1981 Regional Airline Directory

As to the future, the situation is developing in two areas. One is that many new regional airline aeroplanes have been announced during the past year. Indeed, surely too many projects for them all to even make it to prototype stage. But for those that will make the grade, orders or options by way of “Letters of Intent” are being given by our own airlines. Then, the success of several well-established aeroplanes has been rapid in the past year on a worldwide basis and we are about to see some of these types in operation ourselves. The Embraer Bandeirante was the first of the several long-time-in-production designs to break out of a mainly military market application into commercial sales. It has been followed now by the CASA 212, which has sold very well in the past year and an example is already in the hands of local sales agents.

The third aeroplane with this sort of background that is breaking into regional airline sales is the Israeli IAI Arava. Whether any will come out here is yet to be decided. The Short 330 is now established in Australia with two examples having been delivered, while undisclosed customers have placed options on the newer Shorts 360, the prototype of which has just recently flown, six months ahead of its originally planned first flight date.

The Fairchild-Saab 340 and the DHC Dash 8 have both attracted orders, with BPA and Talair being the prime leaders with orders for the latter.

Of the various new and yet-to-be-built projects, Aerospatiale (France) and Aeritalia (Italy) have announced their joint efforts to market a new aeroplane.

CASA (Spain) and Nurtano (Indonesia) have announced their joint collaboration on a new aeroplane. In the USA, very little has been heard of the Ahrens 4-0-4-although a prototype of this 30-seater, four-engined aeroplane flew about two years back. It is reputed that the aircraft will now be built in Puerto Rico and will be available at less than $1. 6m per unit flyaway. However, a new company, the Commuter Aircraft Corporation, has announced its intention to build a 30-seater, four-engined, turbine-powered aeroplane. And, in all of these projects, we must not forget that Beechcraft, Piper, Cessna, Gulfstream, British Aerospace, Pilatus Britten Norman and Partenavia are joined by Dornier in all having turbine-powered aeroplanes very suitable for various operations within the regional airline precept coming on-stream.

Existing types such as the Swearingen Metroliner continue to sell well. The Mitsubishi turbine aeroplanes seem to have settled for the executive marketplace. De Havilland Canada are continuing to sell the DHC6 Twin Otter at a steady pace, as does our own GAF Nomad. There has been a lot of mass-media coverage concerning the Nomad. Modifications, following routine in-service operations having shown up areas for improvement, are now being incorporated on current production line models. The opportunity for sales is very good, with the USA agents having been hustling for a much faster delivery rate than has been possible.

Assuming that the disastrous drought is truly behind the rural sector for the next year, thus allowing passenger growth, it will be very interesting to see just how well all our airlines settle down and get on with the job of establishing a really successful regional airline operation in this great country.

AVDEV AIRLINES. Formerly Advance Airlines until taken over in late 1980 by Aviation Development Company and renamed. Two Beechcraft Super King Air 200s on regional services from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and to Gunnedah and Toowoomba.

The further recent acquisitions by the parent company of AVDEV have been Thorpes Transport Commuter Air Services in North Queensland and Davey Air Services of Dubbo in respect of the scheduled side of Davey’s operations. The two Bandeirantes and the DH (Lycoming) Heron will eventually be repainted into standard AVDEV colours.

AEROPELICAN INTERCITY COMMUTER AIR SERVICE P/L. Currently our top-ranking regional airline. Has one route only now, being the Sydney to Newcastle (Belmont) run. Have just taken delivery of three new DHC Twin Otters and have retained one of their earlier such aeroplanes as a backup. All Cessnas now believed sold off, as was the Singleton to Sydney route. The company was purchased by Maslings in July 1980 and has subsequently been acquired in recent weeks by TNT.

AIR GREAT LAKES P/L. Started with a leased Embraer Bandeirante on the Sydney to Forster run early in 1980; added in stopovers at Scone when that town was omitted by Advance Airlines; changed aeroplanes to a Piper Navajo Chieftain in 1981 and (temporarily at least) ceased stopovers at Scone.

