The Department of Aviation was established on 7 May 1982.
(Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S94, 7 May 1982).
 
The Department was responsible for civil and air navigation
functions which it inherited from the Department of Transport [III] (CA 1492). The Department of Aviation provided the Minister with advice and research services on aviation matters and advised other Departments on aviation implications of proposals. It developed national aviation policies, objectives and plans, operated and managed Commonwealth-owned airports, implemented aircraft
airworthiness standards, provided airways facilities and services, issued and checked licences and certificates, and investigated aircraft accidents and incidents.
 
At its creation the Department was responsible for the following legislation:
 
. Airlines Equipment (Loan Guarantee) Acts
. Airlines Agreement Act 1981
. Airlines Agreement Act 1952
. Airlines Equipment Act 1958
. Air Navigation Act 1920
. Air Navigation (Charges) Act 1952
. Airport (Business Concessions) Act 1959
. Airports (Surface Traffic) Act 1960
. Australian National Airlines Repeal Act 1981
. Australian National Airlines Act 1945
. Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959
. Civil Aviation (Damage by Aircraft) Act 1958
. Independent Airfares Committee Act 1981.
 
The Department of Aviation was organised on a geographical basis, with the Central Office located in Canberra and regional offices for New South Wales, Victoria-Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia-Northern Territory. Central Office was
organised on a functional basis into the following divisions:  

. Airports Division
. Airways Division
. Flight Standards Division
. Management Services Division
. Information and Executive Projects Division
. Resources Division
. Domestic Policy Division
. International Policy Division.
 
The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation and, from 1983, the National Airports Authority Task Force were also part of the Department.  
Statutory bodies responsible to the Minister for Aviation were:  

. Australian National Airlines Commission
. Qantas Airways Limited
. Independent Airfares Committee.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 11 March 1983 the Department became responsible for the Air Navigation Legislation (Validation and Interpretation) Act 1982 and the repeal of the Airlines Agreements Act 1952 was reflected. (Commonwealth of
Australia Gazette, No S46, 11 March 1983).
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 1 March 1984 (notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S83, 1 March 1984) the Department of Aviation became responsible for the Airlines Equipment (Loan Guarantee) Act 1981.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 2 July 1984 (notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S255, 2 July 1984) the Australian National Airlines Repeal Act 1981 was repealed by the new Australian National Airlines Commission Retention Act 1984, for which the Department of Aviation was responsible.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 3 February 1987
(Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S16, 3 February 1987) the Department inherited responsibility for the Departure Tax Act 1978 and portions of the Departure Tax Collections Act 1978 from the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (CA 1955).
 
In July 1987 the Prime Minister announced a major restructuring of the administration and economy, resulting in the consolidation of 28 departments into 16 `super-ministries'. The Department of Aviation was abolished and all functions and legislative responsibilities were assumed by the new Department of Transport and Communications (CA 5992). (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S183, 24 July 1987).
 
Ministers for Aviation were:
 
 7 May 1982 - 11 Mar 1983   : Hon Wallace Clyde Fife
11 Mar 1983 - 13 Dec 1984   : Hon Kim Christian Beasley (CP 337)
13 Dec 1984 - 24 Jul 1987   : Hon Peter Frederick Morris (CP 436).
 
Secretaries to the Department were:
 
 7 May 1982 - 10 Feb 1986   : C W M Freeland
10 Feb 1986 - 24 Jul 1987   : R M Taylor
Historical agency address
Civic Permanent Centre, Allara Street, Canberra City
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. S94, 7 May 1982 
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. S183, 24 July 1987