MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd. (MMA) was established in Australia in late 1927, by pilot Horrie Miller with the backing of chocolate millionaire Sir Macpherson Robertson.

The airline's initial services were between Adelaide and Broken Hill. The airline grew rapidly and in 1934 transferred its main base to Perth, after winning a Commonwealth Government contract for air services to the North-West of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Aircraft

Early aircraft used by the airline included Avro Ansons, de Havilland DH.84 Dragon, Lockheed Electras and Douglas DC-3s. Later aircraft were Fokker F27, F28 and BAe 146 aircraft. The Fokker F28's were amongst the hardest working in the world for the type.

Corporate history

In 1963 Ansett acquired a controlling stake in the airline. It was renamed Airlines of Western Australia in 1981 after Sir Peter Ables and Rupert Murdoch acquired control of the Ansett Group, and renamed it Ansett WA in 1984. It was also briefly named Air WA prior to naming it Ansett WA, although this only appeared on a single BAe 146 aircraft. In 1993 it was absorbed by Ansett.

MMA finally operated out of Perth Airport. The road leading into Perth Airport's Terminal 1 is named after Horrie Miller.

Accidents and incidents

• On 31 December 1968, Vickers Viscount VH-RMQ broke up in mid-air and crashed south off Port Hedland International Airport. All 26 people on board were killed.

See also

• West Australian Airways

References