Rich International Airways

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Rich International Airways
Rich International Airways Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Call sign
JNRIARICHAIR
Founded28 April 1970 (1970-04-28)
incorporated in Florida
Ceased operations1 September 1996 (1996-09-01)
Operating bases Miami, Florida
Fleet size41
Headquarters Miami, Florida
United States
Key peopleWilliam Meenan
David Sanguesa
David Rich
George E. Batchelor
FounderJean Rich

Rich International Airways was primarily a United States charter and cargo airline founded by aviation pioneer Jean Rich, one of the few women in the U.S. to own and operate an airline. [1] The air carrier was based in Miami, Florida. [2] The airline ceased operations in 1996 and filed for bankruptcy in 1997.

Contents

History

C-46 at Miami 1982 Curtiss C-46 N74173 Rich Intl F210-14-b.jpg
C-46 at Miami 1982

Rich International Airways was incorporated in Florida on 28 April 1970 [3] and started operations the same year, initially as an uncertificated carrier. The carrier flew C-46 and Beech 18 aircraft, including transporting dynamite. [4] In 1977 the airline was certificated by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) as a supplemental air carrier to fly cargo from Florida and Georgia to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. [5] Later the same year, the CAB further certificated Rich to fly cargo domestically on behalf of the Department of Defense. [6] The CAB was a now defunct Federal agency that until US airline deregulation in 1979 tightly regulated almost all commercial air transportation in the United States.

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 due to maintenance irregularities during the DOT “white glove inspections” directed by the Hon. Elizabeth Dole in the spring of 1984. The FAA agreed to return the operating certificate with the addition of new key personnel, Director of Operations, Chief Pilot, Director of Maintenance and Director of Training.

DC-8-62 at Lisbon 1990 Douglas DC-8-62, Rich International Airways JP5829884.jpg
DC-8-62 at Lisbon 1990

Following the restart and new operating approvals, Miami-based 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. During 1995-6, Rich International operated L-1011 charter flights for cruise lines, tour operators, vacation package companies and the U.S. Department of Defense. Routes in the summer months included San Francisco (SFO to Maui (OGG) and Honolulu, Los Angeles (LAX) to Maui and Honolulu, Sacramento to Maui and Honolulu and San Diego to Honolulu, as well. Flights for cruise operators included trips to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Multiple charter trips operated to and from Las Vegas (LAS) from Boston, Ft.Lauderdale, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis/St.Paul, Pittsburgh and South Bend, Indiana. Charter flights for the US DoD were operated to Europe, North Africa, The Middle East and the Far East. According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), in the spring of 1996 Rich was operating scheduled passenger service with L-1011 aircraft nonstop twice a week between Anchorage (ANC) and Honolulu (HNL). [7]

L-1011 at Paris 1993 Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar 1, Rich International Airways AN0694823.jpg
L-1011 at Paris 1993

In the wake of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Everglades, much media attention was given to the FAA's poor oversight of the ValuJet's rapid, unsustainable growth and multiple safety violations. The FAA then grounded Rich for alleged maintenance irregularities. Operations ceased on September 1, 1996. The US aviation authority FAA wanted to allow flight operations until February 1997, but the US Department of Transportation refused to approve and made a license dependent on numerous conditions. In February 1997, Rich International announced its bankruptcy and was dissolved. It was no longer able to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Transport economically. The aircraft and the entire inventory were auctioned 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. [8]

The company provided bi-monthly logistical support flights containing food, machinery parts, and delivery of US Mail to Coast Guard LORAN Station South Caicos, British West Indies and Coast Guard LORAN Station San Salvador, Bahamas until 1981 when those stations were decommissioned.

Fleet

The Rich International Airways fleet consisted of the following aircraft: [9]

Rich International Airways fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Beechcraft King Air 119831983
Boeing 727-100 119901991
Curtiss C-46 Commando 719701984
Douglas DC-6A 419731987
Douglas DC-8-33F 119801986
Douglas DC-8-55CF 419811984
Douglas DC-8-62 619831990
Douglas DC-8-62F 219901997
Douglas DC-8-63 119921997
Lockheed L-1011-1 Tristar 1219911997
Lockheed L-1011-200 Tristar 119961997
Lockheed L-1011-500 Tristar 119961997

Accidents and incidents

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "The Last Flight Plan".
  2. ↑ "World Airline Directory". Flight International. 1994. p. 114. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ "opencorporates.com Florida incorporation record for Rich International Airways". opencorporates.com. opencorporates.com. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  4. ↑ Transatlantic 1977, p. 375.
  5. ↑ "Transatlantic Route Proceeding and Supplemental Renewal Proceeding". Civil Aeronautics Board Reports. 72. Washington, DC: U.S. General Printing Office: 216–482. December 1976 – February 1977. hdl: 2027/osu.32437011657752 .
  6. ↑ "DOD Contract-Eligible Certification Case". Civil Aeronautics Board Reports. 74. Washington, DC: U.S. General Printing Office: 139–168. July–September 1977. hdl: 2027/osu.32437011657653 .
  7. ↑ April 7, 1996 OAG North American Pocket Flight Guide, Anchorage & Honolulu flight schedules
  8. ↑ Hengi, "Airlines Remembered", Page 170
  9. ↑ "Rich International". aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 24, 2021.

Bibliography

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