Save Concorde Group (SCG) management 2010
Ben Lord - Chairman
Katie John - Secretary
Dave Jones – PR/Comms Manager
Steve de Sausmarez – Project Manager – Research (Owner of Heritage Concorde website)
Peter Mitchell – Project Manager – Heritage/ Engineering
“I had put my faith in someone doing something. I had assumed that Concorde would always be there. I was annoyed and ashamed that I could have done something, but chose to do nothing. It was too late – or was it?”
These are the words of Ross Mallett, the first Chairman of the Save Concorde Group, at the Group’s first public meeting on 20th March 2004. He told of watching the events leading up to the retirement of the Concorde fleet in 2003. He had never flown on Concorde, but he reasoned that he need not pay for a flight just then, that “there was always next month”, and “October would come and they would announce continuation of the service”. By the time the last three commercial flights had landed at Heathrow, he realized, “it was too late. We, the public, had done nothing; our amazing achievements with the French, evident in this magnificent white bird, were destined to become memories in the text of museum exhibitions.”
An end and a beginning Ross immediately started a website, to attract attention and support. The first few members attended the final Concorde flight into Filton, on 26 November 2003, and distributed flyers among the crowd. Word spread, and the Save Concorde Group began to receive support from ex-Concorde pilots and engineers, people in British Airways and Air France, and contacts in the Civil Aviation Authority. MPs and MEPs, and luminaries such as Sir Terence Conran and Phil Collins, also gave their backing to the campaign.
Spreading the word Throughout 2004, members of the Save Concorde Group spread their message to the public throughout the UK. They began a petition, and took it to events across the country, campaigning in all weathers. The group circulated amongst the crowds who came to see Concorde G-BOAA floated up the Thames on a barge. They petitioned in busy shopping centres and even on a tube train. In addition, they sold merchandise including car stickers, photographs, and prints, much of it produced by the group members themselves. The campaigners spoke to more than 20,000 people, from former Concorde workers to people who had enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime flight, to those who just loved watching the aircraft in action. Thousands told of their admiration for the Concorde’s and those who operated them, and voiced their intense regret that the planes had been retired. Some people doubted that the campaigners could meet the immense challenges of returning the aircraft to flight, but signed anyway because they so wanted to see the Concorde’s in the air again or, as one man said, because “I like your spirit”.
Aiming for the top Buoyed by this public support, the Save Concorde Group took their petition to No. 10 Downing Street on 22 October, to enlist the support of the Government and the nation. The hand-in was covered by newspapers, radio, and TV stations all over the UK. The event was also picked up by press and internet sites across the world, from USA Today to the Independent in Bangladesh. Sir Terence Conran sent a letter expressing his fervent support. It seemed that Concorde had not been forgotten; two weeks later, Virgin Atlantic issued a statement saying that they wished to see a Concorde preserved “to fly for the nation”. A month later, the group presented a copy of the petition to Airbus UK at Filton, asking for the company’s aid in restoring Concorde’s Certificate of Airworthiness, so that the aircraft would be permitted to fly again. More coming soon!
Mission Statement
SCG is campaigning to return Concorde to heritage flight. This will enable the Great British public to enjoy witnessing the ongoing celebration of one of the greatest engineering achievements in the history of this country. It would also be a living tribute to cooperation between European nations in the post-war era, and could be timed to coincide with the celebrations for the London Olympics in 2012.
The main obstacle preventing this return to flight is British Airways. They continue to hide behind statements that they refuse to back up in terms of costs and accountability.
The commercial life of the British Concorde’s had come to an end in 2003 when the aircraft, which remains legally owned by British Airways, were retired to museums. BA itself signaled a desire to see one Concorde fly in a heritage capacity, but the company’s plan failed to get the support of the holder of the type certificate.
Given the unique history of Concorde, both in terms of its development at the taxpayer expense, and its subsequent use as a symbol of national pride at state events, we feel that it is the state, in the guise of the government, who have a role to play in securing access to the type certificate.
We have therefore submitted a petition to the government, and to Airbus (UK). Over 30,000 members of the British public have signed it in the hope that the government might offer assistance in this regard. An Early Day Motion has been raised in the Houses of Parliament calling on the Government to assist in returning a Concorde as a State aircraft.
Note that:
- We are not seeking to change the past
- We are not asking for financial assistance
- We are merely asking for some helpful intervention to facilitate the transfer of documentation and in gaining the access to the aircraft needed to determine a true cost for the stated objectives
The British and French people paid for the development of Concorde. Those same people have a right to be allowed to see this great icon of the 20th century grace the skies once more.
This would be both a fitting tribute to the past cooperation between great European nations, and a living symbol of what we might achieve in the future, if we work together and if we set our sights high: a truly inspirational symbol for peace and technological excellence.
Join the fight for flight….
http://www.save-concorde.co.uk/
August 2010
Save Concorde Group have been invited to meet with British Airways to discuss their plans for Concorde G-BOAB, which include keeping her on display at Heathrow!