Bye Bye BY
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,121
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From: Milton Keynes
Bye Bye BY
I imagine that in the next couple of days, the Britannia call sign will be no more.
As an outsider are there any events to mark this? As a non professional pilot, BY first took me into the air (G-ANBO, 1968) and have been a constant in my life since my interest in aviation began at Luton in 1968.
Only Monarch left now, amongst the operators there then, and probably the only continuity at all (except the Speedbird callsign) in British aviation.
Anyone know what the last BY call sign flight will be?
As an outsider are there any events to mark this? As a non professional pilot, BY first took me into the air (G-ANBO, 1968) and have been a constant in my life since my interest in aviation began at Luton in 1968.
Only Monarch left now, amongst the operators there then, and probably the only continuity at all (except the Speedbird callsign) in British aviation.
Anyone know what the last BY call sign flight will be?
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21
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From: England
In view of 22/04's reference to Britannia starting at Luton in 1968, I wonder if anyone would be interested in a touch of nostalgia about their earlier life as Euravia. The airline started in 1962 and I was lucky enough to be on Constellation flight EY 015 from Luton to Marco Polo Venice at 11a.m. on Sat Sept 15th of that year. I was 17 years old and VERY excited at the prospect of my first flight. The Skytours holiday brochure [later featuring Kenneth Horne from " Round the Horn"] described the Connie as " a beauty glistening blue and white ". She was certainly a beauty to my eyes!
Luton was essentially a collection of wooden sheds and I am almost sure I remember being allowed to sit on the grass outside and look at gliders whilst waiting to go. I am quite sure I remember a "Woolworth style" scale to check the baggage allowance and I recall walking through a timber outside covered walkway to get to the immigration desk. Another world it was! After all this was 10 years before Luton upgraded to the cavas marquee used for Court Line [nostalgia again!] departures from which I remember boarding dazzlingly coloured 111's and Tristars.
AAh...happy days indeed.
Sorry to see the Britannia name go the same way as Orion. Oh well, onwards and upwards I suppose.
Regards from Euravia First.
Luton was essentially a collection of wooden sheds and I am almost sure I remember being allowed to sit on the grass outside and look at gliders whilst waiting to go. I am quite sure I remember a "Woolworth style" scale to check the baggage allowance and I recall walking through a timber outside covered walkway to get to the immigration desk. Another world it was! After all this was 10 years before Luton upgraded to the cavas marquee used for Court Line [nostalgia again!] departures from which I remember boarding dazzlingly coloured 111's and Tristars.
AAh...happy days indeed.
Sorry to see the Britannia name go the same way as Orion. Oh well, onwards and upwards I suppose.
Regards from Euravia First.
Last edited by Euravia First; 28th April 2006 at 10:01.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 341
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From: Bedford
The Britannia name was adopted not in 1968 but 1964. (August 16 to be precise). The airline then known as Euravia had just acquired some Britannia 100 series. It was felt that the name 'Euravia' was too European at a time when things European were not popular - I think De Gaulle had not long said 'Non!' to UK entry into the Common Market.
The company's owner couldn't believe their luck that such a strongly British sounding name as Britannia was available for use.
It's a very sad to hear that the name is being dropped. I'm sure though that the spirit of Britannia will live on amongst it's employees - some of the finest airline professionals, across the different trades and skills, to be found in any organisation world-wide.
...and don't get me started on that Tsetse-Fly name!
The company's owner couldn't believe their luck that such a strongly British sounding name as Britannia was available for use.
It's a very sad to hear that the name is being dropped. I'm sure though that the spirit of Britannia will live on amongst it's employees - some of the finest airline professionals, across the different trades and skills, to be found in any organisation world-wide.
...and don't get me started on that Tsetse-Fly name!
Last edited by oncemorealoft; 28th April 2006 at 13:34.
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Exactly why are they changing the R / T callsign. OK easy to understand the rational for Thomsonfly as a brand name but as a callsign? Come on.
FlyBe still use Jersey.
BA are still Speedbird.
No need to lose such an identifiable and evocative part of one's identity.
Unless you are a dynamic and forward looking career minded half wit in a suit......
FlyBe still use Jersey.
BA are still Speedbird.
No need to lose such an identifiable and evocative part of one's identity.
Unless you are a dynamic and forward looking career minded half wit in a suit......
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
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From: West Yorkshire
probably thomson or thomsonfly at a guess
When BY was in its colour scheme before the horrid blue colour, IMO, it was the best looking UK airline in the skies, the livery was superb! sadly times change, but it will always be Britannia to me.
A fond farewell and a sight surely missed.
When BY was in its colour scheme before the horrid blue colour, IMO, it was the best looking UK airline in the skies, the livery was superb! sadly times change, but it will always be Britannia to me.
A fond farewell and a sight surely missed.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 966
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From: NE ENGLAND
Originally Posted by Groundloop
Maybe a slight misunderstanding somewhere.
22/04s reference was HIS first flight was with BY in 1968. Euravia became Britannia in 1964.
22/04s reference was HIS first flight was with BY in 1968. Euravia became Britannia in 1964.
You NEVER foget an experience such as that in a lifetime !
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Up the front
Originally Posted by ServisairLBA
When BY was in its colour scheme before the horrid blue colour, IMO, it was the best looking UK airline in the skies, the livery was superb! sadly times change, but it will always be Britannia to me.
A fond farewell and a sight surely missed.
A fond farewell and a sight surely missed.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,121
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From: Milton Keynes
byw
Thanks LGWCREW. Euravia first, London Gliding Club used to send people on their first aerotow launches form Luton (more spce than Dunstable if things went wrong) so you could well have been watching gliders.
Indeed sadly missed as will be the BY***aB BY***B flight number structure, in use since at least the early 1970s. (there were also some J and Ks then IIRC. I think THOM are using 4 figure flight numbers)
Indeed sadly missed as will be the BY***aB BY***B flight number structure, in use since at least the early 1970s. (there were also some J and Ks then IIRC. I think THOM are using 4 figure flight numbers)
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Isle Du Cyber
The good old days
Went on honey moon with them on the clasic 737 back in the eighties.
Problems comming back due to Spanish ATC.
Although we were on a package we were looked after.
Good luck to the rebrand but as all ways people will remember Britannia being related to rule Britannian Britannia rules the waves, or in this case should read the skies, so the identity of being British is lost to some extant.
Problems comming back due to Spanish ATC.
Although we were on a package we were looked after.
Good luck to the rebrand but as all ways people will remember Britannia being related to rule Britannian Britannia rules the waves, or in this case should read the skies, so the identity of being British is lost to some extant.
I'm Just A Lawnmower
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Over the hills and faraway
I believe they were briefly known as Scabair in the early eighties when they found various dodgy ways of flying during an ATC strike. This was just before I joined ATC. I don't think there are many ATCOs left who bear a grudge, though. 
Whatever, Britannia is a great callsign. A curse on those who decided to drop it.
Whatever, Britannia is a great callsign. A curse on those who decided to drop it.
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
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From: Anderlecht
Met a BY girl on a B737 back in 1972 and married the gal! In the meantime (34 years on) BY have renewed their fleet (several times), while I'm still stuck with the "old" model 