Modern Air Transport
Encyclopedia
Modern Air Transport, Inc. (originally Modern Air Transport/MAT, subsequently Modern Air) was a United States
-based non-scheduled and supplemental carrierUS non-scheduled airlines as classified by the United States Congress
in 1963 founded in 1946. At different stages in its history it was headquartered in Newark
and Trenton, New Jersey
, Baltimore, and Miami
. In addition to Miami, New York
used to be a base for Modern Air. In 1968, the airline established an overseas base at Berlin Tegel Airport in what used to be West Berlin
prior to German reunification
. Between 1968 and 1974, operations increasingly focused on Berlin Tegel. Modern Air ceased trading in 1975.
-surplus Curtiss C-46 piston
-engined aircraft
.
The airline was originally headquartered at New York's Newark Airport
.
Five ex-Capital Airlines
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
piston airliners joined the fleet during summer 1962. Only two of these entered actual airline service; the remaining three were used for spares. In addition, the airline leased a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
.
The grant of an interim certificate by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) in October 1962 to operate domestic military contract flights, intrastate and overseas charters from 1 April 1963 was followed by further fleet expansion, including the lease of another L-1049
and the purchase of an L-749
A in 1964.
The acquisition of several Douglas DC-7
Cs in April/May 1965 resulted in retirement of the Constellation
fleet.
of Gulf American Corporation, a Florida
-based property developer. The change in ownership resulted in a move of the airline's headquarters to Miami International Airport
and the withdrawal of the company's last Constellation the following year. In 1969, Gulf American Corp transferred its holding
in the airline to GAC Corporation, Gulf American's holding company
.the transfer of ownership became effective in 1970
charters between the US
and points in Canada
and Mexico
enhanced Modern Air's new status as a permanently certificated US supplemental carrier. Following the award of these new foreign charter rights, the airline concluded a US$17.5m
purchase agreement with American Airlines
to acquire five of the latter's Convair CV-990A Coronado
jetliners between January 1967 and February/March 1968, in anticipation of major growth for low-cost overseas travel by US tour groups. The first two examples sported a new natural metal "Silver Palace" livery
, which replaced the Modern Air Transport/MAT fuselage titles used in previous schemes
with Modern Air titles. Initially, both were based in Miami and contracted by sister company Gulf American Land Corporation to operate charter flights for prospective investors in its real estate development projects in Florida and Arizona
. Modern Air's Coronados were configured in a spacious 139-seat, single-class seating arrangement.
for the temporary lease of one aircraft beginning in April 1967 provided additional work for the new jet
s.
Further work to increase the growing jet fleet's utilisation was secured when the Federal Government
awarded Modern Air a contract to carry military personnel between camps in the US. However, this was insufficient to justify continuing expansion of the fleet and workforce. By the time Modern's third 990
was delivered, it experienced financial difficulties. This resulted in layoffs and management changes. Initially, the airline attempted to renegotiate its aircraft purchase agreement with American
, requesting a release from contractual obligations regarding the two remaining deliveries. American's refusal to agree to Modern's request compelled the latter to begin looking for additional business opportunities to keep the expanding fleet fully employed. Ensuing successful negotiations with two West German
package tour companies to operate a $3.5m, West Berlin based programme,envisaging the carriage of 90,000 passengers on 670 short- to medium-haul inclusive tour (IT) charter flights to 16 destinations in the Mediterranean
and the Canary Islands
as well as a $1.5m, seven months wet lease of an aircraft to Canadian
charter carrier Nordair
, enabled Modern Air to profitably utilise its spare aircraft capacity. The two German
tour companies that had contracted Modern Air to operate their flying programmes from West Berlin were Berliner Flugring and Flug-Union Berlin. The former had begun as a consortium of local travel agents arranging IT flights from West Berlin to holiday resorts in Europe. By the time the America
n supplemental assumed its flying programme, it had become the city's foremost package tour operator
. The latter had been the first tour operator with a West Berlin flying programme.this had originally been contracted to US supplemental Saturn Airways
utilising that airline's Tempelhof-based Douglas DC-6
A/C and Douglas DC-7C propliner
s The decision to supply whole-plane charter airline seats to both of West Berlin's leading package tour operators also enabled Modern Air to take advantage of the fact that all airlines other than those headquartered in the United States
, the United Kingdom
and France
— the airlines of the three Western victorious powers of World War II
— were banned from West Berlin.
