History of British European Airways, 1946–1972

Author: Charles Woodley
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 178340938X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 342

Book Description
BEA 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 It began operations with a fleet of outdated and hopelessly uneconomic passenger aircraft that were derivatives of wartime types such as the DC-3, Avro Viking and Rapide.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.

The History of British European Airways

Author: Charles Woodley
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1844151867
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 225

Book Description
BEA 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 It began operations with a fleet of outdated and hopelessly uneconomic passenger aircraft that were derivatives of wartime types such as the DC-3, Avro Viking and Rapide.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.

Speedbird

Author: Robin Higham
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0857733346
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 515

Book Description
Between 1939 and 1946 BOAC (the British Overseas Airways Corporation) was the nationalised airline of Great Britain - and between 1946 and 1974 as such it exclusively operated all long-haul British flights. With its iconic 'Speedbird' logo and its central role in the glamorous 'jet age' of the 1950s and 1960s, BOAC achieved a near cult-status with admirers around the globe. Yet, to date there has been no comprehensive history of the organisation, covering its structure, fleet and the role it played in the critical events of the age - from World War II to the end of empire, a period when BOAC played a pivotal part in projecting British political power, even as that power was waning. During World War II, BOAC operated a limited wartime service and prepared for the return of commercial flight in the postwar era. But it was in the service of Britain's colonies - and latterly the process of decolonisation - that BOAC achieved its most pivotal role. The development of flight technology enabled much faster connections between Britain and her imperial possessions - as the colonies prepared for independence BOAC ferried diplomats, politicians and colonial administrators between London and the far-flung corners of Africa and Asia in much faster times than had previously been possible. In this book, acclaimed historian Robin Higham presents a unique comprehensive study of BOAC from the early jet travel of the de Havilland Comet and the Vickers VC10 to the dawn of supersonic passenger aviation. Highly illustrated and meticulously researched using previously unseen sources, this book will be essential reading for all aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history of modern Britain.

Flight of 'The Arctic Fox'

Author: Rory O'Grady
Publisher: eBook Partnership
ISBN: 1839783745
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 267

Book Description
'The Flight of The Arctic Fox' tells the riveting story of the lives of thirty-one passengers and crew on board a BEA Vickers Viscount flying from London to Naples in October 1958. Following a mid-air collision with a jet fighter over Nettuno in Italy, everyone on board died, including the author's brother, who was a member of the crew.

Boat Trains: The English Channel & Ocean Liner Specials

Author: Martyn Pring
Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport
ISBN: 1526761939
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 636

Book Description
A study of the specialty train, including its history, development, and operation beginning at the end of the nineteenth century. In many ways this title, featuring the evolution of cross-channel boat trains and the many dedicated services responsible for moving international passengers to and from trans-Atlantic steamers, is an extension of luxury railway travel. But that’s not the full story as it encapsulates more than 125 years of independent and organised tourism development. At the end of the nineteenth century, faster and more stable twin-screw vessels replaced cross-channel paddlers resulting in a significant expansion in the numbers of day excursionists and short-stay visitors heading to Belgium, France and the Channel Islands. Continental Europe, as it had done since the end of the Napoleonic Wars beckoned, introducing ideas of modern-day mass tourism. Numerous liners bestriding the globe were British domiciled. Major ports became hives of commercial activity involving moving freight and mail, as well as transporting all manner of travellers. Not only was there intense competition for passenger traffic between the Old and New World and Britain’s imperial interests, greater numbers of well-heeled tourists headed off to warmer winter climes, and also experimented with the novel idea of using ocean steamers as hotels to visit an array of diverse destinations. Cruise tourism and the itinerary had arrived as ‘Ocean Special’ boat trains became essential components of railway and port procedures. Whilst some railway operations were dedicated to emigrant traffic, continental and ocean liner boat trains were also synonymous with the most glamorous travel services ever choreographed by shipping lines and railway companies working closely in tandem. This well illustrated book explores the many functions of boat train travel. “This book should appeal to the rail fan, the ship enthusiast, the connoisseur of travel posters and those interested in the business of transportation. I know of nowhere else one can find so much information on boat train operation in one book. . . . Well worth a read by anyone interested in the interconnectivity of different means of public transportation.” —Charles H. Bogart, Steamship Historical Society of America

British Airways

Author: Keith Gaskell
Publisher: Crowood Press UK
ISBN: 9781840371420
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Britain's premier airline is now among the world's elite. This book summarizes the early pioneering days and the nationalized postwar years of Britain European Airways and the British Overseas Airways Corporation. We then see the joining of these two under the banner of British Airways and follow its early history into successful privatization and the ailine's freedom to pursue new ventures. Every type of aircraft that has been operated by BA is described the nuances of livery styles are illustrated in color. British Airways has acquired airlines, invested in others and has franchise partners; these are identified and the aircraft described.

History of British European Airways

Author: Charles Woodley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781473886629
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 208

Book Description
BEA 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, illustrated throughout, includes anecdotes from former crew and ground-staff as well as a full fleet list.

Business History of the World

Author:
Publisher: Greenwood
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 584

Book Description
The first chronology of worldwide business history, this volume complements Robinson's earlier chronology, United States Business History, 1602-1988. It provides a basic chronology of the business world outside the United States from prehistory through the 1980s. It records representative events in the evolution of business, identifying entrepreneurs, managers, and enterprises, and also records general background events relevant to the marketplace. The volume includes indexes of names, places, and subjects.

Safety Was No Accident

Author: James Fuller
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 1466968931
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 457

Book Description
This book will appeal to aviation engineers, air traffic controllers and all pilots who have taken a U.K. commercial pilots license. It explains how the U.K. Civil Aviation Flying Unit (CAFU) was formed during WWII and the work for which it was intended. How Flight Inspection methods were evolved to meet increasing challenges of improving navigational and landing aids and to ensure suitable flying standards were set for the issue of newly created licence requirements. It details the aircraft provided, their role; the seemingly ever changing Ministries from MCA to the CAA . It plots the beginning and the end of CAFU, asking how and why this occurred; tracks the changes of Ministries, policies, airfields, aircraft, inadequate housing, staff levels and pay, of aircrew and engineers who gave themselves to the safety of aviation, ensuring that to-days commercial aircraft are able to land in zero visibility conditions safely. It is a post-war history of the United Kingdoms effort, to be at the forefront of international aviation safety that is enjoyed by all who fly today. Whether you are a passenger or pilot, CAFU was a small part of this process and one to be proud of.

Glamour in the Skies

Author: Libbie Escolme-Schmidt
Publisher: History Press (SC)
ISBN: 9780752457871
Category : Air travel
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Ex-hostess Libbie Escolme-Schmidt has lovingly compiled many hundreds of memories to present the ultimate history of the British Airways air hostess. Collating a multitude of stories from the forties and fifties through to what is often agreed to be the end of the golden age in 1980, this is an important record of the contribution made by women to airline history. During this period flying evolved from a potentially dangerous adventure to a remarkably safe and comfortable means of international travel, and through it all the air hostesses were there. Their experiences range from administering oxygen to passengers flying over the Andes to serving French champagne on Concorde, and the anecdotes are full of humor as they cover training, first flights, sexual discrimination and harassment, disasters, passengers, glamorous stopovers, and other temptations. This illustrated book presents the changing times in air travel through the eyes of the stewardess and offers the perfect tribute to the girls who walked the skies."