British European Airways

British European Airways
IATA code :	BE
ICAO code :	BE
Call sign :	BEALINE
Founding:	1946
Operation stopped:	1974
Seat:	United Kingdom
Home airport :	London Heathrow Airport
Fleet size:	94
Aims:	international destinations
British European Airways ceased operations in 1974. The information in italics refer to the last status before the end of operation.

The British European Airways ( BEA ) was a state airline from the UK .

history

The West London Air Terminal of BEA in Kensington , 1976

The company was incorporated on August 1, 1946 under the British Civil Aviation Act and took over the domestic flight services of ten smaller private airlines that were active during the war under the Associated Airways Joint Committee . In addition, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) transferred its entire European route network to the new company. a. included the important destinations Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. The main base until the completion of the new London Heathrow Airport was the nearby Northolt Airport .

BEA expanded quickly and gradually expanded its route network, so that almost every European capital was soon served. With the availability of the new BAC 1-11 jet , BEA was able to increase its traffic share of the domestic German scheduled services to and from West Berlin, which it operates jointly with Pan Am and Air France , by 35 percent.

On April 1, 1972, the merger with BOAC followed to form British Airways . As an independent European division, BEA existed until April 1, 1974, the day the new British Airways (Operating) division started operations.

Junkers Ju 52 of the BEA, 1947

De Havilland DH.114 Heron of the BEA, 1965

Vickers Vanguard of the BEA

De Havilland DH 106 Comet 4B of the BEA, 1969

fleet

As a foundation, BOAC transferred numerous Douglas DC-3 C-47s to BEA, and at its peak in 1956, BEA had 65 of these aircraft. Eleven Junkers Ju 52 / 3mg8e of the former German Air Force were also used as the "Jupiter" class on domestic routes from 1946 to 1947. De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide were used as "Islander Class" on routes in Scotland as well as to the Channel Islands and Scilly .

On September 1, 1946, BEA was able to put the new Vickers Viking into service on the routes to Oslo and Copenhagen. BEA received eleven of the basic Viking 1A model, and the company flew 31 of the improved 1B series.

In May 1951, BEA received its first Airspeed AS 57 "Ambassador", which became known by the airline under the name "Elizabethan". The first line use of AS.57 on March 13, 1952, the route London-Paris, but already in 1958 their final replacement by the new turboprop pattern Vickers Viscount 701 .

As early as April 18, 1953, the first Viscount 701 was used between London and Nicosia (Cyprus). The larger Viscount 802 and 806 were the successors to the Viscount 701.

From 1955 14-seat De Havilland DH.114 Heron were used in Scotland , the Orkney Islands , Shetland Islands and the Outer Hebrides , also as ambulance aircraft .

On December 17, 1960, the 135-seat Vickers 951 "Vanguard" was the largest turbo-prop aircraft that went into service between London and Paris. The Vanguard remained in service as a passenger aircraft until 1974, and as a (converted) cargo aircraft until 1979.

As the first jet, BEA put the De Havilland DH 106 Comet 4B into service on the London-Moscow route on April 1, 1960 .

The HS.121 Trident 1C, developed according to BEA specifications , was used on March 11, 1964 and largely replaced Vickers 951 and 953 "Vanguard" and the Comet 4B on the most important routes.

At the beginning of 1966 the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) began developing a twin-engine, 100-seat short-haul airliner in accordance with a specification drawn up by BEA . The final specifications of the One-Eleven 500 project were set in September 1966, and on January 27, 1967, BEA signed the supply contract for 18 BAC 1-11 Srs.510s with an option for six more aircraft. The new aircraft were primarily intended for operation on the BEA's domestic German route network, but were also to be used on main UK internal routes. The 1-11 Srs.500 completed its first scheduled service on November 17, 1968 on the Manchester – London Heathrow route. The routes from London-Heathrow to Berlin-Tempelhof, Bremen, Düsseldorf and Hanover were taken over by the Comet 4B, the services from Manchester and Glasgow to Berlin-Tempelhof and Düsseldorf were taken over by the “Vanguard” .

From the beginning of 1969 the 1-11 Srs.500 was also used on the routes from London-Heathrow to Birmingham, Shannon and Dublin, as well as from Manchester to Glasgow and Birmingham and from Glasgow to Dublin.

From 1968 the Trident 1C fleet was supplemented by the improved Trident 2E, and from 1971 the enlarged Trident 3 was used, which was immediately used on the longest and most important routes in the BEA route network. These primarily included the connections from London to Athens, Nicosia, Rome, Paris, Istanbul and Belgrade.

Armstrong-Whitworth AW.650 Argosy cargo plane of the BEA, 1962

BEA also maintained an extensive cargo route network, which was initially flown with DC-3 and Vickers Viking. From 1961 to 1970 a total of 9 examples of the Armstrong-Whitworth AW.650 "Argosy" equipped with a bow and stern gate were used here. This type of aircraft was specially developed for the transport tasks of the Royal Air Force , but was also ideally suited for the needs of fast civil cargo air traffic. Between 1969 and 1973 nine Vickers “Vanguard” were converted into “Merchantman” cargo aircraft, which replaced the “Argosy” due to their larger cargo capacity.

