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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0756.PDF
766 FLIGHT, 1 j,.,le SPORT AND BUSINESS... FLYING BREWERS A NICKNAME which Ind Coope have earned for themselves byoperating their own aircraft for a number of years is "the flying brewers." It all started when Gp Capt B. G. Carfoot, one of thedirectors, flew his own light aircraft on business, taking company passengers when appropriate. Then it was decided to charterlarger aircraft; and charter soon led to the purchase of a Rapide. The company estimated to fly 200hr in the first year with this type,but actually completed 586hr. The natural limitations of the Rapide dictated the purchase of a Dove 6 (G-APCZ), which hasnow been in use for three and a half years. Last December, Ind Coope obtained a second Dove 6 (G-ARDE) and the chief pilot,Capt D. L. Lancaster, was joined by Capt W. L. Evans. The flying operation has been systematically planned and itsuse expanded over the years. Ind Coope have breweries at Edin- burgh, Burton-on-Trent (company headquarters), Wrexham,Watford, Romford and Westerham and own 5,200 licensed pre- mises, including 46 residential hotels. The recent merger withAnsell and Tetley Walker will considerably increase this total. Travelling commitments of executives and technicians in thecompany are therefore extensive; and the aircraft section, through the liaison of Mr O. Robinson, prepares a six-monthprinted programme of regular flights all over England. In addition, a more detailed programme for three weeks ahead is producedevery Friday and both are issued on a limited circulation of about 100 within the company. There is a system of graded eligibilitiesby which certain people can claim seats or delegate them; and others can actually call for special flights to be arranged, spare seatson these also being allocated where possible. The two Doves are based at Tatenhill, a wartime airfield nearBurton, where the runways have been fenced off from surrounding farm land and partly resurfaced. The 1,200 yd runway has built-in lights, and goose-neck flares are available for the other. A The Ind Coope aviation team and their two Doves at Tatenhi near Burton-on-Trent. From left to right are Mr H. A. McCar, y CL licensed aircraft engineer; Capt W. L. Evans, pilot; Mr R. Jrst mechanic; Mr 0. Robinson, in charge of aircraft liaison; C.'tt r^' Lancaster, chief pilot; and Mr D. Brown, mechanic. (See "flyj Brewers," below.) " hangar accommodates both Doves, and a permanent groun, ;rewofthree, headed by Mr H. A. McCarthy, performs all maim 'nance including C of A overhauls, to approved schedule. VHF co imunications on 122.2Mc/s and fire service are provided and a .v~parate receiver makes it possible to listen to weather broadcasts on ' ondonand Preston control frequencies. The base is now to be extended to house another business operator. Both Doves carry \\;\i ajrline radio with stand-by VHF, and Decca Navigator with Flight Log charts specially prepared to cover most of the usual operatingarea from Glasgow to the South Coast on two chart cassettes Approach charts are included for the main airfields and the usuaitracks and distances are all marked to make navigation simple and quick. About 90 per cent of flights are made in England and abouthalf on airways both by day and night. Off airways the Decca j, particularly useful. One aircraft has the first of the new ATR.sized Mk 8 receivers, which are much smaller and lighter than the old Mk 8. Both Doves also have the Sperry AL.3 autopilot, gyrocompass, night lighting and full de-icing equipment. Reckoning that each aircraft is out of use for two months eachyear for C of A overhaul and that pilots' holidays take another month, there are about 196 "flyable" working days; and on all buttwo or three of these Ind Coope Doves are flying. In an average year there are perhaps two complete cancellations and six delayedor diverted flights. There has been one diversion this year and no mechanical delays. Regularity is therefore at least as good as forairline operations. The Doves are usually flown at 4 lib boost and 2,250 r.p.m., giving a t.a.s. of I45kt. The second machine hasalready flown 225hr this year. The first flew 482hr in 1957- 1958; 502hr in 1958-1959; and 652hr in 1959-1960. Increasingutilization is attributed to improved planning and scheduling. The whole operation is meticulously costed and recorded. Thebooks show that one Dove, between September 1, 1959, and August 31, 1960, completed 211,542 passenger-miles (passengers carriedagainst straight-line miles covered). Cost, including 35 items such as rents, wages, pensions, insurance, aircraft and plant depreciation.ground vehicles, fire equipment, Decca rental and engine overhauls, has worked out at lOd per capacity seat-mile and £37 5s per aircraftflying hour. The justification for offering air transport within the companyis that it saves wear and tear on people and allows the maximum utilization of their talents. Apart from the strain of travelling bytrain or car and having to spend nights away from home, use of the Dove saves a great deal of time. For instance, Tatenhill to Chestertakes 25min by air and 2hr lOmin by car; to Speke, 25min against 2hr 30min by car; to Yeadon, 30min against 3hr by car; and toCardiff 40min against 3 A to 4hr by car. Ind Coope are not averse to allowing visiting aircraft to useTatenhill, providing prior notice is telephoned to the airfield at Hoar Cross 283 and that the landing is "in the line of business."The company has its own bulk-store of 100-octane fuel, but cannot resell it. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH will visit Glamorgan Flying Clubat Rhoose Airport tomorrow (June 2) to watch the end of the London - Cardiff Air Race. Competitors are expected to leavePanshanger between 4.15 and 4.30 p.m. and to arrive at Rhoose, 145 miles away, approximately one hour later. Entries will includea Turbulent entered by Prince Philip and flown by Wg Cdr John Severne, and a Spitfire 8 entered by Earl Mountbatten and flownby V. H. Bellamy of Hampshire Aeroplane Club. THE £100,000 FUND set up by the Society of British AircraftConstructors and Shell-Mex and BP Ltd to provide low-interest loans to flying and gliding clubs was established following recom-mendations from the Standing Joint Committee on Private and Club Flying and Gliding, and will be subscribed over a period ofthree years. This was stated in the Commons recently by the Minister of Aviation, Mr Thorneycroft, in reply to a question fromCol C. F. H. Gough. At the end of the three years, he said, "the position will be reviewed in the light of the experience gained."Would loans under the new trust be made available to British Mr William P. Lear Sr taxies in at Geneva after his first fight in his company's executive/research Mustang. As reported in our issue of January 27, the machine's regular pilot is Mr William P. Lear Jr, director of Lear's European operations aircraft only or to foreign types as well, Col Gough asked. MrThorneycroft commented: "I should have thought that as the Society of British Aircraft Constructors is so prominent in the fund,there might be a certain disposition for British aircraft to have pre- ference in this matter, although I understand that nothing of thatkind is laid down."
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