Blast from the Past: Eastwest Airlines
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CharlieLimaX-Ray
Actually it was the other way round.
Rick Stowe owned Skywest and then bought East West when Skywest was the biggest GA outfit in the country.
Ables was always interested in East West but the government at the time, ACCC or whatever it was called in the 80's blocked any move for East West to directly sell to Ansett.
However that in itself was a loophole so in August 1987 Stowe sold Skywest and East West to a used car dealer in Perth who the very next day sold both to Ansett and Hawke let it go ahead setting inplace 89.
Ables put his plans down in 1980 just after he bought Ansett in an interview published in "Australian Aviation". Makes intersting reading.
Actually it was the other way round.
Rick Stowe owned Skywest and then bought East West when Skywest was the biggest GA outfit in the country.
Ables was always interested in East West but the government at the time, ACCC or whatever it was called in the 80's blocked any move for East West to directly sell to Ansett.
However that in itself was a loophole so in August 1987 Stowe sold Skywest and East West to a used car dealer in Perth who the very next day sold both to Ansett and Hawke let it go ahead setting inplace 89.
Ables put his plans down in 1980 just after he bought Ansett in an interview published in "Australian Aviation". Makes intersting reading.
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East West also did SYD-YBOK(Oakey)-SYD servicing Toowoomba in 1979 using F27. My Dad was the East West rep in Toowoomba. Remember going out to Oakey to watch the planes then ended back there flying for the Army about 5 years later.
My Dad also worked in Armidale. I remember many a long night for him busing the pax to/from Tamworth due to the fog at Armidale. Only a NDB apch back then. Also with the height the F27 was weight limited off the runway. Many a day spent juggling the load and balance sheet to make it work.
My Dad also worked in Armidale. I remember many a long night for him busing the pax to/from Tamworth due to the fog at Armidale. Only a NDB apch back then. Also with the height the F27 was weight limited off the runway. Many a day spent juggling the load and balance sheet to make it work.
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Another story about East West:
In those days - well before ASIC, the various companies issued there own ID's to staff. They would take a Passport photo and laminate it into a credit card sized ID with the company logo.
A particular F28 Captain in Sydney took his home and took a photo of his Dog with Sunglasses, Company Hat and Headset over the lot. He then put this inside the laminated ID and used it for about 3 years before he was finally pick up on it. I heard that he got the full treatment from the "Smiling Assassin" (berated for an hour, nothing more).
Times where different then!!!
In those days - well before ASIC, the various companies issued there own ID's to staff. They would take a Passport photo and laminate it into a credit card sized ID with the company logo.
A particular F28 Captain in Sydney took his home and took a photo of his Dog with Sunglasses, Company Hat and Headset over the lot. He then put this inside the laminated ID and used it for about 3 years before he was finally pick up on it. I heard that he got the full treatment from the "Smiling Assassin" (berated for an hour, nothing more).
Times where different then!!!
That same Captain with Doggy ID also held the unofficial record from OOL-BNE (old airport) ,I believe it was 9 minutes airborne, on The Norfolk Island flights with a 45 minute turnaround he was known to organise a car to be ready for his arrival, drive to the local beach, swim and arrive back on board at the last minute, the F/O was left behind to prepare for the departure and our Capt. would slide into his seat with the A/C door closing behind him commanding "start 2", with another on time departure!!
Also memories on the SYD-YLA flights if arriving early, to do a lap or two of the rock for the benefit of the pax, Japanese tourists loved it.
Also memories on the SYD-YLA flights if arriving early, to do a lap or two of the rock for the benefit of the pax, Japanese tourists loved it.
twodogsflying, thanks for that it was the age of GordonGecko and airlines got bought and sold over liquid lunches!
A number of pilots did very well out of being in Skywest at the right time and finally finished up with Ansett seniority numbers.
One would have EastWestLoco, Fantome and DogOne would have been in on this thread?
A number of pilots did very well out of being in Skywest at the right time and finally finished up with Ansett seniority numbers.
