Associated Airlines Celebrates 50th Anniversary

It was proposed that the new company would be formed with a capital of £25,000 and shares at £1 each. Robinson expected that these shares would be taken up by the Zinc Corporation, Broken Hill Associated Smelters, New Broken Hill, North Broken Hill, South Broken Hill and the Electrolytic Refining and Smelting Company. Other mining companies such as BHP were to be invited to use the service provided for a standard fee. Names such as United and Interstate Airlines were put forward before the company was registered as Associated Airlines on October 1st 1937.

The then Managing Director of BHP, Essington Lewis, had ideas similar to Robinson’s regarding the use of aircraft. In 1936 BHP placed an order with CAC for a locally produced Tugan Gannet. With the rift between the Zinc Corporation and the rest of the Collins House Group still not resolved this left the Zinc Corporation as the sole shareholder in Associated Airlines. When Essington Lewis was offered a major holding in the company he jumped at the chance. The joint ownership of Associated Airlines commenced on April 1st 1938 with BHP taking up 55% of the shares and the Zinc Corporation the remaining 45%.

Lockheed 12A number 36 in a production run of 130 was the aircraft allocated to Associated. Registered VH-ABH the Lockheed first flew in August 1937. On acceptance, it was dismantled for shipment to Melbourne, where it arrived on October 11th. After assembly by Ansett Airways at Essendon VH-ABH was flown on November 2nd. Later named ‘Silver City’ VH-ABH operated its first flight for Associated on November 7th when it flew from Essendon to Broken Hill. When she entered service VH-ABH was the fastest civil aircraft on the Australian register with a cruise speed of 165 knots.

Associated initially hangared and maintained VH-ABH at Essendon, however with the entry of the United States into the War and the resultant increase in military traffic at Essendon they chose to look for a safer operating base. In April 1942 an agreement was reached to use Donovan’s Paddock on the ‘Gowrie Park’ property of J. H. Donovan at Tullamarine. There a landing strip and hangar were constructed in an area that 20 years later was to be developed as the new Melbourne Airport.

In May 1946 Associated acquired a second Lockheed 12A through US Disposals. Registered VH-ASG ‘Silver Gull’ it entered service after a complete overhaul by CAC at Fisherman’s Bend. With the termination of hostilities, Fisherman’s Bend was to be the home for Associated over the next 11 years.

In June 1950 the Zinc Corporation in London took delivery of Lockheed 12A G-AGWN. By October 1952 it was registered VH-BHH ‘Silver Star’ and operating from Broken Hill.

By the mid 1950’s the reign of the Lockheeds was coming to an end as newer faster and more fuel-efficient aircraft came on the scene. 1957 was a year of change for Associated, which saw them sell Lockheed’s VH-ABH and VH-BHH and take delivery that April of DH Heron VH-ASH ‘Silver Heron’. With the delivery of the Heron came a move back to Essendon where a new hangar had been constructed.

While assessing new types of aircraft Associated leased F-27 VH-TFK ‘Silver Friendship’ from TAA between December 1959 and December 1960.

The start of the 1960’s saw Associated sever connections with Lockheed when VH-ASG was sold to Corsair. However, a new relationship was to start, which lasts till today, when an order was placed with Grumman Aircraft for one of their new Gulfstream l’s.

Gulfstream 1 VH-ASJ ‘Silver Gulfstream’ arrived at Essendon on December 31st 1960 and entered service on January 9th. In June 1966 a second Gulfstream I was added to the fleet when VH-CRA was delivered to Conzinc Rio Tinto. In 1968 the Heron VH-ASH departed on delivery to the United States, while in May 1969 a third Gulfstream I VH-FLO was delivered for use by Comalco Aluminium.

The jet age arrived for Associated in April 1971, when Gulfstream II VH-ASG was delivered to BHP. A second Gulfstream II VH-ASM was added to the fleet in 1973 and it replaced Gulfstream I VH-CRA.

Over the next few years the 4 Gulfstreams continued to give excellent service to Associated. In March 1981 the Grumman’s were joined by Westwind VH-ASR which was for CRA. A recession in the mining industry saw CRA sell their Gulfstream II VH-ASM in the United States. In April 1983 Gulfstream I VH-ASJ which had given 22 years service was also sold in the United States.

In 1986 Gulfstream II VH-ASG was flown to Gulfstream Aerospace’s facility at Savannah, Georgia for conversion to 118 standard. Along with a new wing came a new interior and avionics. The Gulfstream 118 now allows Associated Airlines to carry a full load of passengers 3,700 miles.

Now entering their 51st year of operation Associated have in service Gulfstream 11B VH-ASG, Gulfstream I VH-FLO and Westwind VH-ASR. The flexibility of these types ensures that Associated Airlines can offer maximum service to its shareholders. In a recent agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace, Associated are now also acting as a Sales Representative for them in Australia and New Zealand. A sales tour by the Gulfstream IV is planned for October. Associated are also actively seeking commercial opportunities to ensure the maximum use of their maintenance and terminal facilities at Essendon Airport.