Rich International Airways
Encyclopedia
Rich International Airways was a charter and cargo airline based out of Miami, Florida
. The airline ceased operations in 1996, following bankruptcy.
in 1969, flying Curtis C-46 Commando and Beech 18 “Twin Beech”
aircraft to the Caribbean. Capacity was steadily increased with the addition of Douglas DC-6
and Douglas DC-8-60 freighters.
In 1982, the carrier was granted permission to fly passenger charters, and began operations to Europe
and Hawaii
. However, losses from the expansion forced the company to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy
in 1983. This was followed by scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration
, which revoked the airline’s operating license in the spring of 1984 due to maintenance irregularities.
Following the grounding, Miami-based multibillionaire George E. Batchelor invested in the company, and by 1991, Rich had successfully exited bankruptcy protection. This period of prosperity was accompanied by more expansion, including the introduction of the wide-body
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar for flights to Europe.
In the wake of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592
in the Florida Everglades
, much media attention was given to the FAA’s poor oversight of the ValuJet’s rapid, unsustainable growth and multiple safety violations. In an attempt to save face, the FAA chose to ground Rich for alleged maintenance irregularities, under the guise of protecting and serving the public. This was in accordance with the agency’s unofficial “tombstone” policy, in which no action is taken to rectify a potentially unsafe situation until there is loss of life. Operations ceased on September 1st 1996, and though attempts were made to restart flights, the airline was liquidated in July 1997.
The following year, the FAA released findings stating that the grounding of Rich may have been an overreaction, and that minor maintenance issues may have been blown out of proportion in the public hysteria following the ValuJet crash.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. The airline ceased operations in 1996, following bankruptcy.
History
Rich International Airways was founded as a cargo airlineCargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
in 1969, flying Curtis C-46 Commando and Beech 18 “Twin Beech”
Beechcraft Model 18
The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas...
aircraft to the Caribbean. Capacity was steadily increased with the addition of Douglas DC-6
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
and Douglas DC-8-60 freighters.
In 1982, the carrier was granted permission to fly passenger charters, and began operations to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. However, losses from the expansion forced the company to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
in 1983. This was followed by scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, which revoked the airline’s operating license in the spring of 1984 due to maintenance irregularities.
Following the grounding, Miami-based multibillionaire George E. Batchelor invested in the company, and by 1991, Rich had successfully exited bankruptcy protection. This period of prosperity was accompanied by more expansion, including the introduction of the wide-body
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar for flights to Europe.
In the wake of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592
ValuJet Flight 592
ValuJet Flight 592 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight between Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, and William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia...
in the Florida Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
, much media attention was given to the FAA’s poor oversight of the ValuJet’s rapid, unsustainable growth and multiple safety violations. In an attempt to save face, the FAA chose to ground Rich for alleged maintenance irregularities, under the guise of protecting and serving the public. This was in accordance with the agency’s unofficial “tombstone” policy, in which no action is taken to rectify a potentially unsafe situation until there is loss of life. Operations ceased on September 1st 1996, and though attempts were made to restart flights, the airline was liquidated in July 1997.
The following year, the FAA released findings stating that the grounding of Rich may have been an overreaction, and that minor maintenance issues may have been blown out of proportion in the public hysteria following the ValuJet crash.
Historical Fleet
- 15 - Lockheed L-1011-1 TristarLockheed L-1011The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as the L-1011 or TriStar, is a medium-to-long range, widebody passenger trijet airliner. It was the third widebody airliner to enter commercial operations, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Between 1968 and 1984, Lockheed...
- 1 - Lockheed L-1011-500 TristarLockheed L-1011The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as the L-1011 or TriStar, is a medium-to-long range, widebody passenger trijet airliner. It was the third widebody airliner to enter commercial operations, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Between 1968 and 1984, Lockheed...
- 2 - Douglas DC-8-55FDouglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
- 3 - Douglas DC-8-62FDouglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
- 1 - Douglas DC-8-63FDouglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
- 1 - Boeing 727-077Boeing 727The 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...
- Curtis C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
(number unknown) - Beech 18 "Twin Beech"Beechcraft Model 18The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas...
(number unknown)