Air National
Encyclopedia
Air National is an airline
based in Auckland
, New Zealand
. It operates domestic and international charter services and scheduled passenger services for Air New Zealand Link
. Its main bases are Auckland International Airport
, Wellington International Airport
, with a hub at Christchurch International Airport
.
logo, held in Auckland that year. It was originally known as Menzies Aviation and re-branded as Air National Corporate in 1992. In 1996 the company won a New Zealand airways calibration contract for all local and South Pacific operations. Scheduled operations for Ansett New Zealand
and operations as an international jet charter broker were launched in 1997. The airline is owned by Ian Gray and Jason Gray and has 50 employees.
Air National has re-branded some of its corporate jet services under the brand of JetPlus.
Air National has also branded it's FBO operations under the brand of SkyCare
In January 2011, Air National's operator's certificate was suspended by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over alleged training records irregularities . Air National appealed the decision in the High Court and the suspension was quashed pending a full investigation. The CAA appealed the high Court decision to the Court of Appeal and the lower court ruling was quashed in turn.
Air National also provides ad-hoc airline support for Eagle Air and Air Nelson throughout their respective networks.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It operates domestic and international charter services and scheduled passenger services for Air New Zealand Link
Air New Zealand Link
Air New Zealand Link is a brand name under which three regional airlines operate feeder flights for Air New Zealand. They primarily connect regional centers with New Zealand's three main international airports.-History:...
. Its main bases are Auckland International Airport
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand with over 13 million passengers a year, expected to more than double by 2025...
, Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport is an international airport located in the suburb of Rongotai in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is a secondary hub and focus city for Air New Zealand and its subsidiaries...
, with a hub at Christchurch International Airport
Christchurch International Airport
-Facts & figures:As the gateway for Christchurch and the South Island, Christchurch International Airport is New Zealand’s second largest airport.5,908,077 passengers travelled in and out of Christchurch International Airport from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009...
.
History
The airline was established in 1989 and started operations in 1990. Its 'shooting stars' logo was the original 1990 Commonwealth Games1990 Commonwealth Games
The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
logo, held in Auckland that year. It was originally known as Menzies Aviation and re-branded as Air National Corporate in 1992. In 1996 the company won a New Zealand airways calibration contract for all local and South Pacific operations. Scheduled operations for Ansett New Zealand
Ansett New Zealand
Ansett New Zealand was a wholly owned airline subsidiary of Ansett Australia, serving the New Zealand domestic market between 1987 and 2000. In order to comply with regulatory requirements relating to the acquisition of Ansett Australia by Air New Zealand, Ansett New Zealand was sold to News...
and operations as an international jet charter broker were launched in 1997. The airline is owned by Ian Gray and Jason Gray and has 50 employees.
Air National has re-branded some of its corporate jet services under the brand of JetPlus.
Air National has also branded it's FBO operations under the brand of SkyCare
In January 2011, Air National's operator's certificate was suspended by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over alleged training records irregularities . Air National appealed the decision in the High Court and the suspension was quashed pending a full investigation. The CAA appealed the high Court decision to the Court of Appeal and the lower court ruling was quashed in turn.
Destinations
Air National operates scheduled services for Air New Zealand Link to the following destinations (at March 2007) :- Christchurch - HokitikaHokitika, New ZealandHokitika is a township in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. According to the 2006 census, the usually resident population of the Hokitika urban area was 3,078, a decrease of 12 people since 2001. A further 828...
- Christchurch - BlenheimBlenheim, New ZealandBlenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
- Blenheim-Wellington
Air National also provides ad-hoc airline support for Eagle Air and Air Nelson throughout their respective networks.
Fleet
The Air National fleet consists of the following aircraft (at November 2010) :- 4 BAe Jetstream 32EP
- 1 IAI Westwind IIIAI Westwind|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Frawley, Gerald. "IAI Westwind". The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 1997/98. Fyshwick ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-875671-26-9....
- 1 Gulfstream G200Gulfstream G200|-G280:-See also:-External links:* * * * * ****...
- 1 Gulfstream G-IV SPGulfstream IVThe Gulfstream IV and derivatives are a family of twin-jet aircraft, mainly for private or business use. The aircraft was designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, United States from 1985 until 2003.-Design and development:Gulfstream, in...
- 1 Cessna Citation ICessna Citation I|-See also:-References:* Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and Military Upgrades 1994-95. Coulsdon, Surrey UK:Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7....
- 1 BAe 146-200
Previously operated
The airline also operated:- 1 Bombardier Dash 8 Q200January 2006
- 1 BAe Jetstream 32EP
Incidents
- On 8 February 2008, the pilots of Eagle Airways Flight 2279Eagle Airways Flight 2279Eagle Airways Flight 2279 was a commuter flight operated by Air National on behalf of Eagle Airways, a regional carrier division of Air New Zealand...
from BlenheimBlenheim, New ZealandBlenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
to ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
were attacked and stabbed by a female passenger who claimed to have two bombs on board. The woman was subdued and the aircraft made a safe landing.