Built on Family Values
Founded in April 1963 by the late Ray Mackay at Ballarat Airport, Field Air has grown from a single-purpose agricultural operation into one of Australia's most diverse aviation businesses.
Across three Generations
Six decades on, the family-run group - lead by Ray's son Peter, with grandson Andrew alongside him - operates across aerial firefighting, Air Tractor sales throughout the Asia Pacific, aircraft maintenance and pilot and engineer training, with regional bases in the southern Riverina and a longstanding partnership with Canada's Conair Group.
Founding
Ray Mackay founds Field Air at Ballarat Airport, Victoria, as an agricultural aerial spraying and spreading company. Ray chose Ballarat because the airport offered excellent facilities and was centrally located to the Western District, Wimmera and Mallee, where demand for aerial agricultural support services was greatest.
April 1963
Founding
Ray Mackay founds Field Air at Ballarat Airport, Victoria, as an agricultural aerial spraying and spreading company. Ray chose Ballarat because the airport offered excellent facilities and was centrally located to the Western District, Wimmera and Mallee, where demand for aerial agricultural support services was greatest.
Expansion into Riverina
Expansion into the Riverina region of NSW, taking on rice and other irrigated/dryland crops.
Late 1960s–early 1970s
Expansion into Riverina
Expansion into the Riverina region of NSW, taking on rice and other irrigated/dryland crops.
Air Tractor Dealership
Field Air becomes the Air Tractor dealer for the Asia Pacific region - one of the oldest and most established Air Tractor dealerships globally.
1978
Air Tractor Dealership
Field Air becomes the Air Tractor dealer for the Asia Pacific region - one of the oldest and most established Air Tractor dealerships globally.
Conair Group Partnership
Joint partnership commences with Conair Group of Canada. Initially a one-season trial deploying two Convair CV580 Multi-Engine Air Tankers (MEATs) for the State of Victoria, each with ~7,950 L payload.
2010
Conair Group Partnership
Joint partnership commences with Conair Group of Canada. Initially a one-season trial deploying two Convair CV580 Multi-Engine Air Tankers (MEATs) for the State of Victoria, each with ~7,950 L payload.
50th Anniversary Celebration
50th Anniversary celebrated, with a commemorative anniversary logo produced alongside the original 1963 logo.
2013
50th Anniversary Celebration
50th Anniversary celebrated, with a commemorative anniversary logo produced alongside the original 1963 logo.
First Avro RJ85 arrives in Australia
Conair and Field Air bring the first Avro RJ85 Large Air Tanker (Tanker 162) to Australia. Ferry flight from Canada via Oakland, Hawaii, Majuro Atoll, Honiara, landing at Cairns. Contracted by the State of Victoria as part of a three-aircraft Large Airtanker Group. A week after arrival, Tanker 162 was operational in Victoria; by 8 January it had completed 14 drops across Victoria and SA, including ~200,000 L of retardant in SA over two days, and was later dispatched to WA.
2014
First Avro RJ85 arrives in Australia
Conair and Field Air bring the first Avro RJ85 Large Air Tanker (Tanker 162) to Australia. Ferry flight from Canada via Oakland, Hawaii, Majuro Atoll, Honiara, landing at Cairns. Contracted by the State of Victoria as part of a three-aircraft Large Airtanker Group. A week after arrival, Tanker 162 was operational in Victoria; by 8 January it had completed 14 drops across Victoria and SA, including ~200,000 L of retardant in SA over two days, and was later dispatched to WA.
Further Growth
By Field Air's 56th year, the business had grown to 48 permanent staff, 18 aircraft, regional bases at Deniliquin and Finley, an Air Tractor flight simulator for pilot training, and an expanded maintenance facility with 23 aircraft maintenance engineers.
2019
Further Growth
By Field Air's 56th year, the business had grown to 48 permanent staff, 18 aircraft, regional bases at Deniliquin and Finley, an Air Tractor flight simulator for pilot training, and an expanded maintenance facility with 23 aircraft maintenance engineers.
Field Air New Premises
Field Air moves into its new facility in the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) adjacent to Ballarat Airport, with the longer runway unlocking new aviation opportunities - including the ability to bring heavy maintenance work back to Ballarat that previously had to be sent elsewhere.
2025
Field Air New Premises
Field Air moves into its new facility in the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) adjacent to Ballarat Airport, with the longer runway unlocking new aviation opportunities - including the ability to bring heavy maintenance work back to Ballarat that previously had to be sent elsewhere.