One would have EastWestLoco, Fantome and DogOne would have been in on this thread?
I originally posted this on another thread but this is a better home for it
Anyone wanting to read about East-West's use of the Hudson can find chapter and verse here
It needs to be said that EWA had a remarkable safety record with the Hudson.
Rgds
Anyone wanting to read about East-West's use of the Hudson can find chapter and verse here
It needs to be said that EWA had a remarkable safety record with the Hudson.
Rgds
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Eeny Weeny was based in Tamworth and had very strong Country Party links. (chairman Sir Donald Shand whoes son is/was a prominent QC, I think). In the 60s/70s their network was extensively throughout NSW with the market split between them and Airlines of NSW (Ansett).
They were handled in Sydney by TAA until an expansion of the terminal was possible when the International terminal moved to the western side of the airport and TAA expanded around the corner. Some of the TAA terminal staff moved to EW. Are you still around Buddy Holly?
EW routes from Sydney were something like Albury, Cowra/Young/Grenfell, Bathurst/Orange/Parkes, Tamworth, Glen Innes/Inverell, Port Macquarie/Taree.
Aside from the microburst at Orange I think they also put a DC3 into The Lakes golf course just NE of KSA one night. "Feather No1", "Roger, feathering No2" Oops!
Jabba the Hut had a large hand in their demise, methinks
They were handled in Sydney by TAA until an expansion of the terminal was possible when the International terminal moved to the western side of the airport and TAA expanded around the corner. Some of the TAA terminal staff moved to EW. Are you still around Buddy Holly?
EW routes from Sydney were something like Albury, Cowra/Young/Grenfell, Bathurst/Orange/Parkes, Tamworth, Glen Innes/Inverell, Port Macquarie/Taree.
Aside from the microburst at Orange I think they also put a DC3 into The Lakes golf course just NE of KSA one night. "Feather No1", "Roger, feathering No2" Oops!
Jabba the Hut had a large hand in their demise, methinks
IIIIII rememberrrr ....
Travelling SYD - Norfolk in an EWA F27-500 ....
The first 6 passenger rows were removed and replaced with tarp covered freight.
I also remember that on the return leg, the aircraft was taxied back behind the bitumen runway to nearly the boundary fence, the brakes jammed on, the dog whistles screaming ... then brake release ...and getting airborne just before going over the cliff at the end of the (old) runway.
They were great days ...
Travelling SYD - Norfolk in an EWA F27-500 ....
The first 6 passenger rows were removed and replaced with tarp covered freight.
I also remember that on the return leg, the aircraft was taxied back behind the bitumen runway to nearly the boundary fence, the brakes jammed on, the dog whistles screaming ... then brake release ...and getting airborne just before going over the cliff at the end of the (old) runway.
They were great days ...
Alangirvan. The SYD-ABX-MEL services you refer to were operated by AN, not WX and were designated Air Coach services. You correctly point out no passengers were dropped off or picked up at ABX.
When the Wx was 'bad' at ABX or the flight was running late the a/c overflew ABX at cruise altitude which resulted in formal complaints from EW. A few crew did touch and go landings at ABX before the practice was outlawed by the company after customer complaints.
During a fuel dispute in the 80's an AN F27 picked up fuel at ABX which resulted in a complaint from EW to the fuelling agent.
An F27 under the command of the KMart kid (G.... S....) 'left' the runway after landing at ABX citing control problems. Engineers could not fault the a/c and further flights were event free.
When the Wx was 'bad' at ABX or the flight was running late the a/c overflew ABX at cruise altitude which resulted in formal complaints from EW. A few crew did touch and go landings at ABX before the practice was outlawed by the company after customer complaints.
During a fuel dispute in the 80's an AN F27 picked up fuel at ABX which resulted in a complaint from EW to the fuelling agent.
An F27 under the command of the KMart kid (G.... S....) 'left' the runway after landing at ABX citing control problems. Engineers could not fault the a/c and further flights were event free.
Evertonian
I'm worried now. 