By 1968, Modern Air operated an all-jet fleet comprising five CV-990
s. (Modern Air eventually operated a ten-strong CV-990 fleet, following the acquisition of a second batch of five sourced from American Airlines and VARIG
between March 1968 and July 1971. As a result, the airline became the world's largest contemporary CV-990 operator. The expanded all-jet fleet facilitated the introduction of regular tour group charters carrying American tourists from the Miami and New York areas to popular holiday resorts in North
and Central America
, as well as the launch in May 1968 of a Canadian-based Caribbean
and transatlantic
charter programme,involving the lease of an aircraft operated by Modern Air flightdeck crews and Nordair cabin staff
in the latter's livery carrying 20,000 passengers from Montréal
to 17 Caribbean and Europe
an destinations in addition to operating a large German charter programme.)
The operation of a round-the-world transpolar
luxury charter flight in 1968billed at the time as "the first commercial flight ever to cross both poles and touch down on all continents" arguably ranks as Modern Air's greatest achievement. On 22 November 1968, this saw CV-990A N5612 Polar Byrd I, which had a special Polar Path Compass (PPC) system fitted for the polar
trip,by Modern's electronics department headed up by Vincent De Ceasare become the first commercial jetliner to land on and take off from the 10000 feet (3,048 m) ice runway at the McMurdo Station
airfield at Williams Field, McMurdo Sound
in Antarctica. It also made Modern Air the first US charter airline to fly to the erstwhile Soviet Union
. This flight commemorated the 40th anniversary of Admiral Richard Byrd
's South Pole
flight. It carried 60 US businessmen who had paid $10,000 each to fly on a round-the-world trip over both Poles that left Boston
on 8 November 1968. Cdr F.G. Dustin, who had accompanied [then Cdr] Byrd on his second Antarctic expedition in 1934, was among the passengers. The flight routed over the North Pole
via Japan
, Australia
and New Zealand
to Antarctica and over the South Pole, before crossing the International Date Line
a second time and proceeding northwards to Chile
, Africa
and Europe
. Rome
was the first European stop, from where the flight continued to Moscow
, before night-stopping in London
and returning to Boston the following day, 2 December 1968. Profits from that trip were used to establish The Admiral Richard E. Byrd Polar Center
, a polar research centre in Boston.
In March 1968, two newly acquired jets were stationed at West Berlin's Tegel Airport. These were the airline's fourth and fifth example of the original batch of five ex-American Airlines CV-990s that had initially been surplus to the airline's requirements. They were also the biggest and fastest aircraft based at any Berlin
airport at that time.
Modern Air appointed former Saturn Airways manager John D. MacDonald general manager
to oversee its European operations from its Tegel base.
Modern Air carried over 135,000 passengers during its first year of operations from Tegel.
The successful conclusion of Modern Air's first year in West Berlin resulted in the airline signing a five-year contract with Berliner Flugring worth $20m (£
8.3m). The contract ran from the beginning of the 1969 summer season until the end of the 1974 summer season.
Following the signing of the five-year contract with Berliner Flugring, Modern Air's Tegel-based European operations manager John MacDonald assumed additional responsibilities as the airline's vice president
.
As the company's flying programme from Berlin gradually expanded, additional aircraft joined the Berlin-based fleet. By the early 1970s, a minimum of five Coronado
s were stationed at Tegel Airport year-round along with most of the airline's 400 employees. In addition to handling all of its own flights at Tegel, the firm provided third-party ground handling services
at that airport as well.
The operation of a special, one-off Busenvogelthe German
term for Busom Bird charter excursion from Tegel to Paris
on Father's Day 1970, during which topless showgirls entertained a group of 110 passengers (107 male, three female), gained Modern Air notoriety. It was said to be the idea of Morten S. Beyer, who ran Modern Air at the time. Despite protests from women's rights
groups, Mort Beyer was unapologetic, opining that the free publicity it gained the company was worth the public outrcy.
Another change in management at Modern Air's parent company
during 1971 resulted in the adoption of a new strategy
for the airline. This entailed focusing all commercial activities on West Berlin. Poor financial results followed by a spell under Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection
necessitated a partial reversal of this strategy and resulted in the resumption of limited charter services from bases in the US the following year.
At its Berlin base, Modern Air also experimented with executive charter and scheduled services.
A single 12-seater HFB-320 Hansa Jet
was acquired in 1970 as an air taxi
to serve destinations not accessible by scheduled flights from West Berlin at the time.
Modern Air's May 1971 launch of thrice-daily Tegel—Saarbrücken
flights with a 14-seater Hansa Jet
marked the airline's scheduled debut.