AIR NORTH (previously NT Air Charter). Originally scheduled regional services on the Darwin-Boroloola service but this was ceased around August 1980. With the demise of Northern Airlines, Air North have been authorised for the Darwin-Echo Island route on a daily (except Sundays) basis and were to operate a once-weekly Darwin-Ramingining-Lake Evella-Darwin schedule.

The current fleet stands at a Beechcraft Super King Air 200, 3 x Cessna 402s, a Cessna 421 and a 310.

AIR TASMANIA PT, Hobart, Tasmania. Although established for some considerable time at Hobart, the company was taken over by Melbourne’s BASSAIR in 1980. The new owners decided that the AIR TASMANIA title fitted the operation better and so the Bassair company disappeared. Scheduled routes within Tasmania radiating out of Hobart and, as might be expected, a lot of Bass Strait’s freight and charter work. 3 x Piper Turbo Navajos, 3 x Piper Navajo Chieftains and 3 x Embraer Bandeirantes, though one of these is on sub-lease to Northwest Airlines.

AIRTRANSIT P/L, Adelaide Airport, SA. Adelaide-Amer- ican River-Kingscote-Parndana but, other than this, no further reliable information is available.

ALBATROSS AIRLINES P/L, Parafield, SA. Operates a Piper Cherokee Six on a service to Kingscote on Kangaroo Island.

AQUATIC AIRWAYS P/L, Palm Beach, Sydney, NSW. Besides charter work, operates a twice-daily scheduled float-plane service between Palm Beach and Port Stephens, a developing area north of Newcastle.

AVIOR P/L, Perth, WA. The current fleet comprises 1 x Piper Turbo Navajo, 1 x Piper Navajo Chieftain and a Beech Baron for their network of services, mainly coastal, that link Eneabba, Jurien Bay, Mullewa, Dongara, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Shark Bay. Carnarvon. Plus Perth to Kambalda.

BARRIER REEF AIRWAYS, Annerley, Qld. Commenced daily flights from Brisbane to Bundaberg, primarily for tourists who are then taken over to view Lady Elliott Island. Have leased the fixed-wing fleet of BUTLER as well as Butler’s airstrip at Dunwich on Stradbroke Island and are operating this route now. Apparently the leasing arrangement allows for the eventual purchase of the route, aeroplanes and airstrip. It is believed that the Mitsubishi Mu2 that was in the Butler fleet was disposed of prior to Barrier Reef Airways’ collaboration.

W.E.L. & M. E. BLATCHFORD, Mildura, Victoria. Clearly a more identifiable operating name must surely be used for this new company, which now operates Mildura-Melbourne, Mil- dura-Adelaide and Mildura-Renmark-Adelaide.

BPA (formerly Bush Pilots Airways), Caims, Qld. This airline is growing in size and stature at a good pace and will soon be too big to include. The situation concerning expansion has been well documented in the general media. Suffice to say the airline is likely to take over all the Ansett and TAA current F. 27 services as well as the aircraft which it hopes to operate with Government subsidy until receipt of more profitable equipment in form of the on-order DHC Dash 8s. Besides scheduled services to many small country areas, BPA is involved in coastal surveillance patrol work as well as having organised some really amazing Outback tours with one of their DC-3 aeroplanes. A very mixed and always changing fleet, but it is likely to be: 2 x Cessna 310s, 4 x Cessna 402 series aeroplanes, 2 x Cessna 404s, 1 x GAF Nomad 24A Searchmaster, 4 x PBN Trislanders, 4 x DHC3 Twin Otters, 5 or 6 x Swearingen Metroliners (a company-owned one was lost in an accident at Emerald whilst on a freight run earlier this year and has been replaced by an ex-Northern aeroplane but one or two are leased in), 5 x Douglas DC-3 and at least 1 x Fokker F. 27 Friendship.

BUTLER AIRLINES P/L, Brisbane, Qld. It is very much to be confirmed but believed to have ceased operations. Had been operating a twice-daily Brisbane-Stradbroke Island service. Late information advises that the company still operates its helicopter division but has leased both its fixed wing aircraft and the airstrip at Dunwich (Stradbroke Island) to BARRIER REEF AIRWAYS who are operating the Brisbane-Dunwich schedules at this time.

