Royal Air Freight

Royal Air Freight (also known as Royal Air Charter) is an American passenger and cargo airline based in Waterford, Michigan, adjacent to the Oakland County International Airport. The airline is licensed and certified to serve the US, Canada and Mexico with charter passenger and air cargo services.^[1]

Its main base is Oakland County International Airport located 6 miles west of Pontiac, Michigan.

History

The airline started operations in 1961 and has 30 pilots.^[2] Kirt Kostich serves as president of Royal Air Freight Inc., and members of the Kostich family serve as the firm’s officers.^[3]

Fleet

The airlines fleet includes the following aircraft, among others (as of January 8, 2010)^[4]

• 7 Cessna 310R

• 6 Gates Learjet 25B

• 6 Dassault/SUD Fan Jet Falcon

• 4 Gates Learjet 35A

• 5 Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante

Accidents/Controversy

The airline has had some accidents and safety issues including:

• The pilot and co-pilot of a Royal Air Freight Learjet 35 A (registration N720RA) were killed when it crashed while attempting its final approach to land at Chicago Executive Airport on January 5, 2010. The FAA is still investigating the incident.^[5] The plane was not carrying cargo at the time and was heading to the airport to pick up cargo.^[6]

• A twin engine Royal Air Freight twin-engine plane crashed while en route from Maryland to Maine in March 2004. The pilot lost control in the accident, but no reason was determined.^[7]

External links

• Royal Air Freight website
• Oakland County International Airport website

References

1. ↑ Air Charter Guide, http://aircharterguide.com/Operator_Info/ROYAL_AIR_FREIGHT,_INC./854/PONTIAC/927
2. ↑ Air Charter Guide, http://aircharterguide.com/Operator_Info/ROYAL_AIR_FREIGHT,_INC./854/PONTIAC/927
3. ↑ Michigan, corporation information update, State of Michigan Dept of Energy, Labor and economic growth, http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/image.asp?FILE_TYPE=MAO&FILE_NAME=R200904\2009091\00000378.tif
4. ↑ FAA Registry, http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Name_Results.aspx?Nametxt=ROYAL%20AIR%20FREIGHT&sort_option=1&PageNo=1
5. ↑ Detroit Free Press, pilot co-pilot die in Chicago crash, January 6, 2010
6. ↑ Aviation International News, January 2010, http://www.ainonline.com/ain-and-ainalerts/aviation-international-news/single-publication-story/article/cargo-learjet-35-crashes-on-approach-to-chicago-exec/
7. ↑ Chicago Tribune, pilot and co-pilot killed in small-plane crash, January 6, 2010, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-plane-crash-06-jan06,0,4189580.story