My history blog today comes from the 1980 edition of Aircraft Illustrated.
British Isles 'Airports: No 10: Jersey
by David H. Kirkman
(Flightlines International)
Following the withdrawal of the German forces at the end of the War and the subsequent installation of a Royal Air Force presence at the airport, work began on the restoration of the island's tottering economy and the re-establishment of commercial aviation. It had been apparent in the pre-war years that the well-being of the island could be strongly influenced by air traffic, and on 10 May 1945 some of the previous airport staff were recalled to duty to collaborate with the RAF in resurrecting the operations.
By August, Jersey Airways had opened up services to Guernsey and London using DH89 Dragon Rapides G-AGPH. G-4GPl, G-AGSH and G-AGSK, and Jersey and Guernsey Airways commenced joint operations - these leading to the merger of the two airlines on I September 1945 to form Channel Island Airways.
On 2 October all the initial work was complete and the airport returned to the control of the States of Jersey.
At about the same time the potential of Jersey as a holiday isle became apparent and this aspect of its economy began to receive increasing attention. From 1946 onward air traffic through the airport showed a steady increase and by 1950 over 200.000 passengers a year were being handled. Clearly tourism was to be a major industry.
On 2 October all the initial work was complete and the airport returned to the control of the States of Jersey.
At about the same time the potential of Jersey as a holiday isle became apparent and this aspect of its economy began to receive increasing attention. From 1946 onward air traffic through the airport showed a steady increase and by 1950 over 200.000 passengers a year were being handled. Clearly tourism was to be a major industry.
In the meantime, however, a battle had begun between the British Government. the States of Jersey and Guernsey and the newly formed British European Airways over the future ownership of the expanding and successful Channel Island Airways.
The arguments were bitter, fuelled by the belief in the Channel Islands that with their own airline and a major entry airport on Jersey, BEA was somewhat of an intruder. After a month of wrangling, the Channel Islands relinquished their airline, and on I April 1947 BEA took charge of all the aircraft and services. Nevertheless, the airport continued to flourish as the tourist trade increased and the grip held by BEA on all scheduled services was found to have a loop-hole within the law by independent airlines operating 'tourist' services.
Among the independents was Air Transport Charter (Channel Islands) which was formed at the airport in July 1946 and started operations in March 1 947 with two Miles M57 Aerovans, G AISE and G-AISF. At first only freight charters were conducted but with the acquisition of a Dakota in April 1947, charter flights for holidaymakers were introduced.
The Aerovans were soon replaced by Dragon Rapides on an interisland passenger service, the latter being run in close conjunction with another operator - Island Air Charters. IAC was inaugurated with Air Transport Charter in 1950 and the charter operations continued with passengers in the summer and freight in the quiet winter months.
The arguments were bitter, fuelled by the belief in the Channel Islands that with their own airline and a major entry airport on Jersey, BEA was somewhat of an intruder. After a month of wrangling, the Channel Islands relinquished their airline, and on I April 1947 BEA took charge of all the aircraft and services. Nevertheless, the airport continued to flourish as the tourist trade increased and the grip held by BEA on all scheduled services was found to have a loop-hole within the law by independent airlines operating 'tourist' services.
Among the independents was Air Transport Charter (Channel Islands) which was formed at the airport in July 1946 and started operations in March 1 947 with two Miles M57 Aerovans, G AISE and G-AISF. At first only freight charters were conducted but with the acquisition of a Dakota in April 1947, charter flights for holidaymakers were introduced.
The Aerovans were soon replaced by Dragon Rapides on an interisland passenger service, the latter being run in close conjunction with another operator - Island Air Charters. IAC was inaugurated with Air Transport Charter in 1950 and the charter operations continued with passengers in the summer and freight in the quiet winter months.
However a move to a new base at Blackbushe in 1950 led up to a significant point in Jersey's civil Aviation history when, in the summer of 1952, the airline was successfully prosecuted for running an unlicensed scheduled service between Blackbushe and Jersey; as a result of the case, the company ceased operations on 31 October 1952.
This was not the only casualty of such unlicensed operation. Channel Air Services, also based at Jersey, was similarly prosecuted for operating Ansons on the Blackbushe run and this company went into liquidation after incurring a fine of £500.
Another Aerovan operator out of Jersey at around the same time was Channel Islands Air Freight who used three (G-AISF, G-AJKP, G-AJOF) between 1950 and 1954, but the major airline to emerge in this boom period was Jersey Airlines.
Founded in 1948, the first commercial flight out of the airfield was conducted on 9 March 1949 but it was not until June 1951 that the airline was able to begin a scheduled service, this being to Southampton (Eastleigh). The airline set up its own maintenance facility at the airport and achieved several notable 'firsts' during its operation including the service debut of the Heron by a British company.
This first aircraft, a Mk I B, G-AMYU, entered service on 9 May 1 953 on the Gatwick run. Another historical landmark was the placing by Jersey Airlines of the first order for the Handley Page Dart Herald, of which four were initially secured in September 1960. Sadly, on 20 May 1962, the airline sold out to the Air Holdings Group (the owners of British United Airways), and although the aircraft continued to fly with their original titling for a while, the change to British United (CI) Airways came into being in August of the following year.
This was not the only casualty of such unlicensed operation. Channel Air Services, also based at Jersey, was similarly prosecuted for operating Ansons on the Blackbushe run and this company went into liquidation after incurring a fine of £500.
Another Aerovan operator out of Jersey at around the same time was Channel Islands Air Freight who used three (G-AISF, G-AJKP, G-AJOF) between 1950 and 1954, but the major airline to emerge in this boom period was Jersey Airlines.
Founded in 1948, the first commercial flight out of the airfield was conducted on 9 March 1949 but it was not until June 1951 that the airline was able to begin a scheduled service, this being to Southampton (Eastleigh). The airline set up its own maintenance facility at the airport and achieved several notable 'firsts' during its operation including the service debut of the Heron by a British company.
This first aircraft, a Mk I B, G-AMYU, entered service on 9 May 1 953 on the Gatwick run. Another historical landmark was the placing by Jersey Airlines of the first order for the Handley Page Dart Herald, of which four were initially secured in September 1960. Sadly, on 20 May 1962, the airline sold out to the Air Holdings Group (the owners of British United Airways), and although the aircraft continued to fly with their original titling for a while, the change to British United (CI) Airways came into being in August of the following year.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment