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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0020.PDF
20 FLIGHT EAST AFRICAN AIRWAYS A Thriving Young Commonwealth Airline IN terms of traffic, revenue or fleet strength, East AfricanAirways cannot be classed among the world's majoroperators. Neither does the airline boast a long and impressive tradition, having been formed only nine years ago. Nevertheless, it is one of the most important of the Common- wealth air links, serving a total area of 680,000 square miles. This area—more than five times that of the British Isles—represents the four territories which make up East Africa—Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda and Zanzibar. The East African AirwaysCorporation was set up by the Governments concerned on January 1st, 1946, and its subsequent expansion—though little publicizedat home—has been remarkably rapid. In 1946 East African Airways carried 9,403 passengers over a5,204-mile network of routes. For 1953, the corresponding figures were 73,062 passengers and 20,824 miles. Ton-milesperformed by E.A.A. in that year totalled 2.2m, against 157,000 in 1946—an increase of 1,400 per cent. Though low by European airlines' standards, E.A.A.'s annualpassenger carryings now exceed the total white population of East Africa, which is estimated at 64,000. Most of the airline's traffic isdrawn from European visitors and residents, but there is a grow- ing proportion of potential passengers (now reckoned to be about25 per cent) among the 205,000 Asian settlers. The 18m African population represents a virtually untapped market which will, intime, produce a greatly increased demand for air transport. A glance at the map shows why the demand is already con-siderable. Great distances separate the main centres of popula- tion; furthermore, communications between areas of agricultureand mineral development are frequently obstructed by mountains, lakes, forests and deserts. Overland travel is, at best, a lengthyand tiring business, whereas air travel offers speed and comfort at reasonable cost. Most fares on the E.A.A. routes are basedon a one-way rate of around 7d per mile, which is comparable with the rates charged on most regional networks outside Americaand Australia. Travel is encouraged by numerous concessions— to families, business and weekend travellers, sportsmen, studentsand school-children. Like so many post-war airlines, East African Airways owe thegreater part of their success to aircraft of pre-war design. Rapides were used initially, but traffic soon proved sufficient to justify useof larger and faster equipment—Doves and Lodestars. The 12- seat Lodestars were found to meet E.A.A.'s requirements betterthan the eight-seat Dove, and in 1949 the airline decided to operate a standardized fleet of Lodestars on all but the mostisolated routes. By 1952, traffic had expanded to the stage ^.UGANDA N GULU M. FALLS VSOROTI KENYA TABORA URAM 1JE R R I T 0 R MOROGORO MPANDA AR ES SALAA 227 M LONDON PARIS LONDON TO MOZAMBIQULOURENCO W AND DURBAN Most of the points served by E.A.A. are shown in this map; two familiar European routes are shown (inset) to give further scale. E.A.A. also operate to Blantyre and Salisbury in Rhodesia. where it was possible to replace the Lodestars with Dakotas.The E.A.A. fleet today consists of ten Dakotas, two Rapides and a Consul (for instrument training). Rapides are retained forlocal services between Nairobi and Entebbe, and for "outback" work in Uganda. All other services are operated by Dakotas,which are performing so well that the problem of choosing a replacement does not at present appear to worry E.A.A. greatly;in terms ot flying life, the E.A.A. aircraft are comparatively young, and offer several years' more useful service. Anyone interested in the subject of DC-3 replacements wouldprofit from a journey on E.A.A.'s routes. Of the 27 East African airports served by Dakotas, the majority have short runways (orstrips of grass or compacted earth) and no aids other than VHF/RT. Most are situated well above sea level, and some air-fields are over 6,000ft a.m.s.L; temperatures are usually high, so that density altitudes of up to 10,000ft are experienced. "Small-field performance" is much more than a brochure phrase to the Dakota crews and passengers who travel round the E.A.A. Nairobi has two airports —the international ter- minal at Eastleigh, and the E.A.A. and charter airport ot Nairobi West, where a Dakota is seen (left) taking aboard passengers for Dar-es- Salaam. Eventually both long- and short-haul ser- vices will be centred or Nairobi's new airport at Embakasi. On the right is a scene from Mbeya, 5,600ft above sea level ir the southern highlands o Tanganyika; Mrs. Mont gamery, E.A.A.'s solo representative there, /•• checking a typical loat of mixed freight. "Flight" photograph
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