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Busselton Airport is located 220kms south of the capital city of Perth, Western Australia. It is a gateway to the Margaret River wine region of the south-west.
The airport is located 6.5km from the town centre. Turn left off the Vasse Highway on to Neville Hyder Drive, Yalyalup (formerly Airport Drive).
Runways 03/21. 1800m tarmac. AWIS phone 9754 2487. CTAF 127.0
AVGAS available. No Carnet. Cheque or cash accepted.
Credit Cards accepted but with a 3% surchage.
The clubrooms are manned by volunteers during fine weather from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Coffee, tea and cold drinks are available as well as pies, sausage rolls and chips.
The airport is also home to Southern Skydivers, the leading Free-Fall parachute school in the South West. Anyone interested should call
1300 449 669 or email:
skydive@southernskydivers.com.au
Come along and say g'day to the friendly bunch at Busselton.
Our club history is told below (under the maps)
The history of the club draws its origins back from the World War two days when several Busselton community members, some of whom are currently club members, formed the nucleus of our present club. As the years rolled on, the club like many that ran parallel to it went into extinction only to rise again, like the phoenix to form stronger and more active versions of its predecessors.
Early chronicles of the club report training on a variety of airstrips, notably the present one owned by the late Neville Hyder, one of the initial members. Stories abound of Tiger Moths, Austers and Chipmunks being ferried from Jandakot and Maylands during the early days to train in the picturesque neighborhood of Busselton.
The story of the modern Busselton Aero Club began on 13th December 1995 when Ian Stevenson, a current member and past president conspired to resurrect the old Aero Club and form a more modern version. The inaugural meeting was held in the Busselton Civic centre with a good attendance. Members also included Bruce Anderson, Neville Hyder, Brand Passmore, Andy Anderson, Ken Hooper, Mal Sanderson, Cynthia Sinclair and Ross Beatty. Twenty other interested people declared their intention to join during the ensuing weeks.
Although interest was high, the fledgling club had no aircraft or instructor. It was not until 2007 when the club had a meeting in the old railway station opposite the Shire offices, did a ray of optimism fall on the Busselton Aero Club. In attendance at that meeting was Mr. Peter Hales, a retired farmer and newcomer to Busselton, announced that he would like to set up a flight training centre at the new Busselton airport. Peter also announced that he owned a Cessna 182 and a junior flight instructor’s rating and under the auspices of the Royal Aero Club, he could provide flying training for the Busselton Aero Club.
In 1999 Peter Hales acquired a Skyfox Gazelle for the purposes of initial training and in the following year purchased a Cessna 150 which cemented him into the training operation at the Busselton Regional Airport. In 2001 he purchased a Cessna 172 to provide an aircraft for advanced training and private hire.
Between 2001 and 2009, the training at Busselton flourished and numerous students were trained. Although the majority of students trained become private pilots, several advanced to commercial licence with one of Peter’s sons joining the Air Force as a Hercules pilot and the other becoming a Qantas pilot.
Unfortunately, by the middle of 2009, Peter Hales decided to withdraw from pilot training and seek his fortune elsewhere. His departure left a vacuity in the flying training area and the club turned to Dick Jackson, an ex Ansett captain with a current instructor’s rating to fill Peter’s place. At the time, Dick saw that recreational aviation was blooming all over the world and he suggested that the club concentrate on this new form of flying.
In September, 2009 Dick acquired CFI status and took over the reins as the Club’s first ‘in house’ CFI. As the club at that time had no aircraft of its own, it accepted the offer of Mr William Owen, himself a junior instructor and owner of an Evektor Sportstar Licenced Sports Aircraft to provide training facilities for the club.
In September, 2009 one of our members, Mr Terry Old decided to buy a TL Sting Carbon to augment the Sportstar. Terry and Dick ferried the aircraft from the Gold Coast on 8th October 2009 and our official ‘First Flight’ was taken soon after. During the early days of our operation, Will assisted Dick as the number two instructor. In December 2009, Dick promoted Will to Senior Instructor thus giving our instructional staff more flexability.
Now Dick has retired (for at least the second time!) and Will is now our CFI supported by Karen Dorlandt, now a Senior Instructor.
The Busselton Aero Club is located at the Busselton Regional Airport to the south east of the town. To get there, take the Nannup road and drive 3.7 km where the entrance to the airport can be found. The large clubhouse can be is just east of the three hangar blocks on the edge of the tarmac. Plentiful car parking space adjacent to the clubhouse is available.
At the completion of the airport in 1979, the then Premier, Richard Court officially opened it with some sixty aircraft from neighboring areas in attendance. He also congratulated the club for its part in assisting with the ceremony.
The clubhouse was erected in May, 2000 mainly by skilful and eager members following a well designed plan. A feature of the design was to provide a roomy atmosphere with unrestricted views of the tarmac and runway. Provision was also made for a kitchen, bar, toilet and storage facilities. Additionally, three spacious offices were added which served as a briefing room, instructors and club offices. After the opening, numerous furnishings were added including a wood heater and a pool table. The spacious verandah at the front of the building is a favorite place during the warmer months for members and friends to observe the flying activities around the runway. The club has plans to build additional flight training and social facilities in the future.
Since then, the club has successfully run three airshows and three expos, hosted some eight hundred school children on visits to the airport and trained more than twenty pilots, some of whom are now flying with the RAAF and Qantas. Additionally, the club has been involved with several air searches many of which have been successful and several shark spotting activities at major swimming events.
In 2003, the club recognized the centenary of the first powered flight by the Wright brothers by constructing a two thirds model of their aircraft. The model has been on display in Melbourne and at a number of Western Australian centers. At the conclusion of the centenary year, the club, with the approval of the local shire, suspended the model in the air terminal at the airport.
The club is administered by an elected committee under an approved constitution. The committee consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and six directors. The general and committee meetings are usually held on the second Sunday of each month. After each meeting members enjoy fellowship before dinner. The meal consists of selections brought along by members according to an advertised theme.
The club also entertains many aviation minded groups including visits from the Royal Aero Club of WA and other clubs on a regular basis. On two occasions, Busselton has been chosen to host the National Model Aircraft Championships.
Like many sporting clubs, the Aero Club is not funded externally. Its funding is limited to membership dues, internal bar and food sales as well as raffles and other public projects. Although the club has conducted major public projects such as expos and airshows, all the donated monies are given to nominated charities including the RFDS, Angel Flight and the local cadets.
Members of the club are well informed about its activities. It features a monthly magazine, “The Busselton Aviator” and has its own website which also keeps members up to date with the latest news and trends.
There are approximately one hundred members in the club but not all are from the local area. Many members are residents of Perth while others hail from other country districts.