World Airways
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| World Airways | ||
|---|---|---|
| IATA WO |
ICAO WOA |
Callsign WORLD |
| Founded | 1948 | |
| Fleet size | 17 | |
| Destinations | various | |
| Parent company | World Air Holdings, Inc. | |
| Headquarters | Peachtree City, Georgia | |
| Key people | Charlie McDonald, COO | |
| Website: http://www.worldair.com | ||
World Airways is a non-scheduled airline currently headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia.
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[edit] History
Though World Airways was founded in 1948 by Benjamin Pepper, Edward Daly is thought of as World's founder. He bought the airline in 1950 for $50,000 and proceeded to acquire DC-4s. World got its first government contract in 1951 and has had a substantial amount of government business since then. Later, World acquired DC-6s and Lockheed Constellations. World entered the jet era in the late 1960s with Boeing 707s and 727s. In the early 1970s World acquired Douglas DC-8s.
World became a key military contractor during the Vietnam War, flying troops and equipment between the war zone and World's base at Oakland International Airport. On March 29, 1975, World operated the last airlift flight out of Da Nang, Vietnam, an event that made world news. Two 727s were flown to Da Nang, one of which landed with Daly aboard. Thousands rushed the airplane and it took off on a taxiway under heavy fire. When the airplane landed at Saigon, they estimated there were over 330 people on board. World did not return to Da Nang until April 17, 2002, then with an MD-11 aircraft to pick up a team of people resolving Missing-In-Action cases from the Vietnam War.
Also, in the early 1970s, World operated three Boeing 747 aircraft. Later, World acquired DC-10s some of which it still operates today. World experienced heavy losses in the 1980s as a result of an attempt at scheduled service. During the first Persian Gulf War, World did a substantial amount of profitable business for the military, enabling the addition of the MD-11 to the fleet.
Today's fleet consists of DC-10 and MD-11 aircraft both in freighter and passenger configuration. World Airways does not currently have any scheduled passenger service. Instead, it provides airlift for customers who need long-haul widebody aircraft for passenger and cargo service. World still receives a substantial amount of its business from the military, but does have both passenger and freight contracts with private organizations, as well as wet leases to other airlines.
In 2006, for the third year in a row, World became the official air-travel provider of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. [1]
During the mid 1990s, World operated the military passenger trunk route from Osan Air Base, Korea and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa to Los Angeles, using MD-11 aircraft.
[edit] Incidents and accidents
On January 23, 1982, a World Airways DC-10 landing at Boston's Logan International Airport under icy conditions and limited visibility slid off the end of the runway and plunged into Boston Harbor, separating the cockpit section from the rest of the aircraft with the loss of only two lives. The accident occurred because the plane touched down about 1,000 feet from its intended touchdown point.
[edit] Fleet
As of August 2006 the World Airways fleet includes:
- 1 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
- 2 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F
- 6 McDonnell Douglas MD-11
- 2 McDonnell Douglas MD-11ER
- 5 McDonnell Douglas MD-11F [2]
[edit] References
- ^ Jacksonville Jaguars travel provider
- ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
