Nationwest Aviation applies for permanent base as Geraldton Air Charter temporarily closes over safety issues

Kalbarri-based Nationwest Aviation will open a makeshift base in Geraldton to meet tourism demands after a local charter company temporarily closed due to potential safety issues. It hopes to make the base permanent while Geraldton Air Charters is closed. Geraldton Air Charters founder Wendy Mann told the ABC the safety issues were self-reported and would be investigated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). She was reported as saying none of the issues involved passenger flights. Geraldton Air Charters has been operating for more than 20 years and offered regular flights to the Abrolhos Islands. Nationwest Aviation currently runs four aircraft from Kalbarri as Kalbarri Scenic Flights. Nationwest Aviation manager Jessica Thorpe-Gudgeon hopes to bring more planes to Geraldton if approved by CASA. “We’re opening a second base in Geraldton to help fill any gaps; we’ve been in the area for a while working in Kalbarri,” she said. “For now it’s temporary. We’re waiting for CASA approval for it to be permanent so for as long as Geraldton Air Charter is closed, those who require flights will be able to.” CASA confirmed they were assisting Geraldton Air Charters but would not comment on the current situation. “We are liaising with Geraldton Air Charter following its recent decision to cease operations. We are unable to comment further due to privacy considerations,” a spokesperson said. Ms Thorpe-Gudgeon said Nationwest Aviation hoped to have approval in the next month as securing a base in Geraldton was important for tourism and charter operations. “It’s massively important for the industry that multiple flights go out to the Abrolhos Islands for capacity reasons and for the building works going on with the national park being established out there,” she said. “Tourism-wise it is important; we have a lot of tourists from Kalbarri that come to Geraldton and we need to have these services so Geraldton doesn’t miss out.” Nationwest Aviation currently offers flights in and out of Geraldton on a request basis. Bookings will be available from March 1.