AUSTRALIA-BASED AIRLINES & AVIATION ORGANISATIONS OPERATING IN WA

L to Z

To notify updates/errors, please email aviationwa(at)gmail.com

© 2011 David Eyre

Manjimup Aero Club

Manjimup Aero Club is based at Manjimup and provides aircraft hire services.

Maroomba Airlines

Maroomba Airlines (parent company is Nantay Pty Ltd) was formed in 1985 and was formerly known as Maroomba Air Service and Maroomba Aviation. The airline is based at its own terminal at Perth Airport. Maroomba provides aircraft charter services, Fly In/Fly Out (FIFO) services to the resources industry, FBO (Fixed Base Operator) services, and aircraft management.

It operates a Hawker 850XP and Beech B200 King Air for the WA Government, and also operates the Hawker 800XP Rio Tinto Life Flight Jet for the Royal Flying Doctor Service - Western Operations, the first jet aircraft to serve with the RFDS.

Maxem Aviation

Maxem Aviation is located in their own private facility at the Maxem Jet Centre, 151 Fauntleroy Avenue, Perth Airport.
Providing executive aircraft charter, management services and FBO / Ground Handling services for both domestic / international transient clientele.

Midwest Aerial Ag

Midwest Aerial Ag Pty Ltd is based at Carnamah and provides aerial agriculture services such as crop spraying.

Minovation

Minovation is a flying school based at Jandakot Airport, providing aircraft hire and flight training from ab initio through to Private Pilot's License (PPL), or Commercial Pilot's License (CPL) level. Minovation also manages the operation of Curtin Flying Club's aircraft (see separate entry). Minovation was formed in 1997 by Min Stokes, the Chief Flying Instructor, and her husband Karl Valentin.

Morawa Gliding Club

Morawa Gliding Club are based at Morawa, and are the only gliding club in the northern wheatbelt. It offers joyflights, glider flight training and glider hire.

Narrogin Flying Club

Narrogin Flying Club is based at Narrogin Airfield and provides Recreation Pilot Certificate training, aircraft hire and flying club activities.

Narrogin Gliding Club

Narrogin Gliding Club Inc was founded in 1964 and is based at Narrogin Airfield, providing joyflights, glider flight training, and glider hire.

Network Aviation

Network Aviation is based at Perth Airport, with their own terminal and maintenance facilities on Bungana Avenue. The company provides air charter services and Fly-In/Fly-Out (FIFO) operations for resources companies. Network Aviation was formed in 1998 with the fleet initially consisting of Cessna 441 Conquests and Beech 200 King Airs. It later acquired its first Embraer 120ER Brasilia and then Fokker 100s, and standardised on these types.

Network Aviation operates scheduled FIFO services from Perth Airport to the following:

• Bellevue Gold Mine - Northern Goldfields
• Bronzewing Gold Mine - Mid West Region
• Coyote Gold Mine - Tanami Desert
• Cue - Mid West Region
• Cloudbreak - Pilbara Region
• Duketon Gold Mine - Northern Goldfields
• Leinster - Northern Goldfields
• Leonora - Northern Goldfields
• Morawa - Mid West Region
• Mount Hale Iron Ore Project - Murchison Region
• Nifty Copper Mine - Pilbara Region
• Sinclair Nickel Mine - Northern Goldfields
• Wyloo Station - Gascoyne Region
• Woodie Woodie Manganese Mine - Eastern Pilbara

Fleet list updated 19 February 2012:

NEWS HELICOPTERS

ABC TV Perth & SBS TV

Never owned a news helicopter in Perth.

Channel 7 Perth (TVW)

Channel 7 Perth previously leased a Hughes 500D (369D) VH-KSY (cn 30-0675D) from Great Northern Helicopters from around 1981/2. This was sold in New Zealand in 1984. In June 1986, Bell Group Aviation Services Pty Ltd purchased an Aerospatiale AS350B Squirrel VH-TVG on behalf of Channel Seven. In April 1988, TVW Aviation was formed to operate the helicopter on behalf of Channel Seven. VH-TVG was converted to an AS350BA in 1995. TVW Aviation was closed in 2005 and the helicopter is now owned directly by Channel Seven Perth Pty Ltd.

Channel 9 Perth (STW)

Channel 9 Perth originally had a Bell 206B JetRanger II VH-KKY (cn 636) leased from Westcoast Helicopters (later Helicopters Australia).
Later they replaced this with VH-TVJ Bell 206B JetRanger II (cn 761) leased from Griffin Helicopters (formerly with Channel Ten Perth as VH-AZD).
Next came VH-JRI Bell 206B JetRanger III (cn 4234) until cost-cutting measures introduced after the purchase of WIN TV ended this contract in 2008, and they had no news helicopter for a while. They now lease a Robinson R44 Raven II.

