British Air Transport
Encyclopedia
British Air Transport Ltd (BAT) was a British
independent airline from 1932 until 1951.
south of London. It was one of the first UK airlines to operate the four-passenger de Havilland Fox Moth
single-engined light airliner. BATs commercial operations ceased at the outbreak of World War II
.
in Surrey in May 1946 equipped with two Auster Autocrat
s and one Airspeed Consul
. The Austers were used on pleasure flying and photography from both Kenley and Croydon. The eight-seat Consul was joined by four others and performed passenger and freight charters within the U.K. and to the near Continent.
BAT owned Redhill Aerodrome
and as soon as the Royal Air Force
moved out in 1947, the firm's charter and other operations were set up there. The sole remaining airworthy de Havilland Flamingo
17-passenger airliner G-AFYH was purchased by BAT in May 1947. It flew passenger charter flights from Croydon. During 1947-1948, BAT had a regular contract to fly newspapers from Croydon to Jersey
and Guernsey
and the airline bought six Avro Anson
s for the flights, which were supplemented by the Flamingo when loads were heavy. In late 1948, the newspaper contracts were lost to a competitor and the airline operation was gradually run down, ceasing in 1951. The twin-engined aircraft were disposed of, and after storage, the Flamingo was scrapped in 1954, but BAT continued to own and operate the airfield at Redhill.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
independent airline from 1932 until 1951.
Prewar operations
BAT was formed during 1932 to perform public charter flights. BAT based its aircraft fleet at Croydon AirportCroydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
south of London. It was one of the first UK airlines to operate the four-passenger de Havilland Fox Moth
De Havilland Fox Moth
|-References:NotesBibliography* Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.* Jackson, A. J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972: Volume II. London: Putnam , 1988. ISBN 0-85177-813-5....
single-engined light airliner. BATs commercial operations ceased at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Postwar operations
BAT resumed air charter operations from RAF KenleyRAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. It is located near Kenley, London, England.-History:...
in Surrey in May 1946 equipped with two Auster Autocrat
Auster Autocrat
-External links:*...
s and one Airspeed Consul
Airspeed Consul
-See also:-References:...
. The Austers were used on pleasure flying and photography from both Kenley and Croydon. The eight-seat Consul was joined by four others and performed passenger and freight charters within the U.K. and to the near Continent.
BAT owned Redhill Aerodrome
Redhill Aerodrome
Redhill Aerodrome is located southeast of Redhill, Surrey, England, in green belt land.Redhill Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee .-Early history:The airfield came into use in the...
and as soon as the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
moved out in 1947, the firm's charter and other operations were set up there. The sole remaining airworthy de Havilland Flamingo
De Havilland Flamingo
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bain, Gordon. De Havilland: A Pictorial Tribute. London: AirLife, 1992. ISBN 1-85648-243-X.* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "De Havilland's War Orphan." Air Enthusiast. Number 30, March-June 1996, pp. 1—10. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press.*...
17-passenger airliner G-AFYH was purchased by BAT in May 1947. It flew passenger charter flights from Croydon. During 1947-1948, BAT had a regular contract to fly newspapers from Croydon to Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
and Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
and the airline bought six Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s for the flights, which were supplemented by the Flamingo when loads were heavy. In late 1948, the newspaper contracts were lost to a competitor and the airline operation was gradually run down, ceasing in 1951. The twin-engined aircraft were disposed of, and after storage, the Flamingo was scrapped in 1954, but BAT continued to own and operate the airfield at Redhill.
Aircraft operated
- Auster AutocratAuster Autocrat-External links:*...
- Airspeed ConsulAirspeed Consul-See also:-References:...
- Avro AnsonAvro AnsonThe Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
- de Havilland Fox MothDe Havilland Fox Moth|-References:NotesBibliography* Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.* Jackson, A. J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972: Volume II. London: Putnam , 1988. ISBN 0-85177-813-5....
- de Havilland FlamingoDe Havilland Flamingo|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bain, Gordon. De Havilland: A Pictorial Tribute. London: AirLife, 1992. ISBN 1-85648-243-X.* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "De Havilland's War Orphan." Air Enthusiast. Number 30, March-June 1996, pp. 1—10. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press.*...
- de Havilland DoveDe Havilland DoveThe de Havilland DH.104 Dove was a British monoplane short-haul airliner from de Havilland, the successor to the biplane de Havilland Dragon Rapide and was one of Britain's most successful post-war civil designs...