DH Dove VR-NAG
sports its Skypower
logo before wearing
the full WAAC
livery. Tragically,
this aircraft would be
lost in a crash in May
1949.L • Interior of a
WAAC Dove f itted
with stretchers for
aerial ambulance
work. Stretchers were
stored ready for use
at Lagos, Kano and
Enugu.Each of WAAC’s
airf ields was a self-
sufficient unit, with
a small hut acting
as passenger waiting
room, a small control
tower and a smooth
(in the dry season)
runway. KEY
C Each of WAAC’s airfields was a self-sufficient unit, with a small
hut acting as passenger waiting room, a small control tower and a
smooth (in the dry season) runway. The Station Superintendent
would greet each flight, complete the load sheets, organise
refuelling, arrange for passengers to receive a cool drink
and salute as the aircraft went on its way. At busy Kano the
Superintendent and his staff additionally handled the flights by
BOAC, KLM, TAI, Hunting Air Travel and Airwork aircraft.
Reliability
The Doves proved popular and load factors grew but by
early 1948 two had been damaged in wheels-up landings. In
addition, cabin ventilation and furnishings were not suitable
for tropical conditions. Growing frequency and utilisation on
the short stage sectors increased wear
and reduced the time between engine
changes. Therefore, towards the end
of 1948 the aircraft began experiencing
technical issues with their Gipsy ueen
70 engines. This increased after their
second overhaul as the demand for spare
parts exceeded the speed of delivery.
The impact on WAAC’s schedule
reliability prompted a fall in demand,
impacting revenue, and increased
maintenance costs worsened the
financial setback. By March 1949,
the Chairman was compelled
to seek expert assistance from
the manufacturer.
Two months later, Dove VR-NAG
crashed en route from Port Harcourt
to Benin after the starboard engine
failed. Both crew members and
all six passengers lost their lives. A
modification directive had gone unactioned, and concerns over
the Dove’s single-engine performance in tropical conditions
led WAAC to temporarily withdraw the type from the fleet,
reducing schedules to a trickle. The airline was forced to
maintain service with two 56-seat Bristol Freighters hastily
chartered from RAF West Africa Command.
The accident took a heavy financial toll and sapped the
morale of the company’s pilots. A team of de Havilland advisors
recommended using a reduced all-up weight, cutting the
Dove’s utilisation and further eroding their slender economics.WAAC promoted its
network of almost
30 points with its
‘You Too Can Fly’
advertising campaign.18 AIRLINER Classics 2018