Speedbird
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: BHX LXR ASW
Why do airlines use a mixture of numbers and letters in their call signs. Years ago it used to be the flight number. Back in those days for example Speedbird 501 used to be the flight to JFK. Nowadays I haven't a clue what the first flight to JFK is.
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From: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
'Bealine' was the BEA c/s throughout my spotting days in the late 1960s/early '70s.
I also remember the Norjet/Cambrian ones too. The NE VC8s and Tridents were easily visible heading down Amber One East from EGNM/EGNT.
Before ICAO flight-prefixes became 3 letters, BOAC/Speedbird was BA and BEA/Bealine was BE. I don't know when the Beeline c/s was introduced though?
British Midland's prefix was BD.
Britannia were BY, I think Monarch were OM?
The 2 letter codes were still in use when I joined NATS in 1979. I think the change to 3 letters was in the mid 1980s?
I also remember the Norjet/Cambrian ones too. The NE VC8s and Tridents were easily visible heading down Amber One East from EGNM/EGNT.
Before ICAO flight-prefixes became 3 letters, BOAC/Speedbird was BA and BEA/Bealine was BE. I don't know when the Beeline c/s was introduced though?
British Midland's prefix was BD.
Britannia were BY, I think Monarch were OM?
The 2 letter codes were still in use when I joined NATS in 1979. I think the change to 3 letters was in the mid 1980s?
Last edited by ZOOKER; 28th January 2017 at 17:18.
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From: Reading, UK
Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: London UK
The Speedbird logo was designed for Imperial Airways in the early 1930s by a chap called Theyre Lee-Elliott, who when at Cambridge (reading Theology of all things) had spent much of his time on sports, being a tennis Blue and an England table-tennis champion. Didn't become a vicar but instead a freelance artist, where he picked up a considerable number of commissions, including the Imperial logo and name, which has certainly stood the test of time. It may be the oldest airline branding of all still in use.
Although BA don't use the graphic much now there is a permanent reminder done in the tile-work of Hatton Cross Underground station, next to the BA maintenance HQ.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theyre_Lee-Elliott
Although BA don't use the graphic much now there is a permanent reminder done in the tile-work of Hatton Cross Underground station, next to the BA maintenance HQ.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theyre_Lee-Elliott
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: LEEDS
Interesting post from Airbanda. Only in a classic British state-owned company could so many callsigns be in simultaneous use - in what was (as far as the travelling public knew) a single airline business. Or am I over-simplifying ??
Possibly by the time Speedbird had been universally adopted, British Airways had walked from EGNM and passed their routes to British Midland and Air UK (1980). But they came back- eventually!
Possibly by the time Speedbird had been universally adopted, British Airways had walked from EGNM and passed their routes to British Midland and Air UK (1980). But they came back- eventually!
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From: London UK
Only in a classic British state-owned company could so many callsigns be in simultaneous use - in what was (as far as the travelling public knew) a single airline business.
That's until they have an accident, when the main carrier instantly distances themselves from the operator.
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From: Reading, UK
The callsign changed from "Brussels Airlines" to "Bee-Line" with Issue 143 of ICAO Doc 8585 in January 2008.
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From: Dorset UK
Not been to Heathrow for nearly 5 years now, but I recall the BA maintenance tugs using "B line" call sign when towing aircraft to and from the maintenance area.
Also, back in my spotting days, (late 60s) BEA used "Bea line" followed by the last 2 letters of the registration. e.g. "Bea line Papa Echo".
Also, back in my spotting days, (late 60s) BEA used "Bea line" followed by the last 2 letters of the registration. e.g. "Bea line Papa Echo".
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: UK
B-line still in use for BA tugs towing aircraft between the maintenance hangar and the terminals. They don't need a callsign really, as they are easily identified by their maximum speed of 0.1 Kts per hour.
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From: Hyeres, France
Surprised that it's now almost ten years - heard it for the first time as we were lining up for take off in Dakar just a couple of months ago and spent five minutes waiting to see what was actually going to land.
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From: UK
My memory suggests that the original format of the Shuttle call sign was along the lines shuttle 1 Alpha where 1 indicated the route and direction (so, for the sake of argument 1 = LHR/GLA and 2=GLA/LHR, 3=LHR/EDI etc). The letter indicated the sequence so 1A was the first LHR/GLA 1B was the second LHR/GLA. By doing that they overcame any issues relating to flight numbers because they never really knew when they might have to insert a flight into the schedule.
I once asked a BA shuttle manager if he took any notice of reservations (because connecting passengers, in particular, could be booked). Well, he said, I did once ask just before Christmas how many reservations we had for Belfast and when they told me I borrowed a Tristar but I didn't really need it.
I once asked a BA shuttle manager if he took any notice of reservations (because connecting passengers, in particular, could be booked). Well, he said, I did once ask just before Christmas how many reservations we had for Belfast and when they told me I borrowed a Tristar but I didn't really need it.
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From: Reading, UK
I think any slight resemblance to the Speedbird symbol is coincidental, rather than intentional on Owen Williams' part.
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Reading, UK
My memory suggests that the original format of the Shuttle call sign was along the lines shuttle 1 Alpha where 1 indicated the route and direction (so, for the sake of argument 1 = LHR/GLA and 2=GLA/LHR, 3=LHR/EDI etc). The letter indicated the sequence so 1A was the first LHR/GLA 1B was the second LHR/GLA.
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From: LEEDS
Slight thread drift coming up. I remember in the summer of 1976 the LBA-based Viscounts were either in the new BA livery or in the old BEA Speedwing(?) livery but with British Airways titles. I guess the latter would have been series 802 aircraft, covering for any absent 806s from the old Northeast and Cambrian fleets, which would have been getting resprayed (for about the fifth time in their careers) in the new BA livery.
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From: The Winchester
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...and the tone of voice....( you'll have to have heard it to understand.........)
B-line still in use for BA tugs towing aircraft between the maintenance hangar and the terminals. They don't need a callsign really, as they are easily identified by their maximum speed of 0.1 Kts per hour.