Aerocom
Encyclopedia
Aerocom was an airline
based in Chişinău
, Moldova
. It was suspected to be involved in illegal weapons trade, which ultimately led to the airline being shut-down in 2004.
.
In 2004 the United Kingdom
Department for International Development
was criticised for having hired Aerocom to fly humanitarian aid missions to Morocco
following the earthquake there
, because in a 2003 United Nations
report Aerocom was accused of breaking international sanctions by having transporting huge quantities of arms to Liberia
in 2002. Subsequently, special permission from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
was needed to allow Aerocom's Moldova-registered Ilyushin Il-76
aircraft to land in Britain, including an exemption from noise restrictions..
Also in 2004, the Air Operator's Certificate
of Aerocom was revoked, possibly due to connections between the airline and suspected weapons smuggler Viktor Bout
. Nevertheless, the airline flew 99 tonnes of small arms
out of a United States
air base at Tuzla
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
later that year, before finally being shut down. .
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...
based in Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
. It was suspected to be involved in illegal weapons trade, which ultimately led to the airline being shut-down in 2004.
History
Aerocom was founded in 1998 and operated chartered passenger and cargo services out of Chişinău International AirportChisinau International Airport
Chișinău International Airport is the main international airport in Chișinău, Moldova, located southeast of the centre of Chişinău, the capital city.-History:...
.
In 2004 the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Department for International Development
Department for International Development
The Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
was criticised for having hired Aerocom to fly humanitarian aid missions to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
following the earthquake there
2004 Morocco earthquake
The 2004 Morocco earthquake, at a magnitude 6.4Mw, occurred on 24 February 2004 near the coast of northern Morocco.At least 628 people were killed, 926 injured, 2,539 homes destroyed and more than 15,000 people homeless in the Al Hoceima-Imzourene-Beni Abdallah area, Morocco. Maximum intensity IX...
, because in a 2003 United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
report Aerocom was accused of breaking international sanctions by having transporting huge quantities of arms to Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in 2002. Subsequently, special permission from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
The Civil Aviation Authority is the public corporation which oversees and regulates all aspects of aviation in the United Kingdom. The CAA head office is located in the CAA House on Kingsway in Holborn, London Borough of Camden...
was needed to allow Aerocom's Moldova-registered Ilyushin Il-76
Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas...
aircraft to land in Britain, including an exemption from noise restrictions..
Also in 2004, the Air Operator's Certificate
Air Operator's Certificate
An air operator's certificate is the approval granted from a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public...
of Aerocom was revoked, possibly due to connections between the airline and suspected weapons smuggler Viktor Bout
Viktor Bout
Viktor Anatolyevich Bout is a convicted arms smuggler. A citizen of Russia, he was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and was extradited in 2010 to the United States to stand trial on terrorism charges after being accused of smuggling arms to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to use against...
. Nevertheless, the airline flew 99 tonnes of small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
out of a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
air base at Tuzla
Tuzla
Tuzla is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time of the 1991 census, it had 83,770 inhabitants, while the municipality 131,318. Taking the influx of refugees into account, the city is currently estimated to have 174,558 inhabitants...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
later that year, before finally being shut down. .
Fleet
The Aerocom fleet consisted of the following aircraft:- 1 Antonov An-12Antonov An-12The Antonov An-12 is a four-engined turboprop transport aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. It is the military version of the Antonov An-10.-Design and development:...
- 3 Antonov An-24RVAntonov An-24The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau from 1957.-Design and development:...
- 1 Antonov An-26Antonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...