Charter and cargo specialist Aerlink (Brisbane International) has reintroduced the ATR42-500 type to its fleet, entering an ex-Hevilift (PNG) aircraft onto the Australian register as VH-FVN (msn 501). It is the only ATR42 Family unit at the all-ATR - Avions de Transport Régional operator, which otherwise operates two ATR72-200(F)s and six ATR72-500s.
ADS-B flight tracking data shows the aircraft, then registered as P2-KSV, ferried to Cairns from Port Moresby on October 26. It was then entered in the Australian register on November 6. The aircraft is owned and managed by Castlelake via special-purpose vehicle Capstone Aviation Pte Ltd.
ch-aviation fleets data shows the aircraft had operated for Hevilift PNG since 2013. Capstone is registered foreign company with links to Hevilift. Aerlink was also formerly known as Hevilift Australia but rebranded in early 2023. Aerlink and Hevilift PNG transfer aircraft reasonably regularly as demand requires, and Aerlink deregistered its previous ATR42 from Australia earlier this year. VH-FVN ferried down to Townsville on November 29, where it will be based.
Aerlink serves a range of charter customers, including operating its two ATR72 freighters on the Brisbane-Sydney Kingsford Smith, Brisbane-Rockhampton, and Brisbane-Mackay city pairs on behalf of Qantas Freight. Three of its six passenger-configured ATR72-500s are based at Perth International working closed charter contracts for mining and resource companies. Two others are based in Brisbane and currently work the Brisbane-Moranbah sector, while the sixth ATR72-500 is based in Townsville and shuttles between there and the Chinova Resources-owned Osborne Mine, around 1,000 kilometres to the west.
