The new TAA
TAA acquired its first two aircraft in mid-June 1946, both converted C47, now DC3, aircraft, with 12-15 more DC-3s to be added over the next few months. .
All aircraft were originally bought by the Australian Government under the lend-lease agreement with the U.S.A. and were surplus to requirements in the last stages of the war.
In July, Treasury allocated £350,000 to TAA to order four larger modern DC-4s from Douglas Aircraft Corp. and Lester Brain appointed John Watkins as Chief Technical Officer. Watkins was one of the key figures in TAA success, with his first job to travel to the USA to accept delivery of the DC-4s.
Watkins preliminary discussions with Coles was open and frank as Coles said "he was relying on me to find out what new equipment was being developed that would enable us to offer our passengers a better product than our established rival, at a competitive price". It was Coles style as he knew nothing about aircraft, but he knew that modern and quality equipment would be essential for success.
TAA planned to start regular services on 7th October and all was progressing as planned, but a federal election was to be held on September 28th, which placed emphasis on starting operations as soon as possible. Coles addressed with commissioners at the meeting of the 1st of September saying "the Government wants us to start services as soon as possible and the an airline up and running by then. If Labor loses the election there'll be no airline. We'll be out of a job. Any suggestions"?.
After some discussion it was agreed that the airline was not ready. It had a name, some excellent pilots, and some aircraft, but no ground facilities, no sales staff, no documentation, not even tickets, but with a great deal of effort, it should be possible to make the planned start date of 7th October. With the discussion complete, Coles said "I have news for you. We start next Monday".
The following week proved frantic, hiring staff, 'borrowing' a tin shed at the RAAF base at Laverton (the main Melbourne airport had been turned into mud by heavy rain and was undergoing major runways and taxiway works), creating manuals for essential functioning, printing blank passenger manifests, tickets, and revised weight and balance load sheets for aircraft, and making passenger steps and baggage carts because there was no time to buy them in the ordinary way.
On the 9th of September 1946 Captains Hepburn and Nickels took off from Laverton at 5:45AM bound for Sydney. TAA's first scheduled flight carried a full load of VIPs and just one paying passenger.
The Board of Management
Arthur Coles was appointed Chairman of the Australian National Airlines Commission on the 8th of February (1946), and convinced the government that should he accept the position that it was necessary that no interference with the establishment or running of the airline would be forthcoming from the government. He was essentially TAA's, and the A.N.A.C's, first employee.
This principle established, shortly after he was joined by the other commissioners, who had been selected for the business accrumen and wealth of experience gained either from industry, or during their war service. It was a formidable team.
W.C. Taylor was appointed Vice Chairman at the meeting held on the 10th of April. He was a banker, but had trained as a solicitor with a good legal background.
Daniel McVey , with experience as Director General of Civil Aviation and a senior position within Aircraft Production during the war years, and with a senior position in the Australian Post and Telegraph Department, had a wealth of experience in the postal and telegraph network and appreciated the distances and the problems experienced with establishing new operating methods.
Captain E. Johnson. (Ex Qantas) Deputy Director of Civil Aviation was appointed to the Board, and had been on the Civil Aviation Board, and responsible for the development and implementation of Air Navigation Regulations. Now as Controller General he was responsible for all operations including ground control.
A.C. Joyce, Assistant Secretary to the Treasury was appointed a member of the board to oversee all of the finance activities.
These people formed the initial board members, and hold their first official meeting on the 10th of April 1946. This date was also significant insomuch as this date also heralded the trading name as Trans-Australia Airlines, and the announcement was made during the parliamentary session on that day by the Minister for Transport.