Flightline was an airline based in Southend-on-Sea, England. It operated branded wet lease, ad hoc and contract passenger and freight charter services, as well as VIP flights and aircraft sales and maintenance. Sub-services were flown for major airlines in Europe as required. Its main bases' were London Southend Airport.[1]
The company held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, and was permitted to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[2]
Flightline operated up to 14 flights a day between Aberdeen (ABZ) and Scatsta in the Shetland Isles (SCS) on behalf of Royal Dutch Shell and other members of the IAC (Integrated Aviation Consortium). Offshore workers were flown to Scatsta Airport and then transferred onto helicopters to several oil platforms, however this contract was due to end in February 2009.
Flightline also had a maintenance facility at its Southend base which provided base maintenance for the BAe-146 fleet as well as a small number of 3rd party aircraft. The engineering facility was closed in July 2008 in order to raise more funds to keep the airline running.
At time of closure of the airline in December 2008, they had contracts to operate several services on behalf of British Airways out of London City Airport, and also for the Ford car company from their base at Southend (near the Ford European headquarters) to Cologne, Germany. The MD-80 fleet operated a range of holiday charter flights to the Mediterranean, Manchester being a common departure point. The MD-80 fleet were grounded at Southend in November 2008 due to the lack of business in the winter season. Upon Flightline's demise the airline had debts exceeding £6 Million.
The airline was established in April 1989 and started operations in 1990. Initially it had two Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft (G-OFLT and G-FLTY) which operated mail and small parcel flights from Southend. It began jet operations in March 1992 operating on behalf of independent tour operator Palmair from Bournemouth until 1999. In November 2001 it took over the contract (previously operated by British World Airlines) between Aberdeen and Scatsta, transporting oil rig workers.
In August 2007, a Flightline plane operating from Lisbon, Portugal to Dublin, Ireland had to make an emergency go-around after the pilot mistook the lights of a local hotel for the runway and proceeded on approach towards it. The aircraft only diverted from its approach towards the 16 story hotel after being alerted to his mistake by Air Traffic Control.[3]
The company was placed into administration on 3 December 2008.[4]
flightline, airline, racehorse, flightline, horse, flightline, airline, based, southend, england, operated, branded, lease, contract, passenger, freight, charter, services, well, flights, aircraft, sales, maintenance, services, were, flown, major, airlines, eu. For the racehorse see Flightline horse Flightline was an airline based in Southend on Sea England It operated branded wet lease ad hoc and contract passenger and freight charter services as well as VIP flights and aircraft sales and maintenance Sub services were flown for major airlines in Europe as required Its main bases were London Southend Airport 1 FlightlineIATA ICAO Callsign B5 FLT FLIGHTLINEFounded1989Ceased operations3 December 2008HubsLondon Southend AirportFleet size11Destinations16HeadquartersLondon Southend Airport United KingdomKey peopleAlan Trotter Gareth Evans Kevin Callan Phil The company held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence and was permitted to carry passengers cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats 2 Flightline operated up to 14 flights a day between Aberdeen ABZ and Scatsta in the Shetland Isles SCS on behalf of Royal Dutch Shell and other members of the IAC Integrated Aviation Consortium Offshore workers were flown to Scatsta Airport and then transferred onto helicopters to several oil platforms however this contract was due to end in February 2009 Flightline also had a maintenance facility at its Southend base which provided base maintenance for the BAe 146 fleet as well as a small number of 3rd party aircraft The engineering facility was closed in July 2008 in order to raise more funds to keep the airline running At time of closure of the airline in December 2008 they had contracts to operate several services on behalf of British Airways out of London City Airport and also for the Ford car company from their base at Southend near the Ford European headquarters to Cologne Germany The MD 80 fleet operated a range of holiday charter flights to the Mediterranean Manchester being a common departure point The MD 80 fleet were grounded at Southend in November 2008 due to the lack of business in the winter season Upon Flightline s demise the airline had debts exceeding 6 Million Contents 1 History 2 Destinations 2 1 Africa 2 2 Europe 3 Fleet 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe airline was established in April 1989 and started operations in 1990 Initially it had two Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft G OFLT and G FLTY which operated mail and small parcel flights from Southend It began jet operations in March 1992 operating on behalf of independent tour operator Palmair from Bournemouth until 1999 In November 2001 it took over the contract previously operated by British World Airlines between Aberdeen and Scatsta transporting oil rig workers In August 2007 a Flightline plane operating from Lisbon Portugal to Dublin Ireland had to make an emergency go around after the pilot mistook the lights of a local hotel for the runway and proceeded on approach towards it The aircraft only diverted from its approach towards the 16 story hotel after being alerted to his mistake by Air Traffic Control 3 The company was placed into administration on 3 December 2008 4 Destinations edit nbsp A Flightline BAe 146 300 landing at Heathrow Airport England 2004 nbsp A Flightline MD 83 parked at London Southend Airport England 2007 Africa edit Egypt Marsa Alam Marsa Alam International Airport Sharm el Sheikh Sharm el Sheikh International Airport Europe edit France Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Germany Cologne Bonn Cologne Bonn Airport Italy Milan Malpensa International Airport Venice Venice Marco Polo Airport Ireland Dublin Dublin Airport Netherlands Rotterdam Rotterdam Airport Spain Gran Canaria Gran Canaria Airport Lanzarote Lanzarote Airport Tenerife Tenerife South Airport Switzerland Zurich Zurich Airport United Kingdom England Birmingham Birmingham Airport London London City Airport Southend on Sea London Southend Airport Base Scotland Aberdeen Aberdeen Airport Edinburgh Edinburgh Airport Lerwick Scatsta AirportFleet editThe Flightline fleet consisted of the following aircraft at July 2008 5 Flightline Fleet Aircraft Total BAe 146 8 McDonnell Douglas MD 83 3See also editList of defunct airlines of the United KingdomReferences edit Directory World Airlines Flight International 3 April 2007 p 82 Operating Licence Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine Incident Report PDF Archived from the original PDF on 16 July 2011 Retrieved 8 November 2010 Tait Jim 5 December 2008 Eastern takes over early as Flightline goes bust The Shetland Times Retrieved 30 June 2011 UK CAA Aircraft RegisterExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flightline Portals nbsp United Kingdom nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flightline airline amp oldid 1206818698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
