The History of British European AirwaysBEA was formed in 1946 and took over most UK domestic and European routes under the British government's nationalisation policy. It began operations with a fleet of outdated and hopelessly uneconomic passenger aircraft that were derivatives of wartime types such as the DC-3, Avro Viking and Rapide. By the end of 1955 the airline had re-equipped with more modern types such as the jet-prop Viscount and moved into a profit for the first time. From 1960 onwards the airline introduced larger jets such as the Comet, Trident and BAC 1-11. BEA merged with the British Overseas Airways Corporation in 1974 to form British Airways. This book looks at BEA's predecessors, its formation and early operation from Croydon and Northolt and the move to the newly-opened London Heathrow. The evolving structure is explained with chapters covering engineering bases, terminals, European and domestic services, cargo services and helicopter operations. The aircraft flown are all described in detail and the book includes anecdotes from former crew and ground-staff, a full fleet list and is highly illustrated throughout. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | 6 |
The Beginnings of | 12 |
The Heathrow Years Mainline Operations by Aircraft Type | 30 |
The Scottish Network | 89 |
Scottish Air Ambulance Operations | 96 |
Allcargo Operations | 116 |
BEA Airtours | 131 |
BEAs Structure | 137 |
BEAs Fleet Policy | 143 |
BEA People | 149 |
BEA Chairmen | 170 |
Technical Details of Major Aircraft Types | 177 |
Bibliography | 204 |
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Common terms and phrases
A.J. Jackson Collection Aberdeen Air Services Aircraft name Disposal airline Airspeed Ambassador Alitalia April Argosy BEA Airtours BEA Helicopters BEA photo-copyright British BEA service BEA’s BEA’s first Belfast Berlin Birmingham BOAC British Airways BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS c/n DID Aircraft cabin Cambrian Cambrian A/W Cambrian Airways cargo carried Channel Islands charter Comet 4B commenced configuration Convtd to Admiral crew Cyprus Airways Dakota Dan-Air Eagle Aviation Elizabethan engines entered service final financial first fitted five fleet flew flight flown flying fuselage Gatwick Glasgow Havilland Heathrow inaugurated January Jersey landing Leased London Airport Manchester Northolt November October office officer Paris passengers photo-copyright British Airways pilots Pionair Railway Air Services Regn c/n D/D Renfrew route runway scheduled services seats Sold to Cambrian Sold to Eagle summer Super One-Eleven Tourist Class traffic Transferred to BA Transport Trident 1C turboprop Vanguard Vickers Vickers Viking Viking Viscount 701 weekday