AIA African Intl DC8s

[Saturn]

Can someone tell me the latest on the operation and their 2 DC8 62s?

Thanks

[Iwasoneonce]

Well with oil at $108/barrall and rising I would say quiet an expensive operation.

[411A]

Noticed 'em at COO about a month ago, and spoke to the F/O, and he said they had a lot of business in the works....nice clean aircraft, too.

[Sleeping Freight Dog]

According to recent U.S. DOT filings, AIA has been approved for U.S.
operations. I wonder if the the new aircraft will be used to expand
their service to North America?

[sirloadalot]

Do they still have a old grumpy loady from Kent UK ??

[Spannerman8]

That would be nice. If you do hear anything please let AIA Engineering know cos we are always the last to hear about anything.:confused:

[AAL]

Let alone getting new aircraft, hear theyre again trying their damnest to sell the company.

[Coleman Myers]

Nevermind the grumpy ol loady when are they gonna shake the two old muppets at Crawley :O

[diesel862]

Dear Coleman

You better watch out mate, any negative comments about AIA on here and you get snotty messages from them!!

Anyway, have they had a clearout at AIA HQ? Only two muppets still there lol?

The grumpy loady from Kent is a diamond chap you might be mistaking him for the one that lives near BZZ??

Kind Regards

Vince

[dionysius]

Deisel862 .I see that you still have some personal problems with AIA, at least your last spurious rumour came to nothing or was it just to ferment unrest amongst the staff :=

Hello all
A rumour in OST is that African International have sold or are selling
DC8-62 "ZS-OSI" to Transair cargo to become 9Q-CJG.
:oh:

Maybe you should refrain from putting foot in mouth in future :ok:

Be good and the Muppets wont get you..........;):p

[Coleman Myers]

The muppets are actually top blokes who have kept the men in jobs for a long time so respect to them .. they rank with the Mike Krugers of the Freight Dog world !!!. They are still grumpy though especially Uncle B ..

[altayaara]

AIA still alive and kicking

looking daily into the arrivals of OST ( as I flew there a couple of years ago on B707)
they just came today from Caribbean or South America, with fuelling in Santa Maria (Açores)

The way they maintain these things, they be flying for another 100 years....

[sirloadalot]

best you wear your running shoes the next time that you see him, or better still boxing gloves
Dont think so Ive picked him up off lots of bar floors most in CDG
ALL THE BEST
Fabian Bartez

[ex dog]

By your comments you may have worked for these Guy's in the past or fellow comrades who have , Remember they are operating DC-8'S
Probably only allowed into Ostend , what chance do they have ,the AFRICAN market has dried up ,at the moment !!!!!!!!!!


They have a license to fly to the States but big but , why use an 8 when you can hire a 747/DC-10/A300/ ETC ETC

I'm sorry but it's another Airline falling by the way side because of the Global /infrastrure we all live in,

MR S.....CKS Could have renewed his fleet a long time ago !!!!!!!!!


Ex Dog

[CargoHellraiser]

Ex Dog:

How many A300/DC10/B747 are available within a day for a 3-5 days longhaul charter around the globe? Let me know...really. :rolleyes:

I think they are rather rarely seen at OST, but just about anywhere else these days, because they are bloody busy.
They could drop the "African" from their name and it would be alright.

[brakedwell]

They could drop the "African" from their name and it would be alright.

They could always rename themselves IAS

[ex dog]

Again , it can't happen African International have a place in Cargo History ,just like DAS AIR Cargo ,the world changes too Quickly , we all look at Cargolux, Atlas ,Polar the Giants of the Cargo World ,even more the China Carriers , but this is Dying ,i agree the real BACKBONE of Africa , hope someone will save African International and Das Air


Just my opionion

[AAL]

To all at DAS and AIA - know you are in our prayers to rise above the challenges that the industry presents in these difficult times.

May you soar again!

[dionysius]

AIA are still going strong, one a/c is flying non-stop and will be for the next few weeks, whilst the other is due a B check and has flts after that.

