Aviair Explained

Airline:	Aviair
Iata:	GD
Icao:	-
Callsign:	-
Founded:	1984
Hubs:	Kununurra
Secondary Hubs:	Broome, Karratha
Fleet Size:	30
Destinations:	8
Parent:	HM Consolidated Pty Ltd
Headquarters:	Kununurra, Western Australia, Australia
Website:	www.aviair.com.au

Aviair Pty Ltd,^[1] previously known as Slingair Heliwork,^[2] is an airline and air charter company^[3] based in Kununurra, Western Australia.^[4] It is a wholly owned subsidiary of HM Consolidated Pty Ltd.^[5] It operates air charter services and regular passenger services. Its main bases are Kununurra Airport, Broome International Airport and Karratha Airport.

History

Aviair was established in 1984 as Slingair Heliwork by Kerry Slingsby. Aviair began providing air services in Kununurra, Western Australia shortly after its creation.

In May 2008, Grant Kenny, Olympic Games Athlete and Ironman acquired Slingair for an unknown amount.^[6]

Slingair received the Sir David Brand Award every year from 1996 to 1998 and was a finalist in 2000.^{[7] [8]}

In 2010 and 2015 Slingair supported field research for discovering rock shelters and artworks made by Aboriginal Australians in the Kimberley.^{[9] [10]}

In 2016 Slingair was purchased by the owners of HeliSpirit, Michael McConachy and Geoff Hamilton.^[11] Slingair was renamed Aviair.

Further field research in the Kimberley region was supported by Aviair in 2019.^[12]

On 6 May 2020, Aviair received $1.58 million to support it through the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the COVID-19 Regional Airline Network Support Program by the Australian Government.^{[13] [14]}

On 24 June 2021, Aviair announced they would commence a flight service from Derby to Broome on 16 August 2021.^[15]

Destinations

Aviair provides scheduled services to the following destinations:^{[16] [17]}

• Balgo
• Broome
• Derby
• Halls Creek
• Kalumburu
• Karratha
• Kununurra
• Newman
• Port Hedland

Fleet

As of 2021, the Aviair fleet consists of the following aircraft:^{[18] [19]}

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	—

HeliSpirit, Aviair's sister company,^{[20] [21]} also operates 25 helicopters:

HeliSpirit Fleet - Helicopters

Aircraft	In Service
Bell Jet Ranger	4
Bell Long Ranger	4
Robinson R44	15
Robinson R66	1
Robinson R22	1
AS350	1
Total	25

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.^{[22] [23]}
• 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.^[24]
• 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.^[25]
• 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.^{[26] [27]}

See also

• List of airlines in Australia
• List of defunct airlines of Australia
• Regional Aviation Association of Australia

External links

• Aviair
• HeliSpirit

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2014-11-01. ABN Lookup. 2021-05-28. abr.business.gov.au. Australian Business Register. en.
2. Web site: Tourism Western Australia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212341/https://wander.westernaustralia.com/bookings/aviair . 2021-06-02 . 2021-05-28 . Tourism Western Australia . en.
3. Civil Aviation Safety Authority Air Operator Certificate No. CASA.TAAOC.0186, AVIAIR PTY LTD. Retrieved 28 May 2021
4. Web site: Aviair - Company Profile. 2021-05-28. aviair.com.au. en.
5. Web site: 2021-09-23 . HM Consolidated Pty Ltd . live . 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/ . 2022-06-30 . 2023-12-06 . . en-AU.
6. News: 6 May 2008. Grant Kenny buys private aviation firm. The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 May 2021.
7. Web site: Aviair Awards. 2021-05-29. Aviair Awards - Aviair. en.
8. Web site: Sharpe. Leslie J.. 2004. Economic development in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: a history and dependency theory perspective. 2021-05-29. eprints.usq.edu.au. en.
9. Ross. June. Westaway. Kira. Travers. Meg. Morwood. Michael J.. Hayward. John. 2016-08-31. Into the Past: A Step Towards a Robust Kimberley Rock Art Chronology. PLOS ONE. en. 11. 8. e0161726. 10.1371/journal.pone.0161726. 27579865. 2016PLoSO..1161726R. 1932-6203. 5006964. free.
10. Moore. Mark W.. Perston. Yinika. 2010. Rockshelters and stone procurement in the Kimberley: Evidence from the Lower Mitchell River. academia.edu. en. 1. 1.
11. Web site: June 2017. PILBARA RPT AIR SERVICE PROPOSAL. 29 May 2021. porthedland.wa.gov.au. Aviair.
12. Moore. Mark W.. Westaway. Kira. Ross. June. Newman. Kim. Perston. Yinika. Huntley. Jillian. Keats. Samantha. Corporation. Kandiwal Aboriginal. Morwood. Michael J.. 2020-02-05. Archaeology and art in context: Excavations at the Gunu Site Complex, Northwest Kimberley, Western Australia. PLOS ONE. en. 15. 2. e0226628. 10.1371/journal.pone.0226628. 1932-6203. 7001911. 32023252. 2020PLoSO..1526628M. free.
13. Web site: Grant Award View - GA76901: GrantConnect. 2021-05-29. www.grants.gov.au.
14. Web site: Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure. Transport. Additional new support for critical regional aviation services through COVID-19. 2021-05-29. Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. en.
15. Web site: Duffy. Rosie. 2021-06-24. New Aviair Flight Service: Derby to Broome. 2022-01-02. New Aviair Flight Service: Derby to Broome - Aviair. en.
16. Web site: Flight Schedules. 2021-05-28. Flight Schedules - Aviair. en.
17. Web site: Inter Regional Flight Network City of Karratha. 2021-05-29. karratha.wa.gov.au.
18. Web site: Aviair Fleet. 2021-05-28. Aviair Fleet - Aviair. en.
19. Web site: Aircraft register Civil Aviation Safety Authority. 2022-01-02. Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Civil Aviation Safety Authority. en.
20. Web site: Helicopter Scenic Flight and Charter Company Kimberley, Pilbara and NT. 2021-05-29. HeliSpirit. en-AU.
21. Web site: HeliSpirit Capability Statement. 2021-05-29. HeliSpirit.
22. News: 18 August 2011. Six people survive light plane crash in WA. WAtoday. 30 May 2021.
23. Web site: 14 March 2012. Investigation: AO-2011-101 - Fuel starvation - Cessna 210N, VH-OCM, Kununurra Airport, WA, 18 August 2011. 2021-05-29. www.atsb.gov.au. Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
24. Web site: 27 May 2016. Investigation: AO-2015-094 - Engine malfunction involving a Cessna 208B, VH-LNH, near Kununurra Airport, WA on 8 August 2015. 2021-05-29. www.atsb.gov.au. Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
25. Web site: 18 December 2020. 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. 2021-05-29. www.atsb.gov.au. Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
26. Web site: Investigation: AO-2022-026 - Collision with terrain involving Beechcraft Baron 58, VH-NPT, near Kununurra Airport, Western Australia, 16 April 2022 . 2022-06-10 . www.atsb.gov.au . Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
27. News: Kununurra plane disaster: WA Country Health Service nurse killed and pilot fights for life in Darwin. The West Australian. 16 April 2022. 16 April 2022.