This aircraft was built for Avation Airframe Holding Pte Ltd

This was the first ATR-72-600 for Skywest / Virgin Australia

Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M turboprop engines

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-FVP - July 18, 2012

Registered to Avation Airframe Holding Pte Ltd, Singapore

Leased to Skywest Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd, Cloverdale, Western Australia as the registered operator

The aircraft was to be operated by Skywest Airlines on behalf of Virgin Australia Pty Ltd

First flown at Toulouse as 'F-WWLR'- July 24, 2012

Accepted by Avation Airframe Holding at Toulouse - August 03, 2012

Leased to Virgin Australia - August 03, 2012

Departed Paris (Toulouse) on the delivery flight to Australia as SXA1157 - August 04, 2012

It arrived at Perth on completion of the delivery flight from France - August 08, 2012

Delivery route: Toulouse - Alexandria - Al Ain - Nagpur - Penang - Jakarta (Halim) - Perth

The delivery flight was carried out by Southern Cross Aviation

The aircraft was named 'Wategos Beach'

Ferried Perth - Kalgoorlie - Brisbane as DJ813A - August 18, 2012

It was used for pilot training and route proving flights

Operated its first revenue service Brisbane - Emerald as DJ1255 - October 23, 2012

Virgin Australia announced its intention to acquire Skywest Airlines - October 30, 2012

Virgin Australia finalised the acquisition of Skywest Airlines - April 11, 2013

Skywest Airlines was officially renamed Virgin Australia Regional Airlines - May 03, 2013

Registered to Virgin Australia Airlines - November 02, 2015

It was withdrawn from service and stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine) due to COVID-19 restrictions - March 27, 2020

Ferried Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Mareeba (Queensland) for storage - November 19, 2020

Ferried Mareeba - Cairns for further storage - February 23, 2022

Test flown Cairns (07:54 - 10:10 AEST) - March 17, 2024

Test flown Cairns (10:50 - 12:21 AEST) - March 30, 2024

Test flown Cairns (07:24 - 08:50 AEST) - April 19, 2024

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 23, 2024

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-ATZ - April ?, 2024

Registered to Air Niugini, Boroko, Port Moresby

Ferried Cairns - Port Morseby on delivery to Air Niugini - April 30, 2024

Entered service with Air Niugini - ?

Current with Air Niugini