342470PD: Aerial view of Simpson Aviation’s hangar at 1 Eagle Drive Jandakot Airport with new hangar under construction alongside 1967

Summary

Aerial photos of the Simpson Aviation hangar at 1 Eagle Drive, Jandakot Airport, in 1967, showing construction commencing on a new hangar alongside. Simpson Aviation was the local Cessna aircraft sales agent, aircraft maintenance company and flying school. On 30 June 1967, Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd acquired Nor’West Air Taxis Pty Ltd. Nor'West Air Taxis Pty Ltd. was renamed Trans-West Air Charter Pty. Ltd. Simpson Aviation continued to operate as a Cessna agent, aircraft maintenance company & flying school. In 1968, Trans-West's shares were acquired by Lombard Australia. Trans-West took over Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd, which was merged into the Trans-West operation, taking advantage of the better-known company's name. During 1969, Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd became Westralian Aviation (Services) Pty Ltd. On 27 August 1972, Westralian Aviation (Services) Pty Ltd was merged into Trans-West Air Charter Pty Ltd, although both continued operations out of the same office and hangar at Jandakot Airport. In 1979 Trans-West Air Charter became Trans West Airlines. Around 1979, the name 'Westralian' was removed from the hangar, and the new signage was purely 'Trans-West', although the company Westralian Aviation Pty Ltd was retained. On 8 January 1982, Skywest Airlines and Trans West Airlines merged, but operated separately until 1 April 1982, when operations were combined as Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd. The general aviation operations continued under the name Skywest Aviation, and the airline operations under Skywest Airlines. During the mid to late 1980s, the former Simpson Aviation hangars were painted with Skywest Aviation titles. In July 1996, Bodas Pty Ltd (the owners of Skywest Airlines and Skywest Aviation) sold the Skywest Aviation Pty Ltd operations to Paspaley Pearling Group, and it became Pearl Aviation Australia. By 2009, this hangar was used by Alert Aviation. (Info courtesy of Fred Niven and David Eyre – July 2009)Written on negative: Simpson Aviation.