Watching 3

Amazing photos...

During the week I was sent some amazing colour photos of Sunderland operations connected to the Chatham Island service. Ross McLeod writes - The attached photos which may be of some interest to you and your colleagues were taken by my father, Frank McLeod throughout the years 1958, 1959 and 1960 when we lived at Owenga where Dad was sole teacher."

The photos can be found at -
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-rnzaf-pioneering-air-services-to.html

Air Chathams Update

Today was an exciting day for Air Chathams as the first of two Saab 340 additions to the fleet arrived in Auckland. Saab 340A N135GU arrived into Auckland on its delivery flight from Guam via Honiara in the Solomon Islands. Noel Jones captured its arrival...

This follows Air Chathams' expansion last year when it put two Convair 580 freighters into service and purchased Airwork's Metro 23s... So just what is Air Chathams using the Convairs and Metro 23s for??? Air Chathams' Duane Emeny has given me a few answers... 

Regarding Convairs... we have ZK-KFL based on the Chathams providing freight support for seafood exports on the Chathams over the busy Summer season. It will then return to Auckland. Going forward we will continue to support Freightways where requested and we have been approached for possible freight contracts in Australia.

KFL at the Chathams on the 8th of February 2017

Metro ZK-POF is currently supporting passenger services and ZK-POE requires numerous calendar inspections prior to our application to be placed on Ops Specs.

Air Chathams' Metro 23 ZK-POF on on arrival on a charter to Tauranga on the 7th of January 2017

It is shaping up to be an exciting year for Air Chathams.

A big thanks to Duane for the info and to Noel, Bruce and Pete for the photos! Such help gives the blog life!

The rise of the Phoenix

Great news on the Sunair Facebook page... I for one look forward to Sunair getting airborne again soon and being able once again to access their services from Gisborne to Hamilton...

Sunair would like to wish you all the very best for 2018. We are expecting to be operating shortly and will announce this by relisting our website and 0800 number. Until then we appreciate your patience and loyalty to Sunair. If you wish to contact us (07) 575 7799 or email info@sunair.co.nz. Best wishes, Dan and Bev

A few days earlier I received a really interesting email from a reputable pilot who was able to step up the ladder because of the experience that he gained with Sunair.

Many very respected names across General Aviation in the north island are pulling together to help out this reputable airline, in various rolls across the company to help get it back airborne. Our pilot writes,

Sunair, and the Powers, have had support from all quarters outside of our esteemed regulator and will be flying within 8 weeks. CAA have seemingly united the industry against it, and I think we will see that from Sunair, who yet again live to breathe another day. 

Sunair is a respected airline, and does a job for up and coming pilots (along with other 3rd level operators BA, FMS, Sounds, Air2There, Stewart Island Flights) to get them real world, commercial SPIFR experience that no amount of instructing background can give - deadlines, passengers, all weather MCTOW flying that is experience that cannot be understated. The skills that those companies named give to younger pilots at the beginning of their career is invaluable to aviation in NZ as a whole. 

The Powers have given many a lifeline to pilots since the mid 1980’s, and I think in the next little while we shall see that repaid twice fold. They have moved many thousands of passengers safely, continually being doubted from other sectors of the industry that many not have a full and clear understanding of Sunair’s modus operandi.

There are not too many airlines in this country, founded in the 1980’s, under the same directorship that still operate in the current environment and it is a testament to the Powers hard work and determination. 

The story of Sunair shall continue, and I for one am happy and relieved it is. 

From what I have heard Sunair have suffered a real raw deal and the concept of CAA working with this operator (and others) to ensure public safety has been lost. It always has to be a partnership. CAA may come to rue their approach to this and other operators.

I am also aware that at times people have on this blog and other forums have vented their spleens on various operators and their so called limitations, but often they forget these are small operators and trying to survive in a difficult and complex industry. They also forget that many pilots flying international routes today need the experience they gained in our small operators. If anyone wants to vent their spleen with their own agendas on individuals I would prefer people email me on westland831@gmail.com rather than putting comments that are offensive to the people concerned.

Exciting Arrivals...

I had an email from Duane Emeny from Air Chathams today with exciting news!

All going to plan we should have two Saabs arriving tomorrow evening with US registrations and no markings. Just in case you wanted to let your friends on the airport hill know :-)

Congratulations to Duane and the Air Chats team and we look forward to seeing how you deploy them!

A look back at the past blog headers - 2017

A look back at the past blog headers - 2016