Court Line
The Reason I Left Court Line (Who really Cares?)
It was quite simple - gazing out from the ops office window at all those gaily coloured aeroplanes on the ramp made me feel quite queasy. Frankly, and I hope confidentially, I can tell you that quite simply they reminded me of rather exotic iced cakes, not Lyons Corner House you understand but more Fortnum and Mason. Alas it was at the latter that my Great Aunt (whom I shan't name) would take me to tea every Friday afternoon having before-hand administered to me my weekly strapping. Here she would ply me with sickly fare in an attempt to keep my mouth shut (difficult when eating cake).
Thus I was still emotionally scarred (and grossly overweight) a year or two later when I presented myself for an interview with Captain Maurice Rowan for the position of Ops assistant/teaboy at the beginning of 1966.
"Well any questions Young Man?" the Boss glanced out at the fog which was enveloping the airfield and frowned.
"Yes Sir. Does the Company envisage any change to its present livery?"
One would like to say that this question was met by thunderstruck silence, but a Viking was running up outside the hangar.
"Good Lord No Old Boy! We leave that sort of thing to Braniff."
Happy New Year to you all!
Thus I was still emotionally scarred (and grossly overweight) a year or two later when I presented myself for an interview with Captain Maurice Rowan for the position of Ops assistant/teaboy at the beginning of 1966.
"Well any questions Young Man?" the Boss glanced out at the fog which was enveloping the airfield and frowned.
"Yes Sir. Does the Company envisage any change to its present livery?"
One would like to say that this question was met by thunderstruck silence, but a Viking was running up outside the hangar.
"Good Lord No Old Boy! We leave that sort of thing to Braniff."
Happy New Year to you all!
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 28th Dec 2009 at 18:03.
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Pink L1011 "Crash" at Ibiza
Can anyone fill this 51yo in with some information please?
I was a 14yo on his first trip abroad in 1973 from Luton to Ibiza. Flew out on the orange Tristar, Halcyon Days, due to fly back on the pink Halcayon Breeze. Take-off was aborted rather dramatically (or so it seemed to those on board). Aircraft could not take off due to tech issues and we were taken back next day on a number of smaller aircraft, me on a Caravelle, others on 1-11's.
Don't know any proper details of this incident, but as you can imagine for a 14yo, it was very exciting, and of course back at school as the story was re-counted it became a near death from which all of us were lucky to survive!
Anyway, what I do remember is being in row 4 or 5, but having to evacuate by the rear doors as the fire service surrounded the aircraft. Then being stuck in the terminal bldg for 24+ hours waiting on a replacement aircraft.
Anyone with good info on this will help replace schoolboy dramatic memories with some facts.
Many thanks
I was a 14yo on his first trip abroad in 1973 from Luton to Ibiza. Flew out on the orange Tristar, Halcyon Days, due to fly back on the pink Halcayon Breeze. Take-off was aborted rather dramatically (or so it seemed to those on board). Aircraft could not take off due to tech issues and we were taken back next day on a number of smaller aircraft, me on a Caravelle, others on 1-11's.
Don't know any proper details of this incident, but as you can imagine for a 14yo, it was very exciting, and of course back at school as the story was re-counted it became a near death from which all of us were lucky to survive!
Anyway, what I do remember is being in row 4 or 5, but having to evacuate by the rear doors as the fire service surrounded the aircraft. Then being stuck in the terminal bldg for 24+ hours waiting on a replacement aircraft.
Anyone with good info on this will help replace schoolboy dramatic memories with some facts.
Many thanks
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Reunion
Well folks this years reunion is on Saturday 18th September. Ding will send out an email to those on our data base within the next 10 days. After low numbers in 2009 we are hoping to hit 60+ this year. It will be confirmed in the email but we are looking at £30.00 per person for the evening and £55.00 for B/B. Hope to see you there.
NB To add to this it is all set for the 18th September Ding has sent out the first reminder; quickly followed by another with the correct date!!!!
Saturday 18th September 2010 it is and I got my first cheque today from Jon Charley ~~ the good old 'Hamsters'
NB To add to this it is all set for the 18th September Ding has sent out the first reminder; quickly followed by another with the correct date!!!!
Saturday 18th September 2010 it is and I got my first cheque today from Jon Charley ~~ the good old 'Hamsters'
Last edited by Jaqui Maschera; 6th Jun 2010 at 16:14.
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Gibair.
The aicraft suffered a tyre busrt at V1
The crew heard and felt the bang so aborted.
