Presidential Airways (charter)
Encyclopedia
Presidential Airways is a charter cargo
and passenger airline
formerly based at Melbourne International Airport
serving Melbourne, Florida
, USA
now based out of Camden, North Carolina
. Presidential is now a subsidiary of Aviation Worldwide Services.
The Melbourne, Florida office has now shut down and the company's operations are run from Moyock, North Carolina from Xe Corporation's "U.S. Training Center".
; it had been a contract flight for the United States Air Force
en route from Bagram
to Farah
. All aboard, three soldiers and three civilian crew members, were killed. Several of their survivors filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Presidential in October 2005. A 60 Minutes
investigation reported that the crash was caused by pilot error but that the company tried to avoid responsibility.
freighter. Recent contracts have added Dash 8 turboprop aircraft and helicopter operations including Bell 214ST, Bell 412, MD530, SA330J, and SK61's to the fleet.
Cargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
and passenger 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...
formerly based at Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne International Airport is a public airport located 1 1/2 miles northwest of the downtown business district of Melbourne, a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. Located on central Florida's Space Coast, the airport is accessed via NASA Boulevard...
serving Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
now based out of Camden, North Carolina
Camden, North Carolina
Camden is the county seat of the consolidated city-county of Camden County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is located on the eastern banks of the Pasquotank River, across from which lies Elizabeth City. It currently has two traffic lights, and is centered at the intersection of U.S....
. Presidential is now a subsidiary of Aviation Worldwide Services.
History
Its parent company, Aviation Worldwide Services, Inc. is owned by AAR Corp. AAR Corp purchased the company from Blackwater USA in April 2010.The Melbourne, Florida office has now shut down and the company's operations are run from Moyock, North Carolina from Xe Corporation's "U.S. Training Center".
Incidents and accidents
An aircraft, Blackwater 61, operated by Presidential and owned by its sister company, Blackwater AWS crashed on November 27, 2004 in AfghanistanAfghanistan
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...
; it had been a contract flight for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
en route from Bagram
Bagram
Bagram , founded as Alexandria on the Caucasus and known in medieval times as Kapisa, is a small town and seat in Bagram District in Parwan Province of Afghanistan, about 60 kilometers north of the capital Kabul. It is the site of an ancient city located at the junction of the Ghorband and Panjshir...
to Farah
Farah, Afghanistan
Farah is a city in western Afghanistan, situated at 650 m altitude, and located on the Farah River. It is the capital of Farah Province, and has a population of approximately 109,409....
. All aboard, three soldiers and three civilian crew members, were killed. Several of their survivors filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Presidential in October 2005. A 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
investigation reported that the crash was caused by pilot error but that the company tried to avoid responsibility.
Fleet
Presidential operates the CASA C-212 turbopropTurboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
freighter. Recent contracts have added Dash 8 turboprop aircraft and helicopter operations including Bell 214ST, Bell 412, MD530, SA330J, and SK61's to the fleet.
External links
- Official Site
- Defense Industry Daily: Blackwater Subsidiary's Transport Contracts for the Central Asian Front