Bert Mercer
Encyclopedia
Bert Mercer was a pioneer New Zealand
aviator, establishing the country's first commercial airline in 1934 based around services operating between Hokitika and towns in South Westland
.
and when he left school, he worked as a bicycle and car mechanic. Mercer learned to fly while working as a mechanic at the Sockburn airport in Christchurch
and became the Canterbury Aero Club's first instructor when it formed in 1928.
which became the first licensed airline to commence services in New Zealand with its inaugural flight on 18 December from Hokitika. Very shortly after the airline began delivering mail.
began flights into Hokitika. Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel (NZ) Ltd between 1934 and 1947.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
aviator, establishing the country's first commercial airline in 1934 based around services operating between Hokitika and towns in South Westland
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
.
Early life
Mercer was born in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
and when he left school, he worked as a bicycle and car mechanic. Mercer learned to fly while working as a mechanic at the Sockburn airport in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and became the Canterbury Aero Club's first instructor when it formed in 1928.
Career
In 1934 Mercer set up Air Travel (NZ) LtdAir Travel (NZ) Ltd
Air Travel Ltd was the first airline in New Zealand to fly scheduled air services. Founded by Bert Mercer in 1934, and based in Hokitika, the company flew a number of De Havilland biplane aircraft, servicing areas on the West Coast...
which became the first licensed airline to commence services in New Zealand with its inaugural flight on 18 December from Hokitika. Very shortly after the airline began delivering mail.
Death
Mercer died in an aircrash in 1944 when the company's Dragon ZK-AHT, piloted by Colin Lewis, crashed on Mount Hope, en route from Nelson to Westport. He is buried in the Hokitika cemetery.Company control
In 1945, not long after Mercer died in an air crash, the company came under government control but continued until 1967 when the national air carrier NACNational Airways Corporation
National Airways Corporation was the national domestic airline of New Zealand from 1947 until 1978 when it amalgamated with New Zealand's international airline, Air New Zealand. The airline was headquartered in Wellington...
began flights into Hokitika. Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel (NZ) Ltd between 1934 and 1947.
External links
- Biography of Bert Mercer http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/alt_essayBody.asp?essayID=4M51
- Information about New Zealand airlines and various publications http://www.nzairlineresearch.co.nz/