Kendell Airlines

VH-KDK) at Albury Airport in 1991 Kendell Airlines was founded in 1967 as Premiair Aviation by aviation enthusiast Don Kendell and partners, originally serving as an air charter provider and flying school, based in Wagga Wagga. In 1971, it was renamed Kendell Airlines, which coincided with the launch of scheduled services using Piper PA-31 Navajo aircraft between Wagga Wagga and Melbourne, a route which had previously been operated by Ansett Australia. Shortly afterwards, the route network was expanded with flights to Sydney and Canberra. Flight operations saw a further increase when de Havilland DH.114 Heron and Swearingen Metro II aircraft were added to the fleet, the former in 1974 and the latter in May 1979 following the Second Oil Crisis. During the 1990s, Kendell established further operating bases to add to its original one at Wagga Wagga Airport, namely at Devonport Airport, Albury Airport and Sydney Airport, On 14 September 2001 parent company Ansett collapsed with Kendell Airlines placed into administration, but continuing to operate a limited schedule, and also filled a temporary void left by Ansett Australia by flying on the Sydney–Canberra–Melbourne and Melbourne–Mount Gambier–Adelaide routes. Following the collapse of Ansett in September 2001, Kendell was acquired by the Australiawide Airlines in July 2002 and merged with fellow Ansett subsidiary Hazelton Airlines to form Regional Express on 1 August 2002. ==Destinations==

As at February 2002, Kendell Airlines operated to these destinations: ==Fleet==

Over the years, Kendell Airlines operated the following aircraft types: ==Accidents and incidents==

• On 1 July 1992, a Kendell Airlines, SAAB 340A, VH-EKT, on a scheduled passenger service from Moorabbin to Devonport with 17 passengers and 3 crew lost directional control on landing. The aircraft departed the runway and ran through a ditch in soft muddy ground. Substantial damage was sustained to the aircraft but there were no injuries to passengers or crew. The cause, a severe asymmetric thrust condition developed after landing when reverse thrust was selected but the right propeller remained at a positive blade angle. This was due to the right propeller control unit being defective from an internal oil leakage across the feathering solenoid valve. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service. It still flies today. • On 11 November 1998, a Kendell Airlines SAAB 340A, VH-LPI went into a stall with the two pilots losing control for around 10 seconds, due to icing of the aircraft that was experienced near Lake Eildon on a scheduled flight from Albury to Melbourne. The solitary flight attendant received a minor injury when the aircraft descended 2,300 feet (approximately 700 metres) during the loss of control and subsequent recovery. None of the 28 passengers were injured and the flight continued to Melbourne Airport. ==References==