Channel 10 Perth (NEW)

Channel Ten Perth first had VH-AZH Bell 206B JetRanger III (cn 3075) leased fromGreat Northern Helicopters.
This was replaced by VH-AZD Bell 206B JetRanger II (cn 761) also leased from Great Northern Helicopters, which later became VH-TVJ and went to Channel 9 Perth.
Next was VH-BPB Bell 206B JetRanger III (cn 3093) leased from Griffin Helicopters. (VH-BPB was later sold to Prestige Helicopters, Geraldton)
It was replaced by another JetRanger VH-ZMN leased from HeliWest, delivered on 2 July 2010, however this helicopter was written off on 19 January 2013 in a crash at Baskerville, WA whilst filming a news story about a truck crash.
VH-ZMN has been replaced by another JetRanger leased from HeliWest, VH-VJG, which was delivered on 28 January 2013.

Northam Aero Club

Northam Aero Club was founded in 1968 and is based at Northam Aerodrome. The Club owns a Cessna 172 aircraft, which is used for flight training and for private hire to members.

Northam Air Services

Northam Air Services is based at Northam Aerodrome and provides aircraft charter, aircraft hire, flight training and aircraft maintenance services.

Northwest Regional Airlines

Northwest Regional Airlines is a sister company to Broome Aviation, but all aircraft are registered under the name of Broome Aviation. Aircraft based at Halls Creek and Wyndham are reported to be assigned to Northwest Regional Airlines. See separate entry for Broome Aviation.  

Norwest Air Work

Norwest Air Work is based at Exmouth Airstrip and Coral Bay Airstrip, and provides scenic flights, aircraft charter, freight charter and airwork in the Pilbara, Gascoyne, Murchison and Kimberley regions.

Ozshore Aviation (Ozshore Pty Ltd)

Ozshore Aviation is based at Jandakot Airport and conducts geophysical and photographic survey work.

Ozwest Aviation

Ozwest Aviation was formed in late 2009 by Martin Brooker and Dr Peter Mulrooney, and is based at Jandakot Airport. It provides scenic flights, aircraft charter and medical patient transfers.

Paul Lyons Aviation

Paul Lyons Aviation was formed in September 1986 and is based at Jandakot Airport. The company is owned and operated by Paul and Jan Lyons, and provides air charter, freight charter, and scenic flights.

Pearce Flying Club

Pearce Flying Club is a civilian flying training and flying club organisation, based at RAAF Base Gingin and Jandakot.

Pearl Aviation Australia

Pearl Aviation is owned by Paspaley Pearling, and provides a wide range of services, including aircraft charter, executive jet charter, FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) contract charters for the resources industry and government, medevac/air ambulance services, and special mission work. Pearl Aviation is based at Darwin, but has other bases at Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broome, Essendon, Cairns, Gove, Katherine, Mungalalu Truscott, Perth Airport.

Pearling company Paspaley Pearling had been operating its own aircraft to their pearl farms since 1986. In 1996 Paspaley purchased the WA-based Skywest Aviation, which can trace its history back to 1964, and renamed it Pearl Aviation Australia. Skywest also owned East-West Airlines including air ambulance flights for the Ambulance Service of New South Wales, and this operation also became part of Pearl Aviation until 2003, when the RFDS won the contract. In 2004, Pearl won a contract to operate air ambulances for the Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service, but this contract ended 30 June 2010. Pearl also operates FBOs (Fixed Base Operator) services at Pearl Flight Centre in Darwin, Darwin Jet Centre, and Perth Flight Centre. Pearl Aviation formed AeroPearl in partnership with Aerodata GmBH, (manufacturers of the flight inspection equipment) to operate two King Airs under contract to Airservices Australia on flight inspection operations.

AeroRescue (see separate entry) is another subsidiary company which undertakes SAR (search and rescue) and maritime surveillance operations under contract to AMSA and Border Protection/Customs, using a fleet of five Dornier 328s.

Pel-Air

Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd (trading as Pel-Air) was formed in 1984, and is based at Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport, with other bases at Brisbane, Darwin, and Nowra. Pel Air is a subsidiary of Regional Express Holdings, which also owns Rex and Air Link. The company provides air charter, freight services, medevac and government/defence support services.

In January 1989, Pel-Air formed a WA-based subsidiary Qwestair, which operated scheduled FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) operations between Perth and Telfer using a leased Beech 200 Super King Air. In March 1989, an IAI Westwind business jets replaced the King Air. In January 1992, Qwestair acquired a Cessna 310 to operate between Port Hedland and Telfer via Marble Bar and Woodie-Woodie. After losing the contract, Qwestair was closed down in November 1995 and the two Westwinds were returned to Pel-Air. In 1996 Pel-Air won the Royal Australian Navy fleet support contract, and purchased four Learjets. The Learjets and some of the Westwinds are used for target-towing (using modified Learjets), simulated air attacks on warships; and checking that areas are cleared before ships conduct live firing exercises. These aircraft occasionally visit Perth and Pearce in connection with this work. From June 2008 a Pel-Air Westwind II in air ambulance configuration was based at Perth Airport, operating with CareFlight, but this ended in June 2009.

The aircraft listed below are those most likely to be seen in WA (other aircraft in the fleet are not included).

