Aden Airways
Aden Airways was a subsidiary of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) based in Aden. It was in operation from 1949 to 1967.
History
In 1947, a proposal to form an airline in Aden using a pair of Bristol Wayfarers did not materialise. An engineering base was established by BOAC in Asmara, Eritrea in January 1948 as part of BOACs No.5 Line, which was centered on Aden and served Cairo, Nairobi and the Red Sea area. On 7 March 1949 Aden Airways Ltd was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of BOAC. A fleet of six BOAC Douglas DC-3 aircraft were based at Aden and these were taken over by Aden Airways. Operations commenced on 1 October 1949 with the aircraft operating under their United Kingdom (G-) registrations. On 1 February 1950, the aircraft were placed on the Aden (VR-A) register.[1]
On 31 March 1950, share capital of Rs.800,580 (£60,043) was issued. BOAC owned all the shares. The ownership of the shares passed to Associated British Airlines (Middle East) Ltd in 1955 and B.O.A.C. Associated Companies in 1957.[1]
Aden Airways experienced a seasonal increase in passenger numbers due to the pilgrammage to Mecca. Extra aircraft were leased to cover these flights, notably Avro Yorks from Skyways in 1954 and 1955. On 28 February 1960, Aden Airways took delivery of their first Canadair C-4 Argonaut. A May 1960 order for Avro 748s was later cancelled. From 1 January 1962, Aden Airways entered into an agreement with East African Airways Corporation to pool services on the Aden - Nairobi route. In September 1963, the first Vickers Viscounts entered service. In 1967, the political situation in Aden was deteriorating. Aden Airways ceased operations on 30 June 1967.[1]
Fleet
Douglas DC-3
- VR-AAA Aden c/n 14141/25586 Built as a C-47B-1-DK Skytrain. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-48325 on 9 August 1944. To Royal Air Force as KJ802 on 11 August 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, Canada. To BOAC on 21 September 1944 and registered G-AGKA. To Aden Airways, re-registered 1 February 1950. Leased to Arab Airways between 11 September and 19 November 1953, re-registered TJ-ABO, reverted to VR-AAA on return to Aden Airways. Written off on 26 March 1965 at Hadibo Airport, Socotra, South Yemen.[2]
- VR-AAB Built as a C-47B-1-DK Skytrain, c/n 14361/25806. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-48525. Served with the Royal Air Force as KJ867. To BOAC on 21 September 1944 and registered G-AGKE, then to Aden Airways, registered VR-AAB on 1 February 1950. Sold to Arab Airways and re-registered TJ-ABN, later becoming JY-ABN and then sold to World Inter Supply Services and re-registered 5B-CAZ. Preserved at the Museum of Science and Natural History, Kuwait City in Kuwait National Airways livery.[3][4]
- VR-AAC Built as a C-47B-1-DK Skytrain, c/n 14365/25810. Served with the Royal Air Force as KJ871 then G-AGKH postwar. Re-registered YI-GKH May 1947. To BOAC November 1947 and re-registered G-AGKH. On the dissolution of Aden Airways it was sold to Air Djibouti and re-registered F-OCKU.[5][6][7]
- VR-AAD Built as a C-47B-5-DK Skytrain, c/n 14660/26105. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-48844 on 25 September 1944. To Royal Air Force as KJ933 on 29 September 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, Canada. To BOAC on 7 November 1944 and registered G-AGKE, then to Aden Airways, registered VR-AAD on 1 February 1950. To Arab Airways in October 1953 and re-registered TJ-ABR Amman, becoming JY-ABR in April 1954. To Air Jordan on 1 December 1958., returning to Aden Airways on 31 May 1959 and re-registered VR-AAD. Leased out and re-registered JY-ACN at some point and later returned to Aden Airways as re-registered VR-AAD. Sold to I.A.D.Co, Danville, California in July 1968 and re-registered N9895F. Sold to Diamond Leasing Co, Reno, Nevada in 1971 and re-registered N488F. Leased to Lavco from December 1970 to July 1972. Active as late as March 1978, later used as a target by the Libyan Army, registration cancelled March 1983.[8]
- VR-AAE Built as a C-47B-10-DK Skytrain, c/n 14978/26426. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-49162 on 25 September 1944. To Royal Air Force as KJ985 on 26 October 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, Canada. To BOAC on 29 November 1944 and registered G-AGMZ. Proposed sale to Orient Airways as VT-CPA did not materialise. Became AP-AAA in October 1947, later returned to BOAC and re-registered G-AGMZ. To Aden Airways, registered VR-AAE on 1 February 1950. Leased to Nadir and re-registered N9935F, later leased to Libvan American Oil Co. Returned to Aden Airways and re-registered VR-AAE. To Air Jordan in April 1955 and re-registered JY-ABW. Sold to Transocean Airlines on 25 April 1957 and re-registered N9820F. Leased to Air Jordan and re-registered JY-ABW, then leased to Oil Exploration Air Service, re-registered N9820F. Further leased to Sahara Petroleum Co, and International Aviation Development Co and Lavco. Sold to Diamond Leasing Corp c1967 and re-registered N482F. Active as late as January 1977, later used as a target by the Libyan Army.[8]