Following a steady increase in passenger loads, Modern Air applied to the Allied Air Attachés
in Bonn
for permission to operate two daily rotations with larger Coronados. However, the Allied Air Attachés refused this under pressure from both Pan American World Airways
(Pan Am) and British European Airways
(BEA), West Berlin's leading contemporary scheduled airlines. Having had its application to introduce larger equipment on this route turned down, Modern Air withdrew all Tegel—Saarbrücken flights in November 1971. Pan Am's takeover of Modern Air's Saarbrücken route in February 1972, which entailed serving it from the former's base at the rival Tempelhof Airport with 128-seat Boeing 727
-100s, was followed by the airline's unexpected suspension of Tempelhof—Saarbrücken services after less than a year's operation, citing insufficient demand. This turn of events resulted in Modern Air applying for permission to re-enter the Berlin—Saarbrücken scheduled market with two daily return flights using Coronados. Permission for Modern Air to resume its Tegel—Saarbrücken route was granted in time for a summer 1973 re-launch. As a result, the CV-990A Coronado became the largest contemporary aircraft type to operate a scheduled service into Saarbrücken's small airport.
Several fare increases and the recession
following in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis
resulted in much reduced demand for air travel
in the Berlin—Saarbrücken market. This in turn necessitated a major reduction in frequency to just two round-trips per week.
These events as well as the fact that the Coronado was far too big and consumed too much fuel to serve a regional scheduled route economically ultimately put paid to the firm's scheduled ambitions.
prices in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and Modern Air's reliance on the fuel-thirsty Coronado had caused a significant increase in its operating cost
s. This was of particular importance for its operations from and to West Berlin as under Allied air navigation
rules aircraft were only permitted to fly at a height of 10000 ft (3,048 m) while passing through the Allied air corridors
over East Germany
, a sub-optimal, fuel-inefficient cruising altitude for modern jet aircraft
. Fuel conservation and revenue-enhancing measures Modern Air adopted to contain the sudden and unforeseen cost escalation included reducing the Coronado's speed limit to Mach
.78 and squeezing in two additional seat rows. The former had the beneficial side effect of inreasing the aircraft's range
by 20%, permitting non-stop transatlantic flights from the eastern seaboard
of the US to Central Europe
with a full payload. The latter was achieved by installing a then new type of light-weight, UK
-manufactured "slimline" seat, which increased capacity to 149 passengers per plane. To recoup its sharply higher fuel costs in the Berlin market, the airline imposed a fuel surcharge on all tour operators that had contracted their flying programme from Berlin to it. The operators passed on this fuel surcharge to their IT passengers. A major disagreement over the fuel surcharge between Modern Air's management and its counterpart at Berliner Flugring, its main overseas business partner
, led to a reduction in the Berlin-based fleet from five to four aircraft for the 1974 summer season. There was a plan to replace the fuel-guzzling Coronados with more efficient, second-hand McDonnell Douglas DC-8s and DC-9
s in time for the 1975 summer season. However, an attempt on Modern Air's part to pass on a further increase in its fuel surcharge to Berliner Flugring for the planned 1974/'75 winter flying programme resulted in the tour operator's refusal to renew its long-standing charter contract with the airline. This in turn resulted in the closure of Modern Air's Berlin Tegel base at the end of October 1974. The airline had carried over two million passengers during its seven-year presence in West Berlin, which roughly equated to the city's contemporary population.
Deliveries of five former American Airlines
Convair CV-990A Coronado
s began in January 1967.
300 people were employed.
, a Convair CV-990A-30A-8 (registration N5630) undershot the runway at Acapulco
's Álvarez International Airport
during a VOR
/ILS
approach at the end of a ferry/positioning flight that had originated in New York. The aircraft collided with the airport's approach lights
and caught fire. Although the aircraft was a complete write-off, there was only one fatality among the eight crew members on board.
On 28 May 1971
, one of Modern Air's Berlin-based CV-990As with 45 passengers on board en route from Berlin Tegel to Bulgaria
was unexpectedly denied permission to enter Bulgaria
n airspace, as a result of a new policy adopted by that country's then communist
government to deny any aircraft whose flight had originated or was going to terminate at a West Berlin airport the right to take off and land at any of its airports. This resulted in the aircraft having to turn back to Berlin, where it landed safely at the city's Tegel Airport.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based non-scheduled and supplemental carrierUS non-scheduled airlines as classified by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1963 founded in 1946. At different stages in its history it was headquartered in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, Baltimore, and Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. In addition to Miami, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
used to be a base for Modern Air. In 1968, the airline established an overseas base at Berlin Tegel Airport in what used to be West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
prior to German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
. Between 1968 and 1974, operations increasingly focused on Berlin Tegel. Modern Air ceased trading in 1975.
The early years
Modern Air commenced commercial operations in 1946 with warWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-surplus Curtiss C-46 piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
-engined aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
.
