Secret Life of the Airport BBC4

Yeah it was a great show. I particularly enjoyed it for the same reasons as you, ren frew. I liked the footage of the young lads heads turning as the aircraft climbed into the sky. Reminded me of when you could go past Heathrow and see families spending days out watching planes, nowadays it just seems to be photographers and spotters.

When I saw the boys in the ’50s plane spotting on top of the Queens Building…I couldn’t help of think some forum members may ahve been there!! :diablo:

I watched the surviving a crash documentary too, I couldnt help notice that they didnt really give proper facts to the cause of the crashes – such as the eithiopian that ran out of fuel, they conveniently forgot to add the part that there was the problem of some hijackers onboard requesting to be flown to Australia.. :rolleyes:

Absolutely, or the China Airlines which they used an example of everyone escaping from a water accident, despite the fact the blasted thing only rolled backwards into the sea!

Yeah it was a great show. I particularly enjoyed it for the same reasons as you, ren frew. I liked the footage of the young lads heads turning as the aircraft climbed into the sky. Reminded me of when you could go past Heathrow and see families spending days out watching planes, nowadays it just seems to be photographers and spotters.

I watched the surviving a crash documentary too, I couldnt help notice that they didnt really give proper facts to the cause of the crashes – such as the eithiopian that ran out of fuel, they conveniently forgot to add the part that there was the problem of some hijackers onboard requesting to be flown to Australia.. :rolleyes:

Another great show tonight. 😎

I particularly enjoyed the notion that airports in the 50’s were magical places, where people would gather to enjoy the glamour of air travel, to marvel at the variety of far off destinations available on the departure boards, to gasp in wonder at the exotically dressed ladies from foreign lands and as young boys to stand atop the terminal buildings to ‘spot’ the aircraft as they came and went…:)

More or less sums up my appreciation of commercial aviation and travel perfectly. 😀

Some of us are old enough to remember the Suckling Airways “40 Minutes” program from the first time it was shown!!! 🙁

Andy

Indeed we are Andy…:D

I flew Cambridge-Manchester two or three times with Suckling and after one fairly hairy X-wind landing in Manchester the hostie, (I think it was Sue off the programme) rushed up to the front with a picture of a daffodil. When I asked her what it was all about she told me that they gave the captain the picture with the comment “You planted it, now you can grow it!”. You don’t get that sort of fun on BA. And the food was excellent and no nonsense with those ‘orrible little bottles of wine. No, the lovely Sue would bring round the whole bottle and keep you topped up. Not that you could drink too much in the 35 minutes it took form Manchester to Cambridge but we did try!. I had heard that Roy Sucking had died and I was rather surprised that the BBC didn’t mention it after the programme finished. The second programme was made in 2006 and he died in early 2008 I believe.

Some of us are old enough to remember the Suckling Airways “40 Minutes” program from the first time it was shown!!! 🙁

Andy

Yeah that guy doing his 100th flight with them didnt seem to be very pleased nor appreciate the attention. :rolleyes:

I also didnt realise Roy Suckling died neither. How very sad as he seemed like a nice bloke. 🙁

A good evenings viewing. Nice to see Aviation feature for more that half an hour. I too really enjoyed the Suckling Airways feature. Had to laugh at the guy who had unbeknown to him taken 100 flights with them. Looked like he was getting pretty miffed at standing out in the rain to get his photo taken and being told “stand here” “hold this” “try and smile sir”.

No, they are still Scott Airways. I believe most of their fleet is currently in AF/Cityjet livery though as they operate subcharters for them.

Have just checked on Wiki and this appears to be the latest…

On 18 September, 2006 it was announced that Ann Gloag and Brian Souter had sold their combined stakes in the airline to Roy and Merlyn Suckling.

On 26 March, 2007, ScotAirways became a partner airline to the brand new ‘CityJet for Air France’ concept which took to the skies from London City Airport. ScotAirways operated its existing services to Edinburgh and Dundee as codeshare services with Air France, and in addition launched new services to George Best Belfast City Airport, Strasbourg and Eindhoven from London City Airport on behalf of CityJet for Air France. On the 10 August 2007 ScotAirways ceased operations on the Southampton-Amsterdam route, and the route to Belfast was discontinued in Spring of 2008.

Some of the fleet were repainted in the Cityjet livery and are used principally from London City, while other’s retain the Scot livery and are first choice for the executive charters under ScotAirway’s own brand.

In November 2007 ScotAirway’s began providing ACMI lease services for Channel Islands airline Blue Islands. One Dornier 328 was painted in the Blue Islands livery and now operates routes from Jersey Airport to Geneva Airport and Zurich Airport.

Roy Suckling died in late January 2008. His contribution to the airline industry was recognised by many pilots who had started their careers with his airline and had then moved onto operate larger aircraft at internationally known carriers like British Airways.

Hadn’t realised Roy Suckling passed away last year, condolences to Merlyn and family.

They became Scot Airways for several years after investment from Scottish ‘Stagecoach Buses’ tycoon, Brian Soutar. I think they went back to being Suckling or indeed ‘SA’ a few years ago…?

No, they are still Scott Airways. I believe most of their fleet is currently in AF/Cityjet livery though as they operate subcharters for them.

I throught the Suckings airways doc was really interesting.

Have they been blown out of the water by the big companies yet?

They became Scot Airways for several years after investment from Scottish ‘Stagecoach Buses’ tycoon, Brian Soutar. I think they went back to being Suckling or indeed ‘SA’ a few years ago…?

Cal900
It does indeed seem that they are still happily transporting passengers!

Very good programmes, particularly enjoyed the footage of Croydon airport in the 1930’s. Some glimpses of my old flat, the Hendon Aerodrome Hotel then Officers Mess in the programme about Hendon

I thought it was pretty good. Had some nice old footage!
Also watched the documentries on Hendon and Suckling airways too.

I throught the Suckings airways doc was really interesting.

Have they been blown out of the water by the big companies yet?

I thought it was pretty good. Had some nice old footage!
Also watched the documentries on Hendon and Suckling airways too.

Should this be up on iplayer do you think? If so I’ll save it for one of my night shifts this week…

Yip, it ought to be…

Should this be up on iplayer do you think? If so I’ll save it for one of my night shifts this week…

Just started and some nice footage so far…

Thank heavens for series link….my HDD will run off and find the new time itself since I won’t be home before it starts.

Secret Life of an Airport BBC4

Pt I is on tonight on BBC4 2100BST as part of an aviation special from 1930 onwards