Don,t write them off yet ;);)

Fluffy flyer, we haven,t heard your anti AIA vitrol for quite a while. still having problems finding a life :=

:ok::ok:

[ex dog]

Lets just hope the Bird keeps Flying , skies all over would not be the same without a DC-8 ,Whether good or bad

[Storminnorm]

I find it really interesting to read about AIA, but I'm not greatly
impressed by some of the remarks made about AS.
Many, many years ago I worked for IAS and I always thought
that he was an absolute gentleman, and a bl**dy good guy to
work for.
The wages and allowances were excellent, and the facilities that
we had were top notch.
After doing almost six years with them I was really sad when they
went bust.
The old 50 series DC 8's were in really good condition, and it was
sad to part company from them. But life moves on.
The 737, 757 & 767 were marginally better, but I always preferred
palletised freight to self loading freight, and I found it difficult to
fix my hammock across the cabin with 300 pax in the way!:rolleyes:

[CR2]

I seem to remember the thread title had something to do with AIA DC8s....

:ugh:

[CargoMatatu]

CR2,

AS, who runs AIA, used to run IAS. Same aircraft type.

I know; IAS was my first employer when I left school, and AS my first boss. :D

Happy days!:ok:

[Storminnorm]

CR2, AIA / IAS One was the founder of the other, but that
was probably before your time.
It's only us old ghits that remember it.
DC - 8, 50 series, DC - 8, 60 series, very similar.
GOOD aircraft.
Does anyone know what happened to the old Cargo Lion
aircraft?:hmm:

[good spark]

storminorm
beer cans





gs

[brakedwell]

AS, who runs AIA, used to run IAS. Same aircraft type.

I know; IAS was my first employer when I left school, and AS my first boss.

Happy days!

Remember this? Great times.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/Britannia312.jpg

[Storminnorm]

you could be right. beer cans it is. Cheers!
Nice photo of the old Britannia! Never liked
them then, still don't.
DC 8 was much better!

[ex dog]

IAS ,Sorry if im wrong but did they have CL-44's Swing Tails ,maybe one .

[ex dog]

Yes, you are right but people go off in a thing about Aircraft ,
and how we had good fun !!!!!!!!!!!

Once ?

[brakedwell]

IAS ,Sorry if im wrong but did they have CL-44's Swing Tails ,maybe one.

There was a Swiss CL44 on a long wet lease in the mid seventies. Can't recall the company name, but I do remember their home base was Sion.

[N1/TOGA]

brakedwell,

it was Transvalair

http://www.cl44.com/cl44/operators/transvalair.htm

[merlinxx]

IAS became BCA when the took over Trans Meridian then came a 44, not for long. Tradewinds flew 44s before the GPA 70 & ex TWA 70.

[Storminnorm]

You'll be getting a bollocking for not mentioning AIA
if you@re not careful!
CL 44s indeed. And it was a grim life!
And we never had any FUN, not much anyhow!:*
So Sorry ex dog, couldn't resist it!

[PH-SCP]

TAC, IAS and Tradewinds had their continental base at Maastricht. A few pictures from the old shoebox;

G-ATZH:
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1476/gatzhdf8.jpg

G-AZIN:
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1530/gazinpx0.jpg

G-AZIN in the colours of Limburg Air Cargo:
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3443/gazinlacqs5.jpg

G-AZKJ:
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1325/gazkjqq2.jpg

G-BCWJ:
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7921/gbcwjio0.jpg

[Storminnorm]

Lovely photos PH-SCP. It's years since I was in Maastrich,
Used to do a fairly regular run with an IAS DC 8.
Nice little airport then, had a bar facing right on the apron.
Very handy! Van haartelijk bedankt voor de leuke photos!

[PH-SCP]

G-BDDE & BDHA used to be regulars here. The bar is still there, in fact it still has the same carpeting against the wall. Glorydays are over though, it's a rather quiet airport nowadays.

