Gatwick-Heathrow Airlink
I used the service several times, and was always mildly amused at the way the heli was forced to pretend to be a fixed wing aircraft and taxi interminably and wastefully to a runway to lift off, and vv.
So I enquired about the reason from my employer at the time, BAA, and was firmly told that it was an "ATC Requirement". I didn't believe a word of it then, and I'm glad to see from this thread that my instincts were right.
So I enquired about the reason from my employer at the time, BAA, and was firmly told that it was an "ATC Requirement". I didn't believe a word of it then, and I'm glad to see from this thread that my instincts were right.
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Engineering Relief
Bristows providing a relief aircraft, only over our dead bodies. To say there was "healthy rivalry" between BAH and Bristows would be an understatement. Generally the Airlink would go into extended maintenance as one of the BAH oilrig support aircraft came out. That being nice and clean would stay at Gatwick to provide cover until the Airlink came back on line and then go off to Aberdeen, Sumburgh or Beccles
Without sounding too "company" it was a very good team. Partly because it was a very unusual operation for the UK with few similarities to the Penzance service but also because it was very publicly visible so we got some good facilities right down to bright white overalls with "British Airways" across the back as that was the only place BA had to show their involvement. It also meant it had a high level of engineering cover so there were very few "incidents"
Old's comment about working for BAA did remind me of their childrens christmas party. As the BAA owned the aircraft they asked us to deliver Father Christmas one year, picking him up from the airport and dropping him at the Beehive. From our viewpoint we saw the aircraft go below the treeline out of sight but we could still hear it clearly. We heard the engines and the rotor spin up for lift off but no aircraft came to view, then it did come up like a cork out of a bottle. It turned out that while FC was walking off the pilot wound the rotors up to full throttle but with no collective. Once the door was shut but before the cabin crew girls could get to their seats the pilot put on full collective leaving the girls in an inelegant heap on the floor. After it shut down on the pan we could see them beating up the pilots all the way back to the office. Needless to say Bishop Bill did not see the funny side!
Without sounding too "company" it was a very good team. Partly because it was a very unusual operation for the UK with few similarities to the Penzance service but also because it was very publicly visible so we got some good facilities right down to bright white overalls with "British Airways" across the back as that was the only place BA had to show their involvement. It also meant it had a high level of engineering cover so there were very few "incidents"
Old's comment about working for BAA did remind me of their childrens christmas party. As the BAA owned the aircraft they asked us to deliver Father Christmas one year, picking him up from the airport and dropping him at the Beehive. From our viewpoint we saw the aircraft go below the treeline out of sight but we could still hear it clearly. We heard the engines and the rotor spin up for lift off but no aircraft came to view, then it did come up like a cork out of a bottle. It turned out that while FC was walking off the pilot wound the rotors up to full throttle but with no collective. Once the door was shut but before the cabin crew girls could get to their seats the pilot put on full collective leaving the girls in an inelegant heap on the floor. After it shut down on the pan we could see them beating up the pilots all the way back to the office. Needless to say Bishop Bill did not see the funny side!
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G-LINK
Ah ... the name 'Bishop Bill!' How I recall that.
Captain Bill Ashpole, (surname I think) was indeed a full time Mormon Bishop. Bill freelanced for my AOC heli business at Redhill and as many will know .... what a thoroughly nice guy. Where are you now Bill?
I suppose on just a couple of occasions we might be sitting quietly when he would raise the subject of my 'conversion' but he never once pushed the mattter in spite of my habit of an evening drink in the Redhill Bristow bar. We are talking about year 1990 or so.
I recall so well, following Nicholas Ridley's scrapping of the LHR-LGW S-61N link service, I studied a possible 'charter replacement' using a A109 or similar. (Redhill nicely based mid way LGW/LHR.) The idea was to make a VFR service available to the airlines on a pre-booked basis which would overcome the Ridley 'scheduled service' difficulty. Helipad north of LGW R/W and south of LHR so no runway crossings. The difficulty was always slotting in 'the occcasional IFR required movement.'
I even got as far as a sensible conversation with the LGW MD who was 100% supportive of the idea. The plan was that the LGW/LHR operating airlines and BAA paid a proportional share of the AOC standing costs, then simply rang the bell when they had a specific client/clients wanting the shuttle and for a small extra fee. I estimated a dozen trips a day minimum.