- VR-AAF Mukallah Built as a C-47B-15-DK Skytrain, c/n 15274/26719. Built as a C-47B-15-DK Skytrain, c/n 15274/26719. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-49458. To Royal Air Force as KK137 then To BOAC in 1944. Registered G-AGNB in 1945. Leased to Iraqi Airways in July 1947 and re-registered YI-GNB, returned to BOAC in November 1947. To Aden Airway, re-registered VR-AAF on 1 February 1952. Leased to Jordan Airways during 1953. On the dissolution of Aden Airways it was sold to Air Djibouti in August 1967 and re-registered F-OCKV. Registration cancelled in August 1971.[5][9]
- VR-AAI formerly Royal Air Force Skytrain KN279 registered G-ANAD postwar. Acquired from Transair in March 1954. On the dissolution of Aden Airways it was sold to Air Djibouti and re-registered F-OCKX.[5][6]
- VR-AAK Built as a C-47A-25-DK Skytrain, c/n 13474. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 42-93550. To Royal Air Force as KG657 on 31 May 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, Canada. Sold to Air Contractors Ltd on 13 November 1946 and registered G-AIWC. Sold to Skyways Ltd on 6 December 1948, named Sky Despatch. Sold to BOAC on 31 December 1951. To British International Airlines on 3 April 1952. To Aden Airways on 31 May 1955 as VR-AAK Attaq. After use with Aden Airways, it served with Silver City Airways as G-AIWC City of Lincoln. Leased to Libyan Oil Co it was renamed City of Tripoli. Sold to SABENA in 1962 and re-registered OO-SBI. Sold to Spantax on in 1962, delivered as EC-WRZ and re-registered EC-ARZ. Leased to Air Mauretania in 1962, returned to Spantax in 1964. Crashed at El Ortigal de Arriba, Tenerife, Canary Islands on 7 December 1965 shortly after take-off from Los Rodeos Airport on a flight to Gran Canaria Airport All 32 people on board were killed.[2][12]
- VR-AAN Built as a R4D-1 Skytrain for the United States Navy . Sold as military surplus to Pan American Airways and registered NC33372. Sold to Liberian National Airways in 1948 and registered EL-AAB, then to Middle Eastern Airlines, re-registered OD-ABO in 1953. It was bought by Aden Airways, registered VR-AAN on 6 April 1956. Written off on 22 November 1966 at Wadi Rabtah.[14]
- VR-AAZ a former a United States Army Air Force C-47-DL Skytrain, sold in 1947 to Air France, registered F-BCYR. Sold to CGT Beyrouth 4 August 1947, re-registered LR-AAM. CGT Beyrouth later became Air Liban in March 1951. Change of registration to OD-AAM in May 1951. Sold on 27 July 1964 to Aden Airwyas and re-registered VR-AAZ. Sold on 23 July 1968 to Air Djibouti and re-registered F-OCKT. Damaged propellors and carburettor intakes when it struck a number of cranes. Ditched off Djibouti on 23 July 1969.[15][16]
Canadair C-4 Argonaut
Three Argonauts were acquired from BOAC in 1960, G-ALHR "Antelope", G-ALHX "Astraeus" G-ALHV "Adonis" re-registering as VR-AAR VR-AAS and VR-AAT respectively.[5][6]
The former BOAC Argonaut G-ALHM came to Aden Airways after being sold to East African Airways in 1957. It retained it's Kenyan registration VP-KOJ[5][6]
BOAC's G-ALHS "Astra" was sold to Derby Airways, who leased it to Aden. It returned to Derby Airways and was scrapped in 1970.[5][6]
The remainder of the Argonauts were scrapped after serving with Aden Airways except VP-KOJ which saw further service going to the UK in May 1964 and then scrapped in 1966.[5][6][17]
Vickers Viscount
Avro York
- A number of Avro Yorks were leased from Skyways in 1954 and 1955.[1]
Avro 748
- Two Avro 748s were ordered in May 1960. The order was cancelled in May 1962.[1]
Accidents and incidents
- In October 1952, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAE was severely damaged in an accident when it landed on a road near Assouan, Egypt and hit a tree stump. The damaged aircraft was dismantled and transported to Heliopolis by barge and thence to Cairo, where it was repaired despite being declared a write-off and Aden Airways receiving £30,000 in insurance money.[19]
- On 12 April 1964, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAM was written off at Hargeisa, Somalia with the loss of 15 lives.[20]
- On 26 March 1965, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAA was damaged beyond economic repair after it was groundlooped following a downwind landing at Hadibo Airport, Socotra, South Yemen.[21]
- On 22 November 1966, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAN crashed at Wadi Rabtah after a bomb on board exploded. The aircraft was on a flight from Mayfa'ah Airport to Aden International Airport. Thirty people were killed,[22] amongst them Amir Mohammed bin Said, the Prime Minister of Wahidi. The bomb had been planted by his son, Ali.[23]
- On 30 June 1967, Vickers Viscount VR-AAV was damaged beyond economic repair at Aden International Airport when a bomb on board exploded. The aircraft was in quarantine at the time after an engine change.[24] Photo of burnt out aircraft
References
Further reading
- Watson, Dacre. Red Sea Caravan: The Aden Airways Story. Air Britain. ISBN 978-0-85130-409-0.
External links