PPRuNe Forums - Laker Airways R/T callsign

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- - Laker Airways R/T callsign (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/610974-laker-airways-r-t-callsign.html)

JW - Yes I remember the Caribbean callsign from my Gatwick days and IQ code. I have photos somewhere of a B707 and possibly DC10. I'll try to find them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JW411 (Post 10213503)

International Caribbean Airways started off in 1970 as a joint venture between Fred Laker and two businessmen based in Barbados. In 1973 the two businessmen sold their shares to the Government of Barbados which ended up with a 51% stake in the operation. The aircraft used were initially Laker 707s, which, as someone has already mentioned, carried Caribbean titles on the roof and the tail and also the blue - yellow - blue national flag of Barbados. I joined the DC-10 fleet and from time to time, one of them carried similar titles. I have a photograph of G-BBSZ so adorned but I can't post it (it's not mine so subject to copyright regulations, I assume). We had four Bajan F/Os who were actually only supposed to do Barbados flights but, in actual practice, they joined in with everyone else. One of them has either just retired or is just about to retire from Virgin after a long career there. In the cabin, half of the girls were Bajan (they didn't like going to Europe in the winter). In my time we stayed at the Paradise Beach (a Cunard hotel) on the west coast. Fred kindly furnished us with two Minimokes so that we could get around the island. The callsign used was "Caribbean" and the airline code was "IQ" (Laker was "GK"). A quick look at my log book produces IQ001 - LGW-BGI, IQ003 - LGW-LUX and IQ004 - BGI-LUX. Finally, I was told by one of my older colleagues that in the beginning, the flight deck used to have to swap hats between a Laker flight and a Caribbean flight!

Yes Jock, I recall, I think his name was, F/E Cliff Smithurst or Smethurst with two hats, one Laker and one Caribbean, I also recall when the 'Caribbean' B707-351's were brought out of retirement and pax complaining on a LGW/PMI how they wished they had been flying with Laker and not this Caribbean mob :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by megan (Post 10207258)

LAKER BAHAMAS according to the listings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airline_codes_(L)

FYI
Laker Bahamas was Laker (mk2) set up in 1992 when Sir F bought some old DC-10 30's to rekindle the airline out of FLL, not the Carribean outfit from 1970 set up by Laker and the barbados Govt and tourism board
International Caribbean Airways - ICA
Laker first used its 707-138B's then Dc10's then 707-351B's on the route which was a trip first originating in Luxembourg
when Laker mk1 went under in 1982 other airlines including iirc Cargolux 747 BCAL and Marinair DC10's operated the route for them (
air seychelles too rings a bell?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Angry from Purley (Post 10208261)

WHBM
I'm sure the 707 operated LGW-BGI for Caribbean Airways. I do recall the trip had a week's layover in BGI (so no-one ever went sick)
On the Royal Wedding (Charles and Di) I was nights and if my memory some of the rum punch served on said flight went missing.....#thegoodolddays

Do you also, on royal wedding day, recall our neighbour's 'British Airtours' brand new union flag going missing from their flagpole probably as a result of that rum punch that went walkabout Andy? :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Wayfarers (Post 10216146)

Do you also, on royal wedding day, recall our neighbour's 'British Airtours' brand new union flag going missing from their flagpole probably as a result of that rum punch that went walkabout Andy? :)

Harry
Affirmative but least I didn't wake up in it....

Harry Wayfarers:

Cliff is in my log book as Smithurst.