The company was established in 1963.[1] It was Australia's second oldest continually operating air transport company, the oldest being Qantas.[2] On 1 June 2017 the company ceased operations after one of their aircraft on a training flight crashed in Renmark, South Australia. All 3 on board, including the company's Chief Pilot and a CASA Inspector, were killed.[5] Following this incident the company continued non-flying operations until July 2018 when it was placed into voluntary administration.
Fleet
As of November 2013 the Rossair fleet consists of the following aircraft:[6]
On 25 January 1972, a Rossair Beechcraft V35A (registered VH-TYA) collided with a radio mast guy wire and subsequently crashed at Compressor Station 13 of the Moomba Natural Gas Pipeline, 65 miles south-east of Leigh Creek, South Australia. All four of the aircraft's occupants were killed.[7]
On 1 February 1976, a Rossair Cessna 172 (registered VH-UGC) collided with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee on final approach to Parafield Airport. All four people on board the Rossair Cessna 172 and the sole occupant of the Piper PA-28 Cherokee were killed.[8]
On 27 March 1976, a Rossair Cessna 180 (registered VH-TCU) suffered an in-flight breakup over the Adelaide suburb of Blackwood, killing the sole occupant.[9]
On 30 May 2017, an accident with a Rossair Cessna 441 (registered VH-XMJ) that took off from Renmark Airport and crashed approximately 4 kilometres away killed all three occupants on board.[10]