by Steve Mackenzie
In July 1994 Ansett unveiled a new livery and corporate trademark to replace that which featured the Australian flag on its aircraft tails. The new design retained the Southern Cross and incorporates a seven-pointed star to be known as the "Ansett Star" and a stylised gold letter "A". This change also impacted on Aeropelican as they were at that stage a subsidiary of Ansett. The subsequent design was widely used on all four Twin Otters in service (VH-KZN, O, P & Q). It was a quite attractive design as can be seen on the profile below.
On 14 September, 2001 the parent company Ansett Australia's operations were suspended when it went into liquidation, Aeropelican, as it was a subsidiary company was also affected. Its aircraft were grounded at their Belmont base. Limited operations recommenced on 21 September, 2001. On 07 March, 2002, it was announced that Aeropelican had been sold to the I.A.P. Group, by the Ansett Administrators. The main effect of these changes is that the Ansett logos were removed from the airframes. The scheme reverted to a plain Dark Blue tail with the stars of the 'Southern Cross' in White and Dark Blue engine cowlings and horizontal tail planes.
In the period 2003-2005 the Twin Otters used by Aeropelican were sold overseas and replaced by three Handley Page Jetstream 32s and a Bandierante at one stage. After a distastrous merger with Brindabella Airlines, Canberra in November 2011 (cut short by Brindabella being put out of operation by CASA due to irregularities in maintenance procedures in 2013), Aeropelican found itself in administration again. An employee buyout resulted in Aeropelican being reconstituted under the 'Fly Pelican' brand which still operates the three Jetstream 32 airframes on various routes, based now at Newcastle Airport. Before the Twin Otters were disposed of there was one final change in the colour scheme whereby the 'Aeropelican' titles on the fuselage were expanded into www.aeropelican.com.au (thus advertising the company's website - now defunct).
If modelling any of these airframes note such things as aerials and anti collision beacons carefully. They differ a lot at times between similar airframes.
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