World's longest mail run
Thread Starter
World's longest mail run
As from the end of this month, the mail run touted as the World's longest will undergo major changes. The run, which has been done over the years by PAGAS, Augusta Airways, Airlines Of South Australia & lastly AirNorth/Airlines Of South Australia will be taken over by West Wing Aviation from Mount Isa. Instead of the weekend, the run will be done on Wednesdays/Thursdays. Several stops have been dropped, & the overnight stop will now be done at Birdsville instead of Boulia. The aircraft they will probably be using is a C402B, with only one pilot. They will only be taking tourists if & when their loading permits. Should all be
VERY interesting!
DF.
VERY interesting!
DF.
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That's two major contracts that ASA had an Airnorth have lost since taking over. Well done to all concerned!!! The expression "could not organise a root in a brothel" comes to mind.
When the stuff up Port Lincoln (and rumours are that the Braz is about to get pulled off and sent back to Darwin), they will be left with a PA31 run (YPAG to YPAD). Isn't that what PAGIS started with in the early 1970's? I suppose that is progress.
Then again, they have bought EMU. Maybe they can buy WW and VH aviation and rebuild what they started with 18 months ago?
When the stuff up Port Lincoln (and rumours are that the Braz is about to get pulled off and sent back to Darwin), they will be left with a PA31 run (YPAG to YPAD). Isn't that what PAGIS started with in the early 1970's? I suppose that is progress.
Then again, they have bought EMU. Maybe they can buy WW and VH aviation and rebuild what they started with 18 months ago?
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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The mail run used to be the 'jewel in the crown' as far as TK and CK were concerned. Rather sad to see it go.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
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PAGAS ran a clapped out old 402 and a clapped out 310 and had the Flyin Doc contract .operating a nice B58 and clapped out Cher 6
Williams took over the RFDS.
EMU was little Lancie chuggin back and forth in a clapped out 402 with a packet of ciggies jammed in the instrument panel.
Tin will look in his log to see if he put down the station stops on the mail run.
Williams took over the RFDS.
EMU was little Lancie chuggin back and forth in a clapped out 402 with a packet of ciggies jammed in the instrument panel.
Tin will look in his log to see if he put down the station stops on the mail run.
Thread Starter
Didn't PAGAS use a Vatican Cessna (Partenavia) on the run? I've got a video somewhere of it, & the pilot (won't mention names) had to change a flat nosewheel tyre.
And with a ciggie jammed in his face too! Can still remember him getting out of the plane with one going, & another day when he spilt Avgas down his pants & dropped them without a second thought for the passengers! And ringing his missus on his mobile to tell her he'd just done (yet another) wheels up landing! 
Tin, would be interesting to know all the old stops. It used to end up in Mt Isa on the Saturday many years ago.
DF.
EMU was little Lancie chuggin back and forth in a clapped out 402 with a packet of ciggies jammed in the instrument panel.
Tin, would be interesting to know all the old stops. It used to end up in Mt Isa on the Saturday many years ago.
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Desert Tin does remember havin a slow leak in a mainwheel on Cherokee 6 whilst doing the mail run.Every second stop the station folk blew her back up and I continued on my way.Was dead flat in the morning at Birdsville just blew her up and again at Leigh Creek I think.
Piece a cake to an old New Guinea hand
The only thing I found a little annoying was the bloody kangaroo in the bedroom block at the Birdsville boozer ..I'm not real sure about them folk up there.
Piece a cake to an old New Guinea hand
The only thing I found a little annoying was the bloody kangaroo in the bedroom block at the Birdsville boozer ..I'm not real sure about them folk up there.
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and rumours are that the Braz is about to get pulled off and sent back to Darwin
You are right 11percent the braz is going back to Darwin. It is to be swapped with another aircraft so it can have work perormed on it. Maybe Airnorth couldn't organize a root in a brothel or maybe they didn't want to put in a tender so low it hurt the company. Surely you have seen the results of companies undercutting each other for a tender.
Thread Starter
In all fairness I should say that as far as I know AirNorth/ASA no longer wanted the mail run & therefore I believe did not tender for it again.
DF.
DF.
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I heard so many different rumours about AN's attitude to the Mail run that in the end I gave up wondering.
Rumours varied from 'they don't want to keep it' thru 'they could'nt care if they got it or not' to 'they really want to keep it'
All the usual rumours really. However I guess that it's all rather irrelevant now.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Rumours varied from 'they don't want to keep it' thru 'they could'nt care if they got it or not' to 'they really want to keep it'
All the usual rumours really. However I guess that it's all rather irrelevant now.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
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Teletubby
Do tell us more about the expected new standard of service and efficiency on the world's longest mail run using a Cessna 402B!
Having, like many people flown 402B's when they were new, can't imagine the words service and efficency being in the same sentence as a thirty year old Cessna 402. I would imagine that during summer, a 402B will be more limited than a Chieftain, especially with temps going 40+.
Reading between the lines, ASA were carrying passengers for hire and reward, there fore I am sure CASA would have had put requirements on the operation. Any additional requirements add costs, which in turn inrease the tender price.
Over the years we have seen many examples of start up operators who eventually fail because they cannot make a profit . The latest example is GWA. Their cheap fares didn't help anyone, especially now, when both ASA and REX won't accept the tickets.
Perhaps ASA did want the tender, but only at a price that they could make a profit. Airnorth have been around for a long time now, probably in excess of 20 years, and are pretty experienced in contract and RPT operations, and despite all the knockers, continue to grow and provide employment for about 80 aircrew.
Do tell us more about the expected new standard of service and efficiency on the world's longest mail run using a Cessna 402B!
Having, like many people flown 402B's when they were new, can't imagine the words service and efficency being in the same sentence as a thirty year old Cessna 402. I would imagine that during summer, a 402B will be more limited than a Chieftain, especially with temps going 40+.
Reading between the lines, ASA were carrying passengers for hire and reward, there fore I am sure CASA would have had put requirements on the operation. Any additional requirements add costs, which in turn inrease the tender price.
Over the years we have seen many examples of start up operators who eventually fail because they cannot make a profit . The latest example is GWA. Their cheap fares didn't help anyone, especially now, when both ASA and REX won't accept the tickets.
Perhaps ASA did want the tender, but only at a price that they could make a profit. Airnorth have been around for a long time now, probably in excess of 20 years, and are pretty experienced in contract and RPT operations, and despite all the knockers, continue to grow and provide employment for about 80 aircrew.
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"Airnorth been around probably in excess of 20 years". WOO HOO!
Mate the Chief Driver of WW has about 40 years experience. Ex Vietnam (several confirmed kills) and used to fly for the Queensland Police Service so if he doesn't know about performance on bush strips who does?
The quality of the pilots and machinery involved in this cannot be understated!
Mate the Chief Driver of WW has about 40 years experience. Ex Vietnam (several confirmed kills) and used to fly for the Queensland Police Service so if he doesn't know about performance on bush strips who does?
The quality of the pilots and machinery involved in this cannot be understated!