Aviair
{{Short description|Australian airline}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox airline
|airline = Aviair
|logo = Aviair Logo.svg
|IATA = GD
|ICAO =
|callsign =
|founded = 1984
|aoc =
|hubs = East Kimberley Regional Airport
|secondary_hubs = Broome, Karratha
|focus_cities =
|frequent_flyer =
|alliance = Nexus Airlines
|subsidiaries =
|fleet_size = 30
|destinations = 8
|parent = HM Consolidated Group
|headquarters = Kununurra, Western Australia
|key_people =
|num_employees =
|website = [https://www.aviair.com.au/ www.aviair.com.au]}}
Aviair, previously known as Slingair Heliwork, is an airline and air charter company based in Kununurra, Western Australia. It operates air charter services and regular passenger services. Its main bases are at East Kimberley, Broome and Karratha airports.
History
File:AviAir, contracted for the NPWS as Parkair 7, (VH-TQV) Cessna 208B Grand Caravan at Wagga Wagga Airport.jpg as Parkair 7, (VH-TQV) Cessna 208B Grand Caravan at Wagga Wagga Airport]]
Aviair was established in 1984 as Slingair Heliwork by Kerry Slingsby. Aviair began providing air services in Kununurra, Western Australia shortly after its foundation. {{Cite web|title=Aviair - Company Profile|url=https://www.aviair.com.au/about-aviair/company-profile/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=aviair.com.au|language=en}} It is a wholly owned subsidiary of HM Consolidated Group.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-23 |title=HM Consolidated Pty Ltd |url=https://www.ekcci.com.au/member/hm-consolidated-pty-ltd-aviair-helispirit-freshwater-apartments-bungle-bungle-savannah-lodge-kimberley-experience/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220630080345/https://www.ekcci.com.au/member/hm-consolidated-pty-ltd-aviair-helispirit-freshwater-apartments-bungle-bungle-savannah-lodge-kimberley-experience/ |archive-date=2022-06-30 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce|language=en-AU}}
Slingair received the Sir David Brand Award every year from 1996 to 1998 and was a finalist in 2000.{{Cite web|title=Aviair Awards|url=https://www.aviair.com.au/about-aviair/aviair-awards/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Aviair Awards - Aviair|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Sharpe|first=Leslie J.|date=2004|title=Economic development in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: a history and dependency theory perspective|url=https://eprints.usq.edu.au/3564/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=eprints.usq.edu.au|language=en}}
In May 2008, Grant Kenny acquired Slingair.{{Cite news|date=6 May 2008|title=Grant Kenny buys private aviation firm|work=Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/grant-kenny-buys-private-aviation-firm-20080506-2bby.html|access-date=29 May 2021}}
In 2010 and 2015 Slingair supported field research for discovering rock shelters and artworks made by Aboriginal Australians in the Kimberley.{{Cite journal|last1=Ross|first1=June|last2=Westaway|first2=Kira|last3=Travers|first3=Meg|last4=Morwood|first4=Michael J.|last5=Hayward|first5=John|date=2016-08-31|title=Into the Past: A Step Towards a Robust Kimberley Rock Art Chronology|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=11|issue=8|pages=e0161726|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0161726|pmid=27579865|bibcode=2016PLoSO..1161726R|issn=1932-6203|pmc=5006964|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Moore|first1=Mark W.|last2=Perston|first2=Yinika|date=2010|title=Rockshelters and stone procurement in the Kimberley: Evidence from the Lower Mitchell River|url=https://www.academia.edu/1139677|journal=academia.edu|language=en|volume=1|pages=1}}
In 2016 Slingair was purchased by the owners of HeliSpirit, Michael McConachy and Geoff Hamilton.{{Cite web|date=June 2017|title=PILBARA RPT AIR SERVICE PROPOSAL|url=https://www.porthedland.wa.gov.au/Profiles/porthedland/assets/moduledata/councilmeetings/6751cdaa-ba15-4f25-9398-546826001f05/2.1/Attachment-1-to-item-12.1.1.pdf|access-date=29 May 2021|website=porthedland.wa.gov.au|publisher=Aviair}} Slingair was renamed Aviair. Further field research in the Kimberley region was supported by Aviair in 2019.{{Cite journal|last1=Moore|first1=Mark W.|last2=Westaway|first2=Kira|last3=Ross|first3=June|last4=Newman|first4=Kim|last5=Perston|first5=Yinika|last6=Huntley|first6=Jillian|last7=Keats|first7=Samantha|last8=Corporation|first8=Kandiwal Aboriginal|last9=Morwood|first9=Michael J.|date=2020-02-05|title=Archaeology and art in context: Excavations at the Gunu Site Complex, Northwest Kimberley, Western Australia|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=15|issue=2|pages=e0226628|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0226628|issn=1932-6203|pmc=7001911|pmid=32023252|bibcode=2020PLoSO..1526628M|doi-access=free}}
On 16 August 2021, Aviair commenced a service from Derby to Broome.{{Cite web|last=Duffy|first=Rosie|date=2021-06-24|title=New Aviair Flight Service: Derby to Broome|url=https://www.aviair.com.au/2021/06/New-Aviair-Flight-Service-Derby-to-Broome/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=New Aviair Flight Service: Derby to Broome - Aviair|language=en}}
