Old regional piston/turbine routes
Thread Starter
Old regional piston/turbine routes
Remember these?
Currently working in Katherine and looking through alot of old paperwork from earlier Airnorth days when they operated C402's out of Tindal on RPT. I'd imagine there would be heaps of routes similar to these that are no longer operating but is there any Ppruners that used to fly piston RPT on similar thin(ish) routes in the last 10-20 years?
Anyone else who was in charge when they were stopped? Just wondering what sort of issues came up to make them unviable. A/C cost, CASA regs issues, pax numbers?
Currently working in Katherine and looking through alot of old paperwork from earlier Airnorth days when they operated C402's out of Tindal on RPT. I'd imagine there would be heaps of routes similar to these that are no longer operating but is there any Ppruners that used to fly piston RPT on similar thin(ish) routes in the last 10-20 years?
Anyone else who was in charge when they were stopped? Just wondering what sort of issues came up to make them unviable. A/C cost, CASA regs issues, pax numbers?
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: HK
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was a chieftain king for many a year on Rpt routes!
fact of the matter is the planes got old and just wernt fast enough.
The ticket prices to high. Only a matter of time.
back then 3500 hrs not enough time to get a turbine job, let alone a jet job! How things have changed.
Silly thing is been flying big jets for a decae now and as alot of people say wish i was back flying piston RPT, but there is the money thing, kids BLAAA BLAA BLAA you know the story!
fact of the matter is the planes got old and just wernt fast enough.
The ticket prices to high. Only a matter of time.
back then 3500 hrs not enough time to get a turbine job, let alone a jet job! How things have changed.
Silly thing is been flying big jets for a decae now and as alot of people say wish i was back flying piston RPT, but there is the money thing, kids BLAAA BLAA BLAA you know the story!
aviation_enthus,
Go to Katherine Library or Historical rooms and look for a book on Conellan Airways and have a look at their route network in the 1960 and 70's throughout the NT, Western QLD and North West WA using everything from Cessna 180's, Beechcraft B18's, Beechcraft Twin Bonanza's, Beechcraft Queenair's, de Havilland Heron's, DC-3's and later Fokker Friendships.
Lots of other operators in that part of the world had some interesting route networks carrying passengers, freight, mail etc.
Operators such as
Ord Air,
John Beers Aviation at once stage had an RPT run from Perth to North West WA in a Baron,
Arnhem Air,
AirNorth had extensive RPT throughout the NT operating Cessna C310/ 402/404 /441 from the mid 80's.
Civil Flying Services at one stage had an RPT route Perth to Alice Springs in a Metro,
Hazelton likewise had very extensive RPT network using C310 and PA-31/350 through NSW.
The old thing money, punters and a hundred and one other things to keep it all running and profitable. When things are going good in the bush people travel, but when things are quiet and people don't travel services are lost.
Both TAA and Ansett extensive operations through regional areas such as QLD, WA, SA and NSW. TAA operated Queenairs and F27's on regional routes in QLD, Ansett operated Piaggio P166's between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, on SA routes and also on QLD routes.
Go to Katherine Library or Historical rooms and look for a book on Conellan Airways and have a look at their route network in the 1960 and 70's throughout the NT, Western QLD and North West WA using everything from Cessna 180's, Beechcraft B18's, Beechcraft Twin Bonanza's, Beechcraft Queenair's, de Havilland Heron's, DC-3's and later Fokker Friendships.
Lots of other operators in that part of the world had some interesting route networks carrying passengers, freight, mail etc.
Operators such as
Ord Air,
John Beers Aviation at once stage had an RPT run from Perth to North West WA in a Baron,
Arnhem Air,
AirNorth had extensive RPT throughout the NT operating Cessna C310/ 402/404 /441 from the mid 80's.
Civil Flying Services at one stage had an RPT route Perth to Alice Springs in a Metro,
Hazelton likewise had very extensive RPT network using C310 and PA-31/350 through NSW.
The old thing money, punters and a hundred and one other things to keep it all running and profitable. When things are going good in the bush people travel, but when things are quiet and people don't travel services are lost.
Both TAA and Ansett extensive operations through regional areas such as QLD, WA, SA and NSW. TAA operated Queenairs and F27's on regional routes in QLD, Ansett operated Piaggio P166's between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, on SA routes and also on QLD routes.
Thread Starter
MMA?
thanks for the replies
Stationair8 I was in the library a while back looking around and found a book on MMA (I think) written by an ex-Captain of theirs. WA based airline they included the centre run (NT) on their route map as well, from memory they came under the Ansett route system. I think the Hardy's DC-3 is an ex MMA a/c.
Amazing how things change though....
RENURPP better road access would have provided a lot of competion as well I assume?
Stationair8 I was in the library a while back looking around and found a book on MMA (I think) written by an ex-Captain of theirs. WA based airline they included the centre run (NT) on their route map as well, from memory they came under the Ansett route system. I think the Hardy's DC-3 is an ex MMA a/c.
Amazing how things change though....
RENURPP better road access would have provided a lot of competion as well I assume?
G'day 'Stationair'.....
Just a small correction,
That operator was JAN BEERS, of Jan Beers Aviation.
At one time had about 5 Be-58 Barons, then got down to just one.
Perth based, but with ops wherever he found an opportunity.
If the 'Hardys' DC3 is regd MMA, then I do believe it was re-reg'd under that name to celebrate its history as being VH-MMA the former flagship of MMA.
It wound up in PNG, then was imported back by Maslings as MWQ way back in the early '70's or thereabouts. Later to be renamed to its former callsign.
As far as the 'changing times' went, in 1970, I used to do an RPT ex PD on a local 'station' run which used to be covered by MMA Doves and two pilots.
