NORTH SOUTH AIRLINES, LTD.: United Kingdom (1959-1962). Overseas Air Transport, Ltd. founder Lord Calthorpe forms this company at Leeds in March 1959 to provide ad hoc charters employing a leased de Havilland DH 114 Heron 1B just now returning from a lease to Cambrian Airways, Ltd. The company is officially registered on May 29 with capitalization of ?10,000. Scheduled weekly Leeds to Bournemouth Heron 1B flights begin on June 6.
During the summer, ad hoc charters are flown to Channel Island and Continental destinations. On July 12, a scheduled route is opened from Leeds to Sandown via Leeds; it is followed on August 1 by service from Leeds-Exeter via Hurn. Scheduled services are suspended for the winter on September 26.
A Bristol 170 Mk. 21 Freighter is accepted in April 1960 (and immediately leased to Air Condor) along with another Heron 1B leased from OAT in May. Meanwhile, the previous year’s scheduled routes are reopened in March. A significant number of ad hoc and inclusive-tour flights are made during the year, primarily by the two Herons.
In early 1961, the Air Condor lease is concluded and the Freighter is chartered to BKS Air Transport, Ltd. Scheduled services from Leeds to Bournemouth, Exeter, and Sandown are introduced in May. The Overseas Air Transport, Ltd. Heron 1Bs are returned to its successor company, Mercury Airlines, Ltd., in June.
In July, the company leases a Heron 1B from Gulf Aviation and a Bristol 170 Mk. 21 Freighter from Trans European Aviation; the same month, a DC-3 is purchased and in August, one is briefly chartered from British Westpoint Airlines, Ltd. Scheduled and charter services are maintained as in 1960. The Bristol Freighter is returned in July and the Heron 1B in October at the conclusion of the summer tourist season. The company is purchased by McBean Tours at the end of the year.
In January 1962, North-South returns all of its scheduled licenses to the government, planning now to concentrate solely on the charter business. Before the summer season can be opened, however, creditors win suit for payment in Chancery Court and close the carrier down on March 12.
NORTH SOUTH AIRWAYS: 1954 Airport Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341, United States; Phone (770) 455-7575; Fax (770) 455-7550; Http://www. north-southairways. com; Year Founded 2000. North South is established in June 2000 as follow-on to the May purchase by Atlanta-based International Airline Support Group (IASG) of a 16-year-old local concern known as Diamond Aviation. IASG, which has operated for 20 years as an aircraft leasing and spare parts concern, signs a contract with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Em-braer under which the new cargo company becomes the launch customer for the new EMB-120CF freighter.
The first of as many as 20 of the new cargo planes is received on September 22, wearing a red stripe on an all-metal fuselage with red titles and logo. Under the leadership of IASG Vice President David Marcon-tell, who doubles as North South’s vice president of operations, it is placed into regional service shortly thereafter. The contracts held by Diamond with United Parcel Service (UPS) and Corporate Express are maintained under the new entrant.
World History
