamarine is because that is their locations. Sydney quite often gets called Mascot because of it's location as well. Maybe Garbutt Airport for Townsville?? ;)

TSV was known as Garbutt Airport when it was built, Eagle Farm well, Eagle Farm suburb, Tullamarine, well Tullamarine Suburb, but SKSIA (Sydney) was known as Mascot of course also because of the suburb, but now, its divided into two new suburbs, Sydney Domestic Airport and Sydney International Airport are the suburb names the Airport is dived up.

Tango, thats okay, I've got even good news of KIX's Expansion so thats alright, Pacific Blue do International Connections already, via Virgin Blue, but I would believe it to be a DRW-TSV-AKL service, because, they wouldn't do a connector service between CNS-TSV, mainly because a Narrowbody can already do a CNS-AKL service.

The Welcome mat has been put out for the 717 arrival of Jetstar and its maiden BNE-TSV-BNE flight :)

Haven't been to the airport to see the faciilities and signage and so.

I noticed the Jetstar sign out in the set-down & pick-up area at the terminal yesterday. Didn't go inside though. I think Jetstar are using a part of the old Ansett check-in desk area.

I also read in the paper today that the Jetstar flights to Sydney would come at the expense of some of the Qantas flights to Sydney, bugger!

Thanks Gertzy

Re JQ: it'll be interesting to see how the Melbourne flights do.

Quick question: Am I wrong in thinking that JQ was also talking about an Adelaide service a few weeks ago? Because that would be totally weird. I think i got my wires crossed and got the info wrong.

Tango

You could've been confused with the Cairns-ADL service. Apparantly the melbourne services are booking well, very well in advance, But with Wezza's Comment, I knew that since they annouced services will be coming, 4 weekly flights by JQ, with the remaining 3 operated by QF. Wish it was JQ operating a Daily flight, and Qantas and Virgin Increasing to Twice Daily.

Thanks Gertzy

Re JQ: it'll be interesting to see how the Melbourne flights do.

Quick question: Am I wrong in thinking that JQ was also talking about an Adelaide service a few weeks ago? Because that would be totally weird. I think i got my wires crossed and got the info wrong.

Tango
Bookings for the TSV-MEL flights are apparently stronger than expected. Good to see really. Hopefully they will eventually be strong enough to go daily, but that remains to be seen i suppose.

I went to the inauguaral JQ flight to Townsville (from BNE) and took some snaps, didn't get to see the Melbourne flight though sorry, there are going to be some snaps of mine on www.planespotter.org inthe Townsville Airport pics, but one of them is on the Wikipedia article on Townsville Aiport and the same in the Jetstar article

But the terminal and concourse was wrapped in Orange Tape and decked with Orange, Black and Silver balloons.

----------------off topic alert--------------------

Question for Wezza

Hey Wezza, you work for QQ don't u? Well I was just interested cause a couple of Fridays ago there were a coulple of QQ flight attendants at Castletown, at the coffee club (I was there too, guzzling chai lattes).

Anyhow cool, sorry if it was u and u didn't want to be noticed..

Tango :)
---------------end of off topic alert---------------

That was off the Topic there, but sort of on topic being related to Aviation in some way, but anyway, I uploaded one of my photos onto Wiki and here it is.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/60/JetstarTSVfirst.jpg/796px-JetstarTSVfirst.jpg

In the Bottom of the pic there, The Large guy is TSV Airport GM Chris McHugh, The guy turned to the side with no Florescent vest on is Airport Operations/Movements Manager Peter Pallot, and the lady in red with a Camera is a Bully Photographer, and also probably a Journalist.

VH-VQK was used on that route, and It was a good sight indeed.

----------------off topic alert--------------------

Question for Wezza

Hey Wezza, you work for QQ don't u? Well I was just interested cause a couple of Fridays ago there were a coulple of QQ flight attendants at Castletown, at the coffee club (I was there too, guzzling chai lattes).

Anyhow cool, sorry if it was u and u didn't want to be noticed..

Tango :)
---------------end of off topic alert---------------
Lol
Nah, i don't. I know a few people who do work for QQ though. :)

Cool thanks Wezza, it's a good thing I didn't go up to the guy and start asking him questions!!! Hahaha.