In the absence of a suitable British wide-body aircraft type, BEA received approval in 1972 to import four Lockheed L 1011-1 “TriStar” , which were to be put into service as a replacement for the Trident 3 from 1973 onwards.

After the merger of BEA and BOAC, the "TriStar" order was transferred to the Overseas Division (formerly BOAC).

Incidents

From 1946 to 1973 there were a total of 44 total losses at British European Airways. 538 people were killed. Selection:

• On August 7, 1946, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47A ( aircraft registration G-AHCS ) flew in low clouds during the approach to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport in the eastern flank of Mistberget, 19 km north of the airport. 13 of the 16 occupants survived the collision with trees; 3 crew members were killed.

• On January 26, 1947 a Junkers Ju 52 / 3m of the BEA (G-AHOK) had an accident near Glasgow-Renfrew Airport ( Scotland ). The machine was damaged beyond repair. Further circumstances, including about victims, are currently not known.

• On April 5, 1948, a Vickers Viking 1B of the BEA ( G-AIVP) collided with a Soviet Jakowlew Jak-3 fighter aircraft during the approach and crashed out of control about three kilometers from Berlin-Gatow airfield , Germany. The Soviet pilot had flown illegal aerobatic maneuvers there. All 15 people in the two machines were killed.

• On August 19, 1949, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47A of the BEA (G-AHCY) was flown into the hills 15 miles northeast of the airport during the approach to Manchester Airport. In this CFIT, Controlled flight into terrain , 24 of the 32 occupants were killed (all 3 crew members and 21 passengers).

• On October 17, 1950, an engine failed on a Douglas DC-3 / C-47A of the BEA (G-AGIW) shortly after taking off from Northolt Airport in the direction of Glasgow. When attempting to return, the machine lost more and more height, also because the landing gear was extended, collided with trees and hit the ground. Of the 29 occupants, only one crew member survived.

• On October 31, 1950, a Vickers Viking 1B of the BEA (G-AHPN) was deliberately flown below the decision height at London Heathrow Airport in heavy fog . When the go-around attempt was unsuccessful, the machine hit the ground and exploded. Of the 30 inmates, 28 were killed.

• On January 5, 1953 it flew Vickers Viking 1B BEA ( G-AJDL ) after a scheduled flight from the airport Northolt at airport Belfast Nutts Corner , Northern Ireland, of the runway in the approach lighting system and then into the building of the instrument landing system . 27 people died and 8 survived the accident.

• On April 8, 1955, six minutes after the start of the Airspeed Ambassador with the aircraft registration G-AMAB, an engine failed, which caused the pilots to return and make an emergency landing at Düsseldorf Airport . The go-around due to insufficient visibility ended in a crash landing 9 kilometers outside the airport. All 53 people on board survived the accident.

• On January 20, 1956, a Vickers Viscount 701 of the BEA (G-AMOM) overturned at Blackbushe Airport . The machine started on a training flight when the training captain accidentally shut down both right engines at the same time. The entire five-man crew survived.

• On March 14, 1957, a Vickers Viscount 701 from BEA ( G-ALWE ) coming from Amsterdam crashed into a residential area in Wythenshawe while approaching Manchester Airport . The cause was the fatigue failure of a landing flap suspension . All 20 occupants of the machine and two people on the ground were killed.

• On October 23, 1957 a Vickers Viscount 802 of the BEA (G-AOJA) missed the runway when approaching Belfast-Nutts Corner Airport . When attempting a go-around, she crashed 300 meters south of the western end of the runway. All seven inmates were killed.

• On November 17, 1957, a Vickers Viscount 802 of the BEA (G-AOHP) was on a cargo flight from London Heathrow to Copenhagen . During the approach, three of the four engines failed due to a malfunction in the de-icing system. The aircraft was destroyed in a belly landing 28 kilometers northwest of the airport, but both pilots survived.

• On February 6, 1958, the Airspeed AS 57 Ambassador G-ALZU had a take-off accident on BEA flight 609 in Munich-Riem. The Manchester United football team was also on board . 23 of the 44 people on board were killed in the accident.

• On April 28, 1958, a Vickers Viscount 802 of the BEA (G-AORC) was flown into the area on the approach to Prestwick Airport and burned out. Reasons were a misinterpretation of the instruments by the captain, insufficient cooperation within the cockpit crew and an ergonomically poorly designed altimeter with an ambiguous display. All five inmates survived.

• On October 22, 1958, a Vickers Viscount 701C of the BEA (G-ANHC) collided with a North American F-86E of the Italian Air Force on its flight from London to Naples . All 31 inmates of the Viscount were killed; the military pilot was able to save himself with the ejection seat .

• On January 5, 1960, the hydraulic system of a Viscount 701 of the BEA (G-AMNY) failed after touching down at the destination airport in Malta, and with it the brakes and the nose wheel control. On the sloping terrain, the machine rolled against the control tower. None of the 51 occupants was harmed, but the aircraft was ready for scrap.

