WWII plane takes last passengers

The EU rules apply to planes carrying 19 and more passengers

Aviation enthusiasts have said goodbye to a World War II transport plane which is being forced to stop taking passengers due to EU safety rules.

More than 400 people went on the last 12 flights of the former RAF DC-3 Dakota from Coventry Airport, ending a two-month farewell tour.

Responsibility for enforcing the rules transfers from the Civil Aviation Authority to the EU at midnight.

Air Atlantique, which owns two of the planes, is applying for an exemption.

The firm's commercial director Richard Parr said the European Union regulations, which govern planes carrying 19 or more passengers, required measures which were unnecessary on the DC-3s, including floor lighting and weather radar.

Previously pleasure flights on the DC-3s had been exempt from the regulations.

'Sad day'

Mr Parr said: "They (the rules) would not improve the safety of the aircraft one iota as far as we are concerned.

"It's a sad day, definitely. These aircraft have been around for more than 70 years now.

"The farewell tour has been rammed, which is a phenomenal achievement for the aircraft."

He said the firm would seek an exemption from EU officials, but believed the process could be lengthy.

He added the Dakotas were very popular with the public and had an exemplary safety record.