At Gertzy: good 717 pic. I wonder, when was the last time a there was a scheduled passenger flight using the DC9/717 airframe? Would have to be the 80s, and probably with TAA. And even the freighter DC9 is gone (727 still visits though :) )

TangoSierraVictor

^^
QFlink used to fly the 717 on the TSV-SYD route before the 717's got shunted to Jetstar. I remember when TAA used to bring the DC-9 here though. :)

When they had 717's here, they first initially used them just on the TSV-SYD route, then they added a few more frequencies to the BNE-TSV route (going from 4 to the Current 5 a day) and two of the 5 flights used 717's

^^
Thats right, i forgot they ran them on the TSV-BNE route as well. They were great to fly on in QFlink guise. Great legroom, & quieter than the 737. They've added a few more seats to them for JQ.

"Fly No Frills, No Circulation of Blood to your Legs", All LCC's squash in your seats, I shouldn't complain though as I'm a Midget for my Age and I look like I'm 10 instead of 15, according to people. But all LCC's do it, add more seats, more moolah, and more cases of DVT to be added to that.

"If you make a successful Hub out of it, It'll Thrive" That'll be my Business motto when I start a new Low Cost Carrier and if its successful, Townsville will be a Mini-Hub and Airline HQ, and Maintenance HQ. Maybe then Townsville might be a bit more "Atlantanised" or "Denvernised" in Australian Aviation Terms.

^^
LOL
Good luck.......;)

I wish, don't think I'll have the Money or skills to run an Airline, if i did, It'll probably go down the shithole within a few years.

Just some more Pictures taken by Graeme Harris (Hopefully they work this time).

http://by107fd.bay107.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/saferd/VH%2dVQK%2eJPG?_lang=EN&hm___tg=http%3a%2f%2f64%2e4%2e51%2e250%2fcgi%2dbin%2fgetmsg%2fVH%252dVQK%252eJPG&hm___qs=%26msg%3dDB7211C9%2d428B%2d4FD7%2dB013%2d54C262343779%26start%3d0%26len%3d1497670%26mimepart%3d6%26curmbox%3d00000000%2d0000%2d0000%2d0000%2d000000000001%26b%3da26ebcb68bd5ad541e7fd1b13fae1444%26disk%3d10%2e1%2e106%2e204_d1327%26login%3dben_gertz%26domain%3dhotmail%252ecom%26_lang%3dEN%26country%3dAU&hm___cacheh=1&file=VH%2dVQK%2eJPG&domain=hotmail.com

Finally it, F##kin loaded up, now I know what to do next time.

^^ Can't see the pic you tried to upload mate.

Its working fine for me Wez, but anyway heres that 767 one that I tried to upload before.

http://by107fd.bay107.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/saferd/AIRFLEETSVH%2dOGG%2ejpg?_lang=EN&hm___tg=http%3a%2f%2f64%2e4%2e51%2e250%2fcgi%2dbin%2fgetmsg%2fAIRFLEETSVH%252dOGG%252ejpg&hm___qs=%26msg%3d3F95AC67%2d72D0%2d4F9E%2dB47F%2d8A55C0EB1A18%26start%3d0%26len%3d1025388%26mimepart%3d3%26curmbox%3d00000000%2d0000%2d0000%2d0000%2d000000000001%26b%3db3889444084e8a684ac6a1003d94eaca%26disk%3d10%2e1%2e106%2e204_d1327%26login%3dben_gertz%26domain%3dhotmail%252ecom%26_lang%3dEN%26country%3dAU&hm___cacheh=1&file=AIRFLEETSVH%2dOGG%2ejpg&domain=hotmail.com

I don't know whats going on because that one has loaded as well, finally.

^
I can't see that pic either. The links are for hotmail accounts, wouldn't it be easier to use photobacked/imageshack etc.

Photobucket is Screwing up on me, so I'll see what I can do.

Hows this for ironic, Jetstar have now commenced flights into TSV. Seeing as though i'm off to BNE on Friday, i thought i'd check the prices of all the airlines. So we have QF, DJ & JQ all on the TSV-BNE route. Guess who was the cheapest?? Yep, QF. Weird huh?

Meanwhile, who has heard that Alliance has shut down their rpt Townsville-Brisbane-Townsville flights???

And jetstar hasn't even been operating into TSV for 2 weeks!!!!! :shocked:

TangoSierraVictor

Yeah thats right, but they were only operating the 1 flight per week of late. (Thursday nights, TSV-BNE) Mainly just for a/c positioning purposes. They are concentrating on their charter work as far as i know.

Yeah, too bad though, but They are mainly a Maintenance and Charter company in the first place anyway.

Oh well, it was cool having 4 airlines doing the TSV-BNE sector. I never would've believed ten years ago there would be four airlines flying Townsville to Brisbane!!!

Tango

Yeah, too bad though, but They are mainly a Maintenance and Charter company in the first place anyway.
& a/c leasing as well.