[GAZIN]

Nice pictures PH-SCP. G-ATZH had a very tragic end of course. The last photo, G-BCWJ is the aircraft that IAS operated for a while, here is a very bad photo of her.
http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/2a00Iwf6Uevw6Y5Ks2oxCKRs1glpZg13esKiv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg
http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/2a00Iwf6Uevw6Y5Ks2oxCKRs1jGi*EJlDjbrv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg
A shame that BCA didn't really get off the ground, I remember the blue & black paint arriving at SEN for the Belfast respray, that never was.

AS has contributed a great deal to the British aviation scene over the years, I imagine he has some interesting tales to tell.

[Storminnorm]

The guy that ran the bar used to chop off peoples ties!
I bet a slice of my tie is still there.:D

[PH-SCP]

Nice pictures PH-SCP. G-ATZH had a very tragic end of course. The last photo, G-BCWJ is the aircraft that IAS operated for a while, here is a very bad photo of her.
http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/2a00Iwf6Uevw6Y5Ks2oxCKRs1jGi*EJlDjbrv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l .jpg
http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/2a...p5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg (http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/2a00Iwf6Uevw6Y5Ks2oxCKRs1jGi*EJlDjbrv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg)
A shame that BCA didn't really get off the ground, I remember the blue & black paint arriving at SEN for the Belfast respray, that never was.

AS has contributed a great deal to the British aviation scene over the years, I imagine he has some interesting tales to tell.

That link doesn't work, I'm afraid. Let me try to find some more old pictures, this is kind'a nice.

I was thinking about the bar that was mentioned, I guess StorminNorm must have talked about the old Aeroclub. They had loads of ties there. Unfortunately this club was torn down. Many good memories went down with it.

[Storminnorm]

Thanks for that info.
What a pity, had a few in there waiting for transport
to the Hotel near the bridge in town.
Can't remember the Hotel name now. Eons ago!

[merlinxx]

I still have the FT pic of G-BIAS on a wet NBO ramp, on my wall.

[PH-SCP]

I am still searching for pictures of G-BDDE/BDHA/BIAS, in the mean time I found a few others from the same era:

G-AZML:
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1648/gazml1hg2.jpg

G-BTAC:
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6697/gbtac1pf0.jpg

N447T:
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3756/n447t1ii9.jpg

If I remember correctly, the IAS aircraft used "FF" as callsign, my father used to be an air traffic controller at Beek Tower and he mentioned this more than once.

[Thegoodshepherd]

Lord AJ and Uncle Bernie must be older than god!

Storminorm

Do the names Tony McNay , Dick Richards, Keith Manketlow, Andy Alum
Len Midgley, Pete Shaw stir any memories

And I love the shot of VS - I just happened to be standing behind Shagger
when that shot was taken ;)

Oh yes - Norm - remember the Panafric? Seems I drank far too Much Tusker there :yuk:

And Valair was owned by Ex F1 driver Jean Claude Rudaz (he of the
incredibly strange beard) The first flight I made as a Loadie was on
EN - From Gatwick to Benghazi to Malta to Sion (my hair turned grey
at the young age of 22) to Gatwick) They were a great bunch -
the only other name I can remember from them was a Capt Degrandchamp


The Good Shepherd

[Storminnorm]

Yes, names from happier days, at least I thought so.
What about Ollie Goldsmith, Brian Agar,Dolly Grey, and
Ray Kincaid?
The statutory O/Dosing on Whitecap and Tusker was
a bit of a pain (literally) at times.
Still, I could always crash out in my hammock on the
way back up north.

[Thegoodshepherd]

Norm

You have a PM

Shepherd;)

BTW I still have my IAS Cap Badge and wing

[helldriver]

Seeing and hearing all those names brings back very fond memory as a loadie with IAS/Transval Air.:ok:

[falcon12]

I joined them in early '73 as THE electrician just after Ollie Goldsmith who I believe is still about in the LGW area. Brian Agar died. Nothing known of the dreaded Dolly Grey and I believe both Ray and his brother are long retired, if not deceased. There was also Bill, the tall scots engine fitter and an old guy, who smoked a pipe in all locations, who could predict to the hour the demise of a Proteus engine with almost 100% accuracy, que another engine change on the south park!!