CHARTAIR, Alice Springs, NT, have two aeroplanes, a Cessna 310 and a Partenavia P68B, and now operate the scheduled service over this route: Alice Springs-Ernabella-Fre- gon-Amata.

CLUBAIR P/L, Warners Bay, NSW, have just recently been taken over by JET CHARTER AIRLINES. Clubair operated 2 x GAF 226 Nomads on the high-frequency Sydney-Maitland service. It is thought likely that a Shorts 330 will now be placed into service 1981.

COUNTRYWIDE AIRLINES. Ceased operations early in COMMODORE AIRLINES, Port Lincoln, SA. Links Port Lincoln with Adelaide several times daily. Some flights stop over at Minlaton. Charter work also undertaken and the current fleet is of 3x Cessna Skymasters, a Piper Aztec, 2x Cessna 402s, a Piper Cherokee Six and, interestingly, an Aero 145.

COUNTRY AIR SERVICES P/L, Rockhampton, Qld. Operates the “Coralair” service linking Rockhampton with Great Keppel Island for TAA. 2 x PBN Islanders, and Piper Navajo Chieftan (1), Piper Aztec (1), Piper Comanches (2), Piper Twin Comanche (1) and a Piper Cherokee.

DAVEY AIR SERVICES P/L, Dubbo, NSW. With 2 x Embraer Bandeirantes. The company has been taken over by AVIATION DEVELOPMENTS to become part of the AVDEV AIRLINES OF AUSTRALIA group. Already (July 26) the first of the fleet – Bandeirante VH-WDF-was sporting AVDEV titles on both fuselage and tailplane. 1 x DH (Lycoming) Heron, 1 x Piper Turbo Navajo, a Cessna 310 and a Piper Twin Comanche comprise the fleet for this airline, which has a route network linking Sydney with Dubbo, Cobar, Nyngan, Bourke and Brewarrina. The exact situation is yet to be clarified but AVDEV AIRLINES are acquiring, at least, the scheduled routes of this company, together with the two Bandeirantes and the DH (Lycoming) Heron airliners.

EAST COAST AIRLINES LTD, Tamworth, NSW, have services linking many of the major centres of northern NSW. from Newcastle up to Brisbane. Took over the former FAST airline which operated on the Sydney to Cessnock route but status of this service, at present, isn’t certain. 4 x Cessna 404 Titans, a Piper Navajo Chieftain, a Piper Seneca and a couple of Cessna 210 Centurions comprise the fleet of this

company. which is controlled by Tamair. It has been openly cited in the media that East Coast Airlines and East West Airlines have for some time now been looking at ways in which the two companies can change the face of their existing operations to give each airline a better, more viable operation. For instance, it was proposed that East Coast would operate some services on behalf of East West on the Inverell-Glen Innes-Sydney route but for various reasons this proposal was dropped. Street talk has been that East West are likely to acquire some of the present-day TAA F. 27 Friendship routes and that, in that event, certain existing East West routes would go to East Coast Airlines. Very interesting. Come back next year for a complete update. East Coast have ceased services on the Cessnock-Sydney route and they have been taken over by SINGLETON AIR SERVICES of Warkworth, NSW. Yet recent newspaper advertisements by the company are seeking pilots with turbine experience to be based in Sydney. We shall see.

EASTER AIRWAYS, Charlestown, NSW. A new operator with one Cessna 402 at present operating on the Newcastle (Williamtown) to Wollongong route formerly of Southern Cross Airways. This was the route that Southern Cross ostensibly sold to VALLEY AIR SERVICES but, when Valley were unable (for a variety of reasons) to actually get the service going, it reverted to Southern Cross Airways until a new operator could be found. This has turned out to be Easter Airways.

EASTERN AIRLINES, Brisbane, Qld, project the image of being “Queensland’s Top Banana” and adopted an all-yellow colour scheme. Current services link Brisbane to Warwick, Stanthorpe and Cheribah. The once-weekly Cheribah to Sydney service was dropped. Three Piper aeroplanes being an Aztec, a Seneca and a Navajo. Other services join Brisbane to Cheribah-Lismore and Coffs Harbour, Cheribah to St George and Cheribah to Goondiwindi.