I'd have to say at the time LGW ATC were co-operative, but LHR seemed less interested. I flew the trip with Bill on a couple of occasions as a look-sea exercise.
I didn't get the service going for plenty of reasons, but now retired, I often wonder if a profitable inter-airfield shuttle opening might still be there.
Best wishes to all,
Dennis Kenyon.
.
Captain Bill Ashpole, (surname I think) was indeed a full time Mormon Bishop. Bill freelanced for my AOC heli business at Redhill and as many will know .... what a thoroughly nice guy. Where are you now Bill?
I suppose on just a couple of occasions we might be sitting quietly when he would raise the subject of my 'conversion' but he never once pushed the mattter in spite of my habit of an evening drink in the Redhill Bristow bar. We are talking about year 1990 or so.
I recall so well, following Nicholas Ridley's scrapping of the LHR-LGW S-61N link service, I studied a possible 'charter replacement' using a A109 or similar. (Redhill nicely based mid way LGW/LHR.) The idea was to make a VFR service available to the airlines on a pre-booked basis which would overcome the Ridley 'scheduled service' difficulty. Helipad north of LGW R/W and south of LHR so no runway crossings. The difficulty was always slotting in 'the occcasional IFR required movement.'
I even got as far as a sensible conversation with the LGW MD who was 100% supportive of the idea. The plan was that the LGW/LHR operating airlines and BAA paid a proportional share of the AOC standing costs, then simply rang the bell when they had a specific client/clients wanting the shuttle and for a small extra fee. I estimated a dozen trips a day minimum.
I'd have to say at the time LGW ATC were co-operative, but LHR seemed less interested. I flew the trip with Bill on a couple of occasions as a look-sea exercise.
I didn't get the service going for plenty of reasons, but now retired, I often wonder if a profitable inter-airfield shuttle opening might still be there.
Best wishes to all,
Dennis Kenyon.
.
I worked for BCal, but not on this part of their LGW operation, and flew several times on G-LINK always enjoying the experience. The Cabin Crew were all secondees from BCal and I knew a couple of them quite well. Apparently the girls kilts had some additional weighting in the hem to stop them flying up over their heads.................... though it didn't always work!!
Hmmm some names I remember from the cabin crew, Paul Lacy, Cathy Jones, Chrissy Middleton, Sara Groves (I think) and a couple of faces I can remember but not recall the names of.
Bill Ashpole was indeed a fine man, as one would expect from a Mormon Bishop I suppose
and his secretary 'Betty' was also very friendly and used to protect him very well. Bill also looked after BCal Commuter Ops and the guys there spoke very highly of the support he gave them.
It was a sad day when the service was stopped.
Hmmm some names I remember from the cabin crew, Paul Lacy, Cathy Jones, Chrissy Middleton, Sara Groves (I think) and a couple of faces I can remember but not recall the names of.
Bill Ashpole was indeed a fine man, as one would expect from a Mormon Bishop I suppose
and his secretary 'Betty' was also very friendly and used to protect him very well. Bill also looked after BCal Commuter Ops and the guys there spoke very highly of the support he gave them.It was a sad day when the service was stopped.
Always seems unfortunate the railway never got organised to link Gatwick and Heathrow. There's a train from Gatwick to Kensington Olympia and on to Watford that is invariably empty north of Kensington, while the Heathrow Connect train from Heathrow serves the local places as far as Ealing but then just duplicates the Heathrow Express on into Paddington. Where these two routes cross by the now abandoned Eurostar train depot there is plenty of railway-owned space for a link. Overall journey time stopping at just the main intermediate places would be less than an hour, and more reliable than the M25.
While the numbers of passengers per hour just between the two airports do not justify a frequent train, combining it in this way makes all sorts of other links between south and west London and the two airports possible, Croydon to Heathrow or Ealing to Gatwick, and more efficient than what is in place currently. It could even be called "Airlink" !
While the numbers of passengers per hour just between the two airports do not justify a frequent train, combining it in this way makes all sorts of other links between south and west London and the two airports possible, Croydon to Heathrow or Ealing to Gatwick, and more efficient than what is in place currently. It could even be called "Airlink" !
