WORLD AIRWAYS

'World Airways' is an American non-scheduled airline currently headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Contents

History

Film history

Incidents and accidents

Fleet

References

External links

History

Though World Airways was founded in 1948 by Benjamin Pepper, Edward Daly is thought of as World's founder. He bought the airline in 1950 for $50,000 and proceeded to acquire DC-4s.
World got its first government contract in 1951 and has had a substantial amount of government business since then.
Later, World acquired DC-6s and Lockheed Constellations. World entered the jet era in the late 1960s with Boeing 707s and 727s. In the early 1970s World acquired Douglas DC-8s.
World became a key military contractor during the Vietnam War, flying troops and equipment between the war zone and World's base at Oakland International Airport. On March 29, 1975, World operated the last airlift flight out of Da Nang, Vietnam, an event that made world news. Two 727s were flown to Da Nang, one of which landed with Daly aboard. Thousands rushed the airplane and it took off on a taxiway under heavy fire. The aircraft with Daly aboard started its takeoff roll with the 727's back stairs still down with Daly fending off additional people trying to leave due to over capacity (The film of this was later broadcast on the CBS Evening News on March 30, 1975). When the airplane landed at Saigon, they estimated there were over 330 people on board. World did not return to Da Nang until April 17 2002, then with an MD-11 aircraft to pick up a team of people resolving Missing-In-Action cases from the Vietnam War.
Also, in the early 1970s, World operated three Boeing 747 aircraft. Later, World acquired DC-10s some of which it still operates today. World experienced heavy losses in the 1980s as a result of an attempt at scheduled service. During the first Persian Gulf War, World did a substantial amount of profitable business for the military, enabling the addition of the MD-11 to the fleet.
Today's fleet consists of DC-10 and MD-11 aircraft both in freighter and passenger configuration.
World Airways does not currently have any scheduled passenger service. Instead, it provides airlift for customers who need long-haul widebody aircraft for passenger and cargo service.

The airline still receives a substantial amount of its business from the military, especially in its role connecting American bases in Korea and Japan with California. It also thrives on passenger and freight contracts with private organizations, as well as wet leases to other airlines.
In 2006 World Airways merged with North American Airlines with World Airways as the acquiring partner. North American has both charter and scheduled operations which are to Georgetown, Guyana; Accra, Ghana; and Banjul, Gambia.
In 2006, for the third year in a row, World became the official air-travel provider of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. ^[1]
During the mid 1990s, World operated the military passenger trunk route from Osan Air Base, Korea and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa to Los Angeles, using MD-11 aircraft.
On April 5 2007, World Air Holdings agreed to be acquired and merged in to Global Aero Logistics Inc. with the financial backing of the Matlin Patterson Global Opportunities investment firm, ^[2] owner of the recently renamed New ATA Holdings Inc. and ATA Airlines. Thus, Global Aero Logistics becomes the holding of three independent airlines: ATA Airlines, North American Airlines and World Airways. The transaction is valued at $315 million.

Film history

★ A World Airways Boeing 707 (N374WA) was chartered for use in the 1972 movie Skyjacked and was also used for one Episode of Charlie's Angels. It was Season 2, Episode 4, Title: Angel Flight Original Air Date: 5 October 1977 The Aircraft wore the titles 'Global Airways'. This same aircraft was used in the "Dirty Harry" 1973 film "Magnum Force" under the "Sovereign Airways" titles.

★ A World Airways Boeing 727 (N693WA) was chartered for use in the TV movie "Mayday at 40,000 Feet" wearing the titles "Transcon Airways".

★ A World Airways DC-10 was spotted near the beginning of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie "Commando" (1985) during World's scheduled service. The scene takes place in Los Angeles (LAX) with a Western Airlines DC-10 (N908) actually used for the movie. ( At the time this Movie was filmed, Western Airlines aircraft N904 and N905 were acquired by World Airways on lease due to World's need for additional capacity for its scheduled service.)

Incidents and accidents

On January 23, 1982, a World Airways DC-10 landing at Boston's Logan International Airport under icy conditions and limited visibility slid off the end of the runway and plunged into Boston Harbor, separating the cockpit section from the rest of the aircraft with the loss of two lives. The main cause of this accident was the Boston Port Authority's failure to provide adequate runway braking reports to the crew although previous aircraft had reported little to no braking action prior to World's landing.

Fleet

As of April 2007, the World Airways fleet includes 17 aircraft: ^[3][4]

'World Airways Fleet'

Aircraft	Total	Passengers (Business/Coach)	Notes
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30	3	291 (24/267) 357 (357)	2 are configured as cargo aircraft
McDonnell Douglas MD-11	14	323 (27/296) 400 (400)	6 are configured as cargo aircraft

References

1. Jacksonville Jaguars travel provider
2. World Air Holdings agrees to be acquired by Global Aero Logistics Inc.,(''World Airways'' online) April 4, 2007
3. World Airways Passenger Fleet
4. World Airways Cargo Fleet

External links

★ World Airways home page