Airline licence number 9, the first Bushies F27 schedule flight.
Following is an extract from Ron Entsch’s book “Bushies”
The F27 hire agreement (with Ansett) was signed on 20 October, 1980. Having completed the necessary training and implementation of procedural manuals, under the very close scrutiny of DoT, Airline Licence No. 9 was issued on 24 October 1980. This was the first airline licence to be issued in thirty- two years, the last one having being granted to East- West Airlines in 1948. Three days later, BPA’s first flight operated from Cairns to Groote Eylandt and return. 1. Staff function at Cairns Airport On the weekend before the first airline flight, management organised a staff function at the BPA passenger terminal and Bushies Bar to celebrate the occasion.Founding Director Bev Anning, emptied a glass of Champagne over the nose of the aircraft and the function continued into the night.Some of the celebrations were captured on a Super 8 home movie camera (no sound) and can be viewed on the attached DVD. 2. First Bushies F27 schedule flight The first F27 flight was to Groote Eylandt. It was under the command of Trevor Congram and the Ansett training pilot Paul Lomas. Various BPA staff were passengers on the flight. Can you recognise them?
At the very ‘top’ of Australia overlooking Torres Strait, was a wilderness area. The State Government had designated it as a tourist reserve but had done nothing with the area.
Bushies purchased it at a public auction for $4,000. The object was to promote the area for its location and to develop another remote destination for tourists to visit, flying, of course, in Bushies' aircraft. Extract from Ron Entsch's book “Bushies”. Above is video of the Bushies' Board Meeting which was held on the site to discuss, decide and commence the operational plans and logistical planning requirements prior to construction. The Bushies Board at the time consisted of Syd Williams (Chairman), Bob Mostyn, (Craig Mostyn & Co), Bev Anning, Bob Horseman (BHP), John Evans (Comalco), Alan Hope (MIM) and Allan McInnes. The Board members were flown into Bamaga airport in a Metro by Charlie Batticciotto and then transferred by 4WD to the site of the proposed resort. Paul Phelan, the Special Projects Manager, was also on site as was the Architect and caretaker. The Chairman of the Bamaga Council, Mr Adidi was also in attendance, along with the Department of Aboriginal & Island Affairs Manager Bruce Peel.
It was a Dept of Civil Aviation (DCA) requirement for all aircrew to be familiar with the operation of life rafts, lifejackets, flares etc. if they were to be carried on over water flights.
Accordingly Cairns based crews used to attend Chief Pilot Col Shedden’s residence and pool annually where time expired rafts, jackets and flares were inflated and lit for recency purposes. Once the 8 person raft was inflated in the small swimming pool it was turned upside down and each crew member, once donning an inflated lifejacket, had to jump into the pool and right the raft and climb into it and familiarise themselves with the enclosed safety and emergency equipment pack. It was also a very social event as crew members brought along their families for a BBQ/picnic afterwards. Later when F27s were introduced larger 42 person life rafts were required and the venue shifted to the Tobruk pool. Brisbane based crews did their recency initially at the Everton Park pool. Several 8 person rafts were used on DC3 passenger flights (and 4 person ones on DC3 freighter flights) over the Gulf of Carpentaria. This video was filmed by the then Airport Manager Lionel Dyer on his family Super 8 movie camera which did not have sound. Lionel then used this video as a training aid.
Introduction of Twin Otters in 1983. The Twin Otters were changed from the TAA colours to the BPA colours.