EMU AIRWAYS, Lockley, SA. Several return services daily linking Adelaide-American River-Parndana as well as a daily Adelaide-Kangaroo Island. 2 x Piper Aztecs, 2 x Cessna 4028 and a Piper Navajo Chieftain. The Piper Aztec aeroplanes may have been withdrawn from service at this time. LTD.

EXECUTIVE AIRLINES – see H. C. SLEIGH AIRLINES

EYRE CHARTER, base not known except in SA. Daily return flights from Adelaide to both Tumby Bay and Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula are operated with two Piper Seneca aeroplanes.

FORTESCUE AIR CHARTER, Wittenoom, WA. Presently operating a scheduled service on the Wittenoom-Paraburdoo route. Equipment – not known.

GAWNEE AIRLINES, Shepparton, Victoria. We have conflicting reports concerning the present status of this regional airline. Its route of Shepparton to Melbourne would be in direct conflict with Ovens & King Airlines. A Piper Aztec was the main aeroplane with this airline.

HAZELTON AIR SERVICES P/L, Cudal, NSW. A very large company with several operating divisions. As regards scheduled services, this company has one network of routes which link Dubbo with Orange and Canberra and the other route links Cudal with Sydney direct. 5 x Piper Navajo Chieftains are used on the passenger services but the company also has several Cessna 310s, 2 x Beechcraft Super King Air 200s, 3 x Piper Twin Comanches and a bevy of agricultural aircraft.

HENEBERY AVIATION CO, Caloundra, Qld. Services link Caloundra to both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and current fleet is 1 x Partenavia P68BB and three Cessna singles.

JET CHARTER AIRLINES, Sydney, NSW, recently acquired CLUBAIR and the current proposal is that a Shorts 330 will be used to replace the two Nomads on the Maitland to Sydney service. It had been long mooted that 3 x Short 330s would be based in Adelaide for operations in SA but, if this is still to be the case, plans are running behind schedule. Two Short 330s are operating under contract up in Darwin and a large fleet of Cessna Citations and IAI Westwinds are employed on contract work for TNT Couriers and executive jet charters as well as some Learjets.

KENDELL AIRLINES, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Current fleet is 3 x Swearingen Metroliners (one may be leased). Route rationalisation and expansion over the past year have seen the Griffith, Wagga to Canberra and the Griffith to Melbourne routes sold off whilst the existing Wagga to Melbourne and Melbourne to Cooma, Melbourne to Merimbula routes have been joined by the Melbourne to King Island route previously operated by Ansett Airlines. Transport Australia advises of a further new route on the Wagga-Dubbo-Coolangatta sectors.

KINGFISHER AVIATION, Alice Springs, NT, and/or KINGFISHER AIRLINES, Halls Creek, WA. Are these one and the same? That is our question. If so, the company is operating a scheduled service as follows: Balgo Hills-Balgo Home- stead-Alice Springs. And, if we have got it right, the equipment comprises a Cessna Stationair and a Beechcraft Baron 58.

LINDEMAN AERIAL SERVICES P/L, Mackay, Qld. Major scheduled work is the operation of Ansett services from Mackay and Proserpine to Lindeman Island. 2 x PBN Islanders, 1 x Rockwell Commander and a Piper Aztec. Semi-scheduled scenic tourists flights, too.

MACKNIGHT AIRLINES, Deniliquin, NSW. Twice-weekly day return flights on the Wagga-Deniliquin service, once on Saturdays and a daily return service on the Finley-Deniliquin route. 1 x Piper Seneca, 1 x Rockwell Commander and a Grand Commander. May also be serving Tocumwal as an optional port.

MASLING COMMUTER SERVICES P/L. Now owned by TNT together with AEROPELICAN. For the time being at least, both airlines will continue with their separate identities. MASLINGS have 4 x Embraer Bandeirantes as well as at least two remaining Beechcraft Queen Airs. Sydney-Newcastle, Newcastle-Canberra-Albury and other services radiating from Sydney to Condobolin, Temora, Cootamundra (operations base), etc.

