British Airways Helicopters

British Airways Helicopters was a British helicopter airline from 1964 to 1986.

History

From 1947 British European Airways had operated a Helicopter Experiment Unit and five helicopters were ordered from the United States (three Sikorsky S-51s and two Bell 47s). The unit operated mail and passenger services.

A separate company was formed in 1964 as BEA Helicopters Limited and operated the first service between Penzance and the Scilly Islands on 1 May 1964 with a Sikorsky S-61. The airline later expanded into offshore oil support flights from July 1965. Operations from Aberdeen started in July 1967 and in 1971 from Sumburgh. With the change of name of the parent on the 31 March 1974 the airline was renamed British Airways Helicopters. In 1981 the airline bought five Boeing 234 Chinooks for use on the offshore oil support flights.

In 1986 the airline was sold by British Airways to the Robert Maxwell's Maxwell Aviation and renamed British International Helicopters. The succesor company is still operating the Penzance to Isle of Scilly route forty years later.

Aircraft operated

• 1964-1986 Sikorsky S-61
• 1968-1984 Agusta-Bell 206 JetRanger
• 1974-1981 Sikorsky S-58T
• 1978-1983 Bell 212
• 1980-1986 Boeing 234
• 1981-1976 Sikorsky S-76
• 1982-1986 Westland 30
• 1983-1986 Aerospatiale AS.332L Super Puma

Helicopter Experimental Unit

• Bell 47
• Bristol 171
• Sikorsky S-61
• Westland Sikorsky WS-55 (Helicopter Experimental Unit)

Accidents and incidents

• On 11 March 1983 a Sikorsky S-61N (G-ASNL) crashed in the North Sea, north east of Aberdeen. All crew and passengers were rescued but the helicopter sank and had to be recovered from the sea bed.
• On 16 July 1983 a Sikorsky S-61N (G-BEON) crashed on approach to St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly with the loss of 19 passengers and one crew member.
• In 2 May 1984 Boeing 234 (G-BISO) crashed in the East Shetland Basin of the North Sea, north west of the Cormorant Alpha Rig. All crew and passengers were rescued by other helicopters and boats. Although not damaged in the accident the helicopter was written off after floating upside down in the sea for 9 hours.

References

• Competition Commission Report
• Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam.
• Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam.