Independent Air
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| Commenced operations | 1966 | |||
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| Ceased operations | 1990 | |||
Independent Air was a chartered airline based in the United States, that was operational from 1966 to 1990.[1]
Atlanta Skylarks
Independent Air originated with Atlanta Skylarks. The airline operated flights for the Atlanta Skylarks Travel Club beginning in July 1966 with a single Douglas DC-7. By early 1970s they expanded charter operations to the Caribbean using a Sud Aviation Caravelle and two Boeing 720s. The airline license (not the club) was taken over in 1984 by Alvin Pittman and Orien Dickerson. Both previously worked for Capital Air. The new airline was named Independent Air.
Independent Air
Independent Air was granted a license for worldwide charters in 1984. The company purchased two Boeing 707s (N7232X and N7231T) from Trans World Airlines. The company's permission to operate these aircraft was withdrawn in 1984 following new noise regulations. The company was exempted from the permission withdrawal following a succeful lawsuit. In 1985, the aircraft were fitted with hush kits, allowing the aircraft to meet Stage 3 noise levels.
The airline mainly operated holiday charters and also flew charters for the US military.
In 1988 and 1989 the company flew charters between Florida and Jamaica, also dubbed the "Jamaica Shuttle". At the time of the crash of Independent Air 1851, the company was operating flights between Boston and Ponta Delgada, Fort Lauderdale and Montego Bay, Denver and Montego Bay and Milan/Bergamo and Santo Domingo/Montego Bay. Following the crash, the Italian government banned low-cost carriers such as Independent Air from their skies and the service to the Dominican Republic was stopped.
Just before the airline went out of business they had a reputation of not paying their bills. So fuel, catering and other services had to be paid in cash and in full before the aircraft was allowed to leave the gate. In a heated discussion between the captain and a Marriott catering rep, the captain was asked to pay before the aircraft left. He told the caterer that he would pay the invoice after he was towed to North Cargo and off of gate 5 at Term E at Logan; as he was about to be fined for blocking an international gate. The caterer agreed. The B-707 did not wait for a tug, and since all passengers were on board; he waited for all ground equipment and tugs to be cleared away from his aircraft, he fire walled all 4 of his reverse thrusters and backed off the gate himself and began to taxi to runway 33L. Those who witnessed this dangerous maneuver began burning up the phone and radio frequencies to the FAA and the Port Authority about a crazy airliner who backed off a gate himself without wing walkers and safety personnel. Before the authorities arrived, the caterer pulled his 24 foot catering truck in front of the nose of the B-707 when he had to stop to let a ZANTOP Lockheed Electra Cargo Prop exit North Cargo and Pass in front the escaping aircraft. The Caterer also parked another company Ford F-150 under the tail section of the 707. Massport finally arrived, and so did the FAA. The FAA was about to order the caterers to get out of the way or be fined themselves until Page Avjet; the Fuel Company also arrived and demanded payment. Massport ordered the charter aircraft to be towed to North cargo until its billing situation was straightened out. Rumor has it a collection was taken up from 160 charter passengers along with cash from the crew, the plane was released.Unfortunately that aircraft suffered a fatal accident several months later where all on board were killed. I believe if people had known about the airlines finances and its inability to pay for even its most basic operational and flight needs i.e., fuel and fuel. The passengers who subsequently perished in two later flights with this charter outfit may have reconsidered the airlines cheap air fare and chose a different cut rate carrier. Many would have never flown Independent Air again!
Independent Air 1851
On 8 February 1989 one of Independent Air 707´s (N7231T, Independent Air Flight 1851) crashed on approach to Santa Maria in the Azores, killing all 144 people on board.
After the crash
By 1990 Independent Air was planning to start scheduled flights between New York and Puerto Rico but those plans were not realized. In the meantime, fallout from the Azores accident led to contracts with tour operators being canceled and flights were suspended in November 1990.[2]
Fleet details
After the name change from Atlanta Skylarks to Independent Air, the company acquired two Boeing 707-331Bs from TWA (N7232X and N7231T). The two Boeing 720s were disposed of. Initially, the company was not granted permission to use the 707s in the US since their engines were not fitted with hush kits. In 1987, Independent Air added a Boeing 727-100 (N154FN) to their fleet but this aircraft was returned to the lessor before the end of that year. Independent Air also leased a Boeing 707 from Skystar International (N728Q) in 1987. The fleet's mainstays (N7231T and N7232X) were sold to International Air Leases Inc. in 1988 and leased back. The Boeing 707 N7231T that was lost in the Azores was replaced in 1989 by a 707 from Denver Ports of Call (N457PC). Both aircraft were returned to International Air Leases in 1990, when Independent Air ceased operations.
Accidents and incidents
- 8 February 1989: Independent Air Flight 1851 crashed into a hill; everyone on the Boeing 707 died.
External links
References
- ↑ Information about Independent Air at the Aviation Safety Network.
- ↑ Airlines Remembered by BI Hengi, Publisher Midland Publishing