NAVAIR P/L, Bankstown, NSW, still hold a licence for the Camden-Sydney-Bankstown route, which is run as an “on-demand” service and have started a Fridays only return flight on the Bankstown to Essendon route. A large and varied fleet, as much general charter and air training is also undertaken but 1 x Beechcraft Super King Air 200, 1 x Piper Turbo Navajo. are the prime aeroplanes.

NOOSA AIR SERVICES, Maryborough, Qld. Due to constant connection with prizes on the DON LANE SHOW “Wheel” segment, might be considered as our most well-publicised regional airline. 3 x PBN Islanders, 1 x Twin Otter, 2 x Cessna 402s and a couple of single-engined aeroplanes comprise the fleet and scheduled services are Hervey Bay to Maryborough with Noosa being an optional stop, Hervey Bay to Maroochydore, Noosa to Brisbane direct and some services routing via Maroochydore.

NORFOLK ISLAND AIRWAYS P/L, Brisbane, Qld. Did have up to four Beechcraft Super King Air 200s in service on the main routes linking Brisbane to Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. A Melbourne to Norfolk Island service has been dropped and the company did have two aircraft withdrawn from use at Archerfield Airport not too long ago.

NORTHERN TERRITORY AIR CHARTER P/L, Darwin, NT, now have three scheduled routes. They are: Darwin-Jabiru, Darwin-Bathurst Is-Snake Bay-Garden Point and Darwin to Croker Is and Goulburn Is. 2 x Beechcraft Barons, a Bonanza and 2 x Cessna 402 series aeroplanes.

NORTHWEST AIRLINES, Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria. So far, very successfully operating routes of former (and demised) operators. Are operating on several of the routes available following cessation of services by South Coast Airlines and Bizjets. Present network links Melbourne to Bairnsdale, Hamilton, Horsham, Portland, Sale and Warrnambool Are currently leasing a Bandeirante from Air Tasmania which joins 4 x Piper Navajo Chieftains, 1 x Piper Turbo Navajo, a Piper Aerostar and Aztec, a P68B, 2x Beech Bonanzas and a Cessna 182.

O’CONNOR AIR SERVICES P/L, Mount Gambier, SA. A two-aircraft company at this time. A Cessna 402 and a Partenavia P688. The scheduled routing is: Adelaide-Kings- ton-Naracoorte-Mt Gambier-Millicent and return.

OPAL AIR P/L, Adelaide, SA. Five Cessna 421 series are presently needed to undertake the various scheduled and scenic charter flights on offer. The scheduled service is: Adelaide-Woomera-Olympic Dam-Coober Pedy-Marla.

ORCHID BEACH AIRLINES P/L are now thought to be working a route linking Hervey Bay and Maroochydore with Fraser Island.

OXLEY AIRLINES LTD, Port Macquarie, NSW. Scheduled services link Port Macquarie to Lord Howe Island weekdays and special holiday flights are organised from inland areas to both Port Macquarie or on to Lord Howe Island. Towns thus served are: Armidale, Inverell, Moree, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Tamworth. Two Piper Navajos comprise the fleet, one being a Turbo, the other a Chieftain. Night-time freight charters also flown. OXLEY AIRLINES have added a further three Piper Navajos to their fleet just recently. One has come from Navair and two from the former INTERCITY (nee Williams) fleet.

PAGAS AIRLINES (Port Augusta Air Services), Adelaide, SA. Since the cessation of services by INTERCITY AIRLINES, Pagas have advanced. 4 x Rockwell Shrike Commanders and one leased Embraer Bandeirante comprised fleet but the first company-owned Bandeirante was staging through Mascot very recently (VH-PGS refers). TRANSPORT AUSTRALIA advises following services as being effective on June 1 last: Adel- aide-Port Pirie-Port Augusta-Leigh Creek, Adelaide-Broken Hill, Adelaide-Kingscote, Adelaide-Penneshaw, Leigh Creek-Maree-Merti-Innaminka-Durham Downs-Arrabury-Cor- dillo-Downs-Birdsville-Bedourie-Boulia-Glengyle-Durrie-Rose- berth and, finally, Port Augusta-Mount Gunson-Anda- mooka-Oodnadatta. May very well have purchased the one-time leased Bandeirante aeroplane.

