Nationality Australian Role Pilot Name Norman Brearley | Title Sir Occupation Pilot | |
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Born 1890 Geelong, Victoria, Australia Died June 9, 1989, Perth, Australia | ||
Organizations founded West Australian Airways | ||
Sir Norman Brearley, aviation pioneer
Sir Norman Brearley, (1890 – 9 June 1989) was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within Australia.
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Early life
Born in Geelong, Victoria in 1890, Brearley moved to Western Australia in 1906.
Aviation career
In April, 1915, after undertaking a 5-year apprenticeship as a mechanic, he worked his way to the United Kingdom and subsequently enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps. Whilst flying in France during World War I he was badly wounded in October, 1916, and returned to Western Australia to recover.
In 1921, Brearley founded West Australian Airways Ltd. In the same year, Brearley was issued with the first civil pilot's licence under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations. Despite his holding licence No. 2, licence No. 1 was not issued until the 1930s in honour of Amy Johnson's record flight from London to Australia.
In 1927, Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at Maylands. He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with Australian National Airways.
Later life
Brearley later served with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.
Brearley was knighted in 1971. He died on 9 June 1989. Brearley's son-in-law was John Bennison, a prominent businessman.