They have a/c on lease to Air Nugini currently.

Jetstar has been using the Hybrid Avis/Budget 717 in Town a few times within their first week and four days, I've only seen the Avis side with the Red Holden Commodore, because it was coming in for Approach and Iggy is on the East side of the Approach path, and I also saw the Sydney A320 this morning when I got to School and nice and Silver, didn't realise that it gets in so early.

I saw the Budget/Avis in BNE on Friday afternoon. I'm yet to see a Jetstar a/c in TSV, i go to the airport nearly everyday, but when i'm there, no JQ flights are.

It's great to see the A320 back at the airport...i was in a car on ingham road while the jq syd flight was landing about a week ago..it was fantastic to have the 320 fly overhead..it was so cool i wanted to go on the plane there and then!!!!! :)

Tango

^^
Yes you're not wrong!! I went by the airport last Friday night & the JQ TSV-MEL flight was docked at bay 4. I was thinking how much i wish i could go on that flight!! :)

The was an An124 in Towsville today. Must have been picking up helicopters to go to Pakistan for the earthquake relief effort.

Amberley airport near Ipswich is one to watch. Boeing has already set up operations there and there is rumor that Ipswich city council wants to use it as a second domestic airport for Brisbane - though take that with a grain of salt.

Amberley is expanding rapidly, most of the operations currently occuring in Laverton in Melbourne and Richmond in Sydney will be moved to Amberley over the next few years boosting the population of the area and adding to what is already Australia's largest RAAF base.

The runways are big enough to handle a 747 and frequently handle much larger aircraft like the Antonov and Starlifters from the US.

Currently there are more than $285 million in redevelopment occuring at the airport and along with BNE will become Australia's premier aerospace technology hub.

Amberley currently employs 3,500 people with future jobs capacity of 8,500 involving Boeing Australia Ltd (570 existing employees) and various other smaller operations including Aerostructures Australia, Rosebank Engineering, Tasman Aviation, VMS International, Honeywell and QANTAS Defence Services

As you can tell this is one Queensland Airport that cannot be ignored!!!

Geez, thats Impressive, I knew most of that stuff but didnt know Richmond and Laverton were downgrading at the expense of Amberley, And apparently Jetstar is eyeing Amberley off to continue its current Secondary airport trend, same with Richmond in Sydney.

Geez, thats Impressive, I knew most of that stuff but didnt know Richmond and Laverton were downgrading at the expense of Amberley, And apparently Jetstar is eyeing Amberley off to continue its current Secondary airport trend, same with Richmond in Sydney.
Yep - in terms of defence everything is moving north, Townsville, Amberley and Tindal will benefit most.

The only thing that we are benefiting up here is a RAAF Base upgrade. Have the RAAF got any of those A330MRTT aircraft yet. Because they were getting some soon, and using them as the new Tankers and Transport Aircraft.

I can't see the government allowing rpt flights in and out of Amberley. But, you never know i guess.

Gertzy, no the RAAF haven't recieved any A330's yet. I think late next year or 2007 is when they start recieving them. I couldn't be 100% sure exactly when though.

I asked because we see the Tankers in a few times so when they get the 707's replaced, we'll be seeing the A330's especially for Overseas Transport and so on.

Yes, don't worry, i've been thinking exactly the same thing!

Geez, thats Impressive, I knew most of that stuff but didnt know Richmond and Laverton were downgrading at the expense of Amberley, And apparently Jetstar is eyeing Amberley off to continue its current Secondary airport trend, same with Richmond in Sydney.


I think Jetstar is eyeing off archefield airport instead of Amberley as the base belongs to the RAAF and it is to stay that way for quite some time.

Archerfield will never happen either. None of the runways are long enough or strong enough to cope with a fully laden jet. If my memory serves me correctly, Archerfield is pretty much land-locked as well, so the chances of runway extensions are pretty minimal.

Iam quite sure runways 10L/28R can cope with large jet (not sure about 737's etc) i have seen lear jets depart and arrive.

Learjets are quite a bit smaller than a 717 or A320!!

How long is the Main or Runways at Archerfield, It could possibly be able to accomodate BAe 146's and I think that Archerfield could handle 717's.

I don't have an ERSA with me at the moment, but from memory, the longest runway at Archerfield is about 1500-1600m. The problem is not only runway length but also pavement strength, i'm not sure how the surface would cope with fully laden airliners using it all the time.

But from what I remember hearing or seeing, BaE 146's could be handled At Archerfield apparently. Jetstar are handling really good load factors into Townsville, full flights on most services, and services may be increased for christmas and after that permanently.

