~~Hi Guys - I have just got back from a week's trip to the small island group nation of Vanuatu. The holiday was not for plane spotting purposes but as with my trip to Rarotonga a few years ago I did get to see some interesting local traffic in the few moments I had at the airport.
The capital city of Vanuatu, Port Vila is on the island of Efate which is where the majority of the resorts are. Port Vila's a bit of a dive but the Vanuatan people are very very friendly and our hotel Iririki Island was really nice.
Anyway we flew to Vanuatu rather fittingly on flight NF51 - Air Vanuatu's flagship their sole Boeing 737-800 YJ-AV1:
Air Vanuatu 737-800 YJ-AVI by rstretton, on Flickr
The main airport is Bauerfield International which is functional if not very pretty! Here's the international terminal. Note the viewing terrace which I never did find the entrance too:
Bauerfield International Airport Port Vila by rstretton, on Flickr
I was lucky enough to get the opportunity two days later to fly to the island of Tanna to visit the active volcano Mt Yasur. It was an amazing trip and gave me a chance to see more of the domestic ramp which is quite interesting.
Aside from Air Vanuatu there are several small carriers flying island hopping routes and tourist flights especially to Tanna (for Mt Yasur) and Pentecost (for the famous land diving ceremonies). These include Unity Airlines (http://www.unity-airlines.com/aircraft.html) who have three aircraft including an Islander (YJ-009) and a Trislander (YJ-0019).
Unity Airlines Vanuatu by rstretton, on Flickr
The Trislanders livery suggests and ancestry with the British Channel Islands operator Aurigny to me. Here are both on the ramp:
Unity Airlines Islander YJ-009 by rstretton, on Flickr
Unity Airlines Trislander YJ-0019 by rstretton, on Flickr
Also present are several smaller operators like this Scenic Flights Cessna:
Scenic Flights Cessna YJ-RV14 by rstretton, on Flickr
The domestic ramp is quite varied with several Islanders, Cessnas and a floatplane DHC-6:
Britten Norman Islander YJ-AL1 by rstretton, on Flickr
Domestic Ramp Vanuatu by rstretton, on Flickr
Air Vanuatu operates at least two DHC-6s one in this lovely scheme:
Air Vanuatu DHC-6 YJ-AV11 by rstretton, on Flickr
Air Vanuatu's main domestic airplane however is their sole ATR-72 suitably registered as YJ-AV72. The standard Air Vanuatu scheme is very nice also:
Air Vanuatu ATR-72 YJ-AV72 by rstretton, on Flickr
The most interesting aircraft at Port Vila however was a sole Harbin Y12. Air Vanuatu used to operate three but they don't appear to anymore. This example was in Air Vanuatu's colours minus their titles and with small Real Tonga titles instead. Real Tonga is Tonga's new airline which has operated another maligned rarity a MA-60.
Real Tonga ex Air Vanuatu Harbin Y12 by rstretton, on Flickr
I flew to Tanna on an Air Taxi Vanuatu Cessna 207 YJ-TAN. Air Taxi Vanuatu has at least two of these aircraft. Tanna itself is a smaller airport but despite being quite a large island with over 40,000 people or so this is easily the biggest building on the island (much of which is made up of tribal communities with no electricity). I was told that Air Vanuatu flies a hub and spoke operation from here flying in their ATR and using DHC-6s and Islanders on spokes to neighbouring islands:
Tanna Airport by rstretton, on Flickr
Here's my transport:
Air Taxi Vanuatu Cessna 207 YJ-TAN by rstretton, on Flickr
Also at Tanna was Unity Airlines 3rd fleet member not in flying condition at present:
Unity Airlines Piper Chieftain YJ-007 by rstretton, on Flickr
Last photo from the window of our departing flight NF50 home to Auckland later in the week was a rather nice Gulfstream that arrived as we departed. Ok for some I guess:
Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP Gulfstream G550 N813QS by rstretton, on Flickr
Anyway Vanuatu is hardly a spotting mecca but it has a sprinkling of interesting aircraft (I did see also a French Air Force Dassault Falcon / Mystere also) worth checking out on the way to and from the hotel.