Pilbara Helicopters - (See Williambury Helicopters)

Polar Aviation

Polar Aviation is based in Port Hedland, and was formed there by Clark Butson in 1981. It has a second base at Newman. The company provides air services in the Pilbara Region, including Air Charter, Air Freight services, Scenic tours and Flight Training.

Police Aero Club of WA Inc

Prestige Helicopters

Prestige Helicopters was formed in 2010 and is based at Geraldton Airport. The company provides helicopter charter, emergency services, mining and exploration support, aerial crane, aerial photography, spotting and surveying, feral animal control, powerline inspections, joy flights, and tours.

Qantas

Qantas (Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, now Qantas Airways Ltd) was established on 16 November 1920 at Winton, Queensland with a single Avro 504K. The company moved headquarters to Longreach in 1921, Brisbane in 1920 and Sydney in 1957. Qantas commenced international flights in May 1935 from Darwin to Singapore. In June 1959, their first jet was delivered - a Boeing 707-138.

WA Domestic Routes:
Perth to: Adelaide; Alice Springs; Ayers Rock; Brisbane; Broome; Cairns; Canberra; Darwin; Kalgoorlie; Karratha; Melbourne; Newman; Paraburdoo; Port Hedland; Sydney.
Broome to: Melbourne; Perth.
Kalgoorlie to: Adelaide; Perth.
Karratha to: Brisbane; Melbourne; Perth; Sydney.
Newman to Perth.
Paraburdoo to Perth.
Port Hedland to: Melbourne; Perth.

WA International Routes:
Perth to: Hong Kong; Singapore.

QantasLink is the regional brand used by Airlink, Eastern Australia Airlines and Sunstate Airlines. In WA Cobham operates QantasLink Boeing 717s. See separate entry below.

Express Freighters Australia is another Qantas subsidiary which operates Boeing 737-376SF freighters for Australian Air Express - see separate entry.

Qantas announced on 13 December 2010 that it had acquired Network Aviation.

Fleet list updated 2 October 2012.

QantasLink

National Jet Systems started operations on 1 July 1990 with a fleet of British Aerospace 146 aircraft. It later operated some routes on behalf of Australian Airlines from Perth, mainly to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock with Australian Airlines colours and Airlink titles. In 1993, Australian Airlines was taken over by Qantas and National Jet continued the Airlink operations, with the aircraft being repainted in Qantas colours with Airlink titles. In 2002, QantasLink was created as the regional brand of Qantas, including the Qantas regional subsidiaries Airlink, Sunstate, Eastern Australia Airlines, and Southern Australia Airlines. The 146s were later painted in QantasLink titles.

QantasLink also operated a number of Boeing 717 aircraft in the eastern states, inherited from the Qantas purchase of Impulse Airlines in 2001. In May 2004, Qantas started a new low-cost airline, Jetstar Airways, to take over the Impulse Airlines 717s and routes. Jetstar later standardised its fleet on the Airbus A320, and the 717s were placed in storage.

In 2005-6, National Jet won a Qantas contract to operate Boeing 717s for QantasLink, replacing the BAe 146s. In early 2009, National Jet was rebranded as Cobham Aviation Services Australia. The 717s are maintained at Cobham's maintenance facilities in Adelaide and Perth, and operate in Western Australia, Northern Territory and north Queensland.

QantasLink opened a Perth base with Bombardier Dash 8-Q400s in late 2011, using an initial two Dash 8-Q400 aircraft, with the aircraft coming from Sunstate Airlines and pilots coming from Eastern Australia Airlines in Sydney. Another two Q400 aircraft may be added later. The aircraft will be operated using the Sunstate Airlines AOC (Air Operators Certificate), with operations starting in August/September 2011. Maintenance is carried out in Perth by Network Aviation, which is now a Qantas subsidiary. This operation is independent of the Boeing 717s operated for QantasLink by Cobham.

Five additional Boeing 717s are to be leased from the second half of 2013.

Fleet list updated 6 February 2013.

Revesco Aviation

Revesco Aviation was formed in 2006 and is based at Perth Airport, using the facilities of Hawker Pacific around Australia, Execujet in Sydney, Interair in Melbourne and Pearl Aviation in Darwin.

The company offers corporate jet air charter, air ambulance and aerial photography, but also conducts initial jet phase training of over 100 new pilots per year for a major international airline.

Rossy Rotor Aviation

Rossy Rotor Aviation is based at Port Hedland and offers helicopter mustering, exploration and survey, helicopter charter, aerial photography and other aerial work.

Rotorvation Helicopter Services

Rotorvation Helicopter Services provides helicopter flight training, helicopter charter and commercial operations, helicopter scenic tours, and is a sales agent for Robinson Helicopters. The company is based at Jandakot, with another base at Katherine, Northern Territory.

Rottnest Air-Taxi

Rottnest Air-Taxi was formed by Frank Stynman in the mid-1990s and provides an air-taxi service between Jandakot and Rottnest Island (about 15 minutes flying time), coastal/Perth city/Swan River scenic flights from Jandakot and scenic/joy flights from Rottnest.

