Bush Pilots Airways was formed in 1951 and operated in Queensland, Australia until 1988. Its first aircraft was a de Havilland DH-90 "Dragonfly" registered as VH-AAD. This was purchased from Adastra Airways Ltd in Sydney in 1951 and flown to Cairns, Queensland by Bush Pilots founder Bob Norman.[1]
In 1978 Bush Pilots Airways changed their name to BPA. BPA operated Douglas DC-3 aircraft, Britten-Norman Trislanders and Swearingen Metroliners. Operations were largely in Queensland, Australia, although the airline also provided service to Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory. The services north from Brisbane (and return) were very popular with business travellers and tourists alike. A typical run involved stops in regional cities between Brisbane and Townsville, such as Maroochydore, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, and Mackay. Short-distance services operated from Cairns to inland and coastal locations such as Cooktown, Karumba and Normanton. With such frequent stops a high altitude was never achieved, offering good views of this scenic part of the state.
On 1 December 1981 BPA became Air Queensland. Air Queensland was the last airline in Australia to use Douglas DC-3s on regular scheduled services, the last being withdrawn on 7 April 1988.[5] The Air Queensland name ceased to exist on 30 April 1988 when the airline was absorbed into Australian Airlines (later absorbed into Qantas). The last General Manager was Ron Entsch.[6]
A Douglas DC-3 formerly operated by Bush Pilots Airways was on display at Cairns International Airport from 1984 until 2008, when it was removed due to concerns over its structural integrity.[7]
By 1988 Air Queensland served 44 destinations throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Queensland Pacific Airways was a trading name of Queensland Pacific Trading Company. It acquired DC-3 aircraft when Qantas disposed of its last Douglas DC-3s in 1971. In 1972, it was absorbed by Bush Pilots Airways (BPA), which eventually became Air Queensland.[8][9][10][11][12]
^"Bush Pilots plane pulled down". ABC News. 5 September 2008.
^. aviationcollection.org. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^"Airlines Australia". www.airlinehistory.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^"qantas". www.douglasdc3.com. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^"GEOFF GOODALL'S AVIATION HISTORY SITE". www.goodall.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^"DC-3 VH-EDC of Queensland Pacific Airways on an AHSA charter to Oakey on 25th March 1972. Photo: Ron Cuskelly". Queensland Air Museum. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
External linksedit
Ron Entsch (2001). Bushies: a History of Bush Pilots - Air Queensland(PDF).
queensland, formerly, bush, pilots, airways, australian, airline, which, operated, from, 1951, until, 1988, iata, icao, callsignqn, bushairfounded1951ceased, operations30, april, 1988hubscairns, international, airportheadquarterscairns, australia, contents, hi. Air Queensland formerly Bush Pilots Airways was an Australian airline which operated from 1951 until 1988 Air QueenslandIATA ICAO CallsignQN AQN BUSHAIRFounded1951Ceased operations30 April 1988HubsCairns International AirportHeadquartersCairns Australia Contents 1 History 2 Queensland Pacific Airways 3 Fleet 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editBush Pilots Airways was formed in 1951 and operated in Queensland Australia until 1988 Its first aircraft was a de Havilland DH 90 Dragonfly registered as VH AAD This was purchased from Adastra Airways Ltd in Sydney in 1951 and flown to Cairns Queensland by Bush Pilots founder Bob Norman 1 In 1963 Bush Pilots Airways acquired Somerset Airways which was established in 1950 and operated out of Longreach Airport with Auster J 1N Alpha and Beech Bonanza 2 3 4 In May 1972 Bush Pilots absorbed Queensland Pacific Airways Ltd taking over its Douglas DC 3 aircraft In 1978 Bush Pilots Airways changed their name to BPA BPA operated Douglas DC 3 aircraft Britten Norman Trislanders and Swearingen Metroliners Operations were largely in Queensland Australia although the airline also provided service to Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory The services north from Brisbane and return were very popular with business travellers and tourists alike A typical run involved stops in regional cities between Brisbane and Townsville such as Maroochydore Maryborough Bundaberg Gladstone Rockhampton and Mackay Short distance services operated from Cairns to inland and coastal locations such as Cooktown Karumba and Normanton With such frequent stops a high altitude was never achieved offering good views of this scenic part of the state On 1 December 1981 BPA became Air Queensland Air Queensland was the last airline in Australia to use Douglas DC 3s on regular scheduled services the last being withdrawn on 7 April 1988 5 The Air Queensland name ceased to exist on 30 April 1988 when the airline was absorbed into Australian Airlines later absorbed into Qantas The last General Manager was Ron Entsch 6 A Douglas DC 3 formerly operated by Bush Pilots Airways was on display at Cairns International Airport from 1984 until 2008 when it was removed due to concerns over its structural integrity 7 By 1988 Air Queensland served 44 destinations throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory Queensland Pacific Airways editQueensland Pacific AirwaysIATA ICAO Callsign Commenced operations1971Ceased operations1972Parent companyQueensland Pacific Trading CompanyHeadquartersAustraliaQueensland Pacific Airways was a trading name of Queensland Pacific Trading Company It acquired DC 3 aircraft when Qantas disposed of its last Douglas DC 3s in 1971 In 1972 it was absorbed by Bush Pilots Airways BPA which eventually became Air Queensland 8 9 10 11 12 Fleet editATR 42 Britten Norman Trislander Cessna 404 Titan de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter Douglas DC 3 Fairchild Metro Fokker F 27 Friendship with 9 aircraft operated through its history GAF NomadSee also editList of defunct airlines of Australia Aviation in AustraliaReferences edit Bush Pilot Bob Norman 1976 Somerset Airways Airline History Retrieved 30 June 2021 VH SAL Beech N35 Bonanza edcoatescollection Retrieved 30 June 2021 VH SAH Auster J 1N Alpha edcoatescollection Retrieved 30 June 2021 History of DC 3 c n 9286 Bushies Ron Entsch 2001 ISBN 0 646 41241 8 Bush Pilots plane pulled down ABC News 5 September 2008 Air Queensland aviationcollection org Archived from the original on 16 March 2017 Retrieved 15 July 2018 Airlines Australia www airlinehistory co uk Retrieved 15 July 2018 qantas www douglasdc3 com Retrieved 15 July 2018 GEOFF GOODALL S AVIATION HISTORY SITE www goodall com au Retrieved 15 July 2018 DC 3 VH EDC of Queensland Pacific Airways on an AHSA charter to Oakey on 25th March 1972 Photo Ron Cuskelly Queensland Air Museum Retrieved 15 July 2018 External links editRon Entsch 2001 Bushies a History of Bush Pilots Air Queensland PDF Air Queensland dataPortals nbsp Australia nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Air Queensland amp oldid 1169225932 History, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
