Trip Report: Alliance & QantasLink BNE-ROK-MKY-BNE (Photos)

[Brandon Giacomin]

Introduction:

Last weekend I went to Rockhampton and Mackay for a few hours to fly on a Dash 8-300, Q400 and a Fokker 100 for the first time. I booked the trip late last year; it only cost about $160. The flights I booked were for Sunday 11 March, on QF2352 departing Brisbane at 0900 and arriving into Rockhampton at 1015 on an Alliance Fokker 100 then onto QF2308 departing Rockhampton at 1110 and arriving into Mackay at 1200 on a QantasLink Dash 8-300, then returning to Brisbane on QF2517 departing Mackay at 1455 and arriving in Brisbane at 1630 operated by a Dash 8-Q400.

Brisbane Airport

The day finally arrived, got to the airport at 7:30am for my 9am departure. Went to the QantasLink end first, was looking out for Dash8-300’s, there was three but only one was being prepared for a flight which was VH-TQK. So it looked like she would be doing QF2308 from BNE-GLT-ROK-MKY-TSV-CNS with me on the ROK-MKY sector. Also saw VH-QOW who I was hoping to get later in the day

New car park


A busy QantasLink apron with 8 Dash 8’s


Yananyi departs for Sydney


QOW


Then I had a look at the common user satellite and the Virgin Australia end.

VH-ZPT being prepared to operate DJ1210 to Canberra


VH-OEE then arrived from Dallas which I missed, then a minute later VH-OEH arrived from LAX which I managed to photograph


VH-VBY arrives from Sydney, first time I’ve seen her in the new livery


QantasLink (Cobham) Boeing 717-200 VH-NXN prepares for a training flight to Mackay before she would enter service in Queensland four days later


Soon an Alliance Fokker 100 was towed over from the hangars and it was VH-FKF, so she would be operating my flight to Rockhampton


Emirates Boeing 777-300ER A6-EGI taxies out to RWY19 to depart for Auckland


Boarding commenced on time at 0840, I was one of the first to line up and board.

[Brandon Giacomin]

March 11, 2012
QantasLink (operated by Alliance)
QF2352
BNE-ROK
VH-FKF F100
Seat 18A

Boarding via the front stairs


In seat 18A, with VH-NXN getting pushed back for her training flight to Mackay


Passing the lookout


Took a video of the takeoff which I will put on youtube when I get the chance.

Climbing out of BNE


Through the clouds


And above the clouds


In flight refreshment was served quickly after takeoff, the refreshment consisted of a muffin, a yoghurt and some sesame snaps.

Cruising


Turning base for RWY15


Finals for RWY15


Slowing down


At the gate, arrived a few minutes early


Interior


Disembarking


Will now be returning to BNE, then back up to Rocky two more times that day

[Brandon Giacomin]

Rockhampton Airport

Check in area


Restaurants and shops


After a look around the terminal I went through security and into the departure lounge. VH-TQL was there when I arrived operating QF2301 CNS-TSV-MKY-ROK-GLT-BNE. My flight was showing a 10 minute delay. It eventually arrived at about 1110 and it was VH-TQK. Boarding commenced quite quickly. About 20 people joined the flight at Rockhampton. We departed about half an hour behind schedule.

March 11, 2012
QantasLink
QF2308
ROK-MKY
VH-TQK DH8C
Seat 6A

Walking out to TQK




When I hopped on board a QantasLink Q400 arrived closely followed by a Virgin E190.

Taxiing to RWY33


Gear up


Heading north to Mackay




Since it was such a short flight the refreshment was only a drink and a small packet of shapes.

Cruising


Cabin, was very surprised, great legroom and comfortable seats


On Descent


Train loop down below


Downwind for RWY14, a Virgin B738 can be seen about to backtrack after arriving from Brisbane


Turning base


Touchdown and a very hard one!

[Brandon Giacomin]

Taxiing to the gate with VH-NXN and VH-VUM at the terminal


At the gate


Mackay Airport

VH-NXN


VH-VUM in revised ‘Airline of Virgin Blue’ titles


Had a quick walk around the terminal before going outside to watch some departures and an arrival.

VH-TQK off too CNS via TSV


VH-ZPE arrives from Sydney




After getting a few photos beside the terminal a security guard who appeared to have finished his shift pulled up beside me in his car. He asked what I was doing; I said I was just taking photos of planes. He said only to take photos of the aircraft and not security gates and the terminal which I hadn’t done. I then sat down on a seat outside the terminal and was approached by another security guard. He also asked what I was doing; I said I was taking photos of planes. He asked to see the photos and asked what I was taking them for; I said it was a hobby. Again I was told not to take photos around the terminal. So I didn’t take any more photos outside the terminal and none inside which I was disappointed about as I wanted some photos inside of the renovations. But I didn't want to get in trouble.

So for the rest of my time in Mackay I sat in the viewing area watching the E190 depart back to Sydney and watch the 717 doing ground crew training. It was just pulling out of the terminal and then pulling back in. This was done about 10 times. I went on balus.info on my phone to see what Q400’s had departed BNE and I saw VH-QOW had departed BNE at the time QF2516 is due to depart I wasn’t 100% sure this would be my aircraft, I would just have to wait. Closer to my departure I went into the departure lounge. Jetstar A320 VH-VGD arrived from BNE at about 1430 and shortly after a Q400 landed and I could see the special scheme I would be getting VH-QOW back to BNE

Boarding commenced on time, the lounge was getting quite crowded with two flights departing at the same time.

[Brandon Giacomin]

March 11, 2012
QantasLink
QF2517
MKY-BNE
VH-QOW DH8D
Seat 19A

Unfortunately when I did the online check in the day before the only window seats available were 19A and D, the last row. I selected 19A.

Boarding QOW!!








The view from 19A ended up being quite good.

Taxiing out to RWY14


Passing VH-VGD


Gear up


Climbing


Interior


Refreshment on this service was some chili lime snacks, roasted almonds with wasabi peas and a little chocolate as well as a drink, I had a coke.

Cruising


On descent with Caboolture Aerodrome visible below, where I am learning to fly


Caboolture Aerodrome


Redcliffe Aerodrome


Redcliffe

[Brandon Giacomin]

Ted Smout and Hornibrook Bridges


Gear down


Short finals for RWY14, my first time using the short runway at Brisbane


Nearly down, was another hard landing


Brisbane Airport

Taxied to the terminal and exited after a great flight. Went into the small part of the terminal used for QantasLink flights, unfortunately it takes you to the check in area. I was hoping to go back in the terminal as my dad wouldn’t be picking me up for an hour. So I walked to the viewing area to do some spotting whilst waiting.

Virgin Hangar looking nice in the afternoon light


QOW off to Moranbah!


Dad picked me up at 5:45pm and took me home!

Conclusion:
Was a great trip, flights were fantastic. Was very impressed with the Dash 8’s and the Fokker 100. Rockhampton and Mackay Airports were both very nice. Next trip for me is with QantasLink again, I will be heading out to Longreach for the weekend in May! Can’t wait

Thanks for reading!
Brandon

[Mark Grima]

Thanks for an interesting report Brandon.

Cheers

M