He set flying endurance records, locked horns with Bob Hawke and even survived a plane crash, which at the time, sparked the largest search in Australian history. A true legend of Australian aviation, Max Hazelton AM OBE has passed away just shy of his 96th birthday in Orange NSW.
Founder of former regional carrier Hazelton Airlines, and one of the founders of Rex Airlines, Hazelton began flying as a crop duster pilot near Orange, before forming Hazelton Airlines, which went on to fly around 400,000 passengers a year to 23 remote and regional destinations.
His leadership and lobbying of the then Department of Civil Aviation also resulted in a raft of regulatory changes that helped develop regional and agricultural aviation.
Elsewhere, Hazelton set flying records, flew medical mercy flights, fought bushfires and campaigned for Sydney Airport’s third runway.
Famously, a 1954 crash in bad weather near Oberon sparked a massive search for Hazelton. Six days later, following a 100km walk through rugged terrain, he emerged from the bush.
Hazelton received an OBE and AM in 1980 and 1991 respectively before Ansett acquired Hazelton Airlines. Rex Airlines emerged in 2002 after Ansett’s collapse the year prior.
Before his recent passing, many had considered Hazelton Australia’s greatest living aviation pioneer.
A humble man
“We have lost a true national treasure,” Rex Deputy Chairman and close friend, John Sharp AM said, describing Hazelton as a quiet, humble man.
“Max’s heart was always in the country, which is why this sentiment is emblazoned on our aircraft and remains the ethos on which this company has been built.
“Today, though, Rex’s heart aches more than a little at the loss of someone very special who meant so much to so many. We extend our sympathies to his wife Laurel and their children Toby, Carolyn (deceased) and Max’s grandchildren.”
Rex Executive Chairman, Lim Kim Hai, called Max “a much-loved member of the Rex family … a remarkable trailblazer who built an airline from scratch, was a catalyst for change and left an indelible mark on the Australian aviation industry”.
“He remained close to the airline as a Rex Ambassador right up to the present day.”
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