Airliners have been landing
at Eoligarry Airport for more
than 60 years. Today, Twin O ers
provide a vital lifeline for the islands’
communities, but only when the tide
is out. Andy Martin takes a trip to
the Sco ish Outer Hebrides.(All photos David Savile)ABOVE US ONLY SKY
BELOW US ONLY SEA
B
arra, 145 miles (233km) northwest
of Glasgow, is the second most
populous island in the Outer
Hebrides. It can be reached from the
mainland via a fi ve-hour ferry journey or a
75-minute fl ight in a 19-seat, unpressurised
turboprop. Fewer than 1,200 people live
on its 22.7 square miles (58.75km^2 ) but
the air link brings in thousands of visitors
who fi ll its small local hotels and campsites
throughout the summer.Air services
Aircraft began using Traigh Mhor, a
shallow bay on the northern side of Barra,
in June 1936. The Air Ministry licensed the
site two months later, enabling Northern
and Sco ish Airways to launch services
to the island the following year using a
Spartan Cruiser. A merger with Sco ish
Airways brought de Havilland DH.89
Dragon Rapides to the beach on a regular
basis in 1938. British European Airways
took over in 1947, but the elderly biplanes
continued to ply the route from Glasgow
until 1955. Four-engined de Havilland
DH.114 Herons were then used until 1973,
and although Short Skyvans were fl own
onto the beach for a while a contract to
operate the link was awarded to Loganair
and the Bri en-Norman Trislander made
its fi rst appearance. In October 1981 the
service was upgraded when de Havilland
Canada DHC-6 Twin O ers arrived, and
it rapidly became obvious the ruggedBARRA
Extreme Airports // 6362-65_Barra.indd 63 11/05/2018 15:52