With its special helicopter unit, British European Airways Corporation (BEA) forms the wholly owned subsidiary BEA Helicopters, Ltd., with Capt. J. A. “Jock” Cameron as managing director, on January 1, 1964. The principal base is at London (LGW), with branches at Penzance, Aberdeen, and Sumburgh. The rotary-wing carrier continues to provide airport link and intra-urban service. Ordered the previous year, 2 Sikorsky S-61Ns, the first in Europe, are delivered in March-April to replace 3 de Havilland DH 89A Dragon Rapides.
Following a ceremony at St. Mary’s, the first Sikorsky is employed on May 1 to inaugurate Europe’s only scheduled helicopter route 24-times-per-day over the 28 miles from the Scilly Isles to St. Just on the mainland. Later in the year, Sikorsky S-61N services are provided to other offshore islands. The first heliport in Europe is opened at Penzance in September and the company is transferred to it from St. Just.
A total of 40,000 passengers are carried on the St. Just-Penzance service, 14,000 more than the DH 89As in their final year of service. BEAH thus becomes the first company to make scheduled helicopter-passenger transport successful.
The company begins active support of oil resource development platforms in the North Sea in 1965. During the year, the company establishes northwest Europe’s first offshore oil support base at a derelict World War II airfield at Beccles, south of Great Yarmouth in East Anglia. Shell Oil, based nearby at Lowestroft, becomes BEAH’s first Bec-cles client and its offshore platforms are visited by both of the carrier’s new Sikorsky S-61Ns.
Operations continue apace in 1966-1970; in October 1968, the carrier boards its 250,000th passenger. During the winter of that year, the company receives BEA’s new livery.
On October 1, 1971, BEA Helicopters, Ltd. (BEAH) is made responsible for air-sea rescue missions off the Scottish coast; under contract to the coast guard, search and rescue (SAR) flights begin with an S-61N in December. In March 1972, BEAH becomes the first operator to clear the S-61N for flight in light icing conditions.
Late in the year, the subsidiary is merged into the British Airways Group, operating as part of a consolidated BEA/BOAC throughout
1973. British European Airways Corporation (BEA) is dissolved on March 31 1974 and British Airways, Ltd. (2) appears the next day. BEA Helicopters, Ltd. is thereafter renamed British Airways Helicopters, Ltd. (BAH) and becomes a division of the new state carrier.
BRITISH EXECUTIVE AIR SERVICES, LTD. (BEAS): United Kingdom (1970-1978). BEAS is formed at Coventry in 1970 to operate helicopters on agricultural duties, aerial crane work, flight training, executive charter, and passenger and cargo support services in support of the North Sea oil and gas industry.
In 1977, Bristow Helicopters, Ltd. purchases the carrier and operates it as a subsidiary for a year. In 1978, all but the agricultural division is merged into the new parent. Former BEAS Marketing Director David
Dollar purchases that division, along with the subsidiary’s fleet of 10 Aerospatiale Alouettes and Lamas and Bell Model 47Gs, reorganizing it into Dollar Helicopters, Ltd.
BRITISH FLYING BOATS, LTD.: United Kingdom (1932). British Flying Boats, Ltd. is registered at London on June 12, 1932. The board is chaired by the Duke of Montrose and the general manager is Lord Malcolm Douglas Hamilton. A contract is let for a new Saunders-Roe Cloud amphibian, which is launched at Cowes on July 15 and christened Cloud of Iona.
On August 14, the carrier initiates a proving flight from Stranraer-Belfast, with a week of experimental flights beginning next day, Greenock-Belfast. Revenue services do not commence.
World History
