In 1953 Max Hazelton began his one-man, one-aircraft business - 47 years later Hazelton Airlines has evolved into a major operation which flies to over 20 destinations, carries more than 400,000  passengers a year and employs around 280 people. Hazelton flies in three states and services more ports in regional NSW than any other airline.From modest beginnings, Max Hazelton has made a significant contribution to Australian aviation.

He has pioneered techniques in aerial agriculture including night spraying of cotton; set flying endurance records; locked horns with Bob Hawke and the ACTU by defying a union ban to fly live merino sheep out of Australia; flown medical mercy flights; used his planes to fight bushfires; campaigned strongly for Sydney's third runway and, most importantly, brought safe and reliable air services to regional areas. Never backing away from a good stoush with the bureaucracy, Max is a major campaigner for his company as well as the aviation industry. As a young boy on his family's property near Toogong (NSW) Max Hazelton dreamed of flying.

Some years later, when he passed his licence test at Parkes his flight examiner adviser, "Max, there's no future in aviation..." But Max wasted little time getting a charter business underway. using hired aeroclub planes he flew cattle buyers and stock and station agents to sales around western NSW and Queensland. Eventually, he persuaded his mother to lend him 2,500 pounds to buy his own plane and Hazelton Air Taxi and Charter Service was off the ground. The business expaned, providing a range of agricultural and charter services. In 1975 a nine-seater commuter service between Cudal, Orange and Canberra was begun, paving the way for the major airline is it today. The company was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1993. Max stepped down as Chief Executive in November 1995 but continues to provide a wealth of experience to Hazelton Airlines and the aviation industry as Deputy Chairman.