^^
The fact of the matter is, we won't see any bae-146's going there anyway, considering Jetstar don't have any and won't be getting any. Qantas is also phasing them out.

I know, but I was just saying that from what I remember, Archerfield can Handle Bae 146's.

An old ansett Bae 146 which was here for Maintenance with Hawker Pacific when Ansett Collapsed is now The Townsville Airport Fire and Rescue's training Aircraft.
In Heathrow, they use an old DC-10 as their's and its amazing how they can reconfigure the whole aircraft to try and Simulate the situation.

^^
Yeah my mate works for Hawker Pacific. They're apparently very cruisy to work for! lol

Australian Airlines announced yesterday that It'll start Double Daily flights to Tokyo form Cairns starting from mid-2006, It also means Qantas will withdraw from the route, and Ultimately, Cairns International Routes altogether.

Tokyo-Cairns was Qantas's last International route to Cairns after it appointed Australian Airlines to overtake many of Qantas's Cairns routes back in late 2002. Qantas will keep International flight numbered Connections to Brisbane and Sydney for the convenience of Australian Airlines passengers, and Australian will also Suspend Cairns-Fukokoa services due to lack of Demand from the Japanese and Australian public.

But,However, an arranged Cairns-Tokyo codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines will still continue via Australian Airlines.

Cairns seems to be slowly falling from grace. However, it's still light years ahead of Townsville in the international connections! lol

We have a few International Connections with Pacific Blue via Virgin, but we should try and establish ourselves as a Charter Airport, and get UK Charter Airlines to do regular Charter Flights (i.e Monarch, Thomas Cook, Air 2000, etc) and then we will probably be set.

Anyone hear about the Windshield breaking on the Virgin 737 between Here and Brisbane.

^^
Yeah heard about that drama. Crew had to make a rapid descent & decompression of the cabin.

Doubt we'll ever get European charter airlines here on a regular basis. Asia & South Pacific charters would be more likely.

Virgin has also discontinued it's straight through check-in from Townsville to N.Z. flights. You now have to recheck-in in BNE.

So its not a Connection Flight anymore, that is Crap, Jetstar claims that they are going to start doing that from here. Wonder when they'll increase Flights to Brisbane and Sydney, I reckon the maximum they'll go for at this stage to Melbourne is probably 5x weekly.

Here's a photo which I have said I'll put on this Forum so many times but didn't work, this time I've uploaded it to a photo thingo etc and its uploaded fine.

So here it is, Qantas boeing 767 from september arriving from Sydney.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/Doongie90/B767tsv.jpg

Enjoy.

I just recently got FS2004, and its good, bloody good, It doesn't have Aerobridges for our Airport, or even Cairns or Brisbane airport for that matter, but it does have continuous MD-83, B737 and Dash 8 landings for our Airport, Cairns airport has the same and the odd 777, brisbane has all types.

^^
The Aussie airports are usually never accurate seeing as though it's an Amercian based program. Though, i will admit, it has got alot better in recent times. I haven't got the most recent version because i couldn't see the point when it's not all that much better than FS2002.

Just go onto www.flightsim.com & download your add-ons for more accurate Aussie scenery. :)

Yer i found the same problem with fs 2004, but to get that act of realism just download add on scenery. It really does make a difference.

At around 10:30am today a Qantas Boeing 767 en route to Cairns from Sydney, Diverted to Townsville for Re-fuelling and due to apparent Severe weather in Cairns, I would've like to have made it interesting by saying it was a 747.

Also at 11:00am today, the Jetstar flight that was supposed to arrive a 9:05am this morning was running late, it stated 11:00am but it didn't arrive till 11:30am so it was running 2 hours and 30 mins late, very appauling.

I knew I should've taken my Camera to the Airport with me :).

Here's a grab bag of photos (with Photographers Permission) from Airfleets.net of Townsville.

http://www.airfleets.org/picture/32000/33182.jpg
Wunala Dreaming Townsville Bulletin Charter

http://www.airfleets.org/picture/36000/36164.jpg
Additional Sydney Flight after NRL Grand Final

http://www.airfleets.net/picture/42000/42126.jpg
Jetstar A320

Enjoy :).

Lets hope we see more of those orange planes!

Did anyone see the airbus A380 come into brisbane a few months ago, i actually slept in and missed it lol. Anyway what were your thoughts eg size, noise, and was it what u expected?

^^
It visited BNE on a couple of occasions? Did you sleep in twice? lol

yer, lol i cant believe i missed it twice

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/Doongie90/Qantas767.jpg
A photo of the diverted Qantas 767 at Townsville Airport on Tuesday.