The airline was originally headquartered at New York's Newark Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
.
Five ex-Capital Airlines
Capital Airlines
Capital Airlines was an airline serving the eastern United States that merged into United Airlines in 1961. Its primary hubs were National Airport near Washington, DC, and Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh. In the 1950s it was the largest US domestic carrier after the Big Four . Its...
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
piston airliners joined the fleet during summer 1962. Only two of these entered actual airline service; the remaining three were used for spares. In addition, the airline leased a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
The Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation is an aircraft in the Lockheed Constellation aircraft line. The aircraft was Lockheed's response to the successful Douglas DC-6 airliner and first flew in 1950...
.
The grant of an interim certificate by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) in October 1962 to operate domestic military contract flights, intrastate and overseas charters from 1 April 1963 was followed by further fleet expansion, including the lease of another L-1049
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
The Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation is an aircraft in the Lockheed Constellation aircraft line. The aircraft was Lockheed's response to the successful Douglas DC-6 airliner and first flew in 1950...
and the purchase of an L-749
Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
A in 1964.
The acquisition of several Douglas DC-7
Douglas DC-7
The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
Cs in April/May 1965 resulted in retirement of the Constellation
Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
fleet.
Gulf American era
In 1966, Modern Air became a wholly owned subsidiarySubsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of Gulf American Corporation, a Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-based property developer. The change in ownership resulted in a move of the airline's headquarters to Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
and the withdrawal of the company's last Constellation the following year. In 1969, Gulf American Corp transferred its holding
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
in the airline to GAC Corporation, Gulf American's holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
.the transfer of ownership became effective in 1970
Transition to an all-jet fleet
The award of a five-year licence by the CAB in October 1966 to engage in cargo and passenger charter operations including all-expense tourPackage holiday
A package holiday or package tour consists of transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided like a rental car, activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country...
charters between the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and points in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
enhanced Modern Air's new status as a permanently certificated US supplemental carrier. Following the award of these new foreign charter rights, the airline concluded a US$17.5m
Million
One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
purchase agreement with American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
to acquire five of the latter's Convair CV-990A Coronado
Convair 990
The Convair 990 Coronado was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from...
jetliners between January 1967 and February/March 1968, in anticipation of major growth for low-cost overseas travel by US tour groups. The first two examples sported a new natural metal "Silver Palace" livery
Aircraft livery
Aircraft livery is a paint scheme applied to an aircraft, generally to fuselage, wings, empennage , or jet engines. Most airlines have a standard paint scheme for their aircraft fleet, usually prominently displaying the airline logo or name. From time to time special liveries are introduced, for...
, which replaced the Modern Air Transport/MAT fuselage titles used in previous schemes
Aircraft livery
Aircraft livery is a paint scheme applied to an aircraft, generally to fuselage, wings, empennage , or jet engines. Most airlines have a standard paint scheme for their aircraft fleet, usually prominently displaying the airline logo or name. From time to time special liveries are introduced, for...
with Modern Air titles. Initially, both were based in Miami and contracted by sister company Gulf American Land Corporation to operate charter flights for prospective investors in its real estate development projects in Florida and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. Modern Air's Coronados were configured in a spacious 139-seat, single-class seating arrangement.
Diversification into new business areas and overseas expansion
An agreement with Air FranceAir France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
for the temporary lease of one aircraft beginning in April 1967 provided additional work for the new jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
s.
Further work to increase the growing jet fleet's utilisation was secured when the Federal Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
awarded Modern Air a contract to carry military personnel between camps in the US. However, this was insufficient to justify continuing expansion of the fleet and workforce. By the time Modern's third 990
Convair 990
The Convair 990 Coronado was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from...
was delivered, it experienced financial difficulties. This resulted in layoffs and management changes. Initially, the airline attempted to renegotiate its aircraft purchase agreement with American
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, requesting a release from contractual obligations regarding the two remaining deliveries. American's refusal to agree to Modern's request compelled the latter to begin looking for additional business opportunities to keep the expanding fleet fully employed. Ensuing successful negotiations with two West German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
package tour companies to operate a $3.5m, West Berlin based programme,envisaging the carriage of 90,000 passengers on 670 short- to medium-haul inclusive tour (IT) charter flights to 16 destinations in the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
as well as a $1.5m, seven months wet lease of an aircraft to Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
charter carrier Nordair
Nordair
Nordair is a defunct Quebec-based regional airline founded in 1947 from the merger of Boreal Airways and Mont Laurier Aviation. The airline operated from the 1950s to the 1980s. Most of its business was international and transatlantic passenger and freight charters and other contracts. It also...
