Aerotaxi
Encyclopedia
Aerotaxi is a charter airline based at Cayo Largo and Varadero
, state-owned Aerotaxi operates basic services within Cuba
and some Caribbean
charters.
Varadero
Varadero is a resort town in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, and one of the largest resort areas in the Caribbean. Varadero is also called Playa Azul, which means "blue beach" in Spanish.-Geography:...
, state-owned Aerotaxi operates basic services within Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and some Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
charters.
Fleet
Aerotaxi's fleets consists of-
- Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
- Let L-410 Turbolet
- Antonov An-2Antonov An-2The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
- Cessna SkymasterCessna SkymasterThe Cessna Skymaster is a United States twin-engine civil utility aircraft built in a push-pull configuration. Its engines are mounted in the nose and rear of its pod-style fuselage. Twin booms extend aft of the wings to the vertical stabilizers, with the rear engine between them. The horizontal...
- Douglas DC-3
Services
- Aerotaxi operate flights to touristy places like Cayo Largo, Cayo CocoCayo CocoCayo Coco is an island in central Cuba, well known for its luxurious all inclusive resorts. It lies within the Ciego de Ávila Province and is part of a chain of islands called Jardines del Rey . The cay is administered by the Morón municipality. It is named for the white ibis, locally called Coco...
, VaraderoVaraderoVaradero is a resort town in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, and one of the largest resort areas in the Caribbean. Varadero is also called Playa Azul, which means "blue beach" in Spanish.-Geography:...
, TrinidadTrinidad, Cuba-External links:* , Online travel guide to Trinidad* , Selected photos of Trinidad* , Photos of Trinidad...
, CienfuegosCienfuegosCienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
, Nueva GeronaNueva GeronaNueva Gerona is the capital city of the Isla de la Juventud special municipality of Cuba. The city is located between the hills of Caballos and Casas, about 3 km up the Río Casas, which provides a navigable waterway to the Caribbean Sea....
and as well to Santiago de CubaSantiago de CubaSantiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
. This is one of the very few airlines around the world that still flies the venerable Douglas DC-3.
Accidents and Incidents
- On 14 March 2002 an Aerotaxi Antonov An-2 with 2 crew and 14 passengers crashed with all on board killed. The aircraft was on its way from CienfuegosCienfuegosCienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
Jaime González AirportJaime González AirportJaime González Airport is an international airport that serves Cienfuegos, a city on the southern coast of Cuba, and capital of the province of Cienfuegos.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level...
(CFG) to Cayo Coco AirportCayo Coco AirportJardines del Rey Airport is an airport situated on the Island of Cayo Coco, in the Ciego de Ávila Province, Cuba. The airport was inaugurated on December 26, 2002, replacing the earlier Cayo Coco Airport to the west. The airport is the only one in Cuba that has a shared administration with Aena,...
(CCC). While flying at an altitude of 3000 feet the top left wing snapped off. The aircraft entered a spin and crashed.
- On 6 December 2002 an Aerotaxi Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
on a flight from HolguínHolguínHolguín is a municipality and city, the capital of the Cuban Province of Holguín. It also includes a tourist area, offering beach resorts in the outskirts of the region.-History:...
- Frank País AirportFrank Pais AirportFrank País Airport is an international airport that serves the city of Holguín in Cuba. It bears the name of Cuban revolutionary Frank País and is located in the municipio of Frank País.-Airlines and destinations :-Holguín Air Base:...
(HOG) to Havana - José Martí International AirportJosé Martí International AirportJosé Martí International Airport , sometimes known by its former name Rancho-Boyeros Airport, is located southwest of Havana, Cuba, and is a hub for Cubana de Aviación, Aerogaviota and Aero Caribbean, and former Latin American hub for Aeroflot Soviet Airlines...
(HAV) crash-landed short of the runway while approaching in heavy rain. All 10 occupants on board survived.
- On 19 March 2003 an Aerotaxi Douglas DC-3 en route from Nueva GeronaNueva GeronaNueva Gerona is the capital city of the Isla de la Juventud special municipality of Cuba. The city is located between the hills of Caballos and Casas, about 3 km up the Río Casas, which provides a navigable waterway to the Caribbean Sea....
- Rafael Cabrera Airport (GER) to Havana - José Martí International Airport (HAV) was hijacked by six men using kitchen knives, tape and the airplane's own emergency hatchet. They demanded to be flown north to Miami. Florida Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
F-15 EagleF-15 EagleThe McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
fighter jets from Homestead Air Reserve BaseHomestead Air Reserve BaseHomestead Air Reserve Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Homestead, Florida.The host unit at Homestead is the 482d Fighter Wing assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force...
and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the United States Customs ServiceUnited States Customs ServiceUntil March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
escorted the Douglas DC-3 to Key West, FloridaKey West, FloridaKey West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
where it landed at 20:06. There were 3 crew members and 26 passengers on board, no one was injured.