ROSSAIR P/L, Parafield Airport, SA. 2 x Cessna 310s and up to as many as 5 x Cessna 402 series aeroplanes are utilised in the entire operations but major scheduled routes are: Adelaide to Ceduna, Adelaide to Mount Gambier and Adelaide to Whyalla.

RUNDLE AIR SERVICES P/L, Townsville, Qld. Currently offering a scheduled service (known more usually by the shortened “sked” terminology) on the Townsville to Greenvale (Miners Lake) route but frequency not known at this time.

SCRUSE AIR HELICOPTERS, Mascot Airport, Sydney. NSW. Currently still operate the regular service: Gosford-Mas- cot Airport, where the company has its own terminal. Application for other routes has been made but company really wants to be able to operate into the city-centre heliport in Darling Harbour. Present fleet for both the skeds and charters comprise 1 x Hughes 369, 2 x Bell 206 Jet Rangers together with a Partenavia P688,

SINGLETON AIR SERVICES, Eleebana, NSW. Took over the former Aeropelican route, Singleton (Warkworth) to Sydney. earlier this year and have now also acquired the former SOPAC/FAST/EAST COAST AIRLINES services between Cessnock and Sydney. Incidentally, Singleton’s operate from the Scruse Air Terminal at Mascot Airport.

H.C. SLEIGH AIRLINES, Essendon Airport, Victoria. Formerly Executive Airlines until taken over by H. C. SLEIGH and renamed accordingly. All the remaining operations of the charter and freight carrier Forrestair have been merged into the one grouping. Scheduled services are as follows: Essen- don-Flinders is, King Is-Wynyard, Launceston-Flinders Is, Laun- ceston-King Is, plus both Davenport and Wynyard as optional ports and, finally, Launceston to Hobart. Other contracts include coastal surveillance work on behalf of the Australian Government. With so large a fleet, purchases and disposals must necessarily confront us with difficulties but 12 x Rockwell Commander 500s, 4 Grand Commander 680/690s, 6 x GAF Nomads (three versions), 2 x Enstrom F286, 8 x Partenavia P68Bs and a A PBY 5 Catalina – for aerial mineral surveying. Reports have indicated that some Cessna Twins in the 402/404 have been or are about to be introduced into services on the scheduled routes.

SKYWEST AIRLINES P/L, Perth International Airport, WA. Long since not associated with Jet Charter Airlines as established on the Australian eastern seaboard. But, despite plenty of publicity about the separation of operations back in late 1979, some publications are still getting confused. To such an extent we have trouble giving an accurate, up-to-date fleet list. Routes are as follows: Perth-Albany, Perth-Esperance-Norse- man, Perth-Meekatharra-Telfer, Perth-Rottnest, Perth-Bunbury. Perth-Mount Magnet-Cue-Wiluna-Yeeleerie and, finally, Perth-Katanning. Present fleet is, more or less: 1 x Embraer Bandeirante with another to follow, 1 x Grumman Gulfstream 1, 2 x Cessna Citation 2s (550), 1 x Swearingen Metroliner, 4 x Beechcraft Super King Air 200s, 1 x Mitsubishi MU-2B (may have been sold), 2 x GAF Nomad 24As, 1 x Piper Navajo Chieftain, 2 x Piper Aerostars, 2 x Piper Aztecs and 1 x Partenavia P68B. Updating and upgrading of the fleet is going on and reports have indicated that the two Nomads would be disposed of at a fairly early time.

SOUTHERN CROSS AIR SERVICES P/L, Lakemba, NSW. After initially getting into the scheduled regional airline business via the Wollongong to Newcastle route, that has been hived off to Easter Airways and the company now has routes as follows: Moruya-Canberra, Sydney-Nowra-Moruya, Syd- ney-Tumut and Sydney-Wollongong. Two, if not more, Beechcraft Queen Airs comprise the fleet at present, being ex-Masling aeroplanes.