Destinations
Aviair provides scheduled services to the following destinations:{{Cite web|title=Flight Schedules|url=https://www.aviair.com.au/scheduled-flights/schedules/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Flight Schedules - Aviair|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Inter Regional Flight Network {{!}} City of Karratha|url=https://karratha.wa.gov.au/inter-regional-flight-network|access-date=2021-05-29|website=karratha.wa.gov.au}} These are operated with a subsidy from the Government of Western Australia.[https://web.archive.org/web/20240213145126/https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook-Labor-Government/Ongoing-aviation-services-secured-for-Aboriginal-communities-20240205 Ongoing aviation services secured for Aboriginal communities] Government of Western Australia 5 February 2024
Fleet
As of 2021, the Aviair fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{Cite web|title=Aviair Fleet|url=https://www.aviair.com.au/charter-flights/aviair-fleet/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Aviair Fleet - Aviair|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Aircraft register|url=https://www.casa.gov.au/search-centre/aircraft-register|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Civil Aviation Safety Authority|language=en}}
| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin:1em auto;"
|+ Aviair Fleet |
| Aircraft
!In Service !Orders !Notes |
|---|
| King Air B200
|3 |— | |
| Cessna 208 Caravan
|13 |— | |
| Pilatus PC-12
|5 |— | |
| GippsAero GA8 Airvan
|1 |— | |
| Beechcraft G58 Baron
|1 |— | |
| Cessna Citation Mustang
|2 |— | |
| Total
!25 !0 !— |
Incidents and accidents
- On 18 August 2011, one of Slingair's former Cessna 210 Centurion aircraft (registration VH-OCM) performed a forced landing 800 meters short of runway 12 at East Kimberley Regional Airport due to the pilot failing to switch selected fuel tanks, causing engine to stop.{{Cite news|date=18 August 2011|title=Six people survive light plane crash in WA|work=WAtoday|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/six-people-survive-light-plane-crash-in-wa-20110818-1izvj.html|access-date=30 May 2021}}{{Cite web|date=14 March 2012|title=Investigation: AO-2011-101 - Fuel starvation - Cessna 210N, VH-OCM, Kununurra Airport, WA, 18 August 2011|url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-101.aspx|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.atsb.gov.au|publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau}}
- On 8 August 2015, one of Slingairs's Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft (registration VH-LNH) experienced an oil leak which forced them to return to their airport of origin.{{Cite web|date=27 May 2016|title=Investigation: AO-2015-094 - Engine malfunction involving a Cessna 208B, VH-LNH, near Kununurra Airport, WA on 8 August 2015|url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2015/aair/ao-2015-094/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.atsb.gov.au|publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau}}
- On 16 November 2016, one of Aviair's Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft (registration VH-LNH) made a forced landing 8 km north-west of Solomon Airport, Western Australia due to an engine failure.{{Cite web|date=18 December 2020|title=Investigation: AO-2016-155 - Engine failure and forced landing involving Cessna 208B, VH-LNH, 8 km north-west of Solomon Airport, Western Australia, on 16 November 2016|url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2016/aair/ao-2016-155/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.atsb.gov.au|publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau}}
- On 16 April 2022, an Aviair Beechcraft Baron aircraft (registration VH-NPT) with a pilot and passenger onboard was involved in a fire during final approach for runway 12 at East Kimberley Regional Airport which resulted in a runway undershoot. The passenger was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed.{{Cite web |date= |title=Investigation: AO-2022-026 - Collision with terrain involving Beechcraft Baron 58, VH-NPT, near Kununurra Airport, Western Australia, 16 April 2022 |url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2022/aair/ao-2022-026/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=www.atsb.gov.au |publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau}}{{cite news|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/kununurra-plane-disaster-wa-country-health-service-nurse-killed-and-pilot-fights-for-life-in-darwin-c-6470290|title=Kununurra plane disaster: WA Country Health Service nurse killed and pilot fights for life in Darwin|work=The West Australian|date=16 April 2022|access-date=16 April 2022}}
See also
{{Portal|Australia|Aviation|Companies|Western Australia}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.aviair.com.au/ Official website]
{{Airlines of Australia}}
{{Regional Aviation Association of Australia}}
Category:Regional Aviation Association of Australia
Category:Airlines established in 1984
Category:Australian companies established in 1984