, enabled Modern Air to profitably utilise its spare aircraft capacity. The two German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
tour companies that had contracted Modern Air to operate their flying programmes from West Berlin were Berliner Flugring and Flug-Union Berlin. The former had begun as a consortium of local travel agents arranging IT flights from West Berlin to holiday resorts in Europe. By the time the America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n supplemental assumed its flying programme, it had become the city's foremost package tour operator
Tour operator
A tour operator typically combines tour and travel components to create a holiday. The most common example of a tour operator's product would be a flight on a charter airline plus a transfer from the airport to a hotel and the services of a local representative, all for one price. Niche tour...
. The latter had been the first tour operator with a West Berlin flying programme.this had originally been contracted to US supplemental Saturn Airways
Saturn Airways
Saturn Airways was a US "supplemental carrier", i.e. a charter airline. It operated from 1948 until 1976. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California.- History :The airline was initially known as All American Airways and used Curtiss C-46...
utilising that airline's Tempelhof-based Douglas DC-6
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
A/C and Douglas DC-7C propliner
Propliner
A propliner is a large, propeller-driven airliner. Typically, the term is used for piston-powered airliners that flew before the beginning of the jet age, not for modern turbine-powered propeller airliners...
s The decision to supply whole-plane charter airline seats to both of West Berlin's leading package tour operators also enabled Modern Air to take advantage of the fact that all airlines other than those headquartered in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 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...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
— the airlines of the three Western victorious powers of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
— were banned from West Berlin.
By 1968, Modern Air operated an all-jet fleet comprising five CV-990
Convair 990
The Convair 990 Coronado was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from...
s. (Modern Air eventually operated a ten-strong CV-990 fleet, following the acquisition of a second batch of five sourced from American Airlines and VARIG
Varig
VARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
between March 1968 and July 1971. As a result, the airline became the world's largest contemporary CV-990 operator. The expanded all-jet fleet facilitated the introduction of regular tour group charters carrying American tourists from the Miami and New York areas to popular holiday resorts in North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, as well as the launch in May 1968 of a Canadian-based 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...
and transatlantic
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
charter programme,involving the lease of an aircraft operated by Modern Air flightdeck crews and Nordair cabin staff
Flight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
in the latter's livery carrying 20,000 passengers from Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
to 17 Caribbean and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an destinations in addition to operating a large German charter programme.)
The operation of a round-the-world transpolar
Polar route
A polar route refers to an aircraft route across the uninhabited polar ice cap region. The American Federal Aviation Administration defines the North Polar area of operations as the area lying north of 78 deg north latitude , which is entirely north of Alaska and most of Siberia...
luxury charter flight in 1968billed at the time as "the first commercial flight ever to cross both poles and touch down on all continents" arguably ranks as Modern Air's greatest achievement. On 22 November 1968, this saw CV-990A N5612 Polar Byrd I, which had a special Polar Path Compass (PPC) system fitted for the polar
Polar route
A polar route refers to an aircraft route across the uninhabited polar ice cap region. The American Federal Aviation Administration defines the North Polar area of operations as the area lying north of 78 deg north latitude , which is entirely north of Alaska and most of Siberia...
trip,by Modern's electronics department headed up by Vincent De Ceasare become the first commercial jetliner to land on and take off from the 10000 feet (3,048 m) ice runway at the McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National...
airfield at Williams Field, McMurdo Sound
Williams Field
Williams Field or Willy Field is a United States Antarctic Program airfield in Antarctica. Williams Field consists of two snow runways located on approximately 8 meters of compacted snow, lying on top of 80 meters of ice, floating over 550 meters of water...
in Antarctica. It also made Modern Air the first US charter airline to fly to the erstwhile Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. This flight commemorated the 40th anniversary of Admiral Richard Byrd
Richard Byrd
Richard Byrd is the name of:*Richard C. Byrd , American politician*Richard Evelyn Byrd , admiral, polar explorer, aviator*Richard Byrd , American Olympic athlete...
's South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
flight. It carried 60 US businessmen who had paid $10,000 each to fly on a round-the-world trip over both Poles that left Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on 8 November 1968. Cdr F.G. Dustin, who had accompanied [then Cdr] Byrd on his second Antarctic expedition in 1934, was among the passengers. The flight routed over the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
via Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to Antarctica and over the South Pole, before crossing the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
a second time and proceeding northwards to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
was the first European stop, from where the flight continued to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, before night-stopping in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and returning to Boston the following day, 2 December 1968. Profits from that trip were used to establish The Admiral Richard E. Byrd Polar Center
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr., USN was a naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. He was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics...
