LTNman I've really no idea why the 748s were replaced by the Heralds. I suspect that Autair purchased the Heralds as a cheap job lot (Too good a bargain to miss my boy, know wot I mean!) and already had several pilots with the Herald on their licence who included Hazel Hazelden ex Chief Test Pilot of Handley Page. (I could rabbit on here about the number of graduates from the ETPS that Autair employed but some other time).
When the Heralds first arrived at Luton they were in pretty poor condition after a hard life on BEA's Highlands and Islands and were completely refurbished by Autair's engineers.
Perhaps the Company decided, probably quite rightly that they could make more money by operating IT Charters with the 748s and leasing them out rather than operating them on scheduled services which were not very profitable. The Herald having fewer seats and being perhaps less versatile in respect of IT Charters.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 18th Nov 2016 at 19:09.