The capital city of Vanuatu, Port Vila is on the island of Efate which is where the majority of the resorts are. Port Vila's a bit of a dive but the Vanuatan people are very very friendly and our hotel Iririki Island was really nice.
Anyway we flew to Vanuatu rather fittingly on flight NF51 - Air Vanuatu's flagship their sole Boeing 737-800 YJ-AV1:
Air Vanuatu 737-800 YJ-AVI by rstretton, on FlickrThe main airport is Bauerfield International which is functional if not very pretty! Here's the international terminal. Note the viewing terrace which I never did find the entrance too:
Bauerfield International Airport Port Vila by rstretton, on FlickrI was lucky enough to get the opportunity two days later to fly to the island of Tanna to visit the active volcano Mt Yasur. It was an amazing trip and gave me a chance to see more of the domestic ramp which is quite interesting.
Aside from Air Vanuatu there are several small carriers flying island hopping routes and tourist flights especially to Tanna (for Mt Yasur) and Pentecost (for the famous land diving ceremonies). These include Unity Airlines (http://www.unity-airlines.com/aircraft.html) who have three aircraft including an Islander (YJ-009) and a Trislander (YJ-0019).
Unity Airlines Vanuatu by rstretton, on FlickrThe Trislanders livery suggests and ancestry with the British Channel Islands operator Aurigny to me. Here are both on the ramp:
Unity Airlines Islander YJ-009 by rstretton, on FlickrUnity Airlines Trislander YJ-0019 by rstretton, on FlickrAlso present are several smaller operators like this Scenic Flights Cessna:
Scenic Flights Cessna YJ-RV14 by rstretton, on FlickrThe domestic ramp is quite varied with several Islanders, Cessnas and a floatplane DHC-6:
Britten Norman Islander YJ-AL1 by rstretton, on FlickrDomestic Ramp Vanuatu by rstretton, on FlickrAir Vanuatu operates at least two DHC-6s one in this lovely scheme:
Air Vanuatu DHC-6 YJ-AV11 by rstretton, on FlickrAir Vanuatu's main domestic airplane however is their sole ATR-72 suitably registered as YJ-AV72. The standard Air Vanuatu scheme is very nice also:
Air Vanuatu ATR-72 YJ-AV72 by rstretton, on FlickrThe most interesting aircraft at Port Vila however was a sole Harbin Y12. Air Vanuatu used to operate three but they don't appear to anymore. This example was in Air Vanuatu's colours minus their titles and with small Real Tonga titles instead. Real Tonga is Tonga's new airline which has operated another maligned rarity a MA-60.
Real Tonga ex Air Vanuatu Harbin Y12 by rstretton, on FlickrI flew to Tanna on an Air Taxi Vanuatu Cessna 207 YJ-TAN. Air Taxi Vanuatu has at least two of these aircraft. Tanna itself is a smaller airport but despite being quite a large island with over 40,000 people or so this is easily the biggest building on the island (much of which is made up of tribal communities with no electricity). I was told that Air Vanuatu flies a hub and spoke operation from here flying in their ATR and using DHC-6s and Islanders on spokes to neighbouring islands:
Tanna Airport by rstretton, on FlickrHere's my transport:
Air Taxi Vanuatu Cessna 207 YJ-TAN by rstretton, on FlickrAlso at Tanna was Unity Airlines 3rd fleet member not in flying condition at present:
Unity Airlines Piper Chieftain YJ-007 by rstretton, on FlickrLast photo from the window of our departing flight NF50 home to Auckland later in the week was a rather nice Gulfstream that arrived as we departed. Ok for some I guess:
Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP Gulfstream G550 N813QS by rstretton, on FlickrAnyway Vanuatu is hardly a spotting mecca but it has a sprinkling of interesting aircraft (I did see also a French Air Force Dassault Falcon / Mystere also) worth checking out on the way to and from the hotel.
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