Royal Aero Club of Western Australia

The Royal Aero Club of Western Australia is based at Jandakot and also owns Murray Field (near Mandurah). It conducts joy flights, scenic flights, flight training, aircraft charter, and aero club activities such as flying competitions and fly-ins.

History (by Mervyn W. Prime):
The Royal Aero Club of Western Australia is the oldest flying training club in WA. It was incorporated in August 1929 as the Aero Club of Australia (W.A. Branch) Inc. and first flew its aircraft from Maylands Aerodrome in April 1930. On that date, the Club officially took over training from Perth Flying School with two de Havilland DH.60 Moth aircraft donated by the Federal Government. In 1934, the name was changed to Aero Club of Western Australia and in 1936, the Royal prefix was added, changing the name to the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia Inc. Prior to World War Two, the Club held several air carnivals where RAAF aircraft participated, and the events drew thousands of visitors to Maylands.

By September 1939, the Club had flown over 14,500 hours and the fleet had grown to six aircraft. During that time, many hundreds of pilots had been trained to both private and commercial standard. The Club ceased operations during World War Two when its aircraft were impressed into service with the RAAF, but following the end of the war in 1945 the Club was re-established at Maylands and in the next few years it became the dominant flying training and charter operator in WA.

In post-war years, the Club progressively improved its fleet of aircraft, stepping from de Havilland Tiger Moths to de Havilland Chipmunks and then to Cessna aircraft; the first of which was delivered in 1958. The Club moved its operation from Maylands to Guildford Aerodrome (Perth Airport) in 1959, and then to Jandakot Airport in 1965.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) - Western Operations

The RFDS was created by Reverend John Flynn, a Presbyterian Church minister who started the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) in 1912. During World War One, Clifford Peel wrote to Flynn and planted the idea of using aircraft to help transport Doctors to people in remote areas. Flynn struggled to get funding for the concept but finally on 15 May 1928, opened the Australian Inland Mission Aerial Medical Service at Cloncurry, Queensland. It soon expanded across the country.

The Victorian Section of the Australian Aerial Medical Services was formed in 1934, and this provided aero medical and other services to the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with the first base at Wyndham opening in 1935.

In 1935, a provisional Western Australian Section purchased a de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth Aircraft in 1935, and this section was officially registered on 14 June 1936. On 10 October 1936, the Section's first base at Port Hedland opened, with the first medical flight also occurring on that date.

In the early 1930s (1931 or 1932), the Goldfields Flying Doctor Service provided a air medical service for people in the Goldfields region, before most other parts of Australia. An Eastern Goldfields Section of Australian Aerial Medical Services was formed in 1937, based at Kalgoorlie.

In 1942, Australian Aerial Medical Services was renamed the Flying Doctor Service, and in 1951 became the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Until the 1960s, the RFDS rarely owned its aircraft, relying on contractors to provide aircraft, pilots and servicing. They then began to purchase their own aircraft and employ our own pilots and engineers.

On 14 October 2009, the RFDS officially began operating its first jet aircraft in Australia - the Hawker 800XP "Rio Tinto LifeFlight Jet", registered VH-RIO. It will be used to transport urgent care patients from around WA and the Indian Ocean Territories, cutting flight times significantly.It carries three stretcher patients and three clinical staff, and is fitted with a Lifeport PLUS specialist aeromedical interior.

RFDS - Western Operations now operates from five bases in Western Australia – Jandakot, Kalgoorlie, Meekatharra, Port Hedland and Derby.

Shine Aviation

Shine Aviation is based at Geraldton, but has another base at Carnarvon. The company offers FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) contracts for resources companies, aircraft charter, flying training, aerial work, aircraft hire, and scenic flights.

Singapore Flying College

Singapore Flying College was established in 1988. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. The college is headquartered in Singapore (with five Singapore-registered Cessna 172s) but has bases at Jandakot in WA and Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast Airport), Queensland.

The Jandakot base originally operated Beech Bonanza F33As and Beech Baron 58s. It now operates the Cessna 172R Skyhawk and the Baron 58 for ab-initio training, leading to a multi-engine Commercial Pilot's License (with Instrument Rating).

The Maroochydore base uses Learjet 45s (now being replaced by Cessna Mustangs) on advanced jet training for pilots who will join Singapore Airlines. These aircraft occasionally visit WA.

Skippers Aviation

Skippers Aviation is based at Perth Airport with their own terminal and maintenance facilities on Bungana Avenue.

