Narrabri Airport has looked like a major regional airport in the past week, with a big jet landing yesterday afternoon and last Friday evening.
Vincent Aviation, the company soon to begin the new Narrabri to Sydney air route, flew in the biggest aircraft in its fleet, a BAe146-200 76-seat four engine jet, to deliver and pick up passengers on a special charter flight.
The 76-seater has a special dispensation for several flights into Narrabri for charter flights.
Vincent Aviation hopes to soon begin its daily regular passenger
service, for the general public, with a smaller aircraft in its fleet, a 34-seat Saab 340.
It’s a larger aircraft than those operated under previous carrier Brindabella Airlines.
As anticipation grows for the start of the new service, Vincent Aviation is running a special flight for the Narrabri Shire community this Saturday, and Courier readers have the chance to win a seat on the flight.
Simply cut out the coupon, on page 3, fill out your details and you could be one of the lucky winners.
The scenic flight will depart Narrabri Airport at 1pm on Satuday.
The company is already familiar with Narrabri Shire, through its charter service.
The larger jet which landed at the airport on Friday and yesterday is the biggest in the airline’s fleet.
The BAe 146-200, which carries two cabin crew and two flight crew, is acknowledged as one of the quietest passenger jets in service, and its arrival into Narrabri last week confirmed its reputation as the jet appeared on its approach at the northern end of the runway almost unnoticed.
The BAe 146 is a short take off and land plane and touched down and rolled to a stop in a very short distance, quietly taxied across the apron and came to a halt.
The aircraft has a special dispensation for several flights into Narrabri.
Aircraft over a certain weight require the dispensation for a limited number of landings because of the possibility of damage to the tarmac.
When it flew in yesterday afternoon it was greeted by the mayor Conrad Bolton and councillors Ken Flower and Cathy Redding.
The Vincent Aviation jet will be followed by another charter operator, Virgin, which will fly in similar large capacity aircraft each week.
The absence of a regular passenger service at the moment notwithstanding, Narrabri Airport is busy .
The apron has four or five twin engine charter aircraft waiting for passengers each morning, with other charters flying in and out throughout the week.