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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0869.PDF
MAY 29TH, 1947 FLIGHT 303 Skyways' First Anniversary The Year's Work : Middle and Far East Contracts L THOUGH most people will know something of Skyways'activities, it is perhaps surprising that comparatively little is heard of this, the largest air charter companyin Europe. The main reason is a good one—that the company ;are in the happy position of having had more than enough work•(luring their first year of operation to kt'ep them fully occupied, jand have been too busy keeping their growing fleet of aircraft3n the_air to talk much about them. The company rent their airfield at Dunsfold from theiovernment and, although it suffers the disadvantage of having L dispersed-type layout, the advantages of having a full-size airfield with good runways, hangars, control tower, living sites and all the workshops required are obvious. On a recent visit to Dunsfold, Flight examined the facilitieswhich the company have built up in twelve months and which they are still improving and expanding. If such a company has to operate successfully it is essentialto get the maximum use out of its aircraft, and in these days of shortages and delays the only sure way of gettinga job done when and how one wants it is to do it oneself. That is what Skyways have aimed to do. An enormousamount has been achieved in twelve months, but it is still too early to have collected sufficient statistics to give morethan a rough indication of maintenance, spares and other requirements. As an example of operating hours, however,the year's figures for two Yorks, which have been the com- pany's work horses, reflect very favourably on the efficiencyof organization. Both have done approximately 2,200 hours. Staff and Aircraft There are now some 1,300 staff at Dunsfold, excluding air-crew who number about 350. A 24-hour working schedule is maintained for all essential sections including, of course,met. and flying control. Skyways' present fleet consists of a Skymaster, the first ofseveral, Yorks and Lancastrians, D.C.3S, a Dove and a Rapide. At present the Lancastrians are used chiefly for fast, heavyfreight carrying, but as other aircraft become available they will be used chiefly for training. The principal contract workis the transport of oil company staff to and from Basra. There are some 5,000 employees, plus their families, to be °^u°- an° lrOm Basra °" lirst aPPO»ntment, on dutv andwhen their one month's vacation in twelve becomes due' Thi< ot course, is only one of Skyways' commitments and an;iuin--ments are now being, completed for the formation of ;l Sk\ -ways Far East company for the operation of contract airlines south, and west of Siam. Crews report for duty 24 hours beiore they are due to flyand in the intervening period pilots are 1 lurked out on instru- ment flying and the planning and briefing are completed.A trip to Basra and back involves about 35 flying hours in tour days, and crews are expected to make three "trips a monthor an equivalent number of flying hours on other duties. Living Quarters A large proportion of the ground star! are accommodatedat Dunsfold airfield, which is about seven miles from Guild- ford. Single men and men living apart from their iamiliesoccupy four of the original Air Force sleeping sites, and a fifth is let as married quarters. The thousand-odd maintenancestaff undertake complete repairs and'overhauls of all the com- pany's aircraft. It has been estimated that for every unnecessary day spenton the ground by a York the company lose ^1,000, and for a Skymaster ^1,300 to £1,400. The thorough and excellentorganization which Skyways has built up would therefore seem to be justified if, as has been found possible, the turnroundof aircraft can be greatly speeded up. There is an important and satisfactory agreement existingbetween Skyways and the corporations, and as far as possible when operating over routes in the B.O.A.C. sphere of influencethe company operate from London Airport and are al>U- to make use of the corporation's en route facilities, while overB.E.A. routes they operate from Northolt and a similar main- tenance arrangement exists. The arrangement is subject tothe company's aircraft being maintained to a standard at least equal to the corporations' aircraft and, of course, corporationaircraft take priority in servicing requirements. The arrange- ment is very satisfactory for both sides because the one wouldnot, for the time being, be justified in setting up intermediate bases while the other is forced to, but cannot yet employ themfully and therefore economically. DEATH OF CHARLES DESOUTTER WE regret to announce the sudden death of CharlesDesoutter, managing director of Desoutter Brothers, Ltd.In the earliest days of flying the -name became well known. Marcel was a famous Bleriot pilot, Rene did test-flying forGordon England, and Charles was more the engineer of the family. When Marcel lost his leg in a crash, he and Charlesdesigned a very light aluminium leg, and from that beginning developed an extensive business in artificial limbs. In morerecent times the firm has won fame for its lightweight pneu- matic and electric portable tools. With the death of CharlesDesoutter the business has suffered a severe loss. DERBY INTERNATIONAL AIR RALLY ON Friday, June 20th, light aircraft from all over Europe willfly via Lympne to Derby for an International Air Rallywhich will be held at Derby "Airport on Saturday, June 21st. f rhe Rally has been organized by the Derby Aero Club inlaboration with the Derby Corporation and the Royal Aeroutrtr of Great Britain, and the main object is to enable the pilots of the United Kingdom to return in some measure thehospitality extended so often to them on the Continent. It will also be an opportunity for international aviation intereststo get together and to foster goodwill between the nations. The provisional programme already includes the followingitems: arrival and demonstration of Aerovan; race between five Magisters for the Harben Memorial Trophy; glider andlight aircraft ae-obatics; fly-past by a Blenot; high-speed demonstration by G/C. Donaldson in a Meteor; Rolls-Koycedemonstration of the Nene Lancastrian, Nene Vampire, Meteor IV and Trent Meteor; Dove and Chipmunk demonstrationsan R.A.F event; a parachute descent: and a fly-past 01 selected visiting aircraft. The Nene Vampire will be maKingits first public tppearance, as will also the Trent Meteor—the first aircraft to fly with airscrew turbine engines and, it is oe- lieved, still the only machine to have flown powered solely bysuch engines. Of interest to light plane enthusiasts will be the numeroussmall aircraft from the Continent, which will include a Bticker " Bestman " and a Piper Super Cruiser. The meeting will be truly international, as more than 50foreign visitors have already accepted and propose to come by air. They will foregather at Lympne on Friday afternoon,and there will be a sort of aerial Cook's tour, personally con- ducted by pilots from Derby, up to the airfield at Burnaston. On Friday evening, Rolls-Royce are giving a cocktail partyat which the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be represented. Guests will include the Rf. Hon. Philip J. Noel-Baker (who is,incidentally, the M.P. for Derby) as well as the Parliamentary Secretary, and Group Capt. C. A. Wilcock, also M.P. for Derbyand chairman of the Derby Aero Club. A dinner will be given on Saturday night at which there will be many distinguishedvisitors. INTER-ISLAND HELICOPTERS TTELICOPTER AIR TRANSPORT are said to be negotiating -Li with the British Government to run a helicopter service between islands of the West Indies. Argument for Helicopter Air Transport is that this form of transport would save the cost of building airfields. FRENCH OPTIMISM /^EORGES FEVRIER, writing in the April issue of vJ L'Aerophile, speaks encouragingly of French private ftving. Aviation is a necessity of modern life, says Georges, and he looks forward to the day when business men, doctors and professional men generally, recognize flying as a common means of travel. Although the difficulties and obstacles to private flying in France are recognized, Georges Fevrier strikes a note of optimism which is welcome to all enthusiasts of private flying.
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