The company provides aircraft charter, and scheduled RPT (Regular Passenger Transport) services from Perth to:

• Leinster
• Leonora
• Laverton
• Meekatharra
• Mt Magnet
• Wiluna

It provides FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) services from Perth to:

• Anglo Gold Ashanti- Sunrise Dam
• Barrick Gold - Darlot; Granny Smith; Lawlers; Plutonic
• Crescent Gold - Laverton
• Newcrest Mining - Telfer
• Newmont Mining - Jundee
• Ngarda Civil - Yarrie
• Panoramic Resources - Savannah Nickel Mine
• Pilbara Iron - West Angelas / Lombadina / Barrimunya
• St Barbara Mines - Leonora
• Western Areas - Forrestania

Skippers Aviation started operations in 1990 with three Cessna 441 Conquests and a Cessna 402C, operating from Perth Flight Centre. In 1995, they began acquiring new Fairchild Metro 23s, eventually acquiring six. In 1997/98, Skippers built their own terminal and maintenance facility, and set up a second base in Broome. In July 1998, they added a pair of De Havilland Dash-8-100s, and two more were added in 1999-2000. In 1999, their AOC (Air Operators Certificate) was upgraded to allow scheduled RPT (Regular Passenger Transport) services. In October 1999, they purchased their first Embraer Brasilia, with more Brasilias delivered in 2001-2006. In 2006-8, DeHavilland Dash 8-300 aircraft were added.

Skydive Adventure

Skydive Adventure (Hillman Farm Skydivers Inc.) operates at Hillman Farm Drop Zone, Darkan, WA. Hillman Farm Skydivers was establishedin 1975, and is the longest continuously running skydiving club in Western Australia.

Skydive Express

Skydive Express is a skydiving company based at a private airfield in York, WA. They opened their skydiving centre in June 1999.

Skytraders

Skytraders was founded in 1979 and is headquartered at Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport, with an office in Hobart to manage their Antarctic services, and an administrative office in New South Wales.

The company conducts Antarctic flights, charter and freight flights. In 2002, Skytraders was awarded a long term contract by the Australian Antarctic Division for the provision of Antarctic air services. From November to March each year, this aircraft operates on behalf of the Australian Government's Australian Antarctic Division on a weekly service from the Division's base in Hobart, Tasmania to an ice runway at Wilkins, Antarctica (hence the "Snowbird" radio callsign).

Their A319 CJ and CASA 212 aircraft are available for private charter or use by other government agencies for periods throughout the summer season and uninterrupted use during the Australian winter. The two CASA 212-400s are not listed here as they rarely visit Western Australia.

Skywest Airlines

Skywest Airlines is based at Perth Airport and provides scheduled RPT (Regular Passenger Transport) air services, FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) contract services to resources companies, and air charter/contract charter.

Skywest can trace its history back through a series of mergers to 1963, when Carnarvon Air Taxis was formed at Carnarvon, flying charter flights with small aircraft. In 1979 it was renamed Skywest Aviation and relocated to Jandakot Airport. Skywest Airlines was formed at Perth Airport in 1980, and purchased Stillwell Airlines. The Skywest Airlines/Skywest Aviation fleet included GAF N-24 Nomads, Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirantes, Beechcraft King Air 200s, Swearingen SA-226 Metro IIs, a Gulfstream I turboprop, and smaller GA aircraft. In 1982, Skywest Airlines merged with TransWest airlines.

On 16 December 1983, Ric Stowe's Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd took over East-West Developments Pty Ltd, and its controlling interest in East-West Airlines. In February 1984, Skywest took delivery of the first of four new 19-seat British Aerospace Jetstream 31 turboprops. On 24 May 1985, Skywest proposed a merger with East-West, but this did not proceed and they maintained separate identities, although some routes were rationalised. East-West also began operating some WA flights for Skywest, using Fokker F.28-3000s and -4000s to Karratha and Port Hedland.

After losing the lucrative Government Coastwatch contract in 1987, Skywest was acquired by the Perron group on 17 July 1987. On 31 July 1987 it was sold to Bodas Group (TNT/News Ltd - the owners of Ansett), and it began operating as part of the Ansett group. The East-West aircraft were moved to Queensland and later integrated into Ansett. Skywest was operating most of its services with the Jetstream 31s. On 5 October 1994, Skywest introduced its first (of several) Fokker 50s into service, the aircraft being transferred from Ansett. The Jetstreams were gradually withdrawn and sold. In 1996, Skywest Aviation was sold to Paspaley Pearls, becoming Pearl Aviation Australia (see separate entry).

On 14 September 2001, operations by Ansett Australia and its subsidiaries - including Skywest - were suspended by Ansett's administrators. With WA Government support, on 23 September 2001, Skywest Airlines resumed reduced operations on intrastate routes with Fokker 50s. On 21 February 2002, Skywest Airlines was sold by the Ansett administrators to Airline Investments Ltd. In November 2002, their first Fokker 100 (VH-FNY) was delivered, and more were subsequently added, joining a growing fleet of Fokker 50s. In 2004, a hostile takeover by Singapore-based investment company CaptiveVision Capital Ltd succeeded. Skywest is now a 100%-owned subsidiary of Singapore incorporated Advent Air Ltd.

Since early 2007, Skywest has increased its share of the resources industry FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) business, acquiring more Fokker 50s and 100s in the process. Skywest's first Airbus A320 (VH-FNP) was delivered to Perth on 23 October 2010 and will operate FIFO services between Perth and Cloudbreak for Fortescue Metals Group.