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G LINK helly-ferry
It was very NOISY, lots of vibration and, on the few occasions
that I had to use it to position to LHR,(usually for a positioning
overnight flog down to some obscure dump in Africa,) I was
impressed that the Health and Safety people made the hosties
wear ear-defenders. Sorry,What was that?
that I had to use it to position to LHR,(usually for a positioning
overnight flog down to some obscure dump in Africa,) I was
impressed that the Health and Safety people made the hosties
wear ear-defenders. Sorry,What was that?
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The Westward Airways Islander link was a wonderful way to do the trip. By April 1970 it was operating from the main terminal at Gatwick and access was via the pier. I think the southern was then used for domestics, mainly BUAs 1-11s. At Heathrow it similarly opererated as a domestic through what was then the domestics terminal at the western end of what is now T2. The approach to Heathrow from the east was superb with the Islander going flat out to slot in with the normal traffic flow. The economics though were probably dreadful despite this being in pre M25 days.
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G LINK helly-ferry
Ah Storminnorm.
Whilst I agree, I am almost certainly the only person who slept the trip from LHR to LGW on it..Well I had been awake for 36 Hours when I boarded, had to be shaken awake on arrival.
Opssys
It was very NOISY, lots of vibration and, on the few occasions
that I had to use it to position to LHR
that I had to use it to position to LHR
Opssys
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I Will really will have to rewrite the Article
This thread is generating lots of information I was previously unaware of:
So Thanks to DennisK for the Post-Airlink Plan.
Surely Not for the Weighted Hems (although they were not unique in doing that) plus a few other 'titbits'
Speechless Two for the Airlink Timetable (and yes please when your next in the loft
)
Skylion for the Additional Westward Information, I had long ago despaired of finding out anything further and suddenly there is some!
and of course: Hairy Fool
Opssys
So Thanks to DennisK for the Post-Airlink Plan.
Surely Not for the Weighted Hems (although they were not unique in doing that) plus a few other 'titbits'
Speechless Two for the Airlink Timetable (and yes please when your next in the loft
)Skylion for the Additional Westward Information, I had long ago despaired of finding out anything further and suddenly there is some!
and of course: Hairy Fool
Opssys
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LGW Link
For Opssys,
The only reason the pre booking link did not proceed was simply because the AOC business was sold. The new owner didn't have the experience to take over the project possibility.
I still think there is business there to be done ... properly marketed of course.
DRK
The only reason the pre booking link did not proceed was simply because the AOC business was sold. The new owner didn't have the experience to take over the project possibility.
I still think there is business there to be done ... properly marketed of course.
DRK
Yup I remember Frances of the Airlink, and from the Clansman Lounge as well I think? Plus you helped me find some mis routed baggage at Gatwick about 5 years ago. BA MAN had managed to completely mess up a transfer tag for a chap going on a 747 charter ex LGW, but your cluesoesque skills found it.
The lovely BCal girl on the timetable cover is Jackie Abercrombie, and she was (is?) probably even better looking in real life.................... lucky guy that Mr Stagg.
The lovely BCal girl on the timetable cover is Jackie Abercrombie, and she was (is?) probably even better looking in real life.................... lucky guy that Mr Stagg.
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Was anyone else amused by the [ possibly ex Green Line ? ] bus provided by BA at LHR to ferry the Airlink pax from the terminal to the "Portacabin" waiting room - the only bus I have ever been on which seemed to require a "crew" of no less than 3. Good old BA overmanning ?!
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Airlink re-visited!
Hi guys - "Bishop Bill" here! Thanks for the very generous comments. Betty Wells drew my attention to the site and I was moved at the memories the Link still evokes. Betty remains the focal point for Airlink and has personally organised anniversary parties.. Apart from getting my Wings in the RAF, Airlink was the highlight of my 36 years spent in aviation. As others have said, it was a remarkable operation which included the staff of 3 companies working together as one. What a privilege to work with such an incredible bunch of professionals be they BAH, BCal, BA or BCHL! The untimely end of the service was a sad reflection on the government of the day! Safe flying and good health to all. Bill Ashpole
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Tsk Surely Not.
Building a highly movitated multi-discipline team, from one company is an achievment (BCAL Commuter).
Doing with three is a career highlight (Airlink).
Note to Bill.
I was good to see your post and amused to note Betty is still keeping you briefed and indeed organised.
Building a highly movitated multi-discipline team, from one company is an achievment (BCAL Commuter).
Doing with three is a career highlight (Airlink).
Note to Bill.
I was good to see your post and amused to note Betty is still keeping you briefed and indeed organised.
