Centreline Air Services
This page is dedicated to my former work colleagues in the
business where I think I had the most fun in the aviation world, albeit hard
work, at the now ceased trading, Centreline Air Services:
The Centreline Embraer Bandeirante on Test Flight over Brazil
just after manufacture.
(probably one of the best "work-horses" ever!)
Centreline was formed in 1978 by the following four people:
Myself (John Willis)
Richard Vipond
Andrew Vipond
Starting initially with a Cessna 310Q and a Piper Navajo
Chieftain on standard UK and European Air Taxi work, the Embraer Bandeirante
was bought by the Vipond's parent business for the Company's use in 1980.
The Bandeirante entered service on May 31st 1980 on a flight from
Luton to Glasgow carrying the London "Times" newspaper, a contract
that was operated 6 nights a week until 1983. In addition, normal daytime
charters around the UK and Europe were operated, fitting in with the night
contract. The Chieftain also operated a similar night contract for another
newspaper on the same route 6 nights a week, making these two aircraft
amongst the busiest in the UK, when the daytime operations were added to the
programme.
With another Bandeirante, leased in from Denmark, in 1982, a
special working arrangement was entered into with Dan-Air whereby Centreline
would operate the Commercial department of the Dan-Air HS748 department in
Aberdeen. All our aircraft were resprayed into Dan-Air Centreline colour
schemes, and a Bandeirante was based in Aberdeen, the Chieftain in Glasgow,
and the second Bandeirante operated on behalf of Dan-Air passenger scheduled
service department daily from Bristol to Glasgow, via Cardiff, and return.
Part of the fleet on the tarmac at the 1982 Biggin Hill "
Air Fair"
(l to r - Cessna 310Q, two Bandeirante's, HS748)
In 1982/83, the Dan-Air Centreline fleet were amongst the most
active small aircraft operations anywhere in the UK, and an operation of
which we were all proud to be a part.
Unfortunately, certain personnel in the Dan-Air HS748 commercial
department were faced with major reductions in income and routes when a
series of contracts were lost to a competing airline. Using privileged
commercial information about the newspaper contracts operated by the two
Centreline aircraft, they undercut the contract dramatically by operating at
a substantial loss simply to gain regular flying to support their otherwise
unsuccessful fleet. Overnight, Centreline lost, not just a major source of
revenues and aircraft utilisation, but also the north/south regular traffic
that permitted simultaneous basing in both Luton/Biggin Hill and
Aberdeen/Glasgow.
After a valiant struggle to continue - well supported by Higgs
Air Agency (the actual operator of the Newspaper contracts) who allowed us
to substitute on a Luton/Dublin contract as an attempt to keep us in the
running - the Directors were faced with the decision to cease operations to
curb further potential for losses.
So, largely as a result of the earlier decision to link our
future to the tie up with Dan-Air, that same link was the one that put us
out of business. (apart from the sadness over the loss of jobs by a large
number of excellent personnel on the ground and in the air, I have to admit
to almost feeling joyful about the ultimate collapse of Dan-Air some time
later. It couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch up their in their head
office!)
Apart from the personal sadness of being unable to continue the
operation I started, the greatest regret is still that Centreline was
undoubtedly one of the most efficient and hard working operations that I
have ever had the privilege of working with. The staff, with no exceptions,
were the best bunch of people anyone could hope to meet during a working
life, and I miss the many staff with whom I have lost touch.
This page is dedicated to all the following, with grateful thanks for
the times we had:
Andrew Vipond - unfortunately now deceased - a lovely guy and a great friend, taken
from us all far too young - R.I.P. Andrew - I am proud to have been able to work with you
Richard Vipond (the money man!) - unfortunately now deceased - a true gentleman
and someone I am personally proud to have been associated with - R.I.P. Richard
Capt Mike Hogan - now a well
respected TRE/IRE. Spent about 13 years flying Citation 2's and 6's with Quantel,
until they ceased operating aircraft. Then flying on AirBus Freighters with
HeavyLift until they ceased operations. He worked for a short while for Tom
Walkenshaw of TWR Racing (Arrows, etc.) on a Challenger, until TWR closed down
in early 2003. Now retired from his position flying a Global Express for an Arab firm (the
same one that employs Steve Harris) Still a close friend now, and
best Chief Pilot I could ever have hoped for.
Capt Robin McCaw - previously an airline
Captain in Australia, now I'm told based in Russia, although his family home is in Australia, and I believe still an exec jet Captain
Capt Art Legg - straight out of the RAF and into the deep end - retired in 2001 from his job as
an Airbus Captain in Taiwan
Fiona Morrison (Pringle) - probably the best Ops Controller/Manager I
have ever worked with (sadly I believe no longer in aviation). Actual whereabouts unknown now.
