Our shareholders have always maintained aviation interests.   In 1970 an 11 seat de Havilland Dove G-APZU was acquired from Lulsgate Air Services at Bristol Airport and place under the AOC of McAlpine Aviation at Luton Airport.  Macedonian Aviation a division of Macedonian Securities was established at Southend Airport and the first of 5 Douglas DC3 Dakotas was purchased from British Aerospace at Bristol Filton (G-AMPO).  Macedonian acquired its own Air Operators Certificate and then purchased the remaining 35 seat DC3s from BIA in Jersey.  It commenced with ad hoc charter work and term contracts with Conoco ferrying oil platform workers around the North Sea and the Ford Motor Company shipping spares between Dagenhan and Dusseldorf.  G-AMPO's  claim to fame was in June 1972 when it was used to rescue a group of British guests attending a wedding celebration in Lebanon from Beirut Airport which was under attack from Israeli aircraft following the massacre at the Munich Olympics.  The wedding party continued in Kyrenia, Cyprus after being dropped off at Nicosia.

Macedonian Aviation eventually went on to obtain a scheduled service with
BEA operating between Aberdeen and the Shetland Islands.   Following Conoco's announcement in the mid 1970's it only wanted to utilise turbo prop aircraft, the aircraft were sold.    In 1995 the group purchased the ex
Queens flight De Havilland Dove  G-HBBC being the former personal aircraft
of HRH Prince Philip.  This was the aircraft that HRH learned to fly and was flown by him as first officer on 67 seperate occassions.  BBC Air Ltd was formed to run and maintain  its aircraft fleet.  In 2000  the company purchased 4 Cessna training aircraft which they leased to Compton Abbas
airfield for flying training. The Dove has over a 10 year period undergone a GBP £300,000 restoration programme and is now probably the best presented Dove in the world.  Prince Philip revisited his aircraft at the 32 Squadron (Royal) flight at RAF Northolt and was delighted to see his aeroplane commenting on it's 'as new' condition.  The 11 seater Dove continues with the group and is utilised for property inspection trips and a 'flying boardroom'.