Moi was in a C206, or even a 182 sometimes, and the biggest workload of the flight was the RPT manifests / mail /freight paperwork which was supposed to be done 'as you went'...
Dems were the days....
Just a small correction,
That operator was JAN BEERS, of Jan Beers Aviation.
At one time had about 5 Be-58 Barons, then got down to just one.
Perth based, but with ops wherever he found an opportunity.
If the 'Hardys' DC3 is regd MMA, then I do believe it was re-reg'd under that name to celebrate its history as being VH-MMA the former flagship of MMA.
It wound up in PNG, then was imported back by Maslings as MWQ way back in the early '70's or thereabouts. Later to be renamed to its former callsign.
As far as the 'changing times' went, in 1970, I used to do an RPT ex PD on a local 'station' run which used to be covered by MMA Doves and two pilots.
Moi was in a C206, or even a 182 sometimes, and the biggest workload of the flight was the RPT manifests / mail /freight paperwork which was supposed to be done 'as you went'...
Dems were the days....
'Ello Again Mr 'S',
Jan had the RPT run DB - FTZ - HLC for a while, around '83 - '85 or so.
I seem to remember that he was successful in adding the HLC - PH run to effect crew / aircraft changes /maint etc and to effect a 'direct-link mail service', or something like that.
Not a 'bad' run though....
Jan had the RPT run DB - FTZ - HLC for a while, around '83 - '85 or so.
I seem to remember that he was successful in adding the HLC - PH run to effect crew / aircraft changes /maint etc and to effect a 'direct-link mail service', or something like that.
Not a 'bad' run though....
Piston RPT
Used to do RPT in a Seneca.
No, not a Seneca III, nor a Seneca II, a Seneca. The operator had moved up from a Cherokee 6, and everybody thought the "twin" was state-of-the-art.
No, not a Seneca III, nor a Seneca II, a Seneca. The operator had moved up from a Cherokee 6, and everybody thought the "twin" was state-of-the-art.
Good to see they've cleared out the stock room at the old AN building in Katherine! Read through the same stuff 4 years ago...
Is the building painted yet? Would love if you could post a photo of the building and/or aircraft current day.
Is the building painted yet? Would love if you could post a photo of the building and/or aircraft current day.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Perth Australia
Age: 80
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
1 Post
In the "bad old days" MMA had a fortnightly run
Perth-Morowa-Yalgoo-Magnet-Cue-Meeka-Wiluna-Sandstone-Magnet-Yalgoo-Morawa-Perth.
Allowed the populations to read and reply to mail in the double dippers, bearing in mind no sealed roads to any of those places at that time
3 Pilots, leave number 2 running at most places, bloddy good fun.
Yes I am that "old"
growng old is a fact, growing up is optional.
Perth-Morowa-Yalgoo-Magnet-Cue-Meeka-Wiluna-Sandstone-Magnet-Yalgoo-Morawa-Perth.
Allowed the populations to read and reply to mail in the double dippers, bearing in mind no sealed roads to any of those places at that time
3 Pilots, leave number 2 running at most places, bloddy good fun.
Yes I am that "old"
growng old is a fact, growing up is optional.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: cairns
Age: 51
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aero Tropics
Aero Tropics I think would have to be up there...
5 days a week. 80 stations.
Wednesday and Thursday runs are approx about 18 stops each and about 300-400 kgs each day. ALL RTP too.
Doing it all in an Aero Commander.
I use to run the mail run - absolute headache ....
5 days a week. 80 stations.
Wednesday and Thursday runs are approx about 18 stops each and about 300-400 kgs each day. ALL RTP too.
Doing it all in an Aero Commander.
I use to run the mail run - absolute headache ....
She's still a goer for Air North, VH-MMA. Back to bare polished metal as when
Mickey Mouse Airlines kept a team of polisher apprentices in their Guildford hangars with results so gleaming you could take a shave .
http://www.aussieairliners.org/dc-3/vh-mma/vhmma.html
aviation_enthus please check PMs.
Mickey Mouse Airlines kept a team of polisher apprentices in their Guildford hangars with results so gleaming you could take a shave .
http://www.aussieairliners.org/dc-3/vh-mma/vhmma.html
aviation_enthus please check PMs.
Last edited by Fantome; 3rd Apr 2008 at 03:29.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NTH&STH,EAST&WEST
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aeropelican
Just a little trivia.........
Aeropelican was the first company down south to go from the trusted 402 to the very trusted twin Otter.......
I enjoyed working at the "Duck" and living on the lake. FS always said they could set their clocks to our times as we were always spot on time.
Aeropelican was the first company down south to go from the trusted 402 to the very trusted twin Otter.......
I enjoyed working at the "Duck" and living on the lake. FS always said they could set their clocks to our times as we were always spot on time.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: France
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aeropelican
40 deg STH
I had the privilege of flying the first commuter run at Aeropelican in a Cessna 402 VH- MWE on June the 2nd 1971. The sector was APL/ SY/ APL and it was the start of a very successful commuter service. For performance reasons we limited the pax load to 7, the 402 did a great job and deserves its role in the Australian RPT system.
I had the privilege of flying the first commuter run at Aeropelican in a Cessna 402 VH- MWE on June the 2nd 1971. The sector was APL/ SY/ APL and it was the start of a very successful commuter service. For performance reasons we limited the pax load to 7, the 402 did a great job and deserves its role in the Australian RPT system.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: France
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Commuter runs RPT
Peter Fanelli:
The system in place at that time was that most of the aircraft used on the commuter runs were the old Part 23 certification and not Part 25.
It kept you alert.
The system in place at that time was that most of the aircraft used on the commuter runs were the old Part 23 certification and not Part 25.
It kept you alert.