ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2018

By Grahame Hutchison on Monday, 19th March 2018

The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2018 took place on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of March 2018 in Sydney, with the vision of "Enhancing Regional Collaboration to Strengthen Our Security and Prosperity".

VIP / Military aircraft from Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand & Malaysia transported their respective Heads of State and leaders to Sydney for the Special Summit 2018. Some of the Heads Of State, like Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, arrived on scheduled commercial services.

In addition to representatives from member countries, a variety of guest speakers also attended the event for various sessions. Speaker Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes (Group Chief Executive of AirAsia) attended the event, travelling to Sydney in his Global Express.

Jump Ahead To: Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia or Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes.

Cambodia - B-6738 (Airbus A320)

Cambodia's Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen arrived on the Kingdom of Cambodia Airbus A320 B-6738, which landed on Runway 16R as KOC01. The aircraft then taxied to the DOM6 Apron to unload. Seen here under tow on Taxiway GOLF from DOM6 to the KILO Apron for parking. Notice that the aircraft has no registration markings.

A left turn onto Taxiway CHARLIE which has direct access to the KILO Apron.

B-6738 is a very tidy A320 up close, built in 2011 (C/N 4507), and owned by China Southern Airlines.

At the completion of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, B-6738 departed from Runway 34L on Sunday afternoon.

Vietnam - VN-A868 (Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, arrived on a chartered Vietnam Airlines Boeing B789, visiting Canberra first, and then heading back to Sydney for the Summit on Friday morning. VN-A868 arrived on Runway 16R as HVN1.

VN-A868 vacated left onto Taxiway BRAVO, and then headed to DOM6 Bay 98 for an official welcome.

VN-A868 parked on DOM6 Bay 98 after the official party had left for their city hotel.

Being parked on the KILO Apron allows for a close inspection. This aircraft operates scheduled service into Sydney from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, however you rarely get this close.

Vietnam Airlines use the General Electric GEnx engines on their Dreamliners, and each engine delivers 74,100lbs thrust.

VN-A869 was built at Boeing's Charleston factory, and was delivered to Vietnam Airlines on 14th October 2016.

The sculptured Chevrons on the rear of the engine nacelle help mix hot and cold gases, and reduce noise levels significantly.

The rear right Cabin Doors and rear Cargo Door.

Tail/Rudder, Elevator, and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) exhaust on the Dreamliner

Closeup of the Dreamliner Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) exhaust, and rear white navigation light. The flat plate below the exhaust was not on the Flight Test aircraft, but was added to the Production aircraft to help vaporise any excess fuel that may drip from the APU exhaust.

Indonesia - A-001 (Boeing 737-800)

Indonesian President, His Excellency Mr Joko Widodo, arrived on the Indonesian Government B737-800 A-001.

A-001 arrived on Runway 16R, and then taxied to DOM 6 Bay 97 to unload. The aircraft remained at this Bay for the whole weekend.

Flying overhead Qantas Drive and the Airport Perimeter Fence for Runway 16R. Built in 2012 and originally operating as N454BJ, A-001 was delivered to the Indonesian Government on 14th April 2014.

Australian Officials waiting to greet the Indonesian President.

President His Excellency Mr Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana walk down the aircraft steps to an official welcome.

At the conclusion of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, President His Excellency Mr Joko Widodo departed off Runway 34R for Auckland, New Zealand.

Brunei - V8-BKH (Boeing 747-8 BBJ)

The Sultan of Brunei arrived on the Brunei Government Boeing B747-8 BBJ V8-BKH, landing on Runway 16R and then taxiing to the International Terminal.

V8-BKH (C/N 41060) was delivered to Boeing Business Jets on 1st November 2012, and later delivered to the Brunei Government on 27th September 2016.

The Boeing B747-8 BBJ is powered by four General Electric GEnx engines, each delivering 66,500lbs of thrust.

The B747-8 BBJ rear Cabin Doors and rear Cargo Doors.

The main undercarriage has four sets of wheel bogies, two extend from the fuselage, and two from the wing roots. There are 16 main gear tyres, and two nose gear tyres.

Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) access doors and exhaust.

Close up of the APU exhaust and the rear white navigation lights.

The tail fin has the centre piece from the Emblem of Brunei.

At the conclusion of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, the Sultan of Brunei was driven from the Convention Centre, to Gate 10 at the Sydney Airport International Terminal.

Specific "ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2018" number plates were used on all the Commonwealth Cars providing transport for the Summit.

The aircraft was pushed back from Gate 10 onto the INTL2 Apron for engine start.

V8-BKH is an immaculate aircraft in every respect, absolutely clean, and highly polished all over.

V8-BKH lifting off from Runway 34L at Sydney Airport.

V8-BKH cleaning up after takeoff, with the wheels almost completely retracted.

Thailand - HS-TYV (Airbus A340)

Thailand's Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, arrived on the Royal Thai Air Force Airbus A340-500 HS-TYV. The aircraft landed on Runway 16R, and then taxied to the International Terminal.

From the International T1 Terminal Gate, HS-TYV was towed to Standoff Bay 76 for the rest of the weekend.

HS-TYV was delivered to the Royal Thai Air Force in November 2016.

HS-TYV is fitted with four Rolls Royce Trent 500 engines, each delivering 56,000lb thrust.

The aircraft's Civil registration is HS-TYV, and Military serial is 60204.

Thailand's Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, departed Sydney on Monday morning at 0910L.

Rolling on Runway 16R at Sydney Airport, and heading for Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok.

Malaysia - 9M-NAA (Airbus A319CJ)

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, arrived in the Royal Malaysian Air Force Airbus A319CJ 9M-NAA.

9M-NAA was built in 2006 (C/N 2949) and delivered to the Malaysian Government on 12th December 2006. The aircraft was then moved to Basel (BSL) in January 2007 for VIP fit-out, and finally delivered to the Royal Malaysian Air Force on 3rd August 2007.

Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes - 9M-CJG (Bombardier Global Express BD-700)

A Business Summit was also held as part of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, where Prominent business leaders from ASEAN member states and Australia came together to examine topics vital to deepening economic integration, including: agri-food supply chains; infrastructure; advanced manufacturing and industry 4.0; digital transformation in services; future energy; and tourism destination development and aviation.The Business Summit will help Australian and ASEAN businesses with the know-how and connections needed to strengthen the economic partnership. It was comprised of three events over two days, including a CEO Forum, SME Conference and a Women in Business Breakfast. AirAsia X company founder and Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, attended the Business Summit, arriving in Bombardier Global Express 9M-CJG (C/N 9003). This aircraft was built in 1997, and was operated by Skyservice Aviation Inc for several years, before being exported to Malaysia on 15th May 2012.