Australia - International.
Trans Australia Airlines (T.A.A.).


 

Trans Australia Airlines (T.A.A.) was founded on 8 February 1946. It merged with QANTAS in February 1992.

On 9 September 1946 a trial air service opened between Melbourne and Sydney and on 7 October the first public flight was scheduled on the Sydney - Melbourne route. Within three months of the first public flight all state capitals were served.

The name Trans Australia Airlines was agreed to so as to avoid confusion with Australian National Airways

In August 1986, T.A.A changed its namme to Australian Airlines.

On 3 June 1946, Lester Brain was appointed as General Manager.

The Australian National Airlines Commission was appointed on 12 February 1946. Sir Giles Tatlock CHIPPINDALL CBE was a Board Member from 1949 to 1959 and was Chairman from 1959 to 1966.

 

 

Plane-Ship Wire Cost 11/-
Newcastle Morning Herald
7 June 1948

PERTH, Sunday.
"What may be the first aerogram from an Australian commercial aircraft to a ship at sea has been sent from a Guildford bound T.A.A.Skymaster the John Eyre to the S.S. Stratheden at sea near Adelaide. It was sent while the plane was over Forrest on the Nullarbor Plain. The message contained 12 words and cost the sender 11/-. The message actually was relayed direct by the Overseas Telecommunications Commission coastal radio station at Applecross".

 

AEROGRAMS IN USE ON TAA FROM MONDAY
Hobart Mercury
28 August 1948.

Aerograms will be used on Trans-Australia Airlines aircraft travelling between Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth from Monday (1 September).

This was announced yesterday by T.A.A. which believes it is the only two-way telegram service for air passengers in the world.

Charges will be 3d a word. Messages will be sent by the radio operator to the nearest coastal radio station which will relay them to the Postmaster-General's Department. Delivery will be made within about 30 minutes of the time the message was lodged. Similar service will be offered persons sending messages from the ground.

It was stated yesterday that it was hoped to extend the service to all routes of T.A.A's. network.

Telegram concerning the re-appointment of the Chairman of TAA.

AW-DO-10B (1949).

Lester Brain had joined Qantas as a pilot in 1924. He joined TAA in June 1946. Although he had applied for the job as Operations Manager, he was appointed as the first General Manager. He resigned in 155 to become Managing Director off Dr Havilland Aircraft in Sydney later Hawker de Havilland, a subsuduary of Boeing Australia).
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The Australian National Airlines Commission ANAC) was chaired by Arthur Coles in 1949 when Robert Menzies won the election. One result of that occasion was that Arthur Coles was replaced as Chairman on ANACC by Norman Watts.