Engineering Relief
Bristows providing a relief aircraft, only over our dead bodies. To say there was "healthy rivalry" between BAH and Bristows would be an understatement. Generally the Airlink would go into extended maintenance as one of the BAH oilrig support aircraft came out. That being nice and clean would stay at Gatwick to provide cover until the Airlink came back on line and then go off to Aberdeen, Sumburgh or Beccles
Without sounding too "company" it was a very good team. Partly because it was a very unusual operation for the UK with few similarities to the Penzance service but also because it was very publicly visible so we got some good facilities right down to bright white overalls with "British Airways" across the back as that was the only place BA had to show their involvement. It also meant it had a high level of engineering cover so there were very few "incidents"
Old's comment about working for BAA did remind me of their childrens christmas party. As the BAA owned the aircraft they asked us to deliver Father Christmas one year, picking him up from the airport and dropping him at the Beehive. From our viewpoint we saw the aircraft go below the treeline out of sight but we could still hear it clearly. We heard the engines and the rotor spin up for lift off but no aircraft came to view, then it did come up like a cork out of a bottle. It turned out that while FC was walking off the pilot wound the rotors up to full throttle but with no collective. Once the door was shut but before the cabin crew girls could get to their seats the pilot put on full collective leaving the girls in an inelegant heap on the floor. After it shut down on the pan we could see them beating up the pilots all the way back to the office. Needless to say Bishop Bill did not see the funny side!