Transwest Airlines

His aviation Alma Mater was Royal Victorian Aero Club and he contributed his own capital, along with other prime backers at the start-up, who were all Melbourne based.

These consisted of James Ryan [Barrister] - Ray Lanham [Caterer] - Neil Smith [Doctor].

Captain Cowley in fact wrote the original operations manual, which was submitted in 1966, to the then; Department of Civil Aviation, for the initial AOC.

Many people in Perth helped in giving support; including but not limited to; Jack Antonovich, who introduced Robert to Lang Hancock, the Wright family and later Charles Court; The Hon Charles Court was then Minister for Local Government; first knighted in 1972 - ‘Sir Charles Court’ and in 1974 Premier of Western Australia.

The airline had its beginning in Carnarvon, Western Australia, where it operated as Trans-West Air Charter since 1967 employing Beech Baron and Cessna 206, focusing the activity on air charter services from Jandakot Airport, Geraldton, Port Hedland and Kalgoorlie.