Capt Ernst Veld (alias "the Flying Dutchman") - Located
again after 27 years in May 2009, no longer in aviation (shame!) and living in Holland - Spoken to again in 2021...
Capt Steve Keating - our very first employee as a pilot, shortly after he gained his CPL, now retired after career in British Airways ending up on 757/767's. Now
living in Australia.
Capt Steve Harris - now captain of Arab
Corporate jet, a BBJ (same firm as Mike Hogan worked for)
Capt Bernie Clarke - left for airline job, and apparently spent most of his career flying
with British Airways. Sadly, we were informed that, after a family problem, Bernie took his own
life in October 2003. A sad loss of a very nice person - R.I.P. Bernie
Capt Gerald Worley - from enthusiastic beginnings to excellent
member of the team. Now a Captain with British Airways
Capt John Quayle - living in the
France and the Channel Isles with his wife Annette
Capt Frank Barker - who guarded our Isle of Man base
in the latter months and worked for me again later in Nigeria. Has recently been located again and is, I believe, now flying
for Eastern Airways, although living in the Isle of Man, flying from there for them
Capt Dave West - from seat handler to Commercial pilot. We
recently located him (Dec 2006). He is now a Training Captain with Cathay Pacific. Dave also owns and runs
Loch Lomond Seaplanes in Scotland.
Capt Eddie Asquith - originally with Fairflight, and then with us in the latter months. Recently heard (Dec 2006) he is now a
Captain on Airbus with BMI and we are trying to make contact with him.
Capt Fred Sheldrick - Dan Air pilot on secondment. whereabouts unknown now.
Capt Reg Stokes - Dan Air pilot on secondment. whereabouts unknown now.
Capt Geoff Goff - now retired after 20 years service with British Midland Airways, where he ended up as an Airbus
Captain. Now enjoying sailing his boat around the Solent whenever he gets the chance. contact re-established in March 2010 after about 27years!
Capt (Dr) Dick Stanhope - Doctor by day, and commercial pilot in spare time and his holidays. Recently located
again (Dec 2006). No longer flying, and is a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at University College Hospitals London, and Great
Ormond Street Hospital for Children. He also has a practice at The Portland Hospital, Great Portland Street
Thornton Simmons - ex Dan Air Operations Officer who found it
difficult to get rid of me (we worked together again later). Whereabouts now unknown.
John Allen and his team of engineers at Luton, without whose line
maintenance expertise we would have simply ground to a halt on those
punishing night contracts. (contact lost with him)
Ian Cranfield - who bravely manned the Dan Air Centreline Commercial
office in Aberdeen for us (Now working for Toyota I think)
To Jenny, who first took the Ops from me and let me concentrate on the commercial side,
before leaving to go to RTZ Ops. Current whereabouts unknown.
And especially to Julianna (Fowler) who helped me run Operations when we started, and
helped with virtually everything else as well before leaving us to go to the
USA (a great loss to both me and the Company, for lots of reasons!).
Finally, a big thanks to all those who worked for us in a variety of
roles under contract - Paddy Casey (who kept us mobile and the aircraft
clean and configured), David
Merritt (who did all our printing), All at Richards Longstaff (who looked
after our insurances), Geoff Rosenbloom of
Air Charter Scotland (who did everything he could to help us in Glasgow),
Jim Wilson who was one of Geoff's team at Glasgow, John (johnnie Clemm)
Clementson, Chris Bond, Phil Lowe, and their
team at Ralph Scott's Express Aviation (whose maintenance scheduling kept us serviceable
with absolutely minimal "at base" down time), Sadly Ralph died in August 2021
Wendy Motley from Biggin Air Traffic who
often helped us get in and out of the airfield outside hours, and now a senior person the New Zealand CAA and to anyone else
whose names I have forgotten after all this time (with apologies!)
And to the man from 748 Commercial (last heard of with British
Aerospace) who caused the problems in the end - Stuart Wheeler - I hope
you get what you deserve in time!!!!!!!!!
If any of you read this, please make contact again - it would
be good to hear how you are getting on.
Anyone else who might know the whereabouts of any of these guys where we show no contact, please
drop me a note - thanks
Email me: john@johnwillis.co.uk
Site prepared, maintained, and sponsored by John
Willis
Please take the time to visit our sister site at
Salema-Algarve.com for holiday rentals in Salema, Portugal