During the Hi Speed rejection 5 of the other 7 tyres burst ( same union I guess
)
We got the call at Luton and two immediate problems - The Palma El Commandante was screaming for us to get the aircraft off the runway and second how the hell to move 400 pax in the season
Well pulled 3 BAC 1-11's off the line and removed all the seats from one and put them into the other two and they winged off their merry way. The empty aircraft we loaded with wheels, jacks and tooling and set off in hot pursuit.
As the L1011 was at one end of the runway they were still using the remaining length so after we landed we put the seats into the 3rd BAC and then set to retrieving the L1011. Quite a night !!
The aicraft suffered a tyre busrt at V1
The crew heard and felt the bang so aborted.
During the Hi Speed rejection 5 of the other 7 tyres burst ( same union I guess
)We got the call at Luton and two immediate problems - The Palma El Commandante was screaming for us to get the aircraft off the runway and second how the hell to move 400 pax in the season
Well pulled 3 BAC 1-11's off the line and removed all the seats from one and put them into the other two and they winged off their merry way. The empty aircraft we loaded with wheels, jacks and tooling and set off in hot pursuit.
As the L1011 was at one end of the runway they were still using the remaining length so after we landed we put the seats into the 3rd BAC and then set to retrieving the L1011. Quite a night !!
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Ron-lake
good day all ex courtline members, I worked at Luton from 1969 until the end in 1974. It was a sad day for us all, I was retained by the receiver and had the sorry task of sorting the assets out and covering the sale in the hangar. I would like to know more about the reunions as I would like to contact old friends in engineering if any are still around. Some of the hangar shift I know went to work for Brit's and some I believe for Monach if any are still in touch I would like to here from you. I have a copy of "Colours in the Sky" and that brings back memories for me also a lot of my own photographs. Thats all for the present good luck.
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so sad
I remember them so well. I was due to fly out of Luton with my family 12 hours after it crashed. I had travel with courtline before and they were great. Great aircraft, great people, and wow what a livery. It started my love for airports and people who work at them. I worked as a PSA at Sanstead and Gatwick.
But for what I see now the fun has gone out of it. And it is all down to monies. Were did it go so wrong?
At that point I like to say thank you to all the staff and people behind the scenes that you never see. As you made my childhood full of good memories and that one day I be one of you, which I did. Only wished it would have been courtline I worked for.
As to the livery it wouldn’t be out on place today. Pity you guys don’t get together and start it again. Wow wouldn’t that be great.
Roy
I had travel with courtline before and they were great. Great aircraft, great people, and wow what a livery. It started my love for airports and people who work at them. I worked as a PSA at Sanstead and Gatwick. But for what I see now the fun has gone out of it. And it is all down to monies. Were did it go so wrong?At that point I like to say thank you to all the staff and people behind the scenes that you never see. As you made my childhood full of good memories and that one day I be one of you, which I did. Only wished it would have been courtline I worked for.
As to the livery it wouldn’t be out on place today. Pity you guys don’t get together and start it again. Wow wouldn’t that be great.
Roy
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The Good Old Days
Roy, what a lovely epitaph to Court Line. Some where along the line the airline industry lost its sense of fun! I can always recall pre-take off asking the captain the flight time and what he would like as a landing drink,all in the same breath! Now, that would be very politically incorrect + he is probably a temperance society vegan (sorry vegans!). We had the best days for sure.
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Courtline/Autair Reunion 2010
Ron If you would like to email me; via Prune I will add you to our database for the reunions. Next one is 18th September in Harpenden.
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Halcyon Days Tristar footage
Hello,
I've read with great interest all the posts on this site and it's brought back a lot of memories of flying with Court Line as a young lad. I've never really had anything to post onto the site until now, as I've found some footage of the Halcyon Days Tristar on the internet and wondered if any of you had seen it.
Its an unused news report by John Stapleton about the over crowding of passengers at Luton Airport. During the footage there are many interviews with Airport staff / management and glimpses of Court Line employees whom I wondered if any of you recognise. The best bit comes right at the end when you see passengers boarding the Tristar and then seeing it roaring down the runway, taking off in the easterly direction.
It's all on the British Pathe historical archive site.
(LUTON AIRPORT) - British Pathe
Hope the link works for you.
I've read with great interest all the posts on this site and it's brought back a lot of memories of flying with Court Line as a young lad. I've never really had anything to post onto the site until now, as I've found some footage of the Halcyon Days Tristar on the internet and wondered if any of you had seen it.
Its an unused news report by John Stapleton about the over crowding of passengers at Luton Airport. During the footage there are many interviews with Airport staff / management and glimpses of Court Line employees whom I wondered if any of you recognise. The best bit comes right at the end when you see passengers boarding the Tristar and then seeing it roaring down the runway, taking off in the easterly direction.
It's all on the British Pathe historical archive site.
(LUTON AIRPORT) - British Pathe
Hope the link works for you.
