Anindilyakwa Land Council’s plan for new airline after Groote Eylandt crash

An Aboriginal land council plans to establish an independent airline in the wake of a horror charter flight crash in a remote community that injured six people. Read what is planned.

A brand new airline will be established for remote Northern Territory communities to travel between one another under a plan by local land councils.

The move comes after a horror light plane crash on Groote Eylandt that injured all six on board.

Anindilyakwa Land Council, who had employees caught up in the crash, responded to the incident by banning all charter flights and cancelling a contract with an aviation company.

ALC chief executive Mark Hewitt said plans to take air safety matters into their own hands would be fast-tracked.

“We have to fly, there’s no ifs or buts,” Mr Hewitt said.

“There is some great stuff going on in Groote but the issue of air travel confronts us daily.”

Mr Hewitt’s plan also includes leasing planes and keeping them at Groote Eylandt airport. Picture: Google Maps/Christopher Winestock

Mr Hewitt said a plan had been in the works to establish a “long-term sustainable airline” for a while but became more urgent following the second light plane crash in five months.

“We’ll work with other land councils and look at a best practice First Nation’s airline,” he said.

“We’ll look after them with good, modern equipment and experienced pilots.

“It will cover the community and the need (to fly) out of Darwin.”

Mr Hewitt said in the interim, the council would be leasing twin-engine planes and hiring their own pilots to fly them when needed.

Gemco's manganese mine on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory. Picture: AAP Image/Stephanie Flack

He said the main concerns around current air travel arrangements in the region were cost, pilot experience and age of the aircraft being flown.

In a submission to the Senate inquiry into regional air travel in 2019, the ALC said air travel was vital for everyone living in the area.

“High cost of travel significantly impacts service delivery (particularly health), creates barriers for local businesses, and turns away good staff (teachers, nurses, contractors etc.),” they wrote.

The view from the pool at Groote Eylandt Lodge. Picture: Brad Crouch

Mr Hewitt said more regulation around air safety was also needed, such as having a specific ombudsman to report to for the Northern Territory.

Groote Eylandt is the fourth largest island in Australia, covering 2326sq km.

The island is 50km from the east cost of the NT and has two health clinics, a school, a lodge and is home to mining company GEMCO.