Kato Airline
Encyclopedia
Kato Airline was an airline
based in Evenes
, Norway
. The airline, using the brand name Kato Air operated scheduled passenger and cargo services, as well as daily freight services for the National Mail company, northern Norway. Its main base was Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes
.
The name is derived from the name of the founders Karl Johan Karlsen and Torlaug Karlsen, who are also husband and wife.
flying newspapers. Later a Cessna 172
was added to the fleet. Since then the airline has been operating charter flights, aerial photography
and seismological
surveys.
In 1998 the airline started flying Bodø-Harstad/Narvik-Tromsø in cooperation with Heli-Trans. In May 1999 Kato Air bought Heli-Trans' fixed-wing division, but the route was closed after one year due to lack of passengers. From April 1, 2003 the airline has been operating the public service obligation
routes Bodø-Røst and Bodø-Narvik
(Framnes
), though the latter route was recaptured by Widerøe
from April 1, 2006.
Late August 2008 the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority discontinued the company's maintenance authorization issued to Kato Air Service, and all Kato Airs four planes were grounded. The company therefore decided to cancel all operations as of 2 September 2008.
(Røst Airport
) and Bodø
(Bodø Airport
).
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 Evenes
Evenes
Evenes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Ofoten region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bogen.The old municipality of Ofoten was split into Evenes and Ankenes on 1 January 1884...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The airline, using the brand name Kato Air operated scheduled passenger and cargo services, as well as daily freight services for the National Mail company, northern Norway. Its main base was Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes
Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes
Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes is located in the Evenes municipality, in Nordland county in northern Norway. Some of the runway lighting at the north end of the runway crosses the county border into the Skånland municipality in Troms...
.
The name is derived from the name of the founders Karl Johan Karlsen and Torlaug Karlsen, who are also husband and wife.
History
The airline was established in 1995 and started operations on 2 February 1995, with a Piper PA-31 NavajoPiper PA-31 Navajo
The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
flying newspapers. Later a Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
was added to the fleet. Since then the airline has been operating charter flights, aerial photography
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
and seismological
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
surveys.
In 1998 the airline started flying Bodø-Harstad/Narvik-Tromsø in cooperation with Heli-Trans. In May 1999 Kato Air bought Heli-Trans' fixed-wing division, but the route was closed after one year due to lack of passengers. From April 1, 2003 the airline has been operating the public service obligation
Public Service Obligation
In transport, public service obligation or PSO is an arrangement in which a governing body or other authority offers an auction for subsidies, permit the winning company a monopoly to operate a specified service of public transport for a specified period of time for the given subsidy...
routes Bodø-Røst and Bodø-Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
(Framnes
Narvik Airport, Framnes
Narvik Airport, Framnes is a regional airport serving the city of Narvik in Nordland, Norway. The airport is a secondary airport with only short regional flights, while the primary Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes has long-distance jet services. Framnes is significantly closer to Narvik than...
), though the latter route was recaptured by Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
from April 1, 2006.
Late August 2008 the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority discontinued the company's maintenance authorization issued to Kato Air Service, and all Kato Airs four planes were grounded. The company therefore decided to cancel all operations as of 2 September 2008.
Destinations
At the time of closure, Kato Air operated scheduled passenger flights between RøstRøst
Røst is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Lofoten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Røst. Røst was separated from the municipality of Værøy on 1 July 1928.- Environment :...
(Røst Airport
Røst Airport
Røst Airport is a regional airport serving the island and municipality of Røst in Nordland, Norway. It is owned and operated by Avinor. Services are provided by Widerøe, operating de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 Dash 8 aircraft on contract with the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Services...
) and Bodø
Bodø
is a city and a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten region.The city of Bodø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Bodin was merged with Bodø on 1 January 1968. Skjerstad was merged with Bodø on 1 January 2005...
(Bodø Airport
Bodø Airport
Bodø Airport is civil airport in Bodø, Norway. Located just south of the city centre, on the westernmost tip of the peninsula Bodø lies on, it shares facilities with the military air force base Bodø Main Air Station. The airport has a single concrete, runway which runs in a roughly east-west...
).
Fleet
As of March 2007 the Kato Airline fleet included :- 2 Dornier 228-212Dornier Do 228The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH from 1981 until 1998. In 1983, Hindustan Aeronautics bought a production licence and manufactures the 228 for the Asian market sphere. Approximately 270 Do 228 were built at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany and...
- 2 Cessna Caravan 675Cessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
Incidents and accidents
- On 4 December 2003, a Dornier 228 operating Flight 603 was struck by lightningLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, causing a fracture to the control rod that operated the elevatorElevator (aircraft)Elevators are flight control surfaces, usually at the rear of an aircraft, which control the aircraft's orientation by changing the pitch of the aircraft, and so also the angle of attack of the wing. In simplified terms, they make the aircraft nose-up or nose-down...
. The aircraft subsequently landed heavily just short of the runway at BodøBodø AirportBodø Airport is civil airport in Bodø, Norway. Located just south of the city centre, on the westernmost tip of the peninsula Bodø lies on, it shares facilities with the military air force base Bodø Main Air Station. The airport has a single concrete, runway which runs in a roughly east-west...
and was written off. Both crewmembers sustained serious injuries while both passengers sustained slight injuries. The aircraft, registered LN-HTA, was written off. - On September 29, 2004 an asylum seeker entered the cockpitCockpitA cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
of Dornier 228 LN-BER and, in a suicide attempt, attacked the pilots with an axeAxeThe axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
. Thanks to intervention from the other passengers on board, the crew was able to regain control of the aircraft, saving the airplane. The assailant was sentenced to 15 years in prison.