SOUTH WESTERN AIRLINES PAL, Parafield, Adelaide, SA. Daily flights between Adelaide and Whyalla operated using a Cessna 421B aeroplane, but others in the fleet, used for charter, freight and allied work, are one each of a Beechcraft Duchess, Cessna 310, Piper Aztec, Piper Aerostar and a Beechcraft King Air A90.

SOVEREIGN AIRLINES (Bendigo Air Services). Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne, Victoria. Operate over two main routes. They are: Bendigo-Kerang-Swan Hill, Melbourne-Ben- digo-Swan Hill-Mildura. A Cessna 401, 1 x Piper Turbo Navajo and 1 x Piper Navajo Chieftain plus three single-engined aeroplanes.

TANGALOOMA AIRLINES, Brisbane, Qld. Operating schedules linking Brisbane with Tangalooma Island. One PBN Islander aeroplane.

TENNANT AIR P/L, Tennant Creek, NT, link up the towns of Tennant Creek and Mount Isa on a scheduled basis. A Cessna 172, a Cessna 210, a Partenavia P688 and a Piper Aztec are current fleet.

T. THOMAS AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEMS P/L, Neutral Bay, Sydney, NSW. After some time offering two-day tourist flights from Sydney to Wagga, the airline reopened the Goulburn-Sydney sector which was vacated some years ago by Advance Airlines. It was announced mid-July on Canberra TV that the service would cease as of the end of July. But another operator believed to be Bowral Flight Centre has requested that Thomas keep the route operating for a while longer, whilst a feasibility study is undertaken and necessary licensing changeovers are applied for. Meantime, Thomas operate on the former Countrywide Airlines route: Syd- ney-Hay-Mildura daily and, at the weekends, also operate Sydney to Swan Hill.

TILLAIR, Katherine, NT. Three main scheduled services are: Katherine-Roper River-Numbulwar-Groote Eylandt, Kather- ine-Victoria River Downs and Katherine-Darwin. 1 x Cessna Stationair, 3 x Cessna Centurions, 2 x Cessna 301s and a Cessna 402 and a 404.

TRANSWEST AIRLINES P/L, Jandakot Airport, WA. Now operating quite a number of schedules as follows: Perth-Leon- ora-Laverton, Perth-Leonora-Laverton and Leinister, Kalgoor- lie-Leonora-Laverton-Kalgoorlie, Hedland-Goldsworthy-Shay Gap, Hedland-Marble Bar-Nullagine-Newman, Derby-Fitzroy Crossing-Halls Creek, Derby-Fitzroy-Halls Creek-Margaret River, Hedland-Marble Bar-Telffer, Karratha-Onslow, Derby-Beverley Springs-Gibb River-Mount House, Kar- ratha-Tom Price-Paraburdoo-Karratha. As to craft fleet, the following: 3 x Cessna Stationairs, 3 x Cessna Centurions, 1 x Beech Baron 95, 8 x Cessna 310s, 4 x BPN Islanders, 1 x Cessna 404 Titan, 3 x Rockwell Commander 500s, 2 x Beechcraft Super King Air 200s and 2 x DHC6 Twin Otters.

TROPIC AIR SERVICES, Carnarvon, WA. One scheduled service is operated on the Carnarvon to Gascoyne Junction route. 1 x Cessna Stationair and a Partenavia P868.

WESTERN AIRLINES, Cloverdale, WA. One Partenavia P688 is used on a service: Kalgoorlie to Norseman. The company recently purchased the former Amalgamated D. H. Dove VH-MGT for restoration to flying condition.

WESTERN NSW AIRLINES P/L, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Kendell Airlines sold off their Wagga to Canberra and Wagga to Griffith and Melbourne routes to this new airline. Subsequently. another route has been added, namely Canberra to Tumut. A Rockwell Shrike Commander 500 was also purchased from Kendell’s and subsequently—we are led to believe – a Piper Navajo Chieftain has joined the fleet.