Dakota DC3 G-AMHJ (13468) was owned and operated in early 1974 by Macedonian Aviation for both Site Aviation and themselves. It was acquired from British Island Airways together with G-AMRA and these machines were in convertible passenger-cargo configuration and were placed in service on the Aberdeen-Sumburgh (Shetlands) route with a scheduled service in conjunction with BEA.

Macedonian Aviation was formed in 1972 to operate passenger and cargo charter flights from Southend airport and their managing director was Roger Byron-Collins and the Chief Pilot/General Manager was Harry Chang. Their fleet comprised 5 Dakota DC-3 and one DH104 Dove.

Macedonian was initially based at Luton airport operating under McAlpine Aviation’s AOC until they secured their own AOC. In September 1972 they acquired from BAC their Filton based DC3 G-AMPO and commercial charter began operations on November 5, with a passenger flight from Southend to Rotterdam. Freight charters were also undertaken, amongst which was a series of movements to Brussels and Saarbrücken. 1973 proved very busy for this emergent airline, with passenger and cargo flights to numerous destinations around the UK and Europe many for Conoco oil company ranging as far afield as Bergen, Malta and Libya. Occasional scheduled services were also carried out on behalf of Intra Airways.
In December 1973, Macedonian’s opened a facility in Aberdeen to undertake a series of oil-rig support sub-charters on behalf of Site Aviation. Developing business in this area warranted the purchase of additional aircraft. The original Dakota operated primarily from Southend on ad-hoc charters, which took it to such European destinations as Lisbon and Gibraltar as well as the near Continent.
From April 1974, Macedonian became a scheduled operator for a second time when it took over the Rotterdam-Le Havre service of Maastricht-based Limburg Airlines.
Fleet List:
Douglas C-47A/B Dakota: G-AMHJ (13468), G-AMPO (16437/33185), G-AMPZ (16124/32872) Intra Airways 11/12.73, G-AMRA (15290/26735), G-AMSV (16072/32820) DH.104 Dove 6: G-APZU (04511)[ATTACH=CONFIG]231483[/ATTACH]

I flew on Dakota G-AMHJ twice in 1974 whilst it was operated by Macedonian Aviation. The first time was out of Southend to Groningen and the second out of Aberdeen to the Shetlands. I flew on 3 of the Macedonian Daks – they were certainly a pioneering airline for the 1970s. Shame these small independents didn’t survive during that era.[ATTACH=CONFIG]231867[/ATTACH]