FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1951
1951 - 2003.PDF
FLIGHT NOT-SO-DARK AFRICA An account of Some Pleasant Journey ings on the Routes of Central African Airways By GEOFFREY DORMAN, A.R.Ae.S. THIS is another of Mr. Dorman's "airline tours," in which hesketches the organization and equipment of the operators and then goes on to describe places and people on the routes. Inthis article comparatively little space is devoted to the new airport at Livingstone, for the reason that it was very fullydescribed in "Flight" a year ago, at the time of its inauguration. Those who wish for a somewhat fuller history of Central AfricanAirways, also, are referred to that issue (August ioth, 1950). IN July last I made a tour of many of the routes operatedby Central African Airways Corporation, knownthroughout Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasa- land as C.A.A. Though a very young concern—it is one of the youngest members of I.A.T.A.—it springs from forebears with a long history. In 1918 a company called Air Road Motors, Ltd., was formed by ex-members of the flying Services in the 1914-18 war with the object of bringing air- mindedness to the heart of Africa. This concern toured Southern Rhodesian towns and population centres with air- craft such as Avro 504KS and D.H.6s, giving joy-rides to people who had never even seen an aeroplane before. Records do not show that the company was very active in those days with passenger air transport. In 1933 the first real step towards organized air carriage within Central Africa was made with the formation of Rhodesian and Nyasaland Airways, Ltd., known as R.A.N.A., a name still honoured in Salisbury and Bulawayo. The company was closely associated with Imperial Airways, Ltd. (which was then opening its route from England to South Africa) and the Beit Trust. R.A.N.A. operated independently until the war came in Septem- ber, 1939, when they were taken over by the Government of Southern Rhodesia. During the war the company, under the title of Southern Rhodesia Air Services, operated as a communications squadron and maintained essential services in the Rhodesias and Nyasaland, as well as with neighbouring territories. In June, 1946, the Central African Air Authority and Central African Airways Corporation were formed to absorb S.R.A.S. and open up Central Africa for air travel. The capital was subscribed by Southern Rhodesia with 50 per cent, Northern Rhodesia with 35 per cent, and Nyasaland with 15 per cent. Any subsidies since required have been subscribed in the same proportion. Like the East African and West African Airways Corporations, C.A.A. retain as technical consultants B.O.A.C., whose representa- tive, Stiven Ogilvie, is resident in Salisbury, and who ensures a close and cordial liaison between the two organizations. C.A.A. has headquarters in Salisbury, with offices in the town and at Belvedere Airport, just north of the city. Belvedere is scheduled under town planning to become a residential area, so a new airport for both civil and military use is under construction at Kentucky, to the south of the city, and will be partly opened for Air Force use by the end of 195 r. The whole scheme is due for completion by 1953 and, with most modern blind-flying aids, a fine terminal port building and hotel, and two runways of 4,000 yards both capable of extension to 7,000 yards, will constitute one of the finest airports in Africa and will be able to take airliners of up to 200 tons. At present it is ?£ miles by road from the centre of Salisbury, but when a new straight highway is completed the run of 5! miles should be able to be made in ten minutes. At present the C.A.A. fleet consists of seven Vikings, five Doves, and three D.H. (Canada) Beavers. The last-named are used for services to the midlands of Southern Rhodesia where there are only small grass strips not good enough even for Doves; on occasions the Beavers have been able to use straight stretches of road for take-off and landing. I flew to Livingstone in a Hermes of B.O.A.C.'s No. 2 Line, the flagship Hannibal, G-ALDI. From London Airport to Kano the crew was Capt. "Mac" McDougall, 1st Off. Bob Harwood, Nav./Off. Neville, Eng./Off. Hillier, R./Off. Guthrie, 1st Steward Hogan, 2nd Steward Howarth, and Stewardess Baxter. We left London on a fine hot morning which prepared us well for the first taste of heat at Castel Benito. When we landed, there was a great array of Hastings and Yorks standing by in case an urgent visit in force to Persia became necessary. Many of the Yorks had been hurriedly chartered from B.O.A.C. freighter fleet and R.A.F. roundels had been painted over the familiar Speedbird liveryi. The •screws, too, were B.O.A.C. officers called back to the reserve. We flew on across the Sahara Desert to Kano, where we arrived at 2 a.m. the next morning just after a line squall had passed over; the sandy desert airport was running with water and myriads of flying ants had come out to greet ns—and pester us during the 75 minutes we were on the ground. Hannibal was given a drink of petrol and the passengers tea, coffee and soft drinks. We took off with a new crew; Capt. Denis Hider, 1st Off. John S. Hudspith, Nav./Off. Vincent, R./Off. Bone, Eng./Off. Painter, 1st Steward Blacfcstone, 2nd Steward Saunders, and Stewardess Glynn. There were several schoolboys travelling for the holidays to their parents in Central Africa, and the skipper, who himself has a small son who is growing up in the traditions of the air, saw to it that those boys who were interested were shown over the flight- deck; he realizes that such boys will be enthusiastic air travellers of the not-so-very distant future. The special cheap rates allowed by the British airlines to children is a very wise long-term policy whi'-h is bound to pay dividends. One of the scenic wonders of the world—the Victoria Falls—lies or 3 C.A.A. route. In this picture is one of the Corporation's Viking-
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