, a polar research centre in Boston.
Establishment and growth of West Berlin operation
In March 1968, two newly acquired jets were stationed at West Berlin's Tegel Airport. These were the airline's fourth and fifth example of the original batch of five ex-American Airlines CV-990s that had initially been surplus to the airline's requirements. They were also the biggest and fastest aircraft based at any Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
airport at that time.
Modern Air appointed former Saturn Airways manager John D. MacDonald general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
to oversee its European operations from its Tegel base.
Modern Air carried over 135,000 passengers during its first year of operations from Tegel.
The successful conclusion of Modern Air's first year in West Berlin resulted in the airline signing a five-year contract with Berliner Flugring worth $20m (£
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
8.3m). The contract ran from the beginning of the 1969 summer season until the end of the 1974 summer season.
Following the signing of the five-year contract with Berliner Flugring, Modern Air's Tegel-based European operations manager John MacDonald assumed additional responsibilities as the airline's vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
.
As the company's flying programme from Berlin gradually expanded, additional aircraft joined the Berlin-based fleet. By the early 1970s, a minimum of five Coronado
Convair 990
The Convair 990 Coronado was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from...
s were stationed at Tegel Airport year-round along with most of the airline's 400 employees. In addition to handling all of its own flights at Tegel, the firm provided third-party ground handling services
Aircraft ground handling
In aviation, aircraft ground handling defines the servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground and parked at a terminal gate of an airport.-Overview:...
at that airport as well.
The operation of a special, one-off Busenvogelthe German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
term for Busom Bird charter excursion from Tegel to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on Father's Day 1970, during which topless showgirls entertained a group of 110 passengers (107 male, three female), gained Modern Air notoriety. It was said to be the idea of Morten S. Beyer, who ran Modern Air at the time. Despite protests from women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
groups, Mort Beyer was unapologetic, opining that the free publicity it gained the company was worth the public outrcy.
Another change in management at Modern Air's parent company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
during 1971 resulted in the adoption of a new strategy
Strategic management
Strategic management is a field that deals with the major intended and emergent initiatives taken by general managers on behalf of owners, involving utilization of resources, to enhance the performance of firms in their external environments...
for the airline. This entailed focusing all commercial activities on West Berlin. Poor financial results followed by a spell under Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
bankruptcy protection
Bankruptcy in the United States
Bankruptcy in the United States is governed under the United States Constitution which authorizes Congress to enact "uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States." Congress has exercised this authority several times since 1801, most recently by adopting the Bankruptcy...
necessitated a partial reversal of this strategy and resulted in the resumption of limited charter services from bases in the US the following year.
Entering West Berlin executive charter and scheduled markets
At its Berlin base, Modern Air also experimented with executive charter and scheduled services.
A single 12-seater HFB-320 Hansa Jet
HFB-320 Hansa Jet
|-See also:-References:*Sloot, Emiel. "Hansa Jet Retirement". Air International, October 1994, Vol 47 No 4. pp. 234–235. ISSN 0306-5634.*Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965....
was acquired in 1970 as an air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
to serve destinations not accessible by scheduled flights from West Berlin at the time.
Modern Air's May 1971 launch of thrice-daily Tegel—Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
flights with a 14-seater Hansa Jet
HFB-320 Hansa Jet
|-See also:-References:*Sloot, Emiel. "Hansa Jet Retirement". Air International, October 1994, Vol 47 No 4. pp. 234–235. ISSN 0306-5634.*Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965....
marked the airline's scheduled debut.
Following a steady increase in passenger loads, Modern Air applied to the Allied Air Attachés
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
for permission to operate two daily rotations with larger Coronados. However, the Allied Air Attachés refused this under pressure from both Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
(Pan Am) and British European Airways
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
(BEA), West Berlin's leading contemporary scheduled airlines. Having had its application to introduce larger equipment on this route turned down, Modern Air withdrew all Tegel—Saarbrücken flights in November 1971. Pan Am's takeover of Modern Air's Saarbrücken route in February 1972, which entailed serving it from the former's base at the rival Tempelhof Airport with 128-seat Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
-100s, was followed by the airline's unexpected suspension of Tempelhof—Saarbrücken services after less than a year's operation, citing insufficient demand. This turn of events resulted in Modern Air applying for permission to re-enter the Berlin—Saarbrücken scheduled market with two daily return flights using Coronados. Permission for Modern Air to resume its Tegel—Saarbrücken route was granted in time for a summer 1973 re-launch. As a result, the CV-990A Coronado became the largest contemporary aircraft type to operate a scheduled service into Saarbrücken's small airport.
