Schlesische Luftverkehrs is established at Breslau on January 30, 1925, primarily to assist Junkers Luftverkehrs, A. G. in establishing an east-west connection to Essen. The State of Silesia, the City of Breslau, and the Junkers company provide capitalization, with the latter’s 12.5% interest represented in the form of two F-13 cabin monoplanes.
Revenue flights commence on May 1 from Gleiwitz to Berlin via Breslau. On May 10, service is launched from Breslau to Dresden, with a connection to Leipzig started on June 1.
The company transfers its operations to the new Deutsche Luft Hansa, A. G. in January 1926; however, it will remain a shareholder in the new state carrier until 1930.
SCHREINER AIRWAYS, B. V.: Verbeekstraat 10-12, Leiden, 2332CA, The Netherlands; Phone 31 (71) 531-9319; Fax 31 (71) 5319311; Http://www. schreiner. nl; Code AW; Year Founded 1945. Robert
Schreiner forms Schreiner & Co., B. V. in 1945 to represent aircraft manufacturers in the marketing of their equipment; later, lightplane charter flights are undertaken for the Ministry of Defense. In 1957, Schreiner Aero Contractors is established to provide organized domestic charter operations and overseas helicopter services. The first major overseas contract begins in Iran in 1958 with the Iranian Oil Exploration and Producing Company. In 1959, Schriener begins contract flights in Libya on behalf of Shell and Esso, employing Piper Apaches and Dornier 27s.
Schreiner Aero Contractors opens a base in Nigeria during 1960, again flying Piper Apaches and Dornier 27s as Aero Contractors of Nigeria on behalf of the energy industry. Back at Rotterdam in 1961, the company undertakes air taxi flights and charters to various local destinations.
In 1962, the Dutch shipping concern Phs. Van Oumeren, N. V. acquires a 50% stake in Schreiner Aero Contractors, which is incorporated as Schreiner Airways, B. V. The company, in 1963, opens a scheduled commuter route from Groningen-Amsterdam-Rotterdam employing one each de Havilland DH 103 Dove and Douglas DC-3, the latter purchased from KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V).
With Phs. Van Oumeren backing, Schreiner Airways, in 1964, enters the charter market in competiton with Martin Air Charters, N. V. Regional flights are undertaken with a leased Fokker F.27 and a DC-7. Over the next two years the fleet will be increased by the addition of two more Friendships and another DC-7.
Following tough struggles in the nonscheduled market, Schreiner Airways, B. V. briefly expires in 1967, but is revived as part of a Scheiner Aviation Group, with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.) holding minority ownership. With the DC-7s and Friendships removed, Schreiner begins to concentrate on the provision of contract services with small fixed-wing planes and helicopters. Company assistance is provided to the joint-venture company Indonesia Air Transport later in the year and in 1968 a National Flight School is begun. In 1969, Schreiner enters into a joint venture with British European Airways Helicopters, Ltd. for the operation of Sikorsky S-61Ns in the North Sea area. The 25th anniversary is celebrated in 1970. Out in Indonesia, Indonesia Air Transport begins to provide contract flights for the U. S. oil company Petrolane.
Flights continue apace during the next 15 years as Schreiner concentrates on the development of domestic and international charter and contract services, with particular emphasis on helicopters in overseas work, with and without joint ventures or other affiliations. Operations are conducted by two major departments: flight (fixed-wing aircraft) and flight (rotary-wing or helicopters). A subsidiary, Schreiner Aircraft Maintenance, is also formed.
Highlights of service in these years include the initiation in 1974 of de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter flights in Malaysia in partnership with a local subsidiary, Wira Kris Schreiner. In 1976, the Qatar Flying Center is begun and three years later, two Aerospatiale SA-365N Dauphins are operated in Chile on behalf of Servio Aero Litoral, S. A. The subsidiary Schreiner Airtaxi Argentina, S. A. initiates service offshore from the Straits of Magellan in 1981, employing a pair of SA-365Ns.
In 1983, two Aerospatiale AS-350s begin flying for City Services, Inc., a joint venture with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.) in Manila. An AS-355 is sent to Spain during the year to begin flying offshore on behalf of Helicsa, S. A., in which Schreiner takes a minority equity stake.
Three de Havilland Canada DHC-7s are leased for three years to THY Turkish Airlines (Turk Hava Yollari, A. O.). Also during this year, an SA-330J Puma helicopter is sent to Bombay Airport to fly energy support missions for India’s Oil and Natural Gas Commission.
In 1984, Twin Otter flights are begun along the Chinese coast in support of energy exploration work. The services are flown under contract to CAAC (The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China). At Rotterdam the following year, Schreiner Airways and KLM He-likopters, B. V. establish a joint venture operation named Airspeed He-likopters Rotterdam, B. V. Schreiner and KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.) simultaneously open the fifty-fifty joint venture pilot training concern Friendship Simulation Company, B. V. One SA-365N Dauphin is leased to KLM Helikopters, B. V. in 1986.
By 1987, the fleet has grown to comprise fixed-wing aircraft like de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, Beech King Airs, Piper Navajo Chieftains, Piper Aztecs, and BN-2 Islanders as well as such rotarywinged units as Sikorsky S-61Ns, S-58Ts, Aerospatiale SA-330J Pumas, Alouettes, SA-365N Dauphins, and AS-350B Ecureuils.
