African Safari Airways pilots

[Mooncrest]

Just wondering which country or countries this company sourced their pilots from, assuming they weren't all Kenyans and Egyptians. I've seen a picture of a Swiss-registered ASA DC8 so I assume Switzerland provided a few. Possibly the Netherlands too, given the provision of a few ex-KLM aircraft.

Thankyou.

[Sotonsean]

I was hoping that you would have received a response by now as it's a very interesting question and something that I am also curious about.

[Mooncrest]

I guess nobody knows!

[treadigraph]

I'd have guessed that a majority of the crews were British circa 1970; as far as I know EAA flight deck crew tended to be. My sister flew on a ASA Britannia from Stansted to Nairobi around 1971, recall going to Embakasi to meet her; she wouldn't recall much about it now though!
When the DC-8s came along who knows, I imagine British pilots with DC-8 ratings must have been in hen's teeth territory. I believe TMAC acquired an ASA DC-8 for spares and used it for crew training for a few months.

[Sotonsean]

IAS Cargo Airlines operated four DC-8-50 aircraft between 1975 and 1979.

G-BDDE from July 1975 until August 1979
G-BDHA from February 1976 until August 1979
G-BIAS from February 1978 until August 1979
G-BSKY from February 1978 until August 1979

TMAC Trans Meridian Air Cargo operated two DC-8-50 aircraft between 1977 and 1979 plus one DC-8-30 purchased for spares.

G-BETJ a DC-8-30 which was bought in May 1977 and was eventually scrapped in July 1984. This particular aircraft was formerly 5Y-ASI and purchased from ASA African Safari Airlines in 1977 for spares.

G-BFHW from March 1978 until August 1979.
G-BTAC from July 1977 until August 1979.

​​IAS Cargo Airlines (LGW) and TMAC Trans Meridian Air Cargo (STN) merged on the 15 August 1979 to form British Cargo Airlines. The newly formed airline did not last long as it went under in March 1980.

Although the DC-8 was a rather rare aircraft under the UK registration there must have been several British pilots at the time who were licensed to fly the aircraft.

The history of both IAS and TMAC would be an interesting topic to discuss. TMAC for example was originally owned by the Trafalgar House Group who were also the owners of Cunard Line, Daily Express, Ritz Hotel London and many other well known companies at the time.

[dixi188]

I heard one of the reasons thet Mike Keegan of TMAC went for the DC-8 rather that the already certified Boeing 707, was that he didn't want to train his CL44 crews on the 707 and then find them leaving to join the many UK 707 operators.

[ATNotts]

The history of both IAS and TMAC would be an interesting topic to discuss. TMAC for example was originally owned by the Trafalgar House Group who were also the owners of Cunard Line, Daily Express, Ritz Hotel London and many other well known companies at the time.

I've learnt something, I always thought TMAC was Mike Keegan's own business, not owned by a conglomorate.

Was IAS not owned by Lonrho / Tiny Roland, or is my memory playing tricks?

[Sotonsean]

I've learnt something, I always thought TMAC was Mike Keegan's own business, not owned by a in 1962

Was IAS not owned by Lonrho / Tiny Roland, or is my memory playing tricks?

I can confirm that your memory is playing tricks 😉

The Lonrho Group run by the notorious Tiny Roland purchased Tradewind Airways in 1977.

The Lonrho Group were in financial difficulties in the early 1980s and Tradewind Airways was sold to the HOMAC Aviation Group in 1984. Tradewind Airways went into liquidation in September 1990.

I remember during the very late 1970s and early 1980s reading my late grandfather's copies of the in-house magazine of Trafalgar House and that's when I originally learned of the ownership of TMAC. I was in my early teens at the time, although I was aware of the company's previous ownership under Mike Keegan.

International Aviation Services (UK) Ltd owned IAS Cargo Airlines. IAS Cargo Airlines was formed in 1962.

TMAC Trans Meridian Air Cargo was founded in 1962 by Mike Keegan. The airline was purchased by the Trafalgar House Group in 1977.

As already mentioned, IAS Cargo Airlines and TMAC Trans Meridian Air Cargo merged in August 1979 under the new name of British Cargo Airlines. The newly formed airline going bankrupt by March 1980.

[goofer]

I have a recollection of seeing an IAS DC-8 at Harare in 1991 - or is my memory playing tricks?

[treadigraph]

Goofer, IAS were long gone by then, Affretair would be my guess as to what you saw, though a fair few "tramp" DC-8s about in Africa!

[Sotonsean]

I have a recollection of seeing an IAS DC-8 at Harare in 1991 - or is my memory playing tricks?

Another member of this thread who's memory is playing tricks, what's happening with everyone 🤔

I'm no spring chicken but my memory is **** hot 🤗

[brakedwell]

My memory has faded, but I remember the time I was with IAS. I joined on the Britannia in 1974. The first courses on the DC8 had started, but I can't remember where they were. I converted on to the DC8 in November 1976. I think there was only one or two DC8 qualified (British) Captains who joined IAS on the introduction of the DC8. In October 1977 I see I first flew N804SW, which eventually joined the British Register. We were issued with FAA licences to fly the American registered aircraft for about a year, I think. We used to use the KLM DC8 Simulators in Amsterdam for checks, we also had half a dozen Air New Zealend DC8 First Officers on loan, who were recalled to ANZ over the the next two years to start DC10 courses. I left IAS and joined Air Europe before the demise of IAS/British Cargo, so I don't know much about that.

[rog747]

Re ASA pilots - A chap I chat to on Facebook, (who like me, is English) his Dad flew for ASA. Am sure he flew both the Britannia and their DC-10.