Category Archives: National Airlines (5th)

The National Airlines name re-enters the Miami market

National Airlines (5th) (Orlando) is a familiar airline name in South Florida. Three previous airlines with that name have operated at Miami International Airport (MIA). The current National Airlines, now based in Florida, is now operating Cuban passenger charter flights for the various Cuban charter companies at MIA.

Travel to Cuba is booming. According to this report by Brandenton.com, 394 charter flights departed MIA for Cuba during December 2013. Charter flights to Cuba are also permitted from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Tampa. National has joined a group of airlines that operate these special flights.

Before the Castro regime took over Cuba in 1959, Havana was Miami’s largest international destination.

The Bradenton.com explains the Cuban Charter business: CLICK HERE

In other news, National Airlines on February 1 will offer daily public charter service from Dubai International Airport to forward operating bases in Bagram, with service to Kandahar and Bastion in Afghanistan coming soon.

Check the schedule below for current flight options:

Origin	Destination	Schedule *	Flight #	Days	Effective
Dubai, UAE (DXB)	Bagram, AF (OAI)	06:25 – 09:40	NCR998	Tu	01Feb14 to 30Jun14
	Bagram, AF (OAI)	06:45 – 10:00	NCR998	M, W, Th, F, Sa	01Feb14 to 30Jun14
	Bagram, AF (OAI)	06:50 – 10:05	NCR998	Su	01Feb14 to 30Jun14

Bagram, AF (OAI)	Dubai, UAE (DXB)	11:30 – 14:10	NCR999	Tu	01Feb14 to 30Jun14
	Dubai, UAE (DXB)	11:50 – 14:30	NCR999	M, W, Th, F, Sa	01Feb14 to 30Jun14
	Dubai, UAE (DXB)	11:55 – 14:35	NCR999	Su	01Feb14 to 30Jun14

* Schedule is in local time at airport of departure/arrival.

Top Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-236 N169CA (msn 25592) arrives at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

National Airlines (1st):

National Airlines (4th):

National Airlines (5th):

Bottom Copyright Photo: L. Apso. National Airlines is now basing Boeing 757-28A N176CA (msn 24543) in Miami and it is seen on the former National Airlines (later Pan Am) Concourse F at Miami International Airport.

National Airlines issues another statement concerning the crash of N949CA

National Airlines (5th) (National Air Cargo) (Orlando) has issued this statement concerning the crash of flight NCR 102 at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on April 29. Flight NCR 102 was a cargo flight operated by National Airlines between Bagram and Al Maktoum Airport in Dubai. As we previously reported, the pictured former Air France Boeing 747-428 BCF N949CA (msn 35630) crashed on takeoff from Bagram, tragically killing all seven crew members on board. Media speculation has arisen because of the dramatic video (below) by Live Leak which shows the Jumbo Jet diving into the ground on takeoff.

“National Air Cargo will not speculate as to the cause of the accident involving National Flight NCR 102. With our full cooperation, an investigation by appropriate authorities is under way, and we encourage everyone to join us in respecting that process and allowing it to take its appropriate course.

Here are some facts regarding the aircraft and its movements prior to the accident:

National Flight NCR 102 was en route to Dubai from Camp Bastian and had stopped to refuel at Bagram Air Base.
The cargo contained within the aircraft was properly loaded and secured, and had passed all necessary inspections prior to departing Camp Bastian.
The aircraft landed safely and uneventfully in Bagram.
No additional cargo or personnel was added during the stop in Bagram, and the aircraft’s cargo was again inspected prior to departure.

National Airlines lost seven colleagues on April 29, 2013 in the crash at Bagram Air Base. All seven were dedicated aviation professionals and served National and our country well. The flight, NCR 102, was carrying military vehicles out of Afghanistan. The crewmembers on NCR 102 were Brad Hasler, Pilot in Command, Trenton MI; Jeremy Lipka, Pilot in Command, Brooklyn MI; Jamie Brokaw, First Officer, Monroe MI; Rinku Summan, First Officer, Canton MI; Michael Sheets, Loadmaster, Ypsilanti MI; Timothy Garrett, Maintenance, Louisville KY; Gary Stockdale, Maintenance, Romulus MI.”

National Airlines (5th):

National Airlines’ Boeing 747-400 freighter N949CA crashes on takeoff in Afghanistan, 7 crew members killed

National Airlines’ (5th) (National Air Cargo) (Orlando) Boeing 747-428 BCF freighter registered as N949CA (msn 35630) crashed today (April 29) on takeoff at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. All seven crew members are believed to have perished in the fiery crash.

The Taliban claimed to have shot down the freighter but coalition forces dismissed the claim.

The airline issued this statement:

A National Airlines Boeing 747-400 cargo plane was involved in an accident at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan on April 29.

At approximately 7 a.m. EDT, National Flight NCR 102 from Bagram to Dubai, UAE, with seven crewmembers on board crashed on takeoff. None of the crew members survived. This was a purely cargo flight and no passengers were aboard. Cargo consisted of vehicles and routine general cargo.

