Council bans passenger trip on historic aircraft

12:24pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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FLIGHTS on a historic aircraft on its farewell tour have been banned by Bromley Council.

And one resident, whose birthday treat has been ruined by the decision to stop the flights from Biggin Hill airport, says the move "is an awful shame".

The Douglas DC-3 Dakota was used in the Second World War to transport paratroopers and military supplies.

Due to EU flight security regulations, the aircraft will no longer be able to be used for passenger flights after July 15.

Aircraft operator Air Atlantique Classic Flight is running a national farewell tour offering flights in a DC-3 and planned to fly from Biggin Hill on May 24 and May 25.

However, Bromley Council refused permission for the plane to use Biggin Hill as this breached the airport's lease, which does not allow fare-paying passenger flights.

Air Atlantique commercial director Richard Parr, said: "The DC-3 has had 70 years of valiant and successful service and was a very important transport aircraft in the Second World War.

"D-Day would not have happened without it.

"It was also vital in the start-up of big airlines. For example, British Airways started with a DC-3 in the 1960s."

He added: "It's a shame people associated with it can't fly from Biggin Hill.

"I am more disappointed for the passengers being inconvenienced more than anything else."

One disappointed resident is Lee Rose, a pilot who lives in Chestnut Avenue, Coney Hall.

His wife, Lyn, had bought them both tickets for a Biggin Hill Dakota flight, costing £99 each, as a birthday treat.

The 46-year-old said: "Biggin Hill has a great history of aviation dating back to the Second World War.

"It seems a real shame the tour could not take place at Biggin Hill.

"The council should have looked at it as a farewell tour which is good for Biggin Hill, good for the airport and good for the tour.

"It's an awful shame and would have been nice to make an exception, as there are always exceptions to the rules."

As well as playing an important part on D-Day, the Dakota was also used during Operation Market Garden later in 1944 when Allied forces parachuted into Holland.

It also took part in the Berlin Airlift, when food was supplied to the west side of the German city during a Soviet blockade between June 1948 and September 1949.

The Air Atlantique tour will still be visiting airports at Manston, Southend, Exeter, Blackpool, Bristol, Newcastle, Coventry, Durham, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, Doncaster, Norwich and Belfast.

Mr Rose now plans to fly from Southend instead.

He added: "I don't really want to go to Southend. It won't be able to fly over London now.

"A lot of people want to say goodbye. It's such a shame they won't be able to fly on it for the last time."

Air Atlantique applied to the council for a permit to fly in February.

Its application was turned down last month.

Bromley Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: "We refused permission as the proposal was contrary to the terms of the lease.

"We simply could not accept it or allow it.

"The whole issue of fare-paying passengers is a matter of principle for us and one we feel strongly about."