On 10 January 2011, Virgin Blue Group (now Virgin Australia Group since 4 May 2011) and Skywest Airlines signed a 10-year alliance with Skywest operating up to 18 new Virgin Australia branded ATR72s to a number of existing and new destinations around Australia. Four ATR72-500s will initially be delivered from August 2011. These will be followed by four ATR72-600s which are to enter service by June 2012. ATR72-600s will replace the -500s from February 2012. The first six ATRs will replace Virgin Australia's Embraer E170 fleet for eastern states operations, with additional aircraft operating to new regional destinations. Virgin Australia will wet-lease the aircraft from Skywest, who will lease them from Avation PLC.

Slingair Heliwork WA

Slingair Heliwork WA is headquartered in Kununurra, with other bases at Broome, Derby, Drysdale River Station, Mitchell River National Park, Purnululu National Park and Warmun. It provides aircraft and helicopter air charters, air safaris, mining company FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out), air freight, RFDS clinic flights, remote area mail run, search and rescue, aerial geophysical work, photography and scenic flights.

Slingair was founded in 1976 by Kerry Skingsby with a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft. Heliwork was started in 1984 by Kerry Slingsby with a fleet of helicopters. The two companies use the combined brand Slingair Heliwork WA, but fixed wing (Slingair) and helicopters (Heliwork WA) are still registered separately. In April 2008, Slingair Heliwork WA was purchased by Curry Kenny Aviation, owned by former "Ironman" Grant Kenny and continues under its current identity.

Slingair

Heliwork WA

Smoothy Helicopters (Brent Smoothy t/as)

Smoothy Helicopter Services was formed by Brent Smoothy, and is based at Newman Airport, Newman, WA. Updated as at 25 Feb 2012.

Southern Aviation (Bunbury Flying School)

Southern Aviation is based at Bunbury Airport also operates as Bunbury Flying School, although all aircraft are registered under the name of Southern Aviation. Bunbury Flying School is the largest flight training facility in regional Western Australia, providing flight training, scenic, aerobatic and adventure flights. Southern Aviation offers charter flights.

Southern Skydivers

Southern Skydivers is based at Busselton Airport and conducts skydiving operations over Busselton and Margaret River.

Sport Aircraft Builders Club (SABC)

The Sport Aircraft Builders Club (SABC) was formed in 1973 and is based at Serpentine Airstrip, which was constructed and is maintained by club members who also build and fly their own aircraft. VH-DJR is the club's aircraft, available for hire by members of SABC.

Star Aviation

Founded in 1985 as Star Charter, Star Aviation is based at Perth Airport. It provides private charter and Fly In/Fly Out (FIFO) contract charters to the mining industry.

Stirlings Gliding Club

Stirlings Gliding Club is based at Cranbrook, 45km north of Mount Barker, near the Stirling Ranges.

Strategic Airlines
(RESTRUCTURED AND RENAMED AS AIR AUSTRALIA IN NOVEMBER 2011 - see under AIR AUSTRALIA)

Surveillance Australia

Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd is headquartered in Adelaide, with bases in Cairns, Darwin and Broome. A subsidiary of National Jet Systems, which is owned by Cobham plc of the UK. The company operates the Australian Customs Service Coastwatch contract, flying maritime surveillance patrols within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (AEEZ), searching for illegal fishing vessels, people smugglers, drug smugglers, immigration and quarantine breaches, and SAR (Search and Rescue) operations.

They operate a fleet of six DHC-8-202 Dash 8s and four larger DHC-8-315 Dash 8s highly-modified for maritime patrol and surveillance. The aircraft are fitted with Raytheon SeaVue surface search radars, in addition to an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Moving target indication (MTI) capability, advanced electro-optical sensors and communications suites. They can operate day and night and can search an area of 110,000 km² per flight. Each year they fly 2,500 missions and 15,000 hours. The company also operates and maintains the modified Dash 8 LADS (Laser Airborne Depth Sounding) owned by Fugro LADS (see separate entry for details). This does not visit WA, so is not listed here.

National Jet formed Surveillance Australia in 1994 after winning the Border Protection Command Coastwatch contract. They initially used a mix of Rockwell 500S Shrike commanders, Britten-Norman Islanders, Reims/Cessna F406 Vigilants, and DHC Dash 8-200MPA. In 2005, the $1 billion Coastwatch contract was renewed through to the year 2020, and the fleet was changed to 10 Dash 8s for the Coastwatch contract.

Tiger Airways Australia

Tiger Airways Australia is an ultra-low cost domestic airline based at Melbourne-Tullamarine with other bases at Adelaide and Avalon, with another virtual base at Sydney. The airline uses a low-cost model based on that used by the successful Irish airline, Ryanair.

Tiger Airways Australia was formed on 16 March 2007, and started services on 23 November 2007 from Melbourne. The first service to Perth was on 28 November 2007 from Melbourne-Tullamarine with VH-VNC. It began services between Perth and Avalon from 12 November 2010.

It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines. Tiger Airways Holdings also owns Tiger Airways Singapore, which started services on 25 March 2005. Tiger Airways Singapore started international services from Singapore to Perth on 23 March 2007, using Airbus A320s (Singapore-registered). The parent company has over 50 A320s on order for distribution amongst the various subsidiaries, but the Australian fleet is to be kept as is for the time being.
Fleet list updated as at 30 July 2012.