Schreiner Airways Group reports a $780,000 loss in 1988. In 1989, Schreiner joins with Zimex, Ltd. of Switzerland to form a joint venture concern branded Air Cargo Europe, B. V. ACE undertakes contract flights on behalf of KLM Cargo employing a single Lockheed L-382 Hercules freighter. The previous year’s loss becomes a $780,000 profit.
In 1990, Director B. Biemans’s oversees 1 AS-355F Ecureuil II, 4 SA-365C/N Dauphin 2s (3 of which are leased to Aero Contractors of Nigeria), 1 Beech Super King Air 200, 1 Bell 206B JetRanger, 1 DHC-6-300 (which is leased to Aero Contractors of Nigeria), 1 DHC-8-102, 2 DHC-8-301s (1 of which undertakes replacement flights for Sabena Belgian World Airlines, S. A.), 4 Fokker F.27s (1 each, Dash-300, Dash-400, Dash-500, and Dash-600), and 1 Lockheed L-382G Hercules freighter.
Another DHC-8-301 is acquired in 1991 to fly services on behalf of the Belgian flag carrier. The fleet in 1992 includes the 4 Friendships, 3 DHC-8-311s, 1DHC-8-102, 1 Twin Otter, the King Air, and 13 Dauphin 2 helicopters. In November, the Dauphins complete their 100,000th flight hour and revenues for the year are $100 million.
Evert van Schalk is president in 1993 and oversees a workforce of 450. The company continues to operate a large fleet on behalf of leading airlines and in support of international oil exploration. The number of DHC-8-311s is increased to five. The new aircraft is immediately leased to Sabena Belgian World Airlines, S. A., which employs it to inaugurate four-times-per-day scheduled flights from Brussels to London (LCY), replacing those previously operated by Brymon Airways, Ltd.
A 33.3% interest is purchased by Malaysian Helicopter Services Sdn. Bhd. in April for M$13 million ($5 million). Of the total shares purchased, 28.3% of the are acquired from founder Robert Schreiner (who keeps a token 5%), and the remainder from other shareholders, including KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.).
Operations continue apace in 1994 as two more DHC-8-311s are placed into service. The company’s fiftieth anniversary is celebrated in 1995. During the year, the company acquires a 49% equity stake in the regional airline Air Excel Commuter, B. V. In 1996, President van Schalk’s mixed fleet of fixed - and rotary-wing aircraft continues to operate on behalf of leading international oil companies and other air carriers. The other units of Schreiner Aviation Group include Aerocontrac-tors of Nigeria and Schreiner Aircraft Maintenance.
Airline employment in 1997 stands at 214 and the fleet includes 11 Aerospatiale SA-365C/N Dauphin IIs, 1 each Aerospatiale AS-355F Ecureuil II and Bell 206B JetRanger, 4 Twin Otters, 3 DHC-8-102s, 7 DHC-8-311s, and 1 BAe (HS) 125 bizjet.
Having decided to concentrate on its core business of offshore support, on September 1 Schreiner purchases the 51% controlling interest in KLM ERA Helikopters, B. V. held by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V. The remaining shares are held by the Rowan Co. via its subsidiary ERA Aviation. The purchase includes six Sikorsky S-61Ns and five S-76Bs. The acquisition will be reformed into Schreiner North Sea Helicopters, B. V. and operate within the Netherlands and British offshore market.
On November 26, Mrs. A. Jorritsma, Minister of Transport of the Netherlands, presides over ceremonies opening the new head offices of Schreiner Aviation Group at Hoofddorp. On December 10, it is announced that the board has authorized merger discussions with Air Holland, N. V.
Airline employment stands at 403 in 1998 and the fleet includes 3 DHC-8-102s, 6 DHC-8-311s, 1 Fokker 50, and 1 Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules freighter.
During the first quarter of 1999, the decision is taken to enhance the company’s all-cargo replacement services flown on behalf of other European airlines. Three converted A300B4-203s are requested from C-S
Aviation Services, which promises to deliver them upon their conversion into freighters at BAe Aviation Services, Filton, England. The subsidiary Schreiner Airways Cargo may also operate one of the new freighters on its own account.
The first A300B4-203F is received at the end of May and enters service on intra-European routes on June 1, flying on behalf of KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.). As the others arrive, they too begin to fly on behalf of KLM, Sabena Belgian World Airlines, S. A., etc. All of these services will be operated on an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) contract basis.
On January 28, 2000, Canadian Helicopter Corporation (CHC)
Sells its 33% stake in Helicsa, S. A. to its other major partners, Heli-coptereros, S. A. and Schriener Airways, B. V., for C$6.8 million.
Arrangements are completed with Sabena Belgian World Airlines, N. V. under which Schriener will operate a DHC-8-102 on Sabena’s service from Brussels to Sheffield. The wet-leased turboprop, painted in full Sabena colors, is delivered on January 25. The turboprop begins its Sabena flights, thrice-weekdays and once on Sunday, at the end of the month.
When the third A300B4-203F arrives at the beginning of May, it is sent to Liege Airport to an ACMI contract on behalf of TNT Airways,
B. V. The subsidiary Schreiner Airways Cargo retains for itself a single A200B4-203F, which begins twice-weekly (weekend) freight roundtrips on July 1 on a route from London (STN) to Istanbul via Amsterdam.
World History