LocoBloko hasn't responded...I'm thinking he's on his way up to MEL to kick the living suitcase out of me!!!
LocoBloko hasn't responded...I'm thinking he's on his way up to MEL to kick the living suitcase out of me!!!
Didn't the fuselage of the F-27 damaged at Bathurst finish up residing at Bankstown for a number of years?
Did East-West operate the F-27 to Melbourne-Mt Gambier -Adelaide during the early 1980's?
East-West operated the F27-500 on the Sydney- Alice Springs run for a while, when they were trying to circumnavigate the two airline agreement.
Did East-West operate the F-27 to Melbourne-Mt Gambier -Adelaide during the early 1980's?
East-West operated the F27-500 on the Sydney- Alice Springs run for a while, when they were trying to circumnavigate the two airline agreement.
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Thanks guys for such an interesting and nostalgic thread. Keep 'em coming.
I was born and bred in Tamworth and learnt to fly at Tamworth Aero Club on Victa's age 17. John Henry was the CFI and the instructors were Brian Raven and Graham Brett. John was ex EWA DC3 skipper. Also John Neuce (?). John sadly died in car accident some years later. Remember the DC3's and the Hudsons. Also remember the Hudsons at the old (Racecourse) airport, I was about 6 then. Remember the first F27 they received. Many happy trips in them.
I am now a retired B744 skipper (21,000+ total hrs) and I can remember John had about 12,000 hrs on DC3's which seemed an enormous amount of hours to me at the time.
EWA certainly went through some indifferent times early on but became probably the strongest and best mid-sized independant airline in the country. Great days then. However, that all changed when Abeles and Co got their hands on the airline. Very sad indeed.
Thought I'd add my pennethworth. Keep the stories coming. Thanks.
JO
PS Great photo Frisbee.
I was born and bred in Tamworth and learnt to fly at Tamworth Aero Club on Victa's age 17. John Henry was the CFI and the instructors were Brian Raven and Graham Brett. John was ex EWA DC3 skipper. Also John Neuce (?). John sadly died in car accident some years later. Remember the DC3's and the Hudsons. Also remember the Hudsons at the old (Racecourse) airport, I was about 6 then. Remember the first F27 they received. Many happy trips in them.
I am now a retired B744 skipper (21,000+ total hrs) and I can remember John had about 12,000 hrs on DC3's which seemed an enormous amount of hours to me at the time.
EWA certainly went through some indifferent times early on but became probably the strongest and best mid-sized independant airline in the country. Great days then. However, that all changed when Abeles and Co got their hands on the airline. Very sad indeed.
Thought I'd add my pennethworth. Keep the stories coming. Thanks.
JO
PS Great photo Frisbee.
The fuse of EWL(?) did lay at Bankstown for quite a while. Post accident a team of guys from Nationwide Air Services (Bankstown) went to Bathurst to strip the aircraft into major sub-sections, fuse, outer wings and wing centre sections. This was done for Noel Vinson and his company Aviation Salvage, I believe.
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Ah yes- EastWest Airlines- that brings back some memories for me...
Circa late 1980s, my first flight in a 'big' plane- (bigger than a C172 anyway!) was in a EWA Fokker Friendship from Sydney to Grafton, mid-January and the temp on departing sydney was over 40 degrees....
The flight (which was continuing on to Maroochydore) was delayed for over an hour whilst waiting for the temp to cool, as I was told.... I stood looking out the windows of the old ground-floor terminal at KSA wondering what was going on.....
Finally underway, my memories are of the deafening noise from the engines, and the peanuts in a sachet..... and of the different atmosphere of arriving at KSA for departure after being driven through big city suburbs, compared to being met by relatives at GFN, bumping over the cattle grid in their elderly HQ Holden on the way out of the airfield!
Times have changed, eh? Nowadays, folks flying to GFN travel in the much more modern SF340, and those going to Maroochydore can fly direct!
Circa late 1980s, my first flight in a 'big' plane- (bigger than a C172 anyway!) was in a EWA Fokker Friendship from Sydney to Grafton, mid-January and the temp on departing sydney was over 40 degrees....