Several fare increases and the recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
following in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
resulted in much reduced demand for air travel
Air travel
Air travel is a form of travel in vehicles such as airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, hang gliding, parachuting or anything else that can sustain flight.-Domestic and international flights:...
in the Berlin—Saarbrücken market. This in turn necessitated a major reduction in frequency to just two round-trips per week.
These events as well as the fact that the Coronado was far too big and consumed too much fuel to serve a regional scheduled route economically ultimately put paid to the firm's scheduled ambitions.
Deteriorating business environment
Steeply rising jet fuelJet fuel
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced to a standardized international specification...
prices in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and Modern Air's reliance on the fuel-thirsty Coronado had caused a significant increase in its operating cost
Operating cost
Operating costs can be described as the expenses which are related to the operation of a business, or to the operation of a device, component, piece of equipment or facility.-Business operating costs:...
s. This was of particular importance for its operations from and to West Berlin as under Allied air navigation
Air navigation
The basic principles of air navigation are identical to general navigation, which includes the process of planning, recording, and controlling the movement of a craft from one place to another....
rules aircraft were only permitted to fly at a height of 10000 ft (3,048 m) while passing through the Allied air corridors
West Berlin Air Corridor
During the Cold War era , the West Berlin Air Corridors comprised three regulated airways for civil and military air traffic of the Western Allies between West Berlin and West Germany passing over the former East Germany's territory. The corridors were under control of the all-Allied Berlin Air...
over East Germany
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
, a sub-optimal, fuel-inefficient cruising altitude for modern jet aircraft
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
. Fuel conservation and revenue-enhancing measures Modern Air adopted to contain the sudden and unforeseen cost escalation included reducing the Coronado's speed limit to Mach
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
.78 and squeezing in two additional seat rows. The former had the beneficial side effect of inreasing the aircraft's range
Range (aircraft)
The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft....
by 20%, permitting non-stop transatlantic flights from the eastern seaboard
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
of the US to Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
with a full payload. The latter was achieved by installing a then new type of light-weight, UK
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...
-manufactured "slimline" seat, which increased capacity to 149 passengers per plane. To recoup its sharply higher fuel costs in the Berlin market, the airline imposed a fuel surcharge on all tour operators that had contracted their flying programme from Berlin to it. The operators passed on this fuel surcharge to their IT passengers. A major disagreement over the fuel surcharge between Modern Air's management and its counterpart at Berliner Flugring, its main overseas business partner
Business partner
Business partner is a term used to denote a commercial entity with which another commercial entity has some form of alliance. This relationship may be a highly contractual, exclusive bond in which both entities commit not to ally with third parties...
, led to a reduction in the Berlin-based fleet from five to four aircraft for the 1974 summer season. There was a plan to replace the fuel-guzzling Coronados with more efficient, second-hand McDonnell Douglas DC-8s and DC-9
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
s in time for the 1975 summer season. However, an attempt on Modern Air's part to pass on a further increase in its fuel surcharge to Berliner Flugring for the planned 1974/'75 winter flying programme resulted in the tour operator's refusal to renew its long-standing charter contract with the airline. This in turn resulted in the closure of Modern Air's Berlin Tegel base at the end of October 1974. The airline had carried over two million passengers during its seven-year presence in West Berlin, which roughly equated to the city's contemporary population.
Business Closure
Modern Air ceased operations in September 1975 and surrendered its operating permit the following month, as a consequence of the CAB's unhappiness over GAC's refusal to commit new funds to the airline. Its West Berlin traffic rights were acquired by Aeroamerica, another US charter and supplemental carrier.Aircraft operated
In its 29-year existence Modern Air operated the following aircraft types:- Beechcraft Twin BonanzaBeechcraft Twin Bonanza|-See also:-References:Twin Bonanza Association http://twinbonanza.com...
- Convair CV-990A CoronadoConvair 990The Convair 990 Coronado was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from...
- Curtiss C-46
- 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...
- Douglas DC-7C Seven SeasDouglas DC-7The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
- HFB-320 Hansa JetHFB-320 Hansa Jet|-See also:-References:*Sloot, Emiel. "Hansa Jet Retirement". Air International, October 1994, Vol 47 No 4. pp. 234–235. ISSN 0306-5634.*Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965....
- Lockheed L-049 ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
- Lockheed L-749A ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
- Lockheed L-1049 Super ConstellationLockheed L-1049 Super ConstellationThe Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation is an aircraft in the Lockheed Constellation aircraft line. The aircraft was Lockheed's response to the successful Douglas DC-6 airliner and first flew in 1950...
- Martin 2-0-2Martin 2-0-2The Martin 2-0-2 was one of the first modern airliners. The twin-engined piston aircraft was designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company.-Design and development:...
