Naturelink Aviation
Encyclopedia
Naturelink Aviation, also known as Naturelink Charter, was an airline from South Africa
, which offered corporate and private charter flights, as well as worldwide aircraft lease services. The company was based at Wonderboom Airport
in Pretoria
.
, through Imperial Holdings.
In September 2008, Naturelink was purchased by Runway Assets Management.
In 2010, National Airways
became the new owner of the airline. Naturelink's fleet and operations were gradually merged into the Lanseria-based company. By mid-2011, this transition was finished, and the Naturelink brand was shut down.
that formed the backbone of the Naturelink fleet were transferred to National Airways
upon takeover. Over the years, Naturelink also operated the larger aircraft types Boeing 727
, 737-200, Douglas DC-3
and DC-9, as well as smaller airplanes like Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
, Cessna 208
, PAC 750XL or Socata TBM
.
(registered
ZS-OWO) crashed during take-off from Douala International Airport
in Cameroon
, when control was lost following an engine failure. The airplane was destroyed, but the four occupants survived the accident.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, which offered corporate and private charter flights, as well as worldwide aircraft lease services. The company was based at Wonderboom Airport
Wonderboom Airport
Wonderboom Airport , is located north of Pretoria, South Africa. The airport handles general aviation flights, and may offer scheduled passenger service in the near future.-History:...
in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
.
History
Naturelink Aviation was founded in 1997. In mid-2004, 60 percent of the shares were acquired by SafairSafair
Safair is an airline based in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa. Operator of one of the world's largest fleets of civil Lockheed L-100 Hercules cargo aircraft, it also conducts aircraft chartering, leasing and sales, contract operations and leasing services, flightcrew leasing and...
, through Imperial Holdings.
In September 2008, Naturelink was purchased by Runway Assets Management.
In 2010, National Airways
National Airways
National Airways Corporation is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a general aviation company offering a range of products and services for aircraft and helicopters, including maintenance, pilot training, aircraft and spares sales...
became the new owner of the airline. Naturelink's fleet and operations were gradually merged into the Lanseria-based company. By mid-2011, this transition was finished, and the Naturelink brand was shut down.
Fleet
The fleet of eight Embraer EMB 120 BrasiliaEmbraer EMB 120 Brasilia
-Accidents:*Brazilian Air Force on July 8, 1988 an Embraer EMB 120RT Brasília registration FAB-2001 crashed during and engine-out landing at São José dos Campos. Five of the 9 occupants died....
that formed the backbone of the Naturelink fleet were transferred to National Airways
National Airways
National Airways Corporation is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a general aviation company offering a range of products and services for aircraft and helicopters, including maintenance, pilot training, aircraft and spares sales...
upon takeover. Over the years, Naturelink also operated the larger aircraft types Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
, 737-200, Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
and DC-9, as well as smaller airplanes like Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
, Cessna 208
Cessna 208
The 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...
, PAC 750XL or Socata TBM
Socata TBM
|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0 7106 2537 5....
.
Accidents
On 1 October 2004, a Naturelink Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
(registered
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
ZS-OWO) crashed during take-off from Douala International Airport
Douala International Airport
Douala International Airport is an international airport located 6 miles from Douala, the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province...
in Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, when control was lost following an engine failure. The airplane was destroyed, but the four occupants survived the accident.
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbXIdiA8HoU2008 Naturelink Aviation marketing video, hosted by YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.]