Phoenix Air
Not to be confused with Air Phoenix.
| ||||
| Founded | 1978 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating bases | Cartersville Airport | |||
| Headquarters | Cartersville, Georgia, USA | |||
| Website | phoenixair.com | |||
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A Phoenix Air Learjet 35 approaching Naval Air Station North Island (2009).
Phoenix Air Group, often just referred to as Phoenix Air, is a non-scheduled airline headquartered in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, with the city's airport serving as its base. Founded in 1978, Phoenix Air operates worldwide charter flights (passenger and cargo; catering for corporate, military or air ambulance demands).
Fleet
In 2007, Phoenix Air had been named the world's largest owner-operator of Grumman Gulfstream I aircraft. At that time, its fleet consisted of the following:[1]
- 4 Bombardier Learjet 35
- 2 Bombardier Learjet 35A
- 7 Bombardier Learjet 36A
- 8 Grumman Gulfstream I
- 3 Gulfstream III**
- 1 Gulfstream II
- 1 Gulfstream IIB
- 3 Embraer 120
- One Gulfstream III (G-III), N173PA, has been fitted with an Airborne Biomedical Containment System (ABCS), funded by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[2] It has been used for transporting of patients suffering from the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014. This is the only aircraft in the world capable of safely transporting patients of highly communicable diseases that offers a high degree of protection to the aircraft's crew and the accompanying medical staff. This aircraft is currently under an "on demand" $5 million USD contract to the US State Department. As the virus spread, officials from the World Health Organization, U.N. and Britain, among others, all approached Phoenix Air to sign exclusive deals.
The bio-containment unit is a special negative pressure transport tube that allows medical personnel to treat Ebola patients while in flight. Decontamination includes hydrogen peroxide fog, quarternary ammonia, spore strip testing, and burning of the envelope.[3][4]
As of 14 October 2014, two Phoenix Air Gulfstreams were able to carry Ebola patients, and another jet was being equipped.[5]
Accidents and incidents
- On 8 January 1988 at 05:19 local time, a Phoenix Air Learjet 36 (registered N79SF) crashed during landing approach of Monroe Municipal Airport following a flight from Memphis, Tennessee, killing the two pilots on board. The NTSB investigation revealed that the co-pilot had not been type rated to fly this aircraft type.[6]
- On 29 June 1989 at 00:04, a Phoenix Air Dassault Falcon 20 (registered N125CA) crashed near Cartersville Airport shortly into a ferry flight to Dannelly Airport. The two pilots lost their lives in the accident, which was attributed to crew fatigue and poor training.[7]
- On 14 December 1994, the two pilots of a Phoenix Air Learjet 35 (registered N521PA) experienced an inflight fire, by which the aircraft was substantially damaged and subsequently crashed near Fresno, California. There were no survivors. The crew had been on a military mission with special systems having been installed. The fire broke out due to improper electrical wiring.[8]
- On 3 December 2002 at 06:12 local time, a Phoenix Air Learjet 35 (registered N546PA) collided with an elk during take-off run at Astoria Regional Airport. In the ensuing take-off abortion, the aircraft overshot the runway and was substantially damaged.[9]
- On 26 March 2007 at 07:30, a Phoenix Air Learjet 36 (registered N527PA) suffered a blown tire during take-off run at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.(a contributing factor was that the drag chute could not be deployed).[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-10. pp. 63–64.
- ↑ Thomas A Horne (January 2015). "Mike Ott The Inside Story of a Ebola Evacuation Mission". AOPA Pilot: T-14.
- ↑ Thomas A Horne (January 2015). "Mike Ott The Inside Story of a Ebola Evacuation Mission". AOPA Pilot: T-14.
- ↑ "U.S. has only jet to transport Ebola patients safely". Washington Times. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ↑ "Ebola Fight in Africa Is Hurt by Limits on Ways to Get Out". 14 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ↑ "1988 Phoenix Air accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ↑ "1989 Phoenix Air accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ↑ "1994 Phoenix Air accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ↑ "2002 Phoenix Air accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ↑ "2007 Phoenix Air accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 March 2013.