Busy Airport May 2024

This week had a busy start at the Norfolk Island Airport, with a helicopter from New Zealand and the Royal Australian Air Force Globemaster landing on Monday.

Around 2.45pm on Monday 20 May, a helicopter arrived from New Zealand. The crew had flown from Kerikeri in Northland, New Zealand and arrived here on Norfolk Island on a sunny afternoon. This was a privately owned Airbus Helicopter H130, registration number VH-BTC. I drove to the airport to take a few photographs and it was a lovely helicopter, coloured dark silver/grey and black. There have been a few helicopters this year already, and it still sounds strange to hear them, as they arrive at the Norfolk Island International Airport.

Also arriving the same timing was an Australian Airforce aircraft. This was a C17 Globemaster, 36 SQN, RAAF out of Amberly in SEQ, Australia. Comments on Facebook mentioned that the Australian Airforce has eight of these aircrafts. When I arrived at the Airport car park, the plane was taking off, so I missed capturing a photo, but there were fantastic images on Facebook, and I will share a couple. Thank you to the locals who managed to get these photographs and videos and share them on the Facebook page, Norfolk Island Noticeboard.

The Globemaster was not here at the Norfolk Island Airport for very long. At first, I thought I heard two planes, but there was one aircraft, it first flew low over the runway, a “test flight practice landing”, not touching the ground, rounded the island and returned and landed a few minutes later, taxied to the other end and then took off. I am sure those who saw the Royal Australian Air Force Globemaster, enjoyed watching it land and take off. The aircraft number was A41-213, the photographs were so clear, we are so lucky to be able to see the planes from the airport fence lines.

On Tuesday, the Brisbane 21 May flight was delayed until the evening. I drove to the airport and took a photo of the Qantas plane on the tarmac under the flood lights. I am sure the travellers will have been pleased to arrive after a very long day at the Brisbane International Airport. While I as at the airport I also spotted a small plane, which must have been island hopping like the helicopter. Norfolk Island is an International Airport and is an important refuelling stop for many small crafts as they cross the Tasman Sea or for other South Pacific Islands.

I enjoy having a flight tracking app on my phone and checking what aircrafts are arriving at the Norfolk Island Airport. Monday was a fun day for many to enjoy an Air Force aircraft and helicopter which we don’t see every day.

Here are photos I took of the helicopter and Qantas plane and the small aircraft, plus a couple of amazing photos shared by Lloyd Derby on the Norfolk Island Noticeboard Facebook page

Betty Matthews

24 May 2024