Toll Priority (Toll Air Express)

Toll Priority is a freight company which includes a cargo airline managed by their Toll Air Express business unit, operating between most of the capital cities within Australia.

In Western Australia, Toll uses Boeing 737-300SF freighters registered in New Zealand and leased from Airwork (New Zealand). The aircraft usually operate from the Domestic Cargo Terminal, alongside the Australian Air Express Boeing 737-300SFs. Toll also leases light aircraft and two ATR42 freighters, but these do not visit WA.

UTS Aviation / UTS Geophysics

UTS Aviation was founded in 1991 and is the aviation arm of UTS Geophysics. The aircraft are based at Jandakot Airport, with the head office at Perth Airport.

UTS Geophysics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aeroquest International Limited, conducting ultra-high resolution airborne geophysical surveys throughout Asia Pacific, Australia, the Middle East and Africa.

University Flying Club

The University Flying Club is one of WA’s oldest flying clubs, based at Jandakot Airport. They previously owned VH-IGG, a Grumman AA-5B Tiger. This aircaft has was sold in the Eastern States, and a new Piper Sport was delivered in April 2011. The aircraft is based with Air Australia International at Jandakot.

Virgin Australia Airlines (formerly Virgin Blue Airlines)

On 4 May 2011, the former Virgin Blue Group revealed its new brand, Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia confirmed that the entire fleet will be repainted in the new livery over about four years.

Virgin Australia is Australia's second-largest airline, with a fleet of 75 aircraft serving 28 cities in Australia. The airline is based at Brisbane, with secondary hubs at Sydney and Melbourne, and "focus cities" at Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast Airport, Hobart, Perth Airport and Townsville.

In WA, Virgin Australia operates Broome to Adelaide, and the following destinations from Perth, using Boeing 737-700s and -800s and Embraer 190s:

• Adelaide
• Broome
• Darwin
• Karratha
• Melbourne
• Newman
• Port Hedland
• Sydney

In May 2011, Virgin Australia is to start using Airbus A330-200 aircraft to serve Perth from Sydney.

Virgin Blue was founded by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, with Brett Godfrey as CEO. Virgin Group later sold 50% of Virgin Blue to Patrick Corporation, and then sold more shares publicly. A hostile takeover by Patrick Corporation in early 2005 gave them 62% of Virgin Blue, with Virgin Group retaining 25%. In May 2006, Toll Holdings acquired Patrick, in the process becoming majority shareholder in Virgin Blue, but in July 2008 Toll sold its holding and now owns only 1.7%.

Virgin Blue started operations on 31 August 2000 with two Boeing 737-400s leased from Virgin Express (Belgium), but later replaced these with a fleet consisting only of Boeing 737-700s and -800s. Virgin Blue was lucky in its timing, as the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001 enabled the airline to grow rapidly (as did Qantas), and gave them access to ex-Ansett terminals. Virgin Blue started services into Perth using Boeing 737-700 aircraft on 9 September 2001, just five days before the Ansett collapse. The first service was from Melbourne via Adelaide, using 737-800 VH-VOF. Virgin Blue initially used the International Terminal for their domestic flights, then moved to the former Ansett terminal on the domestic side of the airport on 8 Dec 2002. From September 2007, the airline started taking delivery of Embraer 170s and 190s to open new routes.

Virgin Blue could not use the Virgin brand on its international operations, due to an agreement between Virgin Blue stakeholder Richard Branson when Singapore Airlines bought 49% of Virgin Atlantic in 2000. Virgin Blue Group's international carriers were named V Australia and Pacific Blue. Due to aircraft being rotated onto domestic flights, this meant that aircraft in Pacific Blue titles often operated on Virgin Blue domestic services, but aircraft painted with Virgin Blue titles were not allowed to fly international services.

In September 2003, Virgin Blue created Pacific Blue as a subsidiary to fly internationally with 737s between New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand domestic flights, and flights from Australia and New Zealand to the Pacific Islands, Bali and Phuket. In September 2010, Pacific Blue ended New Zealand domestic flights to focus on other parts of their network. On 6 December 2011, Pacific Blue was merged under the Virgin Australia brand.

In early 2006, Virgin Blue's parent company announced the creation of a long-haul international carrier operating from Australia to Los Angeles or San Francisco. V Australia commenced passenger services on 27 February 2009, and now operates flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Los Angeles. Flights from Australia to South Africa, Thailand and Fiji will soon end and the carrier will add flights between Australia and Abu Dhabi. On 6 December 2011, V Australia was merged under the Virgin Australia brand.

With the formation of Virgin Australia in May 2011, the airline has now confirmed that an agreement was recently made with Singapore Airlines allowing use of the Virgin brand on international services. It will now operate its domestic services as Virgin Australia, and the international carriers V Australia and Pacific Blue will also use the Virgin Australia name by the end of 2011.

