South Coast Airways surrenders

While I talked to Captain Andrew Dixon at Bournemouth-Hurn Airport, during an impromptu visit while on family vacation (aug.2000) in the UK, I thought "here we have a DC-3 operation that is going to last!'' Things were in good order, G-DAKK looked immaculate, plenty of flights on the agenda and I considered this against the difficulties the Dutch Dakota Association in my home country "enjoyed".... Well, it was not to be: during 2002 DDA's DC-3s were grounded (sponsor flights were being carried out by Fokker 50s of KLM Cityhopper) and South Coast Airways threw in the towel !
What a dismal year for DC-3s in Europe !

While the summer of 2002 seemed to progress normally for South Coast Airways (after un irregular spell of cancelled flights in May) with flights to Caen to commemorate D-day in June and sight-seeing flights from Biggin Hill that same month, it came as a shock when at noon on Thursday July 11th 2002 the airline suddenly ceased trading.
On Saturday July 13rd G-DAKK made an unexpected flight of only 20 minutes to nearby Popham Airfield, near Basingstoke. The DC-3 was parked on a quiet part of the airfield and has been offered for sale together with N47FK (cn 9700), which had been making the trips to air shows together with G-DAKK.
In 2000 South Coast Aws had been bought by Tony Holden of the Dakota Trust (owner of N47FK). On Jan.29th 2002 the ownership of G-DAKK changed to General Technics Ltd, but an email of mine for details was dealt with a non-committing:"...the operator will remain South Coast Airways". Clearly, it was not enough to solve whatever problems existed.

The following was published on http://www.southcoastairways.com/ during Oct.2002
''It has come to our attention that Andrew & Geraldine Dixon, the Directors of South Coast Airways, have taken the company to the point of liquidation so that they can rid themselves of the lawful shareholders who have funded the company and dump, without compunction, the many passengers, who have paid in good faith, for flights on G-DAKK this summer. They intend to set up another airline later in the year in association with the Dutch Dakota Association using a Dutch Dakota which they have asked the Civil Aviation to re-register as British.''

''Directors of the company: Mr Andrew Dixon and Mrs Geraldine Dixon, in happier timesThe directors and the affairs of the company are under investigation by the liquidator and the Civil Aviation Authority.''

I hope for better times, for both crew and aircraft.

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