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In May 1952, BOAC became the first airline to introduce a [[passenger jet]], the [[de Havilland Comet]]. All Comet 1 aircraft were grounded in April 1954 after four Comets crashed, the last two being BOAC aircraft. Investigators discovered serious structural cracks caused by [[metal fatigue]] due to the repeated [[pressurization]] and depressurization of the aircraft as they ascended and descended. While rectifying this problem, [[de Havilland]] engineers improved the Comet in many ways and improved its range, creating the Series 4. In 1958, BOAC used the new Comets to become the first airline to fly jet passenger services across the Atlantic.
In May 1952, BOAC became the first airline to introduce a [[passenger jet]], the [[de Havilland Comet]]. All Comet 1 aircraft were grounded in April 1954 after four Comets crashed, the last two being BOAC aircraft. Investigators discovered serious structural cracks caused by [[metal fatigue]] due to the repeated [[pressurization]] and depressurization of the aircraft as they ascended and descended. While rectifying this problem, [[de Havilland]] engineers improved the Comet in many ways and improved its range, creating the Series 4. In 1958, BOAC used the new Comets to become the first airline to fly jet passenger services across the Atlantic.


During the 1950s and 1960s, BOAC flew the Bristol Britannia and Comet but these aircraft were not competitive so in October [[1956]] they ordered 15 [[Boeing 707]]s which entered service in 1960. Sir Giles Guthrie, who took charge of BOAC in 1964, preferred the Boeing aircraft for economic reasons, and indeed BOAC began turning a profit in the late 1960s. The preference for US-made aircraft caused a political row in [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]], however, and the government ordered BOAC to purchase 17 [[Vickers VC-10]] aircraft from a 30-aircraft order which Guthrie had cancelled.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,836920,00.html Brickbats at BOAC], ''TIME'', March 24, 1967.</ref> However the VC-10 had somewhat higher operating costs than the 707, largely as a result of BOAC's own demands for the aircraft to have excellent "hot and high" performance.
During the 1950s and 1960s, BOAC flew the Bristol Britannia and Comet but these aircraft were not competitive so in October [[1956]] they ordered 15 [[Boeing 707]]s which entered service in 1960. Sir Giles Guthrie, who took charge of BOAC in 1964, preferred the Boeing aircraft for economic reasons, and indeed BOAC began turning a profit in the late 1960s. The preference for US-made aircraft caused a political row in [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]], however, and the government ordered BOAC to purchase 17 [[Vickers VC-10]] aircraft from a 30-aircraft order which Guthrie had cancelled.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,836920,00.html Brickbats at BOAC], ''TIME'', March 24, 1967.</ref> However the VC-10 had somewhat higher operating costs than the 707, largely as a result of BOAC's own demands for the aircraft to have excellent [[hot and high]] performance.


BOAC later became the largest Boeing customer outside North America. The next major order of Boeing aircraft was for 11 [[Boeing 747|747-100s]]. BOAC received its first 747 on [[April 22]], [[1970]] but due to [[strike action]] by the [[British Air Line Pilots Association]] the aircraft did not enter commercial service for almost a year, on [[April 14]], [[1971]].
BOAC later became the largest Boeing customer outside North America. The next major order of Boeing aircraft was for 11 [[Boeing 747|747-100s]]. BOAC received its first 747 on [[April 22]], [[1970]] but due to [[strike action]] by the [[British Air Line Pilots Association]] the aircraft did not enter commercial service for almost a year, on [[April 14]], [[1971]].

Revision as of 21:20, 15 August 2008

British Overseas Airways Corporation
IndustryAirline
Founded1939
Defunct1971
FateMerged with British European Airways
Headquarters United Kingdom

The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd. Following an Act of Parliament in 1971, BOAC was merged with British European Airways in 1974 to form British Airways.

History

During the 1930s, 1940s and until November 1950 Imperial Airways and then BOAC operated flying boat services from Southampton to colonial possessions in Africa and Asia. Aircraft such as the Short Empire and Short S.8 Calcutta flying boat, transport passengers and mail.

As well as training pilots in the UK, BOAC operated a tropical training school in Soroti, North East Uganda.

The breakup

The Civil Aviation Act of 1946 led to the demerger of two divisions of BOAC to form three separate corporations:

In July 1949, British South America Airways was merged back into BOAC.

Introduction of jets

After technical problems with the Comet, BOAC resumed jet service with imported Boeing 707s
The Vickers VC-10 was developed for BOAC. Many of the airline's requirements for operability from hot and high airfields made the VC-10 unsuitable for North American carriers

In May 1952, BOAC became the first airline to introduce a passenger jet, the de Havilland Comet. All Comet 1 aircraft were grounded in April 1954 after four Comets crashed, the last two being BOAC aircraft. Investigators discovered serious structural cracks caused by metal fatigue due to the repeated pressurization and depressurization of the aircraft as they ascended and descended. While rectifying this problem, de Havilland engineers improved the Comet in many ways and improved its range, creating the Series 4. In 1958, BOAC used the new Comets to become the first airline to fly jet passenger services across the Atlantic.

During the 1950s and 1960s, BOAC flew the Bristol Britannia and Comet but these aircraft were not competitive so in October 1956 they ordered 15 Boeing 707s which entered service in 1960. Sir Giles Guthrie, who took charge of BOAC in 1964, preferred the Boeing aircraft for economic reasons, and indeed BOAC began turning a profit in the late 1960s. The preference for US-made aircraft caused a political row in Parliament, however, and the government ordered BOAC to purchase 17 Vickers VC-10 aircraft from a 30-aircraft order which Guthrie had cancelled.[1] However the VC-10 had somewhat higher operating costs than the 707, largely as a result of BOAC's own demands for the aircraft to have excellent hot and high performance.

BOAC later became the largest Boeing customer outside North America. The next major order of Boeing aircraft was for 11 747-100s. BOAC received its first 747 on April 22, 1970 but due to strike action by the British Air Line Pilots Association the aircraft did not enter commercial service for almost a year, on April 14, 1971.

In 1962, BOAC and Cunard formed BOAC-Cunard Ltd to operate scheduled services to North America, the Caribbean and South America. The operation was dissolved in 1966.

Dissolution

On September 1, 1972, the British Airways Board was formed, a holding board that controlled BOAC and BEA. On March 31, 1974, both the BOAC and BEA were dissolved and their operations merged to form British Airways.

BOAC would have become one of the first operators of the Concorde had it not merged to become British Airways. BA's Concordes carried registrations of G-BOAA through G-BOAG. The first Concorde delivered to British Airways was actually registered G-BOAC.

Aircraft operated

Incidents

  • Evolutions of the BOAC logo inherited from Imperial Airways, the Speedbird, continue to be used as the logo for British Airways, and continues to be used as BA's call sign.

References

  1. ^ Brickbats at BOAC, TIME, March 24, 1967.
  2. ^ Goss, Christopher H. (2001). Bloody Biscay: The History of V Gruppe/Kampfgeschwader 40. Manchester: Crécy Publishing. pp. 50–56. ISBN 0-947554-87-4.
  3. ^ N/461. "Howard & Churchill". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Special Report: British Overseas Airline Company Flight 712. AirDisaster.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
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