Olympic Aviation

Olympic Aviation was a subsidiary of Olympic Airways, the Greek national flag carrier.

Creation and Operations of Olympic Aviation

Olympic Aviation was created on August 2nd, 1971, when Olympic Airways was still owned by Aristotle Onassis, by his son Alexander. Until then, it was known as a division of O.A., the "Division for light aircraft and helicopters". Olympic Aviation's main purpose was to link all the Greek islands to the mainland, so it mainly operated a fleet of small turboprop aircraft, which could land in every airport of Greece. Olympic Aviation played a significant role for Olympic Airways. It served most domestic destinations of the parent company. The company was also responsible for charter flights in the Olympic Airways Group of Companies, until Macedonian Airlines was created.

Olympic Aviation Flight Academy

The Flight Academy operated under the supervision of Olympic Aviation, and was created in 1970, by Alexander Onassis. The Flight Academy had bought flight simulators for ATR-42/72 aircraft, as well as Boeing 737-200/300/400 aircraft.

Olympic Aviation Fleet (at integration with Olympic Airways)

• Boeing 717-200 (since 2000)
• ATR 42 (since 1990)
• ATR 72 (since 1989)
• De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 (since 2003)
• Piper Seminole
• Piper Cherokee F
• Cessna 152

Historic Fleet

• Dornier 228 (1983-2003)
• Shorts Skyvan (1970-1990)
• Shorts 330-200 (1980-1992)
• Piper Cherokee E (1972-1973)
• Piper Aztec D (1968-1992)
• Piper Cherokee B (1969-1973)
• Cessna 150K Aerobat (1970-1973)
• Piper Navajo (1968-1973)

The three Boeing 717 aircraft were leased to serve some of Olympic Aviation's European flights, based at Makedonia Airport of Thessaloniki. Shortly after the retirement of the Olympic Airways's Boeing 737-200s, the 717s were used on Olympic Airways's European destinations.

On December 2003, the flight academy as well as most of the Olympic Airways Group companies, became part of a new company called Olympic Airways - Services S.A.. Olympic Aviation continues to operate, mainly to provide helicopter charter services, under the Olympic Airways - Services management. Its turboprop and jet aircraft fleet, as well as that of Olympic Airways and Macedonian Airlines was integrated into a new company, Olympic Airlines.

Incidents and accidents

• August 3, 1989: an Olympic Aviation Short 330, operating as Olympic Aviation Flight 545, crashed on a hillside in Samos island, Greece, while attempting a landing approach in thick fog. All 3 crew members and 31 passengers were killed.

External links

• Olympic Airways - Services S.A.
• Olympic Airlines
• Hellenic Ministry for Transportation and Communications

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