“Safety is always our top priority at National Airlines,” said National Airlines President Glen Joerger. “This is a devastating loss for our family and we’ll work diligently with authorities to find the cause,” said Joerger. “Most importantly, our thoughts and prayers are with our crew members and their families.”

National will release additional information as it becomes available, in cooperation with government authorities. Our focus at this time is on the family members of those we’ve lost, and on assisting the NTSB and Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority in their investigations. As of now, the cause of the accident is unknown.

Read the full report from the Wall Street Journal: CLICK HERE

Actual video of the crash from Live Leak:

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. Ill-fated N949CA taxies at Amsterdam before the accident. The airframe previously flew for Air France.

National Airlines (5th):

National wins FAA certification for Boeing 747-400F operations

National Airlines (5th) Boeing 747-428 (BCF) TF-NAD (msn 25630) FRA (Bernhard Ross) (new type, new livery), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

National Airlines (5th) (Ypsilanti) yesterday (September 30) announced its initiation of Boeing 747-400F flight operations. National Airlines completed their FAA certification and received authority from the US Department of Transportation.

National (5th) Slide Show: CLICK HERE

National Airlines puts its first passenger Boeing 757 into revenue service

National Airlines (5th) Boeing 757-236 N169CA (msn 25592) SNN (Malcolm Nason) (1st 757), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

National Airlines (5th) has placed its first Boeing 757-200 passenger into charter service following FAA certification and DOT authority.

National Slide Show: CLICK HERE

National Airlines receives DOT authority to operate passenger charter flights

National Airlines (5th) Boeing 747-428 (BCF) TF-NAD (msn 25630) FRA (Bernhard Ross) (new type, new livery), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

National Airlines (5th) (formerly Murray Air) (subsidiary of National Air Cargo Group) (Ypsilanti) has been granted new international passenger charter authority. National intends to offer worldwide passenger charter services with its newly-acquired 757-200 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross. National will also continue its Boeing 747 cargo operations. Click on the photo to read the full story.

National Airlines to operate five Boeing 757-200 combi aircraft

National Airlines (5th) (National Air Cargo) (Ypsilanti) is planning to operate a total of five converted Boeing 757-200 combi aircraft. The first four are in the conversion process. The first aircraft is ex-AeroGal Boeing 757-236 HC-CHC (msn 25592) now registered as N169CA.

Pemco World Air Services has disclosed details of a project to convert four 757-200 passenger aircraft to Combi configuration. The base modification combines Pemco’s 757 freighter conversion with the successful 737-400 Combi modification which Pemco designed, built and certified in 2006 for Alaska Airlines.

The 757C launch project will involve a total of five National Airlines airplanes and includes installation of a large cargo door and freight handling system, provisions for Class C cargo compartment with automatic fire detection and suppression, installation of an in-flight entertainment system in the passenger compartment, modification of the flight deck to state of the art glass instrumentation, and a full heavy maintenance visit including paint.

Pemco inducted the first of the Combi units in June of this year, and says that the conversion work has gone more quickly than anticipated. Pemco expects to begin ground and flight testing by year end, and to achieve FAA certification of the 757 Combi in the first quarter 2011. NAC’s second 757-200 was inducted into conversion in August, the third followed in mid-September and the fourth in October. The first four aircraft are Rolls-powered and 180 minutes ETOPS capable.

The initial Combi configuration developed for National Airlines has 10 pallet positions in a Class C cargo compartment, a well-appointed passenger compartment, two full galleys, and accommodations for multiple supernumerary personnel. Pemco says the payload will be about 36 tons and the range will be comparable to passenger aircraft.

Pemco purchased the Alcoa-SIE 14.5-pallet 757-200 passenger-to- full freighter conversion program last year. Pemco has since leveraged its own successful 737-400 Combi program, and together with SIE, developed the 757 Combi conversion program.

Image: Pemco/Business Wire.

National Airlines puts its first Boeing 747-400 freighter into service

National Air Cargo Boeing 747-428(BCF) TF-NAC FRA 14-09-10, originally uploaded by Axel J..

National Airlines (5th) (National Air Cargo Group) (formerly Murray Air) (Ypsilanti) is now operating its first Boeing 747-400 freighter. Oddly after receiving an N-number (N952CA) on June 30, 2010, the aircraft has now reverted to an Icelandic registration.

Copyright Photo: Axel J. Ex-Air France Boeing 747-428 (BCF) TF-NAC (msn 25238, ex N952CA/F-GISA) is pictured at Frankfurt on September 14 now with large blue titles.

National Airlines is upgrading its fleet

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the National Airlines (5th) photo gallery.

National Airlines (5th) (formerly Murray Air) (Ypsilanti) is upgrading its fleet by adding Boeing 757-200 and 747-400 freighters. Ex-Air France 747-428 (BCF) N952CA (msn 25238, ex F-GISA) was registered on June 30, 2010.