Polynesian Blue was formed as a joint venture with the Samoan government operating one Boeing 737-800 aircraft. It was rebranded as Virgin Samoa on 6 December 2011.

On 10 January 2011, Virgin Blue Group (now Virgin Australia) and Skywest Airlines signed a 10-year alliance with Skywest operating up to 18 new Virgin Australia branded ATR72-500 & -600 aircraft to a number of existing and new destinations around Australia.

NOTE: Virgin Australia Embraer 170s and ZK-registered 737s are excluded from the below list as they do not visit Western Australia.

Fleet list updated as at 1 September 2012.

WA Police Air Wing

The WA Police Air Wing has two units, based at Jandakot and Karratha. Their aircraft and helicopter are used for surveillance, patrols, SAR, and transport.

Below is a list of aircraft previously operated by the WA Police:

• VH-IQP Cessna 182P Skylane II (cn 18264987): 8 December 1976 - 17 June 1986.
• VH-PGN P.68 Observer (cn 249-05-OB): 12 August 1982 - 30 June 1989, named "William G Pense".
• VH-HCP Cessna 310R (cn 310R0849): "Polair 64" - 1 July 1989 - CRASHED 26 January 2001 at Newman, killing all aboard.
• VH-NJL Aerospatiale AS355F-1 Twin Squirrel (cn 5039): "Polair 1" - 2 May 1990 - CRASHED 8 May 1992 at Kelmscott - descended too rapidly, crashed and burnt on a sports oval during a demonstration for school children and cancelled from register on 24 September 1992.
• VH-DEP Piper PA-31-310 Navajo C (cn 31-7812125): "Polair 63" - 25 February 1992 - 30 August 2006 - traded in to Pilatus
• VH-OTP Beech 58 Baron (cn TH-274): 2 August 1993 - reregistered 18 November 1993 as VH-FLZ, sold 11 January 2000
• VH-DEQ Piper PA-31-310 Navajo (cn 31-8012091): 4 December 2002 - 22 December 2005 - traded in to Pilatus

WA Skydiving Academy

West Australian Skydiving Academy was formed in 1987 and is based at Jandakot and Pinjarra, offering skydiving lessons, and skydiving flights for experienced skydivers. The company has a dropzone at Tompkins Park, next to the Swan River at Alfred Cove, and another at Pinjarra. The WACO aircraft is a vintage biplane not used for skydiving flights.

West Coast Seaplanes

Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter is owned by Surf Life Saving Western Australia (SLSWA), and sponsored by Westpac Banking Corporation and the Multiplex Group. It is based at the Fremantle Heliport, at Rous Head.

A Bell 206 JetRanger (VH-FHA) was operated in a similar role by the Surf Life Saving Association in the early 1980s. Later, the State Government subsidised shark spotting patrols flown by Cessna 172s of Edith Cowan University.

From late 2008 to early 2011, Surf Life Saving WA leased another Bell 206B JetRanger from Heliwest (VH-BIN) at a cost of $1200 per hour, and it accrued 300 flying hours in five months, and did 77 days of flying over the 2010/11 summer season. The JetRanger was based at Jandakot, but each morning would relocate to City Beach for its beach patrols.

Later in 2011, it was announced that a used AgustaWestland A119 Koala helicopter was to be purchased (rather than leased). The A119 had previously operated in a rescue role in New Zealand, and was modified and repainted in Auckland, New Zealand by Heliflite Pacific before delivery.

With delivery of the A119 delayed and following three fatalities in Western Australian waters from shark attacks, the WA Government provided Surf Life Saving WA with $1 million in funding. This enabled them to lease an Aerospatiale AS.350B2 Squirrel (VH-FLL) in the interim period whilst waiting for the A119 to be delivered. The Squirrel performed better than the JetRanger with a full payload in high temperatures and is more reliable, but costs more at $1500 per hour. The Squirrel was also selected as it was available immediately. The leased Squirrel was used solely for shark and beach patrols, and was not fitted with a winch for rescue work.

Surf Life Saving WA took delivery of a $2 million Agusta Westland A119 Koala rescue and beach patrol helicopter (VH-FOI) in December 2011. The A119 helicopter is fitted with floats, a rescue winch, first-aid equipment, sirens to alert swimmers, a GPS to pinpoint sightings, and radios to communicate with life savers on the beach. It conducts beach patrols, shark spotting and surveillance, and SAR (Search And Rescue) missions. It normally operates with a pilot, an aircrew member and one or two rescue swimmers. It flies beach patrols no more than 5 km from the coastline, operating as far south as Mandurah and north as far as Yanchep, and Rottnest Island. The A119 will fly for 189 days in 2011-12, and will be airborne for about four hours a day.

Williambury Helicopters (also trades as Pilbara Helicopters)

Williambury Helicopters is based at Yalleen Station, near Pannawonica, and also uses the name Pilbara Helicopters. It provides the following helicopters services: Aerial Photography, Aerial Spotting, Aerial Surveying, Emergency Services, Exploration Support, Mining Support, Sling Loads.

© 2013 David Eyre