Its all so long ago when Dave Lilley was a young lad and we spent hours at Biggin Hill removing bits from ex Air Spain Brits in the middle of the night to fit to the Brits, CD, VF, VP & VS so that they could fly off to all parts in Africa. DC8's great piece of kit but crazy air con system and dodgy fuel pumps.

All bloody hard work, lots of complaints, very enjoyable but ultimately you move on.

[brakedwell]

BTW I still have my IAS Cap Badge and wing
Still got my Queens Award to Industry paper weight!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/P1010001.jpg

[Thegoodshepherd]

Hey Brakedwell

I have one of those funky granite paperwieghts with the black IAS logo
on it somewhere - I'll post a screenie when I can lay hands to it amongts all my junk

BTW - The black and white photo of GBIAS at Blackbushe you took
as well as the colour shot of VS are framed and adorn my 4 y/os
bedroom wall - along with shots of the Reds, BBMF and Air Atlantiques
aircraft. Poor little bugger doesnt really stand a chance - but Im impressed
that at his tender years (and being half American) he can identify the
difference between a Spitfire and a Hurricane

BTW if anyone is interested I got a PM from one of the folks I named
dropped earlier in the thread

Thanks for bringing a flood of wonderful memories back

Norm - your correct they were the "glory days"\

Shepherd:ok:

[Storminnorm]

falcon 12 you are right, it was hard work at times, especially
in the middle of the night when Eddies slop-house was shut.
I can remember going through the bins one night to rescue
some of the dumped BCAL meals. Starving!
Brian Agar, Dolly Grey and Bill Crawford, not forgetting Pat
Manning, are all no longer with us.
I heard that Ray Kincaid had moved down to somewhere near
Ashford, although I don't know exactly where.
My particular mate, Mickey Miles, abandonned ship as well, and
bought a retirement home somewhere in Norfolk.
I'm still in lovely Crow leigh waiting for the developers to buy
me out. (Hopefully).
Dave Lilley was still working with AS on the Industrial Estate
as far as I know, but I think his main interest was refurbing
old motors.
Oh, by the way, I'm still being pestered by Ricky Leigh, now
About 80, married to an ex-Azerbaijany hostie half his age.
Good luck to him!
Keep going. See you some time!:ok:

[oligoe]

Hello all,


Thegoodshepherd, my dad was actually F/E on the CL44 with Transvalair during all the time they operated, you might know him.
We still have 4 books full of pictures of Transvalair ops.

Best regards,

og

[Thegoodshepherd]

Og

Thanks mate - as I said - the only two names that spring to mind
(age is taking its toll) Were JC Rudaz and George Degrandchamp
Any shots of ENand crews Im sure would be welcome here - Although being a
noob myself Im not 100% sure of the rules of posting

Shepherd

[Buster the Bear]

Just before Christmas, my wife was driving home and she saw an AIA DC-8 arriving at Lasham! She described it as a "Smoking 4 engined holiday jet"!, it was ZS-OSI, which was there again earlier this month.

Marvellous aeroplane, long may she continue to fly!

Back in 1981, Redcoat interviewed me for an Ops job, so did Air Continental. I was turned down for both jobs, but enjoyed my interview on the flight deck of a CL-44 and PA-31!

Fond memories of many freighters at Luton inc IAS Britannia's and Dc-8's!

[Spaced Out]

Heard Uncle A is in hospital, hernia opp?

[one cup]

Uncle Alan

Must have happened when he fell off his wallet!

[Paradism]

Just a small update to say that AIA DC-8-62's are regular visitors at Manston. Reg's ZS-OZV and ZS-OSI both reported as visiting several times so far this May.

P