Murray Air
Encyclopedia
National Airlines is an American
airline
based in Ypsilanti Township
, Michigan
, United States
. It operates on demand cargo
and passenger
charter services. Its main base is Willow Run Airport
, Ypsilanti.
aircraft, which it developed for cargo use. In April 2005, Murray Air and its sister company, Murray Aviation, merged operations under Murray Air’s newly acquired Part 121 certificate. Murray Aviation will continue as a separate business entity for the time being, but will join with Murray Air in a strong operational alliance. In December 2008, after the airline was acquired by National Air Cargo, Murray Air changed its name to National Airlines and operates under the National Air Cargo Group, Inc. umbrella.
National Airlines used to operate scheduled charter passenger flights from Oakland County International Airport
to Kokomo Municipal Airport
in Kokomo, Indiana
, Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford, Illinois
, Spirit of St. Louis Airport
in St. Louis, Missouri
, and Toronto Pearson International Airport
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
(with some flights making intermediate stops at Willow Run Airport
in Ypsilanti, Michigan
) for Chrysler Corporation employees but also sold seats on those flights to the general public. These flights were operated by Saab 340
and BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft in 30 and 19 seat configurations respectively. This service is no longer operational.
On the cargo side, National Airlines operated two Douglas DC-8-63CF's and one Douglas DC-8-71F on scheduled and charter operations worldwide. In April 2009, the carrier began cargo flights from Ypsilanti, Michigan to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan
; the flights were extended to Kandahar International Airport in August.. This service was discontinued in 2010, although National continues to operate a DC-8-63F, a DC-8-71F, and a DC-8-73F on an ad hoc charter basis.
During the summer of 2010, the airline purchased three former Air France
Boeing 747-400BCF
aircraft. These aircraft were placed on Icelandic registrations as TF-NAC, TF-NAD, and TF-ALF and all were operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic
.. In June 2011, TF-ALF was re-registered in the United States (N949CA) and National began operating the aircraft in September 2011.
During 2010, Pemco World Air Services began converting the first of five Boeing 757-200
aircraft into a combination passenger/cargo configuration for service with National Airlines; certification of the type was expected to occur during the first quarter of 2010. National's innovation in the fledging 757 combi-freighter charter market was subsequently noted by Global Aviation Holdings - North American Airlines
, who rapidly instituted conversion plans of their own to effectively competehttp://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-american-airlines-and-vt-systems-plan-conversion-of-boeing-757-200-to-combi-configuration-112061674.html. PEMCO's delivery of National's combination aircraft has been delayed to first quarter 2012. In preparation for the operation of it's combination aircraft, National leased a 757-200 aircraft in all passenger configuration (N169CA) and began operating the aircraft in an on-demand charter basis in May, 2011.
Four Boeing 757-200
aircraft are planned to be introduced into service during 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
airline
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 Ypsilanti Township
Ypsilanti Township, Michigan
Ypsilanti Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 49,182...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It operates on demand cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
and passenger
Passenger
A passenger is a term broadly used to describe any person who travels in a vehicle, but bears little or no responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination....
charter services. Its main base is Willow Run Airport
Willow Run Airport
Willow Run Airport is an airport located in Van Buren Charter Township and in Ypsilanti Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan, that serves freight, corporate, and general aviation clients...
, Ypsilanti.
History
The airline was established in 1985 and started operations in December 1986. It began with Mitsubishi MU-2Mitsubishi MU-2
The Mitsubishi MU-2 is one of postwar Japan's most successful aircraft. It is a high-wing, twin-engine turboprop, and has a pressurized cabin.-Design and development:...
aircraft, which it developed for cargo use. In April 2005, Murray Air and its sister company, Murray Aviation, merged operations under Murray Air’s newly acquired Part 121 certificate. Murray Aviation will continue as a separate business entity for the time being, but will join with Murray Air in a strong operational alliance. In December 2008, after the airline was acquired by National Air Cargo, Murray Air changed its name to National Airlines and operates under the National Air Cargo Group, Inc. umbrella.
National Airlines used to operate scheduled charter passenger flights from Oakland County International Airport
Oakland County International Airport
Oakland County International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located in Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The airport is five nautical miles west of the central business district of Pontiac....
to Kokomo Municipal Airport
Kokomo Municipal Airport
Kokomo Municipal Airport is a public use airport located four nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Kokomo, in Howard County, Indiana, United States. It is owned by the Kokomo Board of Aviation Commissioners...
in Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States, Indiana's 13th largest city. It is the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Howard and Tipton counties....
, Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, Spirit of St. Louis Airport
Spirit of St. Louis Airport
Spirit of St. Louis Airport is a public airport located 17 miles west of the central business district of St. Louis, in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is owned by St. Louis County.- Facilities and aircraft :Spirit of St...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(with some flights making intermediate stops at Willow Run Airport
Willow Run Airport
Willow Run Airport is an airport located in Van Buren Charter Township and in Ypsilanti Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan, that serves freight, corporate, and general aviation clients...
in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
) for Chrysler Corporation employees but also sold seats on those flights to the general public. These flights were operated by Saab 340
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
and BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft in 30 and 19 seat configurations respectively. This service is no longer operational.
On the cargo side, National Airlines operated two Douglas DC-8-63CF's and one Douglas DC-8-71F on scheduled and charter operations worldwide. In April 2009, the carrier began cargo flights from Ypsilanti, Michigan to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
; the flights were extended to Kandahar International Airport in August.. This service was discontinued in 2010, although National continues to operate a DC-8-63F, a DC-8-71F, and a DC-8-73F on an ad hoc charter basis.
During the summer of 2010, the airline purchased three former Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
Boeing 747-400BCF
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
aircraft. These aircraft were placed on Icelandic registrations as TF-NAC, TF-NAD, and TF-ALF and all were operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic
Air Atlanta Icelandic
Air Atlanta Icelandic is a charter and cargo airline based in Kópavogur, Iceland. It specialises in leasing aircraft on an ACMI /wet lease basis to airlines worldwide needing extra passenger and cargo capacity. It also operates charter services for Icelandic tour operators...
.. In June 2011, TF-ALF was re-registered in the United States (N949CA) and National began operating the aircraft in September 2011.
During 2010, Pemco World Air Services began converting the first of five Boeing 757-200
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
aircraft into a combination passenger/cargo configuration for service with National Airlines; certification of the type was expected to occur during the first quarter of 2010. National's innovation in the fledging 757 combi-freighter charter market was subsequently noted by Global Aviation Holdings - North American Airlines
North American Airlines
North American Airlines, Inc. is an American airline with its headquarters in Building 141 on the grounds of John F. Kennedy International Airport in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, USA. Prior to May 2008, it operated scheduled international services from the USA to Africa and Guyana. Today, it...
, who rapidly instituted conversion plans of their own to effectively competehttp://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-american-airlines-and-vt-systems-plan-conversion-of-boeing-757-200-to-combi-configuration-112061674.html. PEMCO's delivery of National's combination aircraft has been delayed to first quarter 2012. In preparation for the operation of it's combination aircraft, National leased a 757-200 aircraft in all passenger configuration (N169CA) and began operating the aircraft in an on-demand charter basis in May, 2011.
Fleet
As of October 2010, the National Airlines fleet includes:- Three Boeing 747-400BCFBoeing 747-400The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
not yet on certificate - One Douglas DC-8-63CF
- One Douglas DC-8-71F
- One Douglas DC-8-73F
- One Jetstream 31
- One Boeing 757-200Boeing 757The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
Four Boeing 757-200
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
aircraft are planned to be introduced into service during 2011.