.
Fleet in 1967
In November 1967, Modern Air's fleet comprised 16 piston airliners.| Aircraft | Number |
|---|---|
| Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas Douglas DC-7 The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and... |
5 |
| Lockheed L-049 Constellation Lockheed Constellation The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a... |
1 |
| Martin 2-0-2 Martin 2-0-2 The Martin 2-0-2 was one of the first modern airliners. The twin-engined piston aircraft was designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company.-Design and development:... |
5 |
| Douglas DC-3 Douglas DC-3 The 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... |
5 |
| Total | 16 |
Deliveries of five former American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
Convair CV-990A Coronado
Convair 990
The Convair 990 Coronado was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from...
s began in January 1967.
Fleet in 1972
In May 1972, Modern Air's fleet comprised nine jet aircraft.| Aircraft | Number |
|---|---|
| Convair CV-990A Coronado Convair 990 The Convair 990 Coronado was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics, a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from... |
8 |
| HFB-320 Hansa Jet HFB-320 Hansa Jet |-See also:-References:*Sloot, Emiel. "Hansa Jet Retirement". Air International, October 1994, Vol 47 No 4. pp. 234–235. ISSN 0306-5634.*Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.... |
1 |
| Total | 9 |
300 people were employed.
Accidents and incidents
On 8 August 19701970 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1970:-January:* January 1 – Nord-Aviation, Sud-Aviation, and SEREB merge to form SNIAS .* January 31 – Mikhail Mil dies, aged 61-February:...
, a Convair CV-990A-30A-8 (registration N5630) undershot the runway at Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
's Álvarez International Airport
General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport
General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport , also known as Acapulco International Airport, is an aviation facility located from Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico...
during a VOR
VHF omnidirectional range
VOR, short for VHF omnidirectional radio range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. A VOR ground station broadcasts a VHF radio composite signal including the station's identifier, voice , and navigation signal. The identifier is typically a two- or three-letter string in Morse code...
/ILS
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
approach at the end of a ferry/positioning flight that had originated in New York. The aircraft collided with the airport's approach lights
Runway Edge Lights
Runway Edge Lights are used to outline the edges of runways during periods of darkness or restricted visibility conditions. These light systems are classified according to the intensity they are capable of producing:...
and caught fire. Although the aircraft was a complete write-off, there was only one fatality among the eight crew members on board.
On 28 May 1971
1971 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1971:- Events :* The Peruvian Army reestablishes Peruvian Army Aviation.-January:* January 6 - The United States Marine Corps takes delivery of its first AV-8 Harriers...
, one of Modern Air's Berlin-based CV-990As with 45 passengers on board en route from Berlin Tegel to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
was unexpectedly denied permission to enter Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n airspace, as a result of a new policy adopted by that country's then communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
government to deny any aircraft whose flight had originated or was going to terminate at a West Berlin airport the right to take off and land at any of its airports. This resulted in the aircraft having to turn back to Berlin, where it landed safely at the city's Tegel Airport.
External links
- Aviation Safety Network database - Modern Air Transport accidents/incidents
- Modern Air Transport Curtiss Super 46C Commando N3935C resting on the ramp at Greater Rochester International Airport in upstate New York during 1960.
- Modern Air Transport Lockheed L-049D Constellation N86531 resting on the ramp at Denver Stapleton during June 1965.
- Modern Air Transport Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas N381M resting on the ramp at Fort Lauderdale Executive during July 1968.
- Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-5 N5617 Berliner Bär about to touch down at Berlin Tegel during August 1968.
- Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-5 N5615 Polar Byrd I displaying Modern Air Transpolar Flight titles below the window cheatline coming in to land at Philadelphia International Airport during March 1969.
- Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-5 N5617 Berliner Bär resting on the ramp at Palma de Mallorca between flights during July 1969.
- Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-5 N5607 showing off its speed pods while taxiing at St. Louis Lambert during June 1970. This aircraft was subsequently re-registered N5624.
- Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-5 N5614 resting on the apron at Berlin Tegel at night with an unidentified company CV-990 taxiing behind during May 1971.
- Passengers boarding Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-5 N5617 Berliner Bär at Berlin Tegel during August 1971.
- Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-8 N5623 along with sister ship N5624 parked on adjacent remote stands presently occupied by the North Terminal at London Gatwick on 21 May 1972.
- Modern Air Convair CV-990-30A-5 N5614 resting in front of a hangar with sister ship N5605 parked behind at Miami International during February 1974.
- 1:400 Gemini Jets model of Convair CV-990A Coronado in Modern Air colours.