The flight (which was continuing on to Maroochydore) was delayed for over an hour whilst waiting for the temp to cool, as I was told.... I stood looking out the windows of the old ground-floor terminal at KSA wondering what was going on.....
Finally underway, my memories are of the deafening noise from the engines, and the peanuts in a sachet..... and of the different atmosphere of arriving at KSA for departure after being driven through big city suburbs, compared to being met by relatives at GFN, bumping over the cattle grid in their elderly HQ Holden on the way out of the airfield!
Times have changed, eh? Nowadays, folks flying to GFN travel in the much more modern SF340, and those going to Maroochydore can fly direct!
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My first introduction to the world of aviation was a primary school trip to Wynyard airport where we jumped on an EW F27 & taxied down the old runway & back, followed by a tour of the flight services unit.
Was hooked on aircraft from that moment onwards.
EWL where are you? your absence from this thread is concerning
Was hooked on aircraft from that moment onwards.
EWL where are you? your absence from this thread is concerning
Last edited by tasdevil.f27; 23rd May 2009 at 09:13. Reason: to consider if we need to list EWL as a missing person to Tas Police!
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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EWL where are you? your absence from this thread is concerning
Standing by.....
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Pinky and Buster - the Loco Bloko has entered the building!
Hi everyone.
EW did indeed operate MEL MGB ADL in the 80's. It was not an overly successful service, as we had to park half way to Hackham at ADL.
During a pilots strike when I was seconded to Melbourne we were picking up AN and TN MEL ADL passengers on coupon value. One dude on a United ticket in First Class asked for a rebate. I told him I would bvlock out the seat next to him, sat him in the back row (propellor first) and worded up the girls not to let him off sober.
When the aeroplane returned I got the report that they had one happy camper who needed assistance to the terminal. Disgraceful
There was an earlier mention of the dog on the ID card - that would be Mad Mike. He also cut the Crown off his wings as he was not a royalist. Gotta love that.
An idiot savant with the F27 and the F28. He could fly the rivets off them and holds the SYD DPO record at 70 minutes chock to chock. It was EWG (F28-3000) from memory and they passed above a TN SYD MEL 727 at one stage.
One of my staff Lance Baldock was abord that flight. He looked down as they breezed past the 727.
I was on the deck, and the girl must have been coming over 300 knots on downwind, washed off on turn to base leg - fastest i have ever seen in the DPO circuit.
Abeles had to buy us as our 1st 3 F100s were rolling down the production line at Schipol, and that silver haired slime bucket with the junkie daughter delayed the processes that would have allowed us to move upward.
May the latter soon join the former.
best all
EWL
Hi everyone.
EW did indeed operate MEL MGB ADL in the 80's. It was not an overly successful service, as we had to park half way to Hackham at ADL.
During a pilots strike when I was seconded to Melbourne we were picking up AN and TN MEL ADL passengers on coupon value. One dude on a United ticket in First Class asked for a rebate. I told him I would bvlock out the seat next to him, sat him in the back row (propellor first) and worded up the girls not to let him off sober.
When the aeroplane returned I got the report that they had one happy camper who needed assistance to the terminal. Disgraceful
There was an earlier mention of the dog on the ID card - that would be Mad Mike. He also cut the Crown off his wings as he was not a royalist. Gotta love that.
An idiot savant with the F27 and the F28. He could fly the rivets off them and holds the SYD DPO record at 70 minutes chock to chock. It was EWG (F28-3000) from memory and they passed above a TN SYD MEL 727 at one stage.
One of my staff Lance Baldock was abord that flight. He looked down as they breezed past the 727.
I was on the deck, and the girl must have been coming over 300 knots on downwind, washed off on turn to base leg - fastest i have ever seen in the DPO circuit.
Abeles had to buy us as our 1st 3 F100s were rolling down the production line at Schipol, and that silver haired slime bucket with the junkie daughter delayed the processes that would have allowed us to move upward.
May the latter soon join the former.
best all
EWL