• On January 7, 1960, the nose landing gear of a Viscount 802 of British European Airways (BEA) (G-AOHU) collapsed after touching down at London Heathrow Airport , as the captain landed on it first due to poor visibility in thick fog. The fire that broke out destroyed the entire aircraft. Nevertheless, all 59 inmates survived.

• On December 21, 1961, a De Havilland Comet 4B ( G-ARJM ) on the flight from Ankara-Esenboğa Airport to Nicosia went into an extremely steep attitude immediately after take-off, suffered a stall and fell to the ground. The cause is assumed to be a malfunction of the artificial horizon on the captain's side. Of the 34 people on board, 27 were killed.

• On October 27, 1965, the Vickers Vanguard G-APEE crashed on the flight from Edinburgh at 01:23 a.m. during the third attempted approach in fog at London-Heathrow Airport during a go-around on runway 28R. All 36 inmates were killed. The causes identified included fatigue, a lack of experience and training as well as incorrect operation of the unergonomically designed landing flap levers.

• On October 12, 1967, a De Havilland Comet 4 ( G-ARCO ) on the flight from Athens to Nicosia crashed into the Mediterranean Sea due to a bomb explosion 35 kilometers south of Demre (Turkey). All 66 people on board were killed.

• On December 4, 1967, the pilots of an Armstrong Whitworth Argosy 222 ( G-ASXP ) tried to start from Stansted Airport with a simulated engine failure . After taking off, there was a loss of control, the machine overturned on the ground and burned out. The three-man crew survived.

• On October 2, 1971, the Vickers Vanguard ( G-APEC ) lost both elevator surfaces on flight 706 over Belgium due to undetected corrosion . The engine was then uncontrollable and fell straight from the sky, bow first. All 63 inmates were killed.

• On June 18, 1972, the crew of a Hawker Siddeley Trident ( G-ARPI ) on British European Airways Flight 548 from London to Brussels lost control of the aircraft shortly after take-off. The machine fell to the ground, killing all 118 occupants. The cause of the accident was the premature retraction of the slats , which increase the lift at low speed. There was a stall ; the plane crashed. According to the autopsy, the captain may have suffered heart pain during the climb.

• On January 19, 1973, a British European Airways (BEA) (G-AOHI) Vickers Viscount 802 was flown on a test flight from Glasgow Airport to the almost 1200 meter high summit of Ben More , around 60 kilometers north of Glasgow. All four occupants, two crew members and two passengers, were killed.

See also

• Former Airlines List (Europe)

literature

• AJ Jackson: British Civil Aircraft 1919-59 , Vol. 2. Putnam, London 1960.

Web links

Commons : British European Airways  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ Charles Woodley: The History of British European Airways , Casemate Publishers, 2006, ISBN 9781844151868
2. ↑ Accident statistics British European Airways , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on March 12, 2017.
3. ^ Accident report DC-3 G-AHCS , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 28, 2016.
4. ^ Accident report Ju 52 G-AHOK , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 22, 2018.
5. ^ Accident report Viking 1B G-AIVP , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 18, 2015.
6. ^ Accident report DC-3 G-AHCY , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 10, 2019.
7. ^ Accident report DC-3 G-AGIW , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 17, 2018.
8. ^ ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest 2, Circular 24-AN / 21, Montreal 1951, pp. 35-40. (English)
9. ↑ accident report Viking G-AHPN , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 23 November 2017th
10. ↑ Air-Britain Archive: Casualty compendium part 55 (English), December 1994, pp. 94/111.
11. ^ Accident report Viking 1B G-AJDL , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 20, 2017.
12. ^ Accident report AS-57 G-AMAB , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on January 28, 2016.
13. ^ Accident report Viscount 701 G-AMOM , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 10, 2018.
14. ↑ ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest 8, Circular 54-AN / 49, Montreal 1958 (English), pp. 34-35.
15. ↑ Accident report Viscount 700 G-ALWE , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 19, 2017.
16. ↑ Accident report Viscount 802 G-AOJA , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 10, 2018.
17. ^ Accident report Viscount 802 G-AOHP , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 10, 2018.
18. ↑ Accident report Viscount 802 G-AORC , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 10, 2018.
19. ^ Accident report Viscount 701 G-ANHC , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 10, 2018.
20. ^ Accident report Viscount 701 G-AMNY , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 10, 2018.
21. ↑ Accident report Viscount 802 G-AOHU , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 10, 2018.
22. ^ Accident report Comet 4B G-ARJM , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on January 21, 2016.
23. ^ Accident report Vanguard G-APEE , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 28, 2016.
24. ^ Accident report Comet 4 G-ARCO , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on January 21, 2016.
25. ^ Accident report Argosy G-ASXP , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on January 19, 2016.
26. ^ Accident report Vanguard G-APEC , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 28, 2016.
27. ^ Accident report Trident 1C G-ARPI , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on January 28, 2016.
28. ^ Accident report of the British Accident Investigation Branch , pp. 26–28, accessed on August 27, 2016.
29. ^ Accident